Woohoo, Kiri is done.

Yay, I cast off my Kiri last night and it's now blocking.

For the cast off it says to make sure you do it loose and to use a 5mm needle, to be on the safe side I used a 6mm needle.

Blocking is harder than it looks, I don't think I've done it right but it's close enough that I can live with it. I don't think it'll take that long to dry either.

I ended up doing 12 repeats of the pattern, that's equal to 132 rows with another 12 rows for the edging. I didn't count how many stitches there were as I was a little scared to find out LOL.

I can't wait to unblock it and see how it draps/looks, just hope my friend likes it now.

Work shirt

I've just completed work shirt number one, I'm quite pleased with it. On the next one I'll change the buttonhole position as I think they're to far from the neck band. Didn't have any real problems with the pattern, just the sleeves were fiddly as they're puff.

Some of the instructions didn't quite make sense so I went to my favourite sewing group for advice, of course within a few moments I'd had a reply that made perfect sense to me and was able to continue.

I ended up not doing the bust adjustment as it fitted great everywhere except the neck and shoulders and being as inexperienced as I am I've now idea how to correct that, they are only slightly to large so i can get away with it this time but maybe some research is in order for next time.

I'm looking forward to making the other one now.

Square in a square

I made another filler block today, it's called 'Granny quilt square in a square'. I must admit I found the instructions kind of confusing and I'm not really sure if I've done it right, it'll do for me though.

I've not done any work on the Kiri today though, I've so much to catch up on and time is running out as I go back to work on Monday (urgh!). So over the next few days I'll really have to pull my finger out and get some things completed.

I've cut out some fabric for a shirt but as of yet haven't stitched it together, I've the Kiri to complete plus matching hat and fingerless gloves. Also I want to complete the Allure Azure cardigan I'm making in a smaller size for myself.

probably not got a hope in hell of getting it all completed but I sure can give it a good shot.

Butterfly Garden

I thought I'd do something a little less taxing today, so rather than working on the Kiri I decided to do a filler square for the 12" Block a month CAL I'm a member of on Ravelry.

It's called Butterfly Garden, although it looks real complicated it actually worked up very quick and was quite simple. I must say, I do like it, a lot.

That'll teach me!

Well, last night I'd decided I'd be all fancy and get a new template for the blog as I found lots of really cool and pretty templates at pYzam.

So of course I grabbed myself something pretty and changed my template, damn but that was a mistake. I suppose if I could actually understand HTML I'd know where the script was for the links I've added ect but alas I don't so I had a pretty site but only my posts and none of the other content I've added.

So I was up till 3.45am last night (that should probably be this morning) trying to fix what I'd done, I'll have to keep adding to it over the next few days.

I still would like one of the templates from pYzam but I won't be doing that until I've learnt more about the code LOL.

Shawl update (yes, again)

Yes, I know I did an update the other day but my new camera has arrived and I wanted to take pictures, look at that detail :-) Yup, I'm a kid in a candy store.

Up to date on my blocks

Yay, I've caught up on my 2008 12" Block-a-month CAL. The top image is of March's block called Cygnus and the bottom image is of April's Block called Chocolate Delight.

I've gone with a single colour as that's the kind of afghan I want for our lounge. I'm quite pleased with how these blocks turned out (although they haven't been blocked yet) also they worked up real quick and were pretty easy. That's saying something as I only learned to crochet in December.

If you're a member of Ravelry come along and join the CAL, the more the merrier as they say.

Behind on my crochet.

I joined a 12" block a month CAL on Ravelry, I've completed both January's block and February's block but as of yet I've not even started March or April's block...eek.

Just glad I've the next two weeks off work as I've so many things to catch up on. There's the shirts and trousers for work, the two blocks not to mention Kiri for my friend and I also need to do another Azure Allure (hopefully it'll fit) for myself.

Well I better get off my butt and actually move away from the computer if I wish to accomplish that much in my time off.

Doctor Who has a lot to answer for!

So, knitting Kiri whilst trying to watch the new series of Doctor Who is really not a good idea.

I completed row 57 thinking there was something that wasn't quite right and upon checking noticed a major fubar...gah!

Thank god that not only had I read about lifelines the other day but that I was also using them. Made it so much easier to frog back to row 52 and correct whatever mistake it was that I'd made.

So, my progress yesterday was to get back to the place I started. because life does get in the way and things are so easy to muck up I've decided I'm going to place a lifeline every ten rows, may increase this to every five as the shawl gets bigger.

As for Doctor Who, the jury's still out on whether Catherine Tate is going to diminish my enjoyment of the show every time I look at her all I hear is 'am I bovvered?'...grrr.

Update on the shawl

Yay, I figured out where I'd been going wrong and have now completed 32 rows.

I was doing the two pattern repeats and not knitting the center stitch, so of course had a gaping hole that wasn’t very pretty. In the pattern the repeats were in brackets and I just assumed the k1 came after the two repeats…d’oh!. After reading the chart (another new thing learned today, I can now read charts!) it all made sense and I'm storming along.

It really is a beautiful pattern and I'm just amazed at the beautiful things that can be made with a bit of yarn and some needles.

Kiri Shawl

Well I got to row 28 and I'd been feeling as if something wasn't quite right so had a look at the picture.

My Kiri didn't have the two obvious yarn overs down the center, it just had a large hole rather than two neat ones.

Now I followed the instructions so have no idea how it's happened, I've frogged it and will re-start it today, tip, mohair is a git to frog!

I know when I was doing the purl rows that the two yo's in the center were purled so why it looked as if I'd dropped the stitch I don't know, I was wondering if I twist the stitches this would give them more definition. Will find out in a couple of hours.

Friendship.

I've a friend I met via the net, we've been chatting for about 6/7 years now. We met in real life when she travelled up to help me celebrate my 30th birthday.

Her husband had been ill for a very long time and sadly passed away, as I've also had my own troubles these past couple of years I've let our friendship slip.

So as a little sorry for being basically a crap friend I've decided I'm going to send her a care package type of thing. She writes a lot at all times of the day and night so I thought I could make her the Kiri shawl to help keep her shoulders and back warm on chilly nights.

I'm also going to make her some fingerless gloves, her hands will stay warm but she'll still be able to type.

I'll also include some smellies for the bathroom, chocolate and some wine. Can't really think of anything else to add but hope those will bring her a small smile.

Me and my big chest!

Well I got myself ready for work this morning and proudly put my new finished cardigan on, you guessed it, it's way to big.

I've done it again, I've made it for a 40inch chest, as that's what I measure as. I keep forgetting though that I'm only 5 foot tall so have a small back and shoulders, so yes it fits my chest but is big everywhere else. So the curse of being blessed in the boob department strikes again.

Oh well, looks like my Gran will be getting a new cardigan (every cloud, silver lining and all that). She reads a lot in bed so she can either wear it for day or use it as a bed jacket. Lets hope she likes the colour.

Must remember to make things for myself smaller, or actually learn how to alter a pattern in the chest area.

Actually I think if I made this cardigan again I could get away with just making a smaller size as it's quite generous in the chest area anyway.

First lace cardigan

I've just finished my first lace cardigan...yay. Of course I found out about lifelines yesterday, after I'd already frogged the ruddy thing twice due to mistakes.

For those that like me wonder what a lifeline is, it's a piece of scrap yarn/dentle floss that you thread threw your knitting every x number of rows. Then if you make a mistake (as I always do) it's easy to frog back and carry on.

Although the picture looks red the cardigan is actually burgundy, I will be taking better pictures once my new camera arrives.

The cardigan is Azure Allure by Laura Long in the 31st issue of Simply Knitting magazine.