tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68218609777954513492024-02-07T11:54:15.282-08:00DillKnitsSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-48081820014801493812009-04-26T04:57:00.001-07:002009-04-26T05:06:01.314-07:00Operation "Use Up All My Crappy Yarn"...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7soiPd4OV_QkHPIQODNKPpf1uszkyacPwaVQ1DUqzHPbLmnxrdG4eW1swDO0Up4WhlMa7hPGnR9-heAzsEoJlatWiHHJ3ozGiQlbQZbNgTlyv26kZWWDQGHLFT-Vy9FK2i0twx6A64s/s1600-h/Stripe+Hats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7soiPd4OV_QkHPIQODNKPpf1uszkyacPwaVQ1DUqzHPbLmnxrdG4eW1swDO0Up4WhlMa7hPGnR9-heAzsEoJlatWiHHJ3ozGiQlbQZbNgTlyv26kZWWDQGHLFT-Vy9FK2i0twx6A64s/s200/Stripe+Hats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328968273600535106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">... has begun!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have made three hats so far (two pictured here - the third is less cute and pretty so I haven't taken a picture just yet). I knit basic 2/2 rib for an inch or so over 60 stitches, then plain stockinette (so knitting every row) alternating yarns in stripes (four rows of the light pink, then two rows white, then four rows dark pink, two white, etc.). I have knitted the flower I used to embelish the "girlie" hat for a few different things, the pattern is in the miscellaneous folder at www.knittingpatterncentral.com. I doubled up the yarn and just backstitched the anchor on the "boyish" hat (although to be fair, I have seen far more anchory anchors than this one... !)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are tiny so would suit newborns to about 3 months. I'm going to build up a bit of a stock and then try to sell them at work, or maybe on ebay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Knitting the baby hats made me think about hats in general. So I've cast on for one for me (like I need another hat). This one is a copy of a style of hat that's really in at the moment - ribbed at the bottom then a lace pattern for the body of the hat, which is knit too long so sits quite baggy on the back of the head when you're wearing it. I'm using a lace pattern from the Legendary Cath's sock patterns collection, knitting over 104 stitches in the round. I started off using a circular needle and found myself in all sorts of trouble, messing up the pattern and losing count and it was all just too traumatic, I've changed to DPNs and magically all the problems I was having have disappeared!</span></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-39041618897689906412009-04-18T02:59:00.001-07:002009-04-18T03:22:51.614-07:00Easter Bunnies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuJLPiBAitbHHf-PZcIh-k8mliPgVHEOE_-OTsCIq-GwkqmEzfhfbJWxnZ4itc_w3TSmeS-nfCxz6ELFQPyADbYaFro0xayw5zC9Icg1ByvISjBIfa3qjJ5upPE6lFM0x9JoE15a47oI/s1600-h/Easter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuJLPiBAitbHHf-PZcIh-k8mliPgVHEOE_-OTsCIq-GwkqmEzfhfbJWxnZ4itc_w3TSmeS-nfCxz6ELFQPyADbYaFro0xayw5zC9Icg1ByvISjBIfa3qjJ5upPE6lFM0x9JoE15a47oI/s200/Easter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325969644368509730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >I knitted Easter friends :) I'm not sure why I always end up knitting for Easter (I don't have many young children in my family - at present!) but I do, and then find myself handing them out to adults who are always slightly baffled as to why I might have knit them a cute Easter egg cosy. These little guys are about 2 inches high, just big enough to house a Cadburys Creme or Kinder egg (being incredibly middle class and posh, I opted to fill mine with a Galaxy egg to appeal more to the adult palate...)<br /><br />I have been knitting the chicken for about three years now. I found the pattern at www.knittingpatterncentral.com, and I was going to attach the specific link but I can't find it anywhere... and I'd better not write the pattern here in case I get into trouble!<br /><br />The bunny, however, I did design myself - no doubt there are a dozen other similar patterns floating around the internet but this one is all mine!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You need: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>3.5 mm straight needles<br />Small quantity white double knitting wool (Acrylic DK Nastiness TM will be fine for this)<br />Tiny amount pink DK<br />Tiny amount black DK<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Method:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Body:<br /></span></span></span>Cast on 26 stitches.<br />Rows 1 - 6: K1 P1 across row.<br />Rows 7 - 16: K across row.<br />Row 17: Ktog across row (13 stitches)<br />Rows 18 - 23: K across row.<br />Row 19: K2tog across row.<br />Cut yarn leaving a long tail and thread through remaining stitches, knot firmly on the wrong side.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ears (Make 2):<br /></span></span>Cast on 4 stitches<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br /></span></span>Knit 9 rows.<br />Next row: K2tog across row.<br />Next row: Ktog across row.<br />Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Making up:<br /></span></span>Sew down body on the wrong side. Sew ears to head (I weave the yarn which I pulled through the last stitch of the ear down the side of the ear, and then use it to stitch the ear to the head). Embroider nose using pink yarn, and embroider face with black. Simple!<br /><br />Operation Baby Hat is going well - I have made three hats so far (two excellent ones and one reasonably good one - to be honest the yarn puts me more in mind of socks than hats, so I may knit socks from it next). I shall post the hats next time!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-31071603542115505202009-02-01T04:34:00.001-08:002009-02-01T04:53:53.216-08:00A Sock's Progress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiAMdjSYtuncPtrPHNgz53V06LrfiFP7fNcUa0dFAkYkvHzK3nQpWQXsEca10wGnXMUX4AWCopdswldfkbnbQ_kutrrXV03YIRk7aV3JsVTYKjkxrfYCPaGtomYh8OwmDHyDidYZK4ck/s1600-h/JD300192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiAMdjSYtuncPtrPHNgz53V06LrfiFP7fNcUa0dFAkYkvHzK3nQpWQXsEca10wGnXMUX4AWCopdswldfkbnbQ_kutrrXV03YIRk7aV3JsVTYKjkxrfYCPaGtomYh8OwmDHyDidYZK4ck/s200/JD300192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297806538544133826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There has been knitting! Not a massive amount, but some. Got to keep my hand in....<br /><br />So I knitted a scarf. Here is a very poor picture of it (I usually take pictures for the blog on my phone. I thought I'd try using an actual digital camera. The picture has come out blurry, and I am left feeling it wasn't really worth the effort...). The colour looks poor here, in reality it is a lovely lilac colour.<br /><br />The pattern is from my favourite website - www.knittingpatterncentral.com - and I started knitting this so long ago (having written the two row pattern on a bit of paper) that I can't actually remember which pattern I used or what it was called. Anyway, it consists of some yarn overs, some psso's, and looks all a bit lacy (but not fine lacy, it's DK weight yarn). All in all it was a really quick knit, and it's really warm.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The socks I started knitting about a billion years ago are also nearing completion. I cou</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">ld not get motivated to cast on the </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">second sock for about a month so progress on these ha</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">s be</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">e</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-DAbxnpO6R-nPYtMPD6V904s4DTLcDFH6TfsLfTO6ujG3hId0BgOeK8dHdgvREHfTnqULxx-kU_Vp3rRnk81tugcUaGiw0xL_cnfnlsq5BrA9bCXjH0Taj3mMI1d93g-MCaQJz-VjzA/s1600-h/JD300193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-DAbxnpO6R-nPYtMPD6V904s4DTLcDFH6TfsLfTO6ujG3hId0BgOeK8dHdgvREHfTnqULxx-kU_Vp3rRnk81tugcUaGiw0xL_cnfnlsq5BrA9bCXjH0Taj3mMI1d93g-MCaQJz-VjzA/s200/JD300193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297806665197672162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">n really slow - but when I finally picked up the needles I whizzed through the leg, turned the heel a</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">t the beginning of this week and you can see from this picture (again with the digital camera but this one has come out better) there isn't much left to do.<br /><br />I knitted these for my dearly beloved husband. He got made captain of his cricket team! These socks are a simple 2x2 rib pattern and I've added a band at the top of each in his team colours (deep red and gold).<br /><br />Since the heels are not reinforced I doubt they would last two minutes on an actual cricket pitch, but he's pleased with them anyway - I picture them more as a pair of "lounging around the house after a good match and a shower" type socks...<br /><br />I bought some bedroom furniture, to solely house yarn. It came flat packed, so I put it together, positioned it where I wanted it, then put all my stash in it (organised into colour coded bags). Then I hopped about from foot to foot for a time squeaking. Having yarn specific furniture is a FABULOUS thing. <br /><br />The stash re-organisation exercise however did make me realise that I have far too much crappy yarn. I subscribe to a knitting magazine (The Art of Knitting. 1 in 10 patterns is actually something you'd wear. But it is full of useful tips and ideas for patterns.) Each edition features a pattern for a square to make up an afghan, and comes with a ball of yarn. I can't be bothered with afghans made up of squares - I love them to look at, and I'd love to receive one, but for me the knitting is just too slow and dull. So I have all this leftover acrylic nonsense yarn to get rid off (I always seem to have acrylic horribleness. Why? I'm sure it's not my fault!). Once the socks are done and off the needles I'm intending to knock out some baby/child hats and sell them off to get rid of the acrylic nonsense. <br /><br />Then I'm turning my attentions to my "Knitted Idols" book I got for Christmas. I want a Mr T!<br /></span></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-28896660659458976082008-11-20T09:26:00.000-08:002008-11-20T09:42:11.203-08:00Several Babies With Warm Heads<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It is probably safest not to mention the names of these two, or my relationship with them. After all, you never know who's looking....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">.... but I feel it necessary to share the unbelievable cuteness with the world. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270793466406626818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1RJRGDdmdXlxb0bQRFIw_hDQbgP7EJJNRTTcqwVsaqXdnPCQhP80RSstptEcaWaPmzhH7iiekM59v9KpcWIJt19I6QHHkPnSF3hoM3IuobZceX-OBneGYPC_RFsFcs5t4rOquwvt7iw/s200/F&Chats.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Babies F and C are two months old now - they are non-identical twins, and they came into the world after mum and dad had some help with a tiny bit of IVF magic.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Mum didn't know the sex of the babies until they arrived. We did (thanks to their dad). To celebrate their girliness, I knitted pink hats (in the round using Acrylic DK Nastiness and 4mm DPNs) and then knitted darker pink flower motifs and sewed them on.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Mum and Dad were very happy with the hats. The girls are not in a position at present to comment either way. I like to think that they approve of the pink girliness at the very least.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">There has been a spate of baby hats in my life of late. This is Baby S (no relation to Babies F and C) who is proudly sporting a Dillknit cabled hat in fashionable white baby DK:</span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270795538321571858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 201px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs01DX2POzcYFbuoOzpDS4yJlaojD2iZxcIqnlr1dMNh3tsSkqwDFG9ZEP9DUt2ZqsAMrc5V57ku-6F8qvoftc9hXuz7ZSJFuMaAnloihTOa81HhYAsa32GCNLKaXUSE1UkaosqyU35BA/s200/SFhat.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He's a boy, so pink definitely would not do. And any baby who is ANYONE knows that white is this season's colour.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><em>**I have decided to pretend that I have been blogging regularly since July, and that the glaring lack of knitting or any other signs of life from me are definitely the fault of Blogger. Nothing at all to do with me being lazy. Normal service should now - hopefully - be resumed.</em></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-70589791521783725942008-07-24T05:42:00.000-07:002008-07-24T05:55:16.470-07:00Where Does The Time Go?!<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I am an awful blogger. Just awful. After all that complaining about others not updating their blogs often enough! That is very nearly 2 months since my last post - dreadful. This post, by way of an update (because life has just gone CRAZY) will be limited to bullet points only, in order that we can all (myself included) get back up to speed, and I may lay out more simply my list of excuses as to why I have been so quiet.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I got a new job. This is the main excuse. So I'm back in a real actual office, not working from home, so there is less opportunity to avoid work and knit and blog instead. In fact, there is no opportunity at all.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I got a new phone. I use my phone as a camera to post pictures on here. I'm slightly scared of The New Phone as I'm not entirely sure how it works (and it's all full of gadgets and a bit intimidating!), so I need to load all of its software on to the PC and play with it properly.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I just haven't been knitting. My flat is roughly the temperature of the core of the sun with the current heatwave, so picking up any sort of wool or yarn is horrible. I do however live in Britain. I think we can assume that the weather will be horrendous again by the end of next week.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">We've been on holiday. To Glastonbury and Guilfest (the music festivals. Not just to Glastonbury the place. Guilfest is held in Guildford). Both rocked. Hard.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">That's pretty much it. Pretty poor on the excuses front, if truth be told. I finished P's cricketing sock, so all being well there'll be pictures of it after my efforts at the weekend. Got to cast on for its mate before I lose the momentum... </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I am also forging on with the 60th Birthday Wrap for my mother, but progress is a bit slow - all the wool arrived in skeins rather than in balls (normal in America and pretty much everywhere else, not normal for me) and I had such a bad experience winding up the last ball I'm in no rush to prepare the next one. 2 days, a big mess of tangled yarn, and much hysteria from me - you get the picture. That said - I'm loving the pattern, it's turning out just like I wanted it to, and the yarn just makes me drool. Bring me the skeins...</span></p>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-77221169615099405982008-06-05T02:20:00.001-07:002008-06-05T02:24:58.884-07:00The Best Laid Plans<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A short, pictureless post today, for the sake of an update. Whilst I realise no one reads my blog except me (at present anway... patience, Sam, patience...), I do always feel slightly let down when the blogs I love to read are not updated more regularly... how dare these people take holidays/have to work/have nothing to blog about/have some sort of interesting life that doesn't involve the internet? I have the same problem right now - nothing to blog.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">The loudly heralded car boot sale did not happen, despite our best laid plans. We rocked up, sat about in the rain for 2 hours, failed to get a place in the car park, went home again. But there are plans afoot for this weekend... so hopefully some cash will be forthcoming.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">There has been knitting. I had a rush of blood to the head and cracked on with P's cricket sock - no point in photographing it yet as it still doesn't really look "sockish" enough yet, but I've turned the heel and am rocketing towards the toe... I would've thought I'll get it done by this weekend.</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-9116778399858446192008-05-16T06:47:00.000-07:002008-12-10T00:07:42.740-08:00Booting<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I have been conscientiously saving money. I want a new kitchen. I need about 2K. I had about 800.00, and I spent 550.00 on mending the car. I permitted myself a slight sigh as I handed the cash over, but we need a car and I had the money, and I'd rather spend it than get into debt. So the kitchen fund now is just under 200.00, and I need considerably more than that. So I'm doing a car boot sale. </span><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">For anyone not in the UK and who might not have a clue what I'm talking about, a car boot sale is a bit like a communal garage or yard sale - you pack all the things you want to sell into the back of your car, drive it up to wherever the sale is being held, and treat it like a shop front. I'm selling a load of stuff - old clothes, bags, shoes, kitchen equipment, and tonnes of knitting. Much of it has been featured on this blog, plus a couple of older scarf and hat sets that I wore for a year, then carefully put away to allow myself to knit another set...! On sorting through my stuff I found some treasures of my art that I'd forgotten about.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200972805341424546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPs9FlJ0MpThv3wRT7FKNX7E16W4uUR3MHtqpddTA30jex79jTBj5IvODIZuQ8If8gtCDRjPF3PmgK35-h7HT3xpgHUtVg6lPp6-yP2t2P0ARxpLZ6CgtDm2V8zuyWpe3uuBHu1xJZDo/s200/Ponch.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200973037269658546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJqyEHn1rbC8Bvm5baxU3GZkik2P0tQIRh2J7ZeOnS70B9SqRBmOpzmkCe3ifEqSUcypQrKvks_glTaW9zGd0IIfHNwHhHMeFzGneQmIPWprqZ2y27ZObk20NM3LYT9fG0MEhKbSuqnY/s200/Sock.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Look at these gems! The first picture is of a stripey poncho I made about 2 or 3 years ago, when I first started knitting - it's tiny and would probably fit a 2-3 year old. It was pretty much the first pattern I made up myself! I remember being very impressed with myself that I had managed to successfully pick up and knit stitches to form a collar.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">The second picture shows the 2nd pair of socks I ever knitted (thanks of course to the Legendary Cath Grant). They are from the selection of 3 patterns she gave me, these are the "fancy" pair. I would wear these myself, but why hide the "fanciness" inside shoes?! These deserve a better home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">The sale is next week - I'd ideally like to make about 50.00. But who knows what I might achieve, selling fabulous hand knits like these!?</span></p>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-60308592806642326222008-04-30T07:12:00.000-07:002008-12-10T00:07:42.925-08:00All I Want Is A Tiger Hat For Nickmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGOqdDDDmTQ4OOwjnhX770uMt3WwLb4hKXeO2F9WYT5XZlUjer69Uzr5OoKezNIA1uLGZkLYY0Pj9jbCoLcH99JueVbGsuSEDgkGnvvPKe3yDB_0eVV-POnzHd0Aws-uTyns6VISKLPA/s1600-h/Tiger.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195041260369168098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="255" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGOqdDDDmTQ4OOwjnhX770uMt3WwLb4hKXeO2F9WYT5XZlUjer69Uzr5OoKezNIA1uLGZkLYY0Pj9jbCoLcH99JueVbGsuSEDgkGnvvPKe3yDB_0eVV-POnzHd0Aws-uTyns6VISKLPA/s320/Tiger.JPG" width="194" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">They say that Nickmas comes but once a year... well Chez Us it does, in any case. My brother in law, Nick, has been away in Tasmania for 6 months. Apparently Christmas over the barbeque rocked, but it just wasn't the same as Christmas in the UK (cold, usually rainy, everyone asleep by 5pm because we've eaten so much). So we had Christmas last week - since it was in his honour, we named it especially for Nick - NICKMAS.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It turned out to be the best idea ever. Having not seen them over Christmas proper, we had gifts for Nick and his girlfriend, but we got tokens for the rest of the family (just so's everyone had something to open). There was a tree up, mulled wine (produced from two slo-cookers by myself and the famous FIL), and a full on roast turkey dinner. It was the coolest thing ever, everyone loved it.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My gift from my fabulous P was a ball of wool - often I have said I have the best husband ever, see how thoughtful he is (and how he foolishly feeds my addiction). Fortunately for him, he picked a ball in a colour he actually liked and would wear, so I knat him a hat. It's a simple 2/2 rib over 120 stitches on 5mm DPNs (P has a head like a small planet). I was delighted with how the self striping yarn worked out - I've called it the Tiger Hat as it's vaguely tiger striped. Yet to try it on P (in the picture it is modelled by the lovely me), hopefully it'll fit and keep his head warm!</span></p>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-83504693955858443942008-04-10T04:39:00.000-07:002008-12-10T00:07:43.064-08:00Scarf For FIL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqSNXnjjvymnYoNcZ9gLdHyCIV6mCGwNphDYeTtnJGqEeqnGfm161s_Lfrl-16QC3ntVkER7Eg3wRqLUatD2DohM8JPL1hsXqT0y8mXzWw8lpYCLbt4OJeJpPf80vdhOpkDqS32t6B7I/s1600-h/Scarf.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187580181728577330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqSNXnjjvymnYoNcZ9gLdHyCIV6mCGwNphDYeTtnJGqEeqnGfm161s_Lfrl-16QC3ntVkER7Eg3wRqLUatD2DohM8JPL1hsXqT0y8mXzWw8lpYCLbt4OJeJpPf80vdhOpkDqS32t6B7I/s320/Scarf.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">There has been knitting in my house of late, although the regularity of blog posts does not reflect that. Just when I think I might actually get through a project, another one crops up... and this one genuinely wasn't due to my usual fickleness.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I was commissioned by my father in law (FIL) to knit him a scarf - despite the fact that we're now pretty much in Springtime here, the temperature thinks it's still winter, and the poor man has been suffering with a heavy dose of flu for about 3 weeks. So he wanted a scarf, to protect his neck (as scarves are designed to do). My only instructions were that it was to match his jacket (which is a kind of reddish brown).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I invested a full 3.00 in some acrylic nastiness which was in the sale - but it is aran denim acrylic, and actually feels a lot nicer and softer than usual cheap wool. Sadly my local yarn shop has closed down, and my only other option is a horribly expensive haberdashery - superb for nice baby knits or stuff you've actually slaved over and intend to wear as much as possible, but bad for cheap scarf wool.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I invented the pattern with the raised diamonds, and being a generous soul - here it is:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Yarn:</em></strong> James C. Brett Denim with Wool Aran - 80% acrylic, 20% wool</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Needles:</em></strong> 6mm plastic needles (no idea where they came from)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><em>Pattern:</em></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">C/o 20 stitches (I held 2 strands together)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit 3 rows garter stitch.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Purl 1 row.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit 1 row.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Pattern stitch:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 1. P9, k2, P9</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 2. (and all alternate rows) K</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 3. P7, K2, P2, K2, P7</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 5. P5, K2, P6, K2, P5</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 7. P3, K2, P10, K2, P3</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 9. P1, K2, P14, K2, P1</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 11. Repeat Row 7</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 13. Repeat Row 5</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 15. Repeat Row 3</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Row 17. Repeat Row 1</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit 1 row.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Repeat these 18 Rows until scarf is required length.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Purl 1 row</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit 3 rows garter stitch.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Cast off.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I blocked it, but it still curls inward slightly on the wrong side as stockinette is wont to do. Doesn't worry me, I like it. Hopefully FIL will too.</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-41711191671931944362008-03-19T07:35:00.001-07:002008-12-10T00:07:43.266-08:00Superted!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlB6BDjckZHeRfn-eQrF9n20h-pstZHrzRv5YUog2u1uIEqxOpk56ZtZxMBd1SHFT3hRlUjOs-_2etyynJ9hgSXgkcfmygjOIO5uMzEGdDdVpaiSJw9TJ5-U3lUCwsKhbo_CNHO1HHAs/s1600-h/DSC00137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179461587593788210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 191px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px" height="267" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlB6BDjckZHeRfn-eQrF9n20h-pstZHrzRv5YUog2u1uIEqxOpk56ZtZxMBd1SHFT3hRlUjOs-_2etyynJ9hgSXgkcfmygjOIO5uMzEGdDdVpaiSJw9TJ5-U3lUCwsKhbo_CNHO1HHAs/s320/DSC00137.JPG" width="201" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">There are many things in life I'm happy for. P, my house, my job, my enormous CD collection, stuff like that. Today, I'm happy for the Superted I knitted! Here he is, in all his Super 8 inch high glory. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">P must talk about my knitting at work - I don't generally make him stuff, I'm aware that he needs to remain pretty cool at all times (what with running a record shop and all) so I don't generally bless him with knitted gifts. Anyway, he must've spoken about it to his boss, and she gave him the pattern for Superted (out of a magazine or paper or something, I've only got the one page so I have no idea where it came from). I made him with yarn from the stash (acrylic nasty DK on 5mm needles), so he didn't cost me a penny - I even had the stuffing (and still I am left with a huge amount of stuffing... must make more Superteds!). He will soon be flying off to join P as the shop's mascot!</span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-8672836417520142992008-03-18T09:49:00.001-07:002008-12-10T00:07:43.553-08:00Tiny Clothes for Tiny People<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-kBQz81MhvpAVNiRdZPGfrCGKckg_Xuxcn3-ac8sQY20BxzL9ofuW6dKuIwMEr7lcylNFUbAr0DqY1s8gMq00Wt8dH9rgkeUpcxKOmFRLexxBL6FwleM_xgA4Y6PPYdafCIDG55-ZMU/s1600-h/Baby.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179125038251440930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-kBQz81MhvpAVNiRdZPGfrCGKckg_Xuxcn3-ac8sQY20BxzL9ofuW6dKuIwMEr7lcylNFUbAr0DqY1s8gMq00Wt8dH9rgkeUpcxKOmFRLexxBL6FwleM_xgA4Y6PPYdafCIDG55-ZMU/s320/Baby.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I made a hat and booties (so far) for my friend Soph's baby. I am planning a jumper to match (in the cable pattern), which I'm intending to cast on, as soon as I've finished a tiny little secret project I have on the needles right now - I cast on for it last night, and fully expect it to be done tonight. It's so damn cool I can hardly contain myself, I hope it rocks as much when it's done as I imagine it's going to. I will not reveal today what it is... but soon.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So the baby stuff. Looking at the hat and booties (which I'm really pleased with - as ever my photography leaves a lot to be desired but you get the idea...) despite them being neutral baby white, it does look a bit girly... Soph isn't finding out the sex of the baby, so if it is a boy, he may end up with early gender issues if she puts him in these. I will speak privately with the child when its older and apologise profusely.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I knit this using some super soft baby DK and 3mm needles, and the pattern is from The Art of Knitting magazine. Hat took about 4 hours, booties an hour each. I love knitting tiny things that get finished quickly... </span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-9618100753716405102008-03-13T02:55:00.000-07:002008-03-13T03:01:46.990-07:00Spinning Many Plates<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A quick pictureless post today, just for the sake of an update. I have many, many projects on the go right now - and not enough done on any of them to warrant pictorial evidence. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">1. Cricket socks - I'm making a pair of socks for P (as he plays cricket every summer), in his club's colours. They are my "zombie knitting" project (ie. the one where you don't have to follow a pattern, or actually think about what you're doing. Perfect for late at night...or after a couple of glasses of wine). I'm about 3 inches in.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">2. Mum's 60th birthday wrap - I've ditched clapotis completely now, and I'm working on a feather and fan patterned wrap with the silky wool for my mother's 60th birthday (which fortunately is in October, so plenty of time). It's coming out beautifully, if not a little slow, but I'll definitely photograph it for next time. I'm about 5 inches in - and I'm not convinced I'm going to have enough yarn to finish it. No matter, I can buy more.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">3. Baby stuff - I've known about my friend Soph's pregnancy since January. And it only occurred to me a couple of weeks ago that I should really knit her something (I am a disgrace to knitters everywhere, I am well aware). I invested in some white baby DK (which is so soft it's like kittens!) which was on sale, so I got like 500 grams for about 7.50. I've made booties (yet to be seamed), and I'm cracking on with a cabled hat. I've knitted the pattern before, so I know what to expect. I'm also making the matching jumper, it's going to be so cute. I am trying not to get broody myself... it scares P.</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-26245058385133375002008-02-27T00:48:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:43.854-08:00A Speedy Hat For My Grandfather<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8Xsa2Rc951qgtr_slKLC50kywcxriyaqIkCMQQ6XHfW4LHTV1hVNFwV9J5SfOguYrprh7mqrykAdSxLsePJBvmDANONZjs_xM6mJyJymdqrblDLFZwMX8_7Zu8xLx6uVfWmkZn2fjG8/s1600-h/DSC00132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171579623213867362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="294" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8Xsa2Rc951qgtr_slKLC50kywcxriyaqIkCMQQ6XHfW4LHTV1hVNFwV9J5SfOguYrprh7mqrykAdSxLsePJBvmDANONZjs_xM6mJyJymdqrblDLFZwMX8_7Zu8xLx6uVfWmkZn2fjG8/s320/DSC00132.JPG" width="230" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My parents came over on Sunday. I made bread pudding for them, which sounds awful but actually comes out beautifully. We had some wine too, which went surprisingly well with bread pudding. But that doesn't matter for now. They mentioned to me that my grandfather (who is 81, and in the prime of health) has mentioned that he wants a hat. For presumably, he has a cold head. So obviously, I knitted him one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div><atomicelement id="ms__id18"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></atomicelement></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I used up some King Cole Aero which I had in the stash, and which I don't actually intend to use ever again, as it just feels wrong. The yarn is chunky, and looks like small strands plaited together. I've been trying to get rid of it for a while, and that hat was a good excuse. I knitted it on 7mm DPNs, over 56 stitches. Simple 2 by 2 rib for the bottom, then stockinette for the main body. Here it is, modelled effortlessly by the lovely P. Easy peasy, and took me about 2 hours to knit up. G'dad will never go chilly again!</span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-65749104508614916162008-02-26T00:36:00.001-08:002008-12-10T00:07:44.274-08:00I Never Felt So Good!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YsCMLFaCgyNyMMPhD634L-042nNHUnt_opp91ZKlFiwjZ5N1lMhofDLsGCG4GWn8sQbqFXyfL5i4XYA6O39Ijpwq8PCS1Vw0g4OoSqyHZUUu2wTS86z3aOha8t6a6sFj3zqT8h1X24o/s1600-h/Prefelt.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171205080590819618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="244" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YsCMLFaCgyNyMMPhD634L-042nNHUnt_opp91ZKlFiwjZ5N1lMhofDLsGCG4GWn8sQbqFXyfL5i4XYA6O39Ijpwq8PCS1Vw0g4OoSqyHZUUu2wTS86z3aOha8t6a6sFj3zqT8h1X24o/s320/Prefelt.JPG" width="217" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The bag turned out so much better than I imagined it would. I actually finished the knitting a while ago - I've been faffing around over the straps. I made 2 i-cords which I intended to felt and twist together, and they just took ages (you know that magic sort of knitting where your fabric gets to a certain length and then just stops growing? However much you knit?)</span></div><atomicelement id="ms__id2"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></atomicelement><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Eventually they were done (yay) so I put everything into pillow cases and stuck them in the washing machine on a boil wash. I was a bit nervous about breaking the washing machine (I put plastic boxes filled with water in as well to "agitate", and the sound it all made was horrendous, grindy breaky expensive noises) but everything came out well - I was really surprised how much it shrunk by.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKb2aGP7IwY7Y5oPWM7YCbzJYa4JUlKw8qOpJBxHXfsdCFchX2tq2YJVbKTVHBnLqaH1g7isVn8EM6DO5HutkJMtP1lLGtuKeekGJG3t6LpQhD8s11bf7aCHBfRHNPLAErjuq_fkZHKI/s1600-h/Felted.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171205192259969330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="301" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKb2aGP7IwY7Y5oPWM7YCbzJYa4JUlKw8qOpJBxHXfsdCFchX2tq2YJVbKTVHBnLqaH1g7isVn8EM6DO5HutkJMtP1lLGtuKeekGJG3t6LpQhD8s11bf7aCHBfRHNPLAErjuq_fkZHKI/s320/Felted.JPG" width="218" border="0" /></a></div></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I blocked the bag body by filling it with paperback books, and just laid the straps out straight. It didn't take that long to dry, so I sewed the straps on the following day (deciding not to twist them as planned, they just looked good sewn on straight) - added some flowers, made a closure out of some plaited yarn which just hooks over one of the flowers. It looks really cool, much better than I thought.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">And already I have more projects on the go. I ordered some yarn from the US to make Clapotis for my mother, so that's underway - the yarn isn't quite right so I get the impression I might have to do more pattern repeats than the pattern says, but I'm not worried at the moment. Also got a quick hat for my grandfather and a cricket sock for P (in his team's colours!) on the needles. I am putting a yarn ban on myself for this month - I want a new kitchen, which I can't afford thanks to the paltry payrise my company gave me, so all my savings are going towards that. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Mind you, I've promised myself that before....</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-65741158066202257422008-02-12T03:16:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:44.477-08:00Knitting Buckets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8mCQj2cUZx4-ywnvBGK2cTMx6D9L-KfxJQ8Am8xV7Gld1BPAtlA7z0eh-1uxE_WA8c9EhPXP1Zaqj5mSZFjg_NjQteWf_D2OSmiKSf4RLeZFOcmo6cVRp2wR4xbx21qsJ-opfSdAyCE/s1600-h/Bucket.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166051411893395730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8mCQj2cUZx4-ywnvBGK2cTMx6D9L-KfxJQ8Am8xV7Gld1BPAtlA7z0eh-1uxE_WA8c9EhPXP1Zaqj5mSZFjg_NjQteWf_D2OSmiKSf4RLeZFOcmo6cVRp2wR4xbx21qsJ-opfSdAyCE/s320/Bucket.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So I'm knitting some sort of big red bucket. This thing has begun to spiral out of control (as my knitting tends to) - I started with a pattern (free on the interweb, as most of the stuff I knit tends to be) and messed around with it. </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">This one involves knitting a rectangle (done), picking up all the stitches round it (done) and then knitting in the round in plain stockinette until you have a bag (doing). The picture here looks pretty good to me (although the bag only just fitted in the tiny square of sunshine I have in my flat at this time of day), but it just feels like it wants to be a bit longer - so I'm going to give it another inch or two before casting off. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Then I'm going to felt it. In a pillowcase in the washing machine, like you're supposed to. Then I'm going to block it by filling it with old videos. Because they fit, that's why.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I have no idea what I'm going to do about straps/handles - I'll play with it when I cast off and see what works best. I have an idea about embroidering it after felting, although I'll make decisions about this when it's done and I can see what I'm dealing with!</span></p>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-89041691658947045752008-01-25T09:04:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:45.029-08:00Say It With Mice<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-QeZAu1ozui87LIDpN3wMHP6vJOkHaQql4RHJRXZf0oydU9UxfhNiYctro8PL_tGH55NuBcT8rrlrYEnudpRIeDEjWYJs-cRihXCx1_xfcbw5Ko4PFoHtFU-Kdm_tqmCTF7Be3MDwck/s1600-h/DSC00116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159461784870603234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="172" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-QeZAu1ozui87LIDpN3wMHP6vJOkHaQql4RHJRXZf0oydU9UxfhNiYctro8PL_tGH55NuBcT8rrlrYEnudpRIeDEjWYJs-cRihXCx1_xfcbw5Ko4PFoHtFU-Kdm_tqmCTF7Be3MDwck/s320/DSC00116.JPG" width="245" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Nothing says "thanks for giving us a gorgeous cat" like knitted cat nip mice. As ever, my photography is poor - but you can get the idea. I found the pattern on someone's blog somewhere - not one I regularly read, but they took about 10 minutes each to make. I modified the pattern slightly to make ears.</span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I've stuffed them with teddy bear stuffing - in the middle of each ball of stuffing is a cat nip heart, so they turn cats orgasmic. At the very top of the picture you can see a black triangle - George's ear - and the white blur by the purple mouse's tail is his paw, shortly before he pulled it out of the picture. The cats home are now only getting four meeces - George has claimed Mr Lilac as his own. They look a bit shabby in this picture (particularly the seams) but I wasn't being that fussy with them, and they actually look pretty cool in the flesh (or wool). I'll be sending them to the Milborne (Milburn?) Animal Centre together with a letter and picture of George this weekend.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGix5f3Io9iMz_yYSmJ_6jHFXnibVu4C7veFKRHeWM-lW8ZM6dfqJYkbafD71-EX_llO9bEogpjwnjHVcNOr9GfkhIjRXlespBBz2ycuo7LfTU-1jZweQzBvHPU3GgCZvVc0WJeKnzV8/s1600-h/DSC00117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159462974576544242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="157" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGix5f3Io9iMz_yYSmJ_6jHFXnibVu4C7veFKRHeWM-lW8ZM6dfqJYkbafD71-EX_llO9bEogpjwnjHVcNOr9GfkhIjRXlespBBz2ycuo7LfTU-1jZweQzBvHPU3GgCZvVc0WJeKnzV8/s320/DSC00117.JPG" width="226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Speaking of George - I finally got him to sit still long enough to pose for this picture (he is so lovely I'm sure it will eventually be part of his supermodelling portfolio). He's starting to settle in now - having spent most of this week under our bed, today he's been prowling around and napping in his own bed. Right now he's motoring around the living room after Mr Lilac - proving that missing a leg doesn't hamper his fun at all.</span><br /><p></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The yarn I bought for clapotis (and subsequently started knitting place mats with) is now destined for greater things. Reading up about the yarn on the internet, apparently it felts really well - so I'm knitting a simple bucket bag which I'm going to try felting in the washing machine. Currently about 75% through it - pictures next time.</span></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-78240684302972007132008-01-21T00:39:00.000-08:002008-01-21T01:02:03.613-08:00Seven Between Us<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Phipps' owners came forward on Friday, and so he was returned to his rightful home. We know we did the right thing (and the owners themselves were very, very grateful), and since we took him in we knew it was a possibility that his owners would be found, but it was still really heart wrenching to say goodbye. A few tears were shed (after the owners and he had been dispatched with smiles and waves) and P and I got straight on line Friday night to get numbers for our local cat rescue places in an effort to adopt a "cat of our very own that no one can ever take away". </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So Saturday morning I made some tea and got on the phone. I rang several cat protection places in our area, whose websites were begging for kind owners for their rescued cats. And I have to say, in all honesty, I have never spoken to such a bunch of sanctimonious, patronising women in all my life. I realise they have the best interests of the cats at heart but apparently no one in the world other than them have ever owned or perhaps even seen a cat before. No one wanted to help us.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Eventually I got through to our local branch of the RSPCA and spoke to the first useful person I'd spoken to that day. He direct us to the Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, and advised as they were very busy it would probably be best to go and see them in person as they haven't always got time to answer the phone. So we did just that.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">We were interviewed about our suitability as owners, and about our house. We explained were were after an indoor cat as we don't have a garden and our flat overlooks a pretty busy road. We then had a look at the cats needing rehoming picked one who was perfect for us in our situation. A very nice lady from the RSPCA came round the same evening to check that everything we'd said was true (and that we were who we said we were), gave us the green light and we picked up our cat yesterday.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">His name is Boyz, but we thought that was a bit ghetto for a cat living in rural Frimley Green, so we've renamed him George (not terribly dissimilar in terms of how it sounds). He is 6 years old, gigantic (he's 10 inches from the back of his neck to the beginning of his tail), 5.5 Kg and VERY vocal. He's also very special, as he's only got three legs (he lost one to cancer a month ago). He's still finding his way around, but he's very affectionate (and demanding of cuddles every five minutes!). He is also a diabolical genius - whilst he can hop around and get up on the furniture perfectly well when it suits him, he is not adverse to lying pathetically on the floor mewling until someone picks him up and puts him where he cannot be bothered to go himself.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Our family now has 7 legs between us, and we're very happy about it. This is not a cat blog, although he will now feature from time to time (and there will be a photo when he's more settled). Back to knitting next time. Needless to say, as a thank you to the people at the RSPCA (and more importantly for the other cats) there will be some cat nip mice knitted and in the post.</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-34354938885817092962008-01-15T02:54:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:45.260-08:00My New Familiar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgcrj7PbEkQ7Ah0AIQaR9iyIFFYxRTzNjM8qL-9hqoQSRqewptun87zHWll4_L0JAY5Ff0a-tbXaw_FNNAsYZV84xiotVyDEAHa4mCxcrGSMjdrVJbZr-lOoY0XeQ2qqlLBEqfw0VL5E/s1600-h/DSC00113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155655334487855122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="187" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgcrj7PbEkQ7Ah0AIQaR9iyIFFYxRTzNjM8qL-9hqoQSRqewptun87zHWll4_L0JAY5Ff0a-tbXaw_FNNAsYZV84xiotVyDEAHa4mCxcrGSMjdrVJbZr-lOoY0XeQ2qqlLBEqfw0VL5E/s320/DSC00113.JPG" width="237" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">We've acquired a cat. P works in a record shop in Godalming, and this cat turned up one day and stayed. He has no collar. He appears not to be chipped. P has had no response to the poster he put up in the shop window, and no response since we reported him to the local vet. When a poster appeared in the town centre reporting a missing cat, P called up - it's not this guy. He appears to be a stray - in fact, some of P's customers have reported seeing several ginger cats around the area, which suggests it might be an abandoned litter (or someone's cat has had a litter that the owner doesn't know about!). He's about 4 months old (he's small and quite fluffy, so I don't think he's quite a full grown cat yet). We've brought him home so he's got food and a warm place to sleep while we wait to see if someone's going to claim him.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Needless to say, I've fallen head over heels in love with him. He's hilarious - he chases everything and falls over stuff and chews P's hair. We've called him Phipps - after the character in Ripping Yarns who is famous for escaping from everywhere. On 2nd February (3 weeks away - giving his owner, if he has one, ample time to get in contact) we're putting a collar on him and getting him checked out with our vet. Then he'll be our official Cat.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In knitting news - there isn't much I'm afraid. I bought yarn to make Clapotis. I swatched. The gauge was right, but the yarn wasn't - it's just too stiff and scratchy (getting the correct yarn for any American pattern is a nightmare, so I aim for best match). I worried about it for a while and got about 60 rows into Clapotis. Then I relaxed, and ripped the whole thing out. I have decided to use the yarn (which is very lovely 70% wool, 30% alpaca in bright red) to make placemats - we've got some el cheapo silver placemats which I wanted to replace, but with red knitted under-placemats, they'll have a new lease of life. I have made nearly 1, I want 4 (as our table seats 4). It's a basic moss stitch pattern, and it's perfect for the yarn and for how I want it to look at the end. I'm not sure when they'll be finished... Knitting is now an extreme sport with a cat about... </span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-86837696496388010422008-01-04T03:19:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:45.486-08:00Goodbye to Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jrUvtu_qMaVsyjHXSUHHiwixIRR4TSNtFRpHqjxhk-36H0bGa_Sxoxr_zIg79rbWrjIfTKOhN3fvNKLcCh4bUg9eJeB1bjLiEuxPLcf0pyYAYE0-5I8sKykcCOvcyjKAnuIec_gWLu8/s1600-h/DSC00112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151579513603166210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jrUvtu_qMaVsyjHXSUHHiwixIRR4TSNtFRpHqjxhk-36H0bGa_Sxoxr_zIg79rbWrjIfTKOhN3fvNKLcCh4bUg9eJeB1bjLiEuxPLcf0pyYAYE0-5I8sKykcCOvcyjKAnuIec_gWLu8/s320/DSC00112.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Naturally, my Christmas rocked. All of it was spent with friends and family, my husband spoiled me rotten (and I him), and we got some really nice things for our house from our relatives. There was much food, much carolling, more alcohol than I care to remember just now... just the way Christmas should be.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">The Twilleys was not forthcoming. I went to my parents' place on Boxing Day, equiped (just in case) with all the relevent needles and pattern for the Twilleys Cardi, convinced that the yarn would be in one of the boxes with my name on it. Sadly no - the parents could not work out the weight of yarn I was after, but bless them forever for trying. My mother did knit me a scarf - one of those eyelash ones, it's gorgeous and the colour (burgundy and green varigated) is so festive. I hate knitting with eyelash yarn - I find it doesn't behave itself - Ma had bought me the yarn to knit it myself, but I must've mentioned I hate knitting with it, so she did it for me. It is my first hand knit gift, and it's so lovely - I like it all the more that I didn't have to do it myself!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">My mother in law got me a knitting doll. It made me chuckle, just because of what it is and how it looks, but it actually has a practical application for making i-cords. So everything I knit from now on will be adorned with i-cord!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Now I'm thinking about the next project. I haven't picked up any knitting at all over Christmas, so I think a larger project would now be in order. I do have a sock and a boring black glove for P on the needles (having managed to knit the other glove in 2 days...) I'm trying to get my head around the pattern for Clapotis - it's one of these things everyone needs to knit at least once. I won't commit to buying yarn until I have had a go with a swatch...</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-10866446390678861392007-12-18T01:19:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:45.710-08:00Knitting for Knitting's Sake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQg8bar6WjqhIgxShTyfO_JVPPTKBeJKbzzS1rM1aoKe0fMH0JCfWwjK9310k1DhLxTfAoxzQheew1ZFYiClbmyyjaZw70eh9diLs5jF4cbTJBgQKzch8FgkEu4EVeMD3rDh24ymNaZVA/s1600-h/DSC00111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145240287903158258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQg8bar6WjqhIgxShTyfO_JVPPTKBeJKbzzS1rM1aoKe0fMH0JCfWwjK9310k1DhLxTfAoxzQheew1ZFYiClbmyyjaZw70eh9diLs5jF4cbTJBgQKzch8FgkEu4EVeMD3rDh24ymNaZVA/s320/DSC00111.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Here we are, less than a week before Christmas. A time where knitters world wide are usually found sobbing into their skeins of merino, completely aware that they are not going to finish that shawl for Aunty Mary in time.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Not me. I knitted a hat. It's the Unoriginal Hat by the Yarn Harlot (<a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/">www.yarnharlot.ca</a>), and I knitted it with King Cole Aero on 7mm needles. I have been meaning to knit this since I first saw it on Stephanie's blog - my first attempt ended up as a neck warmer as I ran out of yarn halfway through (a very effective neck warmer, however). Undeterred, I bought more yarn and knitted it again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I love this pattern. I knitted it in a day (which always makes me feel good - there is no opportunity to lose interest in the project or the yarn, and something might actually get finished). I love cables anyway - and I got hold of a lovely set of cable needles on Friday that my mother was throwing out. Silly girl.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Nice hat, finished in time for Christmas - surely it would make a great gift? Of course - except that I can't think of anyone to give it to. No one. I think it looks pretty boyish, despite the cables, and I can't think of a single guy that could do with (ie. actually use) a hat. So essentially, I've knitted this for no good reason. Knitting for knitting's sake. Surely the best kind!?</span></p>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-67539629394220902622007-12-13T08:55:00.001-08:002008-12-10T00:07:46.021-08:00Recycling<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvDNjIlYL-I3GAtv0xo-cptpLIidd6LR4LS8tQ26jL1mF2sshNZhjsyv2wfVC-nwf6egiPmuhsBCcbdhuEZBFfAYnyaRVDhw8cB_IYNgkWzCcIMh4attT-vjmCvHnIJD91fl7S2fQvbE/s1600-h/Ponch.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143502591054474706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 173px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" height="242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvDNjIlYL-I3GAtv0xo-cptpLIidd6LR4LS8tQ26jL1mF2sshNZhjsyv2wfVC-nwf6egiPmuhsBCcbdhuEZBFfAYnyaRVDhw8cB_IYNgkWzCcIMh4attT-vjmCvHnIJD91fl7S2fQvbE/s320/Ponch.JPG" width="191" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I got this poncho as a gift from my parents, several years ago. It was back when ponchos were enjoying their moment in the sun, their 15 minutes of fame. I would like to say I was never a fan of the style, but my wardrobe begs to differ (I have a gorgeous, hand crocheted black poncho made for me by my mother in law, which I love and wear a lot. But it was hand made. And from my MIL. And black never looks bad). The problem with this particular ponch is the length - too short. I obviously suffer quite a lot with short clothing (as my mohair cardi testifies...). This thing just hung off my boobs as if they were a shelf. For shame. </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">So I let it fester in a cupboard for several years. I don't know what I was hoping for... maybe that it would move out in the night?</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Here we are in 2007. I am not buying any more yarn this year (I have my fingers crossed that Ma & Pa have bought me yarn for Christmas - my dad tried to engage me in a conversation about colours of Twilleys Freedom, which was very bizarre and suggests to me he was digging for information... anyways...) so I thought I'd try and recyle the ponch. I attacked it with some scissors, following advice I read in the Frankenknits section of Knitty (<a href="http://www.knitty.com/">www.knitty.com</a>). First I removed the tassles. Then I unpicked the seams - essentially this garment is 4 big blocks of knitting joined together, so unravelling it all was easy. I ended up with 4 large balls and a couple of small balls of this funky yarn - some of it is like roving, it's just actual unspun wool, and then it turns into a really thin, almost 3 ply consistency. Weird. There is just about every colour ever involved here too.</span><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FNnjNTY7wjwVnenSUjxFeW8XIr-6ZC3wyE8_5qy3rOL4OE9ocmIlrHGHhKugRzqVSp-nU8B1q2sGU5CpLm-zpP8T9O034tRoqU9UP4B77UkVaZCFxBB3pgL_nJBZAp00lHNz-yYYNGU/s1600-h/Me.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143502904587087330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FNnjNTY7wjwVnenSUjxFeW8XIr-6ZC3wyE8_5qy3rOL4OE9ocmIlrHGHhKugRzqVSp-nU8B1q2sGU5CpLm-zpP8T9O034tRoqU9UP4B77UkVaZCFxBB3pgL_nJBZAp00lHNz-yYYNGU/s320/Me.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So I knit myself a hat and scarf. I didn't bother about patterns as the yarn is so funky, any sort of pattern stitch would've been entirely wasted. Here is a hat adapted from a pattern from Knitting Pattern Central, knit initially on 5mm needles, and then on 6mms for the main body of the hat (which is plain old reliable stockinette). </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I wasn't entirely happy with how the hat turned out - basically the needles were too small. I used 10mm needles for the scarf (which is k1, p1 over 20 stitches all the way up, simple yet effective) which has a far better tension, so I'm thinking with the remaining yarn I might re knit the hat on 7mm/8mm needles. Then I can give the hat to someone or sell it or something.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">This was an eyeopener. Imagine how much I could save on yarn if I just recycle old stuff I buy in charity shops or something? It was easy, and I got so much yarn for very little effort.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">That said, I am weak. I like the process of going in a yarn shop and touching everything, and imagining it all knit up. It's going to be an expensive new year... especially if Ma & Pa don't come up with the Twilleys....</span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-61241290370187773902007-12-05T01:04:00.001-08:002008-12-10T00:07:46.470-08:00Digby, The Biggest Sock in the World!**<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO3S-5JSsv4EnJ04lGSctV-peVX8ywu2zPAHHNxwuvfUFDbofCx7ypBnO7F6VHZq2KV7k4lp8MlsYM5fhR6B8ZTC5wPYtILBfpiggVVq5m891jOCkiJCCyelKO_8YjxZRVmz0c8OMoCk/s1600-h/DSC00106.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140412280480623954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO3S-5JSsv4EnJ04lGSctV-peVX8ywu2zPAHHNxwuvfUFDbofCx7ypBnO7F6VHZq2KV7k4lp8MlsYM5fhR6B8ZTC5wPYtILBfpiggVVq5m891jOCkiJCCyelKO_8YjxZRVmz0c8OMoCk/s320/DSC00106.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> **This is very witty, believe me, so long as you were a young child in Britain in the '70s.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Another free pattern! Does my generosity know no bounds?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">You need: about 50g red DK weight yarn (I opted for acrylic nastiness), 25g each of yellow and white (both in DK weight) but to be honest I probably used less. Obviously you can change the colours.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Set of 5mm double pointed needles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Using white yarn, cast on 64 stitches and divide over 3 needles (21 stitches on 1st needle, 22 stitches on 2nd needle, 21 stitches on 3rd needle). Place a marker if you need to marking the beginning of the round. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Work K1, P1 ribbing for 4cm. Join red yarn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit straight round until work measures 8cm in total. Join yellow yarn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Follow the following chart for the stars - the chart is worked over 11 stitches and 11 rows. Basically, you work 1 row of the chart, then knit 5 "separator" stitches (in red) before working the chart again. This is the case for each row of the chart. You end up with 4 snowflakes round the sock.</span><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUMBPTMcKTnxleQsfPMSpY4zUxgyaVjoc34Fyu5lVpmoX03E1Y0Vkw-28oSlLCaFCxwWZyGIXU6tYIjEmr4_5dZ0gq5h15spMiCwVGcY-PC5Pu5AReWDiuyjo8Wuhw3WSdQFW1TtGPUU/s1600-h/chart.bmp"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140415527475899810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px" height="165" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUMBPTMcKTnxleQsfPMSpY4zUxgyaVjoc34Fyu5lVpmoX03E1Y0Vkw-28oSlLCaFCxwWZyGIXU6tYIjEmr4_5dZ0gq5h15spMiCwVGcY-PC5Pu5AReWDiuyjo8Wuhw3WSdQFW1TtGPUU/s320/chart.bmp" width="251" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Once the chart is complete, cut yellow yarn and secure. Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 15cm in total.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Join yellow yarn, and knit straight until work measures 19cm in total. Change to red yarn. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 21cm in total. Change to white yarn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Continue in white (knitting straight every round) until work measures 25cm in total. Change to red yarn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 30cm in total.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit across the 21 stitches of the first needle, turn and purl across these stitches and those on the third needle. Join yellow and white yarn at this stage. These 42 stitches will be the heel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Work 14 rows in stocking stitch (starting with a knit row), alternating colours every 2 rows. Stick with one colour (I chose yellow) for turning the heel:</span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Turn Heel:</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">1st row: K30, sl1, k1, psso, turn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2nd row: sl1, P18, P2tog, turn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">3rd row: sl1, K18, sl1, k1, psso, turn. Repeat rows 2 and 3 8 times, then 2nd row again. (There should now be 22 stitches on the needle). Change to red yarn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Sl1, k to end, then pick up and knit 11 stitches evenly across the first side of the heel flap. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Using a 2nd needle, knit across 22 stitches of the second needle (instep), then using a third needle, pick up and k11 stitches evenly across the 2nd side of the heel. Knit across 11 stitches from the end of the first needle. You should now have 66 stitches over the three needles (22 on each). </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">K1 round straight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit to last 2 stitches on first needle, k2tog, k1. Knit across second needle, then on 3rd needle, k1, sl1, k1, pss0, knit to end. Repeat the last 2 rounds until 44 stitches remain. Change to yellow yarn, and knit 2 rounds straight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit to last 2 stitches on first needle, k2tog, on 2nd needle sl1, k1, pss0, knit to last 2 stitches and k2tog, then on 3rd needle sl1, k1, psso, knit to end.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit 1 round.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Repeat the last 2 rounds until 28 stitches remain, join red then decrease as before on every round for 2 rounds. Change to white, and continuing the decrease on every round, work until 8 stitches remain. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Turn work inside out to cast off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Casting off: </strong>(this is the easiest method that I use).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Useful tip: I find it's easiest to turn the whole thing inside out if I transfer the remaining stitches onto safety pins first - the whole they have to fit through is tiny so I don't trust myself to try and get a needle through there or just take the stitches off the needle altogether. Once the sock is inside out, put the stitches back on two needles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Knit together 1 stitch from each needle twice (so 2 stitches on the right hand needle), pass first stitch over 2nd to cast off as usual. Repeat until everything is cast off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Maybe that should've been Digby the biggest blog post in the world....</span></p>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-14770190734504356452007-12-04T00:57:00.000-08:002008-12-10T00:07:46.881-08:00Mixed Feelings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBthuAUotfOSOBimJ-yk2VFFMIqvlebevLea-G7Q8uSNA6AcQRqlmXY2Pj7UP4hSZIq5k1Ay04F1lavGVcWyyOry97NpsnVManmY9c4ozCUt6luwHQTB-e8TNvbJ3labpnqFZFDs5Wr0/s1600-h/DSC00104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140040954788080962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px" height="196" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBthuAUotfOSOBimJ-yk2VFFMIqvlebevLea-G7Q8uSNA6AcQRqlmXY2Pj7UP4hSZIq5k1Ay04F1lavGVcWyyOry97NpsnVManmY9c4ozCUt6luwHQTB-e8TNvbJ3labpnqFZFDs5Wr0/s320/DSC00104.JPG" width="161" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Have to admit... I'm slightly disappointed with the outcome of the Mohair cardi. The fit of it just isn't right on me. Maybe it's my body shape that doesn't suit the garment rather than vice versa... either way, it's a bit boxy.</span> <div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I like the style. I adore the yarn. I love the ribbon round the edging (which I would definitely include on other garments). I think the main problem with this for me is the length - I followed the pattern to the letter and I think I could've done with adding 2 inches to the length all round.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">All of that said - this is the first real item of clothing I've tried to knit, and it's come out cardigan shaped and I could wear it out, so I'm not deeply upset with it. Lessons have been learned.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG6_8TMCfj57ueMuQxj5OuwyPo6FsUBC59Ba3T1QfIJOmlhsaesFDIunGM7ixQPFosNEkzLXawAAhSOc9TUkhOY6jSDOtX2TUFK85DFyaVnyioHtMlRhyphenhyphenbnMIzDw2C1O_zrxBAmTs5kI/s1600-h/DSC00103.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140040774399454514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" height="244" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG6_8TMCfj57ueMuQxj5OuwyPo6FsUBC59Ba3T1QfIJOmlhsaesFDIunGM7ixQPFosNEkzLXawAAhSOc9TUkhOY6jSDOtX2TUFK85DFyaVnyioHtMlRhyphenhyphenbnMIzDw2C1O_zrxBAmTs5kI/s320/DSC00103.JPG" width="166" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The pattern is from The Art of Knitting magazine (you can probably subscribe if you look up "Hatchette Partworks" on Google... it's a good series of magazines for a beginner knitter, which I am, but frankly some of the patterns are so easy my husband could probably knit them - and this a man who suggested we improvise chop sticks from my needles...)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The yarn is Sublime Kid Mohair (colour is Venetian Green) which is gorgeous and I would like to be buried in a pile of it. I used 6mm needles which explains why it took me less than a month to knit. I got the ribbon from Army and Navy haberdashery (it was something like 40p a metre. I have no idea what colour it is or anything, but it's about 1/2 a centimetre in width).</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So I've forged straight on with a stocking decoration I'm knitting for Christmas. The pattern is my own, so it'll feature here in the next day or so. I'm knitting it with old nasty acrylic bought ages ago (no point on wasting good yarn on a project that will essentially see the light of day once a year). I had a bit of red left, a full ball of yellow, and some white all in DK weight, now I'm half way through the stocking and I'm not sure I have enough yarn to even finish it! Time will tell...! </span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-87142322172992974692007-11-27T01:30:00.001-08:002007-11-27T01:36:47.533-08:00Busy!<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It's been an age since I last posted - I've been crazy busy. Which is not to say that there hasn't been knitting - there has. All on the Mohair cardi. I am now finishing off the first sleeve, then it's just the second sleeve to go! Hoping to get some more done on it this week.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I did my Christmas shopping this weekend (having taken a couple of days off work to do so). Guildford shopping centre is officially the seventh circle of hell. And it wasn't even a weekend day... Despite getting dangerously close to homicidal at several points, the Christmas shopping is now done, and I did not weaken and go in the yarn shop (Pandora's). Although I was tempted.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I'm thinking about doing a bit of Christmas knitting. Not gifts for people - I'm going to stop at the socks in terms of gifts - but I thought it might be fun to make some decorations. I get ludicrously over excited about Christmas. I can't help myself. I knitted a tiny tree decoration last year which wasn't too stressful (ie. you can knock it out in a day, so no real deadlines!). I also made stuffed snowmen, which are just the cutest (and you can find the pattern at <a href="http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/">www.knittingpatterncentral.com</a>). This year<em> </em>I think I should do something different altogether...</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821860977795451349.post-92059124444705413242007-11-15T02:29:00.001-08:002008-12-10T00:07:47.379-08:00Finished Socks of Rock<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Xs12iMGeWur9-wXKpFn87AgakLe4FOzlWSt6u_X2jhF0qZSvP6C7qr-G5rVJXTQL9hNn62O8u78IbSSGtfTDVsj4d0AYGUvwwV1XEv3v4ryOTWsjYhxex2OijmTIv72puhPxV_Kb7fg/s1600-h/DSC00102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133012515610659442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" height="179" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Xs12iMGeWur9-wXKpFn87AgakLe4FOzlWSt6u_X2jhF0qZSvP6C7qr-G5rVJXTQL9hNn62O8u78IbSSGtfTDVsj4d0AYGUvwwV1XEv3v4ryOTWsjYhxex2OijmTIv72puhPxV_Kb7fg/s320/DSC00102.JPG" width="201" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Another finished item (or in this case, items) to add to the pile! The socks are done, here they are in all their glory on my feet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">These were quick to knit, and the yarn is fabulous. It was my first experiment with self striping yarn and I was pleased with the result, and pleasantly surprised that I managed to get the different colours to pretty much match up. Where there are differences, I'm also happy, as it just makes them look a bit more hand made.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCUWMfAMN9x2GhIfuC8deQ7rvOedpt_2bU7VXWgSWIke2aldM0dKNcYOxfbbAtv4GeKogPcSMBbualsK02KY35Gc_ih_vhmS-FY2TDdTRur0SWasmZTE8qFm1eLWTHlyhsum7un2z-lQ/s1600-h/DSC00101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133013310179609218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" height="218" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCUWMfAMN9x2GhIfuC8deQ7rvOedpt_2bU7VXWgSWIke2aldM0dKNcYOxfbbAtv4GeKogPcSMBbualsK02KY35Gc_ih_vhmS-FY2TDdTRur0SWasmZTE8qFm1eLWTHlyhsum7un2z-lQ/s320/DSC00101.JPG" width="178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A close up to give a better idea of the pattern of the yarn. The sock pattern itself wasn't much of a challenge - it's a 2x2 rib all the way down, but in my defence, I'm still new to socks so all the fun is in turning the heel etc. for me at the moment. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I used 3mm needles, Regia yarn (the ball band is in German so I'm not entirely sure of the name of the colour... "Jacquard" I think?), and the Legendary Cath's 70's sock pattern. They will be a Christmas present, although I'm not sure who the lucky recipient is... probably my Uncle in Law. Or my Grandfather (who often mentions how he would wear hand knit wool socks back during his years in the navy for weeks at a time, without his feet becoming sweaty or smelly or anything. Bearing in mind my entire immediate family have the worst smelling, sweatiest feet in the world - we're not proud, but hell, we're realists - this is an impressive boast, and makes us all very jealous).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">As with every sock I've ever knitted - it was enjoyable during the knitting, but I'm delighted to get them done... now back to the Mohair cardi full time. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I finished the left front last week (in one day!), and cast on the right front. Then I decided to get a nasty cold and put it down for a few days. I shall be picking it up again today or tomorrow - whilst I'm not going to set myself a firm deadline, I would like to get it done in the next 2 weeks. Watch this space!</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114792452985897896noreply@blogger.com0