skein

A few quick FOs before the end of the month

Two more things that are finished.

Another single sock for Natalie at the Yarn Yard

Pattern: Crosshatch Lace, from More Sensational Knitted Socks
Started: 22nd May
Finished: 24th May
Needles: 2.25mm circular.
A very quick and easy knit.

The second item is another quick knit 

Pattern:m Confection
Started: May 28th
Finished: May 30th
Needles: 4.5mm
Yarn:  Blue Skies Aplacas cotton, pale pink.

And Dawn?
Last weekend it was like this:

and then I looked on ravlery, and realised that mine was very open lace.  A quick measure and my tension was way out - by 5 sts! So I frogged back to the ribbing, went down a needle size and tried to knit more tightly.  A much better result!

Primrose Path

What a problem taking photos!  First of all it was too sunny, and then we left it too late and the flash kept going off. Hence the non flash blurred photos.

Pattern: Primrose Path
Started: 22nd April
Finished: 24th May
Needles: 3.5mm
Yarn: Cathay from stash

NaKniSweMoDo #5!

It's a tad snug, but it hasn't been blocked out properly.  I put it on this morning and promptly let the sleeve (not even full length) go into the washing up and then into my coffee!  So it needs a wash, and I'll try to block it out then. 

Chris is most bemused by the holes, especially the holes off pattern!

I love the way it spirals around

It's very comfortable to wear next to the skin, but the Cathay wasn't my favourite to knit with. It's very splitty, and unforgiving, highlighting every knitting blip.  I'm hoping when I wash it it will even out a bit!

Onto NaKniSweMoDo #6. I've had to frog it back to the start of the ribbing!  I had another look at the pattern and it looked awfully open.  When I checked the tension I was way out, something like 10 sts instead of 15 sts to 4"!   I've gone down a needle size and am knitting it tighter - it's amazing how the pattern has changed.  I'll get a photo soon.

New wips!

I should be writing a post about finishing Primrose Path, but I need to take decent photos. It's a bit snug, but I'm sure a proper blocking will make it grow more!  I've managed to dip the sleeve in the washing up and then my tea, so it needs a wash!

Meanwhile ,,, NaKniSweMoDo number 6 is on the needles!  It's Dawn, from Kim Hargreaves. Now this style is not my usual cup of tea, but I cannot not knit my namesake!  It'll be useful as a cover up in the early morning or if it turns chilly in the summer. 
It's handknit cotton, and the pattern is killing me - a yarnover, p2tog pattern. Very lacy. I'm going to put the start date as yesterday, though I knitted the ribbing last year.  Look how much I've done in an evening!

 

Very openwork!

Over the weekend I've been rummaging in the lace/shawl stash. It was meant to be a quick rummage, but six hours later (!) I emerged from the bedroom with yarn for four shawls. I don't do things by half!

Ravelry as usual has been a huge source of inspiration, though I'm beginning to suspect I might be one of those knitters who wants to replicate not only the pattern but the same colour of yarn.  All of these links are in ravelry, apologies to anyone who isn't a member, if any of the knitters has a blog post I'll post that link too.

First option
Kauni multieffekt in a gray/purple shade.  Found the best pattern - feather and fan from Folk Shawls.  And it's in the same colours!

Second option
Ishbel's shawl in wollmeise. In the exact shade!

Third option
Baltic Blossoms lace shawl (non ravelry link here) in Malabrigo lace - a pink colour which I wound ages ago and have lost the label.  Checked on ravelry and the three projects using malabrigo lace aren't in the same colour!

Fourth option
Violets by the river (non ravelry link here) using knitwitches silk lace in a beautful bright green.

I narrowed it down to two - Ishbel and Baltic Blossoms.  After a few hours knitting I'm going to scrap Baltic Blossoms

It's lovely, I know, but it's coming out too small. I've only one skein, and so I'm knitting the smaller shawl, but it's going to be very small, even with blocking I think.  I need to either use larger needles or thicker yarn!  Having started this pattern though it's still goiing to remain at the top of the to-do list. 

Ishbel is goiing well - it's stocking stitch.  Believe it or not, I keep making mistakes and forgetting yarnovers!  How can I do this on a (so far) mindless knit?) I love this colour!

Of course, sitting out in sunshine today my mind kept wandering to restarting Baltic Blossoms in a silk laceweight! 

Marie Antoinette socks

As usual, my camera is being a bit petulant about the correct colour!
This photo taken at home before I left for work (too pale and pink)

and this one taken outside work an hour later (too dark!)

and this one an hour later!

This last one is a better colour. 

Pattern: Marie Antoinette by Knitspot
Yarn: Fleece Artist Sea Wool, in Amethyst
Started: 2nd May
Finished: 21st May
Needles: 2.25mm
Modifications: none

I love the bees pattern, I love the beehive pattern.  Easily memorised, so you don't need to refer to the chart.  Having pattern repeats to work is a little like knitting with self striping/patterning yarn, one always wants to work to the end of the repeat, I'm sure it speeds up the sock knitting.

This was knitted as part of May's SKA (ravelry group).

Unfortunately it's pretty difficult to take a photo of the back of your leg!  Especially first thing in the morning, with people walking past!  I wanted to show off the bees a bit better, you can't see them on the top photos.  And btw, this is a more realistic colour!

oops, a bit out of focus too!

These were very nearly not finished last night.  All day yesterday I had an urge to start something new, which wasn't a garment nor a sock - a shawl! Those shawls at IKl are terribly tempting! Looking at the Wollmeise colours and shawls on ravelry had me convinced that I'd get in last night, go straight to my Wollmeise stash and cast on. Common sense prevailed. i had half a foot to knit, and Primrose Path needs finishing. 

I bet I start a shawl over this Spring bank holiday!

Knitting plans for the week

Halfway through the month and I'm halfway through May's goals. This usually means that I'm heading for a fall!  I feel the urge to cast on.  I'm just not a one, or even two project person, so to restrict myself to just two things is quite difficult.  We'll see how long it lasts, because this week I plan on working on just two things.

Finish Marie Antoinette socks

taken this morning, I'm already half way down the foot. Gorgeous combination of yarn (Fleece Artist Sea Wool), colour (amethyst) and pattern (Knitspot's Marie Antoinette).  The pattern is easy to memorise, especially as I have only the Beehive pattern down the top of the foot. It's not my commuting and carry along knitting at the moment though.  This is Primrose Path.

Second sleeve!  The sleeve has no shaping; ribbing helps, and the flare out at the cuff is due to the lace pattern.

As I've mentioned before, it's pretty snug.  I steam pressed the first sleeve.  Looked fine, no 'killing', so I did the same for the body.  It grew!  Not sure if it's enough, but nearly there.

You can't really see the differnce but believe me, it's wider!

I've only the plain ribbing on sleeve 2, pattern bit is done.  I should have this finished this week if I don't get distracted by new things!  I want to knit some more single socks, trying to not think about this until next week, and of course this close to completion of garment number 5 for NaKniSweMoDo means that I'm scouting for number 6!

Mystery Blanket May squares

No new squares this month, just one variation.

Ones we've had before, same colours and orientation
Square 12 - a bit of striping and fairisle. this one isn't difficult, but I don't enjoy the ends.

Square 20, a little bit of moss stitch, some colour changes.

Square 21, a few purl stitches for texture, lots of beading, minimal swiss darning.

Square 31 - eyelet lace, fake cables, beads

And finally, we've had this square in a different colour and orientation. Square 4, texture, bobbles beads.

This is a 10 month mystery blanket, so May sees us at the halfway point. 

That's 25 squares knitted, 24 plus border to do.

We've typical April weather today, lots of showers and sunshine, not the most ideal for photographs. Sunny, cloudy, damp grass!
Here's a quick shot of the squares laid out. It's a bit elongated, I had to rotate the image!

Colourful, isn't it?  I'm enjoying this so much!

Sock singles and pairs

Single socks

These are for Natalie at the Yarn Yard - she put out a request for single socks as an example of her yarn knitted up.

From left - Old Navy, Better than bootie, Juta's stockings. (ravelry link)
Great fun knitting little ones!  I've hunted down my Sensational Knitted Socks books and if I have time next week might see if I can do a few more. 

Opal Vintage socks

 

Pattern: Top down, plain, with heel flap and gusset.

Yarn: some old Opal from stash, label missing (of course!)

Needles: 2.25mm

Started: 7th April

Finished: 10th May

They're even sock twins, give or take a few rows.

 

Two more May goals completed. Three down, five to go!

Primrose Path progress

With me I have four stages (hopefully) when knitting a garment.

1) Cast on and knit like mad, filled with motivation and excitement at the newness of the project. 

2) Get a bit bored and start knitting other things. This usually happens after I've finished the back and possibly half the front.

3) Grit my teeth and pick it up again.  This is the hardest bit.

4) Nearing the finish my wip usually gets a new lease of life and I'm full of enthusiasm again.

With Primrose Path, stage 1 lasted up to the armholes of the body of the garment (knitted in the round).

Stage 2 lasted a week, where I've been knitting single socks and other socks.

I'm now on Stage 3, the difficult bit.  I've gritted my teeth today, finished the whole body and have cast on for sleeve 1.  It's awkward, knitted in the round. I've tried to do magic loop as I loathe those 40cm circulars, but it's too fiddly, so I'm using a 40cm needle, just for the first few inches, then I'll switch to a longer circular.

The pattern instructions say row tension is vital, as the pattern swirls up and around the body, but my cunning plan has worked - I knitted two extra pattern repeats (12 rows in total) before dividing for the armholes, and moved the side seam markers by 10 stitches (each pattern repeat moves the pattern 5 stitches to the left).

Front

Back

Not too obvious here, but it's very narrow!

I tried it on as is and it's, ahem, form fitting.  I'm presuming I can steam it open a bit more.  I'm doing 3" of negative ease as per pattern instructions, just hope Cathay opens up! 

This is my fifth garment for NaKniSweMoDo.    I had a little stash sorting last weekend and put a lot of more summery yarns in the front bins.  Of course this action has increased my list of possible projects, but I'll wait a few more weeks, see if the weather heats up a bit.

Plans for this week -

Finish the first sleeve of Primrose path (I'm halfway through, on the easy ribbing only bit).

Knit my May Debbie Abrahams Mystery Squares.

Finish my plain vintage Opal socks and blog about them.

If I accomplish this I'll have finished 3 of my 8 May goals. 

Twist

I've had this finished for a while, just trying to get decent photos!
1) the colour is impossible to capture - in all weathers it's showing lighter than it is.

2) Chris is spending more weekends on the boat now that the weather is warming up, and my photos of the cardigan lying on the grass aren't great.  Mind you, he was home today and the worn shots were rubbish. The back shot has me with one shoulder lower than the other - very obviously so!

Pattern: Twist
Started: 8th March
Finished: 16th April
Needles: 4.5mm
Yarn: Jaeger Matchmaker Aran - Maroon
Modifications - just added a bit onto the length, and the sleeves, though I don't know why, as I like short sleeves!  I think it was a little chilly and I thought that I could keep my hands warm with longer sleeves, though I find I turn back the cuffs when I've worn it. It's a bit snug, but I haven't blocked it out much.  I had to choose between two sizes, and went with the smaller one, in the hope this might make me lose a bit more weight!

Lovely collar

and lovely buttons. I do like these Rowan buttons, I have a small stash of them, just in case Rowan discontinue.

This is a closer approximation of the colour, though it's brighter than this.

 

Cables on the sleeve

 

and a really daft pose - why I would raise my arms in the air like this I don't know.

 

This is number 3 for NaKniSweMoDo.  I've finished number 4 (Ingenue) and am progressing with number 5 (Primrose Path).  On track!

Knitting catch up

Over here in the UK this is May bank holiday, and I have Monday off work. With an extra day off, I didn't mind too much doing a bit of housework yesterday - high time I hoovered, dusted, tidied up. Then the yarn organisation too several more hours. Not a huge task, just moving the wintery woolly yarns to vacuum pack storage and getting out some summery yarns.  I have a  huge stash, this just involved three yarn bins, which is my accessible garment stash!

So very little knitting time so far, but I intend having a whole day of knitting tomorrow - sock knitting.

I'm going to have a break from Primrose Path for a few days, but I've reached the dividing for front and back at armholes.

This is the back, looking very narrow!  I have a feeling this might be a little snug!  It does stretch out a bit ...

Socks - opal vintage are coming along. I'm off to the cinema tonight, so this will take care of sock #1, and a good start on #2.

New socks - Old Navy as a single sock for Natalie at the Yarn Yard.

and Knitspot's Marie Antoinette.  This pattern is the reason I went looking into my stash - I've tried it with Malabrigo which was too thin. I've settle on Fleece Artist's Sea Wool, in Amethyst. Lovely.

I so much enjoyed knitting the bees on the Bee Fields Shawl so this is a delight to knit.