skein

Another pair of wristers (yawn)

Yes, another pair of wristers! Now if only I'd waited until today to take a photo of Chris wearing the scarf we might have had more decent photos, as the sun is out and the skies are blue. No rain! No wind!

Here's another quick pair of wristers.

 

My camera is playing up today and showing a much paler blue than in real life! 

Pattern: Knitlist wristers

Started: 12th November

Finished: 14th November

Needles: 3.5mm (so these ones aren't as small as the previeous ones)

Yarn: Biggan

Modifications: the usual, smaller needle size as it's dk weight, an extra increase for the thumb gusset, to 15sts, instead of casting off so there's no thumb at all I worked another five rows. 

A great pattern, but now I feel ready to knit a different pattern for my next pair of fingerless gloves.  These ones are Green Thumb, and I'm using Debbie Bliss Rialto dk. For me this time!  I bought 3 balls, and am hoping that I have enough left over to knit a beret. I am determined to wear hats this winter, however silly they look on me!

 

The colour's much darker and more purple than this. I love the way the thumb gusset increases are worked (with yarnovers).

I had a little look at my monthly goals this month, and apart from an ongoing mystery hat kal I've managed to complete them all (well I swapped a hat for a scarf).  So I feel like I may start a few unplanned things now.  Not sure what.  I've just received Sublime's baby 4ply book, and there's some gorgeous little cardigans in it, with a great range of sizes, starting at 0-6 months and up to 2-3 years.  I have three babies in mind - a 14month old girl, a 5 month old girl and a -10weeks baby boy.  May dig into the baby stash this afternoon!

A couple of squares

Not much to report today.  Yesterday I did finish Chris' scarf.  I must put it away, and on Saturday we will try modelled shots.  He's already thought about how he will pose, and he's decided to wear a blindfold so as not to ruin the surprise. Oh dear.

I've finished a few squares, knitted out of Biggan wool. These are six inch squares and I've knitted two out of one ball with leftovers.

I think one pattern is from one of the Harmony stitch guides, and the other was a basic basketweave pattern from a dishcloth pattern site.

 

I've now cast on a few pairs of wristers - more small stuff.  I'm even considering casting on a third pair!  I can't say I like knitting just small stuff. I much prefer having one or two bigger projects on the go, and the small stuff as fillers.  I'm in constant danger of having nothing on the needles!

Beaded Lace Wrist Warmers

A very quick knit (if you don't have to knit them twice!)

Pattern:  Beaded Lace Wrist Wristlets

Yarn: Starry (remnant from my Multnomah shawl)

Needles: 2.25mm

Started: November 6th

Finished: November 7th

These will go into a gift box for the family.  I chose a very sparkly bead to go with the sparkly yarn and cast on 60 and not 72 stitches, so the wrist warmers are snugger. 

Initially I thought that I couldn't really see the point in wrist warmers, but having tried them on I might just knit myself a pair!  I have a 3/4 sleeved coat, and usually wear a cardigan underneath but on those occasions when it's too warm to wear one (on the underground!) I might find these very useful.  A great way of using up remnants of 4ply/sock yarn.

There is an errata in the pattern, which I didn't realise until I'd practically knitted the first one (ignoring the fact that mine looked very different from the picture). The first row should read P1, *PB, repeat from * to end of row (where PB is place bead near knitting, P1), so beads are added to every stitch.

The pattern has 3 different lengths - wrist warmers, hand warmers and mitts (which look like they are wider to accommodate the thumb).  Great pattern!

 

(Yes, I had to bring the camera to work today to get an outdoors shot!  The light is pretty gloomy this morning).

My unsuccessful knitting day

So I had a day off yesterday. With Multnomah off the needles I needed to cast on something, and decided to use the rest of the Starry yarn to knit some beaded lace wristwarmers.  I fancied beads, and with only about 125yds (or so) of Starry left found an ideal pattern - Heartstrings Beaded Lace Wristwarmers.

I personally don't see the point in wearing wrist warmers, give me hand warmers or gloves any day. But these are intended to go into a teenage box of small knitted gifts for my nieces.

If I was knitting these for myself I'd choose a darker bead, but I thought that these sparkly beads would go well with the sparkly Starry.

I cast on. I noticed that my beaded edge didn't look like the ones photographed, but chose to ignore this and knitted one wrist warmer. Decided to look at the finished wrist warmers on ravelry - nope, mine did not look like those either!  So I went to the Heartstrings site and there's errata on the very first row!  I was placing beads every other stitch instead of every stitch.  As I had 26 beads 'spare' I presumed that there was an error and that i had to do the same on row 2.  Misplaced asterisk! 

So, after a whole day of knitting, I have this progress photo:

 

Yes, back to square one.   It was also an identical photo at 11pm - I decided to frog again!  These are for a niece, and 72 sts was just too much width. 
I moped about, looking for another project to start. But nothing jumped out at me.  I wanted to finish these, the bit was between my teeth!  So I cast on a third time with justs 60 sts. 

 

 Not finished yet - I have about another 1.5" of cuff to knit.  This isn't the most ideal yarn for the pattern, far too busy, and the beads are very sparkly, but it will be fine for the recipient.  I may knit these again in a plain yarn, so that the lovelyl lace pattern shows up.  In a few months, just not now!

On the shawl front, Multnomah is blocking!

Another hat (and another NaKniSweMoDo progress report)

The hat is a bit of a disaster!

Pattern: Kat, by Kim Hargreaves, from her Precious book.

Yarn: Kid Classic

Started: 24th October

Finished:24th October - yes, I knitted it in one day!  I was away over the weekend and had lots of knitting time on Saturday.

Looks wonderful, great fun to knit (though it's knitted back and fro, and seamed, and the ribbing doesn't match at the seam, grrr!) but it looks awful!  I tried it on straight off the needles and I looked like some sort of alien, so I blocked it into a beret shape over a dinner plate.

It looks better, but still awful!  I thought I might give it away but no, if our weather gets cold I can pull it right down over my ears!

 

or even lower

Lessons learnt.  I didn't do a tension square,, but honestly, sitting there it looks ok, not too huge.  If only I had Big Hair to fill it out!

And onto NaKniSweMoDo #13.  Nearly finished. Nearly.  I've ran out of yarn!!  I switched from Rialto to Cashmerino, as John Lewis didn't have enough of the colour I wanted, but had plenty in a similar shade of cashmerino.  As the yardage is better, I worked out that I needed one ball less. Great. Then I decided I'd do medium roather than large, which seemed like it might be a bit too big.  Even better, I might have some yarn left for a  matching hat or pair of wristers.  Except I forgot that I lengthened the body by 2".  I have seven rows to go on the collar. Seven.  Oh well. I've managed to seam and darn in most ends, and even sew on the buttons.  It's soooo close to finishing!

The Mystery blanket is the only other big thing on the needles at the moment.  Still waiting for the needles, which were despatched on 13th October. I so want to finish these two things off!  November will be small things, and I've signed up for another month of daily postings for NaBloPoMo - anyone else doing this? I thought that smaller things would be better if I have to post each day, and a great way to catch up with new Winter warmers and gifts for Christmas. 

I've already started the first of the gifts, a pair of plain dk socks. Mr C chose this yarn whilst we were in Germany last year.

A few small FOs

I've been a bit bored with my knitting this week.  Whilst waiting for my needles to arrive so that I can finish the Mystery Blanket, I've been working solely on the Grey Cabled Cardigan, and I'm not such a monogamous knitter.  So I cast on a few little extras to keep me busy.

First FO

Please ignore the dopey look, it was a bit too much to hope for, that I could look at the camera and take the photo.

Pattern:  Mondo Cable Hat by Chicknits

Yarn: Cashmerino Aran

Needles: 4.5mm

It should be more slouchy!  I didn't do a tension square and should have stuck with 5mms.  But it's such a quick knit that I can easily knit another one in no time, at the correct tension :)

 

Love the colour!

Second FO are a couple of pairs of wristers.

 

Pattern: Wristers

Needles: 3.25mm

Yarn: Biggan Wool

Modifications: I knitted a few more rounds for the top ribbing, and knitted five rows on the thumb (the pattern has you knitting a gusset but then casting off).

This is written for a worsted weight yarn, but I wanted a slightly smaller wrister, so I've used dk weight.  

Grey Cabled Cardigan is coming along.

 

If you look closely you can see that the back, both sleeves, right front and buttonhole band are complete.  The left front's been frogged. I forgot to do the cross cable every pattern repeat!

Hopefully I'll finish the other front this weekend, and then I'm having a break from garments!  It'll be accessories for the next month!

Socks progress

Another pair of socks is off the needles.

These were part of Get Knitted Lorna's Laces sock club which has now finished.  This shade is Laendler.  I like my LL's to stripe, so it's just plain knitting, top down, with a garter stitch short row heel.

Started: August 27th

Finished: September 18th

Needles: 2.25mm

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock, Laendler.

A lovely quick knit.

The mystery socks for SKA are going well. Clue three is done, and I'm thinking that the next clue will be the final one, and will entail knitting the foot and toe.

The yellow's ... yellow!  Quite bright! This has the Eye of Partridge heel, not sure if it's obvious in the photo (but it clickable to enlarge).

Waterlily socks

Pattern:  Waterlily socks by Sivia Harding (available as a ravelry download here)
Started: July 26th
Finished: August 8th
Yarn: Yarn Yard's Toddy
Needles: 2.25mm

Lovely pattern, lovely yarn. I made no modifications.  Sometimes it's lovely to just have a teeny tiny bit of lace and a few beads.

I have no socks on the needles!  I intend knuckling down and concentrating on NaKniSweMoDo09 for the rest of the month (with possibly a small baby garment break). 

I've started the sleeves for garment #9, Muse - ravelry link (boring bit now).  I've started #10, Knitting Pure & Simple's Scoop neck t-shirt (but the yarn is quite lively and variegated, still not sure about this one!), and want to start #11 by the end of the month, better get knitting!

Oh, and a very happy birthday to my brother John, who is 46 today!

Striped socks, and progress on Waterlily socks

I'm determined to knit up some of my self striping yarn, and this has been in my stash for years.  No wonder, I don't like the colour at all!

Pattern: top down, plain with 64 stitches, heel flap and gusset.
Needles: 2.25mm circular
Started: 27th July
Finished: 7th August
Yarn: Socka 2000 Cotton Colori

I believe that this was in a mixed box of yarn ordered from a German supplier several years ago, before it was readily available in the UK. 

One more ball gone from the self striping box!

I've also made some progress with the Waterlily socks - both heel flaps and gussets are finished, just the foot left.  I'm hoping to have these finished by the end of next week, just plain knitting now for the commute.

Now onto serious garment knitting.  I'm working on Muse, still, on the left front.  Hopefully finished today. 

I did buy some more yarn yesterday, which is sitting here next to the knitting chair tempting me!

It's Rowan's new Silky tweed - looks wonderful.  I haven't even tried it out yet, but I've bought a garment's worth of yarn (and as it's a colourwork sweater there'll be enough for other things, such as hats or gloves).  I'm thinking hard about the design though. As with all of Rowan's designs, it's knitted in pieces, not a great idea for a stranded design.  And usually I find that the sleeves don't match up.  I can't see from the design, will need to investigate.  One option is to possibly change the design to a yoked cardigan, or a raglan, where I can knit the body in one piece to the armholes, then join sleeves and body and knit a yoke or raglan. I'm going to think about if for a few weeks, if I can hold off starting it!

On the needles

1)   NaKniSweMoDo #9 (I can't believe I'm on #9!)

Here's my next garment - it's Muse from Rowan Classic Reminiscence, knitted in Pima Cotton DK.

The back:

That was taken at the weekend - it's not been worked on at all this week, as I've been trying to get my Mystery Blanket squares finished (three down, two to go). Quite a quick knit I started it on Thursday (had the day off work) and finished this back Sunday afternoon. 

2) Plain boring socks

Socka 2000, cotton color, and I've handwritten 'Folklore' on the label (yes, it still has its label!).  Not my colours at all, but I'm trying to get through the sock stash.  I expect these will go in the gifts box.  I've since finished sock #1 and am at the heel of sock #2. 

3) Waterlily socks

I'm trying to knit one leg, then the other, and I'll be working on both heels at once (on separate needles; two socks on one long circular does my head in).  A lovely pattern, with beads and lace - but nothing too complicated. The yarn is Yarn Yard's Toddy, a merrino/nylon blend, very nice to work with. This colour's a teal/grey mix.

Not the best pictures, I was in a hurry trying to get a little bit of daylight and avoid the rain!

This week I'm working on the blanket squares, but I should have the weekend free to work on either 1, 2 or 3 (or all!)