skein

Something Red

My name's Dawn. I have decades of knitting experience.  I'm so experienced at knitting that I can look at a pattern, look at the yarn, and guess if I have enough yarn to knit said pattern.  Take Something Red. A short sleeved v-neck cardigan. Sure, 10 balls of All Season's Cotton will suffice.  NOT!
I can't believe that I knitted for so long before reaching the conclusion that I will run out of yarn!  This is how far I have knitted, with a sleeve (ok, half a sleeve), the border and short row collar and five more inches of ribbing to go.

I hadn't read the pattern before starting, notably the bit about yarn requirements. I have enough yarn for the 32 or 34" size only.  I hadn't realised that the ribbing isn't plain 2x2 ribbing; that there are two increase rows to make the ribbing flare, a great yarn-eater!  The sleeve that I've knitted is too wide as well, but that would have been easily remedied, if I'd enough yarn.   I think this colour is discontinued (I bought mine in the sales of course) so I will put it away in the stash whilst I decide what to do about it. I still want one of these cardigans.

My sockapalooozer socks seem to have been temporarily misplaced as well.  I'd intended posting them this week, bought the box, found a few gifts as wrapping, and then couldn't find the socks.  I'm sure they're hiding on sock blockers somewhere in this tiny flat, just have to find them and enclose a grovelling apology to my sockapalooozer pal!

So.  My knitting blahs continue. Whatever Mary has is contagious. I'm trying to cull the stash as well. I want to go back to the days when I'd occasionally have to buy new yarn for a project. At the  moment I have most areas covered with stash, so I can't justify yarn enhancement at the moment. I have two expeditions planned over the next two months - but only because I've been very good at stashbusting for a few months. 

I'm left, over this bank holiday, with a few things to choose from.

The Flower Basket Shawl, which isn't flowing as much as lace knitting usually does.
Martha, from last year's Rowan. 
The second Vera sock, just started.
A new project, the Milinda Pullover, in DB Cathay.  Love this colour, and the yarn, and the pattern, but it's early days and I haven't knitted a tension square, so we shall see how this looks.

Dr Who's about to start, so it will be sock knitting tonight. I wish that I'd brought the Henley top or the West Side raglan with me this weekend; they're lolling around at the stash flat!

Time flies

A week since I last posted! I can't believe how time is flying. A sure sign that I'm getting old, it's whizzing by faster and faster.

I planned to post on Friday, but work intervened, and I've been away from the computer all weekend.  My camera was loaned to someone at work, who's managed to run the battery down.  I'm hoping that there's enough juice left for photos.

Knitting isn't really progressing.  I've three current wips which are all stocking stitch, as are my Vera socks, which is making me feel as if I only have one wip on the go - disastrous for me!   

The West Side Raglan (summer tweed, horrible to knit with) is slowly progressing. Here's the back. I've about 4 inches to do on the front before I hit the raglan shaping.  It was overcast and raining yesterday, so this is as near as I could get to an outdoors shot, at the front door! It's called the flung-on-the-floor shot, by the looks of it.

One of the Vera socks is finished.

I'm about to start the ribbed bottom on Something Red.

Decision time. 

I'm trying to finish one stashbusting project each month.  Henley, West Side Raglan and Something Red are all from stash, so now I have to decide which one I'll work on this week and finish........ and it's Something Red (because All Seasons Cotton is easier to work on than Summer Tweed, and I'm further on with this than the Henley top). Look out for an FO later on this week!

I found time to sit down and read Mason Dixon Knitting this weekend - what a treat!  The patterns are pretty basic and tend to be dishcloths, rugs, blanket squares - all very easy for anyone who isn't a beginner knitter, but the book's a delight to read, very humourous with lots of knitting tales and anecdotes. What's a knitter to do but start yet another project?  Off I went to the stash and found a couple of cones of texere cotton.

This will be a cotton rug for the bathroom at the stashflat. Next on the list are some more washcloths of course!

 

Easter Knitting

Happy Easter!  We have a four day weekend over here in the UK and I had Grand Plans to just relax and knit.  I secretly thought that I could finish Something Red and the  Sockapalooozer socks! 

Of course these things only happen in one's imagination.  We've lazed around a lot, but most of the day has been taken up with shopping (window and food) and a little bit of housework.  The evenings have been boozy, I'm afraid.  Lots of chocolate eating as well.

I've made progress on Something Red though. I've divided for the body and have about another 2 inches of stocking stitch before I start the ribbed bottom.

I've also picked up my plain socks in Lorna's laces Vera.  Racing down the foot now.

That's another afterthought heel; so much simpler when you're in the cinema to set up one of these heels than a short row or flap & gusset heel.

Why am I knitting these socks?  Well, because I've finished  my sockapalooozer socks!
All washed and drying as I type.
Fraternal lorna's laces in Irving Park. pattern is Savannah Socks by Wildhorse Designs, available to buy as a download for instant gratification!
View 1 on blockers

You can see that the pattern doesn't match, but I don't think my sockapalooozer pal will mind (I hope!)
View 2

Just got to pack these up and wait for the posting date to come around!

Stashbusting

I'm still on a roll.  I've cast on yet another project - Something Red, in All Seasons Cotton, a sort of burnt orange shade. This is yet again from stash.  I'm in a dilemna as to which project will be my April Stashbusters project as all four wips are from stash.

Henley and West Side Raglan are residing at the stash flat. I visited them last night and they seemed to be having fun. 

Good book, good wine and control of the remote!

Henley is knitted top down. 

I've got another 14 rows to go before I divide for the armholes.

West side raglan is knitted in pieces.

This is about 1/3 of the total back length.  I'm such an inconsiderate blogger, choosing this dark summer tweed.

This weekend I'll be visiting Flower basket shawl, Something Red and Sockapalooozer socks.  I'm hoping that I'll finish the socks, and make great knitting progress on the other two wips.  We'll see.

On a roll

Hmmm, maybe Spring has sprung, because I suddenly find myself wanting to get out the summer yarns and start lots of projects.

Take a seat, this is a long post...

 

I've cast on for two new things (no photos, just a few inches worked on each).

Knitting pure & simple's top down henley top in Debbie Bliss's denim cotton. Second time too, in exactly the same yarn, as the first one worked out really well.

And at last, Oat Couture's West Side Raglan, in Rowans Summer Tweed, a black shade (probably called something like Gloom, who knows with Rowan's imaginative shade names?)

This one's knitted in pieces, a real pain, but Summer Tweed is notorious for growing, so I'm hoping that the seams will give some sort of stability.  Love Summer Tweed. Loathe knitting with it.

And I also made knitting progress on my sockapalooozer sock. One down, one to go.
Afterthought heel!

I blocked my Mystery Shawl, which has been sitting in my knitting bag for months now. This is knitted from Jamiesons Ultra laceweight.
Blocking.

Blocked.

I blocked this on the bed instead of the floor. Much easier to pin out when it's a couple of feet higher up!  I didn't use wires and wasn't scrupulous about measuring out the points to ensure symmetry, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see that it is indeed symmetrical. A nice knit.  The mystery shawl group at yahoo provided this pattern in pieces, free of charge, but I believe that nowadays the patterns are sold rather than free. I can't blame them either, a lot of work for the poor designer.

I spent a whole afternoon sewing in the ends of Suzette (picture in my What's on the needles album). Steam pressed my disastrous yoke (modification) to get rid of the puckering.  Started sewing on the 17 buttons (another miscalculation; I went my own way and thought a buttonhole every 10 sts would be about right). Ran out of thread.  So this is very nearly done and dusted.  I'm not 100% pleased with this. Love the pattern and the colours, love the knitted fabric, hate the yoke - it pulls in and distorts the button band. Oh well, lesson learnt, and it will get good use indoors.  When I eventually get around to buying the thread I may post a picture, with extensive pinning!

I finally got around to knitting my Debbie Bliss Club free kit.

Commuting scarf of the week. A woman can't have enough socks or scarves.

I'm hoping to do a little more knitting on the Flower Basket Shawl this week, but with all this Springlike weather (in London, I see that Sunderland had a little snowstorm on Saturday!) I may just start a few more things.  A woman also can't have enought wips.

Sockapalooozer update

Not much knitting accomplished this week, I'm afraid.  My boss had a big birthday mid week which put paid to two knitting evenings, if you include the hangover. I took loads of photos, but none suitable for family viewing. Even the cake was a bit risky!

I've managed a few repeats on the Flower Basket Shawl (forgot to photograph, but two repeats don't make a huge difference to the size) and a few inches on my sockapalooozer sock.  I've gone back and knitted the afterthought heel so that I have a more accurate foot length.

Just another inch to the start of the toe shaping!

*Hopefully* by Monday this should be finished and sock #2 will be on the needles.  Apart from a few UFOs (which I really don't want to do over the weekend) I've only socks and the FLower basket shawl on the go, and as our weather is looking better it might be time to start a new Spring project.  I'll deliberate over the weekend - Knitty is up next week, so it might be best to hang on and just knit small things over the weekend. 

Sockapalooozer update

The sock doesn't look much different tonight, but that's because I've been through three heels!

I'm now on the afterthought heel, which involves knitting half a row (the heel) in a contrasting yarn, then going back and reknitting in the sock yarn. Afterwards I'll pick up the stitches below and above the contrast yarn, and knit a toe!  It is the heel which least disrupts the patterning of the yarn.  I'm trying not to change the way the pooling occurs.
(Unfortunately I chose purple yarn for the contrast, not very clever) You can just see the row of contrast - it's where the plain knitting starts.

My first attempt was a traditional heel flap. The increase in stitches meant that the purple striping started going the other way.  Here the stripe has straightened out ready for the turnaround. I can't believe that I carried on knitting for another inch after this photo was taken!

And my second attempt: japanese short row. Fine. No holes, but it just didn't seem right for a gift. This is the frightening picture for those who've never attempted short rows before.

And I've started the Flower Basket shawl at last, in Jamieson's Ultra. I do like this yarn, it's soft and has a felted look about it.

This is the Frosted Grape colour, not as pale as in the photo.

Now for Stash talk.  I'm sorry to see that three bloggers, who shall remain nameless, didn't join in, as I would have loved to have seen their stash. You know who you are!

I should also point out (I was a bit rushed when I posted) that this stash is an accumulation over the years, and not really that recent (apart from a few bargain cones at the beginning of the year, oops).  A lot of my stash was stored for several years, so this has been the first opportunity to get it out and look through it.  I really need to sort though it all, log the stuff I'm keeping, ebay the stuff I'm selling.  I love linen drape, for instance, and couldn't resist the fantastic sale price at libertys, much cheaper than anywhere else! So I have lots of linen drape, but really, when will I knit all of those garments, eh?  Sock stash doesn't count. I can get through that in no time!

Flashing the stash! Part two

This is the main stash, although looking at this morning's post it doesn't look as much. BELIEVE ME, IT IS BIGGER!

Sock stash. On the right is the patterned sock yarn, and on the left is wool designated to socks or hats (a lot of nice Joslyn's fiberfarm wool)

Lace yarn and scarf yarn (aka oddballs nice enough for necks)

I-spy lots of noro, debbie bliss and jaeger!

Several packs of silk in this one (two packs of jaeger 4ply and some Anny Blatt that is scrumptious). A Jamieson's pack but mainly summer yarns.  One day I will knit this linen drape.

Some of this was the musty stash and has been thrown out now.  At least it was cheap.

Under the bed stash and some odd cones.

And finally, my suitcase stash!  Suitcase has lopi and white buffalo unspun, the other stuff is mainly 21st century and Jamieson kits. 
(I see some more hemp as well, notice the sheen)

Phew! lotta stash!

Flashing the stash! Part one

Here goes! All photos are clickable!

Office
This is where lunchtime shopping and mail orders arrive. Mostly, they end up going home with me, unless they're bulky or not likely to be used for a while. I had to take two photos to fit the stuff on my desk!

Not bad for work is it?

Onto Putney.

I had to be sneaky here. I waited until Mr C was settled in the bath before getting out the sofa stash (he knows there's a lot; he put it in here, but still, when it's out it's rather alarming!)

Under the computer table stash I:

Under the computer table stash II

Some sock yarn:

More this afternoon!

FO! Women's weekly cardigan

Yesterday I finished my Women's weekly cardigan.  Sewed in the ends and found a button.
Unfortunately, the colour is a deep ruby red and I can't capture the richness of the colour, neither in artificial light, nor in daylight. (In fact, the photographs that I took last night are better than the ones today, in daylight).

So please ignore the crappy photo - this is just proof it's finished. I tried wearing it last night but the slightly damp alpaca silk had that horrible wet smell so I ended up taking it off.  The sleeves are just a little bit longer than I usually wear; not down to the fingers or anything drastic, but about an inch past the wrist. I usually wear shorter sleeves which don't interfere with dpns!

So not the right red!

Back view

Wish I'd taken the time to rearrange the bottom properly!
This was my March Stashbuster project, using DB aran alpaca silk.

I've yet to decide on an April stashbuster.  Suddenly, stashbusting's serious.  I've been quietly preparing my photos for

First of all I tackled the office, which wasn't bad at all. It took just two photos to snap the stash laid out on my desk.

Then last week I tackled the flat here in SW london.  Chris knows where the stash is in this tiny flat. It's under the computer desk, in a basket next to the computer chair and takes up half of the under-sofa storage.  He's even packed some of it away for me.  But to see it all out at one time might be a bit frightening for a non-knitter and non-hoarder, so I waited until he popped into the bath last weekend before I hauled the sofa stash out.  That was quite an experience. These vacuum bags really do squish the yarn up, don't they? Amazing how they grow when out of the bags, a bit like those paper gardens which you water and they bloom.
Gathering the stash from under the computer was a bit more awkward as half was in a large backpack (summer stuff from last year) and I kept finding odd balls lying in the software boxes and manuals.  By this time it was late afternoon, so I had to resort to taking the photos in the bathroom, the lightest room in the house at this time of day.  Absolutely shattered after this, but it gave me the opportunity to sort out my summer yarns and put away the wool ones ready for Spring.

And today was the rest of the stash, over in SE london.  I had the day off work, which was just as well. Ms CleverClogs decided to empty out each box and bag and also sort stuff out at the same time.  This took me from 8am to 3pm!  I found another nasty little habit which I possess: I decide a project's to be frogged, pull out the needles and don't frog. So I had huge tangles of half completed knitting all over the place.

Only one disaster with the stash. I'd stored some stash in those huge striped zip up bags and I think some of it must have smellt a bit musty. Now all of it does. It wasn't worth skeining and washing, as it was stuff which I'd had for years and years and would never get around to knitting up. Even on ebay it would have fetched maybe £50 if it wasn't smelly, so it was far easier to just chuck the lot.  One bit striped laundry bag = 2 black bin bags of yarn.  I kept the odd pack of yarn, but it's separate from the rest of my stash. Thank goodness it's done now.  I feel a lot better. Ruthless pruning might be in order. You can see for yourself tomorrow.  I'm going to post two posts - one in the morning and one in the afternoon, as there's about a dozen photos!