skein

2014 knitting round up. part one

I haven't had time to organise myself this year!  But I've been on ravelry and sorted through my project tags (luckily, I tagged ever new project this year with 2014!) and have created a 2014 fo tag on my projects page.

 I have a few things going into 2015. A pair of socks, MIA (at my parents, I hope), Herbivore which is still UFO status but I think that I;ll frog.

I've knitted:

5 dishcloth

 

5 pairs of socks

plus one pair which I'll photgraph this weekend).

4 pairs of mittens/mitts

5 children's garments


1 blanket

 

2 adult cardigans

 
That's a total of  22 finished projects this year!  And it's  not including the shawls, scarves and cowls.  That's part two!

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

 

A couple of cowls, Zen Lattice and Brain Frieze

More Christmas break knitting.  Must get them all blogged before the New Year!

Both are Stitchnerd patterns.

First up is Zen Lattice. It's a super quick knit. Just over a ball of Louisa Harding's Kashmir DK. I went down a needle size (due to no shorter lengths in the larger size!) and probably should have added another 12sts to the 96, though it is perfectly wearable as is.

I'd better mention that some of this knitting was done under the influence of wine, and there might be the odd misplaced stitch!

Super quick, just two days knitting!

Next up is Brain Frieze. I love this pattern. It's fairly easy, just have to work some patterned rows where you're either slipping sts with yarn in front (or back) and then later on, a few rows up, you pick up the wrap. Makes for an interesting knit, and it looks difficult!

I opted for a picot cast on and a ribbed cast off. The light yarn is some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in cream, just a partial ball, and the red is Mano Silk Blend. I mgihjt have to knit this again, Another great stashbuster.

Yum.

Punto Mitts

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  We do nothing, except eat and chill. And remember stressful Christmases past!  LIke the time Mr.C's mother invited over his first girlfriend and made no bones about how much of a shame it was that they hadn't stayed together!  I kid you not!  We just got drunk!  So now we chill. And I knit.

Here's soemthing I finished over the break.

Some Punto Mitts.

Very easy, very quick (Rowan Pure Wool Worsted) - a great last minute gift.

I like knitting thicker mitts, and what a great way to use up those single skeins and balls of yarn. Might be great next year for stashbusting...

 

Lady Marple Cardigan

Lady Marple, mu mum's Christmas present.  My mum might be in her twilight years, but she's still like a child, won't wait  until Christmas to open her presents. So I sent them stealthily addressed to my dad, and he hides everything!

This was till drying over the weekend, so I've had to bring it into work and try to take selfies....

Let's say this is the best of a dozen, all the same, partial views!  .

I had to ask someone in the office to take a quick photo. Bear in mind that my mum is much slimmer than I am, and this will be looser and longer on her (as she likes her cardigans).

The yarn's Rowan Pure Wool Worsted (again) in Rust.  I can safely say that, as this is my third attempt with a cardgian pattern in this colour, I won't be using it in the near future. I'm all rusted out!

This is knitted bottom up, seamlessly. The sleeves are picked up and the sleeve cap is shaped with short rows.  It's all stocking stitch, with a very simple lace detail on the fronts.

I have a few more of her patterns in my library!!

Brain Frieze WIP

A super fun cowl pattern!  This is Brain Frieze, a new pattern from Stitchnerd.

Take two contrasting yarns, with one being solid.  I chose to use Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in cream and Manos Silk Blend in a nearly solid burgundy red colour. Both stash, both oddments. 

I LOVE this pattern. It's easy to memorise but has enough patterned rows to keep the interest.  The results look fabulous.  Here's an in-progress photo.   I opted for a picot cast on and a seed stitch top border.  Lovely. 

• 
• So textured. Did I  mention a fun knit?  It's actually finished, washed and drying now (to stop the seed stitch border from curling).  I hope the lovely texture is retained with the washing!
  
  

 

FO Friday - Crossing Paths Mitts

Eek, I've been busy sorting out late Christmas presents for parents and have only just bought stuff for MrC (which will arrive tomorrow!). No time to blog!

So here's a very quick pair of fingerless mitts. Worsted weight yarn so they go quickly, with a little bit of cabling on the back of each hand. Crossing Paths Mitts.

The yarn is Rowan's Pure Wool Worsted, I really like this!  Toss up between this and Cascade 220.  I think I prefer knitting with the Rowan - just a personal thing, I like the feel of it!

This is Garage, and I have found out that, yes, some people's garages are this colour (thanks/ Yvonne!).

This Mitt knitting is great!  I'm on a second pair of mitts now, and expect those finished over the weekend.

(Nearly) FO Friday

Lady Marple is all knitted!  I have to wash her, darn in a lot of ends, patch up a lot of 'loose' stitches (harumph!) and sew on buttons.

Not so much loose stitches as a bit baggy where I've picked up along the armhole edges. I wonder if it's the wool? Rowan Pure Wool Worsted, maybe it would have been better to knit it with a springier yarn?  This is for mum, and I'm hoping it settles down on washing. I once knitted a lovely striped jumper in an RYC yarn, and had the same issues, though those sleeves were sewn in. Wore that jumper all the time, just not in knitting public! 

 

I'm going to wash it tonight, hopefully it will be dry by Monday, and I can post off a big box of presents.

WIP Wednesday - Punto Mitts

My long, rambling post on Monday ha apparently been eaten up by the Typepad/Firefox ghost.  This will be brief.

This week's new WIP is a pair of fingerless mitts (though they can alos be made as mittens).

Anoother of the discounted patterns I bought last month.  Another quick knit once I get into my stride. Rowan's Pure Wool Worsted again.

First attempt has been frogged. The pattern ha a 4.50mm as a guide, and as I always go down a size (and like snug mitts) I opted for a 4mm needle, using a smaller 3.25mm for the 2x2 ribbing on the cuff.

The knittng was tedious. Not because I'm using smaller needles but because I seem to have lost all of my 80cm length 4mm needles, and 60cm was driving me mad.  So I'm using 3.75mm for the cuffs (plenty in longer sizes) and 4.50mm for the hand. I seem to have lost all of my 4.50mm 60cm needles which messes up my cowl knitting though :)

An evening's knitting. The hand is nearly done.

It's now a mad dash for Christmas though. MrC can wait for his socks, but my mother's cardigan needs to be all done and dusted this weekend!  I have half a sleeve to knit, ends to weave in and buttons to sew on. It then has to be washed and dried!  Gulp.  There's a little bit of madness which is also making me think I can knit a man's scarf and a woman's cowl in a week too!  I may have to abandon that plan. But the Punto Mitts might have to wait until the end of December! Must knit faster and stop looking on ravelry instead of knitting!

FO Friday - Jacob's Ladder scarf

Jacob's Ladder scarf - a free pattern on ravelry.

Cery easy, just seed stitch borders, ribbed neck bit, cables and reverse stocking stitch ladder pattern.  Easy to memorise, and the ladder helps with knowing which row you're on for cabling.

Luckily the low winter sun made a brief appearance and I managed to get a quick (wet grass!) photo showing off the pattern nicely.

And a shot of Mr C modelling it.  Complete with stitch marker, which I hadn't removed!  This is closter to the tan colour of the yarn (Cascade 220)

The only t hing which I'd do differently (and I did, for the second tail) is to slip the first stitches purlwise, not knitwise, much easier.

November knitting and December knitting goals

I did quite well with November. This does NOT mean that my Christmas knitting is going well though. I have hugely underestimated what I can and will finish. I always forget that I do not have up to 24th to finish everything!  And I have Mr C's birthday too.

Now for Nobember

Blog:

1) Antler Cardigan. Done!

2) Toddler Antler Cardigan. Done!

Continue:

3) Mun;s cardigan.  Done! Along with a change of pattern so that I stand a chance of finishing this. Im now knitting Lady Marple, and have now finished the body up to the armholes, and one front. 

Start:

4) Socks for Mr C's Christmas present. Done! But lost! so a sucess in that I started them, but I need to knit another pair, quickly!

5) Scarf for J. Done!  It's all finished now.

6) Scarf for A. Done!  It's morphed into a cowl though.

Start and finish:

7)  Stitchnerd's KAL. Done! 

But it's also #6, so a little bit of cheating has gone on!

Additionally I've started some Crossing Paths mitts, and finished a Wee Liesl.

1. 

December is going to be busy.

Blog:

1) Jacob's Ladder scarf. 

Finish:

2) Mum's cardigan.  I have upper back, right front, bands and two sleeves to do.  This needs to be done int he next few weeks.

3) Fingerless mitts, Crossing Pathers. I started these in November. A bit cross, the left mitt has disappeared and I'm going to have to knit it again. We don't kwnow where it's gone, I've hunted high and low!

Start and finish:

4) Mr C's Christmas socks.

5) More fingerless mitts. I bought a few patterns in the Indie Designer discount and really feel obliged to knit these patterns up.

6) Stitchnerds December KAL, a new pattern called Brain Frieze

Start:

7) Stitchnerds MKAL starting in December. I'm not sure if this will be finished by the end of the month, it all depends on when we start!

8) Me knitting. I like a post Christmas project.

There's other stuff I want to do. I want to knit a scarf or shawl (he insists it's a neckerchief) for MR C. Some more mitts, possibly a hat, but time isn't on my side!!