A selection of books...

I got my prize today - not the most exciting bit (which will be seeing my pattern in print) but 3 books and a cheque - always nice :) I'm not sure that the books are ones that I would have bought myself, but they do have some nice patterns inside.


This book has some lovely patterns (despite the lack of babies or toddlers in my life) but if any of my friends start reproducing I now have some really cute presents in mind.

Not all of the socks in this book are to my taste, but I do really like the pattern for 'On the edge verticals' which are knit sideways, so you end up with vertical stripes when knitting with a variegated yarn. Could be interesting!








Finally the book of hot water bottle covers, could actually be useful as I have a naked (gasp!) hot water bottle in my cupboard. I really like the idea of the entrelac cover, it looks so snuggly (plus I keep meaning to try some entrelac).

In other news I have been making some stitch markers to sell on etsy, I have made several sets - I just need to take some photos then I can set up the shop. Very exciting, I've got a sneaky peek for you:
And finally I have started knitting a new pair of socks, I have chosen to ignore my normal hatred for combinations of lace and variegated yarns - I take it all back! I like the way these socks are turning out so far. This is where I would post a lovely picture of my new sock, but my computer is not playing ball and won't let me add any more pictures! It's my picture on twitter and I will go add it to Ravelry. The pattern is Hedera by Cookie A.

I can't believe it...

I literally cannot believe it, my knitting pattern for the cafetiere cosy actually won the Knitting magazine competition! I am so proud!


My pattern is going to be printed in May - I don't think I can wait!

Yippee!

Just another manic Sunday...

Well I really enjoyed my weekend (I'm not being sarcastic here - for once). I sorted out loads of knitting stuff in my house. I got all my books together from around the flat (except for the ones that I am actually using right now) and put them all together on a shelf - this was a little bit of a shock.I am ashamed to say that this is not all of my knitting books (the rest are still in Newcastle - sorry Mum) along with the majority of my stash.


I put the majority of my knitting 'stuff' into a box so that I can actually find it and so we can move around the flat. I have kept my ball winder out - I think it acts as decoration. Plus I have some lovely skeins of sock wool to wind.

Plus once I have been brave and taken it off the spindle so I can set the twist - I have my first handspun.......


I am actually pretty proud of it - no way is it something I would buy though. The orange runs through it all but then different colours twist in. I think I need some more practice with my drafting (it's pretty chunky) and I don't think I could do it in public - a little too much swearing. But I did enjoy it really!

In a fit of productivity I have finished the knitting for my jumper, seamed the shoulders (not great) picked up stitches (not great) and knitted the ribbing and buttonholes. This is how it looks right now...

So just the sleeves to set in and the body to seam and the button to sew on. Then done!
I'm aiming to get it done by knitting group on Wednesday, mind you I was also planning to get it done for Christmas.....Wish me luck

Why did I not see this coming?

Well I have done exactly NO knitting this weekend.

Why is this you may ask, well that is because I am annoyed with myself for not being capable of reading a pattern correctly.

I have messed up the front of my credit crunch cardigan by just not reading the instructions - what an idiot! It's not like I just ignored these instructions once -No. I have already reknit the lace part of this front about six times, well I had better get frogging again!

In other news we have finished watching series 1 of the West Wing! I am really enjoying it, only 6 more to go.

(I have also been making some sets of stitch markers, but more about those in the future...)

Brought to you by the letter S

Snow

Sushi

Stitch markers
and a Shocking pink cardigan


That pretty much sums up the past few days for me!

A 'Credit Crunch' Cardigan

I have finally got around to blocking the shawl that I got free with my Rowan membership last year. I do really like the stitch pattern, but the shawl has turned out a little bit too wide and a bit too short.

It has stretched a bit with blocking, but it's still not great (that may be due to my blocking). I will definitely use the stitch pattern again in the future, it was really easy to memorise and I think it looks really good once blocked - maybe for a cushion cover or something..... It would look really nice with a contrasting colour fabric underneath.


( I think my boyfriend may say the main problem with it is that it's taking a while to block, so our corridor is now kind of out of order - oops!).

I was planning to use my few days that I took off work to finish my Granite jumper - I haven't.
I just need to finish knitting the fronts and then sew it up (I really am dreading that!).

However, I did start a new cardigan (The 'Credit Crunch' cardigan, only because I like the alliteration/it was cheap/I started it the day we actually entered into a recession). I was tempted by some really cheap acrylic ( I know, its not my preferred choice, but this cardigan only has one size so I have no clue if it will fit me, or even suit me if it does fit) so I can't really justify buying 400g of some lovely yarn.

If it does look nice on me that will (of course!) justify me buying nice wool and knitting it again. It has been a really quick knit so far, I started it Friday evening and last night I had got to the lace section at the top of the back (and I am really not a fast knitter). I think it looks quite good.


The only problem is that I seem to be ok with stitch gauge, however my row gauge is MILES off. This cardigan is going to end up much longer than the one in the book, I don't think that this is a problem though as I am quite tall, as long as I do the same for the two fronts.

If my understanding is right it should only effect picking up the stitches for the button bands, I might just need to pick up a few more stitches and do some maths to work out where my button holes should go.

Please tell me if I am ignoring some massive coming problem due to my row gauge issues!

What should I knit now?

Well I finished my deadline project - a knitted cactus for J. Yes I did forget to photograph it before gifting, but luckily it still lives in our office so it can have a photo shoot tomorrow. It was really easy and I am now in love with Jean Greenhowe patterns. I have had a few pamphlets for a while now - why do I not use them more often?

I need some inspiration!!! There are millions of things I want to knit, and to be fair I have started 3 projects in the past 2 days and frogged them all! Argh, I either don't have the right/enough yarn (I don't understand how this is possible as I have two cupboards worth!).

I am going to restart the scarf which I just frogged, it is my first attempt at illusion knitting, which I think is really interesting. Well we will see how it comes out....

This is how it looks at the moment:


Those are the wrong size needles - I completely ignored the go DOWN a needle size instruction, so the pattern was just not showing through. I have chosen 2 shades of brown, hoping that my brother will like it, hopefully it will suit the pattern. I guess this is one to wait and see what happens. I'm planning this to be the project which I take to SnB this week.

The only main thing I've got on my needles now is my Granite jumper, but I'm going to wait until the end of the week to attempt to finish it off. I've got Friday off work and the house to myself to lay it all out and try to work out what I'm doing next.

This is my picture from the other day, it is now a tiny bit further on, but still looks very similar.



Really I need a small project to take on the train with me, I guess that will be the endpaper knits, but I'm not sure how good an idea it is to try my first colour-work on the train. Any thoughts?

Some finished projects...
My Snowy Cowl - the one the caterpillar dropped out of.


My Alpaca cabled wrist warmers - if you know me and have avoided my shoving these in your face to show you the cable work then congratulations, you are one of very few!