And another FO

This was a cardigan I started on the plane to Toronto, rather than schlepping Promenade with me for fear of getting it confiscated at security. I like the yarn - Sirdar Preuvian natural (or something like that) in pale pink, grey and with the odd hint of blueish mauve running through it.

It was an easy knit, with enough shaping to keep me interested. It was virtually complete for weeks but as I was sewing up the shawl collar, I was not giving it my full attention and inadvertently joined the mid-back seam inside out. I had yet to master the appropriate stitch and so had backstitched it. I sew my seams to stay put and having sedwn in all the loose ends neatly, realised my mistake and had to set about unpicking it all. In so doing, I managed to damage the edge 2x2 rib. I tried to salvage it but made a pretty awful mess of the second attempt at the seam. I put it aside in disgust and tried to ignore it. Weeks later, I came back to it and had another go, having now mastered how to sew up a rib seam. The finished article isn't perfect due to the damaged edge stitch but it is 100% better than it was and is now wearable. I'll try to get a photo of me in it some time as it really does look better in person.

"Kite" on a real, live 5 year old

As promised, here are some photos of my 5 year old daughter wearing her sweater for the first time. She had just come out of the bath, hence the wet hair, but was so eager to wear it that she insisted on doing so before going to bed. Ironically, hot, dry, sunny weather has now arrived (at least for this week) so she hasn't worn it since. I'm quite pleased. I made it intentionally with room for growth, although the sleeves are a little on the long side.

Finished objects abound

Rogue is complete. Finally. After what seemed like an age blocking. I have to confess it was a pig to block. Debbie Bliss and I are definitely not the best of friends. I wanted to have this hoodie in something warm but soft and cozy. I chose DB cashmerino aran. I think it was probably a mistake. It stretched like fury when I washed it in preparation for blocking and it took me a very long time to block it to the right size and shape. Even after blocking it feels like it is stretching and will probably end up a mini-dress. It also looks as if it has the tendency ot pill horribly. Hey, you live and learn...

The other FO is a pullover for my 5 year old daughter. She has been nagging me for a mummy-made jumper ever since I embarked on Chelsea for my son. It has finally been blocked and finished and when I get a moment I will post some photos of the proud recipient wearing it. It's a pattern from the Rowan Story book of Little Knits and was knitted in Rowan All Seasons Cotton. So, unlike her darling elder brother (who declared on first and subsequent wearings of Chelsea that it itches) loves it and wanted to wear it to bed on her first evening of it being finished. Don't you just love an appreciative audience??

Rogue is being blocked & Chelsea pullover is finished!!

I never thought I'd get to the point of blocking Rogue. After I finished most of the knitting, my son insisted I start making him a jumper. And because I promised him one, I had to promise to knit one for my daughter too. So, I have one jumper blocking (Rogue - seen above). One jumper on my son (dubbed the Chelsea pullover after its main colour and my son's favourite football team). And one for my daughter in the throes of being knitted (photos to follow).

At least I am making some progress...

Promenade is now an F.O.

It's been a long time in the gestation but Promenade has finally arrived as an FO. I managed to get as far as the last 20 rows a few weeks ago but then I went to Toronto and had a day being interviewed for a place on a PGCE programme to become a primary teacher (they want me... miracles do happen!) so it all got slowed down by life. On Friday, the last 3-needle bind off happened and I sewed up the two bits of border still requiring attention. I was a bit worried as I finished the last stitch. Because there are so many stitches on the needles at any one time, the whole thing had got bunched up and kind of cottered looking. So, I followed the advice of many a Hanne Falkenberg knitter and, holding my breath, washed it in warm, soapy water and rinsed it with fabric conditioner and laid it out to dry. To say that I am pleased with the end result is an understatement. Breath which had been held could be let out in a slow sigh of relief: Promenade relaxed and softenend as it dried. I always knit HF patterns on the tight side, having seen other people's distress at sleeves being too long (not a problem with Promenade, clearly) and so forth. The process of a tight gauge and then washing and relaxing the wool has made a lovely, drapey fabric which is stretchy but which holds its shape well.

It had its first outing today to church and kept me lovely and warm despite the down draught from the organ which usually chills my back over the course of a service. Not today!

2007 round up

I have finally managed to take and upload photos of the other 3 FOs in my wardrobe. Some I am proud of and some less so. My excuse is that I was using up some of my stash so they may not be items I would ideally make.

It appears I have had a run on blue. The first photo is Clovelly from RYC Classic Coast, knitted in cotton jeans. I really like wearing it and it gets lots of favourable comments. It's nicely fitted, has a low enough neckline in the cowl to be flattering to a busty girl like me and has some lovely detailing on the sleeves (there's a cable twist at the top of the 2x2 rib).

The second photo is a knitted tank from the book Yarnplay. It used Rowan Ribbon twist which I thought I'd really like but it was a pig to sew up well and it's a bit chunky. Makes me look a bit bulgy round the tummy. But it will serve well as an extra layer in cold weather.

The third FO is a Rowan Studio pattern, called Textured Waistcoat, knitted in Rowan All Seasons Cotton. I had wanted to make it in black or navy but couldn't get hold of any. Anyway, it has yet to have an outing. Due to its colour and weight, I expect it to be more of a spring or summer item.

I have lots more on my wish list.....

Crochet? What's crochet?

I decided to buy some 4 ply Jaeger cotton earlier in the year - the colour was just gorgeous (a sort of dark bluebell/hyacinth blue which they call "lobelia"). And Kangaroo were having a sale so I couldn't resist, could I????

Anyway, the pattern is another Rowan one, from the same book as the kidsilk haze wrap and the white beaded cardigan (boy, am I getting my money's worth from that book!). I was fine on the knitting bit but was a bit fazed by the crochet instructions having only done a bit of very basic crocheting as a child. Thankfully, I have the Batsford book of crochet and by following it step by step, managed to do the crochet edging. I'm pretty pleased by the way it has come out. The pattern calls for wooden beads on the safety pin but I decided to go for something a bit shinier and a mother of pearl bead at the end which picks up the blue in the yarn.

Turbulence pullover

I was wandering round the internet as I do, looking at other people's blogsites on knitting, and came across someone who was raving about Nora Gaughan's Knitting Nature. I googled and came up with a peek inside the book and fell in love. I decided on the Turbulence Pullover - I have a stash of DK wool that has been in my cupboard for literally years. I am a strong, blue-based colours girl, being a winter, and thought the emerald green of this Jaeger Matchmaker alpaca DK would go well. Start to finish in under 2 weeks. 1 more project down, lots more to go.

Yarnplay jumper

I have been busy this summer. We had two weeks in Cornwall at the end of the summer holidays - a bit wild and wet at times - and so I knitted a lot. Here's the end result. It's taken from Lisa Siobhan Mason's Yarnplay. She suggests using Noro Silk Garden and Cash Iroha as the combination of yarns but I had a lot of Kureyon to use up. It's not as silky as Silk Garden and it has more colours in its variegation than Silk Garden but I like the colours in this a lot. I think it was Noro Kureyon #139. The photo doesn't really do justice to the amazing colours. It is really quite beautiful. I haven't worn it yet as it has been a bit too warm since we returned home (typical!).

The Rowan kidsilk haze tie wrap

After I finished the cotton beaded cardigan, I went for something entirely different. I bought some Rowan kidsilk haze at Christmas when Kangaroo.co.uk were having a sale. It's a beautiful pale blue colour and the lightest of yarns imaginable. A complete contrast to the heavy weight cotton and beading of my last project. In the same Rowan book as the last cardigan, I found a pattern for a tie front wrap cardigan in kidsilk haze and decided to knit this for those days when a heavy cardigan won't do but you can't quite do without something over a dress or camisole. And the end result is lovely. It fits perfectly. The pictures really do not do it justice at all but never mind.

The finished lacy, beaded cardigan

Here is the finished article, some time after the fact. So late after the fact that I have actually finished another cardigan and am part way through a third...

So, here is the (pre-blocking) finished Rowan handknit cotton and bead cardigan. It weighs a ton but the weight gives it a great swing. I really like it.

Mermaid 8

Here's a photo of my part-completed Mermaid in colourway 8 - cyclamen, brick red and thunder blue. I don't think the photos do the colours justice. They are gorgeous! As you can see, I have nearly finished the body. Just need to do the sleeves and the i-cords. I have opted for Amy's idea of a temporary cast on which I will undo in order to make the two i-cords match. I'll be saving that for a day when it isn't school holidays and I can have some peace and quiet!!!