Monday, January 30, 2012

Finished my snood the day it snowed!

Ok the snow didn't settle but my snood came to life the same day. It's below zero outside and I'll be wearing it tomorrow. Marvelous! My DH said I looked like the woman from the Scottish Widows ad but I took that as a complement since she's fairly glamorous.
Ordered a second knitting magazine Knitscene from Interweave Publications Patterns look funky. Looking forward to it arriving. Another American publication. http://www.interweave.com/Magazines/
On with the fluffy tote bag for my dear mum. Trying to work out how to attach the plastic handles. Crochet may be the answer. Will get the bag to the right size while I ponder that.
Have been reading about magic ball knitting - a way to use your stash. Rectangular afghan pieces?

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sixth & final ball

Cowl is progressing well. It's super snuggly and length definitively sufficient. Might even manage to double it up. Enjoying the subtle snake-like tenth cable row and tried out the invisible seam cast on using purl bee's method of crocheting a piece of contrasting yarn and casting on to the back of the stitch. Will see how it works out. May finish tomorrow or Monday. Not out at Zumba - DH has a bike meeting and anyhow I've pulled a muscle in swimming with my 7 year old on my back. Silly me!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Shopping shopping shopping!

Spent my vouchers on Saturday (well double my vouchers!) but all on sale yarn at Get Knitted. Massive store. Loads of choice. I now have a few projects lined up. Yippee. Project quandary well and truly over.

Red waistcoat, rustic cowl, fluffy two strand tote for mum and electric blue mitts. Have also had a monkey request from my DD. And will knit a tea cosy to give complete with tea pot to my lovely sister-in-law who bought me the book!

Have started the cowl. One ball down out of six. Doesn't look long enough. It's Debbie Bliss Glen. Didn't buy the pattern book for seven quid but scanned it and found a cowl with the same cable online so think I'm going to produce something along the right lines. Other projects are shelved because I need to get some wear out of this cowl before it turns a lot milder! Pressure on.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Next project quandary & bag started

Really have been feeling very angst-ridden about what the next project should be. Tempted by a red coat in the magazine I bought but the yarn I found on sale still came to 45 quid! Is that really how much it should cost? Back to the existing stash! Decided a second knitted bag would be a good project and would use stripes of two stash yarns - a very dark navy merino and insipid light beige mohair. On double-checking yardage they weren't as similar as I'd thought so got some thicker needles and knitted both together and it looks flipping fab! Nothing more than garter stitch required. Check it out! The blue looks black and the beige white. And somewhere I have grey too! Feels soft! Much much happier!!!


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hat done & magazine purchase!

Finished the hat. Worked out well, better than grey hat #2 I reckon. Wondering how on earth I managed to substitute needle size yarn thickness recalculate the pattern and get the size just right! Total fluke.

Bought my first knitting magazine ever today: Knit simple. Major determining factor in choosing this one (apart from being in stock in the newsagent) is sold by Bristol yarn shop Get Knitted. Very excited by this magazine! Feel a bigger than sock/hat/mochimichi animal project coming on......!


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Another grey hat & examining the stash

Decided to do another slouchy grey hat. Heavier yarn than specified in the pattern but approximately "simple squashy slouchy" first hat from Jane Brocket's Gentle Art of Knitting. Stocking stitch with a pleasing garter ridge. Have attached a photo.

Decided rather than spending my Get Knitted Xmas voucher I'd look at my stash, list it where I can locate a yarn label for those I've got at least 50g of and see if I can find a suitable pattern on Ravelry. Will see how I get on. My DH is out with the bike club so more easily done on his iPad. Slight problem with lack of working printer at home. Need to collar one of my techie best mates when they come over for pasta and wine but never remember mid-conversation and wine!

Have really been enjoying the Cast On podcasts! My new knitting guru lives in Pembrokeshire... close by! Really good to hear chatter about my favourite thing. Reminds me to get back to my local pub for their monthly Knitting Natter night!


Friday, January 13, 2012

Given up on Grouchy Couch

Thought I'd make the mochimichi couch for my hamsters. Selected a couple of stash balls in suitable colours. However, totally underestimated how much I'd need and have run out of main colour with two more cushions and two more armrests to make. It's fiddly using two colours and has been making me rather grouchy! Really don't like abandoning a project but yearning to make some to wear rather than a frivolous ornament.

Found some US knitting podcasts for my commute to work "Cast on". The broadcaster has a mellow voice and think I'm going to enjoy these a lot. Have synced a dozen onto my ipod.

Anyway here's a photo of the abandoned couch. Will find ways to reuse what I've done at some point. Thinking add a rib to the main piece for a smartphone cosy case. Scrunchies for the smaller pieces.

Friday, January 6, 2012

My friends think my hamsters are odd

They just aren't getting my mochimochi hamsters. I am getting comments like "what's inside them?", "yeuch", "yes, but I think you could sell your hats....". However my children have been hamster-napping them regularly to play zuzu games! Ha ha. The hamsters are getting a sofa and a tv too. Lost my 5th 3mm dp needle in Cornwall so sofa isn't most straightforward. My DH asked last night which was most challenging baby gator or sofa? He IS paying attention!