The cards say it all

The polite one. The one that says it all.
and


11 years not out.
XX

Ravelry and Mystery Stole3

This is going to be so dangerous......but fun!

On the Mystery Stole, I have finished the first clue. It is not very photogenic at the moment but what lace is before blocking.


This is such fine yarn compared to what I'm used to knitting but I love the effect.

Sock it to me - June 2007

Bit of a catch up month using yarns that have been here a while.
Koigu Broadripple, yarn has been in stash over 6 months.

Natural Dye Studio BFL, this has been resident for over a year.
Yarn Yard Merino colour Blink, a very recent arrival. The pattern this is based on is the Colinette Jitterbug label. Gorgeous yarn, very soft and similar to Posh Yarns Emily.

Crew Socks from Interweave Knits Summer 2007 edition. These are my first Toe up attempt which also have short row heels and a sewn cast off. So its been a learning curve, as they say. The Yarn has been around for about 6 months and is Posh Yarns Lucia in Twinkle colourway.

Will do Toe up again but possibly not Short Row heels, don't quote me on that one though.

In the Breeze

These are the best shots I can get before the next shower!



My biggest lace projects so far and I personally prefer Ella but have learnt alot of skills doing both. I'm surprised my patience lasted so well.

MysteryStole3 - Swatch

In Yarn Yard Lace, colour Charcoal on 3.5mm needles.
WITH the addition of beads although I think they are in the wrong place I have proved its easy to do!





I have never swatched for anything before, its usually left to chance hence cables never fitting.

Fir Cone Shawl Blocking

Haven't quite mastered blocking wires yet but they are certainly better than thousands of pins piercing the yarn.

New Kids on the Block

Finally I have found a space to block Ella. The stitch pattern has opened out nicely and you can now see the colours of the Black Purl.

In waiting, finally finished the edging with a few hiccups, I know that it looks obvious where the new skeins were added but I didn't think it looked too bad because of the design. Plus I'm not confident I would have managed 2 balls at once.

Home Strait

Halfway round the Fir Cone Shawl edging. I ended up doing 24 pattern repeats because of the shading on the last ball of the 4 that I had, it was slightly more orange!

Close Up.

For my sins I have now signed up for the Mystery Stole Knitalong. Not sure I'll keep up but if I start I will finish, also not confident the beads will get included.

Toe up socks have passed the heel, I now know I don't like short row heels but once I've conquered the toe start I can use patterns that have proper heel flaps. The holes aren't quite as bad as I have photographed but it was the third attempt and they are for me! Life's too short to try it 4 times on one pair.

Off to book my ticket for Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching Show and hopefully Kerrie's knitted flowers class. Anyone else going?

First Attempt

So far so good. Too early to tell whether I like Toe-up best but it will open up a few more patterns. I am using the pattern from Interweave Knits Summer 2007 magazine. The Turkish Cast on is interesting. Yarn is called Twinkle (I think) one of my Posh Yarn Sock Club.

Focus

I don’t know about you but as far as knitting is concerned my mind is constantly thinking of what’s next. Not normally so indecisive but this is a snapshot of what is usually churning round.

1. Should I finish the dreaded Cushion Cover, rib Cardigan.
No it’s too hot.

2. Should I join the next Knit along I like the look of or the one I already possess the pattern/wool for. (Shoalwater/Queen of the Waves/Clapotis)
Maybe.

3. Maybe I will knit what I have liked the look of on someone’s blog or in that magazine last week.
But then again.

4. I really must knit up the wool that I wanted to try, Seacell, SeaSock, POB Silk, Camel etc.
Can I find the right pattern?

5. What about that colour that I really want to see knit?
What about it??

6. Maybe I should just concentrate on the yarn that is already wound.

7. And of course there is the sock challenge I foolishly told people about, why don’t I keep my mouth shut?
Will always have yarn for socks.

8. Want to try Toe-Up socks.

9. Christmas is only 6 months away.

10. Winter is only 3, back to the cardigan.

So I am now not buying anymore yarn for a while, not stupid enough to tell you til when, but stupidly told the keeper of the plastic…….big mistake.
I may have exaggerated on the length of my stashalong…..DH please note.

Have my eye on Violet Green, Wollmeise and Hobbledehoy and Posh is never far from my mind, oh and the Yarn Yard are introducing Lace. Doomed. I have added all the links because if I'm going I'm taking you with me!!

Secret Summer Santa

The first time I have joined in with any of these swaps and I am amazed and very pleased how much people put into them. I was seriously worried about sending my package off. But then we always knew knitters were a nice breed didn't we?
StitchMarkers made for me.
Hoard.
Regia Bamboo in a gorgeous Passion colour.
Hand Painted Lace.
Sheep!
Thank you so much.

Progress photos

So here we are hatched from our nest, contemplating fledging(Springwatch again). 20 repeats, 181 rows completed AND 361 stitches. If I reach 30 repeats that will increase to 521! Each row is getting quite time consuming not to mention the stitchmarkers required, or perhaps I'm a little paranoid. Anyway I have visited Claire's accessories for the first time at the recommendation of Nickerjac to purchase some bargain markers, well OK they are for pony tails or something like but at £2 for 100 it's the right price.

This is the first project I have done in 2 ply and another first is joining a ball with spit, couldn't believe what I was reading first of all however it does seem to work, at least until blocking.

A couple of closer shots for you, the colour is not quite so orange but it is very hard to catch with a camera.

Short and Sweet

!8 pattern repeats complete another ball of yarn added! Hope it holds. Pictures tomorrow.

Its getting to me

Think I've been watching too much Springwatch. This is beginning to remind me of a birds nest! 14 repeats done, will I make the 30?

Koigu.............

A yarn that I have bought and only just got round to using, I can see why people rave about it.
This is Broadripple.


Another WIP, the Fir Cone Shawl for Dee's Knitalong. It is 3 pattern repeats and I have now done 8 but think 30 may be necessary! Not knit with 2 ply before. Stitchmarkers are getting some use again.



Look whats just dropped on the mat. Thats true service, ordered on Saturday and here Tuesday as well as being exactly as advertised. Gorgeous.


Licorish Stich Silk 2 ply, Bronzed Pink Sea Cell, Lilac Ice Sea Cell, Summer Sigh BFL Sock.

Stashalong for life

After these purchases but they will be worth it!

The Knittery.





And finally Piece of Beauty

Meme

Rules:1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment to tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I broke my collarbone when 18 months. NB: Never use your parents bed as a trampoline especially when there is a chest of drawers nearby.
2. When young I suffered badly from travel sickness, a mile in certain peoples cars meant alot of cleaning was required. We only ever used public transport.
3. My favourite confectionery are gums although I do like good quality chocolate except when ill and then I crave Milky Bars or Yorkies (of course).
4. I am addicted to handbags, the big benefit is they always fit.
5. I have been to see the musical Les Miserables 6 times and am craving another visit which is most unlike me, I don't even read books twice although I do hoard them.
6. I like to try new things, within reason, hence I ordered Cuttlefish on my honeymoon and there was nearly a divorce when my husband said didn't you know what it was! I hate to waste my restaurant orders but that was not getting past the first mouthful.
7. I have passed a Cordon Bleu cookery exam although rarely follow a recipe now. Despite owning a library of cookery books.
8. I have had both my wrists slashed, because I had Carpal Tunnel. If I had had any doubt about whether I had or not the after effects proved the case. The surgeon said I should be good for another 25 years as it was little old ladies who knit that suffered most!!!!

Sock it to me - May 2007

I finally got the Pomatomus finished, Although the pattern is very well written for some strange reason the second sock was a bit of an effort but I don't give up. On the leg of one sock the colours came out in a broad stripe whereas the other the pooled in a zigzag fashion. These two photos should show the contrasts. Anyway its another pattern off the list.

AND
Just to keep the numbers going I did these two which are the Fybrespates basic sock pattern on 3mm needles. I could almost knit a sock a day, they were so fast, there will be many more of these.

Posh Emily in colour Yodel and Fybrespates BFL which was my sock club offering for April, very soft and lustrous.