Monday, 27 April 2009
Lots of WIP's
Michael's summery stripy socks 003
I've also started scarf for Mr Josiekitten's half-sister. We are going to stay with her over the summer when we are travelling round Germany. It's from issue 13 of Yarn Forward, and I'm using 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I like the pattern, although I am concerned that the edges will curl.
My Ishbel is also coming along nicely - I'm on the 3rd lace chart now, and it's taking me about 15 minutes just to knit one row!
Finally, I've chosen my pattern for the May Sock Challenge socks - Nutkin. Partly chosen because there is a KAL just starting on Phoenix Knitting Forums, I've liked this pattern ever since I saw Snoopydog's Nutkin socks. I have changed the yarn I was intending to use for a later month's, because the Koigu I had lined up seems a little short on yardage, so will have to be used for a pair of toe-up socks instead. I'm using a sock yarn that I bought at the I Knit day last September - Madeline Tosh hand-dyed merino in Chatres. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the colours - the yarn just seems to glow!
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Oh baby!
Using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, I made Saartje's Booties, Sweet Baby Cap and Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater. But what about the toy you were talking about last time, I hear you cry?! RATS!! I've been rumbled! I was making Kate, a cute little cat. But it is sooooooooo fiddly! My sewing skills aren't great, and I'm terrified that an ear or paw is going to get detached from the body, and I'll be repsonsible for choking poor little Ida! So Kitty Kate is still in pieces in a carrier bag, in the naughty corner!! I'll dig her out again sometime, I promise!
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Confession time!
From left to right, the first is a skein of Mirage, in Wisteria. It's a merino/tencel mix, and the tencel gives it a lovely sheen. I think it's destined to become a shawl - maybe another Ishbel (says she, having not even finished the first one yet!) In the middle are a set of 10 mini skeins. I was like a child in a sweet shop, not knowing which colourways to choose. I'm hoping to use these to make a Cassia crochet mobius scarf. And the third skein is Dazzle, in Sweet Pea. This is a sock yarn using wool from the British Blue Faced Leicester sheep. It is so, so soft, and is going to make some lovely socks.
Amanda showed me the dyeing room - it was very interesting to see the natural dyes that she uses. She must work incredibly hard, right through the year, to keep up with the demand. I love the subtle colours that she produces, and will be treating myself to another membership of the Sock Club once my stash is a little smaller! Here's a taster of what I saw....
Then we headed off to Aldeburgh and ate fish and chips on the beach. It was a gloriously sunny day, and I had to make sure that the seagulls didn't pinch any of my lunch!
I managed to get some 'car-knitting' done, on Michael's summery stripy socks, and they should be done in the next few days. I've also finished my April sock challenge pair, and have to say that I am pretty pleased with how they turned out. I used the Circle socks pattern, and it's worked so well with the yarn. Take a look!
I'm desperately trying to finish some baby things before term starts tomorrow. I just have a toy to complete, but it's a bit fiddly. I think I'd better go and get on with it now!
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Ladies who lunch ......... and knit!
Ladies who lunch and knit! 003
I shall have to turn my I.O.U. list into real money ready to spend at I Knit this September ready for when Snoopydog and I have our girls' day out! So far I think I have about £25 to spend!!
Not a great deal of knitting was done, although not for the want of trying! Snoopydog was just starting the trimming for her Wendy Happy baby cardigan, and kept getting distracted by chatting! This was the sum total of her afternoon's efforts!
Ladies who lunch and knit! 002
It's a tricky 4 row repeated pattern with lots of knit 2 togethers, yarn forwards and casting off stitches, all done with slippery yarn! More than once, Snoopydog ended up with the wrong number of stitches! But it will look very pretty once it's finished! I worked on my Circle socks and hope to finish them in the next day or so. Call back later to take a look!
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Catching up
Michael's summery stripy socks WIP 001
It's my usual Violet Green sock generator pattern. The yarn is Schoppel-Wolle Admiral R Druck in colourway Orange Spice. Although I love the colour of the yarn, it's not quite as thick as the Regia and Opal yarns I've used in the past, and the sock just feels a bit 'thin'. I guess it will be ok for the summer!
I've been busy making some baby clothes, and have one more thing to finish, so will show you what I've been making next time. My aim is to try and finish most of my current WIPs this holiday, ready to start afresh for the new term. In the meantime, here are some photos of some of the flowers currently in bloom chez Josiekitten.