knitwise

New Year... New project...

First of all, I wish you all a Happy New Year!...

The children went back to school yesterday and the house is quiet again during the day time. The end of the year festivities are such a busy time that it is somewhat difficult to squeeze a few rows of knitting...

I had planned to start the year with Lisette but after knitting the back, I wasn't happy with the way the fabric curled back at the edges and bulged where the decreases and increases were, so I decided to quit before it was too late.  I had bought some Rowan 4ply Soft in a gorgeous new shade called Malachite and was determined to use it...

Inspired by Charlotte , but too poor to purchase the kit, I remembered seeing similar stitches on a multi-coloured top by Sarah Dallas in Vintage Style and Vintage Knits. After a few trials and errors, it turned out that the stitch pattern is the same. So I will have a go at making a similar version... I am knitting it straight instead of fitted, because, to begin with, I couldn't work out how to decrease and increase within the lace pattern... Now, I don't have the courage and energy to start all over again! Let's hope I manage to produce something wearable... 

Merry Christmas to you all...

Last FO of the year...

I can say safely that these fingerless gloves will be the last FO of the year for me!...

I am still waiting for my wool which I want for my next project but I have been assured I should receive it this week. So I have been digging in my stash again and produced a ball of Rowan 4ply soft and some Kid Silk Haze and made these gloves. I have finished just in time as the weather has turned a bit frosty...

Waiting...

I would have liked to talk about my new project in this post...  Unfortunately, I am still waiting for my wool (silly of me to pick the only shade which was out of stock...).  I am getting impatient now and sincerely hope I will have something to cast on for the week-end.

In the meantime, I have managed to knit a pair of fingerless gloves for a dear friend.  As she has received them, I can show them now.

They were quick and fun to make, using only one ball of Rowan 4ply soft, colour Whisper.  The pattern is my own.

I think that if that wool I am waiting for doesn't arrive soon, I will make another pair of those gloves with a variation.

Have a lovely week-end...

Martha #2...

I have finally finished Martha !...  I can't remember now when I started it but it seems a long, long time ago...

It is the first time I have knitted the same pattern twice, but I had so much wear out of my first un-beaded  version, that I knew a second Martha would be a success.  I certainly don't regret it, but I don't think I will be knitting with beads for a while...

Week-end read...

One sleeve to go on Martha!...  I don't think I have ever been that slow before on a project... It must be all those beads....

Thank you for all your votes on my previous post. I think Maggie Tweed must have won by a tiny margin, but your comments showed that you liked all the patterns in equal measures...  Just when I was about to make up my mind, the postman brought me Kim Hargreaves' new book.  What a gem!...

I must say here that this book has exceeded all my expectations.  The pictures are beautiful and the designs absolutely gorgeous. Thank you Ms Hargreaves, I sincerely hope this book won't be the only one...

My top favourites (it doesn't exclude others in the book...):

 

Choice...

With one sleeve, the back and the left front or, shall we say, about 70% now completed on Martha, I can start dreaming about my next project...

This is very often the best part for me with casting on.  I have  browsed through my collection of patterns as well as knitting websites. Picking up Martha again gave me plenty of time for reflection. I don't want to rush things and buy yarn or pattern before I am absolutely sure...

I keep coming back to a few favourites which I have rounded up here:

They are all Kim Hargreaves creations.   Charlotte, Heather, Lisette and Maggie Tweed.

I love them all,  but can only choose one!...

What is your favourite?

Not a happy month!...

What happened to Eloise?...  Well, you guess what will happen when you take ages to finish a sleeve because:  1) you are getting bored with endless stocking stitch (even on big needles!),  2) you keep asking yourself if this cardi is really you, even if you like it on the model,  3) you've got the nagging feeling that you will run out of wool even so you've bought the recommended amount...

It took me ages to finally face the facts that I don't want to knit Eloise anymore... It is a pity, because I still love this Noro Blossom but I know I will find a way of using it, so all is not lost.  I won't be wearing it though!... I came to the conclusion that thick yarns are not for me.  Now that I have learned my lesson, let's hope I don't forget it!...

It has been a frustrating month knitwise.  I was having second thoughts about Eloise, had a couple of new ideas but the swatches didn't match expectations, kept looking in vain for inspiration in the new Autumn patterns... On top of that, I had new glasses I needed to get used to...

So I will look through my pattern books again, pick up poor neglected Martha for a while until something new and exciting turns up!...

Happy knitting!

New plans...

I suppose the real start of the year for me happens in September with the children returning to school...  After a long holiday, we are ready to make a fresh start.   It is usually the time of year when I make plans and new resolutions for the months to come.  The house needs a MAJOR de-cluttering which will keep me busy for quite a while!...

On the blogging side, I will be posting less frequently to ease the pressure I do feel under sometimes to speed up my knitting.  I have many plans involving experimenting with new techniques (to me) such as colourwork, knitting in the round (Gansey?), using what I already have as much as possible and maybe trying to make my own design(s)!  All this will take time and I want to go at my own pace.

At the moment, I am working on Eloise in the Noro Blossom I bought whilst on holidays in Devon.  I needed a quick and cheerful knit to give me a break from 4ply and small needles.  On 5mm needles, it is growing fast indeed! I have already completed the back and one front and am half way through the second one.  I've even tried my hand at the 3 needles cast off technique for one shoulder and it worked beautifully.  I'm hooked!...

I'll be back when Eloise is finished. Who knows?...  The way it is going at the moment, it might be sooner than I expected...

Happy knitting!

Challenge

During our holidays in Devon,  we crossed the border into Cornwall and the lovely fishing village of Polperro.  If you happen to pass that way, do take the time to visit the excellent Heritage Museum.  It has an amazing collection of old photographs recording the daily life of this fishing community.  A section is dedicated to the traditional knitting of Guernseys, Ganseys or Knits-frocks as they are called in this part of the world. Naturally, I was fascinated by the stories of these women knitting jumpers for their men and boys, each one made unique by a change in the pattern and/or even the initials of the wearer knitted on the underarm gusset.  I came out with a copy of this book. If you are interested in the making of traditional Guernseys and the history of this craft in Cornwall, this book is a Must.

My husband set me a challenge by asking me to knit him one of those Knit-frocks and I am seriously tempted to have a go. I realise it could take me ages due to the size of the needles (2.25mm) and garment (man size), but I am intrigued by the "one piece - no sew" construction... I think curiosity might win...