Ravelympics Day 3

I have got off to a bit of a slow start as we have been away for the weekend. I had to pack it all on the Friday night and realised that I have put my 4.5mm circ somewhere safe- not with my other needles so I am having to resort to knitting the whole thing on straights which means that you can't really see what is going on. I suspect the needle will show as I finish the cardigan.
The yoke is completed it is OK. Just OK. It seems that like apples, Noro should not be bought online. On the colour chart colour 272 is a mix of greens and turquoise with a little brown and grey mixed in for good measure. My two balls although the same dye lot and colour were very different. Only one ball had any turquoise and that was only enough for the cast on edge. The rest of it was small bits of green and tons and tons of brown. I have had to resort to breaking the yarn at strategic places in order for the whole yoke not to turn out brown. The texture of the Noro is actually quite nice though I don't think it will ever be a favourite yarn. I might be tempted to use it again. I have just started separating for the sleeve with the grey cascade it should be OK.

Owls is Finished

I stitched the buttons on Saturday afternoon. All 34 of them by 20 I was kind of losing the will to live but, I have to say it was worth the effort. I love this sweater. Warm, scratchy and very charming I haven't taken it off since the last button was tied on. You can't really see the colour of them but they are a light teal blue. Slightly lighter than Molly's eyes were when she was a baby.Unfortunately you can't really see in any of the photo's because the light is so bad. Perhaps we need more snow? It is certainly easier to take good photos with a back drop of white! Molly has lost complete interest in fighting the Owls since it was finished which I am very glad about as I wondered how I would get on with a kitten permanently impaled on my leg.

IntSweMoDo2010#4
Needles 6 mm
Yarn Purelife British Sheep Breeds 5.5 balls
Time 7 days

Wonderful Wollmeise

In the summer I was really lucky to take part in the Rowan Knitting Exchange. This is organised every year by some wonderful Rowan members. I don't know if you remember but I made Ishbel in Rowan Damask for a lovely canadian lady called Nance. In turn my parcel was from a lady in England called Marie France sent me the most wonderful pair of Malabrigo socks (really too nice to put on my cloven hooves)a very cute poncho which I have had a ton of compliments for and a skein of Wollmeise.
Now I seem to have a bit of a rep as a wool snob and I do have to admit I do like nice yarn but I have never been passionate about anyone supplier until now. The first thing that strikes you about the wollmeise yarn is the colour it has wonderful depth, there is variation of colour without it being glaringly obvious. The second thing is the smell, and let me tell you it is a smell to die for. Imagine a field of rose bushes just coming into bloom combined with a soft summer rain. That it is the smell of wollmeise. I have since found out she washes her yarn in perwol. So if you are in Germany, rush to the shop and buy some you won't be disappointed!
I was busy looking for the most perfect project for this wonderful,squidgy, yummy yarn, When my friend Monica bought me a copy of Aestlight. Perfect! A match made in heaven the most wonderful yarn in the whole universe coupled with a very attractive shawl that was interesting to knit and very easy and enjoyable to wear.

A month.

I can't believe it has been a month since I last blogged. The time has just whizzed past but that is usual for the summer holidays. A trip to Canada a visit from the inlaws and my birthday pretty much takes care of the time. On the knitting front I finished my Eyelet Chemise, Tropicana and a Razor Cami. I finished sewing the buttons onto the Chemise on my first morning in Canada whilst the rest of the world slept(yes I had serious jet lag).I then wore it to Bluesfest and to have tea with the Suffragettes of Ottawa, it is nice to have worn it for an occasion as everytime I wear it now I will think of my time in Canada. I would have finished Tropicana in Canada, but when I went to get my next ball of yarn out I realised that I had left it at home which was very frustrating.So finished when I got back. I have a ball and half left of the silk so enough to make one for Elenya. Oriana has also asked for one of these. Luckily there are tons of yarn shops in Canada.My cousin even has one on her street so I stocked up.
The Razor Cami was a lovely quick knit, probably a little too quick as I knit like a fiend throwing it into my case finished at 11pm on my last night in Canada. I left the last balls behind which I kind of regret. The straps were very uncomfortable so had to be made into a haltertop.
I would definitely make the straps differently if I had more yarn. On the Crochet front I finished the back of Joy my project for the plane.(Pictures to follow...) I asked if I could take a crochet hook onto the first plane. The very young man behind the counter told me he didnt know what a crochet hook was but if I showed him....I didn't bother asking again. Whilst at my grandparents, my Auntie Sandi introduced me to fabricland. She also brought her sewing machine for me to use...I whipped up this bag by McCalls..(Pictures to follow...) Just as well she did or I wouldn't have been able to get all of my loot home without it.