Finished on Friday

The Ravelympics are still on and I set myself up for two projects the Garter yoked Sweater, which you know about. I finished it on Friday, the kids chose the buttons earlier in the week. Lovely shiny green shell buttons which make everyone who sees them smile.
I was pretty unsure about this sweater right till the end but it is actually very flattering and I think I might at some point make another - high praise indeed.

IntSweMoDo2010#5
Garter Yoked Cardigan
Needles 4.5mm
Yarn Cascade220/Noro Blossom
Time 8 Days
The Mountain peaks shawl by Miram Felton was my other choice of project. It is something I have had in stash for ages/ years. I decided to cast it on a couple of months ago.
I managed 5 rows before I put it down so thought it would be a good wip for the games. But it looks like it won't get finished for these either as I am busy with this
and this.

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.

Are you ready???

There has been knitting going on here the last couple of days. However, it is all about to be thrown in a corner . Ravelympics starts tomorrow. I really couldn't decide but I am going to be casting on the garter yoke cardi! I cannot take credit for the Noro yoke as I have seen it done before on Ravelry. Usually I really don't like the way Noro looks (hippy) or feels (scratchy) I haven't ever felt the inclination to knit with it. So this really is a bit scary as I could end up with a hippy scratch cardigan that I don't like.

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

Not Many People Have got One of Those.

In recent years there has been a trendy towards the rustic, the vintage the shabby chic. Mainly I think as People try to make sense of a world that is too fast and because of that often slap dash. Most of my friends live in very modern houses made of very modern materials. Many of them are quite happy with the modern but some crave what went before filling their homes with little pieces that they have found in charity shops or on Ebay. I am lucky, my home originally belonged to my grandparents, my dad moved here when he was two. Mamie my grandmother lived here for the rest of her life. When Elenya was two we moved in nothing had been changed well- ever. Mamie's appliques are on the wall,
her table cloths adorn my tables which she either bought at antique shops or her parents gave her. My children play with the mechanno set that belonged to my dad when he was little and my sister and I tinkered with during the our holidays. Her blankets live in the airing cupboard.
This suits me fine I am not a great believer in change, for change sake. It makes me uncomfortable. Sometimes though the 21st century catches up.
Every house in the area is having cavity wall insulation My little fire puts a spanner in the works it may do a stirling job of keeping the room warm, My children assure me that it is a magic door by which father christmas gets in and I love the way it looks but, it hasn't heard of regulations and because of that yesterday it had to be capped off.
So whilst Mario and his friend the plumber were under the floor with lengths of copper pipe.
I decided to embrace change and take one of the very oldest blankets from the cupboard and turn it into something else. I picked up the cushion kits when I was at woolfest last year they are made in a really scratchy yarn straight from the sheep and make perfect cushions for my front room.

I knew that I wanted blanket backs and was going to go to a charity shop to look for such a thing when I remembered the oldest blanket, rough scratchy and perfect to go with the fronts. I am really pleased with how they turned out and I am sure that Mamie would be tickled if she knew what happened to her blanket.


Are we getting rid of the fire? No it is a conversation piece, I still love the way it looks and we really can't have father christmas being locked out can we?.

The Owls and the Pussy Cat

I realise that I keep showing you finished items which in my opinion is not that interesting. I figure that some of you at least would like an update on Molly so I thought I could combine the two things. Molly is now a thriving half grown kitten she is still fairly small and at 5 and a bit months probably will never be big. We worry that her eyes are slightly different shapes probably because they were so infected when we got her. They run when she is teething or feeling cold. Like Tigger she has a very short coat. She never meaows put instead makes a kind of trilling noise and purrs like a revving tractor.
When she went for her last lot of shots the Vet said they were very impressed with my nursing as apparetly they hadn't thought she would make it. Luckily Molly had other plans. Her fur has been the topic of many a conversation. She is now more grey than brown but she has had stripes and bambi spots turned grey and now again sports some very distinctive stripes on her tail. My latest knit is a great hit- with Molly.
She has been very interested in the yarn since it came into the house. Rowan Purelife British Sheep Brands Dark Grey Welsh smells of sheep! I love the smell, warm, cosy and natural. It drives Molly wild, brings out the play instinct and it is almost her colour so good for hiding in.

I was a little bit worried about the shaping of this as it is all at the back a real junk in your trunk look I thought it might be a little puffy but I have tried the body on and it is a flattering shape. I didnt want to take it off as it is lovely and warm. A factor that is very appreciated at the moment as we yet again have snow, just enough to be annoying rather than everything making everything grind to a halt.
I think I should finish Owls in the next couple of days a highly recommmended pattern.
I have just heard that the Designer Kate Davis is in Hospital so I would just like to add my well wishes to the others in Blog land. Get Well Soon!

Hmmm Malabrigo - Just Bliss

It turns out that it is quite apt showing you Bliss IntSweMoDo2010#3 today, as I started it on the first of our snow days in January and as I write the first of february's snow is settling outside.
I was making the katherine Hepburn cardigan but I couldnt concentrate with the children running in and out of the house trailing snow as they went. I wanted a stash buster, something quick and most of all I wanted to make something cheerful. The four delicious green hanks of Malabrigo that I bought at Harrogate seemed like the perfect answer. Coupled with Bliss by Samia Buchan a pattern that I had been eying on Ravelry. It turns out that I only used 2.5 skeins so there will be another Malbrigo knit in my near future.
I struggled a bit with the pattern as it was charted more like a cross stitch than a knit and some of the wording was a little strange. I hated this at first but actually it was a good thing as it slowed me down a bit and I had to think about where the stitches were actually going rather than just mindlessly making them. The cables on this are beautiful, very celtic and the Malabrigo seems to make them pop. The combination of cables and the green I have visions of the Green Man hopefully hearalding spring in the not two distant future. Least I hope so as it is far too cold to wear yet.
IntSweMoDo2010#3
Needles 4.5 mm
Yarn malbrigo worsted 2.5 Skeins
Time 23 days

katherine Hepburn Cardigan

Many, many moons ago I saw a dress in the window of Monsoon. A red dress, a young dress, a brave dress ,a wow look at me dress. I wanted it. I hummed and hahed about the cost of it and then found it on Ebay for a fraction of the price. A few days later it arrived. Beautiful fit like a glove but, I suffered from nerves and self doubt. I am not young and brave and I don't want people to stare.
So the dress was folded and put in the cupboard and forgotten about. The red Rowan Cashsoft 4ply was in another cupboard for the same reason.In the new years resolution of cables and stash busting the red yarn was pulled from the stash and I cast on the the Katherine Hepburn Cardigan from Lace Style. The yarn felt great soft and warm but I was still a little undecided about the colour and I couldn't find any buttons in my local shop. Then I had an epiphany, vintage buttons on ebay.
Don't you love ebay? The buttons arrived and I knit faster. Then I was sat knitting at a friend's house and I remembered my dress. A perfect match. The cardigan is number two of my inswemodo2010 and it turned out really well. Am I brave enough to wear it?
Maybe!

IntSweMoDo2010#2
Needles 3.755mm
Yarn Rowan Cashsoft 4py 5 balls
Time 16 days

Interesting.

Insisting on buying a birdtable in the morning.



Results in Husband making one in his lunch hour.




The my feathered friends and I thank him.....
I wonder what I should insist on buying tomorrow:)

Blue Danube

I hope you have you have all had a great New Year and have now recovered. Mine was drunken spent with family and friends and ended at 2.00 am. It seems that I am really to old for that time of the morning as I have spent the last couple of days out of routine with my sleep and feeling exhausted. Perhaps I should make a note that next year if I don't want to waste a couple of days I should probably be tucked up with cocoa by ten!
I have this year continued with the tradition of casting on a sweater Christmas Day. I was a little bit undecided which sweater it should be as the yarn I got as a present still hasn't arrived from Canada. But I finally decided on Ysolda Teague's Snow white. I have really wanted this sweater since I first saw it a couple of years ago but it kept being pushed to the back of the queue. The amount of snow that is covering Yorkshire at the moment it seemed like the obvious choice The yarn choice was a saga. I reeally wanted to do it in Sundara Aran but I decided it would cost too much and getting it from America would probably be a hassle. So instead I ordered via a shade card at my local LYS Rhubarb Sublime Cashmere and silk Aran. It arrived and was hideous a violent fuchsia colour that I was never going to wear. Back it went with me paying postage costs and Clipper arrived. It is not the most awe inspiring colour ever but I will wear it. Note to self though, with the extra postage costs the sundara would have cost the same!!!
Snow White was a wonderful quick knit and the pattern was completely straight forward as is the way of all Ysolda's patterns. I was a little undecided about the flat piece of stocking stitch that the original had at the back of the neck.
So as I have decided that 2010 is the year of the cable I have added a couple to the back of the neck. It kind of reminds me of a river the way that the rib undulates around the body. It was a bit of a gamble that the cables would work but, I am very pleased with the outcome
IntSweMoDo2010#1
Needles 4.5mm
Yarn Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino Aran 8.5 balls
Time 8 days
.

New Year – Resolving to do better.

Like most of England we have been lucky to have a proper white Christmas.By Boxing Day I was ready for a change of scene and Mario suggested a trip out. This involved a lovely walk at Oakwell Hall , a place very close to my heart as we got married there .We weren't organised enough to take our sledge though we had fun measuring ourselves against the sheep. Everyone agreed he seemed much larger last time we visited. It was fun running about and watching all of the dogs running about catching snowballs.

This year I managed to get all of my gifts made including a cardigan for my mum. Slippers for J. A shrug for the little blue tortoise and two little Alan Dart gnomes.( if you are wondering about the lack of photo's they seem to have disappeared from my camera so I will have to accost the recipients and get some more sometime in the new year). I also managed sweater for me and it was all done without me having to issue any IOUs .Which hasn't happened for many a long year!

For me I made Aaren by Kim Hargreaves. I made it in stashed Cashmerino Aran from Coldspring.I had in mind I would like to wear it for Christmas day but it was such a large garment I didn't really think it possible. It took three weeks of continuous knitting but, I finished it with a week to spare and I love it. I forgot how much I love making cables. How satisfying they are to make. What enjoyment I derive as each one comes to fruition. In 2009 I joined the NaSweMODo on Ravelry in April. The idea is that you make an adult sized garment a month .Aaren was my number 12. I am joining again this year but, there will be more cabled projects for 2010. So one of my resolutions for this year is more cables! I have also realised how little I have blogged this year. Ok I am never going to be an everyday blogger, life is just too busy this year I haven't even managed once a week! I am hoping this will also change. Father Christmas brought me a shiny new lap top. As my old one was without a space bar for the last few months of its life typing on this is a dream. It also came with office 2007 this has a blog feature in word which I am giving a whirl with this post . Well that is me for this year. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

More procrastination or clear the slate?

There has been simply tons of knitting action here. Hundreds of yards of yarn have spun from the ball, wrapped the needle and fallen as the stitch.As the last stitch has been cast from the needle, the last end sewn in I have cast on something else. Unfortunately the weather is dark! It has been dark for what seems like months. Photos taken both inside or out look like they were posed for in a cave. Which puts me off taking them or organising someone to take them. On a clear day a couple of weeks ago, the photos were taken - they are passable. But, there are so many, so many things to talk about, to tell you about. Rather than composing tangible thoughts it really is easier to cast on something else. So there is only one thing for it. Give you everything clear the slate. Before I cast off again.
Ronnie I found this pattern when I was in Canada and thought it perfect for Inigo as a rough and ready playing out sweater. It was pretty slow going with all of that rib.The yarn a cone from coldspring mill bled terribly blue staining both my hands and needles. I had to leave it alone between each section as the extra hand washing involved chapped hands and fingers It was worth it he loves it.
The next knit off the needles was Everglade in Rowan Cashsoft Dk as a birthday present for my neice. This was a weekly mystery. A few rows for three weeks. I love knitting in this yarn it is so soft and warm and I am reliably informed that it is already much loved.
The crown was a little nerve wracking, as it needed concentration and I was trying really hard to do with kids about. But I think it turned out really wel


Wrenna I knit this in an afternoon -yes an afternoon!!!
when I was first recovering from the flu. It was another stashbusting exercise with a cone of como from coldspring mill. The trouble was I really didnt fancy the lacing. I tried it on and then chucked it on the bedroom floor where it stayed for several weeks whilst I looked for inspiration. It came in the form of a blast of cold air. I really needed something warm to wear to work. Two minutes before I left the house I raided my button collection. A button from my grandmother's raincoat is just perfect.

Then came Lush and Lacey A saga and half. I bought the yarn, Mission Falls when I was visting my cousin in Canada.



I ran out with 8 rows to go. Luckily a wonderful friend in Canada Nan came to my rescue and popped another ball in the post. I love this cardigan, it is warm, sexy, and the colour is probably the most delicious in the whole spectrum.

The last knitting for this post though not everything I have done(there has been some xmas stuff as well is Entrechat The yarn is Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica. The colours are just amazing!

I fell in love with it when I was at Harrogate. It has turned out ok but I don't think I will knit in it again as it is spun to a thread in places which isn't that enjoyable to knit and I am also not sure how long the shrug will last