New Stash

As promised yesterday, here's the scrummy new yarns I've had. This is Fantasia, 80% wool 20% acrylic, machine washable dk, 22sts/28r with 120m per 50g, an exact match to Twilleys Freedom Spirit :) I had to get it in all 3 shades, just typical of me! It's really soft, I can't wait to use some of it. I got the Spirit book for some inspiration, but can't decide what to do first!

DD might get something in this one, there's nice hooded waistcoat in the new edition of Simply Knitting.

This one looks nice with jeans, colours look a bit washed out here, they're not quite this pale:

And finally, this one is very 'Autumnal' & is something completely different for me!

This little lot came from Wolle-Hartmuth. It was amazingly cheap at only 9 euros per 500g pack. I added 300g of sock wool & paid £33.00 in total.

No other knitterly news today. My pins are free & I've spent all afternoon dithering over what to start & ended up not starting anything. Why is is that when I'm working on something, I know 100% for certain what's next to be made, but when the time comes, it doesn't happen, it's very odd!

Bank Holiday Challenge - DONE!

Well, better late than never, my Bank Holiday challenge top is ready. It would've been ready sooner, but I had some stuff to pack & post that I sold on ebay over the weekend.

I used just under 7 balls of Sirdar Calypso cotton.

I made the 36" size, I was dubious, as the completed measurement is only 28" unblocked & it says it stretches to fit! And, much to my surprise, it does...

I added an extra button to ensure it closed without gaping! They were a freebie from Wolle-Hartmuth with a wool order :)

The lacy part is an easy 2 row pattern, I added an edge stitch to make sewing up easier.

Even DH, said (in a surprised tone) "ooohh that's nice!!" Bless him.

I've got some scrummy new wool to show you, but I didn't get to take a piccie in the daylight, so I'll do it tomorrow.

Bamboo & stuff!

I've just finished Badia from Berroco. I used Wendy Pure Bamboo I got from Spinning A Yarns closing down sale, another of my bargainous purchases (I only have that type!!). I started a knit-along on the forum, but I think it turned into a knit-alone LOL! I made the second size, this stuff knits up really stretchy!

It also knits up a bit darker, it's like getting a can of emulsion home & remembering that it dries darker than the shade card!!

A headless modelled shot:

I wasn't sure about how deep the neckline was at the back, I just followed the pattern, but I think it's fine now it's on:

A nice 5 day knit. I love this tank AND it's machine washable too!

Well, I've set myself a Bank Holiday challenge. I honestly started this yesterday (Friday 25th May 07!) & hope to have it ready by the end of Monday 28th, wish me luck! Here's progress so far, looks like I'm in for a few late nights/early mornings:

The yarn is Sirdar Calypso Cotton DK. Found lurking in the bargain bucket for £1.00 a ball in my LYS! She didn't have the blue Luxury Soft Cotton in stock, this is the exact same colour as the photo, despite what the picture is trying to tell you! I have a thing about ribbed stuff at the moment, god knows why, what a pain they are to knit!

I've finally sewn the ribbon onto the lilac cotton bolero, piccie soon, when dh isn't at work!

This Weeks Knitterly Update! New Pics Added

The vintage top is finished. I used exactly 3 balls of Sirdar breeze. I was undecided on the buttons, so it was unfinished for over a week. I think they're OK, they've grown on me!

Here's a modelled shot of me, feeling brave, for the first time!



Next up is a bolero from Simply Knitting mag. One of the early editions (number 3 I think!) I've subscribed from the first issue, but thay have such a bad reputation for pattern errors, I've given them a miss. But I have to say, the pattern was well-writen & completely error-free.

I had quite a large stash of Sirdar Pure cotton & picked lilac for this one. I don't really like the feel of it, it's a bit hard to knit. I discovered, about 6" from finishing the 2nd sleeve, that Brittany Birch pins were the best ones to get an even tension with!

I thought I'd try short-row shaping for the first time on the shoulders. I used this really useful article in Knitty.com. I did a 3 needle bind off on the shoulders too. At the end, the author announces 'Wow, doesn't that look fabulous?' errr no, it's not a phrase I'd use to describe this:

It's bugging the hell out of me that I can see the twisted stitches. Look at them, staring at me from the back row! I'm unsure why, on the bind-off, she says to knit through the back loop on the nearest stitch & the front on the back stitch. I assume it's to make knitting them together easier. Messy, messsy, messy!

The pattern has a picot cast-off all around the edges. I actually think it looks quite effective, but if I never see another picot-cast-off again, it will be way too soon:

I used 4.5 x 100g balls & the rest has gone on ebay. I've got too much!

It's still blocking, so I'll post up the finished pic another day.

Captions please...more vintage knitting!

Well, when I saw these for 10p, I really had to have them. (Just realised I've paid more than the cover price, very unlike me!!!) I have no intention of ever knitting them. I just cannot believe the expression on that poor girls face. I was actually LOL'ing in the charity shop!

I'd like some captions please, anything goes on my blog... I'll start us off... (I'll post up any that get left!)

"Darling we learnt a new technique at the knitting group tonight, let me show you how to do it through the back loop."

or

"I said from behind, not up my behind, you idiot."

It all obviously went well, as here's the next pattern in the sequence, they've even changed their clothes & let their hair down:

Vintage Knitting - What Goes Around Comes Around!

I found a vintage 1975 Woolworths kniting book in my local charity shop for 10p, a while back. It was destined for ebay, but when I looked through it, I was amazed to find I actually like some of the designs. I'm currently working on this one, originally made in 'Chadwicks Courtelle Crepe', requires 18 x 20g balls, so goodness knows how much I'll need!

I'm using Sirdar Breeze in Shade Nutmeg. I had a horrible feeling I was going to get the pocket flap in a unflattering postion with the button right where it shouldn't have been LOL! But I think it's going to be OK! Being the 'anal' fool that I am, I'm crossing the cables differently, one side to the left, the other to the right. I'm doing the bands separately after the welt, as I didn't like the way it was pulling-up due it being in garter st. I added a few short rows to try & even it up a little. It will also double-up as a corset I'm sure, looking at this pic, eeep - breathe in:

Here are few others, I like this jacket & I'm thinking of some of the Sublime stash in Linen for this one. The womans' version is also cabled but has some side shaping:

I quite fancy this deep-v sweater in 2 shades of blue (yep, Sublime!). Sirdar have a current pattern for a tank with quite a deep 'V' & this reminded me of it: (check out Mr Cheese, I had to leave him in).

And finally, just for fun, look at the state of Mr Cheese in his crocheted tank, probably having a .... (sorry, I'll get my coat!):