Recent Knitterly Activity

I've been having a love/hate relationship with Zipperstop since they told me my zips, ordered in June weren't available unless I wanted 12 of each colour. After many emails across the pond, they refunded my money (all of it, despite me already receiving half of my order!) So the search for a teal zip for my ribby cardi began again. Then, out of the blue came another email off Zipperstop to say they's sent the rest of my order anyway & they hoped I could still use it. So I ened up with 10 YKK separating zips for free. The current status of our relationship is BIG LOVE !!!! I've been dying to get this one finished as it's been knitted since June:



Modifications: I added length to the body as the 19" from the pattern would be like a bolero on my long bod. It's now 24" unworn. I also added a zipper placket (is that the right word?) as it was hard to sew the zip to the curling edge. I just picked up a stitch for every stitch & cast off on the wrong side. It made the job alot easier. I didn't want to hide the zip as this yarn has a bit of a fluff to it & I could see it getting caught.








I love everything about this & I'm thrilled with the zip colour, did I mention how much I love Zipperstop right now?

This bodywarmer is knitted in Sirdar Denim Chunky, it's Sirdar pattern 8458.

You'll have to envisage the buttons for now, I hate sewing buttons on. It must be something to do with involving a needle & thread, I much prefer needles & yarn :)

These are my September socks for the sock-a-month challenge. I've made a pair for every month so far, but not actually during every month. They're Ripple Socks from Sandi Rosner's book. The yarn is Lana Grossa Fantasy #4833.








I've got a thing for zippy cardis now I've overcome my fear of the Z I P. I started the one on the left yesterday:

I'm using Patons Inca & this is progress so far. Just enough cable to ease the boredom of the black.

*** editted for Auntie Noo. the ribby cardi is from Patons book 1252 Weekend Knits in their Zhivago yarn. ***

Sirdar Snowflake

Do you ever have the urge to knit with yarn that is vile to knit, but looks lovely when finished? I have a stash of Sirdar Snowflake Chunky & thought it's time to get ready for Winter. I know, we're experiencing a late Summer, but still, here we go:

My Monsters in their snuggly balaclavas, check out my ds trying to look mean LOL!

This is a better view, I can't believe I sat & made all those scales & even got them sewn on, I mightily proud of myself, my patience must be improving with age!

Not to be left out, (and because this stuff is 59p a ball at Kemps) I've made this hoodie for myself. It's made on 10mm with 2 strands together. I deliberately shifted the colours a little to make the stripes a bit more muted & because it's easier to knit 2 strands in different shades, than 2 in the same shade. If you've ever knit with this stuff, you'll know where I'm coming from with this thinking!!
Here's the 'Dorky' hood-up view!

Talking of yarn that's vile to knit, what were Jaeger thinking when they produced Trinity? I spent ages deciding which top to make, picked out a little Summer vest & cast on. OMG this stuff is horrible. Queen of the Froggers is dead right when she describes little bits of twig in it. I could've lined my bird-box with the contents of my lap after a few rows. I knitted half of the back but then it had to go, off to the frog-pond. Now I've got 20 balls to sell. I'll need to be some saleswoman to describe this stuff nicely!

I was really looking forward to the 'Knitting & Stitching Show at the NEC yesterday. I went through my patterns that are high on the knit-list & wrote down everything I wanted to look at, have a squeeze of & then buy cheaper from ebay.com. To say I was disappointed with the knitterly content is an understatement. Get Knitted, Colinette, Sublime/Sirdar where were you?? I thought is was poor last year, but assumed it would be better each year as knitting continues to grow. It needs to be renamed 'The Stitching with a Hint of Knitting Show'. What a waste of £12.00, next year I'm deffo going to Ally Pally.

On the plus side, I did manage to nab a bargain. I got 9 balls of Lang Mohair Luxe which is 70% superkid mohair/30% silk with 175m/25g to make the Modern Quilt Wrap. The colour choices were limited, but I got these 9 which I love & will be ready to cast on tomorrow :)

I have to say a huge thank you to Debs aka Melody for nominating me for a 'Rockin Girl Blogger Award' (not quite sure what it is, so I'll be back when I do *blushes*)

Gotta Love the Car Booty

I love mooching round car boot sales, but this Summer has been such a wash-out, I've not been to any until last weekend. I'll share my Booty Looty with you...

How many of you remember/had one of these, a Tomy Hobby Girl Knitting Machine?

I never had one, but I've got one now :) all complete & only £1.50. DD is dying to have a go already & she's only 3, patience my dear, you will knit with Mommy!


10 Balls of Jaeger Angora Spun (70% angora/30% lambswool) in the original bag. This was only £2.00. I'm thinking snuggly bedsocks with some of this, it's a bit bright for anything else!

If I ever see knitting needles on the table, I always ask if they've got any patterns as they're usually shoved in a carrier under the table out of sight. This question to a very old chap turned up trumps, he asked his wife who was in their car & sure enough a large carrier of patterns was duly shoved under the table. You can have the lot for £2.00 he said. I nearly tore his hand off! This bag had her whole life's worth of knittlery stuff inside, from the 1940's to to the 1980's.

There were about 150 patterns & a few other bits. I was so excited going through the bag (how sad is that!). Here are some of my favourites...

"Beautifully styled gauchos & knickerbockers". (I've never heard of gauchos!)

"Sambo, Topsy & Gillian" I guess from the 1940's!

I collect dolls knitting patterns & I don't have this one, this made the find well-worthy of my £2.00 outlay :)

How about this ingenious piece of knitting, the cabled band drops down to keep your face warm!!!!

When I saw this 'bed-jacket' in a Beehive book from 1980 it reminded me of a Rowan pattern, I've seen somewhere, hmmm, now which one is it?

Found it - it's Meadow from RY Classic Nature

Is there any such thing as a 'new' knitting pattern?

Let's hope this outfit never makes a comeback

What you do with a 'Betty Ann Knitter' is beyond me, how can you produce anything remotely like knitting with this:

It includes instructions for converting a crochet pattern to a Knitter pattern, so there's hope for me & crochet yet (well maybe!)

On the knitty front, I'll have some FO's for you this week (anyone who's ever knitted with Sirdar Snowflake chunky will undestand the delay!!!!!)