Tempting II finished

I have finally finished my SKC knitalong - Tempting II. Here it is in all its glory.


Pattern notes:
Pattern - Tempting II from Knitty Winter o5
Yarn - Rowan Calmer in Coffee bean (as modelled in the same issue - how unoriginal of me!!!)
Modifications - k2tog instead of k2tog, k1 at the neckline as recommended by the SKC
My thoughts - I love this!!! The fit is great. The sleeves are just the right length. I even found a diamante buckle for it for a little bit of bling. The yarn is pretty yummy too - very soft and kinda spongy. Love it, love it, love it. However, I don't think I'll knit this again - 1x1 ribbing is killing.

Here is the close up of my diamante buckle.



What better time to start a new project. I have been making things for the kids and myself, so I thought I'd make the next project for dear hubby. I'm making the Cambridge jacket from Interweave Summer 06 in Cascade 220 in mid grey. I know I have tons of other things to finish up, but what can I say, I have startitis.......
Last weekend, we decided to take the kids to Richmond Park for a pony ride. Little man had a gift voucher for a pony ride from his last birthday and 10 months on, here we are. Doesn't he look adorable!! He went with his little friend, Oscar and they both loved it. Two little faces light with up joy every time the ponies went on a trot. They were so CUTE!!! (Hubby at this point is thinking - please don't cultivate an interest in riding, it's going to get bloody expensive!) The pony is called Scooby-Doo.

Sock yarn stash enhancement

Remember not so long ago, I was just lamenting about the fact that I had too much yarn........ well more yarn arrived at my doorstep today. (It's a sickness, I know).


Here is a picture of my current sock yarn stash - including 3 skeins of Opal Rainforest - Tiger, Zebra and Flamingo, some Regia and Schanenmayr stripey socks.....).


Question - how many pairs of socks have I knitted? Only one toddler pair so far. One adult pair is on the needles and going well. But what possessed me to order another 9 100g balls of sock yarn is really beyond me. (Actually, it was because they were only 3.75 - 4.50 Euros each) But here they are. (I have to be thankful for one thing, I haven't started buying the expensive sock yarn - like Lorna's Laces, Posh yarns, Fleece Artist, Socks that Rock - YET!)

Here's my progress on my current sock knitting. The yarn is Regia Mini Ringels in blue and the pattern is Tech Guy from Magknits. It's a fairly straightforward knit 3x1 ribbing. I've only ever knitted a heel flap, so I was interested in learning a short row heel. Very interesting and easy. Hopefully, I'll produce a PAIR of socks soon.

Lortop bag

I bought the Cornelia Tuttle Noro Revisited book just for this pattern. I saw an advert in one of the American magazines and thought, I love this bag and I must get the pattern. Bought the book. Dug around in my stash (there'll be more about my stash!) and found 3 skeins of Noro tubu (long discontinued) which was perfect. Dug around for size 12mm needles. A few nights later. Bag complete. Love it. Used it today but the strap has stretched loads. Maybe I should felt it?? (Hmmm, must use proper sentences!!)


Now, I'm going to write about my stash. It's huge. It's even bigger than I remember. I have spent the last 2 or 3 afternoons photographing and cataloguing and I am nowhere close to completing the task just yet. I have a lot of yarn. I need to knit a lot faster. I need to stop buying yarn. I must have 300 balls of yarn. I need to join Yarnaholics Anonymous. I'll show you the evidence when I finish. Oh dear....

Keira, my 2 year old, has been refusing her afternoon nap for a few months now. It has been fine for her, not so much for me as I still look forward to a power nap for me. Now with 2 wide awake monsters, oops sorry, children, I don't get a chance to nap. But sometimes, she gets so excited and runs arounds so madly, that her batteries just run out. Just like that. Here she is collapsed on the chair when I had my back turned for 2 minutes. Aidan just wanted to get in on the picture!!

Converting the masses

I have converted one ex-knitter into a new very interested knitter. Hurray me!!! My sis-in-law was watching me knit every knit for the last 10 days and decided to get in on the action too. After one little swatch, she was hooked. She decided that she would like a cami, something like the Honeymoon Cami. So I set her up with some blue Cotton Fleece which I had in my stash and she's making progress.

The one good thing out of this knitting encouragement, she lives in Hong Kong (with cheap yarn) and travels a lot to Japan (lots of Japanese patterns and yarns like Noro!!) and China.

I'm making very little progress on the rest of my WIPs. I have finsihed 2 beanies in Rowan Big Wool but forgot to take any photos before they were gifted. Sorry for the lack of photos today.

The one good thing about this cold spell we're having, I really want to make some lovely, comforting knits. Roll on winter....

Hectic week

I am officially exhausted!! The in-laws descended last Wednesday, renovations in their new place are running into overruns, so they are staying with us. When I say in-laws, I don't just mean my FIL and MIL, this includes Bro-in-law and wife. 6 adults and 2 toddlers is just too many people in the house. The madness will, thankfully, end this Sunday.

I think because of this, I have been unable to focus on anything for more than 3 seconds! I started a bolero/boobholder thang for a friend. Its a top down raglan and knitted in Debbie Bliss Cathay in black. Makes for a very uninteresting photo.
Next up, I've started on my second pair of socks. I'm using Regia Mini Ringels in shades of blue. I'm knitting it in a basic ribbed pattern. As you can see, progress is slow.
As you know, I've also joined the SKC knitalong over a month ago. We're knitting Tempting II. This is an extremely slow knit for me, 1x1 ribbing is not my best friend. Having said that, I'm almost at the sleeves. Watch this space.



I've also managed to finish 3 lil items as well. 2 beanie hats from Rowan Plaid collection. One adult sized for FIL who's going through chemotherapy at the moment and one matching kiddie sized for Aidan. I was also going through my stash and found a small mountain of odd balls which I bought off ebay years ago, for making dolls and dolls clothes. Here's the first item of clothing. The doll is Vanessa, a Groovy Girl.

Another FO

Well, it's actually an almost FO. It's the Lotus Blossom Tank. I've made a few modifications to it. I changed it from this


to this.

Basically, I got a bit fed up with frogging and re-knitting the top. I know my gauge was a bit off, so I did the maths and adjusted the stitch count. But it was still too big - like 3 inches too big. After the second rip, I decided to cut my losses and made it into a strappy tank instead. I've crocheted some straps which I will attach it properly and sew up the last few ends. Overall, I'm pleased with it. Pattern notes:
Pattern : Lotus Blossom Tank, Interweave Knits Summer 06 ("some modifications")
Yarn: Rowan Linen drape in Reed shade 845. (A friend described it as "washed out & murky", but I like it!) 4 balls used.

On other news, I have been going a bit mad with the stash enhancement. I got a whole bunch of stuff at Get knitted (which I will have to show at another time - there was loads!!!!) and recently, even more stuff at Celticove.

Here's the close up, - Rowan All Seasons cotton in Misty shade 170 (14 balls -something for hubby), Mocha choc 212 (12 balls - something for me!) and Blackcurrant shade 211 (5 balls - something for Keira) and Rowan Wool Cotton August in shade 253 (10 balls - something from Rowan 40 for me I think!)


Here's the mountainous shot. Question, where am I going to hide this from hubby?!!
Other news, I received my new Rowan mag on Saturday. Totally out of the blue and I was very impressed with the new collection. There's loads of this which I would make (hence stash acquisition!). On my shortlist:
Dew
Eva
Cobweb
Sorrel
Anna socks (although I think I need to be a whole lot taller and have skinny legs - otherwise I'll look like I have stumps!)
Sadie
Kay
Juno (the cost of 17 balls ofwool cotton would be off putting for this!)
Pampas

Check it out here at
Rowan

What can I do??

To all the experienced knitters out there, I have a small plea for help. What can I do to a top that is looking rather shapeless. I finished my Prairie Tunic which was a fairly easy knit. The problem I have is that it has no waist shaping whatsoever. So I look like I have a big tummy on me. How can I add some shaping to the waist? Can I sew in some shaping? I'm not sure I want to rip out the whole thing. What can I do???

Lotus Blossom is progressing

The weather here in sunny London is not being very conducive for my knitting. Hot and sweaty = not a lot of knitting.

Having said that, I've made a bit of progress on the Lotus Blossom Tank (LBT), knitting in the wee hours of the night. I'm done with the lace part of the knitting. Hurray!!! I'm looking forward to the boring knit every stitch part of the knitting. The lace knitting got a bit easier after the second repeat. It suddenly made sense what the yo, ssk, ss2k2 where supposed to look like. There are one or two "design elements" in lace repeat 3 and 4. I couldn't face any more ripping. So it's going to stay this way.
In other news, I had Kate and her family over to lunch last Saturday. Being the wonderful blogger that I am, I forgot to take any photos of the day. DUH!! But we had a nice time - the kids played together. Hubbies had a chat. Knitters shared current WIPs and finished products and books. We have to organise another time to have a look at the stash because my hubby was around!!! One weekday soon. The only photo I remembered to take was one of the kids. They insisted that they wanted to be tigers for the day. So here they are. Everyone say ROAR!

Knitting, ripping and more ripping

A few days ago, Kim started her Lotus Blossom Tank. I did say that if she started hers, I would start mine too. I do love the design. However, progress has been slow. 4 days ago, this would have been the picture of the progress. 2 days ago, the same picture would have worked too. Yes you guessed it, its been ripped twice. The first time, I didn't notice that I'd messed up some of the lacework. The second time........ never knit when drinking more than 1 glass of wine. That's all I'm going to say. Third time lucky (I hope). I'm progressing past the first repeat. Here's a close up.
On the other knitting, I've finished the knitting portion for my Prairie Tunic. I just need to sew it up. I'm tryng to get my motivation for that. I also haven't bothered taking a photo of my progress on Tempting II. 5 inches of 1x1 ribbing is not very exciting. More about that soon.

My first PAIR of socks

Another milestone has been achieved in my knitting exploits. I have completed my first pair of socks. Hurray. The second sock didn't suffer as much. In fact, it didn't get ripped back once. Smooth sailing all the way. It took a quarter of the time of sock number one. Here it is in all its glory.

PS - please note, it's only a toddler pair!!!

Update from the week

I am at the moment suffering from a lot of things. Hayfever for one. Streaming eyes and nose. Itchiness. Sore throat.

The other thing I'm suffering from is startitis. Here's my WIP list. I have finished the back of my Prairie Tunic and 75% of the front. I have also started the second sock. I'm now at the heel flap stage. There's another WIP but I can't remember what it is!!!!! Here's the front piece of the Tunic.


But here's what I started in the mean time. I finished the first hexagon of the Baslt Tank from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. It had to be ripped back halfway because I can't count. Duh!! Not the first time I can't count.

I've also just realised it's July 2. This means the SKC knitalong has begun. I've also just casted on for Tempting II. It's not actually worth photographing. 160 stitches of 1x1 ribbing in dark chocolate brown. I've done 2 rows. So there.

Stash enhancement news. The Liberty sale was disappointing. I don't know what it was like on the preview Wednesday, but on Thursday, there was practically nothing left. Not anything I wanted anyway. But there was some lovely fabric which I bought. But can I sew. No. No yet.

But Kate and I had a lot of fun visiting Stash. Michelle, one of the owners, was really nice and knowledgable. The yarns available were so yummy. I could have spent a lot of money but I was very restrained. Here's what I went away with. 4 balls of Lana Grossa Binario in pink and grey and a bit shiny and the new Knitscene magazine. While we were there, we also met another fellow blogger, Ruth. "Hi. It was nice to meet you." I love meeting new people.

Finally

I have finished one sock. Don't break out the champagne just yet, it's only one sock, not one pair. However, with the amount of time I've spent knitting this, I could have made 2 adult pairs in the same amount of time. Remember the progress shots from before, well I ripped it back completely and started again. The leg was too long, the heel flap was too long, there was miscounting in every decrease, I casted on the wrong number of stitches. It was just WRONG!!! But I'm really happy with version 7.8. Here's a close up of the sock. (These shots are for you Kate!!!) They are knitted on dpn's . Fiddly to start with but once you get in the groove, they aren't too bad.Pretty neat. I'm happy.I'm off on a small adventure tomorrow. I'm meeting a fellow blogger, Kate, for the first time at the sale. Hurray, hurray. More soon.

Mini thug for sale

I just had a look at my previous posts and couldn't believe I had posted 4 times a week and then had nothing for the next week. This is not because I have nothing to show. It's because I have had practically no time to myself. Hubby has been away a lot and, usually that is not too much of a problem, but when you have a dodgy leg and can only walk a small distance and have 2 toddlers to entertain, it's exhausting.


This is a slight mini rant about the kids. They have been equally entertaining and exasperating. Aidan brings me a flower every day from nursery. But takes a lifetime to eat any meals, except when we go out to expensive restaurants, then he wants everything I order especially sashimi (salmon, yellowtail, tuna, ikura and tobiko!) . Keira - oh don't get me started on her. For a 2 year old, she is so definite. She knows what she wants and she will get it. Also, she is so destructive. Until she came along, we have had no broken toys, torn books, scribbled on furniture, ........ Aidan is an angel compared to her. Today, I discover that she has broken my bamboo knitting needle. She just picked it up and bent it until it snapped. Here's the evidence. Aargghhhh!!!!! I am this close (fingers held only a smidgen apart) to selling her on ebay. Here' s the evidence.
The needles were making progress on my Basalt Rank from Knitting Nature. I'm part way through making my first hexagon. I'm using Rowan Wool Cotton in Laurel, which I got from Get Knitted on sale. It's a lovely yarn to knit with. The fabric is very soft. Yum.

My small highlight this week is that I'm going to the Liberty sale this week. I think I'll try to make there on Thursday morning. I've got the invitation for the preview sale on wednesday evening, but I don't think I'll be able to make it. Damn it! But Thursday is good enough for me. Here's hoping for some good bargains.

Where I have travelled to....

I love to travel and have travelled to quite a lot of places. Or so I thought until I did this little test. Lots of countries unexplored. However, now with 2 little children, I'm unlikely to increase my travel by much.



Go check it out here

On the knitting front, I have made very little progress. Partly because it's been very hot (but I'm not complaining) but also hubby's been away for the last 4 days and nights and the 2 little monsters have completely drained me. Let me give you an example. This evening after putting them to bed, there were shouts for Mummy. I go upstairs. There is nappy removed. There are "bits" from the nappy everywhere in the bathroom. Great! 15 minutes later, clean child and disinfect bathroom and put them to bed. (And she looks so angelic!!) Half an hour later, there is another shout for Mummy. I go upstairs and find 2 children covered in Sudocre(nappy/barrier waterproof cream). Not just fingers and pajamas, but toothbrushes, toys, soap dispenser, mug, sink, bed, you see where this is going. Another half an hour of cleaning up. Who has the energy to knit!!!! Anyway, I'm off to do more internet retailing.

One year blog anniversary

One whole year ago, I decided to start a blog after reading and lurking around on some lovely, inspirational blogs. I've really enjoyed blogging and "meeting" some new friends. Here's to many more years.

Even though I've been doing this for a year, I am so bad at the technical side of blogging. I don't understand html. I've only just learned to add buttons. I look up Blogger help every time I need to add a link. Arrgghhh. Tech savvy, it just ain't me.

But I am making one small progress on the sock knitting front. Here's a partially completed sock. Managed to knit the heel flap and I'm now on the gusset. This tiny project has been a major pain the proverbial. I have knitted most of the sock at least 3 or 4 times. It's still not right. I was supposed to cast on 40 stitches . So 16, 16 plus 18. Off I go happily knitting away until the heel flap. Wait.... I've just cast on 50 stitches not 40. It's way too big for the kids. I'm not going to have enough yarn for a pair. I've already ripped it back so many times that I can't do it anymore. Sooo, it'll be my trial sock. Oh wait, maybe even a very small Christmas stocking. I'll just have to make more socks.
Another present for myself arrived in the post today. 2 more books from Amazon. Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan and And So To Bed by Lucinda Guy. Both amazing books for different reasons.
The construction of each design in Knitting Nature is innovative and eye-opening. Here's 3 of my favourites, Sand dollar sweater, Roundabout Leaf Tank and Phyllo Yoked Sweater. But I understand there are some errors in the pattern. Check out the Knitting Nature Knitalong.


The designs in Lucinda Guy's book is just so adorable. Very sweet designs and the illustraions are very cute. More things to include in my to knit list.

A little bolero

2 balls of hand dyed yarn. One quick made up pattern for a bolero. And ta da!! Not bad even if I do say so myself.
Here's a closeup of the back. I'm quite impressed with my attempt at dyeing. It still smells of Kool aid even after a wash and a block.

Pattern details:
Pattern: A top down raglan knit. Increase until it's the length you require. Cast on extra stitches for the ties. Garter stitch for edges. Maybe a nice edging for fronts (not yet done).

Yarn: Cygnet superwash in white but dyed with Kool aid - Cherry (Red), Swirling Strawberry Lemonade (Pink) and 1/4 Grape and 1/2 Orange together for the Brown

30 things about me

Kerrie at HipKnits is getting everyone to do a "30 things about me" for a chance to win some gorgeous yarn. Who can resist more yarn!

So here's mine:

1. My grandmother taught me knit when I was 8 or 9 and I made a purple acrylic garter stitch scarf which she has kept. I didn’t really knit again until 20 odd years later. I took it up when I was expecting my little boy.
2. My first knit, after the long break, was a Debbie Bliss moss stitch baby scarf and hat set. I’ve not looked back since.
3. I have more yarn than I know what to do with. I’m really into retail therapy. If I’m stressed/bored/at a loose end, I shop. (Thank goodness for internet retailing.) Pre children, it was Cds, jewellery, bags, clothes, etc. Now, just yarn, books and stuff for the kids.
4. I don’t feel guilty about buying books. I feel guilty about spending money on other things.
5. My husband doesn’t know how much I have in the stash. If he did, he would FREAK OUT big style.
6. I love learning new things about knitting. I’ve just learnt to do short row shaping.
7. I’ve got my first pair of socks on the needle.
8. I love dyeing my own yarn. I’ve only tried Kool-Aid but would love to do more.
9. I’ve yet to knit something in fair isle.
10. My finishing techniques are abysmal.
11. I’d love to join a knit group/knitting circle.
12. I would like to learn to spin, (not that I need another addiction!)
13. My “To Knit” list grows on a daily basis. It includes Kiri shawl, Log Cabin throw, Sunrise Circle Jacket, Knitted Hoodie Coat in Rowan Polar (design not finalised!), loads of stuff from Miss Bea series and Lucinda Guy for the kids, Ferragamo bag, ………………
14. I love starting new projects, but I’m less keen on finishing them. I used to have an uncompleted little stuffed toy mouse, which only needed eyes and whiskers putting in, but it stayed uncompleted for years. My husband threw him out after 12 years.
15. My WIP list is horrendous. I keep finding uncompleted stuff.
16. I can crochet quite proficiently too.
17. My blog is almost a year old. Wow!! I’ve really enjoyed blogging.
18. Most of my friends don’t know about my blog. But that’s OK.
19. Pre children, I was a boring auditor with one of the big firms, working very long hours. Now I’m a full time mother of 2 and loving it.
20. I’m on permanent maternity/career break. No, no I’m not pregnant again, I haven’t been back to work since my second was born.
21. I need a career change but have no idea what that change should be.
22. I love playing sports and exercising. I used to play for a local netball team. My tennis isn’t too shabby either.
23. I hate swimming with a vengeance.
24. My other crafty passion is pottery. I took it up in 1998 but I haven’t done anything in the last 2 years. I can throw on the wheel and have made mugs, bowls, tea cups and canisters. These are the decent stuff, I have a whole box of “pots” that I made.
25. If I had the money, I would like a separate annex to the house for a dedicated craft room.
26. I love cooking. I only learned to cook when I went to University at age 18.
27. I’m into organised chaos, ie the house is a mess but I know where to find things most of the time.
28. I’m a hoarder. I keep things. I only throw things out when I’m forced to do it.
29. Since the children arrived, I have lost the ability to remember things. I have to write everything down.
30. I’ve started a collection of dolls for my daughter, but it’s actually for me. Shhh, don’t tell her.

Presents for myself

Blogger can be so annoying sometimes. Well at least it's up and running this morning.

I love it when the postman comes. First up is a big package from America. I ordered a whole bunch of Cascade 220 from Webs. The purpley heather one is going to be the Sunrise Circle Jacket (although the colour might be a bit intense for me, but we'll see.) The light blue will be for the lil man and the pick for the lil princess. (Boy, is she a princess at the moment. We are going through the joys and tantrums of the TERRIBLE TWO's. Quote of the moment - "Don't want that!" and obviously "NO Thank you!"). I've also bought some Regia sock yarn because I'm going to learn sock knitting this summer. Nothing like a stash mountain of sock yarn to make me start!I also had one/two deliveries of Kool Aid from friends visiting America. There are some yummy exciting flavours/colours there. These include Mango (deep yellow), Pineapple (also deep yellow), Artic Green Apple (green), Soarin' strawberry lemonade (pink), Raspberry reaction and a Switchin secret (not sure what colour it's going be!). And the weather is going to be brilliant for dyeing. Hurray.
I've also bought loads of books from Amazon. These two I'm really enjoying at the moment. There are at least a few projects from each book that I would like to start.

Here are the photos

Prairie Tunic (I've actually finished the back by now!) More photos later.Here's a close up of the lace.

I'm back and recovering

Hello everyone. Thanks very much for all the well wishes. The knee surgery went well. I got home after 1 night in hospital. My knee is swollen to the size of a small cantaloupe melon. It's been 4 days now and I've got bruising all over the back of my legs. It's a lovely purple shade at the moment and I'm sure it'll go through the whole colour spectrum. I won't gross out anyone with a photo.

But I will show you some progress of my next project. I'm knitting the Prairie Tunic from Interweave Knits Spring 2006. This is after 1 day of knitting. I did have a lot of time to knit - waiting for surgery, after surgery in hospital, recovering at home. I have made a startling discovery - I would make a lot of progress if I didn't have children and didn't have to do any housework. So I am going to use this recuperation period wisely!!

Anyway, I'm making this in Jaeger Siena 4 ply in an Ice Blue shade. The pattern calls for 5 balls for the smallest size but I only have 4 balls. So, I have decided to make it slightly shorter (I'm not that tall in any case!). Here's a closeup of the lace pattern.

I would show the photo but blogger is not cooperating.

I did have some very good news today. I received an e-mail from Jeanie letting me know that I had won a prize!! I was in the draw for completing both Orangina and Somewhat Cowl at SKC
and I won!! The prize is this. It's really made my day. WOW!!