Knitting - Wednesday's WIP

Along came Wednesday again!

Today's WIP is the Ellen Cardigan for me - I am really pleased with the colour combo that I selected from my stash.  Most of the yarn is from Aldi, those huge 400 gram balls that they have from time to time.  Hoping to get this well underway before I start on some baby requests for later in the year.  If I have time I may also start another ten-stitch blanket.  Several ladies from my knitting group have cast on and I do love these as they are just so easy to pick up and do.

Since I last posted I have made a cardigan for Gus - its the Seaside cardigan from Sublime knitted in Drops Muskat cotton which I got on sale at the Wool Warehouse

I know I haven't posted much again this month but I will be posting a round up of the month in photo form soon.

Take care and be kind to one another.  There is just too much sadness in the world right now

Knitting - FO Friday

I finished my WIP from Wednesday, I am so pleased with it. As is my little model, its a little bit big for her but at least it will last for a while.

A reminder of the pattern details - Sugar Plum Cardi from Sublime, with long sleeves.  I really should have remembered to add a few more garter stitch rows at the bottom as it has started to roll, so annoying.

This is my first Friday with Jess while her mummy is at work. Currently she is napping, having watched me chase a mouse around the lounge, she seemed to think it was very funny.  Needless to say I didn't get it, the cat is sitting guard by the TV unit but I can't see it there. It freaks me out to think its still in here.  I do have a set trap guarding my dry stores drawer so hopefully that will be safe.

Jess has been a real trooper this week, coping well with nursery, she even stayed here over night and slept all night.  We've been and fed the ducks and visited great grandma and uncle Pat and when she wakes I will take her down the fen to see the cows.  Fun day

Knitting - Smockie

Another addition to Miss J's autumn wardrobe is complete.  I love this pattern and have done it many times.

Pattern - Smockie by Sublime

Yarn - Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo - 80% bamboo 20% wool - Black Sheep yarn dive at the Knitting & Stitching show last year

Buttons - charity shop

Flowers - from the Knitting & Stitching show a few years ago

I can see this teamed with a long sleeved T-shirt and wooly tights not that I'm wishing the summer away before its really got started.

We are off to the Gansey Exhibition on Saturday in Sheringham, there is also a yarn market and the promise of a seafood lunch, sounds like the perfect day to me.

Knitting - Spots before my eyes

My "Queen of the Mountains" cardigan for Jessica is completed ready for the Cambridge leg of the Tour de France this July.  You can read all about the different colours of the jerseys here.

Pattern used was Sublime Stripey Sailor Girl from #634 pattern book and I added the spots. Size made was 16-18" chest.

Yarn was King Cole Big Value DK - acrylic.

Buttons were another charity shop find

Knitting - flying off the needles

I seem to be getting through the knitting at a rate of knots at the moment.  The one good thing is that the projects are small so that helps no end.

My latest project is for Jessica.  Rachel requested a cardigan in green and grey to go with a baby-grow she has which is predominately grey with little green cats on it.  Here is what we decided on

Pattern -  Sublime 634 - Stripey Sailor Girl. Size 16" chest
Yarn - Kirkton House Craft Double Knitting from Aldi.
Buttons & Motif - from the Knitting & Stitching Show

My next project is to dress the doll for the village festival and then some bunting for the Cambridge leg of the Tour de France this summer.  

Aloha

or what I called Purple Haze is now completed.

Pattern: Aloha from Sublime 623
Size: 4-5 years
Yarn: King Cole Big Value DK

Overall I am happy with it, but after 2 days blocking I have a feeling the bottom will roll up.  Two rows of garter stitch just wasn't enough.  Oh well I'm sure once its been worn and washed a few times it won't matter!

Last night I finished another hat knitted in Regia Galaxy Saturn, pattern is Shibui Hat from the Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders - I had planned to make the socks that go with it but it turns out I don't own 2.25mm double pointed needles, so will knit the Touch of Folklore booties  from Chic Knits for Stylish Babies

Something for Friday

I finished off my latest WIP last night.  Very happy with it, as I hope the recipient will be.

Sublime #617 Sunflower Cardi, I didn't have enough yarn for the long sleeved version - Rosy Posy.  I think you have to agree its pretty cute!

I spent the day with our little boys, I share some pictures once I have sorted them all.  Have a great weekend, we are off to see Eric at the Albert Hall tomorrow.......

WIP Wednesday

Four WIP's this week, well actually 3 still on the needles as this project just needs sewing up

First - this cardigan is the Little Margot Wrap by Sublime knitted in some unknown yarn which I recently obtained.  It is actually much pinker than it shows here.  I love the detailing on the hem and sleeves which was very simple to do. Its finished with a ribbon tie.

The next is Candy Stripe by Sublime, again an assortment of odds and ends from stash.  Its a cropped style cardigan with a tie front.  Both these cardigans are for a little lady, Charlotte, who came into the world on Saturday evening, a daughter for Katie & Ashley and a second grand-daughter for Judy & Stephen - congratulations to you all.

The next project is a ten stitch but this time with square corners.  Pauline of Paulineknit kindly gave me the instructions.  Whilst its quicker to knit I think I prefer the mitered corners.  Again I am panicking re the colour change but it usually works out and I'm happy with it once I'm about 2/3rd round

And the 4th project is the Baktus Scarf which hasn't seen the light of day since last week.

You may be pleased to know that on Saturday I spent a pleasurable few hours teaching Rachel's friend Gemma to knit, to say she took to like a duck to water was an understatement.  By the time they left she had cast on, garter stitch, stocking stitch and 2 x 2 rib and cast off under her belt. Reports are that after a few glasses of wine on Saturday evening things went a bit array, but that she is endeavoring to keep at it.  Her goal for now is to complete some the simple slippers pack which she was given as a joke Christmas present. I think the joke will be on them. Go Gemma!!

In other news Laurie has cut his first tooth, and the garden tidy is going slowly.......

FO Friday

I have 3 finished objects for you today. All Sublime patterns, all knitted in Kirkton House Craft double knit.

Little Deck Shoes

Rosy Posy Hat

Peach Sorbet

Start of a Smockie - dress

On the head injury front, I ended up at A&E this morning as the headaches were getting worse and I was worrying myself stupid that I may have done something serious.  Fortunately its just concussion - the headaches could go on for weeks, which isn't much fun but at least I can now stop worrying. I am supposed to rest and relax now.  Rest and relax for me is read, knit, internet - all of which don't help the headaches. Here are a few pictures -

My cut nose

The 'what to look out for's'

This is what hit me!!

Add caption

In other news - Rufus has chicken pox and Michael Buble is coming to the UK in July. Looks like 2013 is going to be concert year.

Have a great weekend.  Still grey here but getting colder, hoping for some sun tomorrow.... please.

WIP Wednesday time again

Good afternoon to you from a dull, drizzly, misty Cambridgeshire.  Its one of those afternoons when you want to just curl up with your knitting or a good book, cup of tea and maybe some cake!

My WIPs this week are the Lady Kina, which is coming on well.  I decided to add three quarter sleeves as I'm not a fan of cap sleeves.  I knitted 40 rows in stocking stitch and 10 rows in garter stitch, much more me. This is the first top down that I have done for myself and I'm loving the fact that I can try on as I go, it takes the guess work out of the finished length.  The only draw back is the weight of the needles/cable

Secondly is a cardigan for a colleague of Rachel's baby daughter due soon - its a Sublime pattern, Peach Sorbet - I'm calling it Shocking in Pink, its knitted in Kirkton House Craft Double Knitting yarn, cheap and cheerful ideal for a busy new mum.  Just the sewing up to do

I am feeling odd today due to a crack on the head last evening. Let say heads, reading glasses and oak trunk lids don't agree.  I have a lump on my head, split on my nose, spinning head and a headache - I'm hoping not concussion.

Weekend in words and pictures

Our bank holiday weekend can be summed up in a few words - family, friends, food, hangovers (not me), lack of sleep, cold/runny nose (Rufus).  The weather was ok'ish - grey, cold, damp, the heavy rain managed to hold off until Monday late morning

 Can you see the burst bubble in the middle photo - just by Rufus' hand?

Fun with a ball of tarn - he had been running around with the yarn I was knitting, I figured that this was less likely to break

As I was forced to spend the afternoon knitting I managed to finish my Morocco - I won't tell you how frustrated I got trying to do the twist on the neck.  Peter finally took it from me a did it!  He doesn't know how but it got sorted.  I did the sleeves a bit longer as I'm not keen on cap sleeves - makes your shoulders look bigger than they are, and that I don't need. 

As the sun has finally put in an appearance I took some pictures outside and also thought I'd show you some of the prettiness in the garden

  New growth in the conifer bed