WIP Wednesday

Wednesday again, and I have a new WIP to show you.

I finally started the Zig Zag Baby Blanket, you may remember I bought the yarn back in September.  I had originally planned to knit the Zig & Zag Blanket and bought the yarn accordingly, planning to substitute the 4 ply for DK.  I then came across the Zig Zag Baby Blanket and decided to knit this one for a change.  What I didn't check was the quantities of yarn, this pattern is designed to be done in aran/worsted weight so I knew I would have to adjust to get the measurements I wanted.

Rico Design Essentials Cotton DK

When I was 5 colours in I got the tape measure out and realised that I was never going to have enough yarn. Each colour is taking 30 grams, that would not leave enough for another repeat of the colours.  I have 11 colours - natural being used twice, and I want the finished blanket to be approximately 60" long, thus about 3 repeats!

So yesterday morning I got on the net and went to Sconch Textiles, where I had bought the original yarn and put an order in for another 9 balls. I'm very pleased to say the parcel was on my doorstep this afternoon, how is that for a prompt service?

I wasn't too sure about the colour combo when I started but as the blanket is growing, it is growing on me. I still have red, natural and pistachio to go before I start repeating.

Let me know what you think of it, and let me know if you too have ever underestimated yarn for a pattern.

Warm WIP Wednesday

As the UK basks in a mini heatwave, knitting is getting extremely sticky.  To this end I find myself casting on lots of different things.

I started off with a top for my youngest daughter.  She bought the yarn and pattern nearly two years ago but just hasn't got round to it, so asked if I would help her out.  It's a King Cole pattern which comes in two versions a short top with V neck or  a longer version with a round neck, the link shows both versions.  She wants the long top with a V neck, no problem there.  The yarn is King Cole Riot in the black/grey colourway.  I've managed to make a start on the rib but find that my hands are sweating!

Next, I am making a self-designed baby car seat/pushchair blanket, you know the one with the hole in the middle for the harness clip - this is being knitted in Caron Simply Soft which I bought on my recent trip to the USA.  Whilst 100% acrylic it feels like cotton, so is easier to knit with.  The recipient wanted a spotty cover with matching hat so happy to oblige.  It looks a bit scrunched at the moment but will lay flat once blocked.

Then last night I started another hat.  I saw this picture and decided it would be easily replicated.....



I'm knitting mine in Patons 100% Cotton in a wine colourway and I have an oddment of a pastel mix cotton for the flower.  It's so much nicer knitting with cotton when its hot

and of course, I still have Laurie's Ten Stitch and that ruffled dress languishing in the corner.

I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying the summer sun and managing to stay cool

WIP Wednesday

Following on from yesterday's post - here is my progress on the first of the booties

No knitting today as we are off out to dinner and the theatre.  We are going to see Birdsong at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge after dinner at Jamies Italian .  Just back from the hairdressers, no I didn't make a special trip to get my hair done, just how my 5 weekly appointments work out.

Linking up with Tami, Yarn Along & Frontier Dreams

The boy wants orange

Work progresses on the square cornered Ten Stitch Blanket for Rufus in orange and the Baktus scarf as mentioned here.  

I don't like the yarn that I used for the centre, so decided to hide it with his name.  The letters were knitted from a Simply Knitting supplement.  I'm having to play with the colours as I am running out of some of the yarns, we may end up with some more brown in here too.  I worked out I should have just enough of the dark yarn to go round once more.  It will be approximately 32" square once I've finished the current round; each completed round adding 6", this blanket will fall short of the size I normally make, 54" square, unless I can find some other shades to add to it.  Still its a work in progress and only for his playhouse so I guess it doesn't really matter.  As I said the boy wanted orange, so orange he is getting.

Not much progress here, though I plan to take this to Medway Craft group tomorrow, nice to have something simple when we are chatting.

My latest issue of Simply Knitting has arrived - my plan for the afternoon is feet up with a cup of tea and my magazine, its raining so gardening is out of the question.  For more WIPs go to Tamis or Yarn Along

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Knitting Blogs.

WIP Wednesday 13 March

Firstly I would like a apologise if you received an email from me over the last couple of days  which seemed a bit strange, my Hotmail account got hacked and one of the addresses linked to my account used for spam purposes.  This is now deleted and password changed.

Work in progress this week - this is more or less finished just the arms to sew in and the neck band to finish.  It will be going off to its new home tomorrow.  The pattern is an old one - Sirdar Snuggly DK #3308, which gives you the choice to 2 different patterns.  It was knitted in one piece up to the armholes, a 12 row pattern which was fairly easy to remember once you got going. The yarn was from stash.

I'm thinking of making this little dress for my next project.  Its designed by Lois Daykin for Rowan from Baby Knits.  I have some Sublime Cotton Kapok DK in my stash which I think would work well for this dress.  Thinking I might leave off the back pockets though.

I thought I would share the lovely Mothers Day cards I got on Sunday.  The first one was handmade by the youngest, there's a lovely message inside but I'll keep that to myself

This card from the eldest.  She is a fantastic Mum and if I've managed to help her to being that then all the better.

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.......

WIP Wednesday again

Here we are, the first Wednesday in November, where has the year gone?  We had the first mild frost on Saturday and a sharp frost yesterday, the shame was yesterday turned to rain after a promising start.

My WIP's this week are -

Lady Kina, is still as it was 2 weeks ago, oh the shame, but as this is for me I feel I can leave it for a while.

Two gifts in progress - the first is the Childry Shawl knitted with Zettl Cortina - 75% super wash wool/25% polymide.  This is a very easy knit, I learned a new cast-on - backward loop, very easy and stretchy and ideal for 'cast on type' buttonholes I found.

The Oliver jumper knitted in King Cole Big Value yarn

Not much reading has been done - still working my way through the Miss Reads, but with a holiday coming up I hope to get plenty of reading and knitting done. For more WIPs go to Tamis or Ginny's 

Its WIP Wednesday again

Greetings, its still raining here in the UK, but there is a promise of summer from the weekend; we will wait and see.  The weather being rough has meant that I'm getting plenty of knitting done.

Several people from last week's WIP post asked if I would write up the pattern for the hat I featured, without further ado here it is, along with a couple of variations

I am now making inroads into one of my WIP's  for Rufus, just the second sleeve to finish.  I really want to get all my WIP's out of the way as I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by them - 2 jumpers, 2 blankets, not too many by some people's standards but more than I'm comfortable with.

Reading - I'm still no last weeks' book too, as I keep falling asleep after a couple of pages.

Linking up with Tamis & Yarn Along

Instant gratification

Last night I had one of those evening when none of my WIP's were shouting 'knit me'.  What I wanted was something that I could start and finish in an evening.  Sheet of paper handy, I doodled a few flowers and decided they would look good on a hat.  A hat is quick, especially a 3-6 months size, so I cast-on 78 stitches and here is the result.  Knitted in Patons Smoothie, the pattern I made up as I went along.  I've knitted enough baby hats to know a rough pattern from my head now.

More buttons and yarn (380g)  for my stash from the charity shop

Books - I had to abandon the Birdsong when it got to the part when they were in the tunnels.  I started to have a panic attack, can't stand confined places. Even woke up in the night shouting from a bad dream. Don't ask about being in an MRI scanner!!!

So I am now reading The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon this is the third of a series, check out the link for info on the others.  Its a much more stress free read



For more WIP's go to Tamis and Yarn Along

WIP Wednesday, its been a while

Not much knitting has been done for the last month due to gardening and holidays.  Last night I sat down made a list of what I needed to get finished, started, or shelved.

A new WIP started last night due to running out of yarn on the project below.  Its

Design E - Baby Cardigans by Sirdar Spinning Ltd. Sirdar 301, Early Arrivals No. 2 which I'm knitting in Sublime Cotton Kapok, colour way Milkshake

Can't believe that I didn't get this one finished sooner - ran out of yarn with about 3" of sleeve to do.  More ordered

Few rows done on this one, no hurry

This is a couple of projects I'm planning for Rufus - knitted in Sirdar Denim Sport Aran and Cascade 220 Quatro. I'm a bit unsure of the Cascade as its 100% Peruvian Wool and not superwash, my problem is I only have 300grams so it needs to be something small.   I'm not sure my daughter will be happy with something that she can't chuck in the washer and dryer,  especially with the new baby due soon, so maybe I will do a rethink.

WIP Wednesday 2 May

Another Wednesday rolls around, the rain has stopped (for now), the sun is out (forgotten what it looked like).

My knitting goes on, I'm still working on my Morocco - back is finished and the front started

I have done a few more squares for the blanket

I found this website recently and plan to knit the following cute hat
 

Popped into my local charity shop this afternoon, picked up some more yarn and buttons - 440 grams of yarn, no idea what it is, but it will go in another of my many blankets (-:, cost me £3.00 and £3.25 for all the buttons

And last but not least.  The prospect of a new craft?  I got given a box of assorted cross stitch items, my mother in law had a rifle through, she took what she wanted. I have sorted some aida for either me or my eldest to use - she at least cross sititches! The remaining items I plan to take to my craft group tomorrow.  I'm sure someone can find a use for it. I like to spread the wealth....