Its been a while June 13, 2009

My poor neglected blog……. I’ve been away for some time, life is hectic at the moment. To be honest I’ve not had much knitting to share so there was not much to blog about.

My job has taken over all of my free time – in my last school I used to have time at weekends for knitting, in my new school I work all weekend and evenings too – So not much time for knitting.

Any free time I do have has been spent on wedding planning – which I’m really enjoying. So far we have booked the venue, photographer, band and bought my dress. Next on the agenda is bridesmaid dresses – I think I will have to get on with that in the summer holidays.

Anyway, I finally have some knitting to share (its in progress but this is the most knitting I’ve done in months)

This is the lace panel from the lace front cardigan I’m making for my ‘mother-in-law to be’. Its Patons 100% mercidised cotton dk – the pattern is not on Ravelry – I can’ remember the pattern number but I made one for myself a couple of years ago – so scroll back on my blog or visit my Ravelry page to find out more! This project has been a burden, I’ve not had much time for it and the lace panel requires concentration, its not one for kntting in front of the TV! I will be glad to get it done and see the back of it to be honest.

This is something I started last night on a whim. I was home alone and decided to have a Friday night free of school work – I rummaged in my stash and found some Debbie Bliss Merino DK in a mushroom colour – I wanted something quick and easy so I though I’d make a baby garmet. I know a couple of people who are expecting at the moment so it may become a present. Its ‘Moss Block Baby Cardigan’ by Jennifer Lori – available free on Ravelry. Very soft wool and machine washable so great for a baby cardi. I’m enjoying the blocks of moss stitch, its a very satisfying thing to knit.

Summer holidays are fast approaching so I will hopefully have time to get back to knitting, there are loads of unfinished projects in my knitting stash and bags upon bags on wool just crying out to be used!

I am still here! February 20, 2009

I’ve not fallen off the face of the earth…. I’ve been very busy (excuses, excuses) Alas, I’ve not got any knitting done for weeks – its all been wedding planning! My new favourite passtime is wedding planning, and I quickly realised that its a mammoth task. Its like having another full-time job.

Anyway, I will be back, and I will do some knitting at some point. I’m just having fun with other things at the moment!

The best Christmas present ever! January 1, 2009

Yes, I have an engagement ring!!!!

Knitting Resolutions 2008 December 22, 2008

I’ve been thinking about new years resolutions and this prompted me to look back on the ‘knitting resolutions’ I made at the start of this year….. how ambitious I was!… I know most people fail at new years resolutions, perhaps I set too high expectations for myself?! Last years resolutions are as follows:

1. Stash bust – I have done this to a limited extent. I have knitted from my stash and I’ve sold on and traded things that I was never going to use – I’ve even got my mum knitting a top for me that I was never going to get around to doing! However, I have ‘added’ to the stash to, so technically this resolution is a FAIL.

2. Try more felting – I purchased a load of New Lanark aran and bought a pattern for a felted bag with the intention of making it…. and its still sitting around in my stash. I’ve incurred another FAIL.

3. Get out my fear of colour knitting and try intarsia – No progress made here what so ever. I’ve never attempted intarsia or fairisle and its looking unlikely. To be honest, I’ve not actually seen any colour knitting projects that I would want to knit yet. Maybe I will change my mind when I have more time on my hands (like that’s going to happen) but for now that’s a – FAIL.

4. Try to join a knitting group – well, as with most resoloutions I started well but fizzled out. I did go to the Birmingham Stitch and Bitch a few times, but to be honest its a bit too far away and since I started my new job I no longer have free time at the weekends. Guess what? its another – FAIL.

5. Learn how to knit two socks at a time on two circulars – I bought the book, I looked at the book, I chose a pattern and I purchased the yarn…. and its all sitting un-knit at the bottom of my stash box. FAIL.

So, what have we learnt? Claire cannot keep her new years resoloutions! I think I was too ambitious, in an ideal world where I don’t have to work and spend all day knitting I would have achieved all this – but life gets in the way don’t you find?

Since I made these I joined Ravelry, which is a blessing and a curse. On the upside you can research patterns, organise your stash and your queue and gain inspiration from others. On the downside there is just too much choice and temptation and you end up with a huge queue of things you intend to make (fat chance!)

So this year I’m not going to make any resolutions, I do intend to knit from my stash and I would like to complete the projects I’ve talked about, but no resolutions! I suppose I should step out of my comfort zone and try something new, like cables or the ‘two at a time’ sock method, but I’m not going to commit myself!

How gorgeous? December 21, 2008

Yes, I know I said I was off to get knitting…. but I have not moved from the sofa as I’ve been sucked into the world of online knitting….. and I’ve discovered that the new knitty is up….. how gorgeous is this pattern?

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTsurface.php

Yep, this is going right to the top of my Ravelry queue!!

Christmas holidays at last December 21, 2008

 

Well, Christmas has finally arrived and school has finally broke up for the holidays! Its been a very long and stressful term and I have really been looking forward to the break from work! Christmas is my favourite holiday time, I love everything about this time of year and most of all I love the fact that I have time to knit!

As I’ve been so busy all term I’ve done hardly any knitting, this is the grey baby hat set that I managed to finish for a friend at work, she is having a boy in January.  I use Patons ‘Washed Haze DK’ again and I think its a great baby yarn, the pattern is from an old copy of ‘Simply Knitting’ magazine.

Now the holiday is here I’m hoping to get back to knitting the blue lace cardigan for my boyfriends mum. She requested it over a year ago and I have barely touched it! I have been guilty of ignoring it as I really didn’t want to knit this pattern again, I made it for myself some time ago and the lace is never ending.

If I can get it done and out of the way this holiday then I can at last get back to knitting for myself! (I admit, I’m a selfish knitter!)  I have some lovely purple yarn from a swap for ‘Liesel’ (Ysolda Teague cardigan) I also have a sack full of various DK weight yarn in my stash and my Ravelry queue is getting longer and longer….. Merry Christmas, I’d better get on with some knitting!

UK Swap ‘Winter Warmers’ questionnaire December 2, 2008

I’m taking part in the UK Swap ‘Winter Warmers’ swap http://ukswap.blogspot.com/- for whoverer is buying for me, here is my questionnaire:

Kit Swap

What kind of kit are you interested in receiving?

A – maybe a hat or scarf kit. I’m not into knitting gloves or mittens and I don’t use DPN’s so its got to be a pattern on straight or circular needles.

Are you interested in any particular techniques?

a – I do like felting, I’m learning how to do cables, I’ve never really tried intarsia or fair isle.

Do you knit, crochet, or both?

A – Just knitting, I don’t like the appearance of crochet.

What is your favourite colour?

A – I love Purples, Greens and grey

What is your least favourite colour?

A – I’m not into yellow, red or orange.

What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamourous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.)

A – Erm? I’m not really girly or sporty. I like traditional/natural/elegant things. I am a bit of a hippy at heart.

Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn?

A – Natural SOFT fibres, Alpaca, Merino, silk blends etc.

Do you have a least favourite type of yarn?

A - I don’t like squeaky acrylic yarns, I don’t like mohair and I HATE eyelash? novelty yarn.

Do you do any other crafts?

A – Yes, but I don’t need anything non-knitting related.

Are there any knitting accessories you are interested in receiving?

A – I don’t really need anything, but I would dearly love some Lantern Moon needles, or some nice needle huggers.

What do you like to eat?

A – I have Coeliac Disease (Gluten intolerance) which makes it hard to buy sweets, chocolate etc. Probably best to avoid food items

Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)?

A – Coeliac Disease. (see last question)

Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know?

A – Not really, Just that instead of a food item it may be better to stick to knitting things or some other suprise!

Christmas preparations November 29, 2008

Its very busy at school at the moment, we’ve already had the Christams fair and we are working on the Nativity at the moment. I’ve had very little time to knit so I only have this little hat to share with you at the moment. Its a little hat from an old copy of Simply Knitting magazine, knitted in Patons Washed Haze DK (which is becoming one of my favourite yarns) I’ve made it for a friend who has a baby boy due in January, its nice knowing the sex of the baby as I don’t have to play it safe on colours. I think it needs a pom pom on top and a tank top and booties to go with it (I hope I can find the time before Christmas!)

Sorry about the blurred photo but I wanted to show you this wonderful little fairy that I have on my Christmas tree. I got her last week at the German Christmas market in Birmingham (which was great!) she is very delicate and has a lovely pointy hat!

Again, not the best photo, but this is my Christmas tree! (I know, its November but I love Christmas and had to put it up last week!!)

UK Swap, Round Three November 20, 2008

Yay! The UK swap is running again for the third time (personally I think this is THE BEST knit swap) sign ups are now open: http://ukswap.blogspot.com/

Gathered pullover – finished pictures November 16, 2008

Finally I’ve got my act together and got these pictures up. They are not great photos as the light is not very bright today (Typical British November day!) but its the thought that counts! The pattern is the Gathered Pullover by Hana Jason: http://shop.interweave.com/store/Gathered-Pullover-P325C40.aspx?AFID=12

I love this jumper, it only used 5 balls of ‘Rowan Felted Tweed’ in shade ‘Bilberry’. It was knitted on a circular needle and I used two circular to make up the sleeves – this meant very few seams to sew up when finishing! Its a very warm jumper thanks to the lovely felted tweed yarn. I made the medium size (36 I think) but on reflection i should have made a smaller size as I’ve lost weight and it turned out larger than I anticipated – having said that it is very fitted.

I’ve still got some felted tweed left which I think will make a nice tank top (or ’sweater-vest’ of you are American!) And maybe another beret….. no, I don’t need another beret!