A quick look at July

I do enjoy looking at all I've finished each month, even when there are several still on the needles

Purple granny beanie based on Granny Square beanie designed by Lisa Gentry in 'Donna Kooler's encyclopedia of crochet'. Pocket bag made using Linda's fabulous tutorial. Red Poppy socks designed by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting Socks from around the world'. Pink Tee was a test knit for a new pattern Farmer's Daughter by Lisa Kereliuk. Coloured free socks using Butterflies are free pattern designed by Rose Hiver. Mauve Miette designed by Andi Satterlund. Grey and Navy ripple beanie because the yarn was rolling around in my bag, no pattern required.

Lots of stash busting going on here, or at least not allowing yarn to build up. I only purchased the light coloured yarn (cheap at the Spotlight sale!) for the Purple granny beanie, though some of the other yarn used was gifted to me. The dark purple yarn was leftover from my textured vest I finished back in 2011.

 An oldie but a goodie.

How was July for you? Lots of starting or lots of finishing? Lots of stashing or stash busting?


Have colourful Tuesday afternoon.

Off the needles

Apparently I have been misleading you all into believing that there I don't do reverse knitting on my socks - So not true. These socks caused significant issues at various points of construction and there were times when there was serious competition between forward and reverse. They were socks that required a lot of attention. In an effort to complete projects I usually deal with the reverse action and reknit, if I stop to contemplate the task I am less inclined to fix it, I know I have several incomplete projects from my past for this reason.

Poppy socks designed by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting socks from around the world'. 

Knit in Patons Patonyle 4 ply red and cream - almost 50g of each.

Special socks for MsM's 'O' birthday

The grey and navy crochet ripple hat used all but a metre or so of each of those bits.

These are the true colours

Yay!

Thanks to Linda and Ana for the stash buster challenge I am making space for some fresh yarn.

Wishing you a wonderful week of creative fun.

My FNWF

While I got this book from the library for inspiration and I really did think I would start a sewing project.

 I spent some time looking at the projects being very indecisive, so I picked up my needles to do a few stitches while I decided. No sewing decisions were made, instead I kept knitting along. (Hope my clicking needles weren't too distracting)

Some good progress was made on my pretty pink knitting as well as completing one of the front bands on the Mauve Miette, which is creeping closer to finish.

A little textured band

Thanks Cheryll for inviting us to stitch along.
Today was my local knitting group and I worked on my socks. The one with the cream sole is finished and I am about half done with the leg on the second one. I'm ready for them to be done as I already have yarn and a pattern chosen for my next sock knit.

Poppy socks by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting socks from around the world'

Sunday is the official opening of the Hottie Challenge exhibition in support of the Margaret Pratt Foundation. I'll be heading over there to check out the gorgeous creations in real life.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

June finishes (and socks)

Brookes blue mitts which I don't have a completed photo of still (but she was wearing them on the day she went home). The brown hat on the right was made for me with the leftovers from my Jacket and the blue hat is for a friend who has generously donated yarn to my cause in the past. Everything else has been here before.

More good stash busting

The Poppy socks are both at the same point now only legs to go.

I do like the effect of the positive/negative pair, there may be more like this in my future.

The Mauve Miette is coming along nicely too, now that I have figured out how to knit the sleeves in the round without tying the whole thing in a knot.

May you have a lazy Sunday afternoon in your creative space.

A year of socks

Nothing new here, just realised this week that it is a year since I cast on the first sock and decided to collect them together to see what they looked like.

Nice!

Starting at the top left by row(ish) -Czarina's Lace from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Blue stripes using designs from 'Socks a La Carte', His socks from 'Knitted Gifts', San Juan free soles by Anna Zilboorg, Estonian Kapotad Socks from 'Knitting Socks from Around the world', Sanquhar Socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the world', Hugs and Kisses by General Hogbuffer, Red socks using designs from 'Socks A La Carte', pink Owlie socks by Julie Suchomel, Red Katya's from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Purple Diagonals by Ann Budd, Mauve Triumph crochet socks by Victoria Selnes, Red Two Horse Hitch socks by Anne Podlesak, Blue Davidson Road socks from 'Knitting Knee Highs',
Brown Maid Marian socks from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Albanian Anklets from 'Knitting socks from Around the world', Purple candle socks using designs from 'Socks a La carte' and Cable cuffs from 'Fab feet and Cosy toes'.

Now you know why there has been a lot of posts about knitting socks - an average of 3 socks a month for a whole year! There will be more socks in the future, I still have some family requests to fill which is probably just as well, as I was gifted two more skeins of yarn for sock knitting this week.

May there be many stitches in your weekend.

Poppy and Miette

My interpretations of these excellent patterns.

I'm very happy with the Poppy socks and have the first one ready to start the leg. I cast on the second one and love the different look of the colours in the opposite places. This pattern is written for a negative/positive sock and it works perfectly with this yarn as I have an equal quantity of both. 

Poppy Socks by Anna Zilboorg from Knitting Socks from around the world

My cardigan is coming along nicely too, the knitting is easy. After increasing the length of the body I am up to the final pattern, I understand it is hard to see with all that fur, before the lower band. Maybe I do like fat needles and yarn after all. (Probably just as well considering there are a few more jackets worth in the cupboard!)

Miette (with extra length) design by Andi Satterlund

I am still waiting for the pattern to transform the pretty pink yarn pictured last week, it should be here by the weekend. I'm all ready to cast on again.

This week I am reading 'The boy in the moon' by Kate O'Riordan. An interesting and tragic novel dealing with family relationships across generations. A tale formed around a small number of key life events, it explores the individuals reactions while exploring their past experience.

Joining the yarn along this week for more yarn inspiration.

Hope the sun is shining in your creative space.

Casting on...

always follows a finish or two.

Not much to see yet.

There is a new sock on the needles, my (very late)  hooky contribution to the Hottie Challenge and yarn for another project awaiting the pattern.

Back to working my way through my Knitting Socks from Around the World, I'm doing Poppy Socks this time designed by Anna Zilboorg.

furry?

There has been some reading this week - cool wet weather is perfect for curling up with a book, (not in the picture) but I've almost finished 'Remarkable Creatures' a novel by Tracy Chevalier. The two main characters are young women - one from an affluent family and one from a poor family - who share a fascination with collecting fossils. One for pleasure and one to help sustain her family. Set in a period when women were not taken seriously as individuals it highlights the injustices faced by women in that era. Interesting reading.

Joining the yarn along again this week.

Finishing touches

that's where I am up to this week.

The Reversible Wrap has been resting since October 2012. Last week it was retrieved from the warehouse and I was pleased to see that it was very close to finished. 

Only a little knitting left to do and then putting the pieces together.

I stitched part 2 to part 1, then completed the knitting on part 3 and have begun attaching this piece as well. Not too much longer for this one.

Yay, it will be keeping me warm real soon.

This week has mostly been about the free sole socks, which you have seen here recently.

See.. 

Now the knitting is done on these too and they just need threads woven in, there's not a lot of them, so I should be done with these by the end of the week.

Reading has mostly been about inspiration for a new project or two? 'The Complete book of Crochet Stitch Designs' by Linda Schapper and 'Colorwork for adventurous knitters' by Lori Ihnen. Lots of lovely designs to consider just need to decide which one to do first.

I did cast on the second red sock but haven't progressed further than the band.

Joining the yarn along again this week.

Hope your creative space filled with wonderful warm designs.

And Again...

another sock to match the other sock (and another Hat to keep a head toasty).

It's all about socks and hats here as we head towards winter, though you'd hardly know it with the summery weather we are currently experiencing.

There has been a little more crochet action here which has seen the completion of this colourful fluffy hat made from this blank grey piece I showed a couple of weeks ago.

Northern lights cone hat

All the hat making of late has left a small dent in the stash, especially in the novelty yarns, which is very nice as I always have difficulty deciding how to use them.

I started the second of the free sole socks yesterday and have now finished the instep ready to attach the sole.

The books are both from the library, picked up from the display stand based on the titles.

'The Healing Power of Coffee' by Cal Orey contains  a lot of research information as well as some interesting recipes for drinks, food and medicinal remedies. A good read for anyone who enjoys their coffee.

'The Age of Miracles' by Marianne Williamson offers insight into the middle years of life and how roles change in both family and society. Lots of thought provoking ideas in here for me.

Joining the Yarn along this week.

Wishing you sunshine and warmth in your creative space.

Winter warmers

Just getting ready.

Pretty flower garden hat to put some colour in a grey day.

Paula's garden hat

Warm Black Cherry ripple hat - just like a blanket for your head.

Black cherry ripple beanie

Two socks waiting for their partners.

Free sole sock by Anna Zilboorg and Two Horse Hitch by Anne Podlesak

It sure is fun working on socks that are constructed quite differently, yet serve almost the same purpose, only the green/purple ones are for me the red ones will be gifted just as soon as they are done.

Played some more with the hexagons I made on Friday, they did have a purpose. I am close to completing now. It is something that I have been wanting to try for quite awhile. Glad I finally got around to it. 

Granny Hexie bonnet

All of this yarn goodness has been stitched up from my extensive yarn stash, maybe soon I will see a blank space or two?

 Playing along with Linda and Ana and all the other stash busters.

Wishing you all a warm week.

Variety

Well there was some pink yarn. 
What about that lavender colour? 
Pretty green and brilliant purple. They all wanted in on the action this week.

Oh, I played nice and they've all had a turn.

Joining a sock knit-a-long to try a new technique - free sole socks by Anna Zilboorg.

Hooking up more hats because the weather is feeling just a little chilly in the evenings lately.

I even started a new book - like I am one chapter in and already think this book may have been written just for me. 'Second Chance' by Elizabeth Wren.

Sure I worked on last weeks projects too - there are more coloured bobbles and another unfinished sock (no evidence here), it is coming along nicely now that I have sorted out the pattern.

Joining the Ginny and the others yarning along. 
Hope your week includes plenty of colour.