Knitting all the things

The yarn from last week did not get to rest in the balls for long, I made a start on my new vest on the weekend.

So far I think knitting is a much better match for this yarn than crochet.

Pic right after I changed to the circular for the main pattern

Knit in one piece to the armhole makes for some long rows but the ribbing went quickly and I crammed all the stitches onto my Casein straight needles, what a luxury to knit with these lovely needles. 

Tumbleweed by Jennifer Thompson

I love the cables and the little 3D bobbles (I know you can't see them very well here), and the asymmetrical design. You can only see the right front here but the pretty marker identifies the 'side seam', it buttons up on the left side and that is where most of the cable detail is on both the front and back. I'm a little further along than this now but haven't updated the picture as this yarn is difficult to capture in artificial light.

My slippers are finished, except for a few stray ends! Oh sure they are conveniently tucked out of the way in this picture.

Excuse the weird sun tan stripe!

There was plenty of reversing up on these, mostly as my feet are just large in all the places. The finished slippers fit well and do not work their way off my feet when walking around which is better than I've achieved in the past when making slippers without a strap.

Joining in with the ladies stitching up their Friday night, (FNWF tonight), planning to finish the socks on the needles and put the finishing touches on a sewing project or two. We'll see how that goes?

Enjoy the sun in your creative space today.

So tempting...

The pretty yarn I received in the recent swap was calling out for a piece of the action.

This stuff is gorgeous with so many shades of green and blue which were not immediately obvious in the hank. 

I had a lot of fun on Friday winding the ball so I could begin work on something other than foot wear!

Not one to be deterred by the lack of implements in the right length, I got to work on a straight needle so I could see how the pattern would look in this yarn. I had only been dreaming about the yarn/pattern combination for 2 weeks.

Sure is shines - that would be the silk.

Saturday there was a shopping expedition to I collect the correct size needle in a circular of a certain length to contain the ever multiplying stitches - look it's working. 

This picture is closest to true colours.

This is a fun and interesting adventure with the beautiful colours in this soft squishy yarn.

Pattern - Mystery Benefactor design by Kelly Brooker
Yarn - Sweetgeorgia - merino/silk fine in the Deep cove colour

I love the way shawls grow at the beginning when working top down so you can see the pretty pattern take shape. Now I'm around halfway through the ball of yarn, with 300 stitches on each row, things have slowed considerably! The instructions are for using the entire hank so this will definitely be a warm layer for when winter visits here again.

Hope your week is full of fun in your favourite colours.

Because apparently one is not enough

I started another sock.

This time I'm making an old fashioned anklet just in time for some warmer weather.

Wishing you a sun shiny weekend.

Sunshine, blue skies and knitting...

a perfect start to the school holidays here.

My weekend was spent mostly with knitting friends - which allowed me to work on getting some of those partners almost finished. Just the ends to weave in on this pair.

Saturday afternoon while at Unwind Craft Cafe with friends I finished the second of the Twisting mitts in Bendigo Woollen mills, Luxury 4 ply, Aquarium. This mitt may be my favourite yet. The pretty design is quite elastic making it suitable for a range of hand and wrist combinations.

Not wanting to rest at one for too long, I cast on the second of the Icy Flames mitts and have this one almost done after a little Sunday outing for more knitting with friends. Just the thumb ribbing to go now. 

Bendigo woollen mills Athena - wool/silk/bamboo mix, 4 ply in Ice Blue, (not whatever colour I called it last time).

This yarn is delightfully soft to knit with and perfect for this type of lace pattern that requires my full attention as every one of the 24 pattern rows is different.

The second red/orange twisting mitt is well on its way now too, though the first one will undergo a little surgery soon. I have a limited quantity of this yarn so they will need a shorter cuff. They will still be warm and cosy for when the cooler weather comes back, in a couple of days.

Hope your week is off to a great start and you get some time to relax in the sunshine.

Oooh - Shiny

I was lucky enough to accompany friends last weekend on a little yarn trip to Bendigo where our destination was the Woollen Mills.

I picked up some new yarn from the back room - Athena 4 ply in the Ice Blue colourway, along with other goodies. The Athena is a lovely mix of Wool, silk and bamboo and turns out to be delightful to knit with. Lucky as I managed to snag another colour too!

Unable to contain myself I cast on just as soon as I could to make another mitt in this pretty lacy pattern.

Today there was a little train knitting, the mitt is working up quickly.

I may soon be looking for some one handed people as it appears I am incapable of completing pairs this month?!>#@?

May your hands be cosy wrapped in a little luxury.

On Friday night...

I sat in the comfy chair and did a little clicking.
A new mitt that I'm testing, it has turned out rather large but that may be the yarn which while a lovely wool and silk mix, knits into fabric with no structure! Looks like it wants to become something drapey so I've started over with an old fave.
The coffee coloured hood is getting a body, nothing new, just another version of the cape.
Red and grey Bendigo Luxury for my new blanket project, (and no I haven't finished the blanket I started at the beginning of the year).
Thanks Cheryl for gathering all the creative ladies together for a virtual stitch in.
Hope your Sunday includes stitching and sunshine.

On my needles

I really have started all the things recently!

Because I don't stick to one thing ever this is what my current knitting looks like! 

Three projects in progress none of which have a pattern to just follow, though some are less complicated than others.

I know I said last time the blue piece was practice for my cardy but I decided to continue and make it a project all by itself, I have lots of this colour left over from my Elephant socks. 

The fluffy piece is almost 8 inches long now, thanks to being a passenger on a road trip early in the week. The colours in this yarn really are gorgeous. Thanks Marina for the yarn gift.

The one that looks yellowish is actuality a natural silverish wool colour and is the beginning of a hood.

Wishing you all fun times with needles.

Joining yarn along this week.

Lace on "L's"

Once upon a time there was a ball of yarn owned by a fellow creative type who tried and tried to tame it. I know all this because every time I saw her over a 6 month period, she was starting over or asking for assistance as she had lost her place on the pattern. Eventually she just gave up! 

Something you should never do! Cannot let the yarn win.

I was gifted with the offensive yarn that was very skinny and almost slippery.

Considering its past misbehavior, which I had witnessed, I left it languishing in the naughty bag for a year and a half (or longer) until I decided it was time to play. It took another month before I chose a suitable pattern and made a start.

Unidentified Lace weight yarn in a olive green colour

Armed with yarn, pattern and needles I went to the knit group that meets at the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Make a start I did in encouraging company.

As this is my first time knitting with skinny yarn on fat needles there has been a lot of head scratching and perplexed face making (while you can't see those, my fellow knitters did). I may have made some unintentional modifications to the pattern, by adding some texture, but I'm okay with that.

Ethereal Triangular Shawl design by Lakshmi Juneja - with unintentional modifications

It seems reading between the lines is a skill that requires more practice on my part (or maybe it's just that I need to read ahead before diving right in?).

Just making the most of my last week of holidays and starting more projects.

Hope there's fun in your creative space today.

Last day...

of September today, (just in case you need the reminder).

It seems I am still focussing on keeping toes warm (mostly mine) and using up the yarn stash, even the bits that keep sneaking in.

Lithuanian colour work socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the World', (a present that has proved to be a wonderful resource). The navy yarn was an oppy find, a lovely soft wool crepe with no label and the aqua is from a knitting friends machine knit scraps, Bendigo Woollen mills classic 5 ply.

Purple wall socks are in The Great wall II pattern from Qianer of HiyaHiya, the yarn is a delicious 1950's vintage  Patons Beehive 4 ply fingering.

The Neutral summer hat was made using the Drops design pattern 127-47 and while I really like it there is no way this one will fit on my head, so I think I just start on made a start on Christmas gifts.

Sure I finished my summer slippers last night just so I could count them today, not really but they were quick and a little addictive a perfect weekend project. They are super comfy and just the right weight I think for when the weather changes.

The Paws socks are that mystery which was seen here about a week ago, a plain pattern with some coloured embellishments, great for using leftovers of which there always seems to be some. Currently they are flying to their new home, all will be revealed shortly.

Hope your September was productive too.

Enjoy October.