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.

Slowly, slowly...

I have been using small snippets of time to make progress on the the sewing project, but I've not yet taken a picture so you won't see it here!

There was a little action with pretty coloured cottons to add to the sewing.

I did have fun with my needles and hook - and still there is a mountain of cotton colours to left. Lucky I guess as I'd like to make some more of these.

Quick to knit or crochet in all the colours. 

While out socialising with fellow creative types last weekend I managed to finish two socks.

No not a pair!

On the left - Corn mint leaves by Qianer and on the right Layna shorty in my size.

I do like to mix up the colours and textures though and they provide entertainment for when there is not much else happening.

Just so I don't get bored with the second socks of those 2 pair, which I have already cast on by the way, I started a little slipper to keep my toes warm on these cool evenings that have returned to my part of the world.

Steps to elegance is a test knit - both quick and fun

I enjoyed working this one up - though the use of a multicoloured yarn for the contrast colour may not have been my best choice, the scrap was there and I'm trying to move some of those along.

Hope your weekend is filled with all the colours.

Making in May

Lots of fun with soft fluffy yarn - new slippers just in time for the chilly nights of winter.

 A fun hat complete with a little colour experiment,

a lonely Kangaroo hopping past.

These two used up some of the yarn that has been languishing in the back of a cupboard for a few years, not quite as many as the fabric I used to make a skirt last week, which is already in its teens! 

This week has been all about finishing the next cape, a pair of socks and new fingerless mitts.

Cape in Cascade 220, lovely greens and purples, and socks in Araucania Ranco Multi, the next photo is a better representation of those colours.

While the socks are done, I'm not sure whether the others will make it to the finish list this month or next.

You'd be right if you're thinking I didn't do anything else with May.

I have started on a new adventure which is both exciting and a bit scary. 

More on that another time.

Wishing all who come this way a colourful weekend in your creative space.

Pink slippers...

are all done.

Bosnian Slipper socks design by Donna Druchunas

Another lovely pattern from Knitting Sock from Around the World, I still have a few more to go before I'm done with the book.

Just in time for Miss17 to relieve me of them when she visited recently.

The third colour is cleverly stitched on at the end to minimise tangles in the knitting.

Bendigo woollen mills luxury in Lotus and Ghost with the purple vintage Patons fingering detail.

These slippers used up most of the leftover ghost colourway but there is still enough of the Lotus for more socks.

When I saw her again a couple of days later she was wearing them to keep her toes warm. Yay!

The mother added to the yarn stash again last week with some bargain yarns suitable for sock knitting among other things, I need to get some pictures of those.

My blue cable cape from last time has seen significant progress and will soon be done.

Wishing you sunshine in your window.

Just add words

Blue cable cape - going backwards.

Mini Ydggrasil - moving in the right direction

Sylvester - ameniko cat

New slippers in case winter ever comes back.

Some of the things I've been working on while offline.

Have a wonderful weekend.

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.

Because I can

A fellow craft friend gave me a bag of cotton/acylic mix yarn recently, asking if I could use it. Never one to refuse a little yarn in pretty colours, I brought it home to play. I really wanted to try another summer hat pattern but it just wasn't working and while this yarn is mercerised it is just a bunch of individual threads together making it splitty. The tight tension required of the hat was not working, too many threads to get caught on the hook.

Not good colour but pretty yarn - oh yeah after I got underway!

Next idea a cute little summer slipper, well that is not what the pattern intended it to be, it's made from a mix of alpaca and silk - decadent for slippers, but is what mine will turn into. This statement reminds me of a conversation I had recently about the intentions of designers and whether as crafter's it was okay to make things our own. We concluded it was but are also aware of a segment of the community who wouldn't dare deviate from the original design materials.

The one on the left was the first attempt, the one on the right has me modifications

There have been issues and much reverse crochet but it really is a cute slipper and I think they may even stay on my feet, especially when they get the cute little strap.

Nearly done

So I spent Saturday sitting with the hook in hand and cuppa close by to work on these, they were quick and while not yet done they will be soon.

This is almost done - though there was some reversing after this picture

As I haven't used all of the yarn from the bag, there are other colours in there which may or may not follow suit?

Hope you're enjoying a little Sunday sunshine in your space.