The Late report

Friday night I worked my needles alongside all the other FNWF participants.

First up there was some finishing: The Pink Layna socks were so close, after some mid week social knitting that most of the knitting was completed while waiting for dinner to cook.

This is a good representation of the gorgeous Cerise colour.

After dinner all that was required was the grafting of the toes. Yay, nice new socks all ready for next winter.

Next up was the finishing touches on a sewing project that has been taking more time than is necessary - I got to play in the button tins, looking for just the right ones to adorn the bags that I have been sewing.

Always fun playing with buttons - even if sometimes frustrating when all my first choices turned out to be the wrong size.

Look All Done.

These bags are a good size and quite useful for lots of things but especially -  

for toting giant balls of yarn with attached projects. 

These two bags were gifted to knitting friends Saturday.

After all that finishing there was time for a few rows on my vest which is edging towards the armhole where I get to divide off the fronts and back, when I will get a clearer picture of the design. I'm eager to see how this will look done. Need to knit faster!

Tumbleweed by Jennifer Thompson

The little green knitting is the beginning of The Fathers Christmas sock, lots of knitting to get done in the next couple of weeks, but I think I will make it this year. Oh, and its the yarn from the previous picture it really is a lovely pine green colour not this washed out grey/green.

I hope everyone had a successful Friday night and a pleasant weekend.

Works in progress...

So I've been flitting around in and out of the craft space without achieving much at all!

The purple pecker is still a work in progress though it is nearing completion. Just a little more assembly and embroidery - maybe there will be a finish this week?

A new sock project started a week ago using leftover's from the most recent socks made for the father and a friends leftovers of the same yarn in an alternate colourway.

Yarn - Regia design line in eggplant and fog, Pattern - Eisern by General Hogbuffer

The sock itself is not a challenge but the combination of yarn and mostly working on this while out and about has presented it's own problems - dropped stitches in this yarn are difficult to retrieve. There have been many dropped stitches so far!

I've been busy in the sewing space too, now that the sun is putting in a more regular appearance.

So far it has been all about the cutting but I'm confident a whole day at home would ensure good progress on these pieces. We'll see how long it really takes.

Hope your week has been colourful.

So close

I have successfully reknit a lot of this navy yarn which was reclaimed from the Reversible Wrap which never did what I would have liked it to do.

And the blue cables are nearing their end, but I haven't decided on an appropriate finish for the edging. I can see a little experimenting in my near future.

I couldn't resist starting a new sock, which also has cable detail, not that you can see that in the picture.

These are in response to the father's request for more after recently being forced to wear commercial socks for the first time in some months and experiencing cold feet. (There was a small issue of overwear causing holes in one of the handmade pairs causing the shortfall.)

Elementary Watson in Moda Vera Noir - the coffee colourway.

Joining the Yarn along this week, I've been listening while knitting so no book pictures but recently finished Dark Heart by Tony Park, fiction based on fact, set in Africa with a focus around the peace keeping experience in Rwanda post 1995. Both interesting and intriguing.

Currently listening to The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian an historical novel, from the cover - "Parallel stories of a woman who falls in love with an Armenian soldier during the Armenian Genocide and a modern-day New Yorker prompted to rediscover her Armenian past"  So far this too is very interesting and engaging, perfect for knitting time.

Still using the Library computer and short on time.

Hope you are all having a great week.

PS: while I have been reading blogs for some reason I am unable to currently comment.

I have enjoyed seeing what everyone is up to, hopefully the technology issues will be sorted soon!

Going Green

It just so happened that all my finished projects in the last week were green.

The shawl from the mystery lace weight yarn is done I even did a kind of average job of blocking it so you can see the shape it is meant to be. It probably wasn't one of my best ideas to do a whole bunch on the same day as I ran out of floor space really quickly.

Ethereal Triangular shawl design by Lakshmi Juneja

Here's a close up of the diamond pattern on the body of the shawl and a gratuitous shot of my new sock project in the yarn I picked up at Unwind Craft Cafe.

An out of focus, but the best I could manage shot of the shawl draped over my pink shirt. The design really is pretty. 

Unfortunately there is still enough of the yarn left to make another shawl so I'll be casting that on within the next week, I don't want my hands to forget how to work with this slippery slidey yarn and I really want it used up.

Next finish was the Vivien Bolero that I have been working on intermittently since November, I started this project on my plane ride. More yarn that refuses to be used up, gotta be something about green yarn.

I chose this project to use the yarn that was left over from my tunic (which I finished 2 years ago and wear a lot), as I used a different yarn to that specified in the pattern I calculated required yardage and brought the requisite number in my preferred yarn. Obviously someone can't count because I had more than half of the yarn left over when I finished my tunic. 

Vivien design by Drops Design

The bolero front above and the back below, a very clever design that is worked in one piece so there were just a few tails to weave in at the end. (More sad photography)

The collar sits down but I have it up here so you can see the pretty pattern on the back.

This bolero did not use all of the remaining yarn - there is still one 50g ball left!

I knitted up this dragonfly washcloth on Saturday night just to use up some of the leftover bits and I'm thinking there may be a couple more from that last ball.

Dragonfly washcloth design by Jackie Jones

Why will the green yarn just not be gone?

Hope there is some green in your week.

Happy creating

Sock yarning

Even though it's officially spring, I'm still knitting socks.
The first of the burgundy socks is almost at the toe, these have been going slow mostly because they have become the car socks so I get a few rows in everyday when the traffic flows nice and I took it to craft group this week.
I cast on the second of the blue socks last night and got the band half done,  being sport weight it grows quickly.
This week I've started a new book, and started is all, less than ten pages! I've ascertained the story is set around young men leaving for war. The print is really small which could hamper my progress as I mostly read late at night.
Joining the Yarn Along today.
Hope your Thursday is colourful.

Goodbye August

Looking at my pictures from this month I can see that I was too busy starting things and trying out ideas to actually focus on any of my projects.

Legs using Ann Budd's Diagonal socks pattern and feet using Arch Shaped Foot pattern

There was one lonely finish, the stripey socks from the gifted yarn a bit of a no brainer project as the yarn did most of the work. Just what I needed while the germs were residing.

Sure, I totally used 'J's photo

 Let me say making socks for someone with small feet is a breeze (and maybe why I feel like the socks for the Father are taking forever, luckily for me I won't be seeing him this weekend)

I have finished one of the blue socks, but getting a photo is proving a challenge this week. One purple sock is three quarters done and one burgundy sock is almost half way. They will all get their partners next month.

I did try a little baking last weekend after Fiona published a recipe for Ginger cake, I baked mine in my muffin tray and they were delicious, I may even have waited for them to cool before the taste testing began, Delicious.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend filled with Sunshine and cake.

One for me

Last week while fishing in the yarn stash for the burgundy to use on The Father's socks I spied this lovely purple yarn of the same make and vintage perfect for socks for me. As I'd signed up over on Ravelry to test another sock pattern I figured this yarn would be perfect for the design.

Just checking it fits the toes

There was an issue with an escapee earlier but it is all fixed now.

This is the most accurate colour Patons Beehive fingering 4ply

So this week I have been dividing my time between three socks with all of them seeing some progress. The knots on these ones held my attention into the wee hours of the morning.

This pattern is as tedious as it looks with those knots formed by a series of miniature cables on lots of consecutive rows. Unfortunately the most interesting part of the sock is this bit which is the foot so it hides in your shoe? Not sure what that is about.

The other two socks have seen some good progress I just don't have any pictoral evidence.

Hope your weekend plans include time spent creating.

Casting on for FNSI

More socks - I did finish the stripey pair with just a scrap of yarn leftover.

The vintage pattern and yarn, this gorgeous burgundy Patonyle 3 ply knits up so soft.

For the blue socks I am using another of the patterns from the book 'Knitting socks from around the World', this time the Lithuanian colorwork socks designed by Donna Druchunas. I cast on the largest size and knit this bit last night. They are too big at this gauge and I don't believe I have enough of that darker blue, so I am starting over - going down one size and swapping to the navy yarn at the front of the picture.

I'll be around later to see what lovelies everyone else was working on last night.

Thanks to Wendy for hosting.

May your weekend be filled with happy creations.

Still knitting...

the same sock, but I finished a book this week.

Diagonal rib sock  by Ann Budd with arch foot shaping

'Digging to America' by Anne Tyler was recommended by a friend. While the subject matter centres on family issues and intercountry adoption, the text is written in a thought provoking and entertaining way. I enjoyed reading this book and stayed awake way too late turning the pages.

'The Children' by Edith Wharton will be my next book. I haven't read the first page yet but I have read a lot about this author's life and writing. An adventure awaits.

Hope your week has included some creativity and sunshine.

FNWF The late report..

I spent my Friday night working on these two projects.

Diagonal rib socks and Maybelle flower blocks

Added another six flower blocks to the stack.

This is the second of the socks, the one that got delayed due to a lost needle and while I have another set in this size I decided to pop into the oppy where I purchased them this week. Sure enough there were a couple more hiding in the bottom of the container, not a whole set but a couple of spares for the grand sum of 50c. Yay.

Thanks Cheryll for hosting, now I'm off to see what everyone else got up to.

Hope you have enjoyed some sunshine and flowers this weekend.

Sewing Knitting and Hooking...

all got a look in at my place.

After finishing the knitting on the back of the pink tunic I sewed the shoulders together and finished the neck opening - too easy.

There was some work on the second Free sock - almost there, just the toe to complete,

and sewing the toe of the first sock.

At craft night this week there was a bag of yarn needing a new home - no I didn't resist even though it is mostly this very thick chenille yarn which I am not good at knitting, but there's always a possibility of a little hooking. I couldn't resist the temptation last night and got a ball out for a bit of a play. So far so good. While there are lots of balls of this yarn they're not long so it should be used up real soon.

Hope your Friday night was productive.

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.

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.

From Toe warmer...

to sock.

The crochet sock project has been demanding attention at every available opportunity this week.

The pattern was very straight forward and easy to follow.

Both the foot and leg were completed in a long spiral shape leaving a hole for the heel, which is another spiral completed at the end.

This construction makes it very easy to try the sock on regularly and make adjustments to fit.

Most of the deviations I made from the pattern were unintentional, but do not alter the way the sock fits me.

I did choose to close the heel with a double crochet join rather than sewing the two sides together, I think it works better with the stretch of the crochet fabric.

Now to complete a partner that matches with all the deviations.

Happy weekend crafting.

Ooh Nice!

My Chocolate Jacket is all sewn up with the buttons on and all.

Drops Aline jacket 103-1 in Moda Vera Alice - chocolate

Made entirely from stash materials, with just a little donation. I remembered that I had previously made a vest for a craft group friend from this yarn and had returned the leftovers to her as she supplied the yarn. I asked nicely and she found her part ball and gave it back to me. Perfect, though now I do have some leftovers, I'm thinking there may be enough for a matching hat?

Found buttons in the vintage stash in a matching colour in the correct size - not three the same but I am very happy with them.

Okay, here are some modelled shots (so not good at photographing garments on myself) to give you an idea of the fit. (disregard the turn up at the hem, I'm working on that)

I knitted the three quarter sleeve, as I as unsure of how far the yarn would stretch, but I really like the where they fall.

I may need to add a stud on the inside to maintain alignment of the front pieces.

The collar is fun and cleverly constructed with just a little sewing. No need for a scarf with this one.

It wasn't all about the jacket this week.

I completed the second sock, too. Just in time for todays deadline.

Two Horse Hitch Socks by Ann Podlesak in Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury colour brick

I took them to the beach for a photo shoot as it is very wet outside here and the sun is usually gone before it dries out.

Very happy with how these turned out, now to gift them.

All this finishing means I have empty needles and will have to remedy that situation soon.

What to cast on next?

The end of the week and the end of another month - Lots of possibilities and creating in company this weekend.

Hope your's is a creative one too.