princessdeia

All my orders from the weekend arrived this morning - I love post
So I have a nice stash enhancement – luckily all the wool is earmarked for projects.
My orders included:

• Good Fortune Cotton in Wine.
• Destiny Mohair in Petrol
• Hipknits Silk in Surf

The cotton is going to be turned into a twin set - I think the one from Vintage Knits. I brought the mohair for a scarf for me - I am planning on making scarves as Christmas presents - yes I am thinking that far ahead), I was going to use Rowan Kidsilk Haze, but thought I would try this out as an alternative. I adore the colour, the shade was petrol - but it’s a dark turquoise, and in a certain light a jade green.

I got so excited about the Hipknit Silk - I have seen so many other people in blogland use this wool and I was so eager to start knitting with it - I rolled into into balls by hand and what I read is true it does shred, It is really hard to see in this photo, but it is shades of sky blue, mint green and a pale turquoise I am pretty sure it will become an Arabella.

I have done about 12 inches of Marco - I wanted the jumper to look really chunky (even though it is in cotton), so I did the rib in 3 stitches of purl and knit.

I think I need a a session in front of the TV watching some cheesy show or a DVD, so I can just relax knit… oh it would be even more perfect, if I could convince Jason to bring home a bottle of wine.

I have been busy working on my Dad’s jumper at the moment. I have done pretty well and have finished about half the back – I am looking forward to starting the decreases for the arms – as knitting straight stocking stitch is starting to get on my nerves.

I like to have two projects going on at once, on different size needles – just to exercise my hands. Normally, the project on the 3.75mm needles would be the smaller needles – but this time – they are the large needles and I am using 1.25mm (US 0000) needles as my other project, the Maryella cuff (which is nearly finished).

Not much else to post about the weekend - my sister went to Brussels (so now I am pigging out on chocolate), I did do some hunting online placed a few orders, I finally got some of the silk from Hipknits, in Surf. This wool is perfect for a OSW, however, I think I want to knit a summer top with it. I also brought some cotton from Texere, in wine and chocolate (for a border for my mini-sweater). I got a few bits for my secret pal too - but I am not going to post that here in case she is reading ;).

Yarn: Coats Crochet thread and Rowan’s 4 ply Cotton both in Mint Green.
Pattern:Feather and Fan Scarf.
Needles: 3.25mm.
Notes: I love Feather and Fan stitch as it is so simple and yet looks to elegant. I wanted a long skinny scarf so I did the pattern over 12 stitches rather than 18 and repeated each pattern twice.

As I had issues with having a symmetrical scarf and having a scalloped edge on both ends, I ended up knitting two scarves and grafted them together.

Both yarns were lovely to knit with and I am pleased with the over all effect, the darker wool has a shine compared to the matt look of the Rowan cotton. However, using the two yarns meant I ended up having a lot of ends to weave in.

Jason is still on nights so I am having to creep around the house not making any noise. This morning I decided to have a bath to get out of his way and plan the rest of my day. Just as I was about to start running the bath, the doorbell rang (I hate interruptions during my me time), but this morning I was happy the postman delivering goodies from my Secret Pal – a lil package from LUSH.

There was some Smitten Hand Cream (always useful to a knitter), Dream Time temple balm – that is meant to aid sleep – perfect for this weather and some Strawberry Twin Tub Shower Jelly – which you put in the fridge or freezer and then use – it will not be ready for today’s bath but will be perfect for tomorrow. Also the little package had a little not – “Another little something from you Secret Pal. Hope that you like it all” – YES I do

I thought I would post a photo of the modified Mini-Sweater – without the puffy sleeves, I am really impressed with the way the sleeves turned out. Now all I need to do is sort out the border.

As the main body is in Mocha, I wanted to have a dark chocolate border – so it really did look like a mocha – however, now I am not sure. However, the edge is really messy – I did mind before – but now I need to sort something out. I think I need a trip to John Lewis.

Not much knitting has occurred – mainly as I have spent the last 24 hours reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (don’t worry no spoilers here)! Last week, I finally managed to finish both scarves I was making – however they need blocking before I will post photos.

I have also finished the main part of the Mini-Sweater, I never did find a great colour for the border – now that it is complete, I am not sure whether the sweater needs it… but the edge is a little messy – so I think I will need to do a a crochet border or something.

With Jason back on nights this week (yes again – it was due to a new shift rotation), I am spending my evening alone knitting and watching TV (season finale of CSI tonight). It also is a great time for me to try and finish off all my current projects.

Closest to completing is my feather and fan scarf, I am using the Coats Crochet thread I got in America and a ball of Rowan’s 4 ply Cotton, both in minty green shades. I am alternating the colours to give a striped effect and I love the effect. Also as I was a little concerned both ends would have the scalloped edge so I am knitting two separate scarves and intend to graft them together. One half is complete and the other should be done tonight.

Also I had quite a head way into my mini sweater, but I didn’t like the way the sleeves looked – the pattern called for some extra increases in the sleeve section – around where the shoulder would be – I was a little concerned when I was knitting them but thought they might look better as I knitted more – however, this wasn’t the case in fact I think the whole sleeve was looking too baggy. I was looking at it this morning and thinking about frogging it back.

Then this afternoon, I saw Diana over at Street and Yo’s had decided to knit her mini sweater without the extra increases and it looks great – she said she had to make it a little longer than the pattern asked for – but that’s no big deal. So I am frogging it tonight and starting again.

EDIT: CSI finale was cancelled due to events relating to last weeks bombs - so I have to wait until next week.

Not much knitting was done this weekend :(,
Both my parents have requested I knit them something - Mum wanted the twin set from Vintage Knits and Dad wanted Marco from Rowan Magazine 35, but didn’t like the pattern - so it’s going to be plain.

On Saturday, I went shopping to John Lewis in Kingston on Saturday - hoping to get all the wool, however the trip was very unsuccessful, we couldn’t find the colour for that Mum wanted - and eventually we got a nice navy for Dad’s jumper. I also wanted to get some dark chocolate merino for my Mini Sweater - but no luck. I guess I am going to have to hunt around online - see if I can find aubergine cotton anywhere.

I did manage to get some lovely semi-precious beads and wire to make some more stitch markers - it seems I am making them as quickly as I am start new projects. I had to make some wider one to use on the mini sweater as I am using 6mm needles.

Also Melanie at Pink Lemon Twist has revealed a completed version on of her Mystery Stole, it looks amazing - I am thinking it will make am amazing baby blanket - but I don’t know anyone who is pregnant - I guess I will have to save it.

I noticed she has also started a Mystery Shawl Along - but I don’t think I have the time to knit this as well - but it might be interesting to keep an eye on.

Yarn: Paton’s Cotton DK in Denim.
Pattern: One Skien Wonder by Glampyre.
Needles: 5 mm and 3.75mm.
Notes: This was a lovely pattern to knit up – and completed extremely quickly.
As I was knitting it - I kept thinking of other yarns that this would work with, although the pattern called for worsted (which is thinker than DK), it still works well - I think because the cotton has great stitch definition.
It was a little weird knitting from the top down - something I hadn’t done before - but the raglan effect works really well.
This pattern does get bonus points as there is very little seaming - just the “cuffs” of the arms.

Yarn: Paton’s Cotton DK in Sky.
Pattern: Spring Fling from Knitty Spring 2005.
Needles: 3 mm and 3.75mm.
Notes: This was a lovely easy lace pattern - great for a beginners, and the pattern looks very affective.
I decided to knit the body section as one (I hate seaming), I cast on 200 (for the small), leaving off the 2 stitches from the back and one from each of the front. I also slipped the first stitch at the start of each row, for a neater edge – as the edge is not worked into a border.

Personally, I didn’t like the hook and eye fastening - so I made two i-cords (about 70 rows each), and attached them to the first row of the neck decreases.

I am surrounded by my family, we are all safe.
That is all I have been wanting all day.

I spend most the day in front of the TV next to the phone trying to get updates.
Decided to change the layout of my blog - just to keep me busy - I can’t even think about knitting right now.

I know there are a lot of London Knitters out there and - I hope all they and their families are all safe.

1. My birthday is on Halloween.
2. I was born in London in 1974.
3. My full name is Dipika.
4. I hate my name.
5. Everyone including my parents calls me Dee.
6. I don’t have a middle name.
7. The hospital I was born in was across the road from my parent’s house.
8. Both my parents were born in South Africa.
9. My parents had an arranged marriage.
10. They have been married over 40 years.
11. All my grand-parents were born in India.
12. I have one sister.
13. I am the youngest – by 17 months.
14. I use to always fight with my sister when we were little.
15. Now we are really close.
16. One of my earliest memories is seeing my sister fall down the stairs.
17. I have never had any pets.
18. I have lived in London my whole life and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
19. I am left handed.
20. I have been with my boyfriend, Jason for over 7 years.
21. I met him at a firm I was temping at.
22. When I first met Jason, I thought he was annoying – but he made me laugh.
23. The first night we met we talked about driving across America together.
24. My favourite subject at primary school was Maths.
25. I use to think I would become a maths teacher or something.
26. I have always loved the Star Wars films.
27. I remember seeing Empire Strikes Back in the cinema and being scared of the Wampa snow monster at the beginning of the movie.
28. I learned to knit when I was 8 years old.
29. I designed and knitted my first jumper when I was 10.
30. I use to watch The Goonies every week, when I was younger with my sister.
31. I started wearing glasses when I was 17.
32. I went to a girl’s school.
33. I am glad I did as I think it gave me more opportunities.
34. I meet my best friend, Sabeena on the second day of secondary (high) school.
35. I was at the Brit Awards in 1989 (Yes that one!)
36. My favourite subject at secondary school was Media Studies.
37. My favourite TV show was Twin Peaks and I still love it now.
38. My best friend immigrated to America, just before we started Sixth Form – but we are still in contact.
39. I have three A levels in Sociology, Economics and Film Studies.
40. I was the only girl in my Film Studies class.
41. I was a typical grunge kid, doc martins, baggy t-shits, ripped jeans and floppy hair.
42. I have every issue of Empire Magazine since 1992.
43. My favourite place that I have visited is the Grand Canyon.
44. I have a B.A. (Hons.) in Social Sciences.
45. I went to university in East London (near where the Olympic village will be).
46. I am obsessed with Tiffany’s.
47. The colour scheme of this site is based on the Tiffany’s website.
48. My favourite colour is blue.
49. Especially, Tiffany’s Blue or #00CCCC.
50. I cry whenever I see E.T.
51. I became a vegetarian in when I was 20.
52. I still eat fish.
53. I remember the last meat dish I (knowing) ate.
54. It was a McDonald’s Hamburger in Acapulco.
55. I hate mushrooms.
56. This is very awkward as a vegetarian.
57. I always regret the fact I never saw Nirvana live.
58. The last holiday I went on with my family was in 1994.
59. We went to China.
60. I graduated in 1996.
61. I got my first job three days after leaving university.
62. I got my belly button pierced the day before my 22nd Birthday.
63. I spend two months traveling around America on my own in the summer of 1997.
64. I wanted to eat breakfast whilst staring in the window of Tiffany’s on 5th Avenue.
65. One of my favourite museums is the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.
66. I started waering contact lens when I was 21.
67. I once saw Billy Corgan at O’ Hare airport.
68. My favourite city I visited was Seattle.
69. I have two tattoos.
70. One of a Scorpio on my thigh.
71. The other is of three stars on my lower back.
72. The last time I went to the Reading Festival, I refused to camp and stayed in a hotel.
73. I have vowed I will never go to a Glastonbury Festival again, after the quagmire of 1998.
74. Less than six months after meeting Jason we traveled along the East Coat of America for 6 weeks.
75. We spend two weeks in Orlando visiting theme parks.
76. We drove from Miami to New York.
77. After the holiday, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jason.
78. I want to go to every Disney Park; I just need to go to Tokyo.
79. I planned my summer holiday of 1999 to coincide with the release of Star Wars Episode One.
80. I did a post graduate course on the Open University.
81. I wrote my final thesis on the Alien films.
82. I am scared of mice.
83. We once stayed in a youth hostel in Amsterdam with mice - which was the worst night of my life.
84. I love Converse; I have 3 pairs and really want another pair - in Maroon.
85. I love baby tees, especially ones from comics or films, my favourite t-shirt is a Tank Girl one I brought in 1995.
86. I started playing The Stone in 2001.
87. You can briefly see me in the Stoners film.
88. I taught myself HTML.
89. I gave up my job to do a Web Design course.
90. I need 9 hours sleep a night.
91. I am trying to collect every copy of Batgirl III comics.
92. I own all but on of the Birds of Prey comics (missing issue 40).
93. I cannot drive.
94. But I love our car.
95. I prefer the taste of Diet Coke.
96. I am a really slow eater.
97. I don’t want children.
98. I have a god-daughter.
99. I think I am cursed to never go to a Knit Flicks.
100. I love making lists so this was fun :).

Jason and I planned to spend the weekend in the Stevenage – I packed two projects, the Double Choc scarf and the supplies for my One Skein Wonder, which I thought would be enough for a few days, but what with watching Live 8 on Saturday and O.D.-ing on Crime movies courtesy of the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, I have managed to nearly finished both projects.

On Sunday, we did drive down to Welwyn, to see what bargains I could find in the John Lewis Sale – their haberdashery department is very small, but there was a bargain bin full of treasures, I was a very good girl and only brought stuff that I knew I could ear-mark for projects. I got some lovely Jaeger Merino DK in a dark khaki colour – perfect for the mini-sweater and some Rowan 4 ply Cotton in a light green colour, that I will add to the darker green I got in America, and knit a stripy scarf – either The Shell and Wave Shawl or a basis Feather and Fan Scarf.

Obviously, I have two completed projects, and new additions to my stash to take photos of, I managed to get some batteries for the camera – but I have forgotten the cables – hopefully soon I will be able to write a post with some photos.

EDIT: I have just seen the scary Blythe doll has gone from my sidebar - yes we have a new knitty - had a quick look and didn’t see anything Jason would like - so I guess I will have to wait until the autumn (fall) issue.