princessdeia

What a Bank Holiday I have been having, we have been cat sitting for Jason’s Parents, so me and three WIP’s travelled up to Stevenage, complete with camera so I could take plenty of photos – the batteries in the camera are dead and none of the batteries in remote controls in this house work, (from 2 TVs, a VCR, Stereo and DVD Player)… so there will be no photos in the post

Before heading up here I received an email from my Spoiler for Secret Pal informing me she had posted my final parcel – however, it was too late – so I had to send my sister to the sorting office to pick it up and collect it from her on Sunday.

On Saturday, I went to John Lewis in Welwyn to get some DPN’s (for my Gryffindor Scarf), and I finally got to see the new Rowan Kidsilk Night and Spray – I think I will be using it for my Xmas present projects, I fell in love with Trance (I had never seen that colour before), and was tempted to buy it but refrained – I was there for just the needles.

Sunday, I popped over to see my sister and collect my package. I love opening presents – this was so much fun… all the items were wrapped up individually – in The Simpsons wrapping paper (and I never did mention I was Simpson’s fan), inside my goodies included, hand-made stitch markers, candles, L’Occitane soap, Kool Aid and The Vogue Knits Weekend Knitting book… But the best bit; there was a ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Trance and some Rowanspun DK in Drizzle.

I was thinking the Kidsilk would make a fabulous Branching Out and I think I will use the Rowanspun to make another Mini-Sweater… then today I got an email from my Secret Pal revealing herself, it was Tracy over at Woollywarbler, she had also made Branching out in the same colour, so I could see a finished example (I can’t wait to start knitting).

The funny think is over the last few months I have been over to Tracy’s blog several times, when I brought my Hipknits Silk, I was thinking of making a OSW with it and her version is mentioned on the site, then when she joined the UKStrictly Knitting group and I had no idea… but hidden amongst the entries were several clues, I guess my grey matters were not working so well.

Finally, I can reveal I have been spoiling Beverly (who is currently in Cuba), I was hoping she got her final parcel before she left – but she didn’t so I will have to wait until the weekend to email her about it.

Yarn: Texere’s destiny Mohair in Petrol.
Pattern: Wavy Gravy from Stitch ‘n’ Bitch Nation
Needles: 5mm.
Notes: There is not much tp say about this really - it was a simple project - I would suggest this as a second lesson knitting project as it all increases and descreases but look so effective, I can also vouch it is a great project to take to your first SnB.

be sorted @ nimbo.net

I signed up for the Another Weasley KAL, I am going to wait until Saturday to start as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is on Sky Movies - and even though I’ve seen it a million times, I thought it was so perfect to start the scarf then.

In other news I have started my Mum’s twin set - that is going to take a long time to knit, I am knitting the sweater on circular needles - knit stitch all the way - so I am hoping it will be a little quicker… if it goes well I think I will final invest in those Denise Inter-changables I have been dreaming about.

Yarn: Jaeger Merino DK in Mocha.
Pattern: Mini Sweater by Glampyre..
Needles: 5mm.
Notes: I thought this pattern would be perfect for this time of year - something to cover up in the evening - or in the temperamental London weather. This pattern knits up as quickly and easily as the OSW.

I wasn’t keen on the puffy arms like Diana I decided to ignore the extra increases in the arms. The pattern specifies increasing until around row 17 when the sleeves should meet under the arms, but I had to do a few more rows of increases for this – to compensate missing out the increases in the puffiness. However, this resulted in the main body being bigger, so instead of meeting in the middle it crossed over, I could have ripped it back to row 17 and just added the increases in the arms and not the main body (worked that bit straight), but I decided to let them cross over and added a snap fastening on the inside and the button.

Also the edge, was a little girly – like the sleeves, so I just crocheted a row of single crochets around the edge to add some texture and colour.

I haven’t been feeling really well – so haven’t been on the PC to update. All the time in bed has meant I have had loads of time to knit. The No-Longer-Looking-Anything-Like-Marco Sweater (NLLALM) is looking really good – I have done about 4 inches of the front now and the cables are looking amazing. i set the cables in three stitches of purl as the enhances the chunky 3×3 rib. Now I am thinking it looks more like a cabled version of Leo from Knitty – the other pattern I was thinking of knitting.

Yesterday, I went to Hobbycraft – I heard they had a limited range of Rowan and wanted to check it out – really I was hoping I could get some Kidsilk Spray or Kidsilk Night, as I think it will be prefect for some autumn projects I am planning. However, all they sold was Rowanspun 4 ply. I did however, get some Paton’s Fab (cheap acrylic) in Scarlet and Gold – perfect for a Prisoner of Azkaban version of the Gryffindor Scarf – I was hoping to sign up to the Another Weasley KAL – but I think I might be a little late.

My Spoilee for Secret Pal 5, has just gone on holiday for two weeks- so I had to send her final package now (hopefully she got it before she left). I have had so much fun with the experience - I had to sign up for SP6… I also love this button, as it reminds me it is almost Halloween - and my birthday.

I have been busy working and dog-sitting so not much knitting has been done.
I had been extremely bored of knitting stocking stitch over 160 stitches for the back of Marco, so have been putting off starting the front. Whilst Jason was watching the cricket yesterday, I was inspired by cable pattern on their slipovers . I prefered the Aussie sweaters - but Jason would not be impressed if I took inspiration from our rivals. Now I have decided to add a few cables to the front of the jumper – making it even less like Marco, but at least it will be more interesting.

I need to sort out my camera, and take some photos of my recent finished projects, my mini-sweater is complete it just needs to weave in the ends – I think I will need it this weekend so I should finish it soon. I still haven’t finished Wavy Gravy – although it is looking amazing – it is such a great pattern it looks a lot more complicated then it is. I have finished the Double Choc scarf, but I have given it to my sister already – so I need to get it back to photograph it.

After the success of Maryella, I think I will make a few more, I have invested in loads of seed beads, so far I have plans to make a simple black beads on white thread and also a gold beads on cream thread cuff, and to get some really shiny ribbon so this can be more of an evening cuff.

Materials: DMC Perle 8 in ecru, Gutermann Size 9 Seed Beads in 1195 and black ribbon.
Pattern: MaryElla from Knitty Winter 2004.
Needles: 1.25 mm.
Notes: I thought I would start with a mini version of the cuff - using just one bead on each stitch, so it could be a quick make. The needles are awful to knit with especially at night. However, the ‘yarn’ is thin enough to use a beading needle to thread the beads which is very useful - I needed nearly 250 beads on this mini version.

After months of knitting alone in from of the TV or in the car for the first time today, I ventured out to the Central London Knitting Morning in Foyles Bookshop. Rather than try and be adventurous and start the front of Marco, I took along my Wavy Gravy Scarf, as it was simple garter stitch, so I thought I could knit and talk – but some how I managed to still drop a stitch (when I only had 12 on the needle), and I have no idea where it went :(.

I recognised a few faces from their blogs, Acechick, Purlpirate and Purlyqueen, all who’s blogs i enjoy reading.

It was nice to finally talk about wool, patterns, and yarn stores without having to explain my weird obsession. I had a feeling there would be a mention of the drama over at UKHandknitter’s Yahoo Group (it’s been an interesting few days over there :D).

And finally, I got to see a sari silk Clapotis up close and in person, finally, I see the obsession! When I have seen photos of Clapotis on blogs – as it was being knit with circulars, I thought it had hundreds of stitches – but having seen the pattern today, I think was being stupid. I see myself investing in some more silk in the near future to start this pattern.

I have been so busy lately, I have not had time to update or knit
My major project is still Marco and I am still working my way through the back.

The Destiny Mohair I brought from Texere, that was meant to become a branching out scarf, is now the beginning of a Wavy Gravy scarf from SnB Nation. I do like this wool - it is am amazing colour and soft (for a mohair), however, there was no stitch defination in the pattern - hence why I decided to use a stocking stitch pattern.

Last night, I was busy reading on the UK Hand Knitters Boards about the campaign to boycott Benetton and Australian wool - I haven’t been able to watch the video yet (I have heard it is pretty bad), but it was an eye opener to this lil knitter.