princessdeia

I seem to have lost the cable to upload my photos on to the web And I have loads of photos to post. I have taken some photos with my camera phone but they do no justice.

Finally, I have a finished project, NLLALM is finished – it is just waiting to be blocked – all I can say is never again over 160 stitches for the back and front, took forever. Although I am pleased with the rest it just took way too long.

Now I am concentrating on the KSH scarves. I am half way though Branching Out, I have done 20 repeats of the pattern, but as I am using 3mm needles it is still really short (about 30 inches), I think I will need to do about 50 to get it too the length I want. But I have loads of wool left.

Over the weekend as a quick project, I cast on an Airy Scarf (from Last minute Gifts) in Kidsilk Spray, for this version I am using the pinkie colours, and it looks amazing, there are four tones of pink in there, from an almost lilac colour to a bright pink, and totally unintentionally the colour weaves through the scarf like a wave.

Once again, I am using smaller needles than the pattern asked for, and I cast on extra stitches to make it wider, after knitting for 4 hours (the blur above the pattern says that was how long the designed knitted for), the scarf is 24 inches, I always intended to make it a longer scarf, but now I think I might just knit until I run out of wool.

EDIT:After I posted this morning the postman delievered some goodies… a postcard all the way from Vegas (baby), and a lime green jiffy envolpe, also from Vegas. Inside was this amazing package, the wrapping paper was hand-made. I didn’t want to open it as I would ruin her lovely work. But inside was Weekend Knitting : 50 Unique Projects and Ideas , which I have been lusting after forever. I spend all this lunch time planning what I am going to make.

My sister had a minor operation last week, so I spend the weekend looking after her, watching cheesy movies so of course it meant I had loads of time to knit… The problem at the moment is I have no attention span with projects, I seem to get bored with what I am knitting an want to start something new, it doesn’t help that I see my mini stash and think, I’d prefer to be knitting with HipKnit Silk rather than 4 ply cotton… and then I look longingly at my bag full of KSH.

I have finished one sleeve on NLLALM and am about two-third into the second sleeve, however boredom set in yesterday, so I finally cast on my HipKnit Silk “summer top” obviously here in London the sun has stopped shining when I decided to cast it on. However, I am hoping to wear it in the evenings or something.

Originally, I planned to make Arabella from Rowan 35, with a scalloped edge, but decided to do the whole thing in a chevron pattern and it looks amazing thee three tones in the wool added to the simple pattern works so well – I love this wool – I want to buy more… I know it will be perfect for a OSW or even a mini clapotis.

I am sad to say the progress of the Christmas KSH is going extremely slowly, I have been inspired by all you knitters in blogland. As Lolly pointed out KSH is the hip wool to be knitting with – I love her Cami & Cowl and I have seen several Butterfly’s out there that look amazing, I am not sure if I have the patience to knit a whole top in this wool, I am still not use to it

With my birthday coming up soon, I have been busy hunting around online for presents to add to my wishlists. As soon, as I saw iDog, I had to have him, and then I saw these, now I want a little iDog and knit him a little hat & scarf for the winter.

I have noticed a few questions have been added to the Secret Pal Questionaire…. so I am going to update my answers

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
We don’t get Red Heart or Lion Brand in the UK, so I can’t really comment on them - I have no objections to acrylic for certian projects.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Crochet, a bit - but I haven’t done any recently.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I started when I was a kid (about 9), did a little during High School and College to relax - but started up again last year.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes.

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Anything berry-like, I love Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, I only like British Chocolate - but I love Jelly Belly and Twizzlers.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Card-Making. Although, I haven’t had the time recently.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (If your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Mainly alternative, old school Britpop (Blur, Stone Roses, Verve).
Current tunes on my iPod, are Weezer, Funeral for a Friend, Interpol and Nine Black Alps.
Yes - I can play MP3s.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or–do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I love Blue, but am planning to knit a lot of greens and purples. I’m not really keen on Oranges and Yellows.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Been with my b/f for 6 years - no children or pets.

12. What are your life dreams? (Really stretching it here, I know)
I guess to be a success at my business and hopefully to get married in the next few years.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Over the summer it was cotton, now it is Rowan’s KSH.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
None.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
KSH Scarves - getting ready for Xmas

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I mainly knit cardigans and scarves - I love scarves as they are quick. I am getting to grips with socks.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Cotton Sweater for my Dad, Cardigan for my Mum, Branching Out Scarf.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
Hate them.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I am moving towards circular needles - as I hate seaming.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Aluminum, I find plastic needles too light and have never tried knitting with bamboo.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yes

22. How did you learn to knit?
My mum taught me when I was a kid, then I have picked up tips from books and recently online.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 3 months.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Marvin the Marshin, Batman oh and I love the Disney/Pixar films.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I love summer, but also Halloween as it’s my birthday.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Batgirl and Birds of Prey Comics.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None - I tend to just buy magazines when I am in the store browsing.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Easy Knitted Accessories.
New Knits: 20 Knitting Projects with a Contemporary Twist.
Weekend Knitting : 50 Unique Projects and Ideas .

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven’t bought for one reason or another??
No

30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
Size 7 shoes (oh big feet) and I love self-patterning sock wool.

Since I started knitting again, I have been really strict on myself - so that I won’t develop and stash and have hundreds of planned projects (I just don’t have the space), however, slowly and shortly I have a stash and loads of planned projects, yesterday I made a list (oh I love making lists).

1. NLLALM Sweater.
2. Twin Set - Cardigan.
3. Branching Out Scarf.
4. Harry Potter Scarf.
5. Maryella II.
6. MiniSweater II.
7. Hip Silk Vest.
8. 10 Xmas Scarves.
9. Sweater with Mohair Strips (Vintage Knits).
10. Leaf Jumper (Loop-d-Loop).

And now, I have been looking at patterns online, the new knitty is out and I have fallen in love with Arisaig, Blackberry and Flora, lets not forget Melissa’s new sweater in Magknits.

I think I will be knitting Winter projects until next summer.

The Kidsilk Haze I got from Tracy in my final Secret Pal present, is prefect for branching out, after starting my own version over the weekend I decided I had to make more as Christmas Presents, when I used the wool before, I found it really awakward to knit with (it is just too thin), but I think now as a slightly more experienced knitted I am finding it a little easier.

So armed with a plan I went to John Lewis in Kingston on Saturday and brought 10 balls of Kidsilk wool ready to make scarves. I brought 6 balls of the Haze – all in neutral colours and then 3 balls of the Kidsilk Spray which I think will look amazing as Airy Scarves from Last Minute Gifts (but I think I will make longer versions). Finally, I had to get some of the Kidsilk Night – I am unsure what to do with this, I am hunting around online for a nice lacy pattern, that I can turn into a scarf.

Starting today, I am aiming to complete a list of 10 things over the next 101 days – all designed to stop my putting off all the things I should be doing, and encouraging actually live my life, most of it is irrelevant to my knitting blog – however, I will trying to knit 10 scarves as Christmas presents and be regularly posting photos in the gallery (although I still haven’t got the batteries for my camera).

In knitting related news, I finished the sweater part of my mum’s twin set – both she and I are pleased with the finished result, it just needs blocking. The NLLALM sweater is slowly coming along – I keep getting distracted by other projects, currently it is my Harry Potter scarf. I am itching to start on my Branching Out as well :(. I am being to think this sweater will never be finished.