princessdeia

I nicked this from Woolly Warbler

What new knitting techniques did I learn this year?
Thanks to Tracy (she sent me a sock starter kit as part of SP5), it has to be socks and knitting with DPN’s.

Which completed project from the last 12 months are you most proud of?
I think that would have to be Lucky - she became a labour of love, or the beaded bolero I made for my sister.

What was your biggest knitting disaster of the year?
Not sure really - I guess it would have to be Florence that I started knitting realised I was never going to wear it and also I think the pattern was a bit too much for me, I am useless at intarsia.

What knit craze grabbed you this year?
Without a doubt it would have to KSH - I love it, so far all I have used it for is scarves - but I think I may have to knit a Butterfly or Cami in the New Year.

And New Year Resolutions?
At the moment none - but it is an excuse to make a list

Happy New Year!

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.

So I have finally finished all the pieces for Spring Fling (and still have no batteries for my camera), they just need blocking and sewing together – I was looking at it today, I think I will look for a tie on the front rather than using a hook and eye. I figure two i-cords about a foot long each will do.

I still have loads of wool left from this project and some other colours (It was originally meant to be Florence – which was fair-isle), including a lovely denim blue colour – which I have decided will become a One Skein Wonder – well everyone else is making it – and it will be perfect for the summer.

I was going to turn the remainder of Spring Fling into another OSW – but I think will save it for another project. (I still have a list of orders from people.) I did see some wonderful colours for the Paton’s at Hobbycraft over the weekend – including a fab green – but I think I want to make a darker green top (to go with my combats) – I think I might make Glampyre’s Minisweater – aka the boobholder . I just need to find the exact shade.

I have done no more knitting to the Mystery Stole and the next clue is released tomorrow – I knew I was going to be behind – but not this behind Still it is fun to knit and I am enjoying the knit along – I love reading the message board each morning with my cup of coffee.

John Lewis and Liberty both have sales starting this week – and I am trying not to rush down there and creating a massive stash – but then I should start thinking about winter projects – especially as I was intending of knitting scarves as presents – oh I might as well pop down there and see what they have.

EDIT:I have just realised I can’t go into Central London this weekend as is it Live 8 – still at least I can stay in to Saturday relax, watch TV and of course knit

On Saturday, we went to Amy’s birthday bash - and I didn’t wear one of my creations. Sunday, was my sister’s birthday bash and yesterday we went out for a little shop and meal in Covent Garden, so all in all very little knitting was done this weekend.
I cast on, one of the sleeves for Spring Fling as a quick weekend project - and I managed to finish it pretty quickly.

I am knitting the main body of the cardigan all in one -on straight needles too, I really must investing in some Denise Inter-changables. The body is 200 stitches (for the small), leaving off the 2 stitches from the back and one from each of the front - that should be there for the seaming.

This close-up shows the pattern - the wool is Patons DK Cotton in Sky (2702).

Whilst looking at Florence today, I realised, I had no idea why I was knitting it I would never wear it - as nice as it is in the magazine - it is not me. So I began the awful task of frogging it – it took ages to do the Fair Isle border and I was left with small lengths of different coloured wool.

No sooner had Florence been frogged than Spring Fling had been cast on.

I was planning on swatching Florence last night, I had to practice the Fair Isle border first and then the actual lace pattern. Normally, I use tubular cast-on with K1, P1 rib, but as this pattern needs to cast on in one colour and then do the rib in the next, I thought I would experiment a little. I cast on half the number of stitches in an odd colour – then did the first two rows on the tubular in the dark blue and then finished the tubular in the lighter blue and finished off the rib light blue. Instead of swatching, I ended up knitting the whole sleeve.

The lace pattern is pretty easy – however, the pattern is just a graph – no written instructions – so I had to write them out myself… I’m not very good at following graphs other than for colour-work.

All of a sudden I have loads of Summer Knit Projects.
After finishing my sisters Beaded Bolero, I have been asked by my Mum and Dad to knit them both something in Cotton - it’s a good job I love this wool.

My summer list is now…

• Florence from Rowan Magazine 35.
• Cotton Jumper for Dad, I’m thinking Marco also from Rowan Magazine 35 - but I’m not sure about the strips.
• Cotton Cardigan for Mum - I think this will be a simple crew neck - she just needs to pick a colour.
• I still would really love to make Alice, but I think it will be Christmas by the time I have finished all them.

I finally signed up for Secret Pal 5 - I guess I should keep updating my journal so my pal can find out what I like.