princessdeia

October 4th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

Yesterday, I received my second parcel from my SP – she is so organised, I am always amazed how each SP present is so perfect – she gave me a mini calculator it put in my knit kit, which is something I could really do with, in fact I started using it last night.

As the weather is so unpredictable in London at the moment, I figured it was ideal time to knit another shrug. I was going to knit another OSW, I was looking in my mini stash and found the Rowanspun DK that Tracy got me in the last round of Secret Pal, that I earmarked for a mini-sweater. The wool is thinner than the pattern called for so I had to rework the pattern a little (hence using the calculator).

Using Jason as my swift I tried to roll the two hanks into balls, however, it all went terrible pear-shaped and we ended up with a massive nest – that somehow Jason managed to get into a big ball and a little baby ball – he is my hero. Hopefully, I will have this little baby knitted up ready to wear over the weekend.

Which will be amazing as my obsession with not complete projects is continuing, I still haven’t finished branching out, even though it is such a simple lace pattern to knit, I am getting so carried away with other projects. I just love this colour, it is going to look so perfect with both my autumn jackets (one is grey the other navy).

I am still undecided if I will knit several branching out’s for gifts, after hunting around online, I found Wendy Knits’ list of lace scarves, and fell in love with Lorrie’s Fishtail Lace Scarf, Little Leaf Scarf and the Simple Knitted Lace Scarf.

With the second ball of Kidsilk Spray, I have I decided to try Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf, again, I dropped the needle size down to 3.75mm and I am really pleased with the results, this pattern is so simple and looks so affective, I think I might have to knit one of these for myself.

September 27th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps, Sweaters

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.

September 19th 2005
Filed under General, Sweaters

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.

September 8th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

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.

September 5th 2005
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement, Swaps

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.

August 22nd 2005
Filed under General, Swaps, Sweaters

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.

August 16th 2005
Filed under General, Sweaters

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.

August 10th 2005
Filed under Finished Projects 2005

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.

July 8th 2005
Filed under Finished Projects 2005, Sweaters

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.

June 30th 2005
Filed under General, Sweaters

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