princessdeia

This amazing postcard arrived on my doorstep this morning, the envelope was correctly addressed, the correct stamp for airmail and the postmark is from the 19th August, but it still took nearly two months to get here – I am sure it has an amazing tale to tell. It was my final postcard from the Project Spectrum Postcard Swap, created by Jody and Javajem for August, the Neutral month.

I have been extremely busy at work over the last few weeks (hence the lack of updates), the top secret project we were working on over the summer is still on-going and hopefully, I can post some very exciting news soon!

To make matter worse, I am still working on my grey dress, and it is going very slowly 228 stitches per row. Last night, I was watching a movie and after 2 hours of knitting it didn’t seem to grow at all.

Tags: ATC, Grey Dress, Project Spectrum

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Yarn: Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran purple 10.
Pattern: Basketweave Stitch.
Needles: 6 mm.
Notes: The pattern is really simple so there is not a lot to say.
The yarn is amazing, it is a flat woven ribbon yarn (like Rowan’s Cotton Tape or Sirdar’s Duet), but instead of being cotton or nylon it is made up of merino wool, microfibre and cashmere, the result is an soft chunky yarn.

I think it will be lovely used with another yarn, I am thinking of using it instead of the chenille on the Cotton Jacket with Chenille edging, from Vintage Knits (yes I am planning on making yet another project from this book).

Tags: Finished Project, Project Spectrum

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For the next week, Jason and I are dog-sitting for his parents. Late last night in a middle of an amazing thunder storm we loaded up the car and headed up to Stevenage.

In amongst the packing, are the final WIPs for me to finish from Project Spectrum. My Purple scarf from July, which I decided I hated the pattern this morning and frogged after taking this photo – I think I will do a simple basket weave instead.

Also the brown sweater with mohair stripes, from August, this is nearly ready and I only have to start the second sleeve.

Finally, thank you for all the lovely comments on my finished items, after months of procrastinating, I am on a bit of a roll now and I intend to keep it up. I don’t think I will let my UFO’s get like that again.

Tags: Mohair Striped, Project Spectrum, Sweaters

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Yarn: Texere’s Good Fortune Cotton in Wine (6) and Rowan’s Cotton Glace in Mystic (808).
Pattern: Made up.
Needles: 3.25 mm circulars and straights.
Notes: I started with 2.5 inches of 1×1 rib, then decreased stitches at each end and increased stitches to form an hour glass shape. I bound off the base of the neckline just after shaping the armholes, to create a deep round neck. The arms are simple cap sleeves with raglan decreases.

Tags: Finished Project, Project Spectrum, Striped Sweater

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I am having a very busy weekend in between a quick day trip to Le Touquet for a booze cruise/shopping trip, and a visit to Birmingham for a trade show, I have just got time to start my clean sweep for Project Spectrum.

Tools
My faithful Chibi – which holds all my needles.
A crochet hook.
A kilt pin brooch.
Various buttons.

To beginning, I am rewinding the calander to March and my Pink/Red projects. To complete, (from the bottom of the photo).

1. I have my Striped Sweater, which I cast on just in March and have slowly been knitting over the last few months.
2. Then, my Mum’s Twin Set cardigan which was started long before PS (last autumn), but I was planning on finishing it in March (I am awful I know).
3. Fast forward to June, when I was watching the World Cup and meant to be knitting a cardigan, this has been pushed to the bottom of my knitting bag, as I am so embarassed that I failed the challenge.
4. The Circular Shrug, I was unsure if this colour was more green or blue and unsure when I should be knitting it – so it was forgotten.
Also, am currently blocking my Stash Busting Bag and Cleo Clutch.

Tags: Felted Bags, Project Spectrum, Striped Sweater, Sweaters, Twin Set, World Cup KAL

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I can’t believe the six month of Project Spectrum are finally over, it has been a whirlwind of colour. Unlike a normal knit-along, this scheme spilled over into all accepts of crafting and even everyday life. You just have to look at the Flickr group to see how people were inspired by colour all over the place.

One of the add joys of this project has been the Postcard Swap over the last six months I have been introduced to six new bloggers, have been impressed with the cards they have send me which, has lead me to be embarrassed with the poor quality of cards I have sent them. At the moment, my final card is somewhere over the Atlantic, winging it’s way Jody at Java Jem probably waving hello as it passed the card she sent me.

September, has become left-over month for Project Spectrum a time to finish up projects from previous months, this is going to be great for me, really all I finished as part of the project was my pink capelet, the two tone pink socks and green surprise socks for my sister’s birthday.

As I didn’t really make anything in April – Yellow and Orange aren’t really my colours, so it was easy to finish my pink projects from March. I just managed to finish the socks in May –on the morning of my sister’s birthday.

My list of unfinished objects is a lot longer, in June, I tied in the World Cup KAL with PS, to make a blue cardigan – which is almost finished. From July, I have a half finished Purple scarf and finally, my Brown mohair sweater from this month.

I believe Lolly is thinking of repeating this Project next year, I would strongly recommend it to all crafters, it has made me more aware of colour, I see it everywhere, in nature, whilst crafting, and even in simple things like a cup or hotel room. If you still need convincing about this check out the Flickr group it has become a place for inspiration, seeing new techniques and to see new knitting patterns (I love seeing peoples FOs).

Tags: Project Spectrum

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As sun seems to have gone on holiday and the shops are full of autumn clothes , I have put together a list of things I have seen in shops, that I fancy knitting.

1. Even though, I never got around to making my crochet dress this summer, I am thinking about a chunky knitted dress.
2. A simple stripe cardigan (I’m not sure what colours I will make this in).
3. Deep V-neck lurex top.
4. a cable hoodie – although, I think I will make Central Park Hoodie.

I haven’t even been to Gap lately and I always love their winter knits – I will be busy.

As well as planning some knits, I have been busy knitting the mohair stripe sweater, I am knitting this with 4.5mm circular needles so it is knitting up very quickly after about a week, I have knitted over 12 inches of the body, and am about to start shaping the armholes.

I have almost finished my other Striped Sweater (that I started back in May), and I have discovered a problem with knitting stripes, weaving in the ends.

As much as I love knitting, I hate seaming, which is why I love knitting on the round – sewing with always come back to haunt me last night I spend several hours weaving in the ends and I am still no where near finished.

Tags: Grey Dress, Mohair Striped, planning, Project Spectrum, Striped Sweater, Sweaters

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Yesterday started off well, I received a parcel from my Secret Pal – unfortunately the postmark was smugged so I have no idea where she lives, her address is on the back but I don’t recognise the postcode – I will have to google it to find out.

She got me New Knits, this book has been on my wish list for over a year, I always over look it buying the newest knitting book. It’s a great book to put on the coffee table to let non-knitters flick through to show them knitting is more than just chunky scarves and baggy jumpers. In fact my sister as already requested the boudoir slippers.

Also, the perfect t-shirt for my blog – I am thinking of changing the colours to pink to match this shirt – Miss Golightly looking fabulous as always. And an assortment of sweets, I really need to rent some DVD’s to eat all these snacks.

After the excitement of opening presents, Jason and I met his mum and nephew at the Science Museum for a quick educational and fun day out, I hadn’t been there for a few years and it has been brought up to date with exhibits on DNA and global warming.

After Lunch we had time for a quick trip to the Natural History Museum, to see the dinosaurs - just enough time to take some photos. I pass this building numerous times and I never really noticed it, now it become my favourite building in London, it has some amazing architecture, hidden monkey, dinosaur and fish gargoyles around the doorways and windows. 

Tags: Project Spectrum, Swaps

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As I have been concentrating on OSSP, I seem to have neglected Project Spectrum, I received this lovely card for Claudia over the weekend, hidden in the mosaic is eye which has been staring back whilst I type this.

I also invested in some Double Top Cotton in brown, from Texere. Which I am going to turn into the mohair stripe sweater from Vintage Knits. I have some left over Destiny Mohair (also from Texere), from my Wavy Gravy Scarf I made last year. 

Now I have a little confession – even since I started knitting again, and invested in Stitch ‘n’ Bitch, I have thought about trying some of the techniques like kool aid dying and felting – but have never actually ventured outside of my normal knitting.

Last month, I decided to dive in and make a felted stash-busting bag and also the felted clutch from One Skein. This is the stash-busting bag – pre-felt and my Clutch is blocking at the moment, I just need to add some crocheted flowers.

Tags: Felted Bags, Mohair Striped, Project Spectrum, Sweaters

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A little late (but then I was also a little late at sending out my card), my June postcard from Lauren at Life’s Just Ducky, she include a lovely message “may you tiara always sparkle” which brought a smile to my face as I have been practicing wearing my tiara for the wedding (I know it is 9 months away), but I am trying to get use to it.

With my top secret projects still continuing and me running around, I have missed knitting, so I decided start a mini project that I can carry around in my bag. This purple skinny scarf was inspired by Russell Brand (I have been watching a lot of Big Brother’s Big Mouth). The yarn is Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran from my recent stash enhancement.

I was going to try finishing all my old project spectrum projects this month, and then try and get a head start on my August project (I am still unsure what I am going to make), but lolly has suggested a Clean Sweep month for September, so I guess I can get a real head start on my neutral project.

Tags: ATC, Project Spectrum, scarf, WIP

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