Blog Archive for the tag 'Ravelry'
February 18th 2011
Filed under General
When we went to New England back in June of 2008, in one of the yarn store I saw am amazing Clapotis shawl made in Blue Heron Rayon, I had never seen the attraction to the pattern until that point, but I brought the yarn and a few weeks later I had completed my brown shawl, which I affectionately call the Shreddies Shawl (I was knitting it around the same time as that advert first aired).
This shawl became a stable of my wardrobe, thrown on over jeans and a t-shirt during summer evenings out with friends, draped over my shoulders at a wedding and even wrapped snuggly around my neck under my coat. Every time I wore it, I always got comments about how lovely it was – annoyingly it got more complements from muggles than some of my lace shawls that took ages to make! The shawl and me were very happy for a whole summer, until my sister borrowed the shawl, now she wears it over a t-shirt whilst shopping, or wrapped around her neck and gets all the comments about the Shreddies Shawl.
Then last year at Ally Pally, Mum and I saw some more Blue Heron Rayon, I mentioned to my Mum that I had used it to knit the Shreddies Shawl, and how much I missed it, she offered to buy me another skein to knit another shawl, we saw a skein, that I was convinced was navy and Mum thought was black, but either way I knew it was perfect, reading the label we discoved it was Aubergine. Last month, I cast on the second Shreddies Shawl, whilst watching one disc of Battlerstar Galactica Season Two, I managed to complete all the increase rows and one repeat of the straight row and I realised how much I love this simple pattern.
In September of 2008, I saw another to-die-for-Clapotis at the iKnit day, this time knit in Knitwitches Silk Laceweight, so again I brought the yarn and according to my notes in Ravelry I cast on the project the next day. This time my love affair with the knitting didn’t last so long, I soon got bored of all the stocking stitch and wanting a challengle the project sat at the bottom of my knitting basket for months. Occasionaly I would look at it, knit a repeat or two and then get bored again.
So last month, when I fell in love with the Clapotis pattern, I figured it was time to re-connected with my old shawl. So I put the Shreddies Shawl on hold and started knitting. Much to my surprise the shawl was long enough to start the decreasing rows (why had I left it for so long?) So finally, 893 days after I cast on, I have finished my oldest WIP!
Confess how old is your oldest WIP? Do you plan on finishing it? Why have you left it so long?
June 19th 2009
Filed under General
In honour of my Ravel-versary this weekend, I am celebrating with a photo mosaic of some of the projects I class as “favourites” on Ravelry – enjoy!
- Craftyginger’s Best Friend Bag.
- Little Cotton Rabbit’s Bunnies – which have their very own little story
- PraticalPolly’s now infamous Wonder Woman Jumper
- Perrysburger66′s Heart Afghan.
- MissVicki’s Batgirl.
- Cable Bag – I love Farrah’s alternations (the adding of leather handles rather than knitted ones) makes this perfect knitted handbag – it has been in my queue for years.
- Janknit’s Cup Cozies – perfect little gifts.
- BatmanBaiter’s Batman Bag!
- Emms Buttony – I just adore this large “minstrel” buttons they change the look of this cardigan.
- Sandra’s Vintage Jaywalker socks – just fabulous!
- Bamboozelle – I love how this pattern does not look like it is knitted.
- Alice’s Fiori di Zucca Socks – from last years sock club, I think these socks were the reason I wanted to join this year.
- The Weekend Bag from Interweave, I have never felt comfortable working with colour but when I do this will be high on my list of things to knit!
- Neoknit’s Buttercup, like with the weekend bag, this is a future project once I have mastered intarsia.
- Mochi mochi – again the geek in me loved this pattern!
- Castlefiber’s Olympic Rings which she turned into this socks during the Ravelympics.
- Lisseut’s Space Invaders sweater.
- Yorkirgirls Razor Scarf.
- clickertyclick’s iPod Cozy Hoody.
- Little Cotton Rabbit’s Christmas Stocking
- Dorien’s Doughnut – this reminds me of The Simpsons.
- PurlsAndLace’s Lace Socks.
- Likelyarn’s Boston Red Sox!
- I have been a fan of the knitted babes for some time and I just love the hair on Zena’s version.
- Funkynitter’s Poker Sweater!
- Funkynitter’s Animal!
- rei’s Olive – a simple pattern with a great look.
- ax174′s Skein of Yarn Bag Charm – not knitted but a great idea.
- Pastel Cakes again by Little Cotton Rabbit
- Juncojunction’s Soma Cube – I used to have a wooden version of this when I was a child and I love the idea of a knitted version.
- Chatulim Hexagon Blanket.
- Knitted Easter Eggs – calorie free!
- Leigh Mason-Brown’s Granny Square Earrings
- Laura’s Audrey.
- Planetjune’s Lemmings – I spend hours playing this game at university and these brought back so many memories.
- Mia’s Ballerina.
October 6th 2008
Filed under General
It seems Autumn decided to arrive last week… Along with the falling leaves, grey skies and rain… Autumn seems to have helped my find my knitting mojo! Of course all knitters know October means Socktoberfest, as seeing as I have still to finish my first Ravelympics socks, what better time to catch up on some sock knitting.
The interesting addition to Socktoberfest this year has been Through the Loops‘ Mystery Sock. I have always wanted to join on of the mystery knit-alongs but always seem to discover them too late or fear that I will end up with a shawl I will never use… But a sock seems so simple.
Each Wednesday I new section of the pattern will be posted on Ravelry, so far only the cuff has been published, I think the pattern will be best worked on circular needles two socks at a time – but I am planning on knitting them on DPN’s - but still knitting both socks within the week.
Of course, the best thing about Autumn is all the new programmes returning to our screens – more reasons to stay at home and knit! So yesterday, whilst watching Fringe I cast-on and completed section one of the first sock.
August 8th 2008
Filed under General, Socks
For the past month the buzz on ravelry has been all about the Ravelympics… When, it was announced on the socktopus board that they were putting together a team, I had to join in, I have decided to compete in two events, the Shawl Relay and Sock Put.
So this afternoon, whilst the thousands of athletes walked into the Birds Nest, I began to knit, casting on one sock and the shawl – although I have to say casting on 5 stitches for the Forest Canopy Shawl was pretty easy.
July 2nd 2008
Filed under General
There seems to be a disease sweeping across Ravelry… it has become viral… knitters are admitting they follow the crowd! I am ashamed to admit of the top ten most popular projects on Ravelry I have made four of them (Clapotis is blocking as I type), I am planning on making another four… I guess this makes me a knitting follower.
Of course my next project had to be something viral – this beautiful pattern is just outside the top 20 (but I think it is slowly going to move up)… Introducing The Swallowtail Shawl!
I am following Minty from Pepperknit modifications to increase the size of the shawl… so far I have completed 19 repeats of the budding lace chart and I think I add another 5 more repeats to make it even larger!
June 26th 2008
Filed under General
I have just realised that last weekend marked my one year anniversary on Ravelry – I was a little shocked it had only been a year to be honest – it seems like so much longer!
I thought I would list some of the reasons I love Ravelry…
- I have finally managed to organise my stash, if I want to make some socks I can log on the Ravelry and look at all my sock yarn rather than have to hunt around the boxes – plus I can then see if someone else has used this yarn for a project and what it looks like knitted up.
- I have discovered new patterns – yes we all see the new Knitty patterns when they go online, but would I have discovered Le Slouch or the February Lady Sweater without it.
- Friends, the iKnit, Socktopod and Westenders groups make it so much easier to get out and knit with others.
- De-stashing, I have no idea how I would have found the use of all my yarn if it wasn’t for ravelry – I am assuming it would have involved hours of googling!
- Killing time reading the forums when I should be working (admit it you all do it).
Without a doubt I have become an organised knitter – now if only I would find a Ravelry for my paperwork 
June 4th 2008
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement, Travels
1. Stitch Markers, 2. Blue Heron Rayon,
3. Malabrigo Lace, 4. Wildfoote Sock Yarn
Well I am back, and look at the goodies I brought home with me… Stitch Markers, a cute sheep and lobster (to remind me of our time in Cape Cod), Rayon and Malabrigo to make shawls and some sock yarn to make Jason another pair of socks.
1. Superwash Merino Sock – Semi-Solid, 2. Socks that Rock – Mediumweight, 3. Snarky Design Sock,
4. Margo, 5. MadelineTosh Sock, 6. Wexford Merino Silk,
7. 900 MHz Merino, 8. S.A.S.S.Y, 9. Velocity by sKnitches
When I returned home as well as getting some sad news, I was greeted by a parcel containing a Dream Stash and I have to say it really is a Dream Stash – my favourite yarn changes everytime I look at them… I now I have to find some patterns to do this yarn justice.
May 13th 2008
Filed under General, Project Spectrum, Project Spectrum - Elements, Stash Enhancement
So after three months of stash-busting, I have finally brought some yarn! I read on Ravelry about Crafty Cottage stocking Peaches and Creme Cotton in the U.K. and I had to give it a try! Jo offers nearly all the shades of Peaches N Creme and a fantastic service, the yarn arrived the next day, there was a slight error with my order, but she quickly sorted out the problem and sent me an extra ball for compensation, now I can’t wait to get knitting.
Original my stash-busting plan was not to buy any yarn in February and March and to try and use up all my pink and orange yarns, as it turns out I ended up knitting a lot slower that I thought and as it ended up, I didn’t buy any yarn in April! I am currently working through my green and brown yarn as part of PS3-Earth.
Part of my plan was to also donate all the money I saved from buying yarn to charity, but I have decided to give the extra savings to Ravelry – even though Ravelraising is over, the amount of time I spent online it makes sense. Speaking of Ravelraising did you check out the list of prize-winners 
, I was completely shocked!
Finally yesterday morning, the first of my flower appeared on my Chilli Plant!
May 1st 2008
Filed under General
It seems that lately, I haven’t been able to find the time to knit let alone blog. I have had the Baudelaire socks on the needles for over a month now. I have been able to make a few smaller projects, – hot water bottle covers and a beret. I have added them to Ravelry but not updated them here, (my poor blog have been neglected). So the stash busting is going well, I now have more “used” yarn in my Stash on Ravelry than in my “stash” tab. There is still enough for 7 more pairs of socks, and several scarves/shawls. But the great thing is I am remembering why I brought this yarn in the first place and falling in love with it all over again.
February 4th 2008
Filed under General, Project Spectrum, Project Spectrum - Elements
For the last year, I have had limited space to store my knitting gear as a result I am a little obsessed with de-stashing, I have always know my stash isn’t huge but it is too big for me to handle, so over the last few weeks I have been joining several groups on Ravelry and even joined the Stashalong.
I guess for me, my stash has become a little overwhelming, I have all this lovely sock yarn and no idea which one to use first, or I find it hard to select a pattern every though I have loads in my queue. Project Spectrum has made this a little easier, as I am using my firey shades at the moment. As I needed to collect all my pink and orange yarn I decided to take advantage of this time to re-organise my stash.
Normally my stash is in three boxes one for sock yarn, one for wool and one for others (mainly silks at the moment), Now it is colour order (depending on the colours for each theme). Also I am taking advantage of Ravelry, now when I see a pattern I like as well as adding it to my queue, I am going to assign a yarn it. For patterns I like that I don’t have the yarn for, I will send them to the end of my queue, ensuring the next project in my queue is a stash busting one. As for all the yarn in my stash I have no idea what to do with, I have been using the pattern suggestion tab on the yarn page, to look for inspiration.
After the issue of TWIR last week, I tried to calculate how much money I have spend on yarn per year. Looking through my blog entries from last year on yarn I brought for myself (not including yarns for gifts or swaps), I estimate I spent about £250 ($475), I don’t think that is too awful, the yarn kept me amused for a the year and I have some wonderful projects to show for this money. However, seeing it in black and white has made me realise I do spend a lot on this little old hobby of mine and potential I could save some money this year by stash busting!
What am I going to do with this money?
The answer is simple I am going to use it to build a house!
Last week, I also read about Christy‘s project to get knitters to donate money to help build a house in Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans (the area worst effected by Hurricane Katrina). I remember taking up Yarn Harlot’s TSF challenge a few years ago and realising how much money I “waste” in a week on things, and it is the same with yarn I could easily spend £30 a month in my LYS and the yarn will still in stash until next year, so I am going to do something positive with it.
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