princessdeia

October 25th 2007
Filed under General, Hats

A few years ago I made my sister a simple scarf in KSH, she wore this scarf on her vacation with her friend Janice, the warmth of the scarf became the subject of numerous conversation on their cold city break. That Christmas, I made them both Fishtail Scarves in KSH. Now every year, I try and make a warm, practical scarf for Janice.

For a while now I knew I was going to make an Entrelac Scarf, and a little investigating and I found the right yarn Wendy Fusion. I have seen a few version of entrelac projects using this yarn in Raverly and discovered it was 50% wool and 50% acrylic (so was washable). I ordered the yarn online, my hope was for grey tones, and White Pepper seemed to fit the bill – even them name suggests a grey-ish colorway.

I guess that is the problem with buying yarn online, because when the yarn arrived there was no grey, a lot of bright blue, a bit of white and a pale blue colour, but I stuck with it and began to knit. I showed the scarf to my sister on Wednesday, to get her opinion and she concluded the colours where not very Janice, but that she loved it.

So now the scarf is going to become an early Christmas present for my sister and I have to rethink Janice present. Can I find the perfect yarn? Will I be able to finish the scarf by early November? Should I opt for a simple chunky scarf on big needles? So many questions.

Whilst trying to think for an answer, I decided to swatch the Jasper yarn, Andrea sent me, I am in love with this yarn, it is the softest yarn I have every knitted with, quickly I had frogged the swatch and cast on yet another new project just to work with this yarn.

August 15th 2007
Filed under Finished Projects 2007

Yarn: Araucania Pomaire 6 (Blue) & 10 (Green).
Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts .
Needles: 6 mm.
Notes: As I was using thicker yarn, I adjusted the pattern to make the scarf the same width, I had 36 stitches and not 48.

July 18th 2006
Filed under General, Project Spectrum

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.

December 30th 2005
Filed under Finished Projects 2005, General

Now that Christmas is over, I can get on and post all my finished projects from the last month. All the recipients have received their gifts and those I have seen since Christmas have been wearing their scarves to beat this chill that is creeping in over London.

Branching Out

Yarn: KidSilk Haze in Liqueur and Meadow.
Pattern: Braching Out from Knitty, Spring 2005.
Needles: 3.75mm.
Notes: There is nothing to more to say about this pattern, I love it, everyone in blogland loves it and seems to be knitting it.

Fishtail Lace Scarf

Yarn: KidSilk Haze in Grace and Pearl.
Pattern: Fishtail Lace Scarf (pdf file).
Needles: 3.25mm.
Notes: KSH leans itself extremely well to any lace pattern, I opted to do some simple patterns just to save time – but it works so well (Take Airy Scarf and simple easy pattern that knits up in hours and looks so good). This is one of those easy patterns – great for a first time lace project as it really is only four stitches, K, P, YO and sl1-k2tog-psso.

Little Leaf Scarf

Yarn: KidSilk Haze in Smoke and Drab.
Pattern: Little Leaf Scarf .
Needles: 3.25mm.
Notes: Again this is another fantastically easy pattern, four simple rows repeated numerous times (I think I did over 100 repeats on this pattern). I left off the garter borders – once pressed the edges did not curl and it looked lacier without the edging.

Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf

Yarn: KidSilk Spray in Pebble and KidSilk Night in Starry Night.
Pattern: Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf .
Needles: 3.25mm and 4mm.
Notes: I love this pattern on smaller needles using variegated yarn the pattern looks amazing, using bigger needles it becomes an interesting lacy pattern.

November 23rd 2005
Filed under General

My gallant attempt to have my Harry Potter scarf completed to co-inside with the releases of Goblet of Fire – failed miserably – hopefully, I can have it done by the released of the film of DVD

My progress with the Xmas Scarves is going a little better, I have now completed four scarves – two fishtail scarves, one Multidirectional Diagonal and one Little Leaf Scarf (I will post photos soon). However, I think I am stagnating a little (as well as constantly worrying that I am running out of knitting days), however to remedy this I have joined Who Wouldn’t Love a Handknitted Gift? Knit Along to get some encouragement and see all the lovely gift fellow knitters are making.

November 12th 2005
Filed under Finished Projects 2005

Yarn: KidSilk Haze in Trance.
Pattern: Braching Out from Knitty, Spring 2005.
Needles: 3.75mm.
Notes: I don’t think there is any reason to talk about this pattern – everyone knows it is amazing (if you haven’t made this scarf to it now!), the lace is so easy and mesmerizing you learn the 10 rows so quickly, I had orginailly swatched this pattern in cotton and it looks amazing, but I love the look of the lace in KSH.

November 12th 2005
Filed under Swaps

For personal reason, Jason and I have been spending a lot of time with his parents in Stevenage, whenever I come back home I find a little parcel waiting for me from my Secret Pal, it is so lovely. I am always pleasant surprised with my presents seeing what little bit of information they have take from my questionnaire and what they have done with it. Like this funky little baby tee to add to my increasing collection. I love this Fat Boy logo – it reminds me of the Big Boy spaceship in Austin Powers (groovy baby).

The logo on the bottom of the t-shirt says UNLV – could this be a clue to my SP’s identity – I know they live in Las Vegas, but are they a student or a lecturer there, oh I need Grissom to help me out with this one I think.

In knitting news, I have finished three of the Xmas scarves, unfortunately, I have decided I love the multi-directional scarf too much to give up – it looks amazing with my new jacket – I had to buy more wool to make another one for me

November 9th 2005
Filed under General, Swaps

So much has happened lately – but rather then post a long entry, I thought I would post a photography entry of the two weeks. Firstly, it was my birthday .

My sister made me this amazing birthday cake – which was in fact 16 little cupcakes, spelling out “HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEâ€?

It was also Halloween, so another part of my present was this amazing bouquet complete with an evil little witch.

None of my presents where knitting related (apart from a Knit Pixie voucher from my Secret Pal), I did get two jackets – so plenty of opportunities to knit yet more scarves. But it will have to be way after Christmas as the Xmas scarves are going very slowly.

As well as my voucher my Secret Pal, sent be this box fully of little yarn sample. There are so many yarns in here, we can’t get in the UK and more I have never heard of. I think I will try and turn them into a leftovers sweater. My favourites so far are…

Schoeller Stahl Merino Stretch.
Lily Chin Signature Collection Tribeca.
Lanaknits.com’s Hemp for Knitting.

Finally, some knitting news.

This is the third of the ten scarves, I have to knit for Xmas, it is using Fishtail Lace Scarf pattern in the light pink KSH, I think this pattern looks great in the lighter colours and I can’t wait to see it blocked (I haven’t really been doing gauge squares with these scarves).

October 24th 2005
Filed under General

My knitting is going even slower, well the knitting is going well but the blocking has a lot to be desired. I have finished my third Xmas present scarf, and started the forth last night.

On Saturday, Jason and I headed out to Clapham Common hoping we could find them however didn’t have any luck. A lot of fun was had by all but most importantly, I met a fellow knitter Pineapple, who had the forward thinking to bring her knitting to the pub.

October 19th 2005
Filed under Swaps, Sweaters

Things have been so busy around here at the moment – I would say in London, but I have been all over the ‘shires over the last few days. Needless to say, I never made it to Ally Pally this weekend, having read blog entries the exhibition, I am a little jealous, but there is always next year. Plus I am going to treat myself to some wool this week. I have yet to order the extra wool I need for Mini-sweater II, MCA Direct have some in stock so I will be placing an order today and having seen all the lovely socks being knitted as part of Socktober, and I think I will invest in some extra sock wool.

Knitting has been going slowly, but I have finally managed to finish off numerous projects that have been 95% complete, NLLALM is still waiting to be blocked. I just need to weave the ends into Branching Out and then block her – same with the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. I have also started yet another Xmas Scarf (number three), I am using the Fishtail Lace Scarf I found online, it is yet another simple pattern that works so well.

I am extremely unorganised this week and the only thing that has kept me sane as I travel is Silent Bob Speaks, the wonderful book I got from SP6. I have to say I am always so amazed when I get presents from Secret Pals, I have been so lucky in both rounds; my pals seem to get into my brain and no just what I want, but also go above and beyond the call of duty. It is the simple things but they seem to be the right simple things. I am a sucker for a wrapping paper, don’t know why but it shows thought I guess, when I got my finally present from Tracy, she had wrapped all the little presents in Simpson wrapping paper, which is so “meâ€? I don’t know how she knew that I was a fan of the little yellow family but she did. All of my presents this round have been superbly wrapped – even the jiffy bags have matched. And yet again she is going beyond the call of duty, the Kevin Smith book has been on my Amazon Wishlist most this year, I love Smith, enjoy watching his films, collect all the comics he has written and recent am obsessed with this blog, whenever I am in the book shop, I end up buying yet another knitting book (knitting is my greatest obsession), so the book has started on my list, so when it arrived I was over the moon, but my SP didn’t just order the book straight from Amazon, no they went to View Askew and brought me a signed copy – I am so touched, this is now one of my favourite possessions.