Davis Cup Tennis

This is where I'll spend most of Saturday http://www.daviscup.com/ties/tie.asp?tie=100006606 Watching Australia and Argentina in what is expected to be a smashing game. Lleyton Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs are a great pair to give the Agentinians a good workout on the court. We'll be guests at the event, everything catered for, seating arranged, etc. Always enjoyable being pampered from 10am 'till it's time to go home. More on the tennis at a later date!

Mystery Corner ...

... some of next years projects.

What they will be is still a mystery, but I love the colours... and that's a good beginning.

The top left corner is filled with bag kits from In The Bag Handknits. I purchased these earlier this year as gifts and some for myself. Pop on over to the site and take a look at these designer styled, handknitted bags. They are so simple to knit and put together.

I'm off to carry on with Not York.

Warm and Fuzzy ...

...another little corner

Wasting time on Knit Avenue...

Love my new wool room

For visitors to Knit Avenue who know me, I've finally found cube storage I've been searching for, and doesn't it look great! Amazing the amount of yarn these little cubes will hold. I'm still emptying cartons of yarn and there is still room for more yarn - opps I mean, to move, to move! I've had to move the library into another room, but that's okay - at least I can get into the wool room now and actually sit down and work.

The cartons holding my Addi collection don't look too good, but as soon as I get a chance to get to Lincraft I'll be bringing home a few little baskets lined with fabric to do these beauties justice. If they don't stock them still, I'll just purchase a couple of baskets and sew the linings myself.

Pretty, pretty, pretty! (oh, and thank you dear husband for putting them together for me xx)

I've not worked any further on Wildfell. I'm having problems with the tension. When swatching I actually achieved the tension required, but the knitting is still looking very flat (as you can see from the previous photo). I never have problems with tension, so finding this a nuisance, as I wanted to complete this and the Not York this winter.

A friend who is also knitting Wildfell has swapped over to straights (I was knitting on circulars), but that hasn't made a difference to mine. Will have to go back to the drawing board on this one, as it's a lot of knitting with expensive yarn and I want it to be right, otherwise I will not wear it. This knit is now definitely a winter 06 garment. The important factor here is, I have not lost interest, I still love the yarn and style, so anxious to sort out the problem and complete it.

Not York... but still a Noro.

Not York, Noro Shinano

I wasn't able to get a good photo, lighting problems. The previous photo of the Shinano is the true colourway. It's moving along, knitting up quickly, looking and feeling great. I've just about reached the underarm, so will not post any more photos until the garment is completed.

.. not York, but still a Noro.

Noro Knits - Jane Ellison ... not York

This is the other knit I'm working on. Shinano, colour 12. It's gorgeous too. This one is for my DH. I was feeling so guilty not having made him anything for at least 2 years. I'm going to swap between ... not York and Wildfell. I'd like to finish this one within a couple of weeks, so as he can get some wear out of it. Initially it was going to be York, but DH said he'd prefer a v-neck sweater. I'll knit it similar to the Ripley or Webster's neck line, in a double rib throughout, with set in sleeves.

The Shinano is a mix of wool and silk and is also great to knit with. I tried the bamboo needles once again with this yarn and found them slow and sluggish to use. I changed to my Addi Turbos and have already done about 15 rows. I've used the professional cast on method with this double rib, so as not to have a loose sweater bottom with wear. I would imagine that this yarn will give with time, especially knit in a double rib, so covering that problem before it begins.

I love the colourway of the Noro yarns. They are such an easy knit with spectacular results. I've knit lots of fair isle over the years, as I love colour combination, but now that Noro is here with their multitude of colour combinations and textures, I think the fair isle - for me anyway - will take a back seat for a while.

I like this particular colourway as it's not too bright and will go with most things DH has, so he'll not have to worry too much what he wears with it. Just walk in throw on a pair of pants or jeans and the Noro over the top. Tooo easy!!

I've actually purchased more of this yarn from someone who was selling it privately, so have a good stash for a couple of kids knits now too.

As they say, "so much yarn, so little time".

... a turbo trip down Knit Avenue

Wildfell from Simply Noro - Jane Ellison

This is one of the Noro knits I'm working on at the moment. It's actually for ME! I've just completed one skein of the Kochoran - combination wool, silk and angora, and it's gorgeous. The colour is 31, the same as in the book, although I've not photographed it very well, it is the same.

In the Introduction of her book Jane Ellison says to settle into a favourite comfy chair, with your chosen yarn and bamboo needles. I tried bamboo needles with this yarn and it's slow. I'm not a bamboo fan, I'm a turbo girl, but thought I'd give them a whirl as suggested.

I can see this knit is going to be one of my favourites. I'll unfortunately not get it completed to wear this winter, but will have the pleasure of wrapping myself in it next winter, or, if I'm lucky enough to score a trip to a cooler climate later in the year, Wildfell will be my companion.