Knit Two ... Crochet Two ...

Cindy from Rowan

Remember Cindy I knit last month. I just couldn't settle on a tie for her. I tried buttons and clips, knitted and crochet ties, even considered a zipper at one stage - nothing looked right, so put her away with a knit I designed from my Petals range.

They've both sat a while now and decided I wasn't going to let another day go by without finishing them off and giving them to the 2.5 year old tomorrow. She'll have grown out of them before she's had a chance to wear them at this rate!

I ended up crocheting a flower on each side of Cindy (along the same lines as the ruffles of the sleeves and bottom trim - why didn't I think of this before!) and added a tiny star bead to the centre of each flower, then crocheted a length of yarn as a tie to each side. Looks very cute. Did the same for the Petals cardigan - minus the flower, just adding a tiny heart shaped bead to finish it off.

At least they will be worn now and I can happily move on to another project.

Dreaming of Mermaid ....

Solveig Hisdal's colourful Garter Stitch Jacket


Has anyone else been following the Hanne Falkenberg Mermaid knitalong?

This is the Hanne Falkenberg Mermaid from her site.

The Witty Knitter has taken the plunge and knitting a similar garment, the Garter Stitch Jacket by Solveig Hisdal from the Norsk Strikkedesign book. I can't think of a reason why I should not have one too.

I'm going to knit mine along the lines of the Mermaid, with just three colours and a collar, not a button through front as the Solveig Hisdal. I've gone so far as to order the Shetland yarn. The middle ball Eesit will be the main colour, with the blue, Highland Mist, the larger panel colour, and the top ball Fog the fine stripe.

When will I begin? Excellent question, as after reading the pattern I don't think I'm going to rush into this knit. I think it may be a winter 2007 wardrobe addition.

Anyone else game?

Mini Clapotis ...

I've enjoyed my second Cup-of-Tea. Here she is drying, so will wear her tomorrow when I spend my day with the twins and my 2.5 year old princess.

The 2.5 year old makes me laugh, as any time I have worn a scarf she insists we are going skiing - I wish! How these two are related is beyond me, but perhaps one day she will let me in on the secret.

I should really knit up a Trinket for myself, as I've done three and given them away as gifts, but not sure I'm ready for those small needles and the KSH just yet.

One Word Thread ...

I saw this over at January One http://www.januaryone.com

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me - it can only be one word long. then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word about you.

She's finished her squares and they look fabulous. I love her squares, they are green, one of my favourite colours. Should I add another project to my list!

KNIT SOCK KNIT SWAP

Bev http://wbnm.typepad.com/pomogo and Scout http://www.scoutj.com have organised a Knit Sock Knit Swap and although I've not knitted socks in years and years, have been following lots of blogs that do and decided to join in some of the fun.

Beginning with a swap should be a good way of throwing myself in the deep end, but luckily the swap has two groups - I heart Algebra and Eff the Math.

I've chosen Eff the Math to begin and have been given my swap partner... Hi Swap Pal! ... Now I guess it's time to post some of the questionnaire answers to give her a clue as to what I like.

What are your favourite colours? Anything muted, not black.
Are you a new sock knitter? Yes, Yes, Yes!
Do you prefer solid or multicoloured yarn? Both.
What fibres do you prefer in sock yarn? Wool.
How do you usually carry/store small projects? Knitting tote.
What are your favourite sock knitting patterns? Don't have any, but I would think easy.
What are your favourite sock knitting techniques. Don't have any - as yet.
What new techniques would you like to try? Top down.
Do you prefer circulars or dpns? Both.
What yarn do you totally covet? There are so many!
Favourite kind of needles? Addi - circulars - but have plenty.
Do you have a favourite candy or mail-able snack? CHOCOLATE!
What's your favourite animal? Kitties
Do you have pets? Yes, one kitty - Chloe - 6 years.
If you were a colour what colour would you be? At the moment I'd be a luscious blue.
Describe your favourite shirt? White, french cotton, long sleeves, tailored, with tiny, tiny buttons.

This should be a lot of fun so dashing on over to my SP blog to see if she has her questionnaire up yet!

Another Cup-Of-Tea ....

Not quite, but almost.
I've done it again, started a new project before completing the one I'm working on. With only the top shaping of the sleeves to knit and zip to sew into the ribbed Noro, this new lot of Noro Silk Garden has been inching it's way out of the craft room for months now, so have given in today and started knitting a scarf.
A friend, who is at present blogless, calls her Clapotis a Cup-of-Tea, which actually does sound better and also eliminates the problem of pronouncing the word, Clapotis, which leads me to the new knit.
A mini version of the infamous Cup-ot-Tea - a scarf for moi.
I am imagining the scarf will only take 5 balls as I am almost through the second and do not want it too long. I've increased to approximately 50sts, using a 6mm Addi Turbo, so achieving a lightweight, loose knit.
The photo, taken tonight, does not capture the gorgeous colours of the SG #234. The blue is actually a denim blue, the reds a deep burgundy, with browns and a golden bronze. It will look fabulous worn with jeans and perfect timing as we head into our coldest month here in Sydney.
Last but not least, Chloe, who has not made an appearance on this blog for a while. Sits patiently waiting for me to go upstairs and settle so she will have a warm, cosy lap to sleep on. What a life!
Enjoy your weekend everyone.

To market, to market ...

I'm selling a number of items on eBay. Will be loading further items continually as I'm finally clearing out my stock room. Some will be new, some old, some older, and some even older - like yarns that are 20 years old.... yikes! They are still lovely, but I really do not think I am ever going to use them, so will just keep loading them to eBay until they are gone.

Books, I have so many and they are never used. I don't know how many I can actually part with, but I'm looking!

What are the rules for clothes in your wardrobe? If they haven't been worn in the past 12 months - out they go. Surely that doesn't apply to yarns and books!

For those who would like a peek ... http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZkniton

I may be a while .....

Honestly, I have been knitting!

Continuing on with the Noro #88 knit... I should have finished by now, but obviously I've been fluffing about. I'm about halfway to the underarm on the sleeves. The cuffs are knit in garter stitch, then back to the 2 x 2 rib for the remainder of the sleeves. The collar is garter stitch too, which looks quite good - not too bulky.

Not too sure if I should make the collar a little longer, so will wait until I've set in the sleeves and the zip to make the final decision. It will only be a matter of a few rows to complete and hoping that will be this week.

Impossible matching the stripes with the Noro, unless you are prepared to spend a lot of time, which I was not. Just want it done and wear it before the end of our very short winter, which is here at last. Lovely and cold, so wearing some older knits, which makes me realise I'm not knitting fast enough. Have a huge list of "wanna makes" and of course, finding it hard to stick to one project and get it finished. I wandered off in the middle of this knit to swatch for another jacket for the 2.5 year old, plus surfing the net and oggling all the fabulous yarn sites that we do not have downunder in Oz.

It's just too easy to hit that "ENTER" key and buy, buy, buy, to add to the ever mounting list of projects. Although I have made a rule this past year, not to purchase any yarn unless I have a specific garment in mind. When the yarn arrives, I print off a picture and details of the pattern and slip it into the bag of yarn (just so I don't forget what I originally purchased it for).

I should not feel too guilty, as there are so many others out there in cyber space who have the same problem. I luv the company, addicted knit bloggers!

I've been wearing my Clapotis quite a lot this past week and loving it. I've even had a compliment from a stranger on how nice it looked and they wished they could knit.

Well, blogger is being difficult and will not load a third picture. I've tried three times now and he said it was okay, but nothing has appeared on the site - might end up with three of the same photo in a few hours! Oh well, if they do suddenly appear, they are of the old knit I've been running around in lately.

For those of you in Oz, enjoy your Queen's birthday extended long weekend and for those that do not have that extra day, enjoy your week and will catch up again soon.