Bringing in the New Year

I spent Christmas with my parents and siblings in the UK and we had a great time. It was spent eating and drinking and reminiscing and catching up on the latest family gossip and news.

My sisters and brother are fab. One sister is married (to a fabulous guy), another is getting engaged next year (which we spent oodles of time talking about!) and the third is looking for love. My brother is sweet and caring and spent time telling us all how he would need to have a ‘chat’ with my sister’s fiance-to-be!

To close 2011, here are a few shots of the yarny goodness my sister got me for Christmas.

And it all came in a lovely Ted Baker bag which will be used for knitting projects!!

It was great being back with the family. But I have to say I’m glad to be home. I’ve spent the last few days pulling out the staircase in the living room as we have two and this one is surplus to needs. It will open up the living room dramatically and I can start painting and reorganising and sorting out what should go where. I may even reclaim a crafting area!!

So here’s to a bright, new, happy, healthy 2012!

2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,400 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

FO: Booties for a Baby

Last year I met a lovely young lady through a friend and she is also a ‘newbie’ to Germany. When I met, she’d just had a little boy and he was a few months old… well, yseterday he turned 1.

Vincent is adorable. And he’s just learning to walk.

I’ve wanted to make him something knitted for a while now, but my friend is a knitter herself and the family have all knitted something big or small for Vincent. But, knowing it was his birthday, and that Winter is here, I thought he could use some extra booties. You can’t have enough socks or booties at that age!

Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Ecologico in Cream
Pattern: Simple Shoes by Martha McQuade
Needles: 6mm KnitPicks Circular
Modifications/Notes: I chose a Bulky yarn so that these would be a little bigger. Cast on 8 sts and work pattern as set. Only change is picking up 8 sts along bottom edge and then on 4th knit round decrease 2 sts at each 8st end. Work the rest of the pattern as is.

These were so quick and easy to knit. It took me a couple of hours with a few tea breaks!! I will definitely make them again.

We’re visiting later today so I’ll try and snap some pics of Vincent wearing the booties. Hopefully they’ll fit as well!

Lazy Sunday..

I have spent today doing absolutely nothing important. And I mean absolutely nothing. I have spent the WHOLE day in my PJ’s and in front of the TV catching up on some of my favourite shows and knitting.

We did do some cooking, if you can call filling puff pastry with a little salami, ham and cheese and baking it in the oven, cooking.

Nice and simple, and oh-so-tasty!! Just perfect for a simple lunch.

As for the knitting, well, I finally seamed the shoulders for my Montview and picked up all those sts for the button band and collar. I’m struggling finding fasteners for this, so I may just add buttonholes and pick out some lovely buttons. If I have any gapping, I can fix it with some backing, I’m sure.

And I bet you’re thinking ‘Well, if the Montview hasn’t been giving you some knitting love, what have you been working on??’

About a week ago (aropund the same time I started blocking my Montview) I received a wonderful pattern book. Coastal Knits by Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig. I flicked through it a few times and started planning and plotting about what I was going to make next (aka avoiding Christmas knitting) and decided that I wanted, no NEEDED, a Rocky Coast Cardigan for myself. And, seeing as Montview was blocking, I decided to cast on.

Umm… more cables.

This is a very easy TV knit and really works up quickly. It’s top down and the only issue I had is that I’m making it in a Sport Weight yarn (Brown Sheep’s Lanaloft Sport), which means I’m going up a size to get the right size. So far, it looks like it’s working. I’ll really know when I pick up for the collar and front bands.

Anyway.. two cable cardigans on the needles.. naughty me!

Let me know how your Sundays are being spent.

WIP: Montview Progress

For a while now, I’ve been hoarding some lovely Rowan Felted Tweed Aran in my stash. Every now and again I wandered past the little cubby hole where it was stashed, stuck my hand in and had a bit of a feel. I love the squishiness of the yarn and the fact that it’s not all soft. There’s a texture of a little roughness too. And, to me, it’s always felt like the yarn would knit up into one fantastic, cosy and luscious piece of clothing.

I wasn’t wrong.

For the last few weeks I’ve been working on Ruth’s fantastic Montview Cardigan, which was published in Knitscene, Fall 2011. I saw the pictures for this cardigan on Ravelry and knew that I wanted it. I mean WANTED it BADLY. This went straight to the top of my queue and as soon as I had the pattern I cast on.

I love the structure of this cardigan and I love the way the cables are worked up the front and back, making it very symmetrical. I like symmetry.

The cardigan is currently blocking in my office and once it’s dry and ready, I’ll work the collar and button bands and then with whatever yarn I have left, I’ll make the sleeves. This is were the project might become a little tricky. I like 3/4 length sleeves and that might be the option I have to take because I have 2 balls less than the recommended amount listed in the pattern (eek!). But, I have to say that with this cardigan I really want full length sleeves. I will probably end up searching for those extra couple of balls closer to the end of the sleeve knitting.

Can’t wait to complete this… It’s going to be perfect for the cold weather we’re going to have this Winter!

FO’s: Two Cowls for the coming Winter

I seem be on a ‘must-keep-warm’ knitting stint at the moment. My attention is being monopolised by big thick knits that I know are going to keep me going through any type of Winter, mild or cold.

I think one of the easiest knitting projects has to be cowls and in that vein, I spent a Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago just browsing through cowl patterns and picking a few that I really liked.

The first cowl I couldn’t resist casting on for was Cupid Cowl

Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic in shade 502 – Grey
Pattern: Cupid Cowl by Hiroko Fukatsu
Needles: 5.0mm Knit Picks Options
Notes/Modifications: I used the Cable Cast-On and then Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Sewn Bind-Off. Everything else was as the pattern was written.

I loved both the cast-on and bind-off methods and I have to say that I think I’ve finally got the sewn bind-off down pat. I’ve used it before on a pair of socks and it just didn’t work, but this time it was fine.

The cowl is delicious and cosy and I love it. The only thing that I would change is the actual length on the cowl. A little larger and I think it would drape a little better. It’s still getting lots of wear though! Oh and I repurposed the yarn. I’d actually used a little over a skein for the Meret Beret but I’ve never worn it since I finished it and I just thought it would be better used in an item that I can get some wear out of. Glad I did it!

The second cowl is the Jewelled Cowl and something that I am really pleased with and so so proud of.

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Lace
Pattern: Jewelled Cowl by Sachiko Uemura
Needles: 5.0mm Knit Picks Options
Notes/Modifications: Once again used the Cable Cast-On and the Sewn Bind-Off. This was my first ever beaded project and rather than use the crochet method for it, I actually threaded on the 728 beads on to the lace yarn. This was mainly due to the fact that the beads were smaller than recommended and I didn’t have a small enough crochet hook that would fit through the holes! This seemed to work fine though.

I love this cowl. More than I thought I would. It’s actually a little more purpley-blue in real life and that makes the beads stand out that little bit more. I will definitely make this again with a brighter yarn and some beads that actually are the complete opposite on the colour wheel.

Both these cowls will definitely get plenty of wear this Winter. And on that theme, here is a sneak peak of my Montview Cardigan

It’s grown a little since this picture was taken and I’m loving both the pattern and the yarn…

I am going to be pretty snuggly and warm this Winter, that’s for sure!

Let me know what you’re all knitting for this season…

FO: Angler’s Loop Socks

Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Stretch Shade 8011 (Grey)
Pattern: Angler’s Loop Socks by Andrea Mules
Needles: 2.25mm Knit Picks Circular
Notes/Modifications: I made the small size and found that the instructions for starting the chart were a little off. It wouldn’t have followed the pattern set by the ribbing, so I had a bit of a play and changed it so that the front was symmetrical and the chart worked with the ribbing. Ohhh and I just want to share this stretchy cast on with you. Perfect for socks/mitts/gloves etc!!

Love these socks. I think they are very manly and work well with the cable design at the back. I will make these again and I will most definitely be using the lovely cast on again.

Hexibag!

Yesterday, as I was leaving the house, I thought to check the postbox and to my great delight I had a lovely package waiting or me.

Now on Facebook, I have joined a Hexipuff/Bee Quilt group so that we can all encourage each other with making these beautiul little parcels of joy and exclaim over each others colour choices and progress. As part of all this a smaller group of us decided to have a little swap of scrap yarn so that we can have some more beautiul colours in our quilts. Well, this lovely package was my swap parcel from the lovely Marianne aka Picperfic from Fluff n´ Stuff. Ohh what delights…

I was in quite a rush so I thought I would leave it on my desk and open it when I got back.. You know, the anticipation, the thrill etc etc etc. So, when I got in last night, I rushed into my ofice and careully opened my parcel. To my surprise and delight, I also found this inside:

Guessed what it is yet?? Yep! It´s one of Marianne´s magical, magnificent Hexibags!! I love it! It´s perfect.

And look at this!!!

And there is more… lots more..

Ohhh lookie, the other side.. with buttons!

The inside…

and a look at those hearts!!! Love, Love, Love!

Thanks Marianne, your are a sweetheart and I love my Hexibag!

FO: Huldan Takki Cardigan

I’m back! I decided to take the Summer off and concentrate on some other aspects of my life. Thankfully, it was a good summer and I’m now back with a vengence. I have been knitting during the break and here is the result:

Yarn: Middlearth Knitter Mohair/Merino Laceweight in Teal
Pattern: Huldan Takki by Adelheid.
Needles: 3.5mm Knit Picks Circular
Notes/Modifications: I made the small size and decided to add an extra 4 sts in garter on each side (so 10 each side). Also, the decreases for the Raglan Yoke, I did one stitch in instead of right after/before the stitch markers. Other than that it was as written.

I loved making this and I loved the simpleness of the pattern. I decided on laceweight as I wanted something light and ethereal for Summer and would you believe, I’ve just finished it for Autumn! Ah well. I’m going to wear this as much as possible before it gets too cold and I have to revert to the big jumpers.

I have decided to make a fingering weight version of this soon as well. In the meantime, why don’t you join me on the Hexipuff wagon!!

These little mini FO’s are keeping me very entertained. I might turn them into chair cushions instead of a quilt, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m just going to keep making them with the 4ply scraps I have left over… ohh on that note, if anyone can spare some 4ply scraps, I really would appreciate the ‘donations’. Quite happy to pay..

Stark: A New Pattern!

This winter all I’ve wanted to knit are small things that I can grab as I leave the house. Mittens, gloves, scarves, cowls and hats. Most of you have seen on my Ravelry page that that is exactly what I have been knitting.

I while back I made a hat for Ollie as he was living an working in Denmark and it’s pretty darned cold out there. Unfortunately, at some point, he lost that hat and was pretty bummed about it. I was pretty bummed about it too!

But that didn’t stop me. I made him the pair of socks blogged below and I had enough of the 6ply/sport left over that I wanted to make him another hat.

Stark was born.

It’s a simple beaded rib design with an easy cast on that anyone who has used a tubular or long tail cast on will find familiar. The whole hat is worked in the round and the decreases make a lovely star at the crown of the head. Available in two sizes, S/M & L.

Simple and quick and oh so easy to grab on your way out of the house. And, to entice you all, it’s free!

If you decide to make it, let me know how you get on! Enjoy!