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« december 2005 february 2006 »
sunday, 29 january 2006
Phew, fronts and back done!
So, my goal for the weekend was to finish the two fronts of Electra, which I am delighted to report I finally managed to complete, together with sewing the sides (mattress stitch) and shoulder seams (fake grafting).
This is the first fair-isle project that I've ever undertaken (in truth, I did do a couple of hats too since I started this, but that's another story), and it wasn't at all scary as I first thought. So I am pretty pleased with myself for not having fudged it all up ;)
I haven't taken any photos of the front because at the moment it looks a bit of
a mess, which I hope will be sorted out once I add the neck-buttons band.
Photographer's note: sorry to have cropped this pic, but I was still wearing my PJ bottoms at the time of the shoot, and I promise, my butt isn't flattered one bit by candifloss pink cotton trousers, even if they do read "Pick me" ;)
In case you have difficulties gathering what this shot relates to... this is just a fraction of what I'll have to weave in when I'm done. I do have some suspicions that the designer was high on something when she created this pattern... I could not believe the amount of ends to weave in... Just what was she thinking exactly?? I should have amended the pattern to carry the yarns along the sides, but by the time I realised just how many times she had me cut the yarn, it was too late to do anything, without starting over. It's not going to be fun finishing this off I tell ya.
As I had a few yarns in my stash which might work for this pattern, I made a some subs, but as the colours in the photographs aren't particularly accurate, I'll list here what I'm using:
Update on the mittens: I did start them, well one, but then I had to frog it, as I was making mods and decided I should do both of them together or I would never remember just what changes I had made... plus I fudged the cast-on (still need to practice tubular cast-on for 2x2 ribbing, got 1x1 pretty well mastered though!) so I cut my very small losses and unravelled the whole thing!!
And to finish, thank you so much for all the comments on Lady Heather, you peeps are just fantastic! :):)
tuesday, 24 january 2006
I give you Lady Heather
Or at least I'm trying to...
Here she is, at last. Now, I'm sorry but there's no way I can win, the lighting inside is dreadful, and the black yarn makes everything sort of... well... black, no details, no shaping, no nothing! So there isn't much to see at all, I know. My face looks pastey too, not quite sure why. Next time I'll try and shoot outside, but have been kind of busy today, so these will have to do for the time being.
Anyway... I wore it today, but no one noticed it! Sob sob :( If truth be told I didn't actually go around shouting "Look, I made this!", but I was secretely hoping that somebody would at least say something... well, never mind!
Here are a couple of detail shots trying to show the sheery effect achieved with Kid Silk Haze and 5mm needles. I also added a scalloped edging round the bottom, in crochet, which I happen to think works quite well. What do you think? Opinions, please, I'm feeling ignored...
monday, 23 january 2006
I obviously lack the Stay-still gene
With Lady Heather completed (pics ARE coming up, will try and take them tomorrow, promise!), I immediately moved on to my next WIP last night, which is Electra, the cardi from Rowan mag 38 .
Now, before putting it down last year(!), I had almost completed the back, but not quite. So typical of me, getting near the end of something, and losing all interest. Anyway, last night, I got my Electra WIP bag out, with all the several yarn balls, magazine, needles, everything neatly stored basically... only to suddenly remember that I had "borrowed" all the Kid Classic to finish off my Curly Whirly scarf, and, guess what? I needed Kid Classic to continue with the back of the cardi, as it was the next colour up in the fair-isle motif!! Arghhh! Not one to be defeated, I immediately casted on for the two fronts, after all they do need to be done at some point, right? But after 30 rows of ribbing with Kid Silk Haze, I again reached a point which required Kid Classic. Fine, I didn't want to step in a yarn shop for fear of what I may take home with me, but this doesn't leave me much choice. I'll pop into John Lewis tomorrow and get my missing ball (ah, ah), but what shall I do till then? I mean tomorrow is like 24 hours away...
This is what I'm going to do. Been wanting to knit these mittens since I first saw them in the book, but didn't manage to acquire some suitable DPNs till last week when Brooke of Yarnsmith came along at AngelKnits.
I am doing them in a solid colour, using some yarn gifted by my super Secret Pal 6 (incidentally, if you are reading, PLEASE do get in touch, I'd love to know who you are!!) which was just waiting for the right project.
...this doesn't count as a new project, does it? I mean, it's only small, right? ;)
sunday, 22 january 2006
Weekend account
I spent the entire weekend indoors merrily DIYing my heart out (NOT!) and only went out this morning briefly to get some croissants for breakfast, as I got up with an irresistible craving (actually I was craving Panettone, but couldn't find any!), being Sunday, so why not? So this is me ready for what turned out to be the highlight of my weekend, sporting my Allsorts Biggy Print super-warm scarf (not nearly enough pictures of it in the Gallery), and my funky Buffalo shoes kindly gifted by Erssie. Thank you darling!!! :)
Amongst all the excitement (!), sheets of MDF, hammer & nails (think I might have sprained my wrist too!), paint and glued-together hands, I managed to finish my black sweater! Yeyyyy! I had originally christened it Lady Heather, now that's done I'll stick with it, it seems a most apt name. Pics to follow ASAP.
In conclusion, just so there are no doubts, I ABHOR DIY! There was a time in my life during which I found all this getting your hands dirty malarkey so fulfulling and satifsying, that might have been when I was secretely abducted by aliens and replaced with somebody who only looked like me, but talked tosh.
thursday, 19 january 2006
Progress photos
Please excuse the gratuitous boob shot...;)
Here are a couple of pics of my current sweater. Black is so hard to photograph, peeps, so use your imagination a little, as even I can't see the little details, and I know they're there! Anyway, am now doing the sheer-y bit in Rowan KidSilk Haze which can barely be seen in the shots, but I promise, it's there.
I'll moan some other time about KidSilk Haze and how knitting with it isn't nearly enough pleasant as stroking it... am having to watch each stitch as sometimes it doesn't even feel like I'm holding anything at all, it's so thin...
Anyway, very happy at how the sleeves have turned out. Super-long, just the way I like them. Ok, back to work now.
Oh, PS: My face isn't in the shots as I've just only discovered the timer thingy and all the pics came out with my head half cut, you all know what I look like, so I thought I wouldn't bother with re-shooting them...
The 2006 Knitting Olympics
Not quite sure what I was thinking... but I found myself entering the 2006 Knitting Olympics organised by the Yarn Harlot. Cos I'm lazy you can go here and read the rules.
What's my challenge? The plan is to knit a sweater which I'm going to design (idea pretty much in mind...) in some gorgeous purple yarn in a mere 16 days!!... more details will follow!
monday, 16 january 2006
An apology
I seem to have fallen quite behind with my emails. I'm sorry, I genuinely didn't mean to, but between going away over Xmas/New Year, then having a few problems with my email program (all resolved now, thank god!), and the day-to-day flow of emails coming through... Sorry!! I'll get there, but meanwhile, know that I'm not ignoring you :) Thanks for understanding!
sunday, 15 january 2006
Baby cardi is blocking
It's almost done! I knitted the second sleeve yesterday + did all the sewing and added the neckband.
One word on the pattern (well, actually two): it sucks! It took me three attempts to pickup the stitches and knit the neckband as per the instructions (I didn't find them particularly clear, I don't know, maybe it's just me), only to find out, after having cast off, that the shaping of the band was all wrong. And what a pain finding that out after all that seed/moss stitch, so I didn't unravel it a fourth time, sorry Baby David, but I want to stay sane.
IMO, the pattern should have included some decreases to account for the raglan shaping in the sleeves as well as where it meets the vertical band at the front, look at the picture on the left, I think it explains it better.
I have tried to block it as straight as I can, but even then, I can't make the extra stitches disappear. I'll try and salvage this with the addition of some buttons.
Secondly, the cardi doesn't have buttons, the pattern calls for "snaps"... I'm not sure how much snapping a 4-ply garment can withstand... only time will tell I guess...
Anyway, I bought 4 buttons today from John Lewis (which I hope are a match, as the cardi was home drying and couldn't come with me) to sew over the snaps, also to liven it up a little (also to cover up the evil neckband).
I had originally wanted to use something cutesy, like this bee-shaped button, but I only had the one in my pathetic buttons stash, and John Lewis's selection was pitiful (and, no, I couldn't wait to get them somewhere else!), so I hope the end result will be ok.
friday, 13 january 2006
So what have I been up to lately, knit-wise?
« Firstly a random pic of me and my sis+bro...
I admit, there hasn't been an awful lot of knitting-related content in this blog lately. Truth is, I have done very little in the last few weeks, firstly, as I was on hols, I had only taken Ferdie's Manly sweater with me in an attempt to finally finish it, which I did, Yeah! Just need to weave a few ends in and it's ready to be worn. Pics will follow, promise!
Then on my return here, I have been so busy, that my feet have hardly touched the ground. AngelKnits on Tuesday officially marked my return to the needles.
I never do New Year's resolutions, as I can't bear to look back, one year on, at all my failed promises, etc, so my only intention for this year is to finish off all the wips I've got going round the house.
First off is Baby David's cardi, started back in the summer, when he wasn't even born yet... he's just over 2 months old now, so I really need to hurry up if I want him to wear it at all. The pattern is from SnB Nation and I have made a few adjustments, but nothing too obvious.
I don't think I'll embroider the swallows/star/heart motifs, as I think it looks very elegant as it is... thoughts, anybody? So, so far I have the back and fronts done, plus one sleeve. Am in the process of casting on for sleeve #2. I honestly can't wait to finish, so I can put those tiny 3.25mm needles away for a little while.
thursday, 12 january 2006
MEME: Seven times Seven
I got tagged by Nikki the other day, so here goes:
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
- Move to Brighton and live happily ever after
- Stop procrastinating
- Visit Japan and manage to survive on my veggie diet in a country where fish is king
- Lose weight & be comfortable in my body
- Learn Spanish & Japanese (hiragana and katakana would do me, am not expecting to read kanji too)
- See the sun at midnight, tour around Scandinavia (wearing my super-warm handknits!)
- Finish off all my half-started projects and generally learn to complete something before moving onto something else
Seven Things I Cannot Do:
- Cook!
- Drive
- Lie
- Be a morning person
- Change a light bulb
- Text quickly on my mobile phone
- Be assertive
Seven Things That Attract Me to Blogging:
- Creating a gallery of my past/current hand-made projects
- Keeping track of my ever changing moods
- Designing my very own site (without adhering to clients' requirements) and letting my creativity flow without many constraints
- Satisfying my ever growing ego ;)
- Getting to know people
- Getting over my fear of "writing", even though this blog is no Shakespeare I have always been terrified by the idea of putting something down on paper (or Web page)
- Feedback
Seven Things I Say Most Often:
- Chop chop
- Fuck
- Tsk
- Hello, Visual Format, Anna speaking...
- Consistency, consistency, consistency!
- Bollocks
- I'll do it later
Seven Books That I Love:
- Watchers by Dean Koontz
- Lightening by Dean Koontz
- Insomnia by Stephen King
- Pet Semetary by Stephen King
- From the corner of his eye by Dean Koontz
- Boo Hoo: A Dot Com Story by Ernst Malmsten, Erik Portanger, Charles Drazin
- Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Seven Movies That I Watch Over and Over Again:
- The Office (ok, not a movie, but still watch it over and over)
- Friends - all series (as above)
- American Pie (I know, this is as childish as it gets, but it cracks me up every time!)
- Così parlò Bellavista (Italian)
- Spirited Away
- Four Weddings & a Funeral
- Pretty woman
Seven People I Want To Join In Too
- Jen
- Anita
- Hezel
- Yahaira
- Beth
- Kerrie
- You!
wednesday, 11 january 2006
Random is good
So, I've been back from Italy for just under a week, although here time has been flying away even more quickly than usual. So much to blog about so little time...
And now, without further ado, let me give you my new hair cut... In truth, it's not particularly drastic, even though I got a couple of kilos chopped off, I kid you not! It's shoulder-length at the mo and I'm pretty happy with it. Haven't had much time to experiment with different styles, but it's long enough so that it can be still tied up when I go to the gym. It's my temporary cut, as I plan on going much shorter, but not just yet. I have worn it for years just a few centimetres long but I'm not quite ready mentally to go back there now.
What? More pictures, I hear you scream? Ok, then, a few more random images shot in Italy, with my lil sis and my mum (sporting my handmade Branching out scarf and earrings).
tuesday, 10 january 2006
Secret Pal 7 questionnaire
Dear Secret Pal, I know it's taken me a while, but my questionnaire is finally here (till I edit it again, that is)!
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Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
Snobbish... don't mind a tiny percentage of acrylic, but wouldn't use 100% man made fibers, and definitely prefer natural fibres (see alpaca, cashmere, merino... soft, soft, soft!).
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Do you spin? Crochet?
Don't spin, occasionally crochet, mainly when finishing off a knitted garment.
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What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Glass jars and old mugs, I love looking at my needles every time I walk past my crafty corner :)
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How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I started knitting seriously in February 2005, but have been into it big time. I HAVE KNITTED a lot during this past year, and although I'm a bit of a fickle, I'm glad to see that my passion has only increased with time.
Not quite sure how I'd define my level, I usually tend to underestimate my abilities, all I'll say is that I'm not easily scared, and if there's something I like, I'll give it a shot especially if this means learning a new skill.
Do feel free to browse my Gallery to see what I've been up to.
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Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yep, here goes: Amazon wish list.
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What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Strawberries, cherries, blackberries... before I list all the berries in existence, I'm a berries-person. I'm also partial to vanilla. Can't stand citrus, apple, lavander or rose scents (they remind me of cheap air-fresheners).
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Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh yes! Only thinking about dark chocolate makes me drool over my keyboard. Don't like milk chocolate or white chocolate. Ah, and no toffee! BUT I've seriously over indulged over Christmas and I am now on a diet (third day!) so please please don't send me anything edible, I am very very weak... thanks! :)
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What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Beaded jewellery! I also make beaded stitch markers.
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What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I mainly listen to Internet radios at work. My colleague puts the music on, I occasionally bob to it. The harder/louder the better. Definitely no rap/ hip-hop/ r&b. If no one's heard of it, I'd probably like it.
Yes, can play MP3s.
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What's your favorite color? Or - do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Faves: black, hot pink/fuchsia, magenta, crimson, orange/burnt orange, blood red (not bright) dark grey, purple (not lilac/lavander though!). Can't stand any shade of: green, blue, yellow, white. And NO pastels or muted colours!
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What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Living with boyfriend of 10 years. No kids/pets. Would love a cat, but I'm resigned to the fact that ain't gonna happen!
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Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I love scarves and absolutely adore hats! Hats are the daddy! I don't think I have ever worn mittens, I think simply because I have never owned a pair (although have been meaning to knit the flappy ones from SnB for ages!). No ponchos, thanks very much!
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What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I generally love soft buttery yarns. I am slightly sensitive to wool, and can't wear all yarns next to my skin, so for sweaters, arm-warmers, etc it'll have to be something really buttery. Ah, also love handpainted yarns. Alpaca, cashmere, merino (and who's said I was low maintenance?).
I prefer wool to cotton.
Weight-wise, I go for anything from worsted to chunky / bulky. Love the look of 4-ply garments, but mostly don't have the patience to juggle 3mm needles.
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What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
100% acrylics, chenille, scratchy itchy yarns, eyelash, fashion yarns.
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What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Hats and top-down raglan swaters, knitted all in one piece.
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What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
If it suits me, anything! As long as it'll look good on me I'll give it a shot. I am results-driven, so I'll probably knit manically to get to wear something asap.
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What are you knitting right now?
Mmm... where do I start? Have just completed my boyfriend's sweater (yes, and we are still together!) which turned out to be a mammoth job. Am halfway through a top-down sweater for moi, in a black DK oh-so-soft yarn, and can't even look in my "in progress" box. I am confident that it'll all get done at some point, but listing all my wips feels a little demoralising :(
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Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh yes please! Anything made with love and not just thrown together at the last minute is always very well received and loved to death.
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Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Straight (long) uns. I'm a 'needle under the arm' knitter, so I move much faster with straights, as long as they are long enough to go under my arm (is this even a sentence??). Circulars are more portable though, so they're good for knitting on the bus. Generally all needles have their purpose, so which ever fits the project better.
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Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I'm not a needles snob, not fussed really, I'll knit with anything.
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Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Own a winder (how did I live without one??) but not a swift.
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How did you learn to knit?
Either my mother or grandmother taught me the knit stitch. However, can't remember who of the two.
I then worked out how to purl myself after wondering why my garter stitch (not that I knew what that was called at the time) pieces looked nothing like my lovely jumpers. That was when I was a kid.
After that I put the needles down only to pick them up again to knit my boyfriend a scarf for Xmas (that was 10 years ago!).
After that, I again put the needles down until last winter when my obsession seriously began.
Anything other than knit/purl I've taught myself through online tutorials or books. The Internet is absolutely fab to learn stuff if you have the will to put time into it. How was life before the Net? I can hardly remember... ;)
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How old is your oldest UFO?
A few months I guess... but one must look ahead to the future and not dwell too much in the past, right?
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What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Cartman (South Park).
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What is your favorite holiday?
One during which I would be relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, knitting, relaxing, relaxing, relaxing!
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Is there anything that you collect?
Ehm... dust! No, seriously, I like stashing on beads. Coming from a long line of hoarders and living in a tiny flat, I've rebelled against my nature, and restrained myself from accumulating any junk, other than yarn and beads.
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What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have??
Last year I subscribed to Rowan International, even though I don't think I'll renew my membership this year. I don't generally find stuff in mags very appealing to me. It usually happens that I may like a couple of things out of all the patterns, and then I would alter them somehow anyway. I love designing my own pieces. I usually find my inspiration in the most weird places, so even a rusty piece of metal "could" have something to do with a finished knitted piece.
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Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Books? See wishlist above :)
Yarn? Well... if truth be told, my Secret Pal 6 introduced me to the most buttery yarn I've ever worked with, KnitPicks Andean Silk in a gorgeous colour called Sangria... I'd love to get more of that to make myself a cropped cardi, or something like that, but unfortunately they don't deliver to the UK :(
Patterns? ...the only one that comes to mind is Mermaid... way too expensive for me. Would love to get the pattern and then buy the yarn elsewhere, but I don't think you can do that. Other than that, I don't think I'm after anything else, I like to design my own patterns.
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Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Tubular cast-on. Have downloaded a bunch of instructions, just need to find the time to try it.
Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Nope, not in a million years! As I always wear chunky boots/shoes, I can't bear the thought of trashing something I might have put hours of work into, it'd just break my heart. Definitely shop-bought socks for me!
My feet are a tiny 34 or 35 depending on my mood.
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When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
April 21st.
sunday, 01 january 2006
Happy New Year!
I hope you're all having a fab time over the hols (which are terrifyingly coming to an end...).
I thought I'd show you one of my last photos with my long, unkept hair, as I'm going to have it chopped in a couple of days... haven't yet decided what it is that I'm after exactly, but I'm gagging for a change... I'm open to suggestions... ;)
Oh, the joys of technology!
A few days ago I attempted to post some pics of a present I had made for a friend, but the computer I have available here wouldn't have any... however, with the New Year and all, it may have turned a new leaf, as it seems that
it's now "allowing" me to post effortlessly, so before it changes its mind again, I give you some arm warmers, beautifully modelled by the recepient :)
Like them?
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