Stitch and Craft 2012

I love the Stitch and Craft Show. More than Ally Pally I think. If I had to describe what I do I would say I was a mixed media/textile artist who knits. So this show caters more for all the areas my work crosses over into.

That said, I have to have a bit of a grumble before I go on. Stitchers. You know, you who cross stitch or do tapestries. Why? Why are you so rude? The ground floor was given over to stitching. There was easy access to both other floors, and all floors seemed to have equal amount of 'traffic' through them, but stitchers, you really let yourselves down. There's no need to push and shove. Each exhibitor has more than one of each item with them. I realise that I am considered 'youth' in your midst (which is rather lovely as I just turned 37) but I am not rude. I politely asked to get through only to be pushed and shoved. 

However. The first floor was where myself and my cousin Knitrundig were most in our element. We had a quick look round the quilts, but it was the yarn, and fibres that we oooh'd and ahhh'd and debated which of the fabulous colourways were going to make it into our ever growing stashes.

I have currently about 5 projects on the go knitting wise. If you add into that the allotment, homelife, and 2 courses that I'm studying I really should have come away with no other projects in mind. But.... the yarn was so gorgeous! These were the ones that made it home...

The book on dyeing I read from cover to cover on the train home. I was given this pattern for my birthday and I have a cone of 4 ply in sand/beige which I think is wool that I am going to see if I can dye with turmeric and paprika. I need to calculate how many metres I have left and allow for shrinkage as the previous jumper I made with it did shrink by about 5% after the first wash.

The 4 skeins I plan to make scarves/shawls with. I'm never going to be a sock knitter. I've tried several times and I get 'ladders' at the change of needle. I know I could do the magic loop method, but after doing one sock I think I would be bored! I've become drawn to trying fancy lace patterns, so that will be what these eventually get used for.

The rubber stamps are going to be used in an airdry clay project, also in a block printed type of way. I have friendly plastic which I have earmarked for another textile/mixed media piece.  

Now also have a multiple needle felting tool and a tool for French knitting with wire and beads which is something I've been wanting to try for ages. So many new projects....

This gorgeous scarf was given to me from Knitrundig as a birthday pressie. I absolutely love it. The photo doesn't do it justice at all. Much better pics here

I could have spent 10 times as much as I did quite easily, but my budget was set to what I'd got for my birthday. 

Anyway, enough blogging, must be time to knit/create something now.

Laters x

Mini key-ring purses

I wanted a quick project to fill a couple of hours yesterday evening so started making #2 of these

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-key-ring-purses

They're really cute. The problem with self striping yarn is that you can make the same colour for both front and back, so at the moment I have about 4 almost made.

Havent taken any pics yet and need to source keyring findings. Both will be remedied very shortly.

KAL with Deramores Snood/Cowl project

I was talking to someone the other day on Twitter (forgive me I cant recall who) and they mentioned they'd just cast on for a #knitalong project. I found the details and have a huge stash of yarn, so while I'm waiting to get new needles for the lace shawl project I am going to knit this. I have a feeling it will grow quite quickly. It will also give me something to do for the next day or so while I'm not feeling so good (have a cold/temp/snot - not very pleasant)

Edit 10/2/12: Took this along to a S&B yesterday and got another couple of repeats done. Its growing quite quickly and providing I can count up to 3 (which sometimes is challenging!) there's not much that can go wrong with this pattern.

Holden Shawlette project

Having finished the blanket for my not-quite-cooked-niece I decided that I didn't want to carry on with the other blanket for youngest, but wanted to try something totally different.

Looked on the Ravelry free patterns for a shawl/scarf and found 2 that I liked the look of. The first one I cast on ans started working twice, but wasnt overly convinced I knew what I was doing with YO, ssk, so found another that didn't include that stitch.

The pattern says to work on 4mm needles. I'm using self patterning sock yarn, and on the larger needles (3.5mm) it was looking sloppy and wasnt pleased with how it was knitting up, so have switched to 2.75mm needles and the st st part of the pattern is looking much more appealing, so hopefully when the lace part is worked it will also.

Edit: 5/2/12 Have worked to the end of the st st section now, but there is still an increase of over 100 stitches and my needles arent going to be long enough, so need to buy some more tomorrow when I'm in town.

Edit: 10/2/2012 The lace section I have started and ripped back to the st st section about 5 times now. I was really doing my head in. My cousin (who's also knitting it as a KAL with me) suggested that I use st markers and that has made the world of difference.
As of today I'm 8 rows into the lace section. There are 30 left to go, so hopefully next week I should get this finished up. (crosses fingers)

Edit: 17/2/12 So the shawl is now completed. I should have used larger needles as the guage isnt quite right. However this doesnt take away from being very pleased with the other all outcome of the project and having learned a couple of new techniques I feel confident to be able to try other similar projects now. I'd never used stitch markers, not done any kind of lace pattern, and also never picot bind off.

The photos are of the shawlette are it currently unblocked.

Finally got round to blocking shawl last night (18/2). Its still drying but looks much better than pre-blocking :)

Baby Blanket for not-quite-cooked niece

My sister is due a baby girl on Feb 1st.

On January 9th I decided that I should probably get the needles clicking and make something for her. The blanket that I started for my nephew still lays unfinished (he's nearly 3!)

I chose the Building Blocks pattern in the Blankets and Throws to Knit by Debbie Abrahams as I had 2 tones of pink I could use from my stash and there was no complicated intarsia.

So now : 23/1/2012 I am half completed. Some of the photos arent great quality as I had to knock the flash off to get the texture to show.

Also to note - I havent cast off between squares, merely slipped the stitches onto the other needle purlwise after completing the pattern, purled a row with the new colour then picked up the pattern at row 1 for the next square. I've not cast off the last row of the last sqaure either, and have left it on stitch holders. I'm wondering if it will be as easy to do this that pick up and knit for the border. Pick up and knit is one of my least favourite things to do, second only to blocking.

The clever among you may be able to spot where my counting went astray and I was too far ahead when I noticed and couldnt be bothered to rip it back ;-)

Edit: 30/1/12

Blanket is now complete. Decided not to knit a border as I thought it was unneccesary, and also reduced down the planned four rows to 3 as the size seemed to be about right as a pram blanket size. Hope my sister likes it and the baby now is allowed to arrive as my work is done. Due date: 1/2/12!!