Monday 20 February 2012

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.

Sunday 5 February 2012

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.

Thursday 2 February 2012

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 :)