Socks and cowls

I finished my cowl, and it's so bright and warm and just what I needed while the weather remains bitterly cold. Clearly worn out with more than a vest t-shirt!!

Willow cowl

I decided to make a pair of socks as I've never been able to knit on dpns without creating 'ladders' and so far, so good. However the short sock needles I got for my birthday are too short for the amount of stitches I need on a single needle to turn the heel, so will buy some longer ones as well. That said I am a big fan of the short 10cm knitpro needles.

Also with this project I learned with the help of my new book 'Cast on, Bind off' how to do an Estonian cast on which gives a very stretchy edge suitable for socks, hats and sleeves. It's similar to a long tail cast on (using slingshot menthod), but every 2nd stitch you change the direction the yarn winds round the thumb. Not as difficult as it sounds and after a few attempts I seemed to have it completely sussed.

Estonian cast-on

The pattern in the book I'm using calls for Sirdar Country style yarn and I had the exact same colourway of the yarn in my stash. How often does that happen?!!

In non knitted things I have just started with a series of ideas for paintings/collages and this is one of a piece (still needs some additional work) that is currently on the drawing board right now

It's going to be part of something larger and as more work progresses I will show you more...

Been ages since I blogged...

....but that hasnt meant I've been with idle knitting needles.

I've several WIP at the moment. A jumper dress, a cowl, a patchwork blanket for my youngest daughter. I've made fingerless mitts (one pair crocheted) for several friends and have been asked to make several knitted chinooks of all things!!

These were my awesome Chrimbo pressie, a set of knitpro nova interchangeable circular needles.

Mitts

Cant really see the cable pattern on the sweater dress, but there's a really subtle pattern that is lovely.

Chinook!

Not entirely sure I like how the cowl is knitting up. Dont think it does the yarn justice, so it may get frogged yet, but waiting until I've done another few rounds on it.

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.