A Whole heap of knitting and decisions pending....

Well, this week has been a fun filled fest of steriods, antibiotics and other fun stuff to see the back of a stupid little cold that I plain can't shake. A week on, I'm still not totally out of the woods but I'm keeping fingers crossed that if I give myself time and rest my body' ll do the healing. My energy has got steadily less so that by Friday I needed downtime but I'm hoping that a relaxed weekend will have kickstarted the recovery.

It hasn't kept me idle however....
Pete's Xmas sweater is now well and truly finished....

Another project bites the dust...though I DO seem to be sneaking extra things onto the list! It appears hubby's been snaffling my Snuggles fingerless gloves for dogwalking (they were looking extra dogeared!) so they're big and loose on me. Hence, a winter warmer kit may be imminent, a double thickness wooly hat (for both of us to be honest), scarf for him and some glittens. Or even, a double helping, one in plain black for work, one a little more colourful for dogwalking. Thing is, I can't help shaking the feeling that if I DO knit 'em, what's the chance they get little use?

It IS cold at the moment, part of the problem with my breathing has been fighting to breathe in a cold house so warm 'n' cosy sounds like the ticket to me right now . Like this project a mere whiff away from completion....

The Bergere De France Jacket has been a quick knit and though bulky, it's tightly knitted so will be lovely and warm. I have had a quick try on and as it's not too long I don't have the Uurgh! effect. Actually, it was finished altogether all bar the buttons but I'd miscalculated on the collar, knitted it too long and when sewn, it was loose and floppy rather than upright. It's just waiting for the wee frog back and sew up and the decision over button choice (there are 3-4 options) and it'll be finished.

Knitting throughout on 6mm needles (rather than 6.5mm) meant I got the correct width and a thick fabric BUT did take an extra 3 balls in total so it will have taken 21 balls all in. As BDF have used this luscious blackcurrant shade over a number of the ranges, I was able to purchase a pure wool DK yarn to sew up which matched perfectly.

After spending a fortnight with an Alpaca scarf wound around my neck permanently to keep the cold at bay, it became aparrent that perhaps a replacement might come in handy.

Minus it's buttons, I found a suitable pattern over on Ravelry using 2 balls of Twilleys Freedom Wool which I had spare. It took a few hours and should fulfill the criteria extremely well. I may be having a wee change of heart on accessories!

As if that wasn't enough, I got a bee in my bonnet about a new pattern that arrived in the shop...

It's a Military coat pattern in Wendy Pampas. And, yes, you would have thought that after the UUrgh! coat I'd have been dissuaded from the idea but it niggled and bugged so....

(thanks blogger!)

Well, I only started this onFriday afternoon but, as you can see, incredibly quick knit (though you DO need your wits about you for all the increase/decrease/buttonhole/yoga positions (joking!)). The sleeves may need a wee tweak and indeed, the whole pattern has had revision in light of the UUrgh! coat. Firstly, I swatched and changed needle size from 10mm and 12mm to 8mm and 10mm meaning I actually knitted the size I required rather than the one below.

The row counts were out as well, meaning it would have been longer than originally intended so, again, with experience, I altered the amount of rows between increases/decreases so that it should at least fit where it's meant to. Whether it'll actually suit me is another matter but there's always hope! I see a sewing up fest in my near future!

I'd like to get another warm 'n' wooly project on (and off) the needles whilst I can get most benefit from it so the Sirdar Hug coat is looming on the horizon. It's unlikely to be terribly flattering BUT will be cosy and comforting so I think I'll settle for that!

And these quick-knit socks have also taken my eye....

Colourful, eh?

On etsy news, there's been no dyeing this week, in fact things are going on hold for a while to give me time to recover and review my options. Whilst I do love dyeing, it is a big energy grabber and there's an awful lot going on in my life right now. The reason I may not have been able to shake this cold could be too much candle burning and I can't take on too much at the expense of my health.

Sooo, you'll most likely see more knitting, a bit of spinning (I'm SO craving that right now!) and maybe more dyeing once the weather get's warmer. Then again, who knows what'll be round the next bend??

A Different kind of Fever....

Last week was full of interest, a week Monday found three of us on a spur-of-the-moment decision trip to Colinette...despite not exactly having the healithiest bank account! Still, a great time out was had by all, we had half-price sandwiches care of Lyndsey, the driving in the capable hands of Nadine and I provided...moral support?

The sales section may not have had quite as rich pickings as previous visits but there was still plenty to confuse and befuddle the senses, we all ran around enchanted by the whole experience, oohing and aahing over the luscious colours and wonderful fibres. I had a wee shopping list for others that took some figuring out (they'd mis-labelled the colour!) but managed to ferret out this from the sales section....

500g (or thereabouts) of semi-solid Prism to be matched with the grey mix (for yardage). I picked out a pattern too....

...Pretty, eh? Thing is, there's enough wool there to knit a plain sweater for hubbie and it'd be suitable colourwise and the only Colinette number he's got...some decisions to be made....

Whatever I choose, it's not a total dead loss, I paid ...wait for it...FULL PRICE for these two!!! They're darker in reality, although the colourway is " October Afternoon" I think it's much more Christmassy than that and there's a prectical sock yarn and a terribly unpractical pure silk yarn to appeal to my decadent side! It would be fun to knit the socks before xmas if I have time, you'll just have to watch this space to see if it gets done in time...

By the following Monday however, things started to go a little awry...I had a sore throat that went straight onto my chest and later on in the week came up into full blown cold so I've been pill popping for all I'm worth to keep me going (and breathing!) and keeping everything crossed that I don't need antibiotics. At least I always have a pack of steroids on hand so I don't have to wait for doctor's appointments and can treat straight away. My energy levels lasted out most of the week though now I am beginning to flag but it does have its advantages....

...For example, the MIL waistcoat got sewn up, buttoned and de-haired (darn dogs!) and is now displayed in the shop window....

Where it will not accrue further dog hairs!

I've been busy knitting the sleeves on Hubbie's Sweater too and finished the second one on Saturday....

....Now I just need a hubbie-free slot to pick up and rib the neckline and sew in the ends and another xmas project bites the dust!

The Bergere De France Jacket has been increasing slowly, not so much lack of energy or enthusiasm but time! Still, it's a reasonably quick knit so a few hours here and there does make a good impact.

If I had one criticism, it'd be the slight inconsistencies in the pattern and the order of certain sentences that would benefit from a slight re-jig. It's nothing that a intermediate knitter or better wouldn't spot but it does take more than a cursory glance to take in all the information needed e.g. slipping 1st sts one either side for neatness AND counting for the vertical buttonholes as well as patterning the front...

On the plus side, it's knitting into quite a tight knit, cushy fabric and whilst I suspect it will pill easily, I think it will be lovely and warm and it looks fantastic. Being a blend of 50% Alpaca and 50% Wool, it feels rich and soft and I bet would felt beautifully. It's a good price too!

And Monday also held the first clue of Mystic Ice....

Being a totalo masochist (of course!) I decided to go for the square shawl so each line is repeated four times which means that, as yet, I haven't actually completed clue 1; though I am around line 51! In typical fashion, when I picked this up to photograph it, a pile of stitches flew off the needles (aargh!) which I've mostly picked up but will take my attention shortly to repair it.

Although it doesn't show terribly well on the background, I'm liking how the pale patterned yarn is not detracting from the pattern. I still have the original yarn recommended which I showed you last post and will no doubt knit something pretty by and by but this colour spoke more of iciness and cold to me at least.

No photo but the FIL sock 1 has been completed, I have started the second leg and am trying to translate the pattern on the first as i didn't actually write it down but made it up as I went along, D'oh! Still, I will muddle on and woorst case, they'll be fraternal, not exactly identical but close enough!

The Etsy shop has been ticking along nicely, I posted another parcel out today and I would like to get another small update in towards the beginning of December in case people are looking for prezzies (or a pick-me-up!) but it'll be totally dependent on time and energy reserves so I'll just keep the blog informed if/when anything changes. I do have some fabbo ideas though!

Well, as I'm typing, the chancellor's giving his pre-budget report so let's keep fingers crossed that there'll be a few sweeteners to free up a little cash. I am only glad that we're pretty loan and credit card phobic or things could be really nasty. Hang on in there, folks (and keep knitting those sweaters!).

See you soon.

Another fortnight, an update and knitting fever!

Well, I think I've got the hang of Blogger's new picture ordering...

Sooo, I can get on with the mega catch-up since last posting. Basically, poor hubbie's been working 2 Saturdays now so last Sunday we had the meet-up a day late (hence no blog) but this weekend we've had a catch-up instead so here I am!

First, a FO...Or should I say a Uuurgh FO?

I finally completed the Wendy Pampas coat and can I say it's beautiful?....Just not on me!
The buttons (shown by the needle tips) should start at the bustline...instead, they start just where I want to move the eye away from, namely my stomach! Then there's the overall thickness of the coat over my shapely hips and the overall look is HUGE! At least my legs look sticklike!

There is a positive ending to this story...Just because it doesn't suit me doesn't mean it's not beautiful and so now we're finding it a lovely new home...and raising money for charity too! The coat is in the window of Made and we're having a week-long auction with the highest bidder at the end walking away with it. And any money raised will swell the Children in Need coffers a week late so it's a success story all round. Fingers crossed we get a reasonable amount.

After all, the original yarn was gifted from Linda's stash so it seems only fitting that any proceeds go to a children's charity.

I got some more of my swap-bot swaps...this one was the yarn and chocolate swap. Guess what I got?

2 Balls of lovely soft fluffy angora yarn and a slightly squished but nonetheless the worse for wear bar of Lindor chocolate. I might have partaken of a piece already and it's yummy! We have Lindor chocolates here but not in bar form, thank you so much pearlie!

I have made use of the free time on Saturdays to get fibrey goodness ready for todays update....

There's more of that if you scroll down and even more to be listed midweek once the roving's dry.

I got my yarn through midweek ready for tomorrow's Mystic Ice knitalong start....

2 skeins of 10/2 Tencel in New York and 2 in Silk Socks, handdyed especially for me! Tammy
even ballwound 2 of the skeins at no extra cost just because of a little wait! Thank you! The Tencel yarn is a little harder than I'd envisaged, i.e. more tightly spun so it will wear well and I'm interested to see how it will wash and block. It'll be another case of watch this space!

There is another FO to show you, sorry the pic's so lousy....

So mum's Xmas knitting is now sorted, these long socks will certainly keep her warm! Actually, it's been a busy knitting fortnight, After Nadine crocheted the snowflakes for my swap, I knitted a little something else so I'll be able to get these in the post by midweek at the latest. I hope they like them! This is for the knitted Xmas ornament swap and I've had one through already but it went walkabout before I took a photo.! Never mind, it'll save for next time.

I've finally got back to knitting the made-up socks too....

These will become Xmas socks for my FIL, hence another UFO completed and Xmas knitting to boot!

I have been knitting a wee projectette for myself as well, I kind of fell in love with this one, particularly when I saw the yarn....

So far, I've completed the unpatterened back and am nearly finished on the first front. It knits up quite quickly on 6mm needles (originally it should have been 6.5mm) though it's a tight knit fabric.

If it's finished before xmas, it'll probably go on display in the shop to save me getting it all bitty before the main event. Dual purpose then!

Out of someone's field of vision, I've also been knitting this...

It's from a pattern in Son of a Stitch and Bitch but whilst the original used Silk Garden and Baby Alpaca (mega bucks), his uses humble Marble DK (acrylic) and Wendy Mode (50% Merino, 50% Acrylic) so it costs a fraction of the price and will wear a darn sight better too!

I love the way this has knitted up, the body, knitted in the round only took a week and now I only need to pick up the armholes and knit downwards to complete it...once I get the correct needle tips on the cord!

Anyway, shop goodies, wanna see some fibre pr0n? Actually, some of these haven't even hit the shop yet as they'll be added on Wednesday, so it's a kind of teaser too....

So far, there are 2 lots of batts, only the second (Blackberry fusion) is up so far as I need to drumcard one more. There's no telling if others will creep in by midweek, time permitting!


There's yarny goodness too, made into longer-than-usual skeins for longer colour striping

...

This one's called Hydrangea....

This one never made it to the shop as it's only 80g so it's mine all mine! It shades from darkest green through a range of reds to inky purple black, can you imagine how those socks will turn out?

After the problems with the last update and the "fake" merino, I had to revisit Forest canopy again...

This one's primed for wednesday, a multi-hued combination of blues in squishy soft Corriedale

Another "Singin' the blues" maybe?

And these are my foray into Mawata pure silk squares......

Pretty? It was great fun dyeing these and I bet they'll spin up into really interesting yarns. I may have waylaid an odd set for myself....

These will also be appearing on Wednesday, fresh from the dyepot some lovely, squidgy Bluefaced Leicester....

"Wild Flowers"
" Sweet Stuff"
" Rosy bouquet"
" Iris" (I can see this one appearing in differemnt variants, it's a particular favourite of mine!

And finally...
" Study in Purple", shading from pinky-purples to bluey purples with bits of other stuff chucked in for good measure!

Once they're dry, I can weigh them and price accordingly, hence the Wednesday listing! Posting will be Wednesday too this week so I'll be busy!

With a trip to Colinette on the cards for tomorrow and a larger role for me at Made, I won't have a chance before. Still, it's all good fun!

Until next time....

Not the sharpest tool in the box...

I was just about to start this post when I realized Blogger had screwed up big time last post ...I was so spaced and time constrained or I would have spotted it. Still, it's fixed now and I'm keeping this one simple 'cos I've not had the best of weeks energy wise and this weekend's been a doozy. Still, silver lining, I've knitting to show you...


I've finished the first of mum's looong socks and in daylight hours (I learnt my lesson on that one!), I've been working on the second. Being ribbed, they're really stretchy hence nothing like as skinny as they look.

I've been good too, a few weeks ago I got all my UFO's together and wrote 'em all down so anytime I get a dose of realism (not too often), I can reach for one and do a bit more. Well, after the holidays, I got the urge to root one out...


I gave up on the Pampas coat when I couldn't focus on the cable pattern, side shaping and measuring whilst at knitting group so, after a reasonable frog of one front, I've spent most evenings knitting and here's the result. I've now completed both fronts (without mistakes!), one sleeve and I'm not far of completing the second. In practical terms, it is a quick knit providing you can give it a reasonable chunk of your attention. I've passed the duplicate pattern fob another knitter so there may be another on the horizon soon. With a little luck, I'll be sewing up today or tomorrow and I'll be looking for another neglected project by mid-week.

I am being seduced over to the other side too....


I joined a few swaps over on swap-bot recently and had a brainwave to both knit and crochet a xmas ornament. I enlisted the help of Nadine from knitting group who volunteered to show me what to do...In typical fashion I'd not only snapped the thumbnail but also the middle fingernail on my left hand extremely short and as both digits were needed to hold the slipknot, it meant I was somewhat stymied!

Still, they are getting less painful now so I'm hoping that by mid-week I'll be fit to hook. To be honest, watching the things Nadine produces has kind of swung me in favour of the hooky stick so maybe I'll have a dabble and see whether it suits me or not. I do have a heap of patterns all queued if I do.....

I'm afraid the timetable's somewhat slipping as regards to dyeing and etsy updates. I did manage one fleece dyeing session but there's loads to do and I can't push myself right now so I'm putting the next update on hold for a couple of weeks. It'll be all the better for it 'cos I put my heart and soul into my dyeing and half-hearted attempts never come out as well. I have grand plans and I want to live up to them. I'll update on the blog as and when I'm ready.

Ah well, better get back to the knitting....