Holy Shaping!

Driftwood Bamboo Top

Would you take a look at this:

This is how the pattern instructions say to do the shaping increases - make 1 by picking up and knitting into the back loop into the next 2 stitches. Hmm, holy indeed.


This is how I normally do my shaping increases - make 1 by knitting into the loop of the stitch below. Much better.

Looks like the yarn manufacturers don't always kow best when it comes to pattern instructions.

I guess I'll be sticking to my usual way - thank goodness went to the Finishing Techniques day run by Jane Crowfoot where I learned it!

Early bird

Hey - a next-day post? What's going on?!

Well I'm stuck at home, and the postie very graciously delivered a parcel of great fabrics from Fiddlesticks Fabrics and Crafts this lunchtime. The parcel included this lovely piece, which I have literally just finished converting into this first Christmas 2007 present!







I'm so pleased with it - hence the large number of photos. :-)

This is a big carry-all type affair, reaching down to the hip.

I followed this free crochet hobo bag pattern and used 500g of Rowan Linen Drape from my stash, a large button from Truro Fabrics, and the lining fabric as before.

Thank goodness the yarn wasn't full price otherwise it would have cost almost £40 to make.

That's the first present crossed off the list for this year!

Toasty Buttered Marshmallow

Well what to say? Lots has been happening, and there are many WIPs at various stages - both knitting and crochet.

Here's one item - a knitted collar worked up in Colinette Silky Chic along with some Jaeger Matchmaker Merino and some hand-dyed superwash soft merino sock yarn.

It's as soft as butter, as squidgy as marshmallow, and as warm as toast - so I guess that's a Toasty Buttered Marshmallow!

The wristies to go with it are currently on the needles - they include some Regia sock yarn and Rowan Kid Silk Haze too. I'll probably put the set on Etsy when it's finished.

The hardest part of this was finding a button that I liked for it - why is that always the case? Any recommendations for really good button websites would be greatly appreciated!

The other news for today concerns my health again - the tachycardia has cleared up and I'm off the beta-blockers, but now I have shingles on my back. It's rather an extreme way of getting more knititng time don't you think?!

The C word

Watch out -Christmas Project Alert! All I can say is that it's crocheted and I'm using some (there's a lot - it was in the bargain bin at 50p per ball quite some time ago) of my Rowan Linen Drape stash yarn - yes, I said stash yarn. See the light shining on that pic? It's from my halo!

Now you know why all is quiet.. but WIPS are transforming into FOs.. more later.