Wednesday 24 October 2007

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!

Wednesday 17 October 2007

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!

Tuesday 16 October 2007

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?!

Monday 1 October 2007

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.