Monday 29 June 2009

Faster, faster..

The ribby lace socks with the split toe for eldest DD are so close to being finished - just the toes to do on the left foot. Then I can finish writing out the pattern for that toe option and bat it over to some Ravelry test knitters. BUT...

I've had a request for a knitted garment for my nephew, after his little sister received her poncho - it's only fair. His 4th birthday is on 2nd July so I thought it would be a good idea to make something as his birthday present.

A quick chat with his mum led to the requirement for a vest-type tank top in a blue or neutral colourway. I scoured my yarn stash but couldn't find enough of anything suitable, so more purchasing was required.

I ended up buying
Sirdar Click Aran yarn (in shade "Loom Blue") and the matching slipover pattern - great value from Black Sheep Wools. I reckon the pattern will look just as good in girly colours on my DDs, so it'll get repeat use.

Of course since I decided this would be the birthday gift I've had precious little knitting time, so now the date is looming far quicker than I'd like.

The back and front are now finished - just the seams and rib edgings to go. The pattern is very easy but I need more time! Hence the delay on the sock pattern, and the manic cable knitting in every spare moment...

Tuesday 23 June 2009

Dyeing again

This time with my oldest DD.

She did pretty much all of it: tied the skeins, picked out the Kool-Aid shades, mixed the dyes, poured them on, wrapped the clingfilm, microwaved the yarns, and then rinsed them once I'd unwrapped and cooled them a little.

Here are the results:

Lovely Lemon and Lime - this is the one DD wants to keep for me to make something for her to wear.

Sizzling Strawberry - this one taught her that you don't always end up with what you first envisaged, especially with Kool-Aid.

The initial idea was pink blending through to purple - quite different to the result!

Fire Light - we ran out of time before dinner to finish off the dyes, so later I mixed them together and poured them into a pan to kettle-dye this third skein.

These are all superwash sock yarns, and the red ones will be listed in my
Etsy shop ready for you to buy soon. Both my daughters are so excited to have their hand-dyed yarns up for sale!

I've recently changed the name of my hand-dyed yarns after finding another dyelicious in Australia. As we are so close to lovely Perranporth, I have settled on Perran Yarns. Please
take a look!

Sunday 7 June 2009

The great Cornish outdoors

We've been trying to do more outdoor family pursuits since the weather has warmed up, in an attempt for me and DH to get fitter.

Last Sunday we walked up St Agnes Beacon. It was great exercise, and the view from the top is stunning.

One one side the Atlantic Ocean stretchs away into the distance, and on the other a vast expanse of Cornwall spreads out like a beautful blanket.

Just wonderful.


Today we cycled the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow - that's a total of 10 miles!

No doubt there will be some sore leg muscles tomorrow, but it was a lovely day out.

The trail is flat and follows the side of the estuary so there are great views.

Both of those outings are set to become regulars I think!

Friday 5 June 2009

Developing patterns

I'm working on a sock design to publish and sell as a multi-way pattern right now. It's following on from the Toe-Footsies that I made, and will include three sizes and three different toe options.

These are the adult size with the regular toe version.

I used my Yarn Addict merino/bamboo blend sock yarn from my stash - very nice to work with, and hopefully very lovely to wear later this year.

This is the latest addition - the teen/small adult size with the split toe option to wear with toe-post mules.

I've used Regia Cotton Surf (again from stash!) for this one, and I love the way it's turned out.

So does DD - she wants me to start on the second sock right now instead of blogging about it!

The pattern should be ready soon - watch this space.