Accessories

Apologies for the silence of late - Mr.Diviknitty has been rebuilding the computer so it's mostly been in pieces over the last couple of weeks. Things are slowly getting back to normal, and it's made me realise just how much computers become an every day part of life. I've missed Ravelry, friend's blogs, window shopping for new stuff..... the list goes on!

I haven't done too much knitting either - a cold laid me low for a few days, and although the snuffles and sneezes didn't last too long, it left me feeling exhausted for some time.

I'm making these gloves for my eldest daughter; the pattern is something of a hybrid from Robin Melansons book "Knitting New Mittens & Gloves". Pretty much a basic full fingered glove with a lace fingerless glove over the top. The yarn is handpainted sock yarn from The Yarn Yard, one of my club yarns from last year that's too pretty for hiding under trousers! I should finish these today as they'll be winging their way to Belfast on Tuesday.

Also making progress on Arbacia by Woolly Wormhead; I've completed 5 of the recommened 7 wedges, but I think I might have to knit an extra wedge.

I was a bit worried that the things I'm knitting at the moment seem to have a distinctly wintry feel about them, what with it being the first day of spring a couple of days ago, but then we woke up to an inch of snow this morning, so they might get some wear sooner than I anticipated!

Last weekend, I went to the NEC for the Sewing for Pleasure exhibition. I used to do quite a lot of dressmaking when the kids were little, but it's kind of taken a backseat over the past few years. I have to admit to getting bit fed up of getting ripped off by the extortionate price of everyday things (soapbox moment!) so I went there with the sole purpose of getting some material and rescuing my sewing machine from it's dark and dingy cupboard. I came away with this lot:

Pale green linen for the full length trousers.

Red broderie anglaise for the sleeveless top.

And deep turquoise cotton for the dress. All for just £30 - you couldn't buy a dress in the shops for that, so I'm well pleased! I've got a couple of days off this week, so guess what i'm gonna be doing?

Hoodie and a hat!

The first Ely ktog went really well with 8 members turning up - see here for more details and a few pics.

I finished the hoodie cardigan in Jaeger Trinity, and I actually had enough yarn for a hood this time - but only just! There was just enough to do all the finishing so it was a close call. I took a few photos and enlisted the help of daughter n°2 who turned out to be a very able model! The buttons are from Injabulo, I got them from Textiles in Focus. I really enjoyed knitting this and I'm pleased with how it's turned out. Constructed from the bottom up , 2x2 rib on 3.5mm, st.st and cable panel on 4mm, no waist shaping for a more casual feel, set in sleeves and a shaped hood on a round front neckline. Jaeger Trinity is a cotton/silk/nylon mix so it has no stretch to it, but it does drape beautifully and gives good stitch definition.

This is "Arbacia" by Woolly Wormhead from the new online magazine The Inside Loop - go take a look, it's worth it! The yarn is from The Yarn Yard, a sock yarn that I've had for about a year and always felt it was too pretty to be hidden under a pair of trousers, so it's destined to be a hat. I love the eyelet holes on this design, and the triple row of cables that form the brim. It does take quite a bit of concentration though, to get the counting for the short rows right - I've had a couple of false starts and had to rip back, but that was my own fault and I only pick this up when I can focus fully on it, so I won't be taking it to the next ktog!