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!

K2tog in Ely

Knittedrabbit and I were discussing at the k2tog in Cambridge yesterday, the severe lack of knitting groups in Ely. I’m sure we’re not the only ones who find it difficult to get to Cambridge for the Tuesday evening k2togs, but would love to meet up a couple of times a month for drinks, chat and all things yarny! With this in mind, we’ve arranged to meet at 7pm on Thursday 28th February in the bar at The Lamb Hotel in Ely. Please come along and join us, bring a friend, bring your knitting, and let’s take Ely by storm!

Progress

Isn't it nice to get a week when you seem to have lots of knitting time? This has been one of those weeks so one sock has been competed. I used the sock solution software to create a toe up sock with easy toe cast on, half handkerchief heel with partridge eye; the construction seemed a little odd - the sole was knit straight to the very end of the heel with the heel turn at the back of the heel, but it seems to have worked out ok. I knit about 10cms of k2p2 rib for a deep turnover cuff with picot edge - I like the result, and the basketweave pattern has enhanced the self striping yarn.
Also got quite a lot done on the Trinity jacket, back, 2 fronts and half a sleeve so far. Hopefully got a Sunday afternoon of knitting to look forward, so I'd better get on with the (small) pile of ironing so I can justify any other inactivity!

It's here!

Exactly one month after Christmas, Santa paid me a visit:

It came in it's very own drawstring bag, and even has printed instructions as to what to put where!

I spent a very pleasant Saturday afternoon trying to decide what to put in it. Thank goodness everyone was out, because several decades of collected knitting paraphenalia was spread across the living room floor. I soon realised it wouldn't all fit, so in an attempt to be sensible I decided on necessitites (scissors, tape measure, stitch markers etc) along with only what was needed for the current wip's. I suceeded in removing 4 smaller bags of stuff and replacing it with the very beautiful and practical Jordana Paige knitting tote.

So, no more dashing around at last minute trying to remember everything I need to take to a Cambridge k2tog - it's all there in one very convenient place.

Wish me a Merry Christmas - albeit belated!!!

New project started

I delved deep into the stash basket last weekend and came out with this Jaeger Trinity that I've had for a couple of years, started several things that didn't quite look right so ended up frogged, and finally had a moment of enlightenment. I think a casual cardi is what I need, with a cable panel for a bit of interest, and that doesn't take 3 weeks to knit an inch! It's coming along nicely with the armhole shaping almost done; it's nice to be doing cables after so much lace!

And this is Bubbles. Apologies for the blurred picture, but a wide awake , 3 month old golden hamster just doesn't stay still and is very difficult to take a photo of! This was the best I could do - the rest were of her tail as she attempted to bury herself into the crook of Tamsin's arm! She joined the madhouse just before Christmas, and very pretty she is too. As long as I don't have to clean out the cage! Take note, Tamsin!

Ta-da!

So, over Christmas, I had a cold, as I think half the population of England did. It started on Christmas Eve and I didn't feel well again until the afternoon of New Years Day, and I was back at work on January 2nd! So much for a nice relaxing break! Still, much knitting was done - see the never ending lace jacket is finally off the needles! I didn't get the hood I'd hoped for, just 2 pattern repeats of madeira sunset which made a decent collar.

I'm so pleased to get this finished; it's taken 10 months - with many breaks from it to make other things - but a final push was better than lemsips and paracetamol!

I seem to be having trouble with all these photos - they won't stay where I put them, so sorry if things seem a bit muddled!

I also managed to finish this scarf in Schaeffer Ann. Looks very effective and the colours are beautifully rich. However, so much dye came out in the wash! And when I wore it for a couple of hours, the sweater I had on and my neck, turned a delicate shade of purple!

I scored these 4 skeins of Posh Yarn Amelia DK in Dee's half price sale. The first yarn I've bought for 6 months, and as always from Dee, it's absolutely gorgeous.

Lastly, this is a consolation Christmas present. Mr.Diviknitty ordered a Jordana Paige project bag, at the end of November, but it didn't arrive on time. Indeed, we're still waiting for it! By way of an apology, the online store we were dealing with (I won't name them because I don't want to give them a bad name, and they have been very apologetic and helpful) sent me an Opal sock kit. So while most people have opened all their gifts, I still have one to look forward to!