FO: Little Clouds

Just a quick FO for today:

22 Little Clouds by the genius designer behind Hitchhiker.


The pattern is a free download from Ravelry and knitted up remarkably quickly. The pattern called for a dk weight but I used some Knitting Goddess cashmere sock yarn and love the drape of the fabric.

The ruffle is small but effective. Ruffles can be deceptively time consuming but at just 4 rows, this was over before it got too tedious.

One more for the Christmas present box - now for a bit of selfish knitting for me.

Knitting in public

IMAG0701
Originally uploaded by l.tilbrook

A rather manic week in the madmum household has meant a lot of knitting in public (or KIP'ing) and very little knitting-in-front-of-the-tv-with-a-cup-of-tea.

The places I have managed to KIP this week include (but are not limited to):
School playground
School hall (waiting for parents evening)
Traffic jam (engine off, I hasten to add)
GP surgery
Waitrose (very long queue)
Carpark
Sports hall (waiting for two small peeps)
Birthday party (as above)

This week has brought it home to me just how much time I spend ferrying people around, driving to and from work and other appointments and a particularly nasty tailback on the motorway reminded me of the importance of keeping knitting about my person at all times.

Such mobile knitting has pros and cons though. I need a simple project that I can just grab and go - hence the finished blanket. Unfortunately that means that the complicated sock pattern I am working on and which is destined for my father-in-laws Christmas present is no further forward than it was a week ago.

Still, hubby is out tonight with work colleagues so I have the TV remote control, boys on their way to bed and a mug of tea ready for some cosy knitting-in-private!

Autumn days

No knitting today. Just some photos from our lovely autumnal walk yesterday. There are some days when you wake up to a cold, clear and crisp autumn morning and you feel you have to make the most of it.
It was very tempting to let the small peeps lounge around in PJs and to get some sneaky Sunday morning knitting done, but no. Boys were chivvied, hats, gloves and other warming items found (not always matching) and the family stuffed in the car by 9am. Hubby had to be provided with a bacon sandwich en route but once he woke up and saw the gorgeous views he soon perked up.






Brisk walk, and then a spontaneous pub lunch on the way home - fabulous day.

Felted Noro Coasters

Felted Noro Coasters

I found myself at a loose end and with half a skein of Noro Silk Garden and a crochet hook I decided to whip up a few coasters and have a playful evening.

My crochet skills are variable to say the least so I tend to favour projects that can be felted - thus neatly hiding my mistakes.

I have a love/hate relationship with Noro but I love how the felting process merges the colours and that the set compliment each other without being perfectly matching.

download now

Cobblestone

I seem to be on a bit of a roll with finished objects recently, although in truth I finished this a week ago or so and have been waiting for good light and a willing DH to help with the photography.

Neither were available so I just had to do the best I could:



It is the well known Cobblestone pattern by Jared Flood but sized to fit me. Although it is quite a simple knit I am ridiculously pleased with it. It is the first time that I have successfully managed to alter the size and gauge of a garment to end up with something wearable. I do love that feeling when you manage to produce something exactly how you pictured it in your head.

I used some delicious Rowan yarn: Rowan Pure Life British Sheep Breeds dk which is a lovely marled effect yarn. It is quite thin as far as dk goes but it knits up beautifully on 4mm needles and manages to be both soft and pleasantly sheepy smelling at the same time. I did think it might be a bit rough for wearing next to the skin but after washing it is lovely and soft with no itching at all.

I knit the 3rd largest size in the pattern, as the original called for aran weight and at a gauge of 22 stitches to 4" I worked out that this would yield a final chest measurement of 38" I normally wear a UK size 10 (34" chest) and this gives just the right amount of slouch without being too baggy. I had to adjust the depth of the yoke a little and I didn't want the neck too high so I bound off earlier than called for in the pattern.

On the last few rows of the yoke I tried it on a lot, which was a bit of a faff, slipping it onto waste yarn and cables, but it was worth it as I got the exact fit I was looking for.

Right..am off to wear a jumper and go for a healthy outdoor walk before the fog descends here again.

xx

Owls!

Just time to show off a little FO before we dash off for a half-term break.

My niece is mad about owls and all things owl related. Her mum mentioned that she was in dire need of a warm winter hat and this pattern was too cute to resist. Why are owls so darned cute? There is something about these squishy little cables which are such fun and so addictive to make. The hat literally took an evening to knit, and it took much longer for me to sew on the little beads for the eyes. My finishing skills always leave a little to be desired and my procrastination got the better of me for a few days whilst I dithered - eyes...or no eyes...?



But, on the whole I think it looks better with eyes. And the thought of the squeals of joy from my little niece made the hour sitting with tiny beads and needle and thread worthwhile.

I had plenty of yarn left over so I did a quick pair of fingerless mitts too using this pattern

Delicious

I have been fairly frugal recently with my yarn purchases. The weight of the stash has been bearing down on me and I've been feeling the urge to use up some of my lovely yarn, rather than squirrelling it away in the spare bedroom. It has been a very satisfying feeling to go for a rummage amongst the boxes and bags - not quite as organised as I would like I fear - and emerge, flushed but victorious, clutching a perfect skein or two for that next project.

But, the sock yarn stash was a little depleted and in a weak moment I treated myself to some new beauties:



From left, we have some beautiful SuperKnits Bessie sock yarn in the Your Woman (Green) and Silcone Heaven (Grey) colourways. I have been meaning to try this yarn every time I hear it mentioned on the A Playful Day podcast so I thought, why not?

Then we have some delicious yarn from Sparkleduck, first a skein of Galaxy in the Neptune colourway (a lovely blue-green) and then a skein of Spirit in the Duckwing colourway (a rich blue-purple)

The colours are fabulous and I am dying to see how they knit up. Just need to get some WIPs off the needles and I can dive in!