One……

One mitten……Vinterblomster

One word……

Play…..

Your Cell Phone? BLACKBERRY 

Your Hair? MESS

Your Mother? LOVE

Your Father? DOMINATING

Your Favorite Food? JAPANESE

Your Dream Last Night? DISTURBING

Your Favorite Drink? JASMINE

Your Dream/Goal? WEALTH

What Room Are You In? STUDIO

Your Hobby? KNITTING

Your Fear? POVERTY

Where Do You See Yourself In 6 Years? RETIRED 

Where Were You Last Night? BED

Something That You Aren’t? SELFISH

Muffins? BLUEBERRY

Wish List Item? PROPERTIES

Where Did You Grow Up? BRITAIN

Last Thing You Did? KNIT

What Are You Wearing? FLEECY

Your TV? SONY

Your Pets? HEAVEN

Friends? WONDERFUL

Your Life? CRAZY

Your Mood? TEARFUL

Missing Someone? IMMENSLEY

Vehicle? HONDA

Something You Aren’t Wearing? SLIPPERS

Your Favourite Store? GUCCI

Your Favourite Colour? BURGUNDY

When Was The Last Time You Laughed? MONDAY

Last Time You Cried? OCTOBER

Your Best Friend? HUSBAND

One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? ROME

Facebook? MAYBE

Favourite Place To Eat? ST SUSHI

ENJOY!

Strut My Stuff…..

Christmas and New Year came and went, friends stayed over, confrontations, agruments, hissy fits and tantrums, nothing to do with us by the way…..and so they left a few days early and all was quiet, just me and Mr Snobs and some time to ourselves. Food, plenty, too much actually, enough to feed the neighbourhood. Don’t know quite how I came about making 15 dishes to feed 9. Next year, I swear I’m eating out.

Despite the events of the festive season, I did get a lot of knitting done . What happened? Seven, yes seven projects, completed, two were gifted but they count , don’t they?

I buried my head into my knitting since my last post, it’s been a marathon of knitting, non stop, one after another. It felt like a race, I was competing with someone, but who? Myself.  No sooner I cast off one projects it’s on with another. I blame the weather, dull, miserable, wintery, freezing temperatures. I feel miserable this time of year, dark mornings and gloomy days, so it was head down into what I love most. I guess I wanted to take my mind off things, you know.

Ok…lets get down to some business then, enough of being a miserable old fart. I’m going to strut my stuff….you all ready now, sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.

First……

Burberry Inspired Cowl Knitted with less than 2 skeins of Rowan Cocoon.  6mm needle.

Very warm, very stylish and at a fraction of the price of the original Burberry Cowl. Requires a knowledge of kitchener stitch, something I’d forgotton how to do, you either love it or hate it.

I took it for it’s catwalk debut just before Christmas and it was literally whipped of my neck. My girlfriends wanted to try it on, it was passed around, it came off my neck several times, did a walkabout somewhere, and I wasn’t happy. Not because my lovely cowl disappeared, I did get it back eventually but because it was on my neck, then off my neck, my bloody hair became static!! YES STATIC! It had a mind of its own and it was everywhere! I could’t control it. So that now became the focal point amongst my girlfriends….bitches!

Anyway, I made another two of these for my girlfriends both using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky, one purple and one black 5mm needles. Each knitted up in just over 5 hours, a quickie project.

By this time, kitchener stitch became a doddle. it got neater and less visible. I think it’s payback time with their hair

Next up…is another Cabled Cowl. This one’s for me, me, me, me.

Not quite so please with this little number. Rowan Kid Classic 3.3 skeins 5.5mm needle.

Mods:
Cast on 168st (42st repeat) The extra 4 stitches at the checkered pattern section.
13 rows of rib instead of 9 rows, top and bottom.
Blocked measurements: 16” height 41” circumference.

I’m not convinced I love this as much as I do with the first one. Wrong choice of yarn, don’t get me wrong, the yarn is lovely to knit with but maybe not for this project. Maybe the halo effect is not suited, maybe the weight of yarn, maybe the colour. Maybe I need to knit another using Rowan Pure Aran, maybe……..

Eternity Scarf a cute little number, very in season, they are everywhere.

If you haven’t added something like this to your wardrobe, then take my advice, do so. Eternity style scarves are HOT!

Madelinetosh Worsted Oxblood 5.5mm needle. Only did  14 rows instead of 20 for the stockinette stitch. I love how it curls. I’ve been wearing this doubled up but can be worn in a loop hanging down, ribbed side up or curled side up, whichever takes your fancy!

And Finally…..16 Sixteen Cable Hat or Fez Head as I call it.

Very similar to my Cabled Beret with less slouch. Knitted size 2 with no slouch. Love this hat, love the yarn too. The pattern even has tips for avoiding the holes that you get when you knit cables.

Debbie Bliss Fez  1.8 skeins 4 mm & 5.mm needle (a blend of Merino and Camel) and oh so lovely. I’m very impressed with this yarn. No knots in either balls and I had used this yarn to cast on and rip back a project about 5 times, and still, it didn’t felt or fuzz up. Stitch and cable definitions are really impressive too. Another quickie project to add to your list.

Well…lovely readers, I hope you have all enjoyed this catwalk show of all my latest knits and hope you have gathered some inspiration from them too and thank you for taking your time in reading, think it’s time for a cuppa and to get those needles out again xx

Cracking Christmas!

I’d like to take this wonderful moment and thank everyone for their support. This year has been filled with happiness and sadness and without your kind words of comfort, your inspirations, your comments and just for being there, reading my blog………has helped me tremendously.

May I wish you all a Merry, merry Christmas that’s filled with joy, laughter and love (and knitting , of course!)  and a Wonderful New Year! Xxx

For Eve…..Grey Cables

This cowl is going to be very very hard to let go. Mmmm, not so sure I want to gift it to her to be honest…..selfish knitter It’s for my sister Eve’s  birthday in January. At least I have a month to go until I have to gift it but in the meantime I have it all to myself, yes, all……to…….my…….self.

The cowl is from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2009. I saw this and HAD to make it. She saw it and HAD to have it. I want please!

Rowan Wool Aran 2.3 skeins, Charcoal  Needles 5.5mm. I didn’t go down a needle size for the rib just because, I wanted it to be rather stretchy. She wants to wear it over her shoulders. Imagine this wrapped over your shoulders and your arms not being able to move because it’s too tight!

Normally I’d use a long tail cast on and often, it’s not quite as stretchy as I’d like it to be. So I used the cable cast on and wow……this really stretches. Knitted to exactly as the pattern and measurements but I used a p2tog, slip st back to left needle, repeat, to cast off.

You can wear it wrapped round your neck like a cowl……

Over your shoulders for a touch of glam and chic…..

Like a snood, the very “in season” item to have in your wardrobe at the moment…..

Over one shoulder for a sexy look……

Very warm, very snug, very chic……go knit one.

Now you know I used to knit two of everything and I said I’d stop that, this one is an exception, I MUST knit one for me, me, me, me. Cast on mine last night and I’m not 100% sure I have chosen the right yarn, we’ll see.

Man Gloves…..

Not long after I first started knitting almost 3 years ago now, my DH requested a pair of gloves. He pestered and pestered for a pair of gloves and so he got.

Knitting a pair of gloves for the first time was very daunting, those fingers, the construction etc. Never knew about knitting in the round and seaming all those fingers felt like a chore. Needless to say, I did find them fun to do, (except for the fingers) well at the time, that is.

He was so chuffed with them, he wore them out on the cold winter evenings. However, the gloves did not last a week of wear. He came home with them, fingers missing on each glove, dangling from their ends, holes everywhere, yarn ends from each finger, stitches unravelled.

I’m not exactly sure how they became like this, he said, they completely fell apart, into pieces. Yeah right!

That was 3 years ago now and ever since then, he’s been asking for a pair of gloves for Christmas. So that’s what he’s got.

Dream In Colour Smooshy : Cocoa Kiss, needles 2.5mm

These gloves are based from the Knotty pattern, but without the cables. (I so wanted to do but men don’t wear cable gloves he said…….says who?)

I doubled the cuff too, just to make them extra squishy, knitted the rib 12 cms, folded it over then picked up the cast on stitches. Continued in stocking stitch for 12 rounds before starting the increase and following the pattern and using the magic loop method for those fingers instead of knitting them flat. Um, yes, I did knit the first ever pair flat.

I hated them fingers  but the man loves his new gloves! Yes, he really does.

How do you take photos of gloves and make them look interesting? They’re funny things….Gloves!

Let’s hope they last longer than the first pair…..they’d better!

Veyla, Kat & Evangeline…..

See….I did mention I’d got back into the swing of things. I’ve been knitting non stop. I’ve been like a knitting machine, churning out one project after another. I’m buzzing, I’m on a roll!

Pattern Veyla from Whimsicle Knits 2. A lovely elegance pair of fingerless mitts. Very simple straight forward pattern. I blocked the lace before continuing with the pattern.

Yarn used: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solid : Colour Slate Needles 3.25mm

It’s a strange colour, kind of gray, then it looks teal and other times its green. I found these cute little buttons in my department store, almost exact in colour as the yarn. I didn’t want them to take the eye away too much from the lace. They look slightly green in the photo though but they have a lovely marble effect.

Next, is my lovely Kat by Kim Hargreaves from the beautiful Precious I love the patterns from this book, very elegant and beautifully photographed.

Again, knitted in the round by omitting the first of every round and reversing the sts of every even round. I left out a couple rounds so it’s less slouchy….I learned not to knit hats that are too slouchy.

Rowan Kid Classic in Peat colourway. I have to say I am really inpressed with this yarn. Its lovely to knit with and feels so so soft. It’s becoming one of my favourite Rowan yarns.

Needle size 3.75mm for the rim and 4.5mm for the body. I did fear it would come out huge but it fits just perfect.

Now I just have to knit another, really I do.

Last, there’s Evangeline, fingerless cable mitts for my sister.

…using some left over Rowan Aran Wool. Should have made them a bit longer though. Oh well….hope she likes them.

Cabled Beret….Reworked

It’s taken me over a month to get back into knitting, When Holly died, I couldn’t think of anything else except her. I couldn’t focus on the things I loved to do.

A month on, I finally decided to pick myself up and get back into the swing of things. Although spinning has taken a back seat, my knitting is coming along and the sound of my needles are clicking again.

I wanted to reknit this cabled beret for a while now. Each time I wore it, it would fall pass my eyes…..in other words, it was way too big even for my huge head.

Modelled on my sister, it’s a much better fit. I’m really pleased with it, very snug and warm.

Why on earth would one want to knit a hat flat?  Knitted in the round but omitting the first st of every round and missing a few rows here and there, the hat came out just perfect.

Using smaller needles 3.25mm for the rim and 4.5mm for the body. I love how the cables knitted up and the hat is not too slouchy like before. DH called it my rasta hat look.

There’s been a fight over who’s turn it is to wear it!

ooopss …as resquested from the Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine Fall/Winter 2008.

Thank You……

…….to each and every one of you, for your lovely words of support, your hugs and love. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

It has been a very difficult month but I’ve had the support from my family, friends and blog friends to help me through. Like everyone has said, in my own time, the pain will be less hard, my heart will feel less heavy and I will remember and treasure all the good, happy and fun times she has brought into my life.

I will miss the “hmmmmm” she does when she greets me

I will miss her walking over my face in the morning, lying on top of my head, sleeping under the duvet with me and resting her head on my chest

I will miss our race in the morning to get down the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast

I will miss her greeting me at the door when I come home

I will miss her loud purring

It gets easier, I know.

 

R.I.P Holly……

I am finding this post extremely difficult to write. My life is totally shattered, my heart is broken, it aches terribly, I’m crying out for you every minute of the day.

My life without you by my side is really unbearable, I must be strong.

1993 – 15. 10. 2009

You will always be in my heart, forever. I miss you so so much, it hurts, really hurts. I am trying to accept you are gone, I am trying very hard.

Rest now, sleep well my baby. There is a special place in my heart….always and forever.

I Love You Xxx

A Bit Of Knitting……

It’s been a while since I posted on the blog. I know you’ve all been popping back to see if I’ve got new projects to show you or just browsing to see what I’ve been up to.

The past couple of months have been rather manic here at Snob house, relatives making a visit, entertaining, days out, work. There hasn’t been much time to do much. The day often ends very late and I’m too shattered to knit a stitch. However, I do have something to show you, not a lot but something….knitting related, that is.

Ishbel…..this is my second Ishbel. I gifted the first one to my niece when she came to visit me. I wasn’t sure if she’d like it or not, she’s only 11 and thought she may have accepted it out of politeness, you know kids at that age. The following day, she wore it out on a day trip we took. I think she loved it.

Knitted using one skein of Malabrigo Sock Yarn, I did the large lace and stocking stitch. The first Ishbel I knitted (um yes…I knitted two again, you see….I had to have one for myself) I did the large stocking st and small lace but had about 25gm remaining. I had an inkling that maybe I could get the large size out of one skein and I was right. I had 4.5yrds remaining from one skein…phew!!! (Ps….I still had the 25gm left over as back up). Such a lovely pattern and very easy to follow.

Is it just me or did anyone else who used this yarn get into a right tangle when wound into a cake???? On both skeins, I had a real great time untangling the mess!

Next up is Springtime Bandit using Malabrigo Merino Worsted Polar Morn.

Nice and cosy, perfect for the Winter evenings.

The pattern is not written with the mirror image for the left of the shawl so here’s what I did.

Mirrored sts in brackets as follows:
K2tog (SKP)
SKP (K2tog)
SK2togP (ssk, return the st to the left needle, slip the next st over it and slip it back onto the right needle), or simply k3tog.

It does require a little concentration as sometimes, you do forget to mirror the stitches.

Oops!…..

Another wheel? Um….blushes I’m afraid so. I know, I think it’s crazy, I’m crazy. It’s an addiction.

I brought a Lendrum, the one where you have to wait months and months, the one where there is a waiting list, the one where there is only one dealer in UK. Although I have to admit, I am very very lucky, ONE WEEK was all I had to wait. My heart goes out for those who had to wait 9 months for their wheel. It’s a terribly long time to wait for something. I’m sorry.

She spin’s wonderfully and smells divine. The maple wood gives off a beautiful scent. It’s becoming a habit to sniff her every so often. Holly joins me in our morning sniff, we’re mad! We then sniff the Suzi, it’s our new routine!

It doesn’t spin quite as smooth as my Suzi but she does spin well, quiet and smooth and damn sexy too!

She was my first love, the wheel I lusted after when I wanted a spinning wheel but wasn’t prepared for the long wait. Now I have her and my Suzi, my heart is content, very content. They are both beautifully made and a joy to spin.

Now I must have another sniff.

Bloody Mara….

Knitting has been rather slow recently, projects taking longer, not feeling the urge or the love for the needles, what’s wrong with me?

Must be a phase, will soon pass, I know.

Mara….

My Bloody Mara : 3 skeins of Madelinetosh Worsted in Oxblood, birthday gift from my lovely Coley. Saw her version instantly knew Oxblood had to be Mara.

Ruffles not quite 4 inches, just over 2.5 inches to be exact but I’m ok with that. Measurements: 148cm across, 68cm down centre to tip. Just love that pleat!

This is my first use of Madelinetosh yarns and it’s becoming a favourite, lovely on the needles, such intensity in colours, beautiful results. I want more.

Oops, just to let you know, I haven’t been on a crash diet and lost loads of weight, my hair is shorter but thats not me……it’s my skinny minny sister, bitch!

Waiting……

Peonies are my all time favourite flowers. I love watching the lollipops,  little lollipops, big lollipops, waiting for them to burst into big, bold and beautiful flowers. I have five varieties in my small patio, Sarah Bernheart, a beautiful pale pink, Rubis Plena, a red, magenta colour, a deep almost blood like peony, which I can’t recall the name of, a lipstick red peony and a deep pink one which is an early bloomer.

The wait begins.

Rubis Plena

……and waiting…..

Sarah Bernheart

and patiently waiting……every year, my small patio is full of these wonderful flowers. Are you going to bloom today?

Finally…..They POP!!! into something so beautiful.

Silky Textured Shawl…..

Textured Shawl Recipe, Malabrigo Silk Merino ~ 3 skeins ~ Cape Cod~ 5.5mm needles.

CO 5sts, knit 2 rows.
I followed the increase pattern until I got 35st.

Textured pattern, I had one extra st before the centre st which I knitted, M1L, slm, k centre st, slm, M1R, K1 then continued with the pattern.
Wrong side, K2, purl to last 2 sts, K2.

16 rows in st st
16 rows in textured pattern
16 rows in st st
14 rows in textured pattern
16 rows in st st
12 rows in textured pattern
12 rows in st st
12 rows in textured pattern
22 rows in garter st

If you cast off tightly, I would suggest you go up a needle size.

Twilight handspun Shetland 2 ply, purchased at the Spinning Guiild at the weekend. Approx 220yrds…what weight? No idea, maybe sports weight. Shetland is so lovely to spin, its not the softess of fibers but is a great fiber for a newbie.

On the bobbin right now is a batt of BFL that I dyed almost to a semi solid lilac, really intense in colour and so hard to photograph. Im spinning this as fine as I can get it, then will dye up another batt in maybe a variegated colour and ply them both, see what interesting handspun I can come up with! I want yardage, plenty yardage so I can knit it up into something.

Spinning is addictive, is an obsession, I can’t get enough of it! I must knit it up though…….Have I knitted anything with them?, Um, well. no but I will.

Lucky Winner & A Surprise….

OH MY!!! You are an interesting lot! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading all your wonderful comments. You’ve all been so busy with lots of projects, some of you have several on the go, whilst some have just one, like me. You are a creative bunch too with some wonderful names for the handspun, very interesting.

Right…lets get down to business. I have a surprise for all my wonderful readers.

Weilangta Forest by The Thylacine 100% Cheviot approx 103yrds 94gms

Whilst you’ve been commenting on my blog, of course I’ve been spinning and guess what? This will be awarded to the second random number drawn out! OH YES, two chances to win! Doesn’t that make you squeal with joy? Woooohooo!  Just my way of saying  THANK YOU to all who have taken time to read and post a comment. You are all so wonderful!

OK…..quit the babbling, you ready…lets go! Good luck everyone.

The first number from my random number generator is  9…….Mary Ellen.

The 2nd number is 58……TJ

Congratulations and sorry to those whose number didn’t get chosen. Winners, please contact me to claim your handspuns!! This has be so fun!!! I think I’ll do another competition again someday, so please, drop by again!

Simple Contest……

Come to think of it, when was the last time I had a contest, a give away? A long time ago, thats when…….A skein of yarn, spun by me, on my Majacraft Suzi Pro, washed, twirled, twanged and whacked from this:

to this:

Dyed by FeltStudioUK  BFL approx 90gms 128yrds 13wpi

……….can be yours. So what do you have to do to win this? Well…..it’s simple, leave a comment, tell me something, your favoutite things, the size of your feet,  what’s in your handbag, what you’re knitting/crocheting, an embarassing moment,  what brings you to my blog, likes and dislikes, inspirations, what would you knit with this yarn, or maybe you can give a name to this handspun……anything!!! Simple!!….easy peasy lemon squeezy!

One lucky winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator.  Last date for your comments will be Sunday 10th May and at 10pm BST when I will announce the winner. So post a comment!

Bad Spin, Good Spin….

Now when is that Yarnsnob going to show us some spinning I hear you all cry? Ok Ok…here goes……my first attempts, which I trashed but dug out of the bin so I can remember how crap I was! Art yarn maybe? Look closely….there are coils and plenty of them! See the twists? YAY! YARN!

It does get slightly better, really it does…..look this IS Art Yarn

…..and better still……there’s a bit of normal plying here

and navajo plying here……

a spin kept as singles…..

and…….Look SUCCESS! I did it! I’m having a real blast with my new toy……is this addictive or what!

Note to myself…..you can’t spin merino yet, so avoid until you can.

B a b e t t e……

……from The Rowan Cocoon Collection, beautiful soft yarn to knit with but very delicate. Pull too hard and the yarn breaks. I have to admit, this is not one of my loved projects. I love the design but I don’t feel I suit this at all. It makes me look like I’ve gained a few pounds instantly!

Overweight + Bulky yarn = ENORMOUS! I look like I’ve had just a few many cream cakes. It’s not for me which is a shame as I do love the design so without a doubt it will be gifted to a family member, who needs a few extra pounds added to their weight.

The sleeves also came out a little too long and I also blocked this too long on the body….silly me read the measurements wrong and s t r e t c h e d it like crazy. Ah well…..at least it covers my fat butt, but come to think of it….it emphasizes it!

Rowan Cocoon  colour Scree 7.5 skeins.

Needles 6mm and 7mm

Button, from an old cardigan that Mr Snobs felted in the wash.

No mods…..exactly as pattern.

A very very warm snug cardigan for the winter. Love the yarn, love the design, just not for me

New Addition…..

There’s a new addition in the snob household. It’s not the meows of a kitten nor is it the cries of a baby. It’s not the sound of an engine of a new car either. So what is it??? Well…. she’s green, smooth, curvy, solid, sexy and very HOT HOT HOT! She’s my new toy…….

Majacraft Suzi Pro. A spinning wheel, gifted to me by my darling Mr Snobs as my birthday present. Awww isn’t she a beauty? (can you see Holly?)

For weeks I had been reading reviews on wheels and finally set my heart on the Lendrum DT but having to wait weeks, maybe months for one? No No. I want a wheel and I want it now. Woke up one morning, called a dealer in the UK and luckily she had one in stock. Ordered Tuesday arrived Friday. Now that’s fast!

I’ve been having so much fun with her. Not quite a pro yet but I’m getting there! I spun coils and lots of them, thick and thin and a bin full of scraps. Soon, I shall spin something that resembles yarn! Practice, practice, practice.

A Whisper…..

Hey, how did Holly get hold of that photo?? Thank you for all your well wishes, meow, meow, meow, mow..puuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrr…….she’s says Thank you to you all.

I have neglected the blog lately but do not fear, I haven’t lost my knitting mojo yet, I thought I did as I have been playing with a spindle, trying to spin but there is knitting and I do have something to show you, a finished piece, it’s cute.

I have a confession: I didn’t swatch for this shrieks. Yup, I haven’t been swatching for any of my latest projects. I know, I’m a naughty knitter. I’m lazy put it that way but I think it came out just fine. Prepare yourself for lots of photos.

Whisper Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2009. A lovely cute little cardigan, more like a shrug and enjoyable to knit. Picking up 32ost was a bit of a nightmare!

I wasn’t so keen on the bell shaped elbow length sleeves so I made them longer and more fitted. I blocked the bottom slightly wider too to give it a slight flared look. This worked out so well and I prefer them. I love how the edge of the shrug curls inwards but I know I will constantly grab the edges to try and wrap it around my body.

I also added 1″ of 1×1 rib to the sleeves to prevent them curling, can’t be having sleeves that curl!! Also, you can see I’ve added 4 rows of rib to the bottom of it too. It prevents the cardigan from rolling up my back!

A cardigan/shrug from 2 skeins of DiC Smooshy in Gothic Rose! Can you believe that? Incredible!

My modifications:

Needles: 2.75mm. 3.5mm and 4.5mm

Cast on 76st and used magic loop method for the first time for the sleeves. Lengthened sleeves to 12″ with a 1″ 1×1 rib. Decreased upper arm section to 60st and continued back section for 11″ (total 22″across back) Increased left arm section to 76st and continued for left sleeve adding 1″rib.

Picked up 320 sts for the collar and waist and knitted rib section for 3″.

Lower body: worked section for just over 8″ and added 4 rows of rib. Sprayed blocked cardigan, what I mean by that is pinned out the cardigan and spritzed it with water, blot dry the excess water with a towel and let dry. I moved it to another room just incase Holly decides to spend the night on it as always.

Hello…Holly Here…

Seeing as my mom hasn’t blog since god knows when, I thought I’d jump in and say Hi and tell you a little of whats been going on. My mom is being a little lazy these days with her blog so here’s my chance to tell you what happened to me.

I was poorly again, blood, pain. stress, discomfort.

I was diagnosed with cystitis. Emergency vet very late one eveing, two injections….relief. One  more visit to the vet next day for another antibiotic injection, 3 weeks later, I feel like a new woman!! But I think I’m going a little deaf, must be my age.

Me having a bit of a siesta time in the sun Mom is knitting something, I’m sure she will blog about it soon. I pinched a photo of her new project Shhhhh…..

Have a nice day!!!

Selbu Modern……

….in a slouchy way.

This is my first attempt at colourwork after seeing so many pretty Selbu’s on ravelry, I just had to have one for myself. It was really daunting at first, how do you knit with two different coloured yarns? I tried using the english knitting method, working with one colour, dropping it and picking up the other but I got into all sorts of bother with it. Geesh…..this is going to take me forever! So with a little bit of research, put one colour on the left side and the other on the right. Using both continental and english style knitting I began my Selbu.

I tried to match two colours together, so they wouldn’t clash too much but still show the beauty of the pattern. I do love the colour combination. It worked out really well. It was really tricky using both knitting styles, my forefinger on my left hand which was holding one colour, well……was all over the place! But after a little practice, it began to do as it was told.

I first cast on with 2mm needles for the ribbing and 2.75mm for the body of the hat. After reaching half way, I was kidding myself that it IS going to fit me with a little blocking, it will stretch and fit over my huge head. Who am I kidding? It was very tight and more like a beanie and I really struggled to even get it on!

So……what did I do? Frogged it and cast on again using 2.5mm and 3.0mm for the body, adding an extra pattern repeat. Now…after blocking the rib is slightly too big! I just can’t get it right!! Maybe a 2.5mm for the rib would have been better but I still love the slouchyness of the Selbu.

I used : Baby Cashmerino Chocolate approx 75gms and Posh Yarn Lucia (can’t recall the colourway) approx 25gms.

Does it look too big? I’d love to do another one but not quite just yet! My next one, I’ll use 2.5mm for the ribbing, 3.25mm for the main pattern but without the extra repeat.

A really well written pattern, very clear and the design is beautiful and I would say a perfect pattern to start colourwork knitting.

Blanket Cardigan….

Finished!!!! What a relief it is too, all that seaming…argh was driving me up the wall. My neck, my head, my eyes, the black yarn! Believe it or not, its my first attempt at sleeve seaming. I followed the tips from Finishing Techniques for Hand Knitters by Jane Crawford. A nice little book with some very handy tips! I have to say, my second sleeve is much neater than the first.

Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino DK in Black

Needles 4mm

Amount used 12.5 balls

Size M

I added a seed st to the collar as I knew that its going to curl no matter how hard I block it. I’m so kicking myself now as I should have done that on the edges at the start of the sleeve and the body to prevent the curling too…..I’m dumb! I knew in the back of my mind that stocking stitch curls no matter how hard you block it and me being me, just followed the pattern as it is! That’s just me, I very rarely make changes to a pattern and I know that as an experienced knitter (can I call myself that? or should I call myself that?) I should have made changes.

Now after blocking it again, the edges still curl. I guess I will have to sew some grosgrain onto all the edges. So my advice….if you’re planning to start one, add some seed st before you start the stocking stitch. Makes less sewing !

I’m really pleased with this cardigan (apart from them damn curls.) It’s a perfect fit, with a lovely drape. The yarn is lovely to work with but I did find that the dye did rub off onto my fingers a little but thats to be expected from dark yarns…I keep saying to myself. Guess who I found sitting on top of the pieces each time I blocked……Ms Holly AGAIN and this time, she managed to catch a few sts with her nails!!! Shriek! Horror! Naughty Cat!  Somehow, no matter where I block, she finds my knitting and Mr Snobs is no help, he leaves the door open for her!! Yeah..mummy just finished her knitting, go and put your mark on it! I feel like picking Ms Holly up when she does her pee and putting her on his lap…..there Holly, go put your mark on him! MEN!

Brassiere Caresse Point Mousse…..

I really really love this cute little gilet. Lovely pattern by La Droguerie.

It’s such a shame that they don’t publish their patterns in English as the designs are so chic and I am feeling the love for their designs so much. Such a simple design, yet so wearable for the Spring, a cute little number for my wardrobe, don’t you think? Now I just gotta wait for the weather to warm up a little so I strut this little number!

Yarn: RYC Baby Alpaca in Chifon 212 7 balls with just a tiny amount remaining.

Size: L.

Needles: 5mm.

Kindly translated for me by a fellow raveler. Thank you.

My choice of yarn gave the gilet a lovely fluffy effect and a pleasure to knit, however I did find it a little splitty at times. I used the Russian join method to attach new balls. This is my new method which worked well. I also chose a size slightly bigger size as I wanted the gilet to fit more around my bust area, rather than have a gaping gap.

The colour has been very difficult to capture. It’s more of a wine colour as in the first photo. I also chose to have buttons rather than a shawl pin but there are some lovely shawl pins around, but I much prefer buttons. Finding just the right place to add two buttons holes proved a little difficult. I had to frog back a few times, it was either too close to the edge or too far back. I still think it’s a little too far back so at times it tends to curl over but I can live with that………and you all know me by now, I like to make two of everything. Yes….I have some Rowan Kid Silk Haze on order for another together with maybe some Drops Alpaca which I will knit together to make another extra extra fluffy one!

……and guess who I found sitting on top of this in the morning? Yup…..Holly. Bad cat.

There Is Progress…..

……..really there is,  on the knitting front, not on the yarn front, well..OK just another 10 balls of Rowan Cocoon in Shale and nothing more, honest!

I really stuck my nose into my knitting these past few days, wanting to finish lots of projects before starting another. I’m funny like that, it bugs me that something isn’t finished and just lying around. I hear voices in my head, whispers in my ear, unfinished projects call me……please finish me, please. No matter how boring the knitting is, I just need to get on with it and just focus myself on that project. My mind does wonder to other things.

So I got down to some serious business. I’d finish one row then on the next row, I see if I can knit a little faster and the next row after that. If my needles could create sparks, I swear I could make a little fire!

This is not the most interesting of projects, somewhat tedious with rows and rows of stocking stitch but I really wanted an over sized cardigan to throw over a t shirt come Spring, something classy and non too fussy and so I chose this. Yeah, I kept saying to myself, it’s only stocking stitch, you can do it with your eyes closed. Just focus.

Blanket Cardigan from the Sarah Dallas Knitting. How do you take interesting photos of a black cardigan? With difficulty.

What’s interesting about this cardigan? Not a lot but there is the strip which runs from one front to the back and the seed st border on the front.

There are sleeves to seam on and also the collar which is half done. I blocked and seamed the two fronts and the body sections as I wanted to try the cardigan on for size. Great fit, not too baggy as I feared that it may look like I’m wearing a bin liner with blue ties or something hideous. Mr Snobs said, Oh I have something like that! Oh great! Still I didn’t care. I like it!

As we all know, stocking stitch has a tendency to curl….damn them curls. I really blocked the s**t out of it, standing on it, stamping on it, placing heavy books over it. I plonked Holly on top of it, hoping that her warm botty may just flatten them curls! No luck. Still, damn them curls. It’s not going to lie flat although some sections are flatter than others.

See that curl? Blah!

I love that thin blue line.

I have a few options to fix that curl. Great advice from friends. 1. Buy another ball of the yarn and either pick up the edging and knit or crochet another row, or an edge. 2. Attach a strip of grosgrain around the bottom edge and sleeves, which means more sewing. 3. Block the crap out of it again, and again and again. I think I may opt to attach grosgrain and hope for the best!

La Drogueire Brassiere Caresse Point Mousse, Gilet to you and me. I’m lucky to have this translated from French by some Ravellers. Really simple but effective and totally wearable gilet. My garter stitches are not the neatest of my knitting, kinda messy in places and uneven. I’m planning to add buttons to this rather than a shawl pin.

Using a couple of clover leaf design coconut buttons from my stash. The pattern calls for yarn by the weight not by the yardage and I am realising I’m using more than what is required, possibly due to the fact I chose a DK yarn. I was so lucky to find a further two balls of this RYC Baby Alpaca DK in the same dyelot number after a major search across UK! Several calls and a couple of hours later, I sourced 2 balls and had them delivered to my home…Phew! Lucky or what? Who said knitting was easy!

55…..

Just when you thought I was all done with my bargain hunting….here I am, at it again, stalking, no searching this time for online bargains. I am a bargain whore, I admit it. There is no mistake about that. My last bargain purchases, were, somewhat fun and exciting. I managed to get 44 balls of yarn passed Mr Snobs,  right under his nose. This time the shopping is much more laid back but I had ask myself……. How do I get 55 balls of yumminess pass him this time? I have 2 weeks of him at home in my face 24/7! What do I do?

1. Do I smuggle them in by hiding them under my sweater and pretend I ate too much?
2. Hide them in the downstairs toilet or cloakroon and wait until he’s out or sleeping?
3. Put them in the boot of my car and bring them in together with the weekly daily grocery shopping?
4. Tell him Holly went shopping and brought herself some cat beds.
5. I’m ordering for a friend, they are not mine.
6. I’m knitting you a lovely sweater, they are ALL for you.
7. Say “Look what I got in the post today!” wave them about in his face and hold them directly under his nose?

Answer: No 7 and only with one question asked. “What are going to make with them?”

He’s good, he understands, he knows he’s married a crazy woman, who is stubborn, a perfectionist and always gets what she wants. I was expecting “Are you going to open a yarn warehouse or something?” “Are you EVER going to knit up the yarn you already have?” “You gotta stop, no more, the house is full of yarn, I won’t be able to find Holly.” Oh yeah yeah!

10 Rowan Cocoons

13 Sublime Angora’s – Feather, incidently 10 are on a flight overseas, gifted

and 15 Sublime Angora’s in Husk & 17 in Blacker

…….OH and a button

…..and do you know something? I ain’t got a clue what to make with them!

There has been some knitting going on, really there has…Blanket Cardigan from Sarah Dallas Knitting and a  Gilet from a French pattern. More on that when I quit shopping and actually do some knitting.

I also received some truely beautiful timber buttons from Nora in Australia, too beautiful to use, so I may just frame them Thank you so so much. Xx Ok…I’m going to do some knitting…really I am, no kidding!

Pssst………I have another 20 balls waiting to arrive….eeek! If you find the blog is quiet all of a sudden, you can guess what’s happened…Mr Snobs will have ordered me out of the house! Oh Help!

Granny Squares…..

In February 2008 I took an unexpected trip to HK to be with my sister who was having surgery. It was there that I taught her and myself  to crochet our first Granny Squares. They were addictive, once you start you can’t stop.

Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK, in colours cream, grey and dark grey – a beautiful soft yarn that we found at a local yarn store near her apartment.

I left her with a few squares to finish off and the task of sewing up all the squares and adding a decorative border….to become a small blanket.

I think she’s done a fine job of finishing it off. Next time I’m over there, I think I’ll claim it as mine. I’m such a nasty sister!

You Do This Too, Don’t You?…..

Happy New Year everyone, 5 days later lol. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to visit my blog, post comments, for your inspirations and well wishes. Hope you all had a good new year.

This nasty flu bug isn’t going away as quickly as I want. My crispy red nose, yes crispy, you know when it all dries up and it becomes crispy and flaky from the tissues and you blow your hooter so hard you get nose bleeds………ok I won’t go into detail but you get the picture, has found its way back onto my face! A few drips now and again but I’m surviving.

I managed to get out a few days after the festive season to go bargain hunting in the sales and yes my flaky nose came with me, not a pretty sight but I didn’t care. I took my sister along with me for support.

Now you tell me and be honest…..it’s happened to you right? You have all done this before…….you ready for some story telling and lots of pictures?

I head off to the sales, weaving in and out between all the bargain hunters and focus on getting to the yarn department in my local store, as fast as my feet could take me. Once there, I saw lots and lots of bargain yarns, mostly half price. My sister and I are like little children, rummaging around the bags of yarns, grabbing as much as we could carry before anyone else grabs them. Eventually we had to get two shopping baskets, one each. Opposite me, I see a lady in red jacket and she has grabbed a bag of yarn that I had to have, how come I didn’t see that? Oh, she clutches on to it like something precious. I said to my sister, I must have that.

The lady then walks away without putting the bag of yarn back and this is where is gets worse. I stalk her, I follow her around the department with the corner of my eye, I walk up to her, behind her, looking and trying to get a glimpse of the yarn…..lovely colour, I want to touch it and just get a little info about it.

She heads back to the bargain section, there’s hope? No, she still clutching them and rummages around for more. She wanders away, I lose sight of her…where is she? Has she gone to the checkout? Go sister…see if you can find her and off she goes, looking for her. We’ve lost her. The suddenly, she pops her head up from behind the book section and there she asks the store rep about something. I ears drop on their conversation, me on the other side and my sister next to her. She is looking for a pattern to make with the yarn, but the rep tells her there is not enough. I still pretend to rummage around the bargain section.

Half an hour goes by and she’s still not letting go, the rep then grabs her some novelty chunky yarn. Yes, that will be enough lady, you buy that and let me have the other. I can see she’s not interested and I know she knows I want that yarn. My sister spy reports back and tells me that she is desperate to find a pattern for the yarn.

She heads back to the bargain section, my sister stands on one side of her and me on the other, looking at the novelty yarn, looking at the yarn she wanted, comparing, she knows I want it. FINALLY 45 mins later, she places the yarn back into the bargain section and no sooner does she let go, I snatch it from her hand, whilst another bargain hunter was eyeing it up. Sorry, lady, but it has my name on it. The lady in the red jacket looks at me and smiles. I say I am sorry but I have to have this but if you really really do want it, then please do take it. I can see from her eyes, she does really want it as she looks at it again and again and hesitates. You don’t mind if I take it, I ask? Um…..well……mmmmm, no was her reply. YES!!!!! It’s mine.

Now you tell me if this has happened to you, or am I the only one who stalks people around the department, lusting for a yarn I must have? I laughed at myself and feel a sense of guilt that I did what I had to do. What has happened to me? I’ve become a yarn, stalking monster of some sort!

Lady in red…if you’re reading my blog, I’m sorry, it was me! I am that crazy woman that had that red crispy nose, who stalked you like a little kid!

Yarn in question? 7 balls of Scottish Tweedy Chunkiness!

and other bargains I picked up…

and this is supposed to smell like sheep!

But it hasn’t been all bargain hunting, there’s been knitting too:

One Row Handspun scarf for my aunt to match her grey cable hat. Rowan Cashsoft Chunky in Charcoal, purchased in the sales and I wish I brought more.

Big Wool Wham Bam.
Quick and simple from one ball of Rowan Big Wool.