Well I am pleased to announce that Dominika from Rowan Knitting Magazine 48 is finally finished, well all bar the blocking and sewing. I also decided that as the knitted fabric was so nice I want to line it. In my stash I have the perfect fabric colour wise and have cut it out ready . The sleeve linings will be in a plain lining fabric as I didn’t have enough of the Cotton. One front and the back have been blocked so once the rest is done I can sew it all together. Hopefully this will happen before Monday but I’m not going to rush it so we shall see. I really enjoyed knitting this and love the yarn. Rowan Felted Tweed Aran a dream to knit with. My only minor complaint is that I’m not over keen on the moss stitch top of the sleeve.
The End is in Sight
I have just had a wonderful relaxing time aboard the cruise liner Celebrity Eclipse. It was four nights of pure rest and relaxation. Of course I took my knitting with me. Originally I was going to take the socks to knit but I got back into Dominika the day before so I took that too. I only took the sleeves but am over halfway on both and should finish them by tomorrow. Then it’s the blocking and sewing. It is such a nice fabric once knitted that I have decided to line it. This will make it more wearable and hopefully last longer. I have some nice cotton fabric in the stash which I think will go perfectly. Progress on sleeves so far.
Two Odd Socks
I have finished two socks. However they do not make a pair. I finished the first footlet sock by Anna Tillman and the first Kai Mei by Cookie A. It does seem rather strange to have two separate socks. I am not sure which one to cast on first for the second sock.
I am also over the halfway mark for the second Dominika collar which I aim to finish before the end of the week
Off the wagon
Well so much for my “I will not start another project until I finish some my other”. I was meeting a friend for a coffee, a chat and of course to do some knitting but all my current WIPs require either lots of yarn being taking or concentration. There really was no other option but to start something simple I could do without thinking about. With this in mind I cast on another pair of socks. This time they are trainer socks and just plain stocking stitch. A nice easy knit which I shall use as my travel/chat knitting.
On the plus side I have managed to finish another one of my WIPs. The Field of Dreams baby blanket for my friend. All I need to do is back it and it is finished. I managed to get some nursery fabric that is perfect for it from the UK Karma group on Ravelry.
New Project for Work
Well I have been working on Debbie Abrahams Four Seasons Blanket at work for over 4 years. It seems to have reached an impasse so I have packed it all up and brought it home. It has been replaced with The Knitter Magazines fourth Subscriber Mystery Cushion. This is another project that hasn’t been worked on for a while, but as it’s a smaller project it does stand a chance of getting finished this year if not within the next couple of months. I have also finished Vivienne
In the destashing target I recently gave a friend a large bag of yarn and box of knitting books. It helped me by having a bit of a sort out and doing something nice and helped her by enabling her to do a couple of projects she wanted to do for a while.I’m always happy to enable people to have more yarn!
Today she gave me a lovely surprise. She gave me a lovely wrapped gift and inside was a beautiful crocheted scarf/wrap in one of my favourite colours purple. It’s knitted in Rowan Alpaca Cotton and is lovely and warm. I am so very pleased as I rarely get something made for me and it is so very nice. The pattern used is Clarity from Cherished by Kim Hargreave . Here it is modelled by Chilly.
She also made me the most amazing needle case with some beautiful embroidery on it for christmas as well as a wrist pin cushion
Unwind Wrap
Im not very good with the titles lately. I don’t think I am going to reach my short term target straight away, however I have knitted the Unwind Wrap from Rowan Magazine 49. The pattern calls for 2 balls of Rowan Summer Tweed in one shade, one ball in four other shades and the same amount in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. I found I only used one ball of each shade and in all bar the first shade in KSH I used approximately half a ball so it’s a great pattern for using oddments up. It is the easiest pattern I have ever knitted. Even the fringing is easy, you just tie a knot every fourth row when you join a new shade in. I am almost up to the collar of the second side of Dominka and have knitted half of both sleeves of Vivienne
Short Term Targets
I am due back at work in 6 weeks and before I return I thought I should use this time to finish some bits so I have set myself a couple of goals.
Knitting wise I want to finish Dominika, Vivienne and The Knitter Subscription Cushion.
Sewing wise I want to sew a couple of the basic sewing bags for display. I also want to finish the christmas stockings and hem the sashes for the bridesmaid dresses.
If I get time I also want to sew the wedding message book cover. I’ve already designed it just need to do a test run then the real thing.
I shall update on here as as and when these targets are reached or should that be if?
One Step Nearer the Target
I am exhausted but rather pleased with myself as I have finished another WIP.
I have finished Damson by Ysolda . As I said before it’s a really simple pattern and I cannot believe the silly mistakes I made. Now I have finished it I can see where I and how I messed up. I need to block it then I shall post a picture
A realisation
>Today I have come to the realisation that normally I knit a lot more than other people. I came to this conclusion after a friend visited me and I gave her the hat I had knitted her. I also showed her a couple of bits I had finished. She said I thought you weren’t doing much knitting. That’s when I realsied I am now probably knitting as much as the average person does. Pre op a hat would have been knitted in an evening now it’s a minimum of two. Although now I do feel good that I have achieved quite a bit. The hat was a success. It looks better on than off but she was pleased. It is knitted in Rowan Pure Wool DK
I am currently drooling over Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle and checking my stash to see which I knit with what. Really I should get off the computer and do some knitting. I only have twenty rows to go before Damson is finished. I also need to get into the habit of loading into Ravelry the yarn Aryn sends me each month.
I’m a lucky girl
>Today I recieved a care package to help me enjoy my recovery from my hysterectomy . I cannot tell you how excited I was when it came. It really cheered me up no end. there was some scrumptious yarn, books and a funky tape measure. The colours were just so spot on too.
It was a really nice surprise and I have been hankering after the Folk Shawls book for a while so that was an even better added bonus.
The body of Vivienne is finally finished but I still have the sleeves to do. Long stocking stitch sleeves in 4ply. Not really looking forward to them but at least it’s a small size.
A WIP which I had long since forgotten about was unearthed this week. Damson by Ysolda Teague. It’s a nice simple shawl pattern but for some reason despite trying it five different times I could not get my head around the pattern. It was me not the pattern, as it is a very simple one. I think I overthought it. I still made a couple of mistakes on this one but have left the mistakes in as I may do another and this can be my training shawl. I knitted it in Handmade Luxe Lace by Dyed in The Wool and was sent to me by Canadian friend Aryn as party of one of our monthly swaps.
I am still not doing as much knitting as I would have liked, having all this time to do nothing but knit. Unfortunately although the willingness is there ,the body and inclination are not always in agreement. Most of my knitting is currently done in the small wee hours when I can’t sleep or if I’m lucky enough to get the urge,in the day whilst watching some trashy TV.
Jen Sews and Knits 