It’s been fairly productive year, since September I’ve made Archie a stocking for Christmas, Albie a blanket for his teddy, a padded pouch for my kindle , the infamous Geogradient shawl which was knitted in a gorgeous and warm Norwegian wool by Rauma and a rolled neck dickie. I do love a dickie and this latest one is so warm in the areas I need , when working, this was knitted in the discontinued Rowan Romance, I’d do wish I’d bought more when it was in the sale all those years ago. I also made some Christmas cards . I am thankful I am able to craft , have a stash to shop from , have all these skills and am truly thankful my husband is here for another Christmas.
I’m still crafting most days and recently finished the second baby blanket . I used Debbie Abrahams Mystery Baby Blanket pattern from 2019, using some leftovers and a few new balls. It really is interesting to see how different colour ways change the whole look of it. Really enjoy knitting this and have signed up for this years one .
I cast on this blanket back on 2010. It never really grabbed me, I think it bored me to be honest. Now with being in self isolation and working remotely from home, it is the perfect project to pick up between calls. So far I have completed 25/81 squares. The blanket is worked using four colours and the cream is used in most squares.
I am knitting this the Debbie Abrahams way, knitting a square, casting off and then picking up stitches from the cast off square to knit the next one until the strip is completed. To save sewing in too many ends I have found a way to ease this. This works on most strips but in particular the even number strips.
Strip four use the pink and a full ball of the cream for the first square, then cast off in pink but leave the cream attached and pick up stitches for square 2 using the same cream. Once this square is cast off pick up stitches for the third square and carry on using the cream. If you wish to you can thread beads for the fourth square at the start and push them to to middle of the ball and continue until end of square 5 using the same cream ball. I didn’t do this, however I used the cream yarn from square 6 of strip four to complete the strip.
When knitting the 19a and 19B squares I left the cream attached after the first one and when it came to the next cream row and the yarn was at the other end I just slipped all the stitches across until I was at the cream end and purled the row.
This means less weaving in and using less yarn. I hope this helps, Stay Safe everyone
This is the year I am aiming to complete some of my mystery blanket kits from Debbie Abrahams. I purchased them every year since she started her mystery blankets until 2018, when I thought that I had too many untouched to justify another.. I have knitted some but have too many languishing in airtight containers. In February I finally finished MB 2016 A French Romance. there was real sense of satisfaction when it was finished.
I am currently on the final stretch of the first Mystery Baby Blanket Club from Debbie. I decided to go for this one as it’s nice to have a baby blanket in store for any babies arriving and I can knit another using stash yarn. I am still working on destashing and am avoiding temptation as much as possible. I am also working through my shawl patterns and using stash to knit them up. Shawls have become my go to as they can double up as a scarf and a shawl. Currently on the needles is Learning to Cry from @curioushandmade in the gorgeous Jelly KSH and Wool Cotton
Today I am in the strange position of not having anything on the needles. The cove cardigan pictured below is finally finished,its more of a coat than a cardigan and I have 3 or 4 blankets to finish, but there are no squares on the needles so it is just weird. I really want to start a new project, but, as usual there aren’t any patterns in my vast library that jump out and say knit me. Well that’s not strictly true. I have grabbed a few balls from the stash I want to use these and it is for these yarns I can’t find the “knit me” pattern. I don’t want to knit a pattern I have knitted previously, I want to knit a new one. I keep going back to a new one I would need to buy, but why, why, why does this always happen when you have shelves full of patterns ?
I am currently knitting two projects (not including those in the UFO pile), my Cove Cardigan, which has been on the needles far too long and a Slip stitch scarf. They are very different project with yarns of completely different weights and fibres. I knitted both this evening and whilst I enjoyed both, a realisation came to me. A light bulb moment if you like. I knit them in a different way. The cove Cardigan, I enjoy the first few rows and then whilst I still enjoy knitting it , it is more about getting finished and becomes a bit of a chore. The slip stitch scarf is a a soothing pattern to knit, I’m not sure if it’s the simpleness of the pattern or the yarn- Manos De Uruguay Nanu- or the thin needles. The slip stitch scarf is so relaxing and enjoyable to knit, I am definitely knitting this one for pleasure . My only concern is how long the yarn will last.
It’s funny how different projects give you different experiences, both have wonderful yarns. For the Cove cardigan I am using the sadly discontinued Rowan British Sheep Breeds Chunky in a gorgeous undyed Shetland colour. The slip stitch scarf is knitted in a silk, merino bamboo blend. It is deliciously soft and smooth. I am using a mid grey and deep blue. This pattern could be the one to use up all those skeins of sock yarn.
As you will all know I love Alpaca yarns. I am currently knitting the Vibrant Colourwork Sweater as shown in the last post and am enjoying every stitch I am knitting.
Rowan Alpaca Colour is a real pleasure to knit with. It’s one of those yarns that just glides off the needles. I have already made one sleeve and have started the second one. The body with all its wondrous colourwork is calling me but I am remaining strong and knitting the sleeves first. I love this pattern and yarn
I have finally finished Santorini from Rowan magazine 53. I cheated slightly and didn’t knit the flower on the front as I intend to make fabric corsages from Rowan fabric and wear these with it.
Time to choose a new project and I am so torn , there are so many patterns I want to knit and 4 I have organised the yarn for. The problem is I keep changing my mind on which one to knit first.
The first of the four options is Eldorado from rowan magazine 55. You can follow my progress here. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/flickchickknits/eldora/photos like Santorini this is the cover knit. I will still be using Rowan Cotton Glace but these colours.
My second choice is Kiki from Kim Hargreaves amazing new book Honey. In my opinion this is her best book for a while and there’s a few in this I want to knit. Again Stash will be used and slightly different colours. The yarn the pattern calls for is the dreaded Kidsilk Haze which I have a love hate Relationship with. My progress can be found here. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/flickchickknits/kiki
The third of the four comes from this months Knit Today in which there are a few patterns I want to knit. I was very nearly tempted to subscribe as they have a great subscription offer but thought to myself I can’t cope with the amount of patterns I have so NO. As soon as I saw Clementine by Sarah Hatton I knew I had to knit it, in red. This one hasn’t made it to my project page yet.
The fourth is from Marie Wallins Windswept, which needs its own post, so more on that next time.
I promise to use proper titles after Christmas. Exciting news I am on the last leg of my friends present. I so excited and hope she likes it. I am hoping to go to my knit group tomorrow night at the pub. I haven’t been for four weeks. I received the previews of the new Rowan magazine released 15th January and I love it. I can’t say too much yet but I love the patterns and new pattern books and yarns. Soo much to choose from, what to knit first. I have until Jnauary 15th to get all my UFOs finished. Who I am trying to kid? It’s not likely to happen. At least now I can start on Zahras present. I see lace knitting in my future. Silly me walked too far today so am a bit tired and sore but even so I feel better for walking a bit further. When my friend came to visit me she brought me a box of sea salt caramel fudge. OMG I love it.I am not a person who could eat a box of chocolates in one sitting, but this fudge took real self control not to eat the whole thing. Salted caramel my one weakness,
Jen Sews and Knits 