Almost a pair o'socks

Second heel turned, on the straight run to the end... shouldn't take too long, but I've only really got the occasional evening for a while now.

In other news I may have accidentally wandered into Spotlight when they had 50% off all their wool. It truly was an accident, if I'd known, there was no way I would have actually managed to organise myself to get there during the appropriate time period. More stash was purchased, but really, truly I was restrained - some sock wool, baby wool for knitting pressies and that's it!

Desperately need to clean up the mess in my room in order to get to the sewing table... and re-think some of the storage so that more of the stuff is easier to access.

Leaf green socks

Here's a piccie:

Completed and given away!

The next knitting project has started - a blah blah secret plan at this point but travelling along nicely.

The sundress got finished and another frock started... a few more to come.

The next large knitting project got deicded upon - Classic Wavy Cable from Jo Sharp using some of the lovely desert aran cotton. Must finish the blah blah secret plan first.

More stash has been purchased. Ozeyarn were closing down and so everything was so very on special that it could not be resisted. Some cotton, sock wool and the Knit 3 & 4 Jo Sharp books...

Knitting in the heatwave

Doesn't really happen... However progress has been made on the Jacaranda Baby Wrap - now ready for blocking - and boy does the front need it.

The small cotton jumper is underway with the back and 80% of the front finished. Also bought a huge stack of Jo Sharp's Desert Garden Aran cotton mix in three gorgeous colours - colours that have been discontinued and were therefore extremely cheap (well for good quality cotton anyway). I was very impressed with the feel and finished product made from the lighter weight Soho Summer cotton - so hoping for good things with this lot. Planning to come...

Still need to finish the second of the Pink Sock pair. Need to actually find a quiet space in order to cast on and get the join right. Pink sock #1 looks like this - I'm quite pleased with it.

Have made it through some of the mending pile, still a number of things to go, and a pair of trousers to shorten. Stacks more sewing plans - all still in my head at this point.

More Socks and stash

The Stitches & Craft show really did not live up to expectations this year. There were only a few stalls with yarn/knitting related stuff and thousands of people who wanted to look. In the end I bought a sock knitting kit with a lovely blue/brown colour mix for bedsocks, a lighter brown & cream self patterning yarn for socks, some bamboo sock needles and Nicky Epstein's Knitting Over the Edge and Knitting Beyond the Edge.

By far the best find of the show was Biggan yarn. There was a fashion show on right in front of me just as I was drooling over the knitting books. I was quite impressed with the colours and wandered by the stall afterwards to see if the wool was just as soft and lovely as it looked on the models. It is! I spoke a little with the designer - she was wearing a full length skirt and a long sleeved top that she had made with the yarn about 3-4 tears ago. It had seen some wear - but was still soft, minimal pilling, no saggy bits - and she machine washes them apparently.

So yes, more stash was purchased, though I was very restrained and just bought 4 balls of 2 colours suitable for baby wear and have plans for a little cardi of some sort. If it is as nice to knit with as I expect, there may end up being bigger plans afoot.

Even though I can't wait to get on with the lovely soft yarn, I actually cast on the blue/brown socks when I got home. The bamboo needles are easier to work with in the round than the metal ones, my knitting in the round stocking stitch "ladders" are improving (though not completely gone - I think I need some more advice). It's knitting up quicker than I expected, I hope to have the first one done by the end of this weekend. Here's where I was up to on Monday:

Cushions and things

Hoorah! The green cushion cover is complete and wrapped around the cushion even. In fact crocheted together around said cushion at each end & side edges sewn. Possibly could have been more neatly finished off, but the bulky yarn made it a bit difficult.

Went into town on Sunday for something else entirely. Tapestry Craft were having a sale on their yarn & all knitting things, needless to say there was more stash purchased. Enough of the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed to make a long cardi-type coat and some Inca for a scarf. I was soooo restrained....

Finished the first side front of the lacy wrap cardigan - now for the other front bit. Once I wrapped my brain around the dec at the ends of the various rows from the armhole up and wrote it out, it only took an hour or so to knit.

The sewing has been languishing after the first burst of enthusiam - need to get back to it.

Moved, knitting again

Instead of finishing the ongoing scarf & mitten projects (and the Zhivago cardi, not to mention the really ancient stuff that should get finished) which are still sitting about looking neglected, I have started on a cushion cover. As easy as a scarf and not nearly so long! Using the doubled green cotton on 7.5mm needles (70st x 90 rows for 47cm2) it has knitted up very quickly - the back is already done, and the front cast on. Waiting for inspiration re the front. I think the yarn will be too bulky for neat cables and lace could end up a right mess as well. I think a k/p combo of some description will be the best bet.

Also bought a few more balls of wool (Cleckheaton's Country Silk 8ply) in a nice green for another cushion cover. That should cable or lace up nicely. I think I'll leave the fancy stitches for that one (and it will be smaller).

Blue Mandorla complete...

Yes, finally finished the sewing up etc on Monday night. Hoorah! It's not my favourite & not perfect, but certainly wearable (in winter - it's heavy). I've learnt a lot along the way - collars need increases over shoulder seams or more elaborate shaping, things for me really do need to be lengthened from the pattern, don't try reverse engineering a rib pattern to plain stocking stitch without a ton more thought involved.




In order to celebrate, more stash has been purchased. Mostly cottons in different weights. More planning to come once the purple vest is done!