Sunday, April 6, 2008

I forgot!

I finished my South Cape and forgot to post pics!

I am very pleased with it. Despite the fact my yarn was a bit fine (would've been perfect doubled for the drape) the gauge worked and it fits fine. It's a great pattern, and fun to knit.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Fallen at the last hurdle

My last finished project for this KAL is the Mitred Stripes Tote from the online issue made for the Ravelry Aussie Bag Lady swap.

Unfortunately this is another bag I buggered up through no fault of the designer - total operator error. I ended up with a with a gorgeous fabric that was a bit of a disaster as a bag. The strap was too long, so I cut and sewed it, and the top was all fluted and in no way square.

The whole sorry story is on my blog but the upshot is, if I'd looked at the pictures of the original bag I'd have noticed that when the pieces were sewn together pre-felting the cast on edge became the top of the bag which made for a stable and even item. I sewed it up the opposite way, with the cast off edge as the top and got an *interesting* fluted effect.


I recently also complete a couple of pairs of Barb's Clafoutis Bedsocks.

This pair "Riot in Rio" in a Moda Vera Luxury a mohair blend yard that's all sparkly
and a more sedate pair in Patons Jet in a camel colour

These are going to Can Assist in a project supported by another Canberra knitter, Krafty Kuka.

Still on the needles which I will eventually finish are the Simple Socks and another Jelly Belly Vest. Both are lovely patterns and almost done.

Kate, this has been a wonderful KA - supportive, non-competitive and a really good excuse to more fully exploit my Yarn investment. Thank you. :)

Monday, March 31, 2008

Finished!

I finished the South Cape!!! Hurray! Sorry it's late, teacher. ( I have said that many times in my life)

Pics to come tomorrow, hopefully. The cape is still a bit damp and I don't have time to take a good photo today.

See you soon.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Yarn 9 is Out - the KAL is over

Thanks for joining in on this KAL, the first I've ever run. I'd love to see what you've ended up with in your endeavors to cover at least one project from each Yarn edition that you own. Do you have intentions for any outstanding projects? I look forward to hearing from you all one last time.

Thanks especially to Barb for the fun of the first 8 editions of Yarn. I'm looking forward to jumping into my edition #9 tonight!

Slow progress

I feel like I'm caught in a Groundhog Day loop. I've been knitting and re-knitting the damn placket on the purple sheep cardigan three times now only to find that the I've still picked up too many stitches and the band is below the level of the waistband. At least it doesn't concertina this time and as for the first effort, well, I guess I was a little nervous because the stitches were so tight I couldn't even insert a needle into them! I will pull it out and make attempt #4 tonight. Hopefully by the weekend I shall finish this blighter. I feel quite discouraged and a little bloody-minded about the whole thing now. I will do my level best NEVER to do another cardigan with separate button bands.

Knowing my luck, Tilly will have grown too big for the cardy by the time I've finished it! If so, you'll be able to hear my anguished groans from Perth!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Cheers!

My Wine and Roses Bolero, from Yarn 2, is finally finished.

Cast on in December 2005 as a test knit, just after Yarn 1 came out, this jumper has been with me through it all. Its stitches show the tension and the joy in all their variation, the learning, the mistakes, the successes, everything. I gained and lost and gained about 8 kg during the time this jumper was on the needles -- which is why you see it now on a hanger instead of on me -- and I am thrilled to see it done, even if I can't wear it. Am I feeling a little misty? Yes, I am.

But the timing is good...here comes Yarn 9 to take us somewhere new. Thank you Kate for organising this Knitalong, and thank you to everyone who participated in honor of 'the Coddington era', as it has been put. The honor really has been mine!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

One more for the road

Issue 9 is on its way according to the Yarn blog!

It took less time to knit this last project than it did to procrastinate and then sew it up. I give you Broken Rib Cover from Issue 5.

Yarn: ancient Villawool 20 ply
Needles: 8 mm
Pattern changes: Cast on 42 stitches to cover 16" hanger (30 sts wasn't going to work).

I'm going to keep working on other patterns from the first eight issues as time lets me. I have not finished everything that appeals to me by a long shot. Thanks go to Barb for giving us such a high standard magazine for two years.

Lou