skip to main |
skip to sidebar
A few weeks ago, I posted about an acquired stash of six 50 gram balls of cotton that Mum had sourced for me from the op shop she volunteers at. It's called 'Panama' by Cleckheaton (something I've never seen or heard of, before or since!) and is the most basic, icy-white colour.I've decided white is boring. It all needs a good wash anyway, so I've unwound it all and prepared it to be skeined (hurrah for my 'All-Powerful' swift!), washed and then dyed. I want to try handpainting this cotton, to try to get repeating stripes, so I can knit it into a couple of little pinafore-type dresses for Little One. I just hope I can figure out how to do it properly and right the first time - I don't have any extra to fall back on!
I'm going to use Dylon cold water dye, which I have used to dye cotton before (tie dye, but successful dyeing nonetheless), so I know it works - one remaining question is: Dylon cold water dyes are usually used by submersing the item to be dyed in a pot of the colour, rather than painting it on sections and wrapping in plastic, which is how you see most handpainted yarns done (they are then heated up, either in a microwave or steamed in hot water)... can I do this with my cold water dye??
Maybe to play it safe, I could arrange the yarn to 'flow' into and out of several containers, each with a measure of dye... nicolana111 (on Ravelry) has pictures of something similar that she did to make her own self-striping sock yarn (project name is 'Hand Dyed Self Striping').
In the meantime, I have this entry in my list of things to get done this week:
"Knit on the Clapotis without planning new projects"
Here is the Clapotis as it stand right now;
(don't you just love my DIY stitch markers there?)
... and here is the yarn I bought on Monday (Cleckheaton Country Prints 8 ply) to start a Baby Surprise Jacket for Little One.
That's a big FAIL there for me!
Finally. The reason why I have had so few posts to feature finished objects lately?
I've been too damn busy/lazy to block the little buggers, and I think it all just looks so much nicer to post once blocked. Call me a perfectionist, but there you go!First up, there's the Fern Lace Scarf. I've enjoyed knitting this one, don't get me wrong; it's just that I had to put it down so I could jump into the 'Baby Mine' cardigan as soon as the yarn and pattern arrived from Blue Moon. It feels like an age since I completed that one, too! This has been knit with Noro Kureyon, sock-weight that I bought on an anniversary weekend away with Pete in Sydney. Nothing says 'I love you' like a trip through Morris and Sons, looking for a 'souvenir yarn' while Pete sits patiently in the husband chair!
A word on my stashing: when we go places, particularly if it's a special occasion or a place I've not been before, I love to go to a local yarn shop and just pick up one skein of this or that, as a bit of a souvenir. It might be enough for a pair of socks, a hat or a scarf, and the finished item always reminds me of that trip. It's also great because I can get away with buying one skein, rather than breaking the bank on a jumpers' worth of yarn, particularly if I have no idea of the pattern, yardage, etc. With the bigger projects, I'm a planner - I need to know exactly what I'm doing with the yarn!
Next up, the very first square in my "Year in a Blanket". I joined this Ravelry group in December last year, loving the idea of commemorating Little One's first year as a blanket made up of all different patterned and pictured squares. Since my squares are smaller than the average, I'm aiming to get at least three done each month. Debbie Abrahams' books on knitting squares for blankets and afghans are a real inspiration - I picked up 'Blankets and Throws to Knit' from our local Angus and Robertson, and it has lots of good ideas for squares with lots of detail and textures (lots of beading and sequins, too - but I can't really put them on a baby blanket), as well as funky stripes combinations to set the detailed squares off beautifully.
Here's some blocking. A whole lotta blocking goin' on. Most of these items though, were fished out of boxes from storage after WonderBoy had outgrown them. The little blue jumper with the sailboat (my first attempt at intarsia) was never even worn, as I couldn't finish it in time and he'd outgrown it!
Two newer items though are a little crossover jumper I've knit with more of the Blue Moon 'Socks that Rock' mediumweight I used for 'Baby Mine' - It's an Erika Knight pattern, from her book 'Simple Knits for Cherished Babies' and knit up quite quickly. I've still got more of this yarn left, hopefully enough for a little pair of socks - we'll have to see. To its left is the second blanket square, a wee blue-and-purple giraffe. Better shots of that once it's dry, I think.
And the reason I'm still blogging from my lounge here at home? Little One shows no inclination whatsoever to make any movements south, so to speak. I was due last Tuesday and am still hoping against hope that something will happen soon, without too much intervention...
I had intended on just one more December post before this, but with Christmas being such a busy time... I don't know how Stephanie Pearl-McPhee does it! She manages to add photos and text to her blog, regardless of how long her Christmas knitting list is getting, no matter what family crisis may be occurring (the most recent is the sad demise and removal of the Honourable Sir Washie on New Years' Day). My hat goes off to her, as always.
We're on the countdown now. According to my dates, there are merely ten days between me and the birth of our second child, but as always with babies, Little One could join us any day in the next three weeks. I'm terribly excited, and can't wait to meet our new arrival...
... and have been knitting my way over Christmas and New Year's, preparing another two little jackets.
This is the Debbie Bliss Duffel Coat, from her book 'Essential Baby'. One of the most economical garments I've knit, the yarn is Cleckheaton Country 8 ply Heathers that I liberated from my Mum's stash and the pattern book was borrowed from Mum, as well. It's a lovely little coat that knit up quite quickly, and I hope that Little One gets lots of wear out of it this year.
This work in progress is a little Garter Stitch Wrap Top by Erika Knight, from her book 'Simple Knits For Cherished Babies'. I had been searching for a baby knit to use up the rest of the delicious mediumweight sock yarn from Blue Moon Fibre Arts that I used for 'Baby Mine', and on Christmas Day at Mum and Dad's, I cast on, hoping I had enough yarn left. These photos were taken as I was praying I had enough yarn to complete the jacket, which is why I haven't added it to my projects list in Ravelry yet - I'm only a few rows off finished and now I'm wishing for there to be enough yarn!
Next up? My hospital knitting project/s... the first square of my Oddball Sampler Afghan (I received several balls of WOOLganic Organic Merino 8 ply for Christmas), and a Clapotis for me. In the distance is a new jumper for WonderBoy. New Year's Knitting Resolutions? Probably... watch this space for news of Little One's arrival...
And ONE CENTIMETRE in garter stitch is a LONG TIME...Let me demonstrate*:
I've been motoring along on the Debbie Bliss Duffel Coat, which I'm knitting in a nice bluey-purpley-heathered Cleckheaton Country 8 ply 'Heathers' that I gained in a stash dive at Mum's (free yarn is good yarn!).The first three pieces - back, left and right fronts - were knit up pretty quickly, even for me, and I'm quite pleased to be able to say that this piece, knit entirely in garter stitch has actually taught me to be able to knit without having to look intently at my knitting - without too many errors!
The next step was to join at the shoulders then to knit across both fronts and back to begin the hood. Crikey, I'm glad that I'm knitting this for a six-month-old and not an eighteen-month-old! Ninety-four stitches across, over twenty-two centimetres, in garter stitch, seems like it's taking forever! I of course, have made it worse on myself by measuring that I take about five rows to knit one centimetre, and so I've led myself to the calculation above of a rough total of 10, 340 stitches to complete the hood - phew!
Here we are, with countless ends to weave in, showing just how far I've gone in hood-stitchery.
I quite like the double-breasted thing this coat has going on. I bought little wooden duffel toggles yesterday, anticipating a quick finish on the sleeves and sewing up... though just saying that would certainly be tempting the Knitting Fates to step in and stuff me about at this point!
I'm nearly there... nearly! Looking forward to the next step...
A couple of weeks ago, I had quite a vivid dream about going to hospital, knitting whilst in labour, only to find out that I hadn't packed enough yarn to keep going on this duffel coat project, and that I just had to send Pete home to get more out of my stash cupboard... clearly something in my mind has snapped, or I've come to the much more sane conclusion that I should have some sort of (non-complicated) knitting project cast on and ready to go, should I want to knit in labour. I don't see why not - knitting calms me, and will certainly give me something to focus on as I go through the first stage, at least.
Anyone think I'm entirely crazy?
* Anyone familiar with the film 'Yellow Submarine' will hopefully understand my adaptation of that line!
Delicious news to report - I know that I'm more likely to feel Little One kicking when I'm at rest, rather than when moving around (the movement rocks the baby to sleep, and he/she wakes up for exercise when I'm still), but over the last couple of weeks, I've discovered that more so when I rest to knit, Little One really gets going!
I've just finished another baby project - a summer blanket knit from Rowan 'Linen Print'. The yarn is now discontinued, I think. I got a big bag of it from a local yarn and embroidery shop who were trying to get rid of it. Usually priced at $16.50 per 50g ball, I got each ball for $4.00 - good stuff! It has a lovely feel and drape to it when knit up; I've already made a lace top from it for myself, and with each wash and wear, it just becomes beautifully soft. And so, with Little One due in January, a lighter blankie made of linen seems quite fitting. The pattern came from Ravelry, called 'Radiating Star Blanket' by Alexis Layton. It's quite a nice one to knit and very easy to pick up the repeats, especially when knitting in front of the television! I'm still weaving in the ends (many of them); in fact, it's something I'm supposed to be doing right now - and I'll post photos once it's blocked and looking bee-yewtiful...
I've also started the OpArt baby blanket from this season's Knitty, but I have to say, I'm not enamoured so far. I just don't like the colours I've chosen, and I think I need to use the 'colour-and-white' combination that the pattern suggests... I just can't bring myself to pick a single colour!
Photos to come - I must get going and keep weaving in the ends...
I admit, I've been 'too busy' to blog lately, but I can say that I've been very busy knitting! So, that makes up for something, doesn't it?
I've just come back from two weeks of school holidays, or "Mummy and WonderBoy time" as we term it at home. I've made the most of his continuing to nap for around two hours every afternoon, using the time to rest my increasing girth stretched out on the lounge, knitting away like a madwoman. It's quite interesting, really; it doesn't matter how frenzied the knitting gets, it's still a calming exercise.
Here's the first finished object. It's Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's 'Baby Mine', something I am exceedingly proud of completing. I bought it from Blue Moon Fibre Arts, along with two skeins of 'Socks That Rock' mediumweight the day after Stephanie mentioned casually on her blog that the pattern was available for sale.
Tell me that lace pattern isn't beautiful...
The pattern is just so well-written, easy to follow and understand. All this, plus the fact that there are no seams to sew, to complete it. None at all! *Sigh*. Stephanie, you're marvellous!
I loved the colourway, Pebbles, as soon as I saw it. I wasn't in love with the idea of knitting it in solid cream, green or yellow (all the 'safe' colours!), but when I saw Pebbles, I jumped. Looking at it now, I do have the odd concern that maybe it isn't quite as non-girly or neutral as maybe it should be. Pete thinks maybe he feels this one might be a girl, but we will have to find out the old fashioned way...
The next finished object is a facewasher for WonderBoy. Lately he's been into using the facewasher in the shower to pretend to be different things. When he scrunches the washer up and places it in a ball on his head, he says "Look Mummy, I'm a potato!"... Surreal. He then wraps it around his neck and tells me he's "a man". When I asked him how he's a man, he explained to me that the washer is his 'black tie'. I think he got this one from The Wiggles, bless them... The last pretending is with the washer around his neck again. This time, he tells me it's his stethoscope, which he then uses to listen to my stomach. He tells me "I can hear the baby knocking, Mummy!" and pretends to be my GP checking up on his new baby brother or sister...
I chose the design, 'Luv Bug' for WonderBoy's washer, and he watched the progress of the knitting with great interest as I completed it over a couple of days...
Next up, a baby blanket for Little One! Stay tuned...
August has truly been a fertile month. I know of at least four friends and family members who have popped in August or are well due to pop late August (ie. now!).
So at the moment, I've put aside my Noro lace scarf (which is probably the best option for me at the moment - I can't knit more than three rows without screwing up! I'd like to blame pregnancy hormones for my total lack of ability to count, but I know it's because I still try to watch DVD episodes of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' while knitting...
I have taken up one of two wee hats that I really should have got started, like, the day I found out these two little darlings joined the world, but I was more than a little waylaid with my scarf. And then there's a little face washer for each in the queue. Here's the first hat, nearly there. I hopefully should have it done by tomorrow afternoon, especially since we're off to Sydney. I do all my best (by my best I mean my most productive, of course!) knitting as a passenger on long car trips.
The yarn is Shepherd 'Colour 4 Me' 8 ply. I don't think it has a colourway, per se, but it doesn't have a bunch of numbers that are probably irrelevant to most people. I bought it under consultation from WonderBoy, at Lincraft... he's pretty good with colours. Loves purple, for some reason.
Still, it'll be good to get going of some baby stuff for my Little One!
I do love knitting and using face washers. I find that they're the softest to use on delicate skin, even more so after each wash and trip through the dryer. I use the patterns that most people knit to use as dishcloths, but... I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I just can't bear to use these lovely handknits to scrub dishes and wipe the benches with!
Which is why I've recently spent a heap of expanding my face washer yarn stash (Peaches n' Creme) at The Wool Shack, in Perth. They are a great bunch of people to buy from; exceedingly helpful and friendly - they called me once after I'd ordered a heap of Peaches n' Creme, to apologise that they had run out of one of the colours I'd asked for and to ask which I'd like instead. Such lovely, personal service! Sadly, however, they are now unable to stock Peaches n' Creme because the freight costs are just too expensive. I sympathise with them - I tried to order from their American website and found that the cost of the yarn was fantastic, even with the exchange rate, but the cost of the shipping was about three times the cost of the yarn itself. Boo. :(
I just wish I knew of a similar worsted weight cotton yarn for face washers and dishcloths available in Australia. Any ideas?
WonderBoy put up with a trip to the RTA today so I could renew my license, as well as our grocery shopping (which he has come to view with distaste, usually saying "No shopping, Mummy?") and a walk up to the butcher's, so we went to the park on the way home.
Did I say the park trip was for his benefit? Silly me.
While he enjoyed the slippery dip, over and over, I enjoyed close to an hour sitting in the sunshine, working on a little summer scarf.
I'm knitting it from leftover Rowan 'Linen Print' that I used to make a lace top last spring. I think it's been discontinued now, which is a shame 'cause it knits with a lovely drape, and it gets softer with every wash. Once it's done, I'm planning on adding a loopy sort of fringe, and I'm looking forward to teaming it this spring and summer with a crisp white shirt and jeans that have been mucked around with to accommodate my belly as Little One grows bigger!! Speaking of whom, since she or he is due in January (a bit hot for wool!) I ended up buying more Linen Print that I'm going to use in an attempt on an Elizabeth Zimmermann 'Baby Surprise Jacket' for him or her...
Here we are. I'm around or just over the halfway mark.
I enjoyed a fabulous two nights away with Pete last week to see 'Phantom of the Opera' for our anniversary (it's been ten years since we met!), and took the opportunity to get over to Tapestry Craft on York Street, where I picked up this
skein of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn. I've earmarked it for yet another lace scarf (I'm into those at the moment!), the pattern being the 'Fern Lace Scarf' by KnittingPixie (Ravelry link). I'm totally in love with the colours - I first caught sight of the lime, then the yellow-orange, and then had to look a little closer, where I saw *gasp! Oh, joy!* hot lolly-pink! I can't wait to get stuck into it and see how the colours work out.
On another topic, I am desperately waiting/trying to figure out if and when I might be able to get a hold of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's heart-meltingly gorgeous 'Baby Mine' pattern. I've just found the her blog entries for the 'Baby Yours' and 'Baby Mine' jumpers in July 2008, but for the life of me, I cannot link just the one entry! It's worth it. Go and have a look, trust me. I have a little bit of a feeling that Little One might be a wee girlie, and this is just the sort of thing I'd love to have knitted up and ready to wear.
I love that word, don't you?
Yesterday, I listened to Brenda Dayne's most recent episode of 'Cast On', entitled "Heads Up", and spoke about working hard to make herself finish knitting the Modern Quilt Wrap, designed by Mags Kandis. She described it as a project that she was finding hard to get back into, until she took it with her to complete on train trips to and from Cardiff one day. Then, she says, she got her 'knitting mojo back', and found it just flying off the needles.
She went on from there to discuss planning a journey somewhere not too far away, but somewhere you'd always wanted to go but had never got around to. Take public transport (let someone else do the driving), pack a lunch, and bring a specific project for the journey. Luverly.
Back to today. Not that this journey was specifically planned for my knitting, but I happen to find the coincidence, the parallels between Brenda's story and my day to be quite serendipitous.
I spent today at one of the major hospitals in Sydney, (I'm fine, no need to worry!) keeping Pete company as he had to have a biopsy today (again, no need to panic - quite a routine procedure) and this is an all day event. First, we are up at 4.00AM in order to get to Sydney in time for Pete to have blood tests first thing in the morning, then a spot of breakfast before an ultrasound and biopsy.
Then comes the fun part. The poor bugger then has to lie flat on his back for four hours, with a heavy sandbag weight on the biopsy site to prevent any bleeding. It's not much fun for Pete, and I hope my being there was at most, helpful and at least, not too irritating.
I used this opportunity to make a real go on the Hearts and Stars baby blanket for my good friend Ali. I have to say, I was terribly proud of my progress - eighteen rows done in one day! That might not sound like much, but for me when there's a pattern of knit, purl and moss stitches to keep track of and the rows are reasonably long (for me, anyway!), that feels like a bit of an achievement.
Such was my project for the journey. It shook it up a bit for me, gave me some great progress and inspiration (read: kick up the bum) to really really push to the end. I can't wait to see it blocked.
Plus, it won't be long before I'll be giving it to Ali and a very special little girl.
Baby Ava Rose was born in the early hours of this morning. How's that for serendipity?
I'm going to use Dylon cold water dye, which I have used to dye cotton before (tie dye, but successful dyeing nonetheless), so I know it works - one remaining question is: Dylon cold water dyes are usually used by submersing the item to be dyed in a pot of the colour, rather than painting it on sections and wrapping in plastic, which is how you see most handpainted yarns done (they are then heated up, either in a microwave or steamed in hot water)... can I do this with my cold water dye??
(don't you just love my DIY stitch markers there?)
That's a big FAIL there for me!
