Detouring consequences

I work well under stress, but this is cutting it a little too close. I've got to the first sleeve with DH's jumper and I really really must have it washed and blocked by first week December!

I had also planned a pair of matching socks....oh dear! any suggestions how I can summon the knitting elves to stop by?
The consequences of too many detours.....

Since it's mostly knitted in the round there's not much finishing, only the sleeves to attach and the collar to pick up but I'm still in a panic.



Turns out that I have less hats to knit for this winter.
Here's 2 out of three, just one more for the nephew.

This one out of a double stranded DK wool bouncle, is a tad too tight so I'll probably knit a slightly larger one with the same yarn. There's plenty left over from this cardigan I knitted last year.



This is knitted with my handpainted chunky wool . Notice how the colour pools? I was a little disappointed with how the striping turned out until my daughter and the receipient said 'it's cool, I like it', and so, if the 'customer' is happy, I'm happy :)

Diamond Fantasy Shawl

It's a 'shawlette' really, and has just made it's first outing to church this morning.

I went for the scarf size plus one repeat, using up the 2nd hank which had a little more than half left over when I reached the recommended pattern repeats. It covers the shoulders just right and is surprisingly very warm. Definitely going to be a 'work-horse' shawl for me and looks rather chic tied round the neck, just perfect when travelling in colder climes. Not to long nor bulky, definitely a repeat knit this one.

All in all, it took about 4 days and will be a quick gifting knit. Oh yes! the I-Cord cast off. It was a first, took a lot longer than normal casting-off and for those of you who'd be like me, wondering and worrying if I've got it right, shoulder on and see if you like the effect? If it looks good, why worry? continue to the finish!!!

Here it is, resting fully on my knitting-chair so as you can gauge its length from the back view. Now, I did take some back poses and the pictures were so awful they were deleted as soon as I set eyes on them. Is it true, ladies of a certain age should not be photographed from the back???? :)

Pattern: Sivia Harding Diamond Fantasy Scarf

Size: 25" x 57"
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss, Black, Fingering
( 70% merino wool 30% silk )
Amount: 2 x 50 gm x 220 yds (with some yards left over)
Needles: 4mm

Notes : Pattern recommended Scarf size plus 1 repeat

Black Diamonds

So it's my Saturday off work and I couldn't wait to settle down with a mug of white coffee to knit hubby's jumper and try short rows on the shoulder seams instead of the usual step-cast-off. Just a few more inches and the back should be done.

But wait, it's a bright morning with good light to work on a swatch with the black Knit Picks Gloss just arrived. Plenty of time to go back to the jumper or so I thought!

Well, here's the swatch for Sivia Harding's Diamond Fantasy Shawl, see how its grown to almost 5 repeats by the evening?? :) Not a stitch was made on anything else. I just went on and on and oh! the merino silk mix is so soft and smooth, the stitches just flew off the needles. I'm definitely going to buy more if I get a chance to.

I'm back to the shawl now, here's wishing you all a productive week ahead. Happy knitting!

Clapotis

Was I even thinking, 3 rectangular stole WIPs at a time ?
First, I wanted Cozy in 4 ply cotton to lug around the office. You know, something not too fragile and fancy. Then the Knitpicks Alpaca arrived and I couldn't resist trying out some lace. That was Sivia Harding's Hanging Garden. Then another spree brought Knitpicks Twist for daughter YL's Clap.

It was overwhelming, it was crazy and I will never ever have more than one stole/shawl project in progress ever again! Some of you are probably having an 'ah ha' smile and thinking 'we'll see how long that will last.... '. But I didn't start anything like I had promised myself a few blog entries ago, really!

By the way, I've got enough yarn, just arrived, for 4 lace projects just calling out to be started.....and I'm looking for a wool - silk mix in graduated colours for another Clapotis :)

Just off the needles and unblocked.

Pattern: Clapotis

Size: 22" x 63"

Yarn: Knit Picks Twist, Broadway Lights, DK

( 30% cotton 30% visose 20% acrylic 20% nylon )

Amount: 8 x 50 gm x 99 yds (plus some yards from the 9th ball)

Needles: 4mm

Yes!, I will knit this again and I plan to do so soon - mine! It's such an amazing design and I love the way it drapes over the front. Surprisingly it's not bulky over the shoulders, probably due to the trapezoidal shaping.

However, Twist with ribbon yarn entwined is wrong for this pattern as I forsee the yarn fraying easily at the drop stitch bars. Also, I think it's best in a lighter yarn, the cotton mix is a little heavy and the FO is about 400 gms.

Hanging Garden Stole

The Monsoons season is finally here and the phone lines around my area's going to be fried ever so often. My connection has been out for 2 days and so here I am, sneaking in an update on my latest FO at the office this morning.

My first lace project

Pattern: Hanging Garden Stole by Sivia Harding

Size: 22" x 70" (blocked)

Yarn: Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud, 100% Baby Alpaca in Smoke, lace weight,

Skein: 1.8 x 50 g x 440 yds

Needles: 3.25mm as recommended on Knit Picks pattern