First of the year

This is my first cast-on and only WIP (so far..) for the year and I'm enjoying this soooo soft alpaca yarn I haven't thought of moving on to the usual distraction I need when knitting a huge stockingnette jumper, I cannot bear to.
The stitches just fly off the needles so fast and ooh! the softness...you can see it can't you?

It's a plain jumper for JS and the alpaca yarn from Bendigo, possibly one of the cheapest alpaca for a 200gm ball of 400 yds. I haven't knitted with other alpacas so am not able to compare qualities but this is good enough for now.

Those of you who couldn't help smiling at the 'only WIP' boast I made above may want to know what happened to Forest Path huh? Well, I am officially announcing its 'demise' and will not talk about it henceforth! I've snipped off the yarn, packed it and hid it somewhere so I won't see it accidently unless I mount a search in future. OK, so I'm a coward, I can't bear to execute the first frogging tug, maybe I will bring it to the next meet-up and let someone have the pleasure of seeing me cringe....until then it will stay out of sight and hopefully forgotten....

Now, back to knitting my first WIP.... :)

Moonshadow Stole

Here it is, Moonshadow, which took less than a month (including waiting time for additional yarn to arrive). The pattern calls for beads at the edgings, mine's without since it's one of my 'office shawls' that are better left simple with no fussy attachements.

I wanted a thick and dense stole so have used a fingering weight yarn but am sure the design will turn out even more exqusite with a laceweight.

Have totally fallen in love with the easy pattern although it looks complicated when knitted. Am already planning to knit another one in a plain and darker colour laceweight.

The knitting is done lengthwise and at times it feels like the stole hasn't grown much, but then you get to admire it in full length with 2 circulars.

Pattern: Moonshadow stole-Sivia Harding (without beads)

Yarn: Fingering weight, Winemix colourway, 100% cashmere from Colourmart

Size: 21" x 72" (after blocking)

Amount: 1100 yds

Needles: 3.5 mm

Another view of the the side and bottom edgeing.

Landscape, Tundra, Layer Top & Moonshadow

Gosh!, I've never had so many FOs to post in a single blog entry so shall keep the chattering for next time.
The Moonshadow Stole was cast off this morning and is still wet on the blocking squares so just a sneek peek here. Will tell more about this amazingly easy Sivia Harding design later.

Landscape socks

Yarn: Knit Picks Landscape, 100% Merino, Mesa colourway

Amount: 2 skeins x 50g x 192 yds

Needles: 2mm

Tundra Jumper

Pattern: Adapted from various

Yarn: Katia Tundra, 50% wool 40% acrylic 10% viscose

Amount: 4.5 x 100gm x 197 yds

Needles: 4.5mm

Size: extra small ( 32") for YL

Layer Top

Pattern: Tequila Sunrise, Simply Knitting Issue 27 - Spring 2007

Yarn: Peony (Japanese 100% Acrylic)

Amount: 4.5 balls

Needles: 4mm

Size: extra small ( 30") for YL

Pattern notes: Knot Stitch (Row 1 - purl, Row 2 - knit one to back, purl 1) is super stretchy and would use it again to replace single ribbing. Collar, sleeves and base - stocking stitch for curling effect.

Christmas

Now, wouldn't any right thinking knitter have figured out, much much earlier, that 800 yds IS NEVER ever going to be EQUAL the 1000 yds recommended clearly in the pattern???? Is this silly optimism normal??? How long can a knitter be in denial I wonder?

I chose to ignore the many little voices trying to tell me yarn was vanishing at too fast a rate until reality finally sank through during a blissful state of knitting and dozing in the Eurostar somewhere between Paris and London, that there really, really won't be enough yarn for the next 2 repeats and top edge. It's just lucky for me that the seller has more!. Let's see if the colour lot matches...

rantings over... The WIP is Sivia Harding's Moonshadow lacy stole knitted lengthwise and I can't sing enough praises for it. It's such a clever design and easy knit. Am using fingering cashmere from Colourmart.

As usual, I'll be off work for the Christmas & New Year break and switching to my vacation job as a Couch Potatoe cum Knitter.

( cards from egreetings.com )

Memories..

I'll let the pictures do the talking...


Rowanspun FO in Switzerland....Noro Silk Garden jumper at the Rhine Falls


Family in my handknits enjoying pork knuckles at Black Forest

Lots of clogs...still no sign of a yarn shop so far....

Glass pyramid at the Lourve.....note the 'pile' between horse's legs

ONLY 10 minutes at Liberty in London and managed to grab these....did not look at or pet any yarn there..

Worked on Sivia Harding's Moon Shadow Stole during the trip.

On Vacation.....

Tweed jumper and Horizontal scarf FOs

The grown up Rowanspun tweed cardigan...

Pattern: Drops 103-15

Yarn: Rowanspun DK

Amount: 5 x 50 gm x 219 yds

Needles: 4.0 mm & 3.0 mm

Size: 39" : Length: 27"

Modifictions: Moss stitch for neck borders .

Sleeves are in plain Stockinette instead of Ribbing.

Another view of the mid section in 3 x 3 rib

Pattern: Tammy & Evan Forever by Haley Waxberg of Knitomatic

(originally from Spun mag)

Yarn: Scrap DK wool

Amount: 175 gm

Length: 46" Width: 6.5"

Needles: 4.5 mm

Notes: scarf knitted lengthwise in Garter stitch

All the dark colours, except for the light blue, were dyed with Koolaid.

Paying It Forward

The first time Nurhanne blogged on this, I had meant to join but as it is usual with me these days, (I prefer to admit to having too many knitting things on mind - it's got nothing to do with Age creeping in) I forgot!

“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.”

On the knitting front.... hope to take pictures of the tweed cardigan and horizontal scarf FOs if there's good lighting when I get home from work this evening.

Miserable week

It must be one of the worst bout of Sinus I've had in years. Although a chronic sufferer, it's been relatively mild attacks for as long as I can remember. Not much knitting done, just wasn't in the mood..

Those who know of my Colourmart silk bargain way back in March 07 heard my constant moans on the purchase; I've got it figured out girls! With the combination of the Ball Winder and Swift, in between sniffles and pain killers...here they all. Aren't they lovely?

Would I do this again? Maybe...not too bad once I got the knack of it. I must say that Richard, Colourmart's owner, offers a fair deal as there's enough in the same shade for several stoles . Not sure what I'll do with them but here's a good idea;

Marble, by Kaffe Fassett in Rowan 41. It knits with 2 strands, each of a different colour throughout.

Ribbit

Sadly, this is no more....because..

• I was hoping it'd miraculously grow an additional 2" ease
• Thought Blocking will lengthen another 3"
• What would my non-knitting friends say if they found out I knit it???
• It'd stay in the closet forever...

thus....it is now growing up into this....

Drops 103-15