Spinning Sue

Friday Round-Up

I have 5 WIPs at the moment and 1 UFO. The Mystery Stole 3 is the UFO and I think that later today it will become the late stole, the former stole, the RIPped stole. I love the different elements of the pattern but the transition between the wing and the rest of the stole just jars for me. I know there are instructions for making it symmetrical but I have so many things I badly want to knit that I really don't feel like bothering with a project that just doesn't inspire me. So, RIP MS3!

I'm knitting two projects for Kerrie at Hip Knits at the moment. One is the Lightweight Mountain Peaks shawl by Miriam Felton. I'm about halfway through the 4th repeat of chart 1. I've got two more repeats of chart 1 to do and will be glad when its done! This is the section that has patterning on both sides and I have a problem with row 14 every time I get to it. You'd think I'd have it down after 4 repeats but apparently not. The other project is one of Kerrie's own designs so I can't show you that but I will say that my guage was way off over the pattern the first time around so after some re-calculation things are back on track. I can also tell you that it is being knit in Hip Knits aran silk. Mmmmmmmm!

I have 3 projects for me on the go. First is the Misty Garden scarf from Scarf Style. I'm knitting it with Araucania Atacama on 5mm needles. It's now about 25 inches long and I'm not yet halfway through the second ball of three so I think it will be a good length. This is my no need to think knitting. I love alpaca yarn it is sooooo buttery soft to knit with.

Next are the socks I'm knitting with 2 different skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. I still like the way they look but sock knitting is not really doing it for me at the moment. I think I might have over-strained my sock muscle during Summer of Socks! So the sock has grown but progress is not startling.

Finally, my real obssession - Arwen. I love it. Nuff said. :-)

Apologies for the dark photos, its overcast today and quite dark inside the house.

SSS

No, not Second Sock Syndrome but Sock, Scarf, Shawl - the list of current WIPs.

I have another shawl sample for Kerrie on the needles. This is Miriam Felton's Lightweight Mountain Peaks Shawl being knit in Hip Knits laceweight cashmere on 2.5mm needles. The first chart has patterning on both the right and wrong sides requiring much concentration meaning that this is not bad light or late night knitting for me! I've done another couple of inches since I took this photo. I've got some other knitting for Kerrie on the needles too but I can't show that yet.

My 'no concentration required' knitting is a feather and fan scarf knit with Araucania Atacama on 5mm needles. The yarn is 100% alpaca and is gorgeous buttery soft. :-) I actually discovered that I can't watch Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn in Lord of the Rings) and count to six at the same time so I also cast on for...

Socks! These are just stocking stitch so they really are dead head knitting. I'm using two different colours of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Lakeview and River. I had ugly pooling problems with the River colour so I decided to steal Mary's idea and alternate two different colours doing just one row of each. I like them! I have another skein of River so I've bought a different contrasting colour, Purple Club, to alternate with it and have yet another pair of rather unique socks.

Finishing Spree

I've got three more finished things to report. Socks, mittens and a reindeer...

Ravelry is almost ready to go live and all my projects are documented on there so I'm going to include a link to Ravelry rather than type all the details in each blog post. I hate doing the same job twice!

I cast off the Denmark socks on Saturday. This is the second time I've attempted this pattern and this time, for some obscure reason, I like it! The wool felt quite harsh while I was knitting it but has softened up quite nicely after washing. Details on Ravelry.

I've also cast off the Corazon mittens. I really like these and am quite impressed with my colour stranding. Its been about 18 years since I did any knitting like this. I found the Sublime yarn to be a bit splitty but it has knit up beautifully so I can forgive it. Details on Ravelry.

Finally, I've finished sewing together the reindeer toy. Named Rudolph, of course, just look at that nose! He's a bit floppy so I'll probably put something in his legs and neck to keep him upright. At the moment he looks like he's had a very good Saturday night out... Details on Ravelry.

Bad Again

Well, I didn't mean to leave it so long between posts again. I was ill towards the end of last week and pretty much stayed off the computer. In fact for about three days I pretty much stayed horizontal. Bad for communication but good for knitting.

Today will be about socks but I have also finished the Hidcote Garden Shawl. It is so gorgeous and I will post photos soon.

I finished my Blueberry Waffle socks. Still love 'em!

I also knit the fastest pair of socks EVAH! The yarn is Fyberspates 100% Blue Faced Leicester and is DK. I cast on the first sock after lunch on Sunday and cast off the second sock before lunch the following day. Just simple stocking stitch but they look great and fit fine. I used 3.5mm needles.

I then started Denmark from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road. Once again its DK wool, Wendy Emu 100% superwash wool and I finished the first sock on the day I started it and cast on for the second. Then I was seduced away from socks by the Hidcote shawl. I'm on the foot of the second sock so they will be finished by the end of the weekend.

Once I finish Denmark I will have achieved the goal I set for myself of two pairs of socks a month for Summer of Socks 2007. :-) I'm going to try to squeeze out another pair before the official end date of 21st September because I like to be an over-achiever!

Me Is A Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger! I haven't posted here for about three weeks and really can only blame my own apathy. I still haven't fixed my own computer but once again its due to apathy. I think if I didn't have Mum's computer I would have sorted it out ages ago. I've promised myself I will do it. Sometime. Soon. Really.

I haven't even been doing an awful lot of knitting either. I've had another bad ear infection and have spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and reading. :-) There has been some knitting!

Faysie's socks are complete. I actually finished these on 31st July. They are for my bestest friend's Mum, Fay. Fay is like my second mum and is responsible for an awful lot of my crafty addiction! She started it all by teaching me ceramics while I was still at school. She is an amazing quilter too and made a bag for me that I use as my 'big project' knitting bag. I must take a picture of it and post it here.

The next pair of socks was cast on immediately but so far I've only completed one. The yarn is Silkwood sock yarn in the 'Blueberries' colour. I bought this last October at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. I'm using the Blueberry Waffle pattern and I really like the way its looking.

Well, I have a few other things to show but I'l leave those for another post. It won't be so long between posts this time!

Thanks Shannon for jolting me out of my non-blogging apathy! ;-)

Socks & Stuff

I've finished another pair of socks for Summer of Socks. These are made from Lana Grossa Meilenweit Colortweed in colour #1004. I love the colour and the thin stripes on these. This yarn felt quite rough when I was knitting with it and I'm hoping it will soften up a fair bit when washed. I'll still wear the socks even if it remains rough - yes I like them that much. :-)

I've also started another pair of socks. These are for Faysie, mum to my bestest friend evah - Meg. Fay never forgets to send me a birthday or Christmas present so I wanted to do something special for her. The obvious choice was to knit socks, of course. The yarn for these is Fortissima Socka Cotton Color in colour #6541.

We were lucky again with the floods. We live on the River Avon - the same river that caused the devastation in Tewkesbury. We live about a mile from the river but have open fields and a steep bank between and have never been too worried about the water reaching us. This time around, however, we did talk about moving stuff upstairs. Fortunately for us we didn't have to put the plans into action.

My heart goes out to the people who have been affected. Particularly those in Worcester where the Environment Agency didn't even put the flood barriers up and those in Upton-upon-Severn whose flood barriers were first stuck in traffic (they are stored 30 miles away) and then diverted to protect the power station in Gloucestershire that was in danger from the floodwaters. Protecting the power station was, of course, vital but I imagine the people of Upton are feeling slightly bitter about it.

My computer is still out of action. I've had to replace just about every part so far but still haven't got it to work. I'm going to have to do the very thing I've been avoiding whihc is install each component and then test the system. So time consuming but necessary if I want a working computer. Sometimes I wish I didn't have the knowledge to fix it myself because then I could just let someone else sort it out.

Oh well. :-)

The Curse of Pomotamus

For me, Pomotamus appears to be a cursed pattern. My first attempt turned out too big. My latest attempt - too small. Aaaargh! I did two pattern repeats before I gave in to the inevitable.I really like the pattern and when I calm down enough to try it again I hope to get the size right...

Seeing as Pomotamus has gone to the big frog pond in the sky, I needed to get another sock on the needles for Summer of Socks. When the going gets tough... give up! I'm knitting this pair in stocking stitch with a self-striping yarn. Instant, easy results! :-) The yarn is Lana Grossa Meilenweit Colortweed in colour #1004. It feels a bit harsh after all the Posh Yarn cashmere blends I've been knitting with lately but I'm sure it will soften up after washing.

I haven't been neglecting the top-down raglan. Well, not too much! I've decided not to do waist shaping - something I might come to regret! I just pick it up every now and then and do a round or three. As long as I have it finished in time for the cooler weather I'll be happy.

Clue 2 of the mystery stole came out last Friday. I'm really enjoying knitting this and, so far, I love the design. I think its the beads that make me like it so much.

Of Monkeys and Mysteries

Monkey socks are finished. These are mine, mine, all mine! :-) I used Posh Yarn Lucia in the January '07 sock club colourway 'Twinkle' and 2.5mm dpns. The only change I made to the pattern was to do a reinforced heel. If I knit this pattern again I will add a repeat to the leg. They are just a bit shorter than I would prefer. These were knit as a part of Summer of Socks.

The first clue of the Mystery Stole 3 was released on Friday and I've knit it up. I really like it so far. The beads don't stand out but just glitter when the light catches them which is exactly what I wanted. I like the construction too. Starting at a point looks great. Roll on next Friday and the next clue. Sign-ups are open till the 6th July if you're tempted...

Monkeying Along

I've been doing Other Things this week so not a lot of progress on the second Monkey sock. I've just started the heel flap so should finish these socks this weekend at the latest. I still love them! :-) These are, of course, being knit for Summer of Socks. I'm already thinking about the next pair, I think I might make a plain stocking stitch pair or maybe Pomatomus.

Hey Hey!

Its a Monkey! Pathetic I know but all the good puns have already been used for this sock pattern. :-)

The pattern for my first pair of socks for Summer of Socks 2007 is the very popular Monkey. I can see why it is so popular. Its quick, easy to memorise and looks fantastic! What more could you want? I made a lot of progress yesterday because I was battling with the after effects of a migraine I had late Wednesday. I couldn't concentrate on much and still had light sensitive eyes so the computer and reading were out. Knitting was possible and so that is what got done at least until the evening when the nausea came back. Once that happened I just went to bed! :-(

I'm using Posh Yarn Lucia in 'Twinkle', the January '07 sock club yarn, and 2.5mm needles. The only modification I've made is to do a reinforced heel. Love the yarn. Love the pattern. Love the sock. These are definitely for me!