Something else I finished on the Cape

I think I mentioned this before (ah yes!) but I totally adored knitting this. The yarn is the most wonderful I have used to date. I still have a skein upstairs and am saving it until inspiration hits. I finished it on holiday and have memories of knit, knit, knitting away on it, sitting in the cottage in the evening, watching Americans compete in the Olympics (why bother showing anyone else?) and waiting for Alex and Eri to arrive. Once finished, I used my new blocking wires to block it in the sun porch, then had an extensive photography session with it on the back deck. It is my Cape scarf :) And I wear it often. I am not sure its my colour really (one thing that is holding me back from knitting the second skein), but I love it anyway.

Also, while I was knitting it, I photographed it extensively as a WIP meaning to send the photo to the Knitty Calendar photo competition. I think I did pretty well in the end, but stupid me missed the deadline for photos. Doh. So here they are on my blog for posterity :)

Beach knitting

During our month-long holiday in Cape Cod, I
a) did a lot of knitting
b) bought a lot of yarn
c) not much else.
I had several beach knitting projects, nice and mindless. Knit it in the car and when visiting friends in NYC. Sadly, I havnt knit it since! I do love knitting it, but its just that I cant imagine what it will be like finished. Or if I will want to wear it. Its called my Stawberry Shortcake Clapotis because it reminds me of Haagen Daas strawberry shortcake ice cream, which I havnt had in years, but had glorious crunchy bits. On a childish note, the yarn is Fannies Fingering, which makes me snigger.

I also had a ton of yarn shipped to my parents-in-law prior to our arrival, as well as the wonderful Harmony Options needles which are both beautiful to look at and to knit with. I dont use anything else now. The truth is, I now have enough yarn to knit with for 5 years, so knitting from stash from now on. This is my pledge. I started this sweater for Matt while on holiday, and finished it a month or so after we got back. Its the biggest thing I have knitted to date, and got right hacked off by the weight of it on the needles (its basically knit in the round in one piece, bar the arms), but I loved its construction and its turned out really nicely. Its made in this yarn, which has flecks of yellow and red in it. Matt chose it. Also a plus: a) it fits! and b) he wears it! Woot!

And I started a dress for Molly with some sale yarn which is a linen mix, so stiff and soft at the same time. (The original pattern calls for 100% linen which feels like it would knit like wire, as well as being tres pricey.) I am not sure if I would have started it if I knew how much knitting there is in it. Its knit from the top down, so seems manageable at first, but as the skirt flares and flares the rounds get huge! But well worth it. She loves it, and despite her long body, it seems lengthy in that region so I think will last a while. Its really heavy to wear though!

2009 and onwards.....

...I know, I know. Dont nag.

First some belated Christmas cheer, then on to the catch-up.

Scarves for Sister-in-laws

I sure do hope my in-laws dont read this blog. If they do, their surprises are ruined. I have 3 lovely sister-in-laws. I have 3 brother-in-laws and one brother. They are all married. You do the math. Anyway, 2 of the lovely ones are the mothers of my 2 newest nephews and neices. [And the other lovely one is married to my brother, to avoid confusion and unnecessary upset]. The new mothers' babies have had plenty knit for them (see below), and it kind of sucks when you become a mother and all the gifts are for the baby and none for you. So, I knit them both scarves. And because nobody loves a bitch-fight I knit them the same one in different colours.


Its this in Debbie Bliss Cathay, the grey/blue left over from my tank top, and bubble gum pink I also got in the JL sale. The pattern is originally meant for laceweight I think, but I like the way it came out in the heavier yarn. The weight makes for nice scarf hanging.
I used 2 skeins for each and they probably could do with being a little longer if you like scarves for flinging around. These are more the neck-warmer type. I may well knit one for myself actually. It was a great handbag/knit-while-you-natter project.

An Even Smaller Hat

This hat is for nephew, who is still tiny and as a boy, probably too macho for a pink berry hat (although I havnt met him yet, so I am guessing). The pattern is by Ulli S. Shibuya and knit in some RYC cashcotton 4ply I snagged in the John Lewis sale for silly money. I was trying to be smart and get coloured garter stitch stripes, but it didnt work out quite as I hoped. I also couldnt find a small enough bowl or large enough dolls head to model it on, just a plastic toy cup, hence its cake-like appearance. I dont think C has a cake-shaped head, so it should look better on him. I hope.

A Smaller Hat

I love this hat. I wonder if I should make an adult version. Would that look ridiculous? ;) Its for niece baby C, who is just over 6 months. I realised as making it that I have no memory of how big a 6 month old baby head is. Smaller than my father-in-law, presumably. Its from this pattern, and knitted in Debbie Bliss cotton angora, which is a dream to knit with, but has lousy reviews on Ravelry regarding wear. But how much grief does a baby hat get? Especially as it might not even fit. It did fit this bowl nicely though, which was great for blocking it a bit, and fantastic for photos :)

Hat for Silly Grampy

My father-in-law is a big guy. With a big head. At least I hope its big, cos this hat is huge!!

Its got a nice bit of low level cabling in which is pretty, but not too girly I hope. I managed to do it without a cable needle, which is good as those suckers are a real pain in the arse.