slightly off topic...

I am easily distracted at the best of times, and I definitely like diversity in my knitting projects, and lately it's felt a bit like all-sweaters, all-the-time.

So despite needing to sew up my Peasy, and having a Ferris Wheel to finish...not to mention a Miette on the needles as well, I decided to take a slight detour this weekend and work on some instant-gratification projects.

Firstly, I whipped up not one but THREE of these wee little baby hats.  Knit in the round using aran yarn, they zoomed off the needles and into the blocking bath. I made all three in a 24-hour span.

The pattern is the Garter Ear Flap Hat, a freebie from The Purl Bee, and I used some Rowan Pure Wool Aran (pink) and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (grey and teal).

Super cute!  I just need to add the tiny tassels to these and they are ready to go in the gift stash box.  I think I've even got enough leftover from each ball of yarn to make another two to three hats, probably with some colour blocking.  This pattern is definitely a win, in my books - free, quick, small yarn usage, and CUTE!  I think it's turned my baby-knitting mojo back on, for sure.

I also had a delivery of some Murano wool from Bendigo this week, that I bought because it was on special, and I wanted to make a blanket of some description.  I toyed with a mitred square pattern, and a knitted chevron, but in the end I decided to give crochet one more crack and try my hand at the Round Ripple Baby blanket.

And with all the stars miraculously aligning, I managed not to stuff it up!



This is a really simple pattern, and I found the instructions very clear and straightforward - perfect for those among us that perhaps struggle with crochet terminology, or reading stitches.  I usually always end up with extra chains, or not enough, and I'm never exactly clear about which is the "next stitch" the pattern asks me to slip stitch to!!

The yarn is great for this type of blanket too.  Self-striping in fairly long repeats; it makes impressive work out of something really rather simple.

As far as blankets go, this is also working up very fast.  In two evenings work, I have just finished the second 200g ball, using a 5mm hook.  I was debating whether to stop here, as it's probably big enough for a baby blanket, but I think I'll persevere and use up the third ball I ordered so the finished blankie is nice and snuggly.

shoes for scale...

And the best thing is, now that I have got that instant-gratification out of my system, I feel like I'm ready to knuckle down to seaming and probably a bit of garment knitting. 

What's exciting your needles this extra long weekend?  I'm working at Sunspun tomorrow, then we are shut for Good Friday but will be open 10-5pm Easter Saturday, so pop in if you're in the area?   I had the pleasure of finally meeting missfee last week, after probably 7-8 years of "knowing" each other online (hope your yarn purchases are bringing you much happiness, lovely lady!).  I really enjoy meeting more of the people I regularly chat to but have never met in person, and I feel like Sunspun might just end up being the great facilitator...

Hope to see you one of these days soon xx

Transition

It's raining in Melbourne today.  Not pouring; more drizzle, but constant.  This week past I have really felt the transition of the seasons, and it's felt exciting and fresh.  I am so ready for Autumn; for the mild sunshine and crisp afternoons, the necessity of a light cardigan whenever heading out of the house just in case, and toasty warm hand-knitted socks for snugging on the couch of an evening.

It seems the perfect season for me as I also transition, from full-time, big institution type employment into something more gentle, somewhere I feel I'm a person, not just a small cog within a huge machine.  So far I am loving being surrounded by wool all the working day, talking to people about their projects, their inspirations, and planning - oh, the planning!  Before I can feasibly think of adding more ideas to my list, I need to concentrate on my current ideas, though.  

My Autumn cardigan - Peasy -  is done bar the blocking and buttons.  Once I got onto the body, it zoom-zoomed along and Monday night I found myself casting off.  Most excitingly, it fits really well. 

I have been very gentle with the blocking, as the yarn is Rowan Felted Tweed, and I don't want the alpaca content to grow too much.   I love the pattern - Heidi Kirramaier writes beautiful patterns, but it's the colour that is the most amazing part of this garment. Such a perfect indigo hue.  I can't wait for it to hurry up and dry so I can wear it!

With the completion of Peasy, it was also time to start on my next sweater for my 2014 sweater project.  For Winter, I chose Miette using Cascade 220 Worsted in "Yakima Heather".  I even managed to find buttons in my stash.

I'm hoping that a worsted weight sweater on 5mm needles will go fast, because I'm feeling the need for some smaller projects at the moment!   April feels like the season for beanie knitting, and maybe some socks?  We will see...

On the subject of completing current lists, I've also been making a concentrated effort to finish my second Ferris Wheel cardigan.  This is the larger one, for my 10yo niece.  I used Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Cotton which has a beautiful soft touch, but as always, my tension is *crap* when knitting cotton.  I'm hoping a good block will help those tram tracks settle...

It's a lovely soft grey and I've only got the sleeves and the front bands to go now.  I've always loved making things for these girls, but I'll be honest - I don't think I'll ever attempt back-to-back projects of the same pattern again!  

I tried knitting them simultaneously for a while, but as soon as the smaller one was done, I just could not make myself pick up this one straight after. My hands and mind were craving different stitches, different textures.  Luckily this pattern is kind of an all-seasons one, and will be great for layering.  I've given myself an unofficial deadline of Easter to get this finished, because I'd dearly love to give them to them soon.

(and maybe start those socks!!)

and then it was done

ahh, in my traditional fashion the completion of my Show entries was a chaotic, frenzied, mad-dash!

After staying up till after 11pm putting final touches on pieces, I ran out of work this afternoon and made it to the Pavillion with 8 mins to spare.

That said; I'm very happy with my 2014 submissions.

A baby's garment (under 18mths)...

Baby booties...

An adult garment...

A tea cosy...

and an "Other"...

There seems to be a prevalence of "pink" in this year's entries too.

follow that arrow

Ysolda's Mystery, Choose-your-own-adventure, KAL - follow your arrow - has come to a conclusion...

This has been a wonderful experience, overall.  I loved working towards a new clue each week far more than I expected to, and the small thrill of not really knowing what you were knitting was a different kind of buzz.  I guess it was also partly the motivation!  Although, for anyone who's knitted a bit of lace, the charts from Clue 2 onwards did give away the basic shape to a degree.

The lace was really quite simple and relatively easy to memorise, but the construction and some techniques did give enough challenge to keep you interested.  More than once the lace lulled me into a false sense of security and I was forced to rip back!

I'm pleased with the performance of the Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury 4ply, too.  It's blocked out very soft, and there is no sign of pilling or fuzzing sometimes found with the 10ply of the same yarn.  I think if I were to knit this pattern again though, I'd either use a larger needle (I used a 3.75mm) or laceweight yarn and get that real lightness in the fabric that makes lace "lace".

I'd also like to give the cast-off edge a light steam press still, just to flatten out the slight rolling the stretchy bind-off method has created.  I'm not sure how to get around that edge roll another way?

Obviously, the very nature of the optional clues each release meant lots of combinations and interpretations, but with nearly 3,500 projects listed on Ravelry, there are so many interesting versions; it's well worth taking a look or checking out #followyourarrow on Instagram.

 Ysolda's patterns are always a bit of a treat, especially those that explore her use of texture, and I really am very happy with my version.  I'm so pleased I took part in the KAL - well worth it and would totally recommend it if another opportunity arose!

Wip-tastic week

It's been a catch up week for me this one - I've got a few WIP's on the go that I'd really like to try and knock over within the next fortnight, because there are some exciting planned projects waiting in the wings!

Firstly, I've made some progress on my two Ferris Wheel cardigans for my nieces.  

The violet version is done, barring the small amount of seaming on the pockets and weaving in the ends...

and the silver version is onto the body, probably about 1/3 of the body is done?  It's a little hard to photograph at this stage, but as I've said before - this pattern is one of those ones that just ticks along and before you know it you've done another section.

I've also managed to keep up with the Follow your Arrow KAL clues, which has really surprised me!

Again, it's not the easiest thing to photograph.  The colour is more purple IRL, less lipstick pink, and it's getting rather large, here at the end of the third clue (two more to go).  I can't wait to get it off the needles and onto the blocking wires, to open up those lace motifs.

I've done 1B, 2A, 3B (BAB) which have perhaps been the more "classic" styles.  Loving it so far, and very happy with my choices at each stage; it's been such an enjoyable process so far.

I've decided to do 4A for the next clue.  It's been noted by ysolda that it's the more challenging of the two clues this round and I feel like I've taken the safer route thus far so it's time for me to shake it up a bit!

If you're interested, you can check out the SPOILER posts on Ravelry here, or on Instagram at #followyourarrowkal

Til next week - happy knitting  ♥

follow your arrow KAL

So anyone in Australia knows how freaking hot it is at the moment. 

This is how we attempted to cool our little 1950's, non-airconditioned flat the last few days - wet towels in breezeways with pedestal fans.  It works for a short while.

.

For those of you visiting with me here at kgirlknits from overseas, I won't bore you with the details, but if you're interested you can read about it here.  It's ridonkulous, to say the least.

Instead, I want to share with you what's been occupying my thoughts this last week.

  

Like a LOT of people, I'm participating in Ysolda's "Follow your Arrow" KAL that commenced Jan 13th, 2014.

I'm so excited by this project - it's a mystery KAL which has been done before of course, but this time there's another twist.  Each clue release gives 2 options.  You choose your path, with 32 possible outcomes!

As a kid who loved the Choose your Own Adventure books of the 80's, this was one I couldn't pass up.  Is anyone else participating?  Who else remembers those books?!  

I knew I wanted a solid colour for this shawl, but sadly I had nothing in the required weight and yardage.  So very sad ;)

So after a long, LONG search online and in person, I settled on Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply in the Fuschia colourway.  It fit the budget, was in stock, and the idea was that by ordering locally it would get here quickly.

harrumph.

Still waiting, and now I'm desperately trying to avoid spoilers on Ravelry!  I want to know as little about this pattern as possible, and truly leave the outcome to chance, just like in the books.

So that's my week, really.  Extreme weather and a nostalgic collision of present and past.  

Until next week - stay cool, guys xx  (or warm, if the polar vortex is affecting your world)

a small amount of procrastination...

I seem to have skipped a week somewhere along the way, sorry - time has got well and truly away from me at the moment.

However, I do have some finished pieces and new works to show you though!

For a 24/12 update, I went to cast on the Tears of Bronze beanie only to find issues with the pattern link.  As in, it doesn't seem to be available any longer?

I went scrolling through Ravelry looking for a substitute, but after no luck finding something I really wanted to make, I finally thought - pfft, how many beanies have I knit?  I can totes do this on my own!

So I did.

MossyHearts is a pretty basic stocking stitch beanie, with a twisted 1x1 rib band and a cable panel of hearts and moss stitch centres finishing with a simple cable up to the crown peak.

The wool is Madelinetosh DK in "Baltic".  Oh dear lawd, this colourway is FINE.  I'm pretty pleased with how it came up in this beanie, it seems to show off all the variations and has minimal pooling/striping.

Once the was finished, I decided it was time I knit my two beautiful nieces a cardigan each.  Coincidentally, this thought came almost simultaneously with Tikkiknits releasing a set of summer cardigans AND offering a coupon discount as part of the Indie Design Gift-a-Long that's happening on Ravelry at the moment.  

I ordered some BWM 8ply cotton in a pale grey and vibrant fuschia (to match their individual personalitites!) and got started.   I've just separated for the sleeves on the grey and the fuschia is only a few rows in, but I'm already loving the pattern.  It's got enough interest in the form of some lace details to keep you motivated, but it's simple enough to suit my modern young fashionista's taste.

I don't think they'll have them for Christmas - I'm making sizes 8 and 10 so these aren't toddler cardigans - but I'm hoping to get them both done in time for summer holidays at least.

THEN, just as a bit of a quick fix project, I dragged out some stash cotton and made a couple of dishcloths!  I love knitted dishcloths.  They are so soft and squishy, and I think they stay "fresher" than chux-like ones you buy at the supermarket?

I made on knitted one in a chevron stitch, and two crochet ones, because I'm determined to master crocheting from a pattern and I figure a dishcloth is probably a good way to practice.

(Keen blog readers will notice that despite a flurry of activity, there has been no casting on of the final project on my 24/12 list - the Gingko Shawlette...  I'm procrastinating, I know.  This week will be the week, for sure!)

you've got the love...

Grace did not survive the time-out, and has been frogged.

But within this sad news, the happiest of happy occurred.  

I found the MadTosh love ♥

My copy of pompom Fall arrived and within the pages there was my answer to the Madtosh dilemma.  Morganite; a gorgeous cardigan with a bold lace yoke, and written for this very yarn.

My size needs 6 skeins, and I only have 5 but I feel that's fine.  I will be shortening the body by 3", and possibly making the sleeves 3/4; something I would have done anyway.

The stocking stitch shows off the colourway (Terrarium) much better than the overall texture - I really love those pops of turquoise.  I've even worked out how to manage the lighter skein!  I'll be alternating it in around the yoke, so the lighter colour will graduate up around my face and be in mottled in amongst the lace.  I think this will blend in rather nicely.

I'm 8&1/2" into the body and I'm so very pleased I quit Grace while I was ahead.  There is a definite point when you know it's "right", and the Morganite pattern/yarn combo is Right in ways Grace never was, never could be.

I'm using my new HiyaHiya sharps in 4.5mm too, which have the perfect scoop for the twisted rib bands.  I do love a good scoop.

All this lovey feeling gave me a burst of energy and enthusiasm, which timed perfectly with our knitting group starting their very first KAL;  Lacetember!  Running for all of September, we will be knitting lace in whatever form we choose.  Some are going traditional, with laceweight yarn and beautiful stoles; I think some might choose socks, and there's bound to be loads of other variations within our diverse little group.

I've cast on Cold Pine, which ticks the KAL box and my 24in12 challenge - huzzah!

Using 5mm needles (sadly not HiyaHiya's, although I feel another order coming on) and squishy Malabrigo Merino Worsted, it's not lace in the traditional sense, but it's exactly what I was looking for as a counterpoint for my two adult-sized cardigans (which are coincidentally both also lace).

This is a gorgeous free pattern from Caitlin ffrench.   It's simple, but it keeps you on your toes too, I discovered.  Unlike a lot of lace I've knit previously, I can't seem to find the intuitive pattern within this one.  It could be me, because looking at the chart it seems to be a standard type of pattern, but either way - I'm enjoying the unpredictable twists and turns.

Actually, all in all, I'm pretty pleased with the knitting life at the moment and one can't complain about that, can they?

retro knitting

I feel a bit like it's all retro, all the time around here, but even more so than usual this week!

Firstly, my crochet couch granny blanket has gone from WIP to FO.

Using leftover wool, mainly Bendigo Rustic and Luxury, in shades of grey, blue and red, this has been a great project to work on in-between other projects.

I started with classic granny treble...clusters?  I'm not sure if that's what they are called if you don't pull them all together with the last chain?  My crochet friends will know, I have faith.  I got bored with those after a while, so switched to straight trebles for the border, finishing with a 5tr...shell?

I am not a natural crocheter, so I do like how you can "fudge" minor stitch errors.  And how you can just pretty well make it up as you go.

It's the perfect "couch" size, just right to ward off drafts, but not too warm as to be considered bulky.

Then my chevron scarf in Crazy Zauerball got some serious attention and it turning out so deliciously retro, I can't stop admiring it!

Red, green and yellow are not my favourite colour combo by any means usually, but there seems to be enough blending and colour surprises to keep it just off the edge of replecating traffic lights.

I'm anticipating I'm about halfway through the ball now - didn't weigh it at the start, but it doesn't really matter with this pattern.  To echo Dory, just keep knitting...