Kris Kringle, knit-style

I cast off my Gingko Crescent shawl Monday night and thanks to warm Melbourne weather, it was blocked and dry by the morning!

Being the only thing I worked on this week, this project went rather quickly and by about Saturday I had a good feeling I was going to make it in time for our knitting group's Kris Kringle at the Christmas dinner. 

The recipient seemed very happy with her new shawl, proceeding to wear it for the remainder of the evening.  It actually even matched the colour of her top, which was pure coincidence as we did a random KK, where each parcel was numbered and we all drew a number to be allocated a gift.

The wool is Knitabulous 50/50 merino silk.  Such a beautiful base, and lovely for stitch definition in the lace.  It's soft to the touch, and didn't seem itchy at all.  The colour is "Tokyo Rose" and it was part of a yarn club Knitabulous offered a few years ago now.  I really liked working with this yarn and I have a decent amount still left to work on another small something one day.

I was lucky enough to receive a beautiful Maluka shawl as my KK  gift, made in Madelinetosh Merino Light deliciousness. The light has faded here tonight, so I've only got this shot so far unfortunately.    This is quite an accurate representation of the lovely russet colour of the yarn (Byzantine, if you're wondering), and it shows off the lacework just beautifully.

I'm so excited to receive a knitted gift, I can't tell you.  When you knit yourself, you don't often get knitted gifts.  My guess people think something like "Oh, you can probably knit it yourself if you really wanted it"?  

I know I'm more inclined to give my knitty friends knitting-related items, like needles, project bags, patterns, but I think after experiencing the sheer delight of having something knit by someone else, I will be changing that and will start giving my knitted items to knitters too!

and you guys - you know what this post means don't you?

MY 24-IN12 CHALLENGE IS DONE!!!

*happy dancing in circles*

making plans

I’m currently finishing up my 2013 projects, putting to bed a year in knitting and spending some time both reflecting on the year that was, and beginning to make plans for the year ahead.

I've been thinking about how much I've enjoyed my little personal challenge of 24 projects in 12 months, and have decided to set some more such challenges for 2014.

I’m at that delicious stage of the planning process where every project on my list is exciting me, and I keep finding even more new and wonderful things to add! 

Firstly, I know in 2014 I want to work on pieces that form a collection, rather than a more random, individual project methodology.  Accessories and garments that come together to compliment both each other and my existing wardrobe pieces.

A Year in Sweaters by Season

I've loosely put together the idea of working in seasons.  The aim of this set is to pick 4 garments that relate in some way to the season they are to be finished by – be it in a design attribute, a gauge, a yarn…

Jan-Mar: Autumn 

Autumn

Peasy cardigan, using Rowan Felted Tweed DK in Seasalter.  Such a versatile pattern and yarn/colour – I have tons to wear this with, from dresses to skirts, to jeans and shorts.  Perfect transitional wear, in my opinion

Apr-Jun: Winter    
   

Winter

Miette cardigan, using Cascade 220 worsted in Yakima Heather to wear with a cute little mint coloured floral dress, tights and cowboy boots!  

Jul-Sep: Spring

Spring

Fieldwork cardigan, using Berroco Ultra Fine Alpaca in Redwood Mix.  This colour looks fabulous with a lavender top I have, and I can see it with cuffed jeans and Converse.

Oct-Dec: Summer           

Summer

Hexacomb cardigan, using Louisa Harding Ianthe in Raffia.  An oldie of a pattern, but still very relevant to my wardrobe, with its slightly vintage styling.  The ¾ sleeves and wool/cotton blend will make it a lovely little summer cardigan for sunfrocks and skirts.

Showtime

In this set, I’m putting a concentrated effort into making pieces for Show competitions in 2014, starting with the Red Hill Show in March, then Bendigo Sheep & Wool in July, and finishing with the Royal Melbourne Show in September.  They will hopefully also work back with the Seasonal pieces, so I'm thinking they will mainly be accessories and homewares.

At this stage, I’m still working out which pieces I want to enter in which show, but I do know that I definitely want to attempt a lace-weight baby shawl for the Royal Melbourne.  I want to make an heirloom piece for Lily, and I’ve found a couple of great shawl patterns (one is even named “Lily”!)

I know I am going to see things, new things, throughout the year that I am going to Have. To. Knit straight away, so I’m trying to leave enough leeway within my planning to accommodate this spontaneous aspect too.  As much as I do enjoy my little quests and challenges, I think I’ve established that it’ really important to me within my craft to have some freedom to just cast on and work away on a whim.  So I’m also setting the additonal goal of an accessory a month – free choice!  (Free choice, but I’m naturally I'm already making lists, hahaha!!)

Oh, and the Gingko Crescent shawl is finally cast on ;) 

I’m just about to start the lacework.

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!)

oh so close but no cigar

I was really hoping these would be finished by today, to show you, but despite my best effort over the weekend it was not to be!

Specs:

• My Cup of Tea socks
• #22/24 in the 24in12 challenge
• Jitterbug yarn from the stash
• knitted on 2mm dpn's (I know, right - must be crazy!  but the tight gauge with the high twist yarn is actually kinda nice)

The pattern is a bit of a Pringle one - "just one more repeat" and all that - so they do knit up quick when one gets the chance to work on them.  The toe looks a bit boxy off, but it actually fits my foot really well, so maybe it seems I have a boxy foot!

I'll knock these over tonight or tomorrow and then the plan is to cast on the last two projects for the challenge simultaneously, and work my way through til the end of the year.

fingers crossed, anyways!

Girl Friday

It's finished!!

It even has buttons ;)

It fits perfectly, I could not be happier with this cardigan.  I've got loads of knitted garments stuffed in my cupboard that remain unworn due to varying issues (mostly regarding fit) but I think after my last two cardigans I can say I'm finally getting the hang of choosing patterns and sizes that are right for me - hurrah!

This is a great slightly longer-line cardigan, with the right balance of cosy and fitted elements in the design.  The big shawl collar snuggles around your neck  and the body of the cardigan has no waist shaping or hemline flare.  To compliment this, the sleeves are quite fitted which suits me to the ground, but I've noticed a few people mentioning they had to rip out the sleeves and re-knit at a larger size. 

Did I show you the perfect buttons?  

I love my button stash, it nearly never fails to come up with the goods.  These beauties are from a trip to Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show a few years ago.  Anyone who's been to the Show knows of the Button stall.  Trays and trays of beautiful buttons; some new, some old, some even older.  Over the years I've spent a decent amount of yarn cash at this stall, but I've never regretted it for a minute.

Specs and mods, for those interested:

• I used far less yarn than I projected - a total of 4.5 skeins of Cascade 220 Worsted in "Christmas Red".  I had 5 skeins and had initially wondered if I had enough?
• I got exact gauge, which nearly never happens, using this yarn and 5mm needles, 
• I removed the purl stitches from the lace, which gave a more streamlined appearance to the fabric in my opinion
• I made the size 37" even though that was 1" of negative ease based on my measurements, after reading project notes on Ravelry that said the lace was extremely stretchy
• I read a lot of project notes on Ravelry.  I've finally learned these are the knitters' version of the "measure twice, cut once" rule
• I'm a creature of habit when it comes to cast-on/cast off methods, but for the first time ever I used Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy bind-off.  At first it was a bit flared, but a bit of a steam and it's settled nicely.  I debated over Jeny's and this one, but in the end felt I'd forget which way to twist at some point and muck it up!  I will try the alternative on a second project, one with less stitches to cast off maybe?

The only thing I'd modify or suggest?

I think it needs pockets!

24in12 progress update

This week seems like a good time to check in on my 24in12 challenge, given there are only 8 weeks left!  

Where did that time go? I think daily at least one person mentions to me how quickly this year has gone for them, and I have to agree.  It feels like the weeks are just slipping by, and it will be 2014 in the blink of an eye.

My tally count is currently sitting at 20, so I feel I'm well on track for the NYE deadline.  I've completed a couple of small "extra" projects recently too - the Barley beanie and my Zombie Apocalypse socks that I wrote about last week -  but I'm not counting them in that tally just yet.

I'm not counting them because I set this challenge with an idea that I would work towards a targeted outcome, with focus and discipline.  I get distracted easily, so it doesn't surprise me when I create a couple of small diversions from the master plan! 

I'm officially back on the wagon though, and have been working consistently on my Girl Friday cardigan. 

Sleeves and body are done, I need to now sew them together and pick up for the bands and collar. Still love it.   The pieces are currently blocking, to make seaming and picking up band/collar stitches easier.  We've got a few days of nice weather ahead so hopefully it will dry quickly.

Ideally I'd like this completed by the middle of November, so I can start on the Ginkgo Crescent shawl, as I have a feeling that might be my slowest project of those left.

I've also wound the yarn for the Tears of Bronze beanie and the My Cup of Tea socks, as motivation.  The beanie won't take long at all, and I think it will be a nice respite between the shawl and the socks.  

 I've changed the sock yarn to another colourway of Jitterbug too, because I remembered I had other plans for the Oyster I'd originally chosen.

Then once it was wound, I decided that I *totally* needed a small project just to take the edge off  the transition of finishing my cardigan.  See what I do??!

My Cup of Tea, nicknamed the Beautiful Ugly Socks

Not the prettiest yarn I've ever knit, but there is something about that mustard khaki and the flashes of teal, watermelon and gold that draws me in.  
Ugly is the new Beautiful, and even ugly yarn needs love ♥
So anyway, there you go. Some solid knitting ahead to meet the deadline, but certainly not impossible.  I'll update again at the 4 week mark, hopefully still as positive and optimistic about the project!

Morganite

I finished a cardigan!  

Morganite was an enjoyable knit definitely, although the lace yoke was not without challenge and really kept me on my toes.

I wrote last fortnight about my disgruntled feelings on the lack of clear direction within the yoke instruction, and in the end I just had to use my initiative and previous experience to nut it out.   There was some ripping out with gritted teeth, more than once, as I realised my lace was no longer matching up as the raglan decreased, but every second row was purl so it wasn't terribly difficult to re-establish.

I shortened the sleeves and the body, and as I knit I realised I would need to shorten the yoke a little to keep everything in perspective.  I left out the short row shaping on the back of the neck, which I don't think will be missed on my version, and roughly 12 rows of lace, which meant only having 2 buttonholes but I'm cool with that.  I'm not really one for buttoning up my cardigans anyway.  Well, not this style of cardigan.

Overall, I'm really happy with this project.

I love the way the colours work together in this pattern and how luminescent the yarn appears.

I love the geometric lace, like cathedral windows, or mountain ranges.

I love that I got to use my special yarn and the end result was special too.

My ambition to finish both my cardigans was grossly overstated, however.  Wrangling 7 people in a small holiday house proved not conducive to a huge amount of knitting time, and really - I wanted to be part of all the chatter and games and fun!  So instead of picking up my Girl Friday, I cast on zombie socks as part of a Halloween KAL!  

I've used my cloudlover's "Haunted Vineyard" pared with the Charade sock pattern, and the colours are deliciously zombie-like.

The kids were fascinated by the way the colours came up, how they striped at different rates (how they striped at all was quite amazing to the youngest), and assured me they could totally see the "zombie" colours, bless them.

I'm back at work this week, which has been a reality check.  Looking forward to each evening when I can relax with a glass of wine and some simple sock knitting. Returning to everyday life after a break can be a grind...thank goodness for knitting.

(and wine)

HOL-I-DAY!

oh sweet sweet holidays, how much am I loving you?!  Two whole weeks; no alarms, no deadlines or audits, no students.  

I haven't had a chunk of leave since I started in my new role at the start of the year and boy, was it starting to show.  I've been looking forward to this since July, I swear.

This first week I'm pretty much my own person, as Lily's at her Dad's and my fella's working, so I've been planning how to fit in all the projects I have put on the backburner, like resetting the layout of the kitchen and loungeroom furniture and appliances, giving my old kitchen dresser a fresh lease on life with a lick of paint, setting up new displays and clearing some clutter out and down to the garage.  I've got gardening to do, and some paintings and prints to hang.  I've made pompom garland that needs to be hung.  You know, ALL the things!

My girl gets back Friday and then we are heading off to a beach house down at Phillip Island for the second week so the pressure is on to get the bulk of my projects done before we leave. Phillip Island has a special place in my heart, having spent many summers there as a child at my aunt's beach house, and I can't wait to get on Island time...

I've also got a (lofty) goal to complete my two cardigans that are on the needles by the end of my leave, and a week away might be just the ticket to get that done!  Girl Friday needs some sleeves and a button band/collar, and Morganite is up to the yoke, but that yoke is all lace, and is taking some serious concentration to get it set up properly.  

The pattern is gorgeous, but my one tiny criticism is the instructions around the set up of the lace when you incorporate the body and the sleeves into the yoke are decidedly vague.  I haven't found many posts on Ravelry about similar problems people might have encountered, so I'm working slowly and checking things twice.  I've already ripped out once, after knitting 6 rows and realising despite following the written instructions, I hadn't managed to pair up the lace correctly.

I often over-think instructions, so I'm aware the issue is most likely with me however I do get frustrated when patterns leave things up to interpretation.  Do they count the yo's in the "last three stitches of Chart X" for example?  Or telling me to just work in stocking stitch if I can't manage to pair up all decreases and increases.  It's too much thinking for me! 

I've been alternating rows on my skeins, and I think I've managed to incorporate the different skeins quite well so far.  I used the darker on on the cuffs of the sleeves, then once past the ribbing I started alternating with one of the three matched skeins.  I'm just about to start introducing the much lighter skein around the yoke so hopefully this goes equally well.

I think I'm going to do a bit of project monogamy on this one and fingers crossed it will be finished before the weekend, so I can just take Girl Friday with me to the Island.  

Wish me luck!

cold pine

I love a knit-a-long.  Historically, I am terrible at completing them but that doesn't stop the excitement I feel in participating!  As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, our local knitting group decided to host it's very first knit-a-long this month and the theme decided upon was "lace".

Given my notoriety for not completing, I decided to go easy on myself and choose a chunky lace rather than traditional laceweight (although a couple of our group went this path and look right to finish before the end of the month - amazing!)

Cold Pine, by Caitlin ffrench fit the bill, and was already on my to-knit list for my 24in12 challenge, plus I had *just* enough Malabrigo merino worsted in my stash to use up. 

Casting on September 1st, this little knit powered along (5mm needles do help, of course).  I do like knitting with Malabrigo, but being a single, it can be a little hard on my wrists.  It's very sticky, and this pattern has lots of yo's, ssk's and  even sssk/k3tog's so I had to take a days break every now and then during the process.

Cold Pine is a great free pattern, albeit a little unusual in my opinion.  There did not seem to be any logic to the lace, and I found it very hard to "read" my work as I went.  Each row seemed to be doing it's own thing, unlike lace I've knit previously where each row tends to directly relate to the row before.  

That said, I did knit this from written instructions, not chart, and that may have contributed to my sense of disjointedness?   Originally I was reading the pattern off a screen and I find it difficult to read charts in that format, and then when I did finally print the pattern out it just seemed easier to continue as established.

This shawl is more a half-circle than a triangle, but it kind of lies in-between the two.  I got to the border and still had a significant amount of yarn leftover, so I added some more eyelet lace and garter rows to use up as much as possible.  Stash-busting at its best.

Oh, and from cast-on to cast-off took me 12 days, even with breaks, so that's a quick lace project in anyone's books!

The squishability of the malabrigo will be lovely against a neck.  I'm not sure if I'll keep this finished object for myself or pass it on to someone as a gift?  The colour is lovely, but I'm not convinced it's right for me and I know heaps of people who would love it and wear it a ton.  

However, along with being notorious for not finishing KAL's, I'm equally terrible at letting things go (unless they were specifically knitted as gifts, then it's easy).  Every time I think; yep - that's going to so-and-so - I have last minute pangs of regret, so I'm going to let it marinate on my bedroom dresser for a week or two before I decide...!

Royal Melbourne Show tea cosy swap

The entries for the Royal Melbourne Show's Great Tea Cosy Swap are due tonight, so I'm taking a drive after work into the Showgrounds to drop mine off.

I made the Love Tea Cosy from Rowan using some Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply in Silver.

I have made a very lacklustre attempt at effort for this entry, I'm a tad ashamed to say.  I thought the yarn/pattern combo would be more complimentary, but the reality is that 8ply just isn't thick enough for a tea cosy.  

On top, this pattern isn't lined so it is structurally is "floppy".   For the positive, it's a large cosy, and it used up the last of this wool out of my stash.  Plus it's another finished item for my 24in12 challenge.

That lace heart with bobbles was a b!tch to knit, though!  So much so, I only did it on one side.

Not my finest moment, in Show entry history...

ETA:  I dropped my entry off last night, and the volunteers manning the drop-off point could not have been more lovely!   Totally wasn't as daunting as I was imagining, and definitely gives me confidence to do a competition entry next year.  I think I'd worked myself up about my entry being judged, which was silly and couldn't have been further from the truth.   

While I was there, I asked how the "swap" part of this exhibition was going to work, and the steward told me all our tickets will be put in a hat, and they will draw them out and assign to a tea cosy - totally random.  I love this!  I'm super excited to see what tea cosy I end up with, too!!

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?

project progress

Thank you all for the encouragement on my 24-in-12 challenge quest - I'm so excited and am busily getting prepared, winding skeins, stocking project bags and such.

I do have some projects still on the needles that need attention before starting anything new though.  I think the key to the success of this challenge will be in the discipline (and when I say "the", I mean "my"!)

To this, I have spent time with my Girl Friday this week and she is up to the armholes.  Knitting the majority of the body in the round means no seams but boy - all those stitches do take some time.

This photo makes it look small.  For perspective, the finished cardigan will sit at the top of my thighs, and is a slouchy fit.  

The never-ending saga of Grace continues.  Grave concerns now about yardage.  I feel like this project is slightly doomed...  I'm not even up to the armholes on the back, with less than a ball left of the yarn allocation for that section, so I've decided to stop here; cast on the front and work it to the same length, then work the two pieces together.  If it comes down to not enough yarn, I', thinking I will use a contrast yarn (maybe a turquoise?) for the bodice or the turtleneck.

Once these projects both got too big to cart around, my mobile project this last week has been some long-lingering socks I started ages ago, just to use up the yarn.  

I'd used this yarn originally to make a little toddler cap, but there was what looked like a significant amount left and I didn't want to waste it.  I cast on socks, thinking I could just add contrast toes, but as I approached the toe of the first one it became apparent there wasn't enough yarn so I ripped it back (grumble) and shortened the cuff to anklet length.  I used some Cascade Heritage in "Flamingo" for the toes and it was a really pleasing match.

Of course, I got to the end of Sock #2 and had ample of the variegated to have completed both.  

that's a teaspoon, for reference

Never mind.  I'm well pleased with my new anklets. They are perfect for wearing under ankle boots, or padding around in my pajamas.

And the pink toes are just all kinds of happy :)

the challenge

I decided I am going to give the 24-projects-in-12-months a crack.

These are my challenges; all free patterns paired with wool from the stash.  In no particular order, I will leave that to the mood of the moment...

Cold Pine, by Caitlin ffrench

My Cup of Tea, by Robyn Lynn

Gingko Crescent, by Jade Keaney

Love Tea Cosy, by Martin Storey (Rowan)

Tears of Bronze, by Po Lena

Five more projects to be completed by New  Year's Eve, 2013, to add to my 19 (16 FOs, 3 WIPs) already completed/commenced.

I'm very excited about this project and looking forward to keeping you updated on my progress between now and 31/12/13!