I'm a Winner!

Ravelry, a group for all those who love playing with yarn, issued a challenge for members during the Winter Olympics.

We were to challenge ourselves to complete a project.

I chose to knit a shawl with lace inserts.

Iridil, designed by  Lara Smoot.

The lovely yarn was dyed especially for the event by Indiewayarns, and called Bolshoi Lights.

I challenged myself to complete the shawl within two weeks.

I took five days!

I'm so pleased with the result!

Continuing

Last month I saw a ball of acrylic yarn in the local Aldi.  At the time I had nothing that I really wanted to knit, and it was a colour that appealed to me, so I bought it.

The pattern was printed inside the ball band and was simple enough to follow in my half-sleep, so I started.

Five days later the scarf was finished.

The yarn isn't as soft as I usually like, but it's nice enough, and useful in cold weather.

Speaking of cold weather, my poor husband has been suffering from chilly hands.  I made him a quick and easy pair of One Cable Mitts in two days.

Husband now has cosy hands!

These two quick projects were very useful in keeping my brain and fingers working.

Oh dear ...

It seems I've spent a lot of time not updating this blog!

I have been knitting, just not saying anything about it.

This has to change!

This year started with an Afghan for my impecunious student daughter who needs to keep warm with minimal expenditure on heating.

I saw Lion Brand's Six Hour Afghan.

I thought it sounded like a good idea for a quick Christmas gift, so I bought some yarn and a 25mm circular needle.

I use circular needles for everything, but this was not my greatest idea ever.  Forcing the stitches back onto the needles from the thin cable took a lot of effort and a fair amount of bad language.

Fast forward to the arrival of 25mm straight needles.  These were considerably easier to use.

Four balls of yarn knitted at the same time make for speedy knitting.  Idiots who use two balls with the yarn fed from the middle and two balls with the yarn unwinding from the outside are asking for a great deal of tangling - and yet more swearing.

Finally, I finished it.

The Six Hour Afghan only took me four weeks!

At least my daughter finds it warm and useful.

More Socks!

Made brave (foolhardy?) by my previous success, I embarked on another sock project.

This time I cast on

Waterfall Socks by Wendy D. Johnson.
I used Spring Showers, a 75/25 merino/nylon sock yarn by inspinknitty (KnittyKnotty)

Yes, another two-at-a-time, toe-up project!

This pattern proved much more interesting than the previous one. It has a simple but pretty lace pattern.

I have thick ankles and broad legs (you wanted to know that, didn't you?) so I wanted a nice stretchy cast-off. A bit of research led me to Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off, so I tried it.
IT WORKS!

The finished socks.

A pretty pattern.
I think there could be more socks in my future.

Socks

Many, many years ago, in the dim and distant past, I made a pair of socks for my daughter. I used four double pointed needles, and it took ages. I doubt if I'd have finished if I hadn't promised my daughter!

Back in July I was persuaded to join in a sock KAL run by Indieway. Her yarns are beautiful, and she's such a lovely lady, so I took my courage in both hands and metaphorically jumped in the deep end.

I cast on

Two at Once, Toe-Up Magic Loop Socks by the Knit Picks Design Team, using Indieway's 80/20 sock yarn in Wildfire.

It was a learning curve!
Controlling the magic loop was a challenge, but a lot easier than juggling the double pointed needles.
Knitting two socks at a time at least makes sure both socks get finished, but I can assure anyone who wants to know that stocking stitch is boring - particularly two lots in one go.

Still, I finished.
They're very warm and comfortable.

I'll be doing this again.

Honey Bunches Shawlette

I've just finished this sweet and easy shawl designed by Irish Girlie Knits.
I had a need for a simple knitting project that required very little brain power.
In spite of being a gently lacy design, this shawl really filled the bill.
I made the small version in a lovely, soft, baby camel/silk yarn from Indieway Yarns in a pale golden colour, and the result is a truly cuddly shawlette.
Thank you ladies!

So Far This Year

These are my main finished objects.

January - Damson Shawl

Early March - Morgan Gloves

Late March - Hitchhiker Shawl

May - Two Moebius Cowls

Posting at last...

I set up this blog some time ago, intending to record my adventures in various crafts.
Time passed, and I still hadn't decided on a starting point.
Then a few days ago Elder Daughter came for a visit bearing a belated birthday present for me, and I suddenly realised it makes the obvious starting place.

I'd better backtrack a bit here. Last July - yes, almost a year ago - my daughters arranged a holiday for me. We spent a week together in London, taking in a show ('Wicked' - I could watch it again and again!) and the whole weekend of KnitNation. It blew my mind! My previous knitting and crochet experience had been with the usual, easily-available acrylics, and the last things I made were crocheted DK Granny-square blankets for my toddlers. At Knit Nation I discovered fingering weight yarns in glorious colours and with softness to die for. It's just as well the stallholders expected people to handle their yarns, because I couldn't resist touching! I came home with a load of yarn, and no idea what I was going to do with it.

Returning to the present, I have to confess that much of my original stash remains, because I keep seeing glorious yarns that I MUST HAVE! And then people give me presents. Husband bought me two skeins for my birthday, and Youngest Son bought me a load of patterns I wanted. Elder Daughter brought me a Surprise Knitting Kit that she'd put together herself. This is it, pictured below.

The photo doesn't do justice to the rich, glowing royal purple of the yarn.
This will be my first beaded project, and I've no idea how long it will take, but I'm casting on anyway!

Many, many thanks dear daughter!