Nothin'

But a shirt, that is!

I really like working with the Calmer yarn, although it is quite slippery. I've also discovered a few places where the yarn has snapped (I'm hoping that this is a one off).

I'm working the waist decreases two stitches in from the edge and I really like the way they are working up. (You can view larger versions of all the pictures in this post by clicking on them. The wonders of JavaScript and Peatbogfaery)



It's also going quite quickly. I put this down to a mixture of a simple pattern, shaping (making it less boring) and the combination method of knitting.

I've also made a start on Martha. One hundred and sixty three blinkin' stitches! What was I thinking?



I was a little concerned that the tension seemed to be a bit loose. So, I cast on 30 stitches, made a "tension rectangle" and washed it.




I will wait and see...

Someone on the Ample Knitter's list mentioned that (at the very least) it looked quite similar to this cardigan from Cabin Fever (#404 - Checkmate Cardigan). Hmm.... There are differences in the actual pattern and I don't think that a generic stitch pattern can be copywritten, so nothing illegal has occurred, but quite interesting none-the-less.

I'm considering knitting Mariposa from the latest issue of Knitty. For once, I actually have the yarn in my stash:



King Cole cheap-as cotton/acrylic Stonewash Denim in Red Denim and Sirdar Sorrento in Party Pink. However, I only need 900 m of the denim yarn for Mariposa, but I have 1450 m (1600 yds). This would mean that I'd only be able to make another short sleeved/sleeveless top from the remaining amount. I also have in mind for it a really simple top-down raglan jumper, so I now have to make a decision. For those interested, there is a knit-along kicking off at the end of May.

Oh, and my secret pal (Hi - waves hand in a manic, restraining-order, kind of way) has contacted me and said that my last parcel will get to me by the deadline (end of April) so that the customs forms don't totally give it away! I'm all done with the parcel-giving and I'm preparing for the "reveal". I've decided against going in for Secret Pal 5 because it will coincide with my exams, and I don't need any more distractions.

Just call me "Geek"

Today I give you geeky socks and a finished item.

But first: is it a bird? No! Is it a plane? No! It's Hayfever Woman!



Today was the first day with a "high" pollen count. Woohoo!. Batten down the hatches.

I was going to keep the lettering on my Go Team! socks a secret until I'd finished both, but I surmised that would leave you waiting until mid May at the earliest (given the rate that I'm not knitting these days).

So, I give you my ultra-geeky socks (click for a bigger picture):



Yes, that does say Star Trek. Yes, I am a fan. And yes, I even liked Voyager. And gosh darn it I love Sci-Fi.

Ahhh, that feels better!

Unfortunately, the lettering hasn't come out as clearly as I'd hoped. I managed to hit a patch of the black/white yarn just as I was nearing the top of the lettering. This meant that the contrast between the main colour and the contrast wasn't great enough to allow the letters to "pop". When I get to the same place in the second sock, I'll remember to keep an eye out for that and take "necessary action"!



I've also finished Xback! It's waaaay too cold to actually wear this outside (even with a t-shirt underneath), so I'm afraid all you get is a boring flat shot.

Good news! It was significantly warmer today so you get "real" pictures.

Front:




Back:



You may have noticed that it's not so much of an X-back as a ll-back. Because I always have to wear a boulder-holder and my medieval torture device strapless bra is not always practical, I decided to alter the pattern.

Project details here.

Next Time: Nothin' but a Shirt - modifications explained, and I might have finally cast on for Martha!

Good knitting!

Run, rabbit, run

Bunny slippers - she say no!

A month ago bunny slippers in Snowflake Chunky seemed like a cute idea. Now? They are not. Me and the yarn don't get on and I don't think they'll be entirely practical. So, I'm thinking that the yarn can go back on top of my wardrobe until I think of something else to make with it. The retirement of the slippers means I'm technically no longer part of the Bunny-along, but I'll keep the button up for the rest of the month.

On happier news, I present to you a 99.9% complete Brigitte (click for larger pictures)




That last 0.1% is the zip that is on its way from North Wales as I write. Brigitte is a substantial girl and I think she deserves the full coat-like treatment.

The Go Team! socks are really motoring and looking good:




Heel with gusset:



And Ribbon Xback was progressing nicely, until I realised I'd done this:



It's only six rows of the front part of the top, but I'm still mightily peeved that I managed to do it.

Now: a little indulgence for me. If you wouldn't mind taking a brief moment, could you leave a comment (or email me if you're shy) as to how you came across my blog. I'm not going to use this information in any nefarious way - I'm just infinitely curious and I always wonder how anyone ends up here!

I need a quick fix

But more on that later ...


I present to you "Brigitte"!



Well, that was the plan. Unfortunately, the seams add up to about seven miles in total and I'm still going. So instead you get a lovely picture of a crumpled cardigan:

(Click for a mattress stitch close-up - I hope!)




Full low down over on the project page.

I'm also zipping through the last of the "Six sox" socks: Go Team!





As usual, I'm working from the toe up, with a short-row heel and toe. I'm not going to reveal "my team" until I've finished them - it's too geeky to admit just yet!

So, after working on a longline cardigan and 8 sts/1" socks and with a fiddly 4-ply cotton cardigan coming up, I'm ready for something fast. Please step forward: Ribbon Xback from the Spring 05 edition of Knitty.



I have 10 balls of Rowan Cotton Tape sitting in my room (that's it up there) and it's been begging me to knit it up into something. I was part way through tossing around garment ideas in my head when up popped Xback. Of course, there will be one or two changes (I'm adding waist shaping and I'm undecided about the actual X of the Xback) but it's still pretty much the same as the pattern.



So, next time: Brigitte will be finished, I promise.

Blazing needles

Well, actually, they're not. I had originally cast on with the lovely Rowan Calmer (thank you, eBay) for Blaze from Knitty.com. I loved the idea of a relatively simple garment but with wonderful cable-detail.
It turns out that twisting a cable every other row was driving me crazy!

So, I ripped back, went surfing and found this: Nothin' But a Shirt from the ever-lovely Alison. I'm making modifications (obviously); longer sleeves, a v-neck, all one colour, using several sizes to get a perfect fit (and re-jigging the numbers as a result) and adding short row shaping at the bust. Oh, and I joined another knit along! I'll let you know how I get on!



[M. st. = moss stitch a.k.a. seed stitch]

Here, I offer a nugget of advice: it pays to wash your swatch. Before: 20.5 sts = 4". After: 19 sts = 4" (dead-on gauge). I'm sure that every other knitter in the world knows this but until recently I thought blocking was something to do with carpentry!

Thanks to the wonder that is James Bond, I finished the left front of Brigitte and succeeded in working a three-needle cast off (or three-needle bind off, if you like!) - pictures to follow when I've done the right front and tamed the curling.

In sock-related news, I finished my mum's Birthday socks on time (woo-hoo) and they look mighty snazzy.



Those are actually my mum's feet - you are lucky, lucky people. She doesn't have grey legs, those are just her "under-socks".

Computer-related stuff here: if anyone knows anything about JavaScript and can help me "do" pop-up windows can you leave a comment, or email me, please? I'd love to be able to give you bigger pictures without running into the sidebar!