Yarnfest

Lost

2011-06-16T21:02:00.003Z

My laptop has crashed and I think that I have lost a lot of stuff that hasn't been backed up. I had finally found time to organise my knitting patterns into folders and now they have gone. I am going to have to start again. I am using an old laptop that is much slower and cumbersome until I work out whether the current laptop is redeemable. I hope that it is and I don't have to buy a new one. I am working on the garter yoke baby cardigan. It is such a great pattern, knitted in one piece, with only a little sewing up under the arms. I can't decide what to do next, after this. It takes me so long now to decide what to knit each time, maybe I have knitted myself too many cardigans!

Yarnfest: Update on the annual post

2011-03-15T21:40:00.001Z

Update on the annual post

2011-03-15T21:09:00.005Z

It's that time of the year again! I only seem to be able to post once a year now. I have to show off my latest creations, all completed in the last year or so, including the Rime Frost Bohus sweater that I didn't have photos for, until now. I also completed my Fireside sweater after finding some great yarn at Alexander Palace Knitting and Stitching show in October last year.

I have made various other things, such as scarves and baby gifts, as well as a couple of berets. I love this pattern for a quick knit one day beret. It works well, I am now contemplating making a third.

Not much else on the knitting front at the moment, although I had a great time here, whilst I was visiting San Francisco during half term in February. It was a really interesting place that dyes its own yarn. There is a large selection of gorgeous yarns and I couldn't resist buying some burnt orange merino with a touch of cashmere in to make a scarf. I will post a picture when it is finished, hopefully before next March!

I haven't downloaded our pictures yet, but I hope to post some of Alcatraz, which was very interesting. San Francisco is a great place to visit.

2010-02-18T09:08:00.007Z

The latest pictures of baby sweaters

These were made last month for my cousin's identical twin daughters. Aren't they cute? They are of course the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise pattern which always turns out really well.

I have got an answer about the yoke on the Rime Frost and have already made my changes, which seem to be working out so far. I hope that the whole yoke works, because I am really close to finishing. It looks good so far, but I will post a picture when I'm done.

I found a picture of the kids in the garden in January when the snow fell again here in London. It is such an unusual image for here, we never get this much snow. They had another snow day and really enjoyed making snowmen.

Catch up

2010-02-17T13:58:00.003Z

I can't believe that I haven't posted for a year. I have knitted lots, but not bothered to blog about it. I have made numerous baby sweaters, finished my Autumn Rose sweater, which came out successfully and am now battling with a bohus pattern, Rime Frost. It is great, but the yoke is defeating me and I have to work out how to sort it out.

We had Gad's barmitzvah in August which was great and then we went to Italy for ten days. The time has flown and we are having February half term.

I have to download some pictures from the camera as I do have images of some knitting that has been completed. I have been really good and not added to my stash, but I have lost two hand knitted scarves this winter and need to buy more yarn to make their replacements. Oh, I tell a lie, I did buy some posh yarn cashmere sock yarn a couple of weeks ago. I think I have enough for a hat and scarf, which I hope to get started on once I have finished the Bohus sweater.

The amazing February Baby Sweater

2009-02-23T13:28:00.006Z

I finally got a chance to make this great cardigan. My friend had a baby girl last week and I decided to go for it. I used Lucia sock yarn from Posh Yarn that I had in my stash. It is gorgeous yarn in a lovely colourway, which of course you can't really appreciate from my crap photos!

Anyway, the knitting was great, I used size 3.5mm needles and it has produced a cardigan for a 0-3 month old. The instructions were a little puzzling, but that is EZ for you! Once I had pondered a while, it all became clear, and the end result is lovely.

More Autumn Rose

2008-12-18T18:19:00.002Z

I am really enjoying knitting my autumn rose sweater, but I am getting increasingly worried about the size. After reading many posts from people who had knit it, I concluded that I needed to knit the small as it comes out large. I am a 34 inch around my bust, therefore the small should be ok. I got gauge! However, when I measure the widest part it seems to come out at 30 inches wide, not a good sign. Either I lose a stone in weight or I find a very slim person to give it to. Not sure which one to go for yet. I will decide when the sweater is finished. Therefore I am not posting any pictures at present, might blight the outcome!

Not much else going in the North West London fishbowl that I live in. Kids finish school for the holidays tomorrow and that means every day next week is a pyjama day. I did manage to book tickets for Lily and myself to see the Nutcracker the following week. The Evening Standard did an offer of a free child's ticket with one adult ticket. I bought the most expensive one. It should be good.

Hopefully next time I blog I will feel more positive about the outcome of autumn rose and actually take some pictures. Meanwhile, just browse Ravelry to see some great examples so far.

Autumn Rose

2008-11-24T10:50:00.005Z

I have finally started my autumn rose sweater, experimenting by starting with a sleeve. I am really enjoying the challenge, but finding it tricky to decide whether I should be cutting the yarn at the end of each colour section, or carrying them up. It is difficult to carry when knitting in the round as it all gets really tangled. If I cut the yarn and then rejoin the colours each time they are needed in a new section, I seem to get a small gap next to the join, even if I twist the yarns in. Then there is the problem of weaving in all the ends!

The sleeve is almost finished, but I am debating whether to make it full length instead of the three quarter length the pattern has.

I have some other knitting on the go, but just the boring scarf stuff and not much else. I will have to take some pictures for the next post.

Another pictureless post

2008-04-16T07:46:00.002Z

The camera is still dead, but a new one is winging its way across the Atlantic. Oli is in Boston and has been on a spending spree. I sent him with a long shopping list, alas there were no yarn listings! I have such a large backlog waiting to be knitted in my stash that I have been very restrained.

The cardigan that I was knitting for Oli is not quite large enough and I am a little hacked off. I have decided to keep it as a sweater and not steek it. Gadi has his eye on it and it fits him quite well, a little on the large side, but he will grow into it.

I have started a cardigan for me, but I will post details later.

I can't wait to use the new camera and then post some pictures at last!!

Too many excuses

2008-03-12T17:41:00.002Z

I can't believe that it is mid March already and this is my first post of 2008. I have been knitting, but not able to take any photos as the digital camera has broken. We need to buy a new one which I hope Oli will do when he travels to Boston at the beginning of April. Until then I will have to blog without pictures.
I have started a cardigan for Oli, using Elizabeth Zimmerman's percentage system and knitting it in the round. I am trying to practice steeking so that when I start knitting Autumn Rose I will be an old hand at it! I bought all the yarn for Autumn Rose so I am really excited about starting it, but need to find a long stretch of quiet time so that I can concentrate. That might not happen for a while.
I have also been knitting baby gifts, but I am not sure whether to continue. I made a really cute hat for a new baby, which was an ok size. If the newborn has a small head it would keep for six months. I didn't get much of a thank you, just that it was too big! I love making gifts, but they are time consuming and if they aren't appreciated then I don't think that I will bother. I was surprised as I thought that this friend would like that fact that it was hand made. Anyway, I feel better now that I have that off my chest!
I have also made 7 squares for the Lizard Ridge afghan. I am really pleased with how they have turned out and now have to continue to collect more colours of Kureyon to complete the blanket.

Last blog of the year

2007-12-30T10:53:00.000Z

Look! I have finally taken pictures of the Tangled Yoke Cardigan that was finished at beginning of December. I love it. It is very soft and easy to wear. I added a little on the length, which in retrospect I didn't need to do. The yarn is lighter than the felted tweed used for the original, therefore mine has some 'holes' where the cable pattern twists. It actually looks fine in real life and I am hoping with washing and the yarn softening up they will close over time. I have had some compliments when wearing it, so I am happy.

I have been so busy doing I don't know what! The kids are off school and we have spent a load in the sales, having put off buying anything for the house for over three years. It has finally caught up with us and we have been spending like mad.

I even bought some Noro Cash Iroha in black in the John Lewis sales, it was half price and I couldn't resist. I am still not sure whether to take it back or keep it in my stash, which I am trying to reduce!

I am working my way through the cardigan for Oli, using some Knit Picks yarn. It is based on an Elizabeth Zimmerman saddle shouldered sweater and I am knitting it in the round. I am going to steek it which is quite a scary thought. I will keep you posted. I have also started making squares for the Lizard Ridge blanket from knitty.com. I love the Kureyon and need to keep adding more skeins as I go along.

Tangled Yoke Cardigan

2007-12-05T17:05:00.000Z

Wow! Haven't posted for over a month, but I have managed to complete both sleeves and the yoke on the cardigan and am now in the home straight. I have to finish the collar ribbing and am awaiting the arrival of a size 0 needle to pick up the stitches for the three needle bind off. I have even sewn up the tank top that I made for Gad using some Noro Blossom I had in my stash. I really want to use up my stash, but I have sock yarn I don't know what to do with as I think that it is too nice to use for socks! I can't take any picture at the moment because I need to replace the batteries in the camera.

I took a last minute trip to Boston last month and did buy a little to add to the stash, obviously more sock yarn that is too nice to make into socks! It is Mountain Colors Barefoot and is gorgeous. Any suggestions of what to make will be gratefully received. Not much else on the needles, although I need to start the cardigan that I promised Oli as I was able to pick up the yarn I ordered for it when I visited Boston. I bought it from Knitpicks and it was so reasonable. I also got my Harmony interchangeable needles which are great, but one of the needle connections on a number 4 needle is faulty. I am hoping that they will be able to send me a replacement.

Oli is off to New York next week and I am wondering if he will have time to stop by String and buy me a skein or two of something interesting. It is Chanukah this week after all and I only need a little skein of something to make me smile!

Frustration

2007-10-29T09:17:00.000Z

I am still trying to get the sleeve right on my Tangled Yoke Cardigan. I have reknit it using 3.5mm needles but have now found that I have what look like seam lines between each set of stitches on the double pins. I have ordered a 16 inch 3.5mm circular needle in the hope that if I frog again and knit using this I won't get the lines. They are hard to see on the picture, but I tried!
I have had a fairly eventful past week, having seen a gynaecologist on Tuesday and then finding myself having a laparoscopy the next day. I had a cyst on my left ovary which was large enough to need removing. It wasn't until during the procedure that the surgeon discovered that it looked a little suspicious and that there was no living ovarian tissue left. He went on to remove the ovary, cyst and fallopian tube. I am going to get the lab results tomorrow and hopefully all will be well. It has been a little worrying, but he thinks that it is benign. I have found it hard to concentrate on my knitting and subsequently the sleeve started to get on my nerves. I have put it to one side whilst I await the arrival of the circular needles.

Here is a picture of the project I started to keep my fingers busy whilst I wait. I wanted something simple and fairly mindless, as well as something that might use up my stash. Well here it is. It is a pinwheel baby blanket using some yarn that I have had knocking around for a while. I used some a few weeks ago for a baby sweater and now I am using the rest for a blanket. I have a couple of friends expecting babies so I am trying to get ahead of myself and knit something for them.

There isn't much else on the needle at present as I am waiting for Oli to go to Boston to pick up my Knitpicks package.

Tangled Yoke Cardigan - frogging

2007-10-21T09:06:00.000Z

I ripped out the sleeve on the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, I thought that it looked at bit baggy as I was trying it on. I have now cast on using 3.5mm needles instead of 3.75mm. I hope that it works. I think that as it gets near to the top of the sleeve I will use one of each size so that when I knit across the yoke using 3.75mm needles the gauge change is not too noticeable. It sounds a bit mad, but I want to try it to see. I love the yarn that I am using so I really want to be happy with the finished article. I may have enough for a sweater for Lily left over as I think I bought too much. It was a really good value buy and I hope to go back to Florence and buy some more.

Latest projects

2007-10-18T16:36:00.000Z

I have been using my stash! I am so proud of myself for finding a use for some Noro Blossom that has been sitting in a box for about 2 years. I am making a tank top for Gad.
I am so proud of myself that I am making this for myself as a reward.
It is the Tangled Yoke cardigan from Interweave Knits Fall 2007. I am using the cashmere that I bought in Florence in the summer. It is really soft and a lovely shade of pale blue. I have made good progress, having completed the body as far as the underarms and having knitted about half of the first sleeve. It is quick knitting and so far so good.

The garter stitch ribbing on the cuffs and bottom is really nice and I hope that the cardigan looks good when it is finished.
Knitting it in one piece has really inspired me to read Elizabeth Zimmerman and I bought 'The Opinionated Knitter' from the Socktopus stall when I went to Ally Pally last week to look around the knitting and stitching show. Socktopus is a new online store selling some great yarn, but they had an even greater selection of Elizabeth Zimmerman books at reasonable prices. I was really pleased to be able to look through them and choose which one I wanted to buy, rather than relying on reviews online. This one is a collection of her newletters which have some really great patterns in them. They are very inspiring and there are colour pictures of many of the designs that have been knitted up. I particularly liked the examples of stitch patterns that she included in some of her designs, charting them out for the reader to use.
I have now ordered some yarn from Knitpicks. I want to knit a saddle shoulder cardigan for Oli from my new book. They only ship to American and Canadian destinations, so as Oli is going to Boston I have had the parcel sent to some friends there and he will pick it up. I also purchased a little something for myself. I have long wanted some wooden interchangeable circular needles and now they stock them at Knitpicks. I can't wait!

Blackberry

2007-10-03T16:59:00.000Z

Yesterday was a very sad day for us. We discovered that Blackberry had escaped from his hutch and run in the early hours of the morning and had been killed by a fox. Gad and Benjamin went out to feed him when they got up and couldn't find him. After searching the garden they found him. Gad was inconsolable all day and didn't feel calm until Oli returned from work and helped bury him. He was a great rabbit with a lovely personality and all the kids miss him.

Back to school

2007-09-19T07:58:00.000Z

We succeeded in getting back to school in one piece. Gad loves his new high school and has enjoyed meeting new friends, teachers and tackling new subjects. Lily and Benjamin are back to their friendly and familiar school, happy to catch up with everyone after the summer.

This is my finished Loop Stitch cardigan in Knitpicks Gloss, a really soft sock weight merino and silk mix. I have four skeins left and am not sure what to do with them. The pattern came from an Vogue Knitting winter 2005/6. I have not tried it on, so I hope that it fits!

I have finally had time to finish projects that have been on the go over the summer. I made four baby jackets, but forgot to photograph them before giving them to the recipients, my gorgeous twin nieces, Offira and Tamara. Here is the fifth baby jacket made for a friends new baby girl. I decided to try the Baby kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting. It came out very small and so I added more stitches and made a larger version. I was particularly proud of myself because I used some yarn from my stash. I have had it a while and have no idea what it is!

I now have loads of projects lined up. I have promised Oli a cardigan and have now received a copy of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Saddle Shouldered Aran Cardigan. It is quite complex as you have to decide on your own cable stitch patterns and follow her formula for calculating gauge and sizing. It was this that got me started on the idea. Now I have to swatch all the cable patterns I want to use in the round and then start calculating and writing out my pattern. Daunting!
I also want to knit a cardigan with the cashmere I bought in Florence, use some Noro Blossom to knit a tank top for Gad, make a throw and knit a lacey wrap. I really am going to have to prioritise.

2007-08-13T07:46:00.001Z

We're back from Italy and I am slowly beginning to feel calmer about the whole experience. It was an interesting trip in many ways and the kids really had a great time. Arriving there was good as the weather was perfect, bordering on the too hot, but very bearable. We swam, read, played and generally had a relaxing time. I am not sure where it all went wrong for me. Perhaps staying with my in-laws was not a good idea, but I could hardly pitch up in Tuscany and stay down the road when they have tons of room. Anyway I had organised to meet up with a friend in Florence for a couple of days in the middle, anticipating that things might get a little tense between us. However, this also came at a cost because I had asked them to look after the children whilst I was gone. I think that they might have felt that this was a bit of a liberty.

Florence was lovely. I met my friend Mel and we wandered through piazzas and streets taking in the architecture and shops. Need I say more! On the knitting front we did well. Went to Campolmi Roberto Filati and Mel found some great yarn that is very similar to Colinettte Point Five. She bought 300 grams for 9.60 Euros. We felt that this was a real bargain. I indulged and purchased some gorgeous pale blue sportweight cashmere. I really splurged and bought enough for a sweater. It cost me around the same as buying enough Debbie Bliss or Rowan yarn for a sweater. I now have to decide what I am going to make with it. I love this yarn store because it has a wide choice, its very reasonably priced and you can buy yarn off the cone. We also went to Beatrice Galli but found that the woman in the shop was very unfriendly. She asked us not to touch the yarn. How can you buy yarn without fondling it first? The food was great, we found a fantastic restaurant in the Piazza Santo Spirit, You have to book a table in the evening if you want to sit outside. It is not too expensive and the food is good.

Mel left after two days and I met Oli who arrived for the weekend. He had to take a teleconference call before we boarded the bus up to Radda, so we spent the afternoon wandering in the Boboli Gardens. It really is a beautiful place and I visited the costume gallery whilst Oli was working. A great place to while away some time.

Postscript

2007-07-18T10:35:00.000Z

Oh, I forgot to tell you about my stay in Pisa, overnight, before catching the flight to Barcelona.

After I had met up with my in-laws and deposited the children with them, I hopped in taxi to the hotel near to the airport. Everything was fine, ate dinner, showered, knitted and slept.

Next morning I woke up and had breakfast and then realising I had an hour or so to kill before leaving for the airport again I decided to look out on my balcony and decide whether to use the pool or not. I stepped out, the door closed behind me and clicked ominously. It had locked me out of my room! Thankfully I was fully clothed. I climbed over the railing to the next room, no-one in.

Looking down I saw a group of about 30 people congregating in the courtyard for a photo. I shouted down. After several attempts, they were German, I made myself understood. After being locked out for only about 20 minutes someone let me back in. I was so relieved.

Where do I begin?

2007-07-16T08:41:00.001Z

It has been a really strange month since I last wrote an entry. As I mentioned we are staying put, here in London. It was a difficult decision to make but on close inspection life in New Jersey is pretty similar to here, except we would leave behind friends and family if we went. The schools didn't impress us particularly and as that is a major sticking point, because of the offspring, we opted for good old English education. Anyway, I have spent the time undoing a lot of plans that we had made as we were very close to the actual move!

I also took the kids to Italy to spend a week with their grandparents, as we were of course leaving to live in America! I did a crazy thing and ended up dropping them in Pisa, catching a flight to Barcelona to meet Oli, who had a conference there, spending the weekend with him and then catching a flight to Florence to meet up with the in-laws and kids. Whilst in Barcelona I found this great little yarn store. It had some local yarn and some malabrigo, including the new lace weight that is appearing everywhere. It wasn't in such a great colour so I decided to leave it. I did buy this, however.

It is made from cellulose and looks and feels like silk. I am going to try dyeing it and seeing what happens.

This little lot is the smallish haul from the John Lewis sale. I was very good and didn't go mad, although there was a lot of great Debbie Bliss yarn. I just bought some cotton cashmere to make some baby jackets for the impending arrivals and more of the same for a cardigan for me.

These are two jackets I made for the expected twins (Did I say that my sister-in-law is expecting twins?). I used some Laines Du Nord Baby Star that I picked up in The Skein Attraction in Teaneck, New Jersey, whilst we were there on our relocation trip - the one that came to nothing!

Both jackets are the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. It is a great pattern to try and very quick to get finished. Check out the Yarn Harlot's version here.

This is what I am currently knitting for myself:

It is the Loop stitch cardigan from Vogue Knitting, Winter 2005/6. I loved the texture of it and decided to knit it in Knitpicks Gloss. I had the order sent to a very kind friend in Washington as they won't ship to Europe. I will keep you updated on the progress made.

Back home

2007-06-08T13:35:00.000Z

We arrived home on Wednesday, after a packed week of house hunting and looking at schools in Teaneck, New Jersey. We looked at loads of houses and put an offer on one, which was accepted. However, we didn't feel very connected. Instead we felt dissatisfied after visiting schools. As the week continued we started to feel concerned and then we realised that we didn't want to move from London. It was a very stressful realisation, as Oli had accepted a job there. We came back and have thought the situation through. We aren't going! Oli has flown to Brussels today to finalise arrangements for a similar post based here in London. We now have to tell everyone!

As you can see I have been a little pre-occupied and haven't done much knitting. Although I did manage to visit the local knitting store in Teaneck and purchase some needles, Elizabeth Zimmerman's surprise baby jacket pattern and some yarn to make it with. I have pictures of my finished badcaul socks to share and the beginnings of a hat. I will do that in the next post, I have to go and pick up the kids from school.

Frogging socks - the only polite way to say it!

2007-05-21T11:59:00.000Z

I had such a hassle with my socks this week. I had put them down ages ago and I have not touched them, as I knew that I had to frog back and redo a short row heel that came out with holes in. I must have knit it about 4-5 times over on Sunday, when I finally had a brainwave and decided to look up an online tutorial. This one is great. It has a link to this which is also a great tutorial.Between the two I managed to finish the heel successfully and now I just have to finish both socks. I am knitting them together because I am not sure if I have enough yardage.One of them is on a circular needle, using the magic loop technique. I love it. The other is on double pins, not as fast.
This is the second sock that I frogged back to correct my short row heel. I think it looks better and it doesn't have a sieve-like appearance!
This is the first sock that I finished with a heel that is great, no holes etc, but it doesn't look as neat as it should. I can't remember how I did the increases on this one, but I am not frogging it in the name of neatness.
This one is the second sock, off my foot and looking fairly neat, although it is hard to tell as my camera is not taking good pictures - I tend to blame the tools!

All play and no work!

2007-05-10T08:59:00.000Z

My last day at work was yesterday. The children were very nice and made cards and wanted to know if I would come in for any of the post SATs programme. I am going come in for their end of year presentation. Now I have to make a list of all the things I have to do before we leave in the summer.

It feels so daunting, but I know everything will get done eventually, with large amounts of stress to carry it along.

I need to get the house into a decent state in order to rent it out. I hope that there are families out there in Hendon that would like to rent a four bedroom house. The outside painting seems to be coming along and I hope that the house will look better once the orange paint has gone.

I must do an after picture too.

On the knitting front I am continuing with my cardigan in the sock yarn. I have nearly finished the back. I has been quite theraputic knitting plain stocking stitch, but I am ready for the challlenge of cables on the front.

Bank Holiday catch up

2007-05-06T09:27:00.000Z

Oli and Gadi have finally left to go camping. It is their first trip, after talking about doing it for quite a while. Thankfully they decided that going up to the Lakes for one night was a bit ambitious. Instead they have taken Simon's advice and gone with him on the train to camp somewhere on the South Downs. They have taken a tent, a tonne of food and little else with them.

Benjamin, Lily and myself are off to meet my sister, Claire, for a civilized lunch and play in the park. We are going to take our Bank Holiday easy!

I decided that before I gave Claire her Ene's Scarf, I would try one last attempt at capturing its gorgeousness, again. Here are my attempts. You can see the lace pattern, but the colour looks a tad anaemic in the picture, in real life it is a stronger aqua colour.

I have also managed to finish the baby jacket I was knitting, which I plan to give to my cousin's new baby, Isabella. She was born on Wednesday lunchtime and I hope to see her tomorrow. I used the pattern I found in an old copy of Interweave Knits Summer 2005, the Baby Kimono. It is very easy to knit, in one piece, with a bit of sewing up under the arms. I did it in the yarn they use, Rowan Cotton Wool. I need to make a couple more for the twins that my sister-in-law is expecting.

Finally, I have started to knit this for myself:

It is a cardigan, again from an old magazine pattern. It is the Loop Stitch Cardigan from Vogue Knitting, Winter 2005/6. I decided to try it in Knitpicks Gloss in cocoa, a wool and silk mix. I am really pleased with the way it knits up, but it will take a while as I am using 3.25mm needles. I managed to have it sent to a friend in Washington as Knitpicks don't ship internationally. Their yarn is very reasonable compared to brand names and they have great range. I can't wait until we move to New Jersey as I will be able to order whenever I want.

One more week to go!

2007-05-02T18:45:00.000Z

I finish work next week and I can't wait. I told the children in my class today and they were disappointed, which is very sweet. They wanted to know why and were really excited when I told them that I was moving to New Jersey.

I have so much to do to sort the house out so that it is fit to rent out. It will look so good when we have finished that I won't want to leave. It's a shame that we won't get to enjoy it, but we will enjoy the rent we collect!

Househunting

2007-04-29T19:00:00.000Z

I keep finding great patterns but I never seem to have the correct yarn in my stash. I really like the Loden mist pattern in Knitters magazine. I want to knit it but I don't want to buy yet more yarn.

Anyway, can't decide whether I am more into property porn or yarn porn. At present I am spending all my time looking a houses on the web, with a view to buying one. We are trying to get to know the housing market in New Jersey so that when we go for our househunting trip we will know what we are looking for.

Just imagine, a cute looking white wood shingled house with shutters and nice big front garden. Some do look like that, others are a little ugly looking, but they are all around about the same price as a garage here in London!

What do you think of this?

Or this?

A better example

2007-04-23T16:32:00.000Z

I have resigned myself to the fact that my pictures don't look good. I have put in this picture of the Looking Glass Top from last summer's Interweave Knits to show you how my finished item should look. It does look like this in the flesh, in a gorgeous rasberry silk yarn, but the picture of it in last week's post is terrible. Also, I don't look as good as the model!

I have started a baby kimono jacket from Interweave Knits Summer 2005. Unfortunately they don't have pictures posted on the website for the projects in this edition of the magazine. You will just have to wait until I gather up enough courage to start photographing again. It is knit in Rowan Wool Cotton in cream and it is just plain garter stitch. The fun bit is that the pattern is knit in one piece, with minimal finishing. You only have to sew up the arm seams. I still have to finish my socks using the magic loop. Don't get me wrong, the loop is great, but I have lost track with them and need to get going again.

I really need to start using up my stash, a continual theme that I am going to keep coming back to. I am toying with the idea of making baby blankets with it. My cousin is expecting a baby any day and my brother and sister-in-law are expecting twins at the end of the summer. I think that I am going to be knitting baby gifts for a while!

Indecision

2007-04-15T17:06:00.000Z

As usual I am posting days after my last post. I never seem to make the time to do any blogging, maybe it is because I am not a natural writer. I am hoping that once we move to New Jersey and I no longer work I will have time when the kids are at school. Or it might be that I am spending all my time exploring yarn stores and expanding the stash.

This brings me to another subject. STASH. I really want to knit it up. It is so hard to find inspiration and make decisions. At the moment I am debating whether or not I have enough double knitting cotton to make a couple of baby blankets. I also have loads of sock yarn, but am not in the mood to make socks. Indecision is a major fault of mine. I am contemplating making the log cabin blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting, again, not sure!

Finished projects:

Project: Looking glass sweater, Interweave Knits Summer 2006.
Yarn: Knitshop Chinese silk yarn, wine red.

I couln't get a good picture of this sweater, but I've finished it, barr the weaving in of the ends and blocking. It was easy to knit and I love the shape. These pictures really don't show it properly, so look at the link for a better idea of the way it looks.

My first attempt at lace knitting, ta da!!

Project: Ene's Scarf from Scarf Style.
Yarn: Colourmart lace weight cashmere, doubled.

This pattern was addictive. Once I had finally managed to cast on the correct amount of stitches, not drop any in the first few rows or break the yarn, I could not put it down. It is a great pattern and I loved the way it turned out. I have to block it and then give it to my sister Claire. I want to make one for myself, but I can't decide whether it would look good in a handpainted, variagated yarn.

Itchy feet

2007-04-05T00:51:00.000Z

We finally did decide to leave London and relocate to the U.S. Oli has taken a job in New Jersey, not the nicest of states, but we will be living about 20 minutes from Manhattan, over the George Washington Bridge. With the excitement has come endless worries about what to do with the house. We still haven't finished doing it up and furnishing it. I have to find someone to finish our bathroom, paint the outside of the house and touch up the paintwork inside. Then I need to to get curtains for the living room and carpet for the landing and stairs. It is impossible to find good workpeople who want to do a series of small jobs well. I will continue my search!

Knitting seems to have taken a back seat lately, with planning for school and house issues taking up most of my time. I still have to take photos of what I am doing at the moment. I have finished my sweater and am in the process of sewing it up. My socks are on a back burner and Ene's scarf is doing well. I want to try and work through my stash before we leave in the summer, so that I can start trawling yarn stores in New Jersey and Manhattan as soon as I arrive.

I want to knit a baby sweater with Koigu but can't find a good pattern, anyone know of one?

Pictureless

2007-03-25T15:21:00.000Z

I never get time these days to write a post, never mind take pictures to show. I have now cast on about 6 times over for Ene's Scarf in Scarf Style. I either dropped a stitch, lost a stitch or the yarn snapped each time. Anyway, I was very stubborn and wouldn't give up and I am now on row 42 and it is great. It is addictive! I will post a picture and put a link in, but I can't be bothered now. I also have to show pictures of my socks and the sweater I am on, but maybe this post will tantalise you and you will visit again to look. My sweater is in raspberry aran weight silk, bought at Alexandra Palace and it is great. I am almost finished.
There are so many things that I want to knit at the moment that I don't know where to start. I want to work my way through my stash because I think that I should move to New Jersey with little, if any yarn, so that I can go wild when I get there. We are going in the summer, if the visa comes through in time. I have to make another trip to house hunt etc. so I also have to make room in the stash for some more yarn.

Can't put it down

2007-03-07T09:03:00.002Z

I have been so busy lately, it has been ages. However, I haven't been too busy to start knitting Badcaul socks. they are knitted toe up and I am doing them in Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn. I love it! It is so springy and the colours are gorgeous.

I started to get a little worried about the yardage in the skein, one is supposed to be enough for a pair of socks, so I decided to start knitting the second one too. I had originally started the first sock on DPNs and I thought I would try the second one using the magic loop method. It is amazing! It is so easy and much quicker to knit, than using DPNs.
I also have a sweater on the needles at the moment and a lace shawl for my sister, but more about those later! I have to go, so I will add more about the other projects at another time.

Stash

2007-02-12T09:26:00.000Z

Before I went to New Jersey I decided to make a visit to Stash Yarns in Putney. I knew it wouldn't be a good idea, but I couldn't help myself. I indulged by buying two skeins of Koigu. More stash! I'm not sure what to do with them, they are too nice to wear on my feet. I am thinking of yet another scarf.

Snow in London?

2007-02-11T11:06:00.000Z

I haven't written an entry for ages. I took the children in my class on a school trip to Bournemouth, wow! Then Oli and I went to New Jersey and we brought the weather back with us! He has been interviewing for a job and I went to look around. We were able to spend the weekend in Manhattan with some friends. It was freezing and hence the snow followed us home.

I did manage to visit some great yarn stores in New Jersey and I even managed to pop into String Yarns in Manhattan. It was expensive and just seemed to sell cashmere yarns and a selection of Koigu. I did contemplate buying a skein of Koigu cashmere, but I couldn't think of what to make with just one skein at $50, so I left. Afterwards I thought I could have knitted a hat, but the yarn obviously did not inspire me particularly.

New Jersey was great for yarn stores and I bought a few things.

My first stop was in Teaneck in a shop called The Skein Attraction. It had a really big selection of yarns and I really enjoyed looking at everything. I was very restrained as I knew that I had other stores to investigate. I purchased some Addi turbo circular needles, a stitch counter and a chic lit novel called 'Knitting under the influence". I will let you know if it is any good when I have read it.

The next stop was at an even better store Stix and Stitches, in a town called Montclair. It is a pretty town and has lovely shops. I managed to buy a gorgeous top for myself as well as some yarn. The noro Kureyon, which I am going to make two squares for the Lizzard Ridge blanket. I will continue to make them but I didn't want to bring back a whole suitcase of the yarn, I can pick some more up as I go along. I also bought a skein of Sirino Tapestry yarn from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company. It is a 50% merino and 50% silk mix in a fingering weight. I have 675 yards of it and I think I am going to make a wrap with it. It is really soft and lovely, so I have to knit up a swatch asap. As it was my birthday last Tuesday my kids bought me a couple of knitting books, "Mason Dixon Knitting" and "Ripple Stitch Patterns" by Jan Eaton. It is this book that I am going to use to create a pattern for the wrap.

Plodding

2007-01-21T17:32:00.000Z

Still plodding on with the Clapotis, using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn. I am doing it in the Black Purl colourway and have discovered that the darkest colour is not black, but a very dark brownish/purple colour. I haven't taken any pictures for this post, so we are a little boring this week. I am running out of yarn and have to send off for some more, Oli only bought me two skeins, thinking I was going to make socks!

I listened to a great podcast this weekend Lime and Violet. I love listening to them as I knit. I have loads to catch up on as they have been doing them since last June. They talk about going on yarn roadtrips in the first podcast, discovering some great yarn stores on the way.

Anyway, I am still interested if anyone can recommend yarn stores in Northern New Jersey. I will be visiting Teaneck, West Orange and Highland Park in about 12 days time.

2007-01-14T16:37:00.000Z

I'm really sorry that I haven't had time to blog for so long, it's been two weeks! I have been so busy between work and home. We are flying to New Jersey in a couple of weeks time, Oli has a job interview and I am going to suss it out. I have been able to take time of work, which is usually impossible when you are a teacher. Anyway, we have been busy filling the freezer with food and sorting the house out as my in-laws are moving in to look after the children. As punishment I am going with Year Six on their weekend to Bournemouth, the weekend before I fly. I am trying to work out when I am going to get my roots done before I go, I don't want anyone to think I am older than I really am!

I finally finished Remembering Honey. It fits really well and I have worn it twice in the week since I finished sewing it up. I am not sure how the yarn will wear over time. It is a cashmere and merino blend that I found in a yarn outlet in Lille, it only cost 3 Euros a ball! I am not sure how flattering the picture is, I told my six year old to point the camera and shoot!

I couldn't resist taking a picture of my first pair of knitted socks. I love them and have worn them loads, I finished them a while ago, but never took pictures. They are made from Fleece Artist sock yarn.

Last but not least, I started my second Clapotis. I am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in Black Purl. I have gone down two needle sizes and added four extra sets of increase rows. I haven't yet decided how many extra sets of straight rows I am going to add. The picture doesn't do it justice, you will just have to wait until it is finished and then I will post a new one.

Anyone know of any good yarn stores in New Jersey?

Projects to finish from 2006

2007-01-01T17:34:00.000Z

Icy cold Paris in December. Not the best time to go, but we had great fun climbing the Eiffel Tower, visiting Notre Dame and the Louvre, as well as doing a spot of shopping.

Back from Paris and Suffolk, having eaten and drunk too much. I haven't had time to add any new posts, the children have been off school and we have been away. These things have also eaten into my knitting time, so I haven't finished Pinky Painter yet, but I am almost there. I have yet to finish the second sleeve for Remembering Honey and then sew it up. I also have to rip out the socks that were too big and start again. I think I may leave them for now and knit some other socks. I'll let you know!

I got information on yarn stores in Paris from here. I followed a couple of the suggestions up and visited Le Bon Marche, La Droguerie and Phildar. La Droguerie is a wonderful store to go into and browse, with gorgeous yarn hanging in hanks around the walls in an amazing range of colours. It has a huge selection of trimmings and buttons etc. They had examples of their own patterns knitted up pinned on the wall too. There were some really good designs, but I have never tackled a French knitting pattern before! However, it is impossible to get served, there are so many people trying to buy things. I gave up and left, even though I had my eye on some really nice bamboo yarn.

Instead I had a much more successful trip to Le Bon Marche, a very expensive department store. The yarn department had Noro, Rowan, Debbie Bliss as well as Anny Blatt and Bouton D'or yarn. It also had a La Droguerie concession which sold all the trimmings, buttons and some kits. It didn't have the hanks of yarn that the store had. It is also less crowded and much easier to choose and buy things that you want. Gad decided he wanted to choose some buttons to decorate the scarf that he is knitting and chose these.

They are going to look great, I will post a photo when it is finished.

I also went to Phildar and bought this.

I am going to make a scarf with some other Phildar yarn my Mum bought last year. I will fill you in when I get to do it. Which leads me onto to all the other projects I want to get underway this year. I have so many that I want to do that I don't know where to start, I think that I am going to make a Clapotis using the Lorna's Laces sock yarn in Black Purl that Oli brought back from Washington for me. I have read other blogs and people have either used this or Koigu to make one with. I have to decide on the size on the needles. I am not going to list more projects as I am so slow finishing things that I fear that none of them will be started, never mind finished!

More ripping back

2006-12-13T09:33:00.000Z

No pictures, I am feeling down. The socks are too big and I am going to have to start again. I may leave them and try again in the new year. I need to knit something to cheer me up, however, I am banned from starting anything new until I have finished all my unfinished projects:

Dot Pebbles doll for Lily
Brown mohair jacket needs sewing up
Remembering Honey sweater - I have to finish it!

Then I have to do some stash busting.

Ripping back

2006-12-10T13:51:00.000Z

I have just ripped back my Remembering Honey sweater, Interweave Knits Spring 2003, yet again. I have been battling with the lace panels on the front and finally decided to knit each side separately, instead of both of them at the same time. I have done the first side and had almost finished the second side, when I messed up again. It is impossible to unpick mistakes because of the amount of yarn overs and such like. I keep having to rip back to the start and begin again. Well here I go!

I have finished the first Fathers and Sons sock from Interweave Knits Winter 2006. I am please with it, it is really soft and the pattern has come out well. It looks large on me but it is for my Dad. I haven't worked out how to take pictures of socks yet, so you will have to bear with me. I managed to cast on and knit two rows of the second sock whilst waiting for Lily to finish her Nutcracker Ballet workshop at the Royal Ballet School this morning. It was very cute watching a class full of four year olds prancing around the studio. I think that I am going to need a third skein of cashmere from Colourmart. It doesn't say on the label if it is lace weight, but I presume it so. I can't find a skein of navy blue on the website, only cones. I don't need that much. I have emailed them and I hope that they reply. I now have to go and mark a stack of writing that my Year Six class have done, so until next time...

Long suede boots

2006-12-01T13:21:00.000Z

I have the best trick for zipping up knee length boots. Every year I go into countless shoe shops in the hope that there will be one pair of boots that I can zip up, all the way to the top. Every year there is only one type of boot that fits, the stretchy type of boot. It is always a bit embarassing to be seen as having mamoth sized calves. Yesterday I went into a great shop in Temple Fortune, Rojo, and found a gorgeous pair of boots. However, they would not zip up. The lady in there told me to zip them up as far as I could, then push them back down around the ankle and keep zipping up. When they were done up I pulled them up to the correct height. I think you can only do this with boots that have a stetchy vent at the top, but quite a lot of styles do. She even gave me a 10% discount when I bought them. Here they are:

Here is the photo of Blackberry, as promised. She has settled in really well and Gad is looking after her brilliantly. Lily and Benjamin are taking an interest, but Gad is the one that sorts her bedding and food out everyday.

I better fill you in on my knitting progress this week. Very little! I am a little stuck with the socks I am knitting, Father and Son socks from Interweave Knits Fall 2006. I am finding the instructions a little confusing. It is not clear whether to finish the chevron pattern off when separating stitches for the heel flap, or to do another pattern repeat before going to the finishing chevron pattern. I am going to think on it for a couple of days. I am making progress with my Remebering Honey sweater. I frogged the front lace pattern and started it again, after making numerous mistakes. It is now going well and I am hoping to get in finished and make a start on the sleeves.

New member of the family

2006-11-26T12:26:00.000Z

We finally found some time today to go and get the rabbit that we promised the kids. We went to Southgate and a place called London Lops. She is a half Lop and is black. We haven't named her yet, but I will post her name once we decide. I haven't taken a picture of her yet because I don't want to frighten her with the flash, as she needs time to settle in and become accustomed to her new home. She is eight weeks old and we are keeping her in the garage until she is a little older and stronger before relocating the cage and run outside. Benjamin is at a friends and doesn't know we have bought her, he will have such a surprise when he gets home.

On the knitting front I am still working on the first cashmere sock for my Dad. It is knitting up well and I hope that I will finish it soon. I have to get the next one done, there are so many projects I have to be getting on with. Ronke from the Brent Cross knitting group suggested that I make a finer version of Clapotis with the Lorna's Laces shepherd sock that Oli bought for me in Washington. I think I may do this with the skeins of Black Purl. I wonder how many I will need for it, the pattern calls for 4 skeins of Lion and Lamb. I might have to buy some more to make sure I have enough.

A North West London Fall

2006-11-20T11:14:00.000Z

This is the view outside my bedroom window, anyone would think I lived in New England!
Anyway, it should be safe for me to venture outside now, as the rain has stopped chucking down. I am going to go and pick up the extra copy of my M.A. report from the Institute of Education. It was in Museum and Gallery Education and I have finished and passed, I am so pleased! This is why I have had time to finally set up my own blog, after wanting to do it for a while.

So much to finish, so little time! I have started another project, cashmere socks, yarn from Colourmart. I have already used the yarn for a pair of socks which came out brilliantly, now I am knitting a pair in navy for my Dad. I hope to finish them for his birthday, 23rd December.

I finished knitting one of the Be Sweet magic balls from Washington. I made a scarf and here is Lily being sweet:

The scarf is lovely and soft.

I am slowly putting together Pinky Painter, a Dot Pebbles knitted doll. She has just brought out a gorgeous new mermaid one, I think that one will have to be for Lily's birthday.

Gadi's Post

2006-11-17T12:15:00.000Z

I am making a scarf for Benjy,it is soft,narrow and green.So far I have been working on it for a couple of months.

The yarn haul

2006-11-17T10:54:00.000Z

Gadi, 10 years old, very kindly took a picture of me modelling Gloria, from Jane Ellison for Noro, as promised. This link shows another Gloria that suffers from the same problem that my does!I still think it's too big, but my kids think it is perfect, as long as I block out the curly edges! I will block and see.

Wow, I have to send Oli on another yarn shopping spree! He chose some great stuff from Stitches D.C., but I think the owner must have been delighted when he walked in. He bought me two different colours of Lorna's Laces sock yarn in Motherlode and my all time favourite, Black Purl.It was cheaper than in England, so I was really pleased. I wanted some Koigu, but the shop didn't stock it. He also bought two skeins of Magic Ball by Be Sweet, made in South Africa. The women who make it are part of a community project and proceeds from the yarn go back to them. It is baby mohair and other yarn oddments, such as ribbon. The store has an online scarf pattern which I am going to try. I was a little surprised at how expensive it is, but what a treat! Oli brought back the Lantern Moon rosewood circular needles I requested. The store owner persuaded him that I would need 66cm long and 41cm long needles in the same size. I definately don't, but never mind!

Oli also brought back a yarn order from Knitpicks. I had it delivered to a friend in Washington as they won't send anything overseas. It is a real shame as the yarn is great and the prices are even better. I ordered some gloss sock yarn, it is merino with 30% silk in it. It is really nice and soft, with a slight sheen. I have decided to use it to knit a loop stitch cardigan from Vogue Knitting, Winter 2005/6. First I have to finish everything I have on needles. I got my hands on some double pointed 2.75mm needles which seem quite hard to come by in the U.K. They also sent some Eucalan wool wash, again unavailable here. It is great in the washing machine and as handwash, as it doesn't need rinsing out. Finally I now have my hands on a copy of the Magic Loop booklet by Bev Galaskas. I am hoping to learn how to knit socks and gloves using one circular needle.

Sleepless in North West London

2006-11-16T01:00:00.000Z

I am finding it difficult to sleep, I had a bad day at work. I am not sure that teaching is as fun as it used to be! Anyway, I thought that I would update on Gloria. She is sewn up and waiting to be blocked, the only problem is that she is too big. I will have to get Oli to photograph me wearing her and then you can see. I have been slowing making progress on a Dot Pebbles doll for Lily, my daughter. She is very excited about it, and is finding it hard to wait until it is finished. It is too late to photograph and download, I'll try and get it done tomorrow. I have to show you my stash enhancement, courtesy of Oli, all the way from Washington. Again, tomorrow!

First post

2006-11-14T19:45:00.000Z

I have finally found time to start my own blog! I took some pictures of a couple of the projects that I am working on. I have had a bit of a nightmare with a sweater pattern from an old Interweave Knits magazine, Spring 2003. It is called Remembering Honey and features a great lace pattern on the front. However it is this very lace pattern which has proved to be my downfall. I have had to frog it twice and I am tempted to leave it well alone.

I have almost finished sewing up Gloria, but again I find it difficult to complete it. It may have something to do with the fact that one arm is wider than the other! I have no idea how that happened.
I am so excited, Oli has been to Washington and visited the yarn store, Stitch D.C., I can't wait to see what he bought, after I had given him a wishlist.