KEDkrafty

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-24T23:04:00.001Z

Happy Christmas to you and yours.

With best wishes, Kathleen xxx

4 part magnificat

2011-09-04T11:32:00.004+01:00

DH has recently started a blog, a mixture of nostalgia, present-day adventures and music. You can find it at http://4partmagnificat.blogspot.com

It's lovely, it's got loads of lovely pictures :-)

Drop by and check it out if you like, and feel free to leave a comment.

x K

Daisy Bag in progress

2011-08-21T10:58:00.007+01:00

Well, being back at work fairly impinges on one's crafting and blogging time, but anyway, here we are, I'll show you my Daisy Bag in progress.

Daisy bag comprises squares made of yellow in the centre, several rounds of white for the petals, green for the stalks and surrounding leaves and blue for the sky. All of this is in Rowan Cotton Glace on a 3mm hook. I went for 3mm to firm up my fabric because I used UK trebles.

You make 16 squares, you sew

them together in strips of four, you arrange

the strips in a pinwheel fashion and then you sew them together in an interesting way. I like the construction and I would certainly be happy to make this bag again, perhaps in a variegated yarn to minimise ends. I didn't grudge the ends this time because of all the versions I had seen on Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ingas-hakelbeutel-2/people

I seemed to prefer the ones with a cohesive colour scheme.

I like my spring-like colours,

even though summer is now on its way out. Trust me, it was springy when I started it!

All I have to do now is attach the handles and go round the top a few times to strengthen and stabilise.

Hopefully won't be too long until I have it as a finished object to show you. x K

Summer crochet with added real dog goodness

2011-08-13T18:49:00.009+01:00

I've got a wee finished object and a work-in-progress to share today.

First is another toys' blanket, this time made in Sirdar Snuggly Smiley Stripes DK in shade 257. The composition is 80% bamboo 20% wool and it has been a pleasure to work with. The stitch definition is lovely and it is easy on the hands.

It's a semi-circle made from UK trebles, then edge with scallops and a

ric-rac final

edge, to use up the yarn. I enjoyed making it and took the chance to learn and practise in the process.

While Esmerelda was modelling it, a red setter was sniffing around us and trying to figure us out. You often see this red setter unaccompanied, but its home is Our neighbours, Balcary Bay Hotel so I am not particulary afraid of it. (Did I ever mention how scared I am of dogs?)

Actually, I'm being urged to get off the lappy so I'll tell you about the WIP tomorrow. For now, I'll just link to The pattern on Ravelry.

x K

Visit to West Kilbride

2011-07-19T11:59:00.008+01:00

A couple of Saturdays ago we made the trip down to West Kilbride for the launch party of the new studio for Old Maiden Aunt.

Glossing over my public transport problems, suffice it to say that Jonathan was the hero of the hour and gave me a run down in the car so I could join in for at least the last wee while. Even though he was in the middle of, and dressed for, moving furniture, he kindly offered to take me.

I was so glad he did because I wanted to join in the festivities and was delighted to get a chance to see some friends I hadn't seen in ages. They gave me a lovely warm welcome :-)

The new studio space is great, with room for Lilith to display her dyed yarns and kits out front, as well as more space and facilities in the back-room to make the

magic happen.

This picture shows a selection of Lilith's yarns on display, although many of her products were already packaged up for the grand trip to Knit Nation, where the stall seems to have gone down a storm.

Link to L's Flickr page, showing me on the left, Elaine in the centre and DH on the right, with yummy cake

I also really loved the fabric Old Maiden Aunt bunting in those great co-ordinating fabrics.

I made two yarn selections and eyed up a few things for future purchase :-P

I came away with two skeins of 100% superwash merino 4ply, one in berry good and one in bitterbug, the same colour as my beloved Green Shoots although that was knitted in a yarn base with a different composition. (You can click the Green Shoots link there then scroll down on this page.)

The bitterbug was a special purchase because they way the ties were done during the dyeing process, little flecks of yellow have remained on the yarn in certain places- I love that about it!

I hope those of you who went to Knit Nation enjoyed yourself and have time to have a breather and recover now.

I can join with you in my own way, fondling my beautiful purchases! x K

Slinky silky

2011-07-15T09:38:00.006+01:00

Another of last year's makes finally surfacing on the blog.

It's a scarf made from Rowan Purelife Revive, shade Ironstone, 3 skeins I think

It's just k2tog yfwd right sides, purl across wrong side rows, with a little garter stitch border.

When I was almost finished it I saw the striking resemblance between it and Interweave's Montego Bay and although I don't have that mag I was probably influenced by it on some level.

It pulls strongly on the bias and I have just let it hang naturally rather than trying to hold back the tide in the blocking process.

The reverse side is at least as nice as the front side.

I haven't used it yet, in fact it was sitting for months waiting for the ends to be sewn in and fringe finished, so it will hit the world this week.

Needless to say, it reminds me of fishing nets with the ball floats on them.

Crochet blanket for dollies

2011-07-10T10:05:00.005+01:00

This project dates from last year when we had our niece over for several weeks of the summer holidays.

I've been prompted to mention it because as of tomorrow, she is back!!

The yarn is a soft washable acrylic which is ideal because she was only six and her dolls and teddies wouldn't take care of finest cashmere.

The yarn came from a magazine, I think it was called Let's Get Crafting Crochet Creative, Issue 23, and Madame helped me choose the ripple pattern from a stitch library and chose the colour sequence and all. Each ball was only 25g but it was plenty for the project and I had enough to go round and stabilise the vertical edges with single crochet in a couple of colours and to add three wee crocheted flowers as well.

It was really well received, and often when you drop in, even unannounced it's out with dolls, teddies or Playmobile characters on it. An all-round-hit, I think it was because she had such an input into its "design". x K

Ingredients for Monster socks

2011-06-05T19:47:00.007+01:00

*Regia Galaxy Jupiter Blau Pastel 1553 - few yards of, from the centre of the balls. From experience there is still plenty in the two balls in the stash to make socks for me.

*Pattern Prism by Jaya Srikrishnan, as used in my Pink Boot socks in 2008 (Still going strong). Good pattern in my view because you are carrying over some stitches from one colour band into another, and gives a hint of unity to the Monstersocks or Frankensocks.

*Leftovers of Regia Galaxy Jupiter Blau Color as used in DH's Navy Galaxies. (2008)

*Leftovers of Regia Mini Ringel as used in Stripy Jaywalkers (2006)

*Leftovers of Regia Mi

ni Ringel as used in Ribbed Ankle Socks (2006)

Yes, I admit it, I'm stalling because I can't show you pictures of the actual finished socks yet. Soon, soon I tell you. x K

Jury Service Monster Sockage!

2011-06-04T21:36:00.006+01:00

Last week I was on Jury Service at the Sheriff Court in Glasgow. It was stressful, uncomfortable, pointless and generally a right pain in the bahoochie.

However, I did manage to make some progress on my toe-up Monstersocks on the rare occasions that I got a seat, and have now finished both legs.

(The feet and heels were already done. I was doing both socks in tandem to keep track of what yarn to use next.)

All that remains now is for me to graft the heels and sew in the millions of ends.

These Monstersocks are made from remnants of Regia yarns I've been left with over the years.

I'll give more pattern details when they are totally finished, but for now I'll leave you with some pictures of them looking particularly monstrous, inside out and with all those ends to fasten off and with our grass looking like straw.

Blocked and ready for take-off!

2011-05-29T21:30:00.007+01:00

Here's Multnomah washed, blocked and ready to face the spring breezes.

I am pleased with this and think the shades in it will complement lots of different colours and look great against good old black.

Down in Galloway for the long weekend for Spring Fling

http://www.spring-fling.co.uk/

Ready to face what the weather holds as we check out some studios, some old favourites, and no doubt some new to us. Enjoy the Bank Holiday if you're getting it. x K

Copy-cat knitting

2011-05-26T14:41:00.005+01:00

It's not often you see me knit a garment in the recommended yarn, never mind in the same colour as the published pattern, although some people swear by it.

This case is the exception, I'm making "Feeling Good" by Sarah Hatton, published in Simply Knitting August 2010.

Thanks to Ravelry I know that there are errors in the published pattern, such as the lacy panels on the fronts are identical and not mirrored. These are the kind of helpful things that are easy enough to fix if you know in advance to look out for them, so thank-you Rav.

I'm making it in Rowan Purelife Revive in shade Quartz. I have used this yarn before in a Montego Bay-type scarf which I've yet to show you.

I've bought extra yarn because I agree with the designer when she says in the magazine article that she thinks

it would be nice with kimono sleeves.I've never had great upper arms, and now I'm forty, well... they ain't gettin' any better, so, cover-up it is.

And thank-you for your kind comments about Swoony Multnomah. It has had a nice bath and I hope to have some modelled shots to show you over the long weekend.

That is, if I get a long-weekend, curse you Jury Service. x K

Multnomah Preview

2011-05-22T13:06:00.009+01:00

Dodging the April-style showers to take a couple of snaps of a little shawlette I've recently finished.

These are the unblocked shots of my Multnomah by Kate Elsa of HelloKnitty.net.

A lovely little knit which was a pleasure to make in the Colorimetry Swoony Sport yarn I bought at The Life Craft in Glasgow.

I made some minor

modifications- I slipped the first stitch of every row, and I introduced a half-repeat of the feather and fan pattern when I had enough stitches, rather than having fields of garter stitch at the sides and centre. This has resulted in more of a pull on central column rather than the straight as a die lines in the original, but I don't regret it. I just kept going until I ran out of yarn which resulted in a few extra repeats. I'm going to give it a wee bath and then put up some nice blocking and blocked shots.

Motoring on with the patchwork

2011-01-23T12:09:00.002Z

Getting on well with the patchwork this week. Not much to show you at the moment but I can offer you an archive picture of the fabrics before they all got chopped up into hexagons!

It's nuts, isn't it? You take perfectly good fabric, cut it up into wee pieces then sew it all together again in a different order. The things we do for fun! x K

Slightly leading questions...

2011-01-18T19:58:00.003Z

What do you think about this lovely pattern by Signe S. Simonsen?

What do you think about the lovely yarn it is made from?

Yes, some yarn handpainted by my friend Tigerlilith of Old Maiden Aunt Yarns fane is gracing the pages of the latest edition of Knitty.

Yes, pages plural as it features as a banner on all parts of this Winter issue.

This gives me a great thrill, especially as it such a pretty pattern, and one which I would love to make. x K

Playing with hexagons

2011-01-15T22:20:00.006Z

My crafty energy has recently been going into playing with some hexagons cut from Christmassy fabrics.

I've decided on the pattern and it's going to be dubbed something like 'Poinsettias in the Snow', that is red flowers with green leaves on a creamy/gold background.

Here is a wee sketchy layout. Don't worry if you see things like identical fabrics side-by-side or other clashes, it's just to help

me visualise the basic outline. DH helped me with the physical laying out and his keen aesthetic eye too.

I've made a few refinements since then and it's shaping up nicely. The four main flowers are sewn with their leaves attached and the green lozenge in the middle is done with its light row around it.

Yes, hexagons are a bit fiddly to work with, but these babies are 5 1/2" each, so they aren't quite as tricky.

Making progress and I'm sure it will be ready for Christmas 2011. Well, when I say sure... x K

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T10:52:00.001Z

Wishing you health, wealth, happiness and craft in 2011. x K

I'm going to come right out and say it...

2010-12-30T21:23:00.007Z

...I miss the snow!!!

No, I don't miss the travel chaos and the frozen and burst pipes and other hardships people have had to endure, but I do miss the beautiful diamante white stuff itself.

Not so much on the streets of Glasgow, but definitely on the rolling hills and old woods of Galloway.

Sparkly crystalline pristine snow.

I miss the snow!

He he, that's as controversial as I get in this blog ;-) x K

Winter Warmer

2010-12-26T19:20:00.004Z

Question: What do you do when you like the look of a fair isle scarf from M & S advertised in the paper, but when you see it in-store you realise that although it's lovely, there's something not quite right about it?

Answer: You make one of your own of course!

Mine doesn't really look anything like the original of course because I only used that a spring-board, but I love it all the same. And because I wanted a bolder look I used a unifying background colour (except when I felt more contrast was needed) rather than also changing background colours as in traditional fair isle knitting.

I used some patterns from the thankfully reprinted Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting, combining them as desired, although once the sequence was set, I stuck with it. It all looks different though because the colours were also cycling round too, and by design I didn't get the same motif in the same colour more than once.

I learned a lot about the reading of fair isle charts. Basically the contrast colour is either on or it's off and once I got into my rhythm I was motoring ahead.

I am on the laptop here and don't have all my photos in the drive, but there are plenty more views either on Ravelry or on Flickr for those without Ravelry accounts.

Edit: I should also add that this finished object owes something to Kaffe Fassett's Lidiya Scarf from Rowan 48. (No links but that info should enable you to find it.) End edit.

Hopefully everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. x K

Happy Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:05:00.001Z

Have a lovely Christmas everyone! x K

Finishing touches

2010-08-08T10:14:00.008+01:00

Here are my beautiful new shawl pins. I think they are so nice that even the wee prongs can be used alone on, say, smaller shawls or items which aren't even hand-knitted. :-0

I'm mostly going to let the photos and the links do the talking, but suffice it to say that it tickles me that even though I am not at home, I have four shawls to hand to model the shawl pins!
Shawl pin page on Jannette's Rare Yarns
Zeshane Indian Wooden Handicrafts

A Ravelry for sewing?

2010-08-05T20:48:00.002+01:00

It was my intention to show you my new shawl pins from Jannette's Rare Yarns tonight, but that will have to wait...

I have spent a while today uploading my few sewing projects onto a relatively-new sewing community called My Sewing Circle. This link is the join-up and log-in page and This one is the associated blog.

There's not much to see if you haven't joined the community (free and pretty much instant) but suffice it to say it's a place where people can upload their sewing project details, photos, fabric stash and join "circles" for specific interests and locations. Sounds familiar? Well yes, it is very much like what I imagine the big R must've been like in its very early days.

It's good, and it could be very good when the membership reaches a critical mass. It has a lot of the same features as Rav and derives its good ideas from there, make no mistake, but it lacks the amazing link-tastic nature of Ravelry.

I'm glad I found it, I've been looking for something like this and I hope to see some of you in there. My username is.....KEDkrafty! I think some of you may like it, maybe my online friends like Sandra in Croatia and Yvette in France for instance.

This has come at a good time for me because I've been doing a bit of patchwork machine sewing this week. Anyway, My Sewing Circle, let's see how it goes.

New tap

2010-08-03T22:46:00.010+01:00

Someone else has done all of the hard work this time!

This is a hand-knitted top, not by me, though. It's a former sample garment for Jaeger Handknits.

I'm really pleased with it, it's a lovely colour and it looks ok now but I think it will look even better as I trim down a bit more. I'm also happy because I don't know how to do this loopy stitch so I have no pangs of conscience that I could just as easily have made it myself.

I bought it from Jannette's Rare Yarns, a shop I enjoyed buying from on e-bay, which is now a normal online shop. Prices are shown in dollars, which is no problem at all if you use Paypal and items are shipped promptly from a UK address

Suffice it to say that I got it for a bargain price, and was quite delighted to see it because in my experience sample garments are usually seen in the first or second sizes. I do not have the pattern book that this came from, but I would reckon this would be the largest size, being a 42".

The T-shirt is called "Sym", and was designed by Amanda Griffiths. It was knitted in Jaeger Albany, colour Damson #270. It comes with a code number, JHGB1113, which I think refers to the pattern book. I can't seem to find it, but my mooching around has thrown up that you can still get Jaeger Albany yarn in selected colours at English Yarns (sidebar).

Lovely new tap, lovely new tap, lovely new tap.

Mantilla

2010-08-01T13:33:00.002+01:00

This headscarf has been finished for a couple of weeks but I haven't had any decent photographs to show.

Actually I don't event think these photos are any great shakes, apart from number one, the shadow one.

This is the lovely Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark, from Interweave Knits, fall 2006.

This is not the first time I have made this pattern but it is the first time I have done the Lily of the Valley section with the nupps.

It's made with Patons 100% Cotton 4-ply left over from this headscarf from last year.

I really enjoyed making it and I will doubtless enjoy wearing it. Hope you are having

a good crafty week. x K

A Wii cloth

2010-07-24T12:25:00.004+01:00

I've never really understood how people can spend hours making cloths just to get them manky on dishes and grimy kitchens.

Face-cloths and shower puffs I can just about handle.

So, to practise my crochet I've made a little cloth to mop my fevered brow when using the Wii Fit Plus. I'm trying to improve my fitness, and using the Wii is one of the ways I'm doing it. Also watching the food and using the bike, taking a Pilates course, walking more etc. Wii Fit Plus on Nintendo page

I've now got a Gold Fit Piggy because I've been exercising on the Wii for more than forty hours. (A Fit Piggy is an on-screen piggy bank of your accumulated exercise minutes, every time you finish say, thirty minutes of Step on the Wii, it tallies up your thirty minutes.)

It's made from King Cole Bamboo Cotton Ravelry link which I had left over from a headscarf from last year. It's proving very useful because I do *glow* a little when I put the Riser on the Wii Balance Board and do a good session. If I dab myself it stops my glasses falling off when I try to do the yoga poses!

It washes like a ribbon in the machine, dries very quickly and has helped improve my crochet as well as my fitness. I have trimmed down a bit and am determined to continue getting healthier. x K

Thank-you

2010-07-21T23:11:00.003+01:00

Thanks for all your lovely comments about "Green Shoots" on here, on Facebook, on Ravelry and by e-mail. You are very kind. x K

Green Shoots

2010-07-18T15:36:00.009+01:00

I am delighted to present a shawl I improvised myself from the beautiful Bitter Bug colour Bamboo and Merino sock yarn from Old Maiden Aunt which I got in the yarn preview club which ran last winter to give a taster of the different shades and sock-yarn bases available for this year's collection.

I knew this yarn could make a lovely shawl after having used it last year for a well-loved project .

I like it even more than the yarn I used last year because the colour is even more up-my-street, I adore this type of green and the variation in the hand-painted yarn gives it a multi-faceted look.

The little "Bitter Bug" was a charm which came as one of the extra goodies with the yarn preview club. I used him as a stitch marker while I was making the shawl and he looked so good with it I had to incorporate him into the shawl itself.

This project means a lot to me because it marks a bit of a renaissance of my interest in things crafty and after a rough few months it marks the first times in ages I've felt inspired and enthusiastic about *anything*, hence the name "Green Shoots".

It starts with stocking stitch then moves into a chevron stitch and was a delight to work with, in this top-notch yarn.

I'll be working with this yarn again, no doubt, and may have another go at this "pattern" too.

Green Shoots, aaah! x K

Cheeky Pandas

2010-07-14T18:47:00.004+01:00

Behold a mini-quilt made to the nine-patch pattern.
I'd had the panda fabric for a while, and held onto it until I could make good use of the small quantity I had.
Our new six year-old niece is getting great use of it for playing with dollies and soft-toys.
Quilted on the diagonal using my (then) new walking-foot attachment.
It seems that JANOME accessories can be used on ELNA sewing machines, in fact for some models the JANOME fittings are now the only option.
Musical note backing fabric and silky bias binding from Mandors if my memory serves me well. x K

Sneak Preview

2010-07-13T21:12:00.004+01:00

Here is a sneak preview of a recently finished object I am absolutely delighted with.

Patchwork Project Bag

2010-07-11T14:07:00.009+01:00

I've got a bit of catching up to do here to update you on some recent crafty makes.

Here's a patchwork project bag I made this spring.

The block itself is nothing new but I followed a diagram in February's Patchwork and Quilting Magazine and then improvised the bag design round the patchwork block.
I had made the "Shoo-Fly" block before but without the central contrast section.
Because I am inexperienced in patchwork I find some blocks fiddly, so I upped the size to make it less of a fouter.
It is wadded and quilted with a zig-zag stitch over the seams on my Elna.
I added a lining and handles in the marbly green fabric. If for any reason I feel the quilted side is too "loud" I can easily use it inside-out.

Overall I am very pleased with it and it makes a good knitting project or magazine bag.
Fabrics were fat quarters from the Galloway Gem Shop, King St, Castle Douglas.

Tempting new patterns

2010-07-09T11:34:00.002+01:00

While we've been out discovering the historical sites of Galloway like the Chambered Cairn at Cairn Holy, the folks at Knitty have been cooking up a new issue called First Fall so we can get more goodies per year.
Some of the patterns are lovely, and a lacy scarf named Lamina is calling my name really loudly. Very pretty indeed. x K

Beautiful prize

2010-07-02T16:44:00.010+01:00

Look at this beautiful prize I have won!
It's an Ishbel shawlette, in Malabrigo Sock yarn, Tinzano red.
I was knitted by Paula, A Celtic Stitcher , who made it as a prize for those who donated to her Race for Life fund-raiser.

I am absolutely thrilled with it- the yarn is luscious, the stitching is immaculate, and the pattern is a modern classic.

Here's a link to the page where P outlines the project and has some lovely photos. Linky

Real-life friend Paula has produced some beautiful knitting, as well as raising funds for a great cause. Thank-you very much for both :-D
If you see anyone swanning about wearing an RFL Ishbel neck-kerchief style, thinking she's the Queen of Sheba- that'll be me!!!
Aren't I the lucky one? x K

Happy Easter Everyone!

2010-04-04T20:46:00.001+01:00

With very best wishes for everyone this Easter. x K

Funny doll

2010-01-17T20:22:00.003Z

This is a wee doll I made for the Children's Liturgy at church at the beginning of December.
I had committed to do it and I did as much as I could although circumstances changed big time between me saying I would do it and the due date.
I handed it in in bits and the lady organising it had to sew it all together before the 15th when they were doing their Nativity play.
I think this guy looks like he would be a good Innkeeper.
Yes, his hair and beard ARE supposed to be that bushy!
This is a dodgy mobile phone pic of it taken at the last minute.
I used Patons Diploma Gold DK which is a wool-synthetic blend, as it had to be washable. 2 balls Cherry, 2 balls White, 1 ball Cocoa and 1 ball Soft Caramel.
Apparently it was very well received and I'm on the list to help again next year, which is a kind of a compliment I'm sure. x K

Not late for Christmas '09, just organized for Christmas '10.

2010-01-10T11:16:00.007Z

Here's another Christmas holiday make, this time it's for my new five-year-old niece who joined the family in December.

It's a stocking of about 28cm tall and 22cm across the foot.
It's not pieced, it's just fancy pre-printed faux patchwork cotton fabric I got at the SECC Hobbycrafts in 2007. The boot shape for you to cut round is printed on the cloth, and there are still three more boots of different designs left on my fabric piece.

The lining fabrics are gold on green, one having decorative smudges and the other "merry christmas", all lower case.
The wadding is a re-purposed padded pillow protector, and I machine quilted it with straight stitches along the grid pattern of the design.

The hanger is a little strip of spare fabric with musical notes on it which was an off-cut from my main piece. That little hanger was a devil to turn the right way out, even with sock knitting needles to help!

The recipient wasn't exactly enthusiastic, but I was showing her it on New Year's Day, maybe next Christmas when it's stuffed with goodies it will come into its own! As she joined the family in mid-December I didn't have the chance to finish it in time for the big day.

I hand-stitched the red bias binding round the top. It wasn't exactly quick but it has given it a good finish.

There will be more patchwork and quilting in my coming posts this week, but don't worry if you're all Christmassed-out, there won't be any more Christmas projects for a while yet. x K

Christmas Quilt

2010-01-03T15:22:00.011Z

Back home in Glasgow to find the snow still here!
Long gone in Dumfries and Galloway, although they did do a great line in ice and black ice down there.

Took advantage of the Christmas holidays to do some sewing. I made this quilt from William Morris Christmas Cat fabric purchased at John Lewis in Glasgow.
I'm not a cat person, I'm not a pet of any description person, but these guys looked very festive and because I am crap, sorry, inexperienced, at sewing I thought the linear pattern would help my sewing and especially my quilting. (Plus, it was on special offer.)

I'm quite pleased with it overall and it doesn't bother me at all that it wasn't finished for Christmas Day- we've been getting the good of it over the Festive period, and will continue to do so for many years ahead.

Pic one is on the red armchair made famous by the Siesta Blanket .

Pic two is a close-up of the cat pattern and the buttons added to the centre for decorative reasons, and to help tame the wadding.

Pic three is of the complementary backing fabric.

Pic four is a little detail shot of the edgings and quilting. I added the black binding to cover my raw edges, then I added the gold ribbon to dress up the edges and frame the cats.

It wasn't all easy peasy, but we can admire it and snuggle up under it for years to come.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T00:29:00.000Z

Happy New Year to everyone.
Best wishes to you all.

Look how we brought in the new year, it was cool, a first for me!
Ok, so I only looked at the moon, but in much better detail than I'd ever seen it before.

You'll see from yesterday's post that it was a very moonsy night.
J persevered a bit longer and saw some stars and planets but the fact that the moon was so terrifically bright was working against him there.
What a way to bring in the bells!
Some neighbours were on the beach having a bonfire and we thought of joining them at one point but we got so carried away star-gazing the time went by.

With very best wishes for 2010. x K

Night falls on a decade

2009-12-31T17:16:00.006Z

Just in case you're wondering, THIS IS THE MOON!!!

Couldn't resist getting the tripod out and taking a picture of the moon over Balcary Bay and Hestan Island. It's casting such a magnificent glow over the water and wet sand. It's so bright you could knit a couple of rows by it.
A neighbour lady called it a blue moon because it's the second full moon in a month.

I'm including a shaky hand-held picture so you can believe me it is the moon.

Can it really be ten years since we geared up to celebrate the dawn of a new millenium?

This decade has seen a lot of tears, but I don't want to dwell on that, I'm just going to linger on the thought that this decade brought me my beloved Jonathan, and for that I will be eternally grateful. And by that I mean, eternally. x K

Spoiled again this year!

2009-12-27T11:05:00.006Z

There is a very uplifting tinge to Christmas this year because of a new addition to the wider family. A beautiful five-year-old has joined my in-laws' family, who as well as being someone to knit for, has also really enhanced Christmas. It really IS Christmas when there are little ones about, and I grab any excuse to release my thinly-veiled inner child. What fun.

I also feel very spoiled with my beautiful gift from DH, which was membership to the Old Maiden Aunt yarn preview club this winter. There were three instalments (Oct, Nov, Dec) and we got a foretaste of some of next season's colours on a variety of sock-yarn bases, as well as some extras and members' goodies thrown in. It was great fun, and the best bit is if I love any of the colours (which I do!) I can buy them in the normal way next season. Thanks DH for a marvelous gift. Old Maiden Aunt Webstore

Before I give the details of the goodies I mustn't forget how generous my in-laws were too. As well as giving us a joint household gift, I was also given a wee special voucher for the Outback Yarns section of the Gem Shop in Castle Douglas, a small but well stocked yarn department about the size of your broom cupboard. I must've been not too naughty this year.

Ok, these are the details of the yarns lying loose on the frost, in the third picture.
The range is the forthcoming "I made you this mixtape".

Back l-r
(Orangey) "Put on the Day" in Superwash Merino 4-ply
(Purply) "Derelict Daughter" in Merino-Cashmere-Nylon 4-ply
(Turquoisey) "Seen the Ocean" in Merino-Cashmere-Nylon 4-ply
(Greeny) "Bitter Bug" in Merino-Bamboo 4-ply
(Browny) "Midnight Owl" in Superwash Merino 4-ply
(Weirdy) "Strange Rock'n'Rollers" in Merino-Bamboo 4-ply

Hope Santa was as good to you all as he was to me. x K

Christmas Greetings

2009-12-24T22:54:00.001Z

Happy Christmas everyone!
Here's to a peaceful one.
Lots of love, K x

Happy Saint Andrew's Day!

2009-11-30T22:24:00.002Z

I haven't blogged in ages, there's a good reason for that, but in the meantime I would like to wish everyone a very Happy St. Andrew's Day.
God Bless Scotland, and God Bless You! x K

My end of the bargain

2009-10-25T00:01:00.007+01:00

Here's what I made for my swap buddy for the Veiled Knitters' Exchange.
I can show you this now, knowing it has been well-received.

When looking for something to knit it was very important to read the questionnaire to find out what my recipient, yarndoggie, would like rather than knitting something I wanted, so I tried my best to make pattern, colour and yarn choices which suited her needs.

I made this Fallen Leaf Scarflette which was designed to be worn as a neck scarf, although yarndoggie may choose to wear it as a Chapel Veil. The pattern's by Cotton and Cloud.

It's made from the discontinued Rowan DK Soft and not Kidsilk Haze, which is the yarn called for. I do have some KSH but yarndoggie did not want a yarn which would shed, so I thought the DK Soft would be nice to keep the slight fuzziness while addressing yarndoggie's concern.

I can really see one of these in the future for myself because I really enjoyed making it and the result was very satisfying. 'Twas a little tricky reading the pattern from my screen as I had no access to a printer, but it was very much a fun knit which presented very few problems.

Yarndoggie says she is a girly girl so I added some beautiful Old Maiden Aunt sock yarn in Fraoch to appeal to her love of all girly colours Linky and to let her see the talents of Scottish based independent dyer, my friend Old Maiden Aunt . Must get some of this beautiful colourway for me me me! I was silly and forgot to photograph the yarn before sending it, but hopefully these links will keep you going.

I also threw in a wee tartan dishtowel, just for fun. x K

The rest of the goodies!

2009-10-18T21:27:00.006+01:00

Here are the rest of the goodies from my parcel from America.
You can see that Dawn picked up on my love of blue!
In the foreground there is some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in shade Midnight, which is the same yarn my two hats were made of.
Then there's some Cascade Yarns Fixation, which has 98.3% (yes really) cotton and 1.7 % elastane to give it that stretch for ribs etc.
They are fab because they are not yarns I could get hold of all that easily here, but my favourite is some local yarn which wenchciara bought at the State Fair. It's 100% lightweight wool (4ply-ish?)
from Sandy's Sheep Shop in Walkerton Indiana. The colour is a heathery shade called Lake Blue and has 44o yds in the cake- I can see a shawlette in my future.

Veiled Knitters Exchange on Ravelry

2009-10-12T19:03:00.006+01:00

First blog post in a month! This work thing fairly gets in the way of hobby-time, doesn't it?
Well, the first post back after my break is about a pleasant subject- an international exchange on the Veiled Knitters Group on Ravelry .

I'm not a veiled knitter as such, but I do have a penchant for head-scarves, kerchiefs and all sorts of head coverings so I fit in there.

Here are some pictures of parts of my generous gift from wenchciara in Indianapolis.
What I can't show you at the moment are the yarn goodies she sent ie. some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, Cascade Fixation and some beautiful artisan yarn from the State Fair. I forgot to bring them away with me to photograph. :-(

I can show you my two heid bunnets, worn as intended (as snoods) and as slouchy berets.
I love them! One is Lacy Starfish Snood by berrymama and the other is a simple hat with very nice tailored looking decreases on the crown.

I have posted my offering off to America (to a third party) and I hope it doesn't take too long to arrive so I can show you my handiwork. In the meantime here it is all wrapped up in Scottishy paper. x K

Old news

2009-09-06T20:21:00.004+01:00

This scarf has been ready for a couple of weeks now.
It's a sideways scarf in Patons Australia Jet, a yarn I was not familiar with until I saw it in the bargain bucket in the Gem Shop in Castle Douglas.

It's a very pleasant yarn to knit with, and I'd be happy to use it again, but it's discontinued and I think I scored some of the last stock the Gem Shop had. It's a wool-alpaca blend, chunky weight, and splices really well, so I expect it would felt like a dream.

The colours blend nicely in my view. The "rosewood" (my name) shade in the solid colour is continued as a core thread virtually all the way through the variegated colour and the shade of the solid blue colour is speckled regularly through the variegated colour. Nice forethought in my opinion.

The intended recipient for this scarf doesn't care for it, so it has been set aside for the time being.

Just my luck!

2009-08-28T07:12:00.007+01:00

On Ravelry I have been appointed as a guest moderator for the thread-

Is racism alive and kicking?

in the remnants forum via their Mod Attack scheme at the moment.

Couldn't I have been appointed to-

Are six-week old pandas cute?*
or
Is learning a foreign language worth it?*
or
Is lace knitting addictive?*

*Sadly these threads do not yet exist. Maybe that's why I haven't been appointed them.

Have any of you readers been asked to guest mod something on Ravelry? x K

Sometimes you have to believe your eyes....

2009-08-26T19:50:00.001+01:00

A larger than the published large size of Ishbel.
This is what I managed to get out of my 300 yard skein.

Remember, this is a me-sized T-shirt.

Nice and wrinkly, but good for scale compared to the other photo.

....rather than the pattern.

2009-08-26T19:47:00.001+01:00

Remember, this would have been one row away from completion.

Small sized Ishbel, what the pattern would recommend for my 300 yard ball of yarn. x K

A Photo Essay about a Lovely Large Ishbel

2009-08-23T20:24:00.009+01:00

Ravelry link to Ishbel pattern
Link to designer Ysolda Teague's blog
Ravelry link to the page for this divine yarn
Link to Old Maiden Aunt online shop

Candytuft Fairy

2009-08-10T19:40:00.000+01:00

How sad is this?
Photographing and blogging this card just so my beloved can see it?

It is to the layout specified in Clare's Challenge of the Week over at docrafts.

Leapt through hoops to get this card together because my card-making stash is out of reach.
Had to be a bit more resourceful and use things like a fairy from some wrapping paper, beads and button from my knitting kit and I even stamped my own FAIRY paper.

x K

Reconciled

2009-08-04T22:00:00.006+01:00

It didn't take long to become at peace with the fact I had to rip out a portion of Sea Ishbel.

I've now re-done more rows than I frogged, which is always a good stage, and I got a chance to weigh the skein when I got to the bit where the shawlette would have ended.

48g left
48g!
48g!

Ok, you get it, it would've meant "wasting" almost half a ball, and that isn't going to happen, so onwards I plough with the rather lovely, if I may say, Sea Ishbel.

I'm not in a very linky mood, but my ripping experience is nothing compared to the recent frog-fests of merinomills, tigerlilith and kariebookish, so no more will be said about my measly couple of dozen rows. x K

As Others See Us Exhibition

2009-08-01T15:49:00.002+01:00

We thoroughly enjoyed a photography exhibition we saw in Kirkcudbright town hall last week.
It's part of the whole Year of Homecoming celebration here in Scotland and consists of portraits of important and/or famous contemporary Scots who have chosen and excerpt of Robert Burns' poetry and expressed what it means to them.

This link
should take you directly to the artists' page, giving some examples of the portraits and the tour dates. Click on any of the thumbnail portraits or any of the sitters' names to see more.

The photographers Ross Gillespie and Tricia Malley take some aspect of the chosen lines of the poem and portray it in the portrait. Definitely worth a look if it comes to venue near you. x K

Three steps forward, two steps back.

2009-07-30T14:33:00.004+01:00

I've picked up my Sea Ishbel in Old Maiden Aunt Bamboo Blend again.

I've been enjoying making it, getting into a good rhythm with the pattern and enjoying seeing the motifs progress, and the yarn is lustrous and a pleasure to work with.

I've been trying to ignore a nagging feeling that the small size is turning out too small to be practical for me and have soldiered on and done the transition and edging charts.

I just can't get away from it, it's awfy awfy wee, even taking potential blocking into account. I've shown it next to a KEDkrafty-sized T-shirt for scale. In pictures two and three it's meant to be one row away from completion.

So I've taken the tough decision to pull it back to the end of the main section and repeat sections B and A again, maybe even several times. The thing which has really been the deciding factor is- look how much yarn I've got left! The ball had 380 yards at the outset and the small-sized Ishbel apparently takes 330. I feel as if I'm left with far more than 50 yards. Feels more like 50g than 50 yds! Unfortunately my digital scale is in the flat, and I am not.

It's a slight pain, but I'll probably thank myself in the long run for having a more usable scarf and for making the most of the lovely yarn. I must have admitted this possibility on some level because, most unlike me, I put in a life-line after the last chart A.

Off to do some frogging and re-knitting. Good job I like knitting. x K

Well-Dressed Head Part Two

2009-07-26T19:21:00.005+01:00

Here's a swatch-style headscarf of Gail aka Nightsongs shawl.
It's in Patons 4 ply cotton and I love it love it love it.
The leaf motif is gorgeous and those big massive double yarn over holes down the centre look cool.

Any issues with the pattern?
More issues than TIME magazine.

If I knew you in real life and you said you were going to try this shawl as your first lace project I would fling myself to the floor and hook my arms round your legs.
The instructions are confusing, the charts are laid out in an unusual way, the symbols mean different things from what they usually mean, there are typos and there is so much advice on the internet about how to interpret the pattern, some of it entirely conflicting.

If you know your way around a lace pattern, are prepared to suspend what you know while still knowing what you know, are good at "reading" your knitting and are not afraid to rip back from time to time, I'd say, go for it, you'll love it.

I love my beautiful black lace heid bunnet. x K

Off for a swim to England BRB

2009-07-25T16:01:00.001+01:00

Or maybe to the island.
Or maybe to the buoy.
Anyway, be right back.

I make more of a wake than the QE2, hee hee.
x K

Well-Dressed Head Part One

2009-07-25T11:49:00.005+01:00

Here's a headscarf I've made from King Cole Bamboo Cotton blend DK.

Ravelry link

The main part is knitted in stocking stitch from the wide end down, the five last stitches being left live.
Then the edging was added afterwards to the diagonal sides. It is the lovely edging from Brooklyn Tweed's Girasole. Thank-you Jared Flood.

I only have one ball of this yarn, bought from Drop in for a Yarn in Dumfries just to play with. I would very happily use this yarn again.
Considering it is made up of a dozen thin strands of the bamboo and cotton mix I didn't find it splitty, but I would say that it shows up inconsistencies in tension. If I was making a garment out of this I would also watch out for creasing- it basically stays the way you put it so if you lay it away nicely it comes out pristine and if you stuff it in a bag it comes out crumpled. Give it few pats and it starts to smooth out for you.

It's funny, I wouldn't walk the streets of Glasgow wearing headscarves, but being down here amid fields and cows and sheep and horses and llamas it seems fairly natural, even if you have absolutely no dealings whatsoever with the cows, sheep, horses and llamas! x K

Heavier weight Felted Tweed

2009-07-20T11:23:00.002+01:00

I am very very very excited about the forthcoming Rowan Felted Tweed Aran and Felted Tweed Chunky yarns.

I am not even one tiny little bit excited about the designs to showcase them in Rowan 46.

Pluses Rowan 46: It arrived nice and early for this Rowan International Member.
Minuses Rowan 46: There is nothing in it I would knit.*

*except maybe a stole but I can't see it well enough to tell.

I was surprised to receive this copy of the Rowan mag because I don't remember renewing my subscription. It seems that one of us is mixed up about dates.

Of course the pictures are different...

2009-07-16T16:16:00.004+01:00

... there are more daisies in these pictures than in the last!

And of course there are several more rounds of the blue and then the two rounds from the bit of the Noro sock wool I kept back, but the difference is barely noticeable.

We're up to 96cm diameter now, which although not big, will be ok for a lap blanket.
It is not blocked but I don't imagine that will make much difference.

So I got up to 35 trebles per segment, so 70 per side, thus 560 trebles on the last row.

I have treated myself by making a headscarf starting at 121 sts and working DOWN for once.

I am delighted this is finished, not least because I showed it to my mother-in-law who loved it, which is marvelous news because I was afraid she would find it too scratchy.

She had no idea that she was in the frame to receive it when she was enthusing about it, so she's definitely getting it now.
:-)

Think I'll give it a wee bath now. x K

Merry-Go-Round progress

2009-07-04T13:48:00.005+01:00

Aren't those flowers opening out beautifully?
One week on and they still look gorgeous.

I've got some progress to show you on my Merry-Go-Round crochet lap blanket by Jane Protus.

Don't let the pictures fool you, it's still small at only 90cm across, but it has grown a bit since I last blogged about it.

Thanks to the encouragement from my stitch club friends kariebookish and ellielabelle I went ahead with using solid coloured wool around the Noro sock. I think it looks really effective with this Rowan Scottish Tweed 4-ply, although it is a fraction thicker than the average girth of the Noro sock. Could've done with 3-ply really but I was shopping the stash for the contrast yarn.

Unfortunately for the blanket I'm on to the third of four balls of the 4-ply tweed and am now only getting three rounds per ball at the moment.

As of the current round I have 496 trebles per round. Four hundred and ninety-six! Why do I do this to myself? If I had made this on a 10mm hook with bulky yarn as per pattern I could've finished up on the olive round in between the two dark rounds of the Noro i.e. ages ago and it still would've been bigger.

One of these days I'm going to cast on or hook up something which has 999 stitches on the first row and work DOWN to 3. Hee hee I'm saying that now, it would probably drive me nuts.

So here are some pictures from the step-stool and one picture on the step-stool.

Have a good weekend, especially any American readers. x K

Quarterly Progress or Pick of the Pops

2009-07-01T17:58:00.004+01:00

Ok, pop-pickers, you can choose whether to hear this in your mind in Alan Freeman’s or Dale Winton's but here’s the quarterly update on the works-in-progress.

So, starting with an item which has fallen right out of the chart:

Rowan Cotton Braid Wrap (which I even forgot to tell you about last time).

Here are the non-movers:

Lacy Waves Top

Boatman Jumper

Brier Cardigan

Green and Lilac Bamboo top

Mohair Shawl with Eyelet Spines

Eva Jumper

And the climbers:

Baby Jumper

Fat Girasole

Here are the new entries:

Fountain Pen Shawl (20%)

Sea Ishbel (40%)

Crochet Lap Blanket (40%)

Here are the ones which have moved up to the top-spot:

Chocolate Strawberry Fondant Socks

Shaped Shoulder Shawl

Crochet Cushion Cover

Shetland Hap Shawl

And straight in at the top spot:

Funfair toe-up socks

Neapolitan MP3 cover

And finally archive number ones:

Fan Neckwarmer

Camo Loom Hat

Happy crafting. x K

Oldest Scot dies 108; the knitting community is the lesser for it

2009-06-30T11:23:00.003+01:00

Here is an interesting "slice of life" story about Elizabeth Cockburn who passed away on Sunday, aged 108.

I enjoyed reading about her life on the croft, and the quote from her grandson,

"She carried on her hobbies and was still knitting away three weeks ago. I couldn't say what the quality of the knitting was like, but she kept it up to the end."

Quite cool having a grand-son who is 53!

Link to the BBC story Oldest Scot dies at 108

God Bless you, Elizabeth. x K

Edit: Since I published this five minutes ago they have changed the story! She is now "one of the oldest people in Scotland" rather than "the oldest".
Guess there must be other 108 year old Scots setting the BEEB right then! x K

Recycling Week

2009-06-29T20:52:00.003+01:00

Recently Cartside tagged me to take part in Recyling Week.

I use real bags for shopping, I already recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, cans and glass and I have two compost bins so my contribution to Recycling Week is to take all the usable bits off greetings cards I have received.

Toppers, greetings, edging, wording, embellishments, they're all being recycled from hoarded cards and you can expect to see little bits and bobs of them on your hand-made birthday cards in the coming months.

This may seem like a "drop in the ocean" response to such a big issue but as I say we already recycle everything we can locally and anyway, I'd rather light a candle than complain about the darkness.

The big environmental issue we have to address in our home is REDUCE re-use recycle and this is the major challenge for us in the long-term.

Aspirations

2009-06-28T09:51:00.006+01:00

I hereby declare that this summer my life is going to be about handicrafts, bouquets and posies, Cath Kidson table cloths and rosy cake stands and water jugs used as vases.

This is escapism at its finest but surely there's no harm in having little pockets of beauty in life? xxxxxxx K

Haven't knat a stitch!

2009-06-24T18:30:00.001+01:00

I have to admit that I haven't knitted a stitch all week!
Have been doing some card crafting and some Facebooking though.
Off to Hobbycrafts now because my "card stock" is all a bit pastel at the mo.
Fancy some rainbow brights, and yes, some black.
Hope you're having a good week. x K

Knitting Freak!

2009-06-20T18:10:00.002+01:00

I've been organising my photos and uploading a few to Facebook today and I've come across this photo of me walking into the "Secret Garden" at Threave Gardens a few times.

Every time I see it I think that the big blue patch of sky with the trees pointing towards vanishing point looks like a big blue triangular shawl sitting on a hedge!!!

I have a picture of my Shetland Triangle from three years ago affixed to show you what I mean. I am such a knitting freak, it's unreal. x K

Latest offering!

2009-06-18T22:41:00.001+01:00

This is a birthday card for J's uncle Peter.
I used some bits from the Father's Day edition of Card Making and added "Birthday Wishes" and "Just for You" from another kit I had in the stash.

Oh, you didn't know I had a card-making stash?
Oh yes, and a quilting stash, and a dress-making stash and THE BIG ONE!

More card-making fun

2009-06-15T21:56:00.007+01:00

Fun for me, not much fun for the recipient.

Unfortunately my mother-in-law fell and broke her hip about a fortnight ago while watering her plants.
She's out of hospital now and making a good recovery but I decided to make her a wee card so she knows we're thinking of her as she gradually gets back on her feet again.

Again the materials were from Making Cards.

All the best for a speedy recovery Pam aka
Bionic Woman! x K

WWKIP Day

2009-06-13T18:00:00.002+01:00

Worldwide Knit in Public weekend is upon us again, and although I couldn't join my Glasgow friends at their knitters' picnic in Kelvingrove Park, I was able to join in from a distance at Designs Castle Douglas.

I did a few rows on the edging of Girasole. Not the most portable of items but my commuting "knitting" at the moment is actually a crochet project (Merry-Go-Round blanket by Mary Jane Protus) so Girasole it had to be.

And I had yummy Salade Nicoise (cedilla on the c) although it's meant to be black olives, not green, you Philistines!
x K

Card-making fun

2009-06-11T18:33:00.003+01:00

Last night I spent a pleasant half-hour making a Father's Day card for J's dad.
It's nothing compared to the work of card-making expert
Patti who crafts the ingredients herself...
I got the bits and pieces from an issue of Making Cards but I still enjoyed it and think it looks quite effective.

Happy Father's Day when it comes, Miles. x K

Summer daze

2009-06-07T22:37:00.000+01:00

Summer daze

2009-06-07T22:30:00.000+01:00

What a beautiful day-out we had at Threave Gardens last Saturday. Scorching weather and beautiful scenes.
I was even in swimming in the Solway Firth! Was lovely and was very tempted to go in again the next day but the hot weather had brought out tons of jellyfish; spawn and fully fledged.
Have been busily knitting and crocheting this week- results soon to follow. x K

Beautiful summer's day, need woolly socks

2009-05-30T11:21:00.007+01:00

What a gorgeous day to be at the seaside exploring rock pools and photographing socks!

Here are my finished toe-up socks made according to Silver's Sock Class using Fyberspates Echo Self-Striping sock yarn in shade Funfair.

Enjoyed making my first toe-ups and will definitely try the technique again, although I know I will have to improve my short-row heel because something weird and not-too-wonderful happened with my "wrap and turns".

They were a very quick knit but I know that's partly because I'd never done it before and was keen to press on to see what each new section would be like.

They seem awfully long in the foot when you look at them, but they are actually a very good fit. I'll be wearing them with the ribbed cuff turned down like in some of these pix.

What a beautiful summer's evening it is now turning out to be. x K

The beginning of the end...

2009-05-25T19:54:00.004+01:00

...or at least the end of the beginning.

After having only knitted one rep of chart E (instead of three), one of F as normal and one of chart G (instead of two), all because of yarn availability, I'm at the edging stage of Fat Girasole. Wow!
I have gleaned some invaluable advice about this from Ravelry. The last line of the chart would have you
Bind off three, knit three, knit one edging stitch together with one live shawl stitch.

Now here's the thing, you know when you cast off (three or whatever) there's a stitch left on your right needle which has just been leapfrogged by a cast-off stitch?
This counts as one of your knit three.
Reread this again if you even decide to embark on a Girasole.

I have decided to time myself doing the edging, just for the science, and for info for my knitalong.
Well, the first ten reps took 52 minutes.
I'm sure subsequent reps will be quicker and by the time I've done all 160 reps I'll be zooming along. Only 150 to go. (I can laugh about this now, see if I'm laughing by the end of the week.

The edging is nice and easy now I now the tip above and it feels **great** to offload some of my 640 stitches from the needle.

Onwards and upwards! ;-) x K

Yum Yum Strawberry Fondant Socks

2009-05-23T20:17:00.007+01:00

Last September I broke my own golden rule, which is to make sure sock two is well underway before finishing sock one.

As such, sock two was just a figment of my imagination for months on end.

Well, it's a reality now, even if I had to just had to try to remember how I had made sock one as I didn't take any notes. No major hassles, just a lot of holding the socks side by side to compare.

In the first sock I used 2.5 needles on the ribbing and 2.25 on the main sock. I decided that second time round I'd go up to 2.75 on the ribbing just to give a little more ease round the ankle because of the corrugated rib pulling in quite a lot. This is based on the cuff of a Sanquhar glove.

I really like them and the only slight disappointment is that one of the main purposes of making them was to use up the pink yarn, which didn't happen! They're made from Opal Uni sock yarn from getknitted.com.

My next plan for the scraps is to learn how to do stashbuster spiral stripes in the style of Janine Hempy.

By the way, you know me, I'm always going back to similar colour combos- do these socks remind you of my fingerless gloves from a couple of years ago?

Funfair, or my first toe-ups

2009-05-16T23:19:00.007+01:00

First of all, thank-you very much for the anniversary wishes; it seems more like five months than five years since we got married, time flies when you're having fun as they say.

My poor niece had to spend her twenty-first birthday preparing for her Uni finals, but she's still standing now they are finished, so that's a start :-)

I've been doing some sock knitting this week. I've been trying my first toe-ups using the remainder of the Fyberspates Echo Self-Striping left over from my wee shawl.
Learning lots of new stuff, figure eight cast on (excellent), short row heels (very ham-fisted and thoroughly inexpert) and I have the Elizabeth Zimmerman sewn bind off ahead of me. I'm following Silver's sock class for one sock on two circs.

I'm enjoying the process and so far the fit is very good. My short row heel looks rubbish but fits well, and I think I'll be able to get a pair of proper socks, not just footies from my 70g.

LOVING my Knit-Pro (Knitpicks) Symphonie needles, can't shut up about them!!

It's fun to see the different way the yarn colours behave in small circles as compared to the long rows on the shawl, pretty cool.

I've also included a picture of the socks sitting on everyone's favourite serape Siesta Blanket Ravelry link to Siesta because I noticed how the beautiful stripes in the sock were echoed in the blanket which I had wrapped over my legs while I was snuggled up on the couch.

Hopefully these socks will be finished by next weekend, along with some other socks I only have to graft the toe of.

All the best x K

Five years ago today...

2009-05-08T18:09:00.004+01:00

Five years ago today I was dressed in ivory and my beautiful niece was dressed in lilac.
I haven't asked for permission so I can't show you a real picture, but
don't let the teddies fool you, she's been taller than me for years!

Happy 21st to the lovely Jane who was our Marriage Witness.

And of course happy anniversary to the lovely Jonathan. x x K

This week I have been mostly wearing.....

2009-05-06T19:44:00.004+01:00

...my "Weaver's Wool Mini Shawl", made from Echo self-striping sock yarn from Fyberspates.

I took Peggy Pignato's pattern, made it not quite so mini (mine is 22" neck to tip instead of 17" in the pattern) added some beads on each row 5 and gave it a picot cast off. Mine was in sock weight, not DK as in the original, so was more of a knitting investment than some versions you can see out there.

You can see the shape of it in the blocking shot, all the wedges are not created equal and you increase at the beginning and end of every right side row, which means your two front sections are a little bigger, sit better and give you more coverage.

Special thanks go to Ravelry member Kermitina for selling me some extra yarn in my hour of need.

It feels like a shawl for Barbie compared to my last garter stitch project (The Hap Shawl) but it's pretty and I like it! x K

Visit to Sanquhar

2009-04-25T12:35:00.007+01:00

Well, I guess it's a thumbs up for the Hap Shawl then?! Thanks very much for all the compliments on the blog, on Ravelry and in person.
I am really thrilled with it and its snuggerific ways.

To round off our Easter holidays last week we drove home via the scenic route and stopped off in
Sanquhar, to visit its Tolbooth Museum with its exhibits on Sanquhar knitting, particularly the Sanquhar glove tradition. There were a few web-pages about the Tolbooth, but I chose that one because it links to a detailed article about the Sanquhar knitting tradtion.
The exhibit was not that big, but it was well worth it because there were plenty of good examples and the curator Rab (I'm lovin' it) was very knowledgeable and keen to assist. He had plenty of other local stories above and beyond the formal information.
In the first picture you see me standing beside some of the explanations and the following gloves left to right:
Pheasant's Eye; Prince of Wales; Plaid; Duke (THE Sanquhar Pattern); Fleur-de-lys; Un-named; Rose; Rose and Trellis; Drum; Drum and Trellis; Cornet and Drum; Glen.
Pic 2: Closer views of some of the single gloves.

Pic 3: A cabinet with some more glove styles, some old samplers of traditional and made-up designs, knitting needles and sheaths, hand-written and typed notes from various past dignitaries who had commisioned or been gifted some Sanquhar gloves, most notably various Dukes of Buccleuch from the nearby Drumlanrig Castle.

Pic 4: The People's Friend Magazine did some features on Sanquhar designs in the fifties, showing how you can make the gloves or incorporate the motifs into other garments. This series renewed interest in Sanquhar patterns.

I bought the patterns for four styles of glove from the little stall. I may not make any of them but I'll enjoy reading them and having them.

Apparently they were originally knitted from "drugget" but are now made in 3-ply wool. Any definitions I've seen for drugget are a 'course woven fabric' or something you put on your gym hall floor to protect the surface during exams???

Gotta love Sanquhar knitting.

The rest of the wee museum is interesting as well x K

Book give-away # 1

2009-04-17T18:46:00.008+01:00

I'm having a clear-out and am about to give these books away to the Oxfam book branch near Glasgow Uni.
I wanted to give you first refusal on them, I know you've been dying to read these books for ages ;-)
This is shelf one.

If you would like any of them free of charge let me know at my email address kedkrafty@hotmail.co.uk (Please note the UK suffix.)
I will take Paypal for postage where appropriate.

I don't imagine there will be a major run on these books (!!) but just in case I'll generally go with the 'first come first served' routine, although being honest if more than one person wants the same book and I see one of you every Tuesday and the other lives in Bangkok.....

Of love and shadows An English translation by Margaret Sayers Peden of
De amor y de sombra Isabel Allende Alden Press; Hardback VGC

The Stories of Eva Luna An English translation by Margaret Sayers Peden of
Las cuentas de Eva Luna Isabel Allende Penguin; Paperback VGC

A Year in Provence Peter Mayle Penguin; Paperback VGC

Torquemada in the Fire An English translation by Nicholas Round of
Torquemada en la hoguera Benito Perez Galdos Glasgow University; Pamphlet GC

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Penguin Popular Classics; Paperback VGC

The Divine Comedy An English translation by Mark Musa of
La divina Commedia Dante Alighieri Penguin Classics; Paperback VGC

Junior Su Doku Wayne Gould The Times; Paperback VGC

Poemes Pierre de Ronsard Blackwell; Paperback VGC

Les mains sales Jean Paul Sartre Folio; Paperback GC

La grande muraille Claude Michelet Editions Robert LaFont; Hardback VGC

Candide Voltaire OUP; Paperback VGC

Atonement Ian McEwan Random House; Paperback GC

Andromaque Racine Classiques Larousse; Paperback GC

Horace Corneille Classiques Larousse; Paperback GC

Cinna Corneille Classiques Larousse; Paperback VGC

Le bourgeois gentilhomme Moliere Classiques Larousse; Paperback VGC

L'avare Moliere Classiques Larousse; Paperback GC

Phedre Racine Classiques Larousse; Paperback GC

L'ecole des femmes Moliere Classiques Larousse; Paperback GC

Le Misanthrope Moliere Classiques Larousse; Paperback GC

Paroles Jacques Prevert Folio Edition; Paperback VGC

Hap-py Easter everyone

2009-04-12T16:23:00.020+01:00

Happy Hap-py Easter to everyone. xxxxxxx K

Firstly, go and check out if you would, what I was doing exactly two years ago to the day

Blogger is playing me up terribly and eats my pix every time I try to re-order them or adjust the spacing so for now I'll have to leave the photos to do the talking, in a somewhat random order at that.

In brief-
Various views of me wearing my experimental Shetland Hap-like shawl made from Shilasdair Luxury DK yarn from the stash.
Unblocked size: Small village.
Location: Cliffs
Mood: Euphoric "I believe I can fly!"
Photographer: Thank-you Birthday Boy.

xxxxx K

The Four Cees

2009-04-04T19:00:00.008+01:00

Circular Crochet Cushion Cover

I'm delighted to have finished this cushion cover which has been my knitting meetup and commuter "knitting" of choice lately.

In February we had a special Crochet night at our stitching group and this is what I chose to start. I knew all along from whenever I bought this Cascade 220 Paints yarn that I wanted to crochet with it because I wanted like colours to cluster together in splodges rather than the general hazy impressionist look I'd get when knitting with the yarn.
I bought this yarn from Eileen at mchattie@happyhills one evening last winter.

I'm happy enough with the way it turned out although I will have to learn that way of looping the yarn round your finger for your crochet start rather than doing a chain of six as I did here. I've been left with a visible tummy button as seen in picture four, but I'm thinking of hiding it with a crocheted button. I'm not taking it all apart again though just to fix on a button!

Now that it's finished it reminds me of those Flying Saucer sherbety sweets you get and it goes nicely with the Blue Monday Patchwork cushion I made a couple of years ago.

I took two attempts at side two because I had miscounted and ended up with a flouncy flary effect which I was trying to convince myself I could live with. In retrospect I am so glad I bit the bullet and frogged because how on earth could I have joined the two sides if one had all these superfluous stitches?

Although the yarn was not the softest to work with, it is absolutely fine for a household item and I must say it softened up a good bit in the wash.

Quarterly Progress

2009-03-31T21:42:00.004+01:00

At the turn of the year I had this notion to keep a better handle on my Works in Progress and to prevent startitis getting out of hand.

It's the 20-40-60-80 Challenge, and I had thought to do it monthly, ha ha, but quarterly seems to be the option on the table at the moment!

The idea is I assess how far along a project is, then use the wee table as motivation to keep my projects afloat. A bit of motivation to stop me feeling bogged down, without taking away all the fun.

And knitting is spose to be fun. Who said that, Mason-Dixon?

So, log for 2009 (although the cast-on dates of some of these projects goes way back when) -

0%
Doomed Girasole. Attempt at Girasole in OMA laceweight- frogged. Good yarn, good pattern, Kathleen is the dodgy element.
(Next time, newly cast-ons can go here too.)

20%
Lacy Waves Top
Boatman Jumper
Brier Cardigan

40%
Baby Jumper
Chocolate Strawberry Fondant Socks
Green and Lilac bamboo top

60%
Mohair Shawl with Eyelet Spines (was Icarus)
Fat Girasole
Shaped Shoulder Shawl

80%
Crochet Cushion Cover 3 rounds, plus assembly to go
Eva Jumper Surface embroidery, plus assembly to go
Shetland Hap Shawl Blue section, Oatmeal Section, Edging to go; edging may be the killer

100%
Fan Neckwarmer
Camo Loom Hat

In theory, when I update this at the end of June, loads of the items will have moved up a category or two. There you are, I've said all my WIPs aloud, now all I have to do is play with them. :-)

All out of green

2009-03-29T17:57:00.004+01:00

I can't ever remember making so many posts about the same project before, but then again, it is a bit of a magnum opus.
Well, the bad news is that I've run out of green at 16 rows. There should've been 20 rows at this stage. I guess these are the perils of stashing and making decisions on the hoof. I wouldn't have it any other way though!
The problem is that yes, I did leave more than half of the green yarn after the first big green section to take into account that the rows get bigger all the time, but I didn't leave *enough*.
No biggie - I have a plan! If anyone comments that the second green stripe looks thinner, I'll imply it's an optical illusion- maybe it looks thinner because it's longer? That should flummox 'em! If it was the difference between eight rows and twenty rows or whatever, I'd sweat it more but the difference between 20 and 16 rows will hopefully not be too offensive to the eye.
Also the tone and saturation of the green and blue are very similar, hopefully the eye won't read a big difference if those two are fuzzing together.
I'm not about to send to Shilasdair for more green and even if I did there would be colour variance because they use natural dyes, many of which are foraged locally. Who's to say 2009's pigment's like 2005's pigment.
One thing I have sent for right enough, is the pink cable you see peeking through in some of the shots. It's the 100cm supplementary needle for the Denise Interchangeable pink set. This baby's going to be about the size of a small village by the time it's blocked.
Don't panic if you think my ends are really scrappy, they're only tucked under out the wind for the time being.
Now, off to knit lots and lots of lovely blue.
Happy crafting. x K

Sunshine in a pot

2009-03-29T12:24:00.001+01:00

Here's a look at the lovely Spring plant arrangement I was given as a present from my in-laws. Instant sunshine and smiles in a pot!
More crafty stuff soon, hopefully even later today. x K

Homecoming 2009

2009-03-21T13:26:00.004Z

Thanks for the kind comments about the Fan Neckwarmer- if anything, it's getting nicer as the yarn gets used to be in the rib pattern and it's lovely and springy if you stretch it a bit.

Anyway, up until very recently all the Scotland Homecoming 2009 venture really meant to me was a cheesy advert on TV with Lulu and Sean Connery etc blue screened onto Scottish scenes, safely tucked away in LA or Marbella or whatever.

Well now it finally means something to me as I have treated myself to some Old Maiden Aunt yarn from the Homecoming range by my friend Tigerlilith.

I wasn't able to get through to her trunk show at K1 yarns Edinburgh so I selected some yummy things from her own online shop.

Suri Alpaca Merino Silk Laceweight in two shades: Fraoch (Heather) and Lon-dubh (Blackbird). I'm delighted with them and I mentally have them used up about a dozen times each for various lace shawls which are circling round my mind.

Aren't they luscious?!

The Lon-dubh looks largely grey in that sunny picture, but there's much more subtlety in the shade if you hold it in your hand. Grey>Black>Blue-black with a lovely sheen like the bird's feathers.

Acquiring these lovely wools was one of the reasons why I didn't go to the SECC show this year. x K

Very factual post

2009-03-15T14:43:00.003Z

Here's the Fan Neckwarmer by Tania Marshall I made for one of my sisters. I bought the pattern for $5 from the Bonita Knitting Store.
It's a lovely pattern and an easy way to add a bit of colour to a plain coat, and being warm and smart at the same time.
I used nearly two hanks of Mirasol Hacho shade 302, Peacock Purple, bought from John Lewis in Glasgow last autumn.
The knitting is finished but the ends aren't sewn in yet, just tucked under, and it's not washed and blocked yet.
My sister's birthday was at the end of January so I've been wondering if I should just give it to her for her Easter? x K

Slow and steady

2009-03-01T12:09:00.009Z

Firstly, thank-you for all your kind birthday greetings.

I had a lovely birthday overall and it was nice and restful compared to the work days before and after, so an oasis in the middle of two hectic weeks.

I received some beautiful cards and nice gifts and they are still trickling in, so maybe in a few days I can show you the crafty related ones.

So, slow and steady?

Yes, the Hap Shawl.

It's going to be beautiful and I'm going to love it, (repeat ad lib) but I'm getting into the hard work stage. The stage where every 450+ st row takes 5g of yarn and ages to finish. Weighing the oatmeal coloured yarn frequently in the hope that the Skye fairy has flown down and added a few grammes so I'll have enough for the edging, but it hasn't happened yet.

I never have been and I never will be a monogamous knitter, but even I know I have too much on the needles at the moment and thanks to our Crochet Special at Glasgow Knit and Stitch this Tuesday, on the hooks as well. I'm spreading myself too thinly and not really seeing massive progress on anything. I think I'll try and buckle down to the Hap Shawl this week and make discernable progress. (Even as I'm typing this Girasole is calling my name!!!)

Here are some progress shots of the soft, lovely and quite likely massive, Hap-like shawl. x K

38, just like my 2nd-favourite bus*

2009-02-21T17:39:00.003Z

Today I turn 38.
This is very weird to me because I think back to what people I know were doing when they were 38 and it all seemed very grown-up compared to how I feel now.
Appearances can be deceptive, and that can work both ways!

I've spent some of my birthday continuing to work on Fat Girasole. It's nice and I'm on to chart D now, and there are strong diagonal lines to help me keep track of where I am and where I should be. I've finished the leaf motifs and that's quite a satisfying feeling.

So here I am answering a meme passed onto me by my pal Dolly Dimple.
I've to tell you six quirky but boring things about me.

Here are the rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Mention the rules.
Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.
Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that let's them know they've been tagged.

So what six quirky but boring things can I think of:

1. I am not shy at all and would happily speak, read, sing etc in front of a large room of people, but I get all awkward when speaking to "official" people. This can be as simple as the gas company or the bank or whatever.

2. I have developed a fascination for cake stands and am intending to buy one with some of my M & S vouchers from DH. Tea Rose Cake Server

3. I can't stand domestic pets of any kind, but I check out the LOLcats several times a day. Yes really!

4. I love wind-up crayons (No, not like clockwork, like propelling pencils, only crayons)
and J regularly treats me to a few packets to use with the pupils. Wind up Crans

5. I am a keen composter and have both the Con 220 and the Komp 250. I recently discovered that although I pronounce "compost" to rhyme with "lost", my friends over the ocean pronounce it to rhyme with "post".

6. Last week J and I found an abandoned Andrex puppy toy out in the back court and we washed him, loved him, squeezed him and called him George. Here is This season's Andrex puppy

I'm not going to pass this on to six bloggers cause it's not my style, but if you'd like to give six quirky but unspectacular things about yourself, then consider yourself tagged. x K

*My favourite bus is the 255 but even with medical advances I don't think I'll live that long.

There is nothing like a lace shawl...

2009-02-16T22:40:00.002Z

...and this nothing like a lace shawl, boom boom.

It's amazing how six extra plies of yarn can turn a frustratingly difficult but potentially gorgeous cobweb into a one million times easier but potentially nice throw.

Yes, I'm trying Girasole again, this time in RYC Baby Alpaca in colour Chiffon. (Santa gift from John Lewis January sale.)

I made more progress on this last night than I did in the previous week on the 2 ply blue version. It's nice enough, but it's most definitely a cosy lap blanket style now rather than an heirloom quality delicate lace shawl. This is ok, because not only am I now motoring ahead on the thick version, I'm also far more determined to make the lace version work, now I know where the bits go.

I know this is only DK weight, but compared to the other it feels like Super Bulky. I'm now onto chart C and have finished up my first ball, which is another reason why I'd like to do the laceweight one, with 1800 or something yards per skein!

Anyway, here is FAT GIRASOLE in progress. x K

Arrivederci Girasole

2009-02-14T19:49:00.002Z

Major headaches with the beautiful Brooklyn Tweed pattern Girasole. His version is in 4 ply or Aran. My nightmares began when I tried to do it in laceweight. Not having any success in spite of dozens of attempts, rip backs, fudges and wasted yarn. Yarn good, pattern good. I can't get the combo to work though. Will revisit both yarn and pattern later, just not together. x K

Halfway to Paradise

2009-02-08T21:45:00.006Z

Half-way through the stripe sequence on my Hap-like shawl.
I now repeat these stripes in mirror image all the while getting increasingly concerned about whether or not I'll have enough of the Oatmeal yarn for the sideways edging.
It's a strangely short leap from ecstasy to despair.
In the meantime I am still loving this beautiful variation on the Shetland Hap shawl and thinking it's going to be one of the loveliest, snuggliest things I've ever knitted.

ETA: I'm now up to 401 sts per row. x K

Happy with progress on the shawl

2009-01-18T19:02:00.006Z

Here are some shots of a week's almost monogamous progress on my Hap-inspired shawl.

They come complete with marking threads and loose strands and everything.

I'm really enjoying making this and am pleased with the lovely fabric and stitch definition I'm getting from this beautiful simple yarn.

I've noticed that lots of the Hap shawls I've seen have a bright or dark section of colour scallops then in the middle there's a neutral or light section and then the bright or dark section repeats in mirror-image. I'm on the first bright section as you can see. The blue and green are very close in tone, but I'm loving the effect.

I'm well over half-way in terms of finished size, but I'm only at about 30/35% completion of the actual knitting as each row gets bigger and then there's a sideways border.

Sorry to show you it against such a "busy" carpet, but there was no way on earth I could have gone out into the daylight to take the photos. I'd have been chasing my shawl-to-be over the Solway Firth!

Recently I've been making plenty of things from self-striping and space-dyed yarns, so the contrast of this simple yarn with such a lovely handle is a really pleasant change.

More progress shots next week?
Happy knitting, x K

Feeling "Happy"

2009-01-11T19:10:00.004Z

I feel Hap-py, that is I feel in the mood to make something a little bit like a Hap shawl.
A Hap shawl with a twist, if you will.

Here's a link to see what a Hap shawl **should** look like.
Shetland Hap Shawls Then and Now
Quite interesting and I love their blocking frames.

Mine won't look like those because I only have so much yarn and I will not be doing the big square centre. I'll be doing a triangular main section, which hopefully won't look a million miles away from the proper patterns because the big squares are usually folded in two on the diagonal for wear.

I'm making mine in the Cashmere, Angora and Lambswool plant-dyed yarn I got from Shilasdair in 2005 during some island adventures. It has been living in the spare room waiting for a worthy project to be involved in. It feels absolutely marvelous, and I'm hoping it has the potential to become a lovely somewhat Hap-shawl. The clincher is that I have twice as much of the neutral oatmeal shade as any other colour, so it can be the main triangular section. It knits like a dream but two observations: it smells like plants and when you stand up you look as if you have been snuggling a giant bunny.

Here's a photo from a previous, less hi-res digital camera. x K

Thank-you Santa!!!

2009-01-08T19:52:00.000Z

Thank-you Santa, I have spent wisely the John Lewis vouchers you left me!

Thank-you also Flavaknits Santa who gave me some lovely sock wool, just my colours, at our Glasgow Knit n Stitch party in December.

Photos can be clicked on for details and close-ups.

Bring on a fab year of knitting in 2009!

End-of-year Round-up 2008

2008-12-31T16:49:00.007Z

So we find ourselves on the last day of 2008. Say it aloud, it's hard to believe.
Anyway, here is the traditional round-up of projects for 2008.
Colours are for fun and all are knitted unless stated.

Scarves
Manly Ribbed Scarf in Twilley's Freedom Spirit and Sirdar Peru, improvised, for Jonathan.
The Duke's Scarf in Rowan Felted Tweed, my interpretation of the Sanquhar Duke's pattern, for twelfthknit.
Touch of Tainted in Rowan Colourscape Chunky, based on Tainted by Sarah Hatton at Rowan, for Fiona.
Pink Ice in Hand-dyed alpaca, Ice Queen by Rosemary Hill, Knitty Winter 2007, for me.

Waistcoat singular
Stony Waistcoat in Jonelle Knitting Cotton DK, Lisa Richardson Rowan 43, for me.

Cardigan singular
Shades of Blue cardigan in Twilley's Freedom Spirit, Sirdar Jacket 8750, for me.

Headscarves
Adamas headscarf in Patons Cotton 4ply, Adamas shawl by Miriam Felton, for me.
Nautical headscarf in Patons Cotton 4ply, improvised, for me.
Crochet increasing headscarf in Adriafil Swing, improvised, for me.

Socks
Lacy Ankle Plain Foot socks in Opal Uni, Simply Lovely Lace Socks by Karen Baumer, for me.
Dark Galaxies in Regia Galaxy Color, Simple Sock Pattern by Sue Morgan, for Jonathan.
Candy Socks in Regia Bamboo, Dublin Bay Sock by Ryan Morissey, for me.
Pink Boot Socks in Regia Crazy Color 6ply, Prism by Jaya Srikrishnan, for me.
Navy Galaxies in Regia Galaxy Color, Simple Sock Pattern by Sue Morgan, for Jonathan.

Hats
Purple Gretel in Rowan Pure Wool Aran, Gretel by Ysolda Teague, for Deborah.
Tetris in Noro Kureyon, Tychus by Brooke T. Higgins in Knitty Summer 2005, for me.
Green Tychus in RYC Extra Fine Merino DK, Tychus by Brooke T. Higgins in Knitty Summer 2005, first up best dressed.
Snug Tychus in Noro Kureyon, Tychus by Brooke T. Higgins in Knitty Summer 2005, for Roddy.
Heathery in Noro Kureyon, Tychus by Brooke T. Higgins in Knitty Summer 2005, for Jonathan.

So, where are the beautiful jumpers and lacy shawls?
Where's all the colourwork supposed to take place in 2008?
We're hitting on the resolutions for 2009 methinks.

My own favourite finished item of 2008 was this, which took months to make, involved a learning curve and a lot of planning, and was for a dear friend.
Ravelry link

My most admired project has been this, which took one evening, was as easy as pie, and was for me. Ravelry link
Don't get me wrong, the Duke's scarf was admired, but this one really grew wings and took off.
It's so funny the way things work out, isn't it?

Enjoy your Hogmanay and here's to another great year of knitting in 2009.
Thank-you very much for visiting KEDkrafty this year. All the best, Kathleen xxxxx

Knitting Festival

2008-12-29T23:38:00.001Z

see more puppies

Groovy man

2008-12-28T13:08:00.003Z

A couple of months ago I took these screen shots of word clouds of KEDkrafty created on Wordle .

Now seems as good a time as any to show them as the year draws to a close.

Ok, must dash, suddenly have the urge to see what an up-to-date version of the word cloud would look like.

Keep enjoying the festives. x K

Happy Christmas

2008-12-24T12:41:00.003Z

Happy Christmas everyone!

Very best wishes to you and yours.

Kathleen x

Some looks for Winter 2008-2009

2008-12-22T16:20:00.016Z

First catch your sea-front.

In this case we have chosen Blackpool, you may prefer a sea-front closer to home.

Next model your Ice Queen from Knitty Winter 2007 made in Alpaca hand-dyed by a friend. (Alice or Clarkette, whichever you prefer.)

This is my "walk along the promenade" look.

"Going to visit Father-in-law".

"Shetland Wifie"

"Out to sea"

"Cozy toasty"

"Hair out of your face"

Festive Treats

2008-12-20T18:04:00.008Z

A couple of Fridays ago I went to the Grand Opening of my knitting buddy Lilith's new dyeing and spinning studio.
Linky

I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of the Yule Night in the town of West Kilbride and I came away with some beautiful treats.

I don't have the yarn in front of me so I can't read the labels so I'll have to provide the information as per Ravelry.

Old Maiden Aunt

Hand-painted

Superfine Alpaca Silk DK

Colourway Espresso

280 yds

Old Maiden Aunt

Hand-painted

Superwash Merino 4 ply

Colourway Wisteria

400yds

Old Maiden Aunt Laceweight Merino 2 ply

Hand-painted

Colourway Black Coffee

1600 yds

If you fancy some Old Maiden Aunt yarns for yourself, you'll find a selection here

I also managed to score some Cascade 220 Paints from Eileen at http://www.happyhills.co.uk/

So, here you have my pre-Christmas crackers. x K

Warm neck, warm ears

2008-12-13T20:39:00.005Z

I don't like things up tight around my neck. For example if you put me in a polo neck I'd be clutching at the fabric and panting like a rabid dog and making generally distressed noises within seconds.

Almost every top I wear has a V neck and at work I am usually seen in one of my thirteen 3/4 length sleeved V neck knitted jumpers from Evans. All different colours, but some more different than others.

But then again I don't like being cold on my early morning walks to the bus stop and I like to give my throat a wee bit of protection otherwise no speaking (I speak all day at work) or singing (if I refrain from singing for more than five mins, check for a pulse).

So, here's my pull-on pull-off cowl, made to Rosemary Hill's Ice Queen pattern in Knitty Winter 2007.

Nan of Stitching Time first recommended this pattern to me last year. Rowan Kidsilk Haze is the yarn called for, but I scored some lovely hand dyed Alpace from my knitting buddy Alice in a recent swap shop, and thought it would fit the bill. It's a lovely semi-solid yarn which was a delight to work with but a total nightmare to ball up. That all seems like ancient history now as I admire the finished object. I used some Jaeger beads left over from Swallowtail.

There are dozens of fudges in this, it seems that every time I took a photo I saw a new imperfection but it really is no big deal to me at all.

I would like to show you how it's a lovely cozy collar which reaches down into the top of your coat and makes your shoulders snug, while remaining nice and loose and comfy at the neck. Or pulled up over your head to keep the wind out of your ears. But outwith working hours there is just so little daylight at the moment. And this coming from someone who can finish at 3:30 some days. Hopefully I can show you some action shots in the near future.

In the meantime, thank-you Alice or Clarkette to give her her Ravelry name, for such lovely yarn. x K