Beautiful prize

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

A Photo Essay about a Lovely Large Ishbel

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

Three steps forward, two steps back.

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

Hats Galore!

Hi, how have you been?

I've been fine and having fun knitting some hats.

First finished was Gretel by Ysolda Teague made from Rowan Pure Wool Aran.

This was a fairly challenging knit for me because I'm not an experienced cable knitter, but the
pattern was lovely and clear and held my hand every step of the way. It was good value for money at £3 for the download. I put in lifelines at strategic points because this one is being sent off to Santa and I knew I couldn't afford the time for a complete Frog Fest. If I were making this for myself I would go for the Slouchy rather than the Regular size but my friend does not have a large dome like me and wears her hair short.

The next one started as a swatch and was zooming up so quickly and beautifully it just turned into a hat. It is a variation on Tychus, a design by Brooke T. Higgins and published for free in Knitty Summer 2005. It's made from two ends of the same ball of Noro Kureyon. I had read on Ravelry that those with smaller heads may prefer to only do four wedges of short row shaping as opposed to the recommended five. I was fine with five because I do have a fairly big head, plus I had gone down in needle size to suit the Noro. Most of the pictures on Knitty show it with a brim rolled back- I'm not into that, but if you are, then be ever so neat when sewing up and weaving in your yarn ends. If I were to make it again, I'd cast on fewer stitches to take into account the lack of roll-back on the brim.

There are several more views of this on my my Ravelry page for this item

Last one is another Tychus, but this time made in RYC Extra Fine Merino. What a beautiful yarn! It flows through the fingers like liquid. This one was supposed to be a gift but by the time I goofed about with the pattern and added a wee stalk to the top it looked a bit too acornish for a man. I'll happily wear it parading the streets of Dumfries and Galloway, but it is a bit elfish, there's no getting away from it. (Just four wedges this time, but the short-rowed garter stitch is wonderfully stretchy.)

I should probably mention that I did a provisional cast on to start both hats with the intention of learning how to graft garter stitch. I must admit that this did not happen, I just did a three needle bind-off at the end and was very pleased with the results.

I've had loads of orders for these hats from friends and family. Some in jest, some in earnest. Be careful what you wish for!!! x K