Pop

I'm not sure why but this is a project that has languished about for quite some time. Looking at the project page on Ravelry, I started this all the way back in July! The pattern is Pop Spots by Juju Vail.

I whizzed through the spot part quite quickly and really enjoyed it, but the knitted on edge put me off a bit. I think it was because it's such a large shawl.

It's quite a combination of yarn. The background is a strand of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace and the spot yarn is local indie dyed yarn by Chroma Yarns - Chroma Merino Silk Blend. The border is two strands of the Rialto Lace.

It's really quite a snuggly shawl, mixing the Kidsilk Haze with the Rialto Lace makes a lovely fabric.

Where There's Muck There's Brass

I've recently finished two pairs of socks.

The first was intended as a Christmas present for Mr but it's very hard to try and knit a pair of size 11 socks in secret and on a deadline, so it was after Christmas that they were finished.

His favourite colours are black and burnt orange together. So when I saw the yarn on The Knitting Goddess stand at Yarndale, it just had to be bought. The colour name is just great too, "Where There's Muck There's Brass".

The pattern is Paper Moon by AnneLena Mattison.  My ravelry project page. The pattern didn't go up large enough, so I had to alter it. The largest size went up to 70 sts, mine were 77 sts; I added the extra stitches within the garter stitch bands.

I worked them two at a time on circulars from the toe up. I'm a toe down kind of girl but I tried them for a change. Though I did manage to use up every yard of yarn this way, which definitely gets a tick in the pro column.

They look all wrinkled on the sock blockers, but they fit fine on Mr's feet.

The other pair of socks was for me. The pattern is Budleigh by Rachel Coopey. A beautiful pattern and I modified it to try and fit me better but I'm not hugely happy with the modifications.

The yarn is a pretty hand dyed sock yarn from Ring a Rosie at Whitley Bay (bought on holiday last year). The name for this is nice too, "Paddleboat on the Thames".

I cast on for the medium size and went down to the small size for the foot but I had to use the large heel to keep the sock in pattern. Perhaps there was a better way. It did fit well after I'd finished and I ended up re-doing the toes and taking an inch or so off the length. They fit a lot better now but they do look a bit stunt. At least I learnt how not to do something! I'm not sure the yarn is robust enough to wear with shoes all day long so they may be special occasion socks. Plus they're pretty and sparkly so they probably should be for parties anyway!

Archer's Paradox

I can finally show you my finished Follow Your Arrow shawl - pattern by Ysolda. For those that haven't taken part, it's a mystery knitalong. There has been a clue released each week for 5 weeks. Each clue has two choices. I've particularly enjoyed having a choice because there was bound to be a clue that I like more.

My Ravelry Project page.

I love garter stitch, so whenever that was part of the clue, I tended to choose that one.

My final choices were ABBAB. I used two different Eden Cottage Yarns for the shawl, which I bought from Woolfest, see this post.

I've really enjoyed this knitalong and think the finished design is lovely. 

Zuzu and Narwhal

Back to the knitting...

The photo of this has sat on my computer for awhile, been a bit too busy to blog recently.

 The pattern is Zuzu's Petals by Carina Spencer, which I made with some of my handspun, blogged originally here. Handspun Zuzu project page.

The yarn is faux cashmere, 18 w.p.i, 268m/100g. So from fibre...

to yarn...

To Zuzu's Petals.

It's a lovely idea, a small shawlette shape but worked as a cowl so it's not going to fall off. Another plus, is it doesn't take a lot of yarn.

I have a few projects on the go at the moment. I've been wanting some very warm mittens for awhile now. I thought some Fair Isle ones with a lining would do the job. Another handspun yarn project, I blogged about the yarn on the same post as the faux cashmere.

The pattern is Narwhal Mittens by Ysolda Teague. Handspun Narwhals project page.

I've completed one full mitten and the outer mitten for the other. They are sitting unknitted at the moment because other projects are taking priority; though if they sit much longer, then they will miss the winter entirely!

I made plastic templates to go inside the mitten and the thumb for blocking. I'm glad I did as it made the lining fit snuggly inside. I just have to find the time now to finish the other.

I have a Follow Your Arrow shawl by Ysolda Teague on the needles at the moment too. The final clue arrived this morning, so once it's finished I can show you that too.

Loop

On my birthday trip to London, last week. I did manage to squeeze in a visit to the Loop, Islington.

I had lots of plans but managed to narrow it down to a reasonable amount.

I received Fair Isle Style, edited by Mary Jane Mucklestone from Mr for Christmas. There's lots of patterns in there that I'd like to make. 

The first one is Kulli Cowl by Ysolda Teague. I'm not normally one to go with the exact yarn that the pattern calls for but since I was going to Loop and they stock the yarn. They ended up at the till with me. Though different colours to the original.

Incidentally, I seem to have ordered the yarn from Jamieson's of Shetland to knit the Babsie Bird from the book too. I really liked the colours.

I bought a skein of Wollemeise Pure 100% in Silberdistel. An unusual colour - a cross between a pine colour and a deep teal. The plan is to make an Imagine When shawl by Joji Locatelli.

I got Juju's Loops book too. The patterns are gorgeous but what really enticed me was how beautifully published the book was (on top of the pile).

So all this adds to the stash issue (the other 3 skeins were gifts mentioned last week). Hopefully they won't stay there very long!

January

That was a long holiday break. My birthday falls near Christmas too and it was a special one this year, so we've been away for a bit.

I did get some lovely knitting-related presents this year.

Some special skeins of yarn from my lovely mum - waves"Hi Mum"

Two skeins of Quince and Co Chickadee

A skein of Brooklyn Tweed Loft in the beautifully named "Button Jar" shade.

And a few knitting books.

My birthday weekend was a trip to London, which was just fabulous. One of the places we visited was the Natural History Museum (I've been plenty of times but Mr has never been). Not only are the exhibits fantastic but this time around I really appreciated how gorgeous the building is. The little details are just incredible. Here's just a little sample of photos.

Ceiling of the Central Hall (Natural History Museum)

Carved columns (Natural History Museum)

Central Hall (Natural History Museum)

Stained Glass Windows (Natural History Museum)

Huge decorative lights (Victoria and Albert Museum)

Some of the Christmas Lights were still up (Leicester Square)

It was a great weekend.

Handmade Christmas: Fabric Decorations

Last year, I showed you all the Christmas Tree decorations. This year, it's the turn of the fabric decorations. There is quite a bit of Christmas bunting around the house but found it difficult to get a good photograph, so you'll have to imagine how pretty it looks!

I did make some shelf bunting for the mantlepiece in the lounge. 

The tree is in a different position this year, which gives us a bit more room but big downside is I can't easily get to the knitting books in the case behind it!

I made a Christmas quilt that comes out a lot earlier than the rest of the decorations (at the start of Advent). It was hand pieced from lots of Christmas fabric scraps and machine quilted with a radiating star.

The most recent addition to the tree is a wee cheesy Christmas jumper - decorated with beads, sparkly thread and embroidery. The mini coat hanger was a struggle to make but it had to be done.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Photo / Diagram Tutorial: Double Estonian Cast On

A while ago, I made a photo tutorial for the Estonian Cast On. The Double Estonian Cast On is a simple variation of this. The edge is thicker and more decorative. It is ideal for 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 ribbing, as it wraps the base of the ribbing columns. It is firm, but stretchy - this makes it a great cast on for socks.

My Little Duck socks that I blogged about last week used the Double Estonian Cast On.

The actual cast on is the same for both the single and double Estonian Cast on. It's just the starting bit that's a little different.

1. As for any long tail cast on, measure out a long tail. I tend to use 1 inch per stitch for thicker yarn and 1/2 inch per stitch for DK weight and thinner; plus another 6 inches for luck! 
   
   
   
2. Instead of making a slip knot, fold the yarn again to the same length that you've measured. You should have 3 lengths folded instead of 2 for a long tailed cast on. Leave a bit extra at the tail end for sewing in the end.

3. Make a slip knot about 6 inches in from the tail, using two strands. This will leave two loops on your needle.
   
4. It should look something like this before you put it on the needle.
   
5. And look like this when it's on the needle.
   
   
   
   And real life photo to show you what it should look like.
   
   
   
   
   
6. The double stranded part should be at the front of the needle and goes around your thumb and the strand attached to the ball goes around your forefinger.
   
   
7. The double stranded slip knot counts as 1 stitch only
   
   
   
I'll repeat the original tutorial now. Though it will be slightly different because to make the wraps sit at the base of 2 x 2 columns, the first stitch needs to be done with the yarn wrapped clockwise first. The original tutorial was based on a 1 x 1 where it doesn't matter which way you go first ( so apologies for the photos having an extra stitch on them ).
 
1. Place your hand into the sling shot position (like a long tailed cast on) but wrap the thumb yarn clockwise around your thumb.







2. Insert your needle into the loop on your thumb from top to bottom







3. Reach across over the top of the strand on your forefinger.







4. Scoop this loop back through the loop on the thumb.





5. Drop loop from the thumb and tighten stitch onto needle (again, not too tight). There should be a bar across the base of the cast on and the stitch just made.


6. Place your fingers between the strands and tilt your hand back into a catapult position. This creates a cross on the thumb strand (the yarn goes anti-clockwise around your thumb).



7. Insert your needle into the loop around your thumb from below.





8. Reach across over the top of the strand on your forefinger.





9. Scoop this loop back through the loop on the thumb.





10. Drop the thumb strand and tighten the stitch onto the needle (not too tight though). You may recognise the previous steps, as it's the same as a regular long-tailed cast on.


Repeat steps 1-10 until you have your required number of stitches. Remember, the two loops for the slip knot count as 1 stitch.


For a sock, make sure you have the wraps on the right side of the work. This means that if you normally join in the round by swapping the first and last stitches, then the work will be facing the wrong way.