Brrr - keeping my hands warm!

It's been positively Arctic here in the UK over the last few days! Needless to say, that has meant staying in the warm at every opportunity and catching up on boxed sets of DVDs and series on Netflix!

To accompany the constant supply of hot tea and visual stimulation I've been trying to keep my hands warm with a steady stream of yarn-action!

After the let-down of the knitting show daughter and I persuaded the OH to drive us over to Coventry (not for the faint-hearted - the ringroad is a nightmare and something I'd avoid at all cost!) last week to visit one of our local yarnshops. We propped him up in the IKEA coffee shop with a latte and a newspaper, whilst we headed across the road in search of soft and fluffy goodness (aka - yarn!)

I purchased some cheap and cheerful acrylic/wool mix yarn in shades of blue to make into yet another blanket. I really can't afford expensive yarn, so acrylic does the job - at least for large things like blankets.

So, back home, out came the hook and I was off crocheting a new 'ripple' blanket:

Unfortunately, some of the ball-bands didn't indicate yardage and I will need to go back for more! (a fair 'excuse' for a wee trawl around the shop for other items, I think!)

Although I love to 'ripple', I must confess that sometimes if I'm following an intricate plot on TV I find it hard to concentrate on both things, so I resorted to using up more of my small scraps of yarn in a mitred-square project:

I call it 'Mitred Madness'!

Given the cold weather and the distinct possibility of our boiler giving up the ghost before we get the new one fitted, I really don't care what it looks like, as long as it will hopefully keep my lap warm!

As for the idea of combining 'Bargello' pattern with crochet (see previous post) - well, I'm still working on it, but I came across a pattern I picked up when I was in Michael's in New Hampshire a couple of years ago:

I think this could be interesting!

(and I quite like those colours, too!)

Meanwhile, back to the project(s) in hand - but to knit or to crochet..........

(I wonder if it's possible to do 'mitred ripples' ?)

After the show....

Well, I was REALLY excited about going to the Knitting & Sewing Show at Olympia Exhibition Centre, London - to the extent that I'd cleared the decks (see previous post) and got all my WIPs finished in anticipation of purchasing new goodies/projects to start!


Hmmmmmm......

Sad to say, I really was not that impressed with the show - it was no better than the Hobbycraft ones at Birmingham's NEC. I'd expected more of the big 'names' like Debbie Bliss and Louisa Harding to be represented but there was no sign of them and there weren't really many independent spinners/dyers at all. Considering the event was named the 'Knitting & Sewing Show' I'd have expected more. There was a fair amount of sewing items (mainly quilting) which was nice to see but I was more interested in yarn.

And WHY was there a stand selling very expensive chocolate????

In all honesty, I'll not bother to go again - the NEC shows are much cheaper and easier for me to get to, although in the past they've not had a great quantity of yarn purveyors. Then again, it's a while since I last went and it may have changed with the resurgence of yarncrafts.  Still, I've 'been and seen' so I know I'm not missing much.

I DID purchase some yarn though:

400g of James 'Woodlander' DK by James C Brett. 

The colour doesn't come over well from the photo on my phone - in this particular colourway, think 'wolf'! I've no idea what I'll make from it, but I was pleased to actually see the yarn, having noticed it on Brett's website - there are some gorgeous colour combinations .  I plan to knit a swatch this evening to see how the colour graduation works - more later.

~oOo~

In the meantime I'm getting quite excited about a possible new crochet project! I really enjoyed doing my 'ripple' blanket and I plan to do others in particular colourways, rather than the random selection.

I'm currently trying to create a way of representing Bargello/Florentine needlework stitch in a crochet medium. I've done canvas chair covers and jackets in 'flame' stitch before, similar to this pattern:

So, now I'm experimenting with 'peaks and valleys' rather than the gentle curves of 'rippling'.

The first attempt went wrong:

- but even this happy 'accident' has possibilities, I think!

(hmmm....Christmas stars.....?!)

Anyway, once more to the 'drawing board' and I think we're getting a bit nearer:

I'll be working on this over the next few days and share progress here. later!

Now, come here, you gorgeous ball of Woodlander.........where are my needles...!

~oOo~

PS. Just HAD to share this for any of you who haven't come across it!

( http://youtu.be/M6ZjMWLqJvM )

My 20-something son was laughing at it, too - "Good job you don't have long hair, Mum!"

Clearing the decks!

I've had rather a good run at finishing things off lately!

The 'ripple' blanket is done - and so snuggly and warm:

It was so easy, once I got the first line in straight and unpuckered!(see previous post) I'm keen to do more, maybe using several shades of one colour - the creative juices are still planning that one....

Whilst foraging for something (circular needles, actually!) I came across an unfinished pair of socks I must have started over a year ago and abandoned in favour of something more interesting. Still, out they came and I cast on for the second sock  - got halfway to the heel before I realised I'd made it in the wrong size, so I had to rip it out again :-/ Thankfully, using self-striping yarn I'd been able to see the bands of colour were narrower than on the original, because I'd used more stitches per round.

Back on the straight and narrow, and keeping those stripes equal:

...and here they are, finished!

Next - the lace shawl I started months ago and conveniently put 'to one side'! A concerted effort (sequestering myself away in the conservatory for peace and quiet so I could concentrate on the pattern!) meant I finally got to the end of the lace border a week ago:

Then it was a case of picking up stitches along the edge (+280!!) and knitting the main body of the shawl:

I cannot tell a lie - this was an absolute PAIN! The number of times I had to unpick rows and go back because the remaindered stitches didn't tally with the pattern....even now I'm sure there are mistakes but I just wanted the darned thing to progress!

Still, I managed to get to the end of the lace pattern and heaved a sigh of relief as I reached the inner band of plain garter stitch (especially as I was catching up with 'PrisonBreak' on Netflix and wanted something simple to knit! ;-p)  Not much more to go now, I should get this done over the weekend:

Mind you, it will take some blocking - it looks much different from the original pattern !

So, all I have left is an ongoing project using up remnants of sock wool - my 'scrap'scarf:

It periodically comes out for an airing when I've nothing better to do.

So, the decks are cleared just in time to be ready for new things - I'm heading off to the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia next week and it will be nice to know that anything I buy can be started straight away, without embarrassingly having to lay other projects aside! (and I'll post about the show later!)

Ripple redux!

Ok - the ripple blanket has been a great way to use up oddments of my stash and it's great fun seeing what colour-matches emerge (I was picking yarn randomly from a bag).

But - I was never completely happy with the cast-on (is that the correct term for crochet?) edge. It originally took me a few attempts until I had something I thought was OK but it somehow still wasn't right. I plugged on relentless, convinced I could block the edging into submission later; it looks OK (above) doesn't it?

However, the way it didn't lie flat mocked me with each new stripe of colour:

I decided I could perhaps correct the proper zigzag edge by picking up the stitches and working downwards:

Hmmm - a valiant effort but  ....................................................... no!

So, I started with a new length of yarn, making my tension incredibly (for me) loose and guess what:

Ah - that's more like it!

Now I plan to unravel each row from the original and use it on the new piece. Happy days ahead, rippling away :-)

Taddah!!! Blanket finished!

At last, here it is in all its glory!

This afternoon I completed the final mitred square on my blanket and heaved a great sigh of relief! It was a truly epic undertaking, but I think I may have created a family heirloom, to hopefully be handed down the generations!

 I started the project last September and I've interrupted its progress with other items, so I couldn't really say exactly how long it took to create. The hardest part was estimating the dimensions. Having worked out the size of an individual block I planned it out on paper.

Then it was a matter of knitting each block, starting at the bottom right and working left along each row, picking up the required stitches as I went. Mitred squares really are such an easy thing to knit - once you have all your stitches on the needle it's simply a matter of decreasing two stitches in the middle of every other row! (and a very nice project to have in your lap as you watch TV as it's all done in Garter/Knit stitch!)

The multicoloured yarn is Sirdar's Crofter DK in 'Houndstooth'. I'd used it to knit a cardigan but the style never looked right on me, so unravelled it and re-used the yarn.

The cream yarn was just basic (read: cheap!) acrylic DK - picked up in a local hardware store, as and when I needed it.

Of course, I had to buy more of the Crofter (twice!) as the project grew. About halfway through, I decided I really ought to do the maths and work out how many squares per ball of wool, so that I would know how much to purchase in my final order!

So, for completeness' sake - here are some facts:

Number of squares in total: 462
Number of balls of Sirdar Crofter: 22
Number of balls of Cream DK: 9
Approximate time to complete one square: 15 minutes (which equates to 115.5 hours in total - or thereabouts!)

Of course, I still have to go back and sew in some of the ends, but I mostly managed to weave them in as I went along, so it will just be a question of snipping off the loose ends. I was toying with adding a double-crochet edging all the way around - still not decided on that. It's so light and snuggly-soft, for all its size!

In the meantime I wanted to share the finished item with you, as I've been referring to it off and on here for quite some months! (and I have to say, I'm really rather proud of it!)

It may be the 'awards' season.....

It may be 'awards' season, but never mind the Oscars or the BAFTA's - thanks to Hilary at Threaded Life  I've been given the....

In accordance with the award 'rules' I must:

Post 11 random things about myself 

Answer 11 questions set by my nominator (in this case, Hilary)

Create 11 further questions for 11 other recipents

Choose 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers and add links.

I've come across this Liebster Award on one of my other blogs and I'm not sure I can fulfill all the requirements, so this might just be a 'potted' version - just SIX of each category!

OK - random things about me:

1. I've twice had my job taken over by 'technology' - I was once a switchboard operator (the old plug-in style boards) but when the UK went over to self-dialled calls operators were surplus to requirements; the 2nd occasion was more recent - I was a library assistant until the local county library service decided to go 'self-service'. Once the machines were installed for customers to issue and return their own books, library assistants like myself were an 'endangered species' as the jobs dried up. I took early retirement!

2. I once had breakfast with the Bishop of Peru. (....it's a long story......!)

3. I can play the piano by ear - but I'm the only member of the family NOT to have had music lessons.

4. I did a stunt-driving course and learned to do handbrake turns, J-turns, etc. - a couple of years ago, when I was 55! (So, you want proof?)

5. I've traced my Family History back to the early 1600's - with a link to Bonnie Prince Charlie and  also Queen Victoria!

6. As this blog is mainly about knitting and yarn crafts, here's a random fact on that theme - I hand-made yards of tatted lace for my wedding dress and veil, mostly on the train to and from work each day. The 'ratcheting' sound of me drawing more thread off the shuttle spool must have driven my fellow travellers mad! ;-p

Now - to Hilary's questions for me:

1.  What's your favorite book and why? Depends on genre/mood! However, I love crime mysteries and one of the best I’ve read in the last few years is Peter James'  'Dead Simple' . Having read that, I was hooked for the series!

2.  Give me your all-time favorite quote. ‘Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read!” -  Groucho Marks  

3.  What's your favorite animal and why? Dogs – any shape or size, but I have a penchant for cross-breeds; the ultimate ‘originals’!

4. What do you collect? Nothing, specifically. (although I do seem to have accumulated a lot of long-lost relatives when doing my Family Tree!)

5.  Who do you most admire and why? Mother Teresa – she just got on with the job and didn’t make a fuss!

6.  What's your worst vice? Cheese and biscuits!

7.  What's your best trait? I try to give encouragement whereever I can.

8.  What's your favorite sport? Ugh – sport????? (although, I will try to watch Wimbledon, as long as I can watch a whole match)

9.  What's your favorite color and why? Dusty jade-type colours - they remind me of open space and wild, misty countryside.

10.  Name one of your pet peeves. Car drivers who think their indicators are ‘optional extras’!

11.  What makes any particular day special for you? A bright sunny dawn – as if the world’s on tiptoe waiting to see what’s going to unfold today.

Next - questions for for my award recipients:

1. One thing you're most proud of in your life

2. Your favourite food/drink

3. Place you'd like to travel to - if you had the opportunity.

4. Your favourite project to date

5. Your favourite film or book

6. Who you'd most like to have met and had a conversation with (in any time period of history!)

Now for the people to whom I'd like to pass on this award - here's the lucky six

Rachel, at 'Go Placidly' (ok - unashamed nepotism!)

Stephanie at Hookin', Knittin' & Livin'

Sarah at 'The Frugal Handmade Home'

Karen at Ridiculous Knits

Pam at The Finderskeeper

Angela at  The Adventures of Angelcat

Some of these are 'new accquaintances' via the recent Grow Your Blog party hosted by Vicki - I hope they don't mind being pounced on for this award! 

In the meantime - thanks again, Hilary, I shall stick my 'award' badge on my blog with pride! :-)

Rippling...over hill and dale!

I vowed not to start another project until one of my current WIPs was finished - but I cheated! True, the grey waistcoat was off the needles (but not seamed!) so, I couldn't wait any longer and had to start a 'ripple' blanket! (actually I blame all those fellow Twitter-ers who were talking about their progress with rippling ;-p)

Anyway, I started off, armed with a bag of leftovers from my stash pile, following the excellent (idiot-proof!) instructions given by Lucy at 'Attic 24' . I must admit, getting the first row was tricky - it took me three attempts before I was moderately happy with it, and I'm hopping that the remaining slight tightness on that first row will improve with blocking. However, as a 'go-to-as-and-when' project to use up scraps I'm rather pleased with it already. Instead of planning the colours beforehand, I'm letting the blanket surprise me - all my wool is in a black bag, so when I need to start a new colour I just blindly reach in and use whatever I pull out

What do you think so far?'

I love the way the increases and decreases create the ripples, like running over 'hill and dale'!

The grey waiscoat has not been pushed to one side and forgotten, though; I've seamed it, sewn the pockets in place and attached the button band (the worst part - I hate doing that!) - just needs a finally steam and a set of buttons:

The BIG blanket is nearing completion:

Just so you can see what's left to do, here's the 'plan' I drew out; (the tip of the needle shows progress to date):

Of course, there will be loads of ends to sort out, but I've been weaving them in as I go, so they'll just need snipping off. I'm undecided whether to crochet all around the outer edges to finish off....? I can generally knit about 3 blocks an hour (usually when I'm watching TV, so it rather depends on how intricate the plot...!) so I still have a way to go yet - but I'm getting there!

BTW - thank you to all the lovely people who've stopped by on the ''Grow Your Blog' blog-hop and left comments :-) - so many lovely blogs to go and investigate.....I'm getting there!