Necessity - the mother of invention!

A couple of weeks ago I posted details of a small scarf which I'd greatly enjoyed making. However, blocking it out was 'fun' (not!) - in fact, the blocking process is the part I really hate, (almost as much as sewing up knitted garments!) all those little picot edges to be pinned out individually and to shape......eugh! :-(

Still, I decided to replicate the scarf in a different yarn - a lovely, soft, 75% Bamboo mix.

It looked like a limp bit of dishcloth as it came off the needles - but then, lace knitting never looks its best at that stage, that's where the (previously dreaded) blocking comes into play!

Of course, it's so much easier using blocking wires/rods - but not so easy to find where I live in the UK. Then I got inventive.......!

A quick trip to one of the DIY 'sheds' saw me procure some anodised metal rods. The narrowest gauge I could find were 4mm but as the scarf I wanted to block had a suitable sized slotted edging I thought I'd try.

Well - it was SO easy I couldn't believe how I'd never tried this before! The rods were 1m in length, so I had to use two, slightly 'overlapped', along the neck edge, then use the third along each diagonal edge seperately.

The end result is drying out nicely and I'm rather pleased with the outcome.

(Of course, if any of my family are reading this, I might still put a set of 'proper' wires/rods on my Birthday/Christmas list, anyway.....if you can find/afford them! ;-p)

Isn't this gorgeous?

I found this blog by chance this morning - am totally smitten!

Particularly with the post about the 'Rams and Yowes' blanket!

Seriously jealous - beautiful design and gorgeous colours!

I want one! :-)

The Beginning .....and the End!

It's the beginning of 2012 - but it's the end of two WIPs! :-)

The 'Icecream' scarf (so nicknamed because the colours remind me of Neapolitan icecream: vanilla, strawberry and chocolate) is finally complete! It has been my 'go-to' project in between other projects, but rather than run out of wool (I bought it on holiday in New England, so not exactly easy to run out and buy more!) I called a halt, cast off and added the fringe. It was a very simple pattern and is so snuggly soft that it will be appearing in public on many outings, methinks!

The next project only started last week but is already finished!

The knitting club I go to twice a month has a tradition of using the profits from out weekly subs to purchase balls of different yarns and at Christmas all the members of the club get a 'lucky dip'. Well, I selected some sock yarn and decided that, rather than knitting socks (of which I have a fair number knitted already!), I'd use the yarn for something else and came across a pattern for a small scarf/shawl

I love it so much, I've already cast on with different yarn to create another scarf.....will post piccies of that when finished, too!

Natty Hat!

My son had me knitting him a voluminous 'Dr Who'-style scarf earlier in the year - his next request was for a hat with ear-flaps. It has taken me until now to find a suitable pattern and with a little 'customising' it's finally finished!

It was an American pattern and the nearest match I could find for yarn turned out a hat that was just a tad loose - so I knit a second one on smaller needles and sewed it inside: one very smartly lined hat and now my son's head is 'toasty warm' (his quote!)

A brief respite whilst I busied myself with Christmas preparations means I am now mulling over what to tackle next - revisit one of my laid-aside WIPs or start something new....?

Hmmmmm..........!

Finishing off

Oh, I do savour that delicious moment when the WIP comes off the needles AND all the finishing has been done!

The shawl I finished a few days ago has been successfully blocked and looks so delicate. I'm really pleased with it as it's the first time I've used such fine silk yarn. That said, I think it's unlikely I would undertake such a project again in a hurry - it required focussed attention to follow the pattern and I became somewhat of a hermit during its construction!

Also, fresh off the needles and ready to wear - some cosy socks ready for the cold winter days!
Knitted in Sirdar Crofter DK yarn they're soft and snugly and the variegated yarn creates a pleasing Fairisle pattern.

Now, a slight interruption as I look for a pattern to use 200g of this!:

Ideas, anyone?

Taddaah!!!! Finished the shawl!

Well, I finally cast off the last stitch of the pink silk shawl I was knitting for a cousin in New Hampshire - just a year behind schedule (having taken it on from my daughter, who'd originally agreed to do it but had to abandon the project due to eye surgery).

Now, the only remaining problem is blocking it - which will be interesting as I'm not sure where in the house I can possibly do it without it getting in the way! Still, it will (hopefully) look more like the piccie on the pattern when all the picots are pinned out to pointy perfection!

Also, the variegated yarn I bought when over in NH last year has been put to good use. A little too rough for garment quality it is making up into a gorgeous throw/blanket. Just a little left, so with some judicious extra rows of black I might get it another few inches bigger!

After knit-club, this afternoon, I managed to track down the red 'eyelash' yarn I needed to knit the 'Ruby Slippers' that a fellow blogger coveted on one of my earlier blog-posts - (I'm casting on tonight, Jenny!)

It has been great for Miss H to accompany me to knit-club the last couple of times. Although she's had 2 of the 3 operations to repair a detached retina she's able to see well enough to do simple stocking stitch items. And we rather more 'senior' members have been delighted to have her youth to drop the average age of attendees! ;-)

Knitting groups

Finally.....finally managed to make it back the Knitting Club I started going to earlier in the year. We meet twice a month at a local Adult Education centre and although there were informal 'meets' during the summer break I haven't managed to get back into the Autumn season until this week!

I was hastily casting-on something 'simple' last night so I'd have something to take with me today - although I have several WIP's they are a bit tricky and require a fair amount of concentration!

Recuperating daughter (after surgery) joined me and even though she was by far the youngest there she seemed to enjoy it! There was much praise for the slippers she was knitting (to her own design!) - I hope she'll be able to join us again before she's well enough to return to work.

It's lovely to see all the different projects on the 'go' - a variety of skill levels and always something new to learn and share.

.......and I learned that one of the 'leaders/organisers' has a online yarnstore website Knit'n'Caboodle - so I'm off to explore!