Made It 2013

If you are not interested in knitting, crochet or sewing, LOOK AWAY NOW.

I've made a lot of things this year.  Lots of bloody baby grows for a start, as well as two skirts for me, numerous things for the children, accessories, jumpers, massive blankets, everything.  Except I haven't made some of the things I wanted to make.  I didn't manage to knit from stash every time; in fact, the stash grew exponentially, and is still growing.  Stuff I did make from stash didn't take as much as I thought I would need - I made a lovely cowl last night; less than a ball of Rowan Big Wool used, now what do I do with the rest?  I didn't knit from the queue much.  I got a few things done, but mostly  I made stuff I wanted to wear or give away, sneakily adding them to the queue just before casting on.

Some photos:

Noah's welcome to the world blanket.

A skirt for me - measure twice, cut once, use a safety pin to hold in the extra three inches of fabric.

Handmade Hallowe'en.

A dress for Lucy.

Lucy's birthday blanket.  

A dress made from fabric chosen by Lucy.  It looked much better than I thought it would.

The smallest socks I can be bothered to make.

Cape Town socks, pts 1 and 2.

Cape Town socks, pt 3.  The purple shrunk like a bugger (non-machine sock yarn - WHY?), so they now belong to Lucy.

Simon's socks.

Emotionally distant, solves crimes by itself.

Conspicuous by their absence: a welcome to the world handmade gift for baby Robin (the blanket I was working on was just too annoying, so I am going to give it to Lucy for her 6th birthday, and make him something else); Christmas knitting (my family apart from my daughters and husband do not deserve handmade stuff); Hattie's Birthday Owl Blanket (suffered from being addictive to make, so was put away, half finished, in February and not resurrected until after her birthday); anything for Simon apart from socks (tall men do not get knitted for - thirty inches of grey knitting is boring).

There are more photos on my Ravelry page, which can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sljuls?set=2013n&view=thumbnail

And for those of you who read this far (good Lord, why?), and aren't on Ravelry, there are photos on my flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliaclare/

WIP Wednesday

The great stash sort of a few weeks back has completely paralysed me.  I can't seem to write anything or start anything new, and I've just been half-heartedly plugging away at the WIPs ever since.  I did go to Ally Pally and a couple of bits and bobs and books came home with me, but generally, I've been working on the WIPs and not really making a huge amount of progress.  Good news though; the stash sort resulted in the appearance of a new WIP, a blue and grey sock I'd started but never got on with.  Boredom probably.  

Anyway, that is my life in knitting at the moment.  Not thrilling.  Actually quite dull.  Even for knitting.

The List:

*NEW* Blue and Grey Socks *NEW* - nearly at the heel of the first sock.
Elephant blanket - one stripe made.  Second stripe started.  Colours chosen for second stripe.  Just got to get on with it.

Peacock Mittens - one finished, bar the thumb (still)
Idlewood - still yarn

Owl Blanket - I've made another 2 owl squares, just 34 to go!  Hurrah. 

Hexipuff Quilt - run out of stuffing
Paper Dolls - ran out of yarn.  Bought more.  Put it in a bag.  Ignoring.
Peerie Flooers - nyeh

Ringo and Elwood mittens - nyeh

Alphabet Blanket for Noah - done

Granny's a Square Afghan - done

WIP Thursday

Well, it still just about counts as a WIP, as it is not bordered or backed, and therefore is not finished.  I am so proud of this, apart from a few little wobbles, particularly around the "Q".  I took one pattern, a massively over-complicated lace job, and turned it into a colourwork pattern, using only swearing, two colours and lots of wine.  I might even make it again, as there is a little boy who I think might like one for his second birthday - next May, so a long run up.

Right.  On to the next thing.

Alphabet Blanket for Noah - so close to being finished!

Granny's a Square Afghan (needs to be the next item, as it is Lucy's birthday in a month)

Elephant blanket (got to get going on this as the baby is on its way around the middle of next month)
Peacock Mittens
Idlewood 

Owl Blanket

Hexipuff Quilt
Paper Dolls 
Peerie Flooers

Ringo and Elwood mittens 

Handmade Monday

How to Turn a Beautifully Well Written Lace Pattern into Intarsia

1.  Find a pattern you like.  I used Debbie Bliss' Alphabet Pattern from Junior Knits.

2.  Fiddle about with the design to remove all the bits you don't like.  In my case, it was all the lace between the letters, and the fiddly bits at the edge.

3.  Work out how many stitches you need to cast on.  Then cast on too few.  Rip back.  Cast on again.  Cast on too many.  Rip back.  Cast on correct number.  Caution: not family friendly.

4. Calculate where to place first letter using hard sums and counting titchy little squares.  Muck this up, start again, rip back stupid sodding bamboo thread and use regrettable language again.

5.  I forgot to mention: pick a real pain in the bum yarn that doesn't take intarsia well - something made out of bamboo is perfect.  Really slippy, shiny and not at all sticky together-y.

6. Knit up first square.  Gaze at crappy piece of stuff, hope it will block out.  

7. Continue to knit remainder of strip until either fed up or out of yarn.  

8.  Repeat until blanket is almost finished and starting to look respectable.

9.  Finish blanket.  Border and line in order to hide mess on reverse side.

I must confess that I haven't finished the last step yet.  I'm still on step 8, having run out of yarn and developed some form of mental allergy to bamboo.  

This is what the blanket should look like.  I have stolen the picture from my friend Lyn's Ravelry page.  You should have a look at it.  She does some impressive work.  

This is what mine looks like.  It is different.  

Mine will have a green crocheted border.  It will be as special and precious as the young man who is getting it as a Welcome to the World present (six months late).

WIP Thursday

The crocheted blanket continues.

The Peacock Mittens were sat on by either Grandad or one of the girls, and another one of the very delicate bamboo needles is no more.

It is too hot to work on the Alphabet Blanket, even though it is so close to being finished now - just 12 lots of intarsia to go.

The A-line skirt for me sits, still fabric, mocking me, daring me to start and to totally f it up.  The main fabric is beautiful, the contrast fabric is understated, the button is, well, a button, and the whole thing terrifies the life out of me.  I will do it.  I will.  Next week.

So there we go.  I get paid tomorrow, so this month's yarn based purchase will be some KnitPro sock needles.  

As for the list; 

Alphabet Blanket for Noah (see above, not much to do, although it will need both a border and a lining, curses)

Peacock Mittens (new needles needed, so on hold again)

Granny's a Square Afghan (gettting there, only 3 large granny squares and 16 small ones to go, plus a massive border)

Idlewood (still yarn)

Owl Blanket (still on hold)

Hexipuff Quilt (probably not, might swap out)

Paper Dolls (still going)

Elephant blanket (still yarn, need to borrow pattern again)

Something else

Something from the queue 

WIP Wednesday & Year of Projects round up

Goodness me, can my life get any more interesting?  Yesterdays bombshell - a burned foot and a sulk - was mostly due to me using an iPad app to type; a device that blocked all inspiration with great efficiency.

My WIP this week is, boringly enough, Lucy's birthday blanket.  It is coming on really well, and should be finished in plenty of time, but goodness me, is it boring to make.  

Probably just as boring to read about, if I'm honest.

So, for those still awake, here is my list from this year, which for me ran from February to the end of June.

Alphabet Blanket for Noah - still mostly yarn

Peacock Mittens - sat on needles, waiting for replacements

Granny's a Square Afghan - see above, about a third left to go, plus border

Idlewood - still yarn

Owl Blanket - half way through, plus border

The Killing Jumper - done

Hexipuff Quilt - I've made another 4, so only about 3 billion left to make

Paper Dolls - sloooooooooow going

Vine Yoke - done

Skyfall socks - also done

The list for this new year, beginning of July to end of June, is something like this.

Alphabet Blanket for Noah

Peacock Mittens

Granny's a Square Afghan

Idlewood

Owl Blanket

Hexipuff Quilt (probably)

Paper Dolls

Dunno

Something else

Something from the queue

Scintillating stuff!  Tune in next Wednesday for more fascinating knitting and crocheting related chat.

WIP Wednesday

It is almost finished!  A year after starting to think about making this jumper, and about six months after actually getting on with it, I have finally attached the sleeves to the body, and just have to do the last set of stars and the collar, and then I will be able to wear it and walk about solving crimes and being grumpy and emotionally unavailable.

For interested parties: Rowan Cocoon, cream and grey, 3 of cream, 1 of grey; 6mm circular needles, 6mm DPNs for the sleeves. Yarn bought from the really very wonderful Mrs Moon's of St Margarets.

Year of Projects List - these are some from this year, and some for next year

Rusted Root - swapped out for an Alphabet Blanket
Hedgehog Mittens - swapped out for Peacock Mittens
Starburst Flower Blanket - swapped out for Granny's a Square Afghan for Lucy's fifth birthday
Idlewood - still yarn
Owl blanket - on hold
The Killing Jumper  - nearly done
Hexipuff Quilt - on hold until I can find my needles
Paper Dolls jumper - another inch knitted, but it's still going slowly
Vine Yoke cardigan - still done
Skyfall socks - done

Fascinating stuff.

WIP Wednesday

This is my absolutely, absolutely favourite thing I have ever, ever made in my whole entire life.  It is entirely from bits and bobs and leftovers, and I adore it.  It is Hattie's birthday present, and she is already very keen on it, and wants it very much, and keeps asking me when it will be finished.  So no pressure then.  Her birthday is in December, so I'm very much ahead of myself for a change.

It is about half finished, in that it has the half the amount of owls, some of which need eyes, and it still needs a  border, but as it doesn't need to be done for a while, I am putting it on hold for a bit.  Unusually for a crochet project, I'm actually enjoying making it.  

Sorry, yarn and hook nerds, I've no idea what I've used, it's all odds and ends.

A Year of Projects

Now that the holiday is over and I'm back at work and back at home, I'm starting to think about my knitting more and more.  It's a great distraction from the other things I should be thinking about, and conveniently takes up lots of time.

I joined the Year of Projects Ravelry group back in February, and have already slipped from what I was planning to do, not because the projects are boring, but because I didn't give them enough thinking time.

The list looks a bit like this:

Rusted Root - the first six inches looked dreadful, and I don't really want an asymmetric bust, so swapped it out
Hedgehog Mittens - still yarn
Starburst Flower Blanket - still yarn (unbought)
Idlewood - still yarn
Owl blanket - half way through the main body of the blanket, put down as too addictive
The Killing Jumper - going to be joining the sleeves at some point, exciting!
Hexipuff Quilt - keeps on growing steadily, but will be swapped out as I honestly don't think it will be finished until Winter 2014
Paper Dolls jumper - meh
Vine Yoke cardigan - done
Skyfall socks - done

I think I am going to swap in an Alphabet Blanket for a little boy due next month, and an Elephant Blanket of some description for a little person due in September/October.

It's all rather exciting really.

WIP Wednesday (Thursday edition)

I'm making Lucy a pair of socks.  This is a first for me; I haven't made children's socks before, and I've never made a pair of toe up socks either.  So, of course, toe up children's socks started in the middle of nowhere with no internet access made perfect sense. 

Actually, they've turned out pretty well, and I'm very pleased with them.  The annoying thing is that I would have been able to have a pair if I hadn't attempted to make two pairs of adult socks as well out of the two balls of pink and orange sock yarn I brought with me.  As it is, I am a tantalising 3g short for Lucy's socks, and need about another 10g for the adult socks - they are striped, so take much less of the secondary colour; I've had to buy a third ball, which may well be delivered by the time we get home on Sunday.  I've already had an order for a similar pair from Hattie (where me sock go?), so that'll be my job next week.  Good thing they've got small feet really.

These two weeks have been very productive, sock wise. 

For people who are interested: I used Regia Sock Yarn, 4 fadig, colourway Crazy Chris and 2.75mm DPNs.  I didn't use a pattern (get me) but started the toe as if it were a Hexipuff, and then just knitted until it fitted her foot, and then made a short row heel.  There are 25 rounds on the leg, and then 10 rounds of ribbing.  I used the Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off to make sure that she could actually wear them, and would probably been better off waiting to do that when I had internet access to check how to do it, as it looks a tiny bit ropey.  Oh well.  Lucy absolutely loves them. 

WIP Wednesday

What on earth is going on with this blog?  Every time I open the computer, it appears to be Wednesday again, and time to talk about knitting, meaning that both my regular readers (Hi Vicky!  Hi Rosemary!) stop reading, roll their eyes and read something more interesting, like, well, almost anything else.

Last week's WIP is still a WIP, as I got fed up after the first round of stars, and need to get the Nordic knitting vibe going again.  This week's WIP is a pair of socks, started before a trip to see Skyfall, and then shoved in the bag and forgotten.  Because I am arrogant, I thought I could do ribbing in the dark.  I can't.  One pair of socks has the most beautiful, neat 2 by 2 ribbing, the other has what could kindly be called a ribbing/moss stitch hybrid.  The socks are for my husband, and even though they look rather petite, they stretch like mad, and fit perfectly.

The yarn is Regia, Kaffe Fassett dyed, and is lovely to knit with - stretchy but strong.

WIP Wednesday

Golly, is it Wednesday already?  This week has gone so fast, which is a combination of terrifying and relieving, and it's Knit Night again.  Last week, I worked on my Vine Yoke Cardigan, and now it's finished, except for some buttons and a good block, so I can't wear it quite yet.

We got very into The Killing last year, and I, along with the rest of the world, fell in love with Sarah Lund's jumper.  Unlike most of the rest of the world, I can make my own, and started making plans and charts and all sorts for a while, even going so far as to buy the yarn for it, lovely lovely Rowan Cocoon.

This is not a picture of my jumper.  It is the original inspiration, and it is shamelessly taken from the shop at Gudrun Gudrun.  Nice though, isn't it.  The yoke is a bit, well, and this sounds really arrogant given that these people make a living from making knitwear, messy, so I thought I could do a different job on that, and the arms are of gorilla like length, and as my husband loving told me before we were married, I have very short arms.

My jumper is on ravelry here, and this is a photo of me trying to look cold and emotionally distant while wearing the sleeves.

I'm just about to start knitting the first round of the stars on the body, and I'm really pleased with it so far.  Hurrah for WIPs.

Dick had a Duck with Fur on his Face

I cannot find my keys from one day to another, I regularly forget where I've left the car, but I remember the words, tune and descant to every carol I've ever sung and that silly mnemonic for remembering irregular Latin imperatives for something or other, I've forgotten.  One of the other silly things I remember is the way to remember Greek meter - down in a deep, dark dell, lived an old cow, mun-ching a bean-stalk (punctuation to show the way it's said).  Mrs Charity has a lot to answer.

It's only a few days into the new year, and we've already been stupidly busy; cycling, trips to Brent Cross, up the M1 to Whipsnade, playdates, hysterics and all sorts.  I've even managed to finish a knitting project, and a novel.

The novel was the Rose Labyrinth, and while it was interesting and I read it very quickly, it cannot be called great, or even good, literature; the writer is so desperate to show us all her research that it starts being a bit irritating.  "Alex is an immunologist; he is a doctor who looks at the immune system, which must be jolly hard, because, look, even though he is beautiful and clever and caring, he is single because his wife left him as he worked so hard.  Work is his LIFE."

OK, it's not quite that bad, but you get the general idea.

I finished the rabbit on the way up to Whipsnade - Hat was so excited about seeing the animals, but, once we got there, was terrified by the tigers, the sea lions  and even the elephants, although she later explained that they are all "nice" and "not eat me", which is progress, I suppose.  We spent far more time in the soft play area than anywhere else.

Back to work on Monday, I could do with a rest.