Three Shawls

I’ve just finished knitting three shawls.  Unfortunately, I only have one to show for all that work!

I’ve no idea what the problem was but I knitted many rows more than once, some 3 or 4 times.  I just couldn’t stop myself from going wrong.

I recently made an Ishbel shawl and liked the idea of stocking stitch with a lace edge.  But I didn’t like having to do increases on the wrong side (I kept forgetting).  So I decided I’d knit something similar with increases only on the right side and then add some lace stitches from a wonderful book  – Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn A Clark. 

I made sure the stitch count was perfect before I started the lace but at one point had to rip back 12 rows.  Maybe my concentration levels are just shot to pieces at the moment.  I wanted to make it bigger but as I was on a winning streak (ie I managed to knit four rows without mistakes) I decided to cross the finishing line early.  It’s worked out at 158 x 78mm  after blocking.

The yarn is Morris & Son 2 ply merino (chosen because it’s the exact colour of a dress I want to wear with it – a slate grey/blue), knitted with Claudia Handpainted 2 ply silk (silver grey).  I’m fairly new to this lace knitting lark and this isn’t perfect but I’m not expecting anyone to peer too closely!

Edited To Add: My clever friend, Emily, has suggested that 15.8cm x 7.8cm is a TAD small. OK, you’re right. It’s 158cm x 78cm NOT mm.

And Sometimes I Knit!

I DO knit – really I do.  I just haven’t actually FINISHED much lately as life seems to have got in the way.  And one thing I really DON’T do is photography. 

But I’m trying to clear the decks as I’m off to England for a month’s holiday in 3 weeks’ time.  So in the last few days I’ve finished two garments (and even photographed them but the photography is up to - or rather down to – my usual abysmal standard).    

First off the needles, my Juniper Jacket.  Knit to my own design in Bendigo Woollen Mills Allegro.  Have to say it looks much better on than off and I’ve had a few nice compliments from people other than my closest friends (who I can always rely on to say the right thing).

And the next one cast off is a Sock Jumper (cast on many months ago, I have to admit).  Again my own design (though “design” may be a bit too flattering a word – it’s just a short-sleeved jumper with slightly puffed sleeves).  Knitted in Zwerner Garn Opal sock yarn.  It won’t be the most stylish item in my wardrobe but just thought it was fun. 

You’ll be very pleased to hear that a good friend, who is a whiz with a camera, has offered to take the photos for any patterns I sell/give away.  So at least knitters will have more than just a vague idea of what the  item should actually look like. 

I still have a shawl on the needles but it’s something that just isn’t working for me.  Very simple lace edging but I think I’ve gone wrong on every row so I’ve very patiently frogged it back about 20 rows and am determined to get it completed before I go away.  I have close to 300 stitches on the needles so when it goes wrong, it really GOES WRONG.  But I’ve promised myself that it will be finished and shown to the world before I fly off in October. 

In the meantime, what about the Easter Show?  Planning has to start NOW and I have a few ideas but they’re just that at the moment.  I’m hoping to turn ideas into reality while in England.

You’ve Done It Again!

Yes – the knitting community of Sydney has done it again.  Come up trumps! 

I asked for donations of knitted and crocheted clothing for babies and children in Afghanistan.  And what did I get?

Well, first of all I got the very kind offer of an “Authorised Knitting” area at the Stitches and Craft Show at Rosehill today.  Then I got the benefit of the advertising and promotion of the Show.  Then I got free transport of all the items to Melbourne (courtesy of the lovely Angela from Living Creatively)  from where they’ll be sent to Afghanistan.  

Then I got YOU!  And look what you donated:

And what’s in those bags and boxes?

191 items.  Yes . . . ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY ONE ITEMS!

I can’t thank everyone personally but please be quite sure that I would thank each and every one of you individually if I could.   

Technorati Tags: Winterwarm Project

Oops! It Just Slipped Out!

KNITTERS’ GUILD NSW INC

Apparently I’m not allowed to mention the Guild on my blog but I couldn’t help myself.

Sorry!

Authorised Knitting

I am SO looking forward to Sunday.  And if you’ve forgotten what I’m doing on Sunday, shame on you!

“Authorised Knitting” (and don’t you just love that name?) at the Stitches and Craft Fair.  I’m hoping the knitters of Sydney will gather to donate knitted items for the Winterwarm Project, gasp at some of the beautiful garments I’ve already received, chat and, of course, knit. 

I went to the Show today and, boy, what an improvement on the previous years I’ve been.  It’s under new management, it was well laid-out, stylish, lots to do and see.  Not very many people selling yarn but we can hardly blame the Show people for that.  Knitters have stopped going there so yarn sellers have stopped selling there.  We’ve got to persuade them to book for next year. 

Visitors to the Show have already dropped off Winterwarm clothes and I also have a large bag load in the car from the knitters at Epping Library.  Isn’t that wonderful?  So before we even start on Sunday, we’ll have at least 100 items. I was so thrilled when I saw these today that I had tears in my eyes.  As many of you will know, I’ve been subject to rather a lot of abuse lately.  I don’t take abuse very well and find it quite difficult to deal with. 

But here were all these people with hearts of gold.  I know there are good and kind people in the world (I number some wonderful ones among my friends) but it was very reassuring to see my faith in the intrinsic kindness of people well and truly justified.  If you read this and you’re one of the people who’ve donated to Winterwarm at the Show, THANK YOU!

To the rest of you, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.  If you haven’t knitted anything, don’t fret – though I may ask you to donate a few rows to some scarves, or help sew up some garments I haven’t managed to finish yet.  But this isn’t a ’serious’ day – it’s a fun day.

We’ll be on Level 4 from 10 – 5.  Come up the stairs or escalator, turn right until you’re at the end of the building.   

Look forward to seeing lots of you.

Technorati Tags: Winterwarm Project

My Knitting Factory

I’m quite pleased with my knitting output this month – items actually finished AND sewn up. 

First off the needles earlier in the month, was another one of these bias-ridged hats I’m so fond of.  This time in Cleckheatons Vintage Hues. 

Then a stocking stitch Baby Surprise Jacket, with hat, for a baby expected in the next couple of weeks.

 

And an Ishbel shawl – knitted with glorious yarn (the picture doesn’t do it justice).  Fleece Artist 100% Merino which knitted like a dream.

 

I also finished another item, which I forgot to photograph, and which has gone off to England as a birthday present.  It hasn’t arrived yet so can’t really talk about that one.

I’m not trying to open a knitting factory here but I also have a cardigan and a jumper on the needles which should both be finished in the next couple of weeks.  I do spend nearly two hours a day on public transport so at least I’m using that time productively.  

And I MUST sew up two jumpers I’ve knitted for the Winterwarm Project.  Don’t forget, everyone, to join me at Rosehill on 23rd August for a bit of knitting and chatting to support this great project.  If you’re knitting for this, and won’t be able to come along on the 23rd, just drop me a line and we’ll arrange another time for you to get them to me. 

   

I Won A Prize!

I have been VERY slack in saying a big public THANK YOU to Lyn for the beautiful prizes I won in the anniversary draw she held over on her blog. Today has been the first free time I’ve had to get the camera out and catch up on my ”knitting photography” (at which I’m truly dreadful).

She gave me a gorgeous quilted project bag, made with her own fair hands.  I don’t own anything like that (sewing really isn’t my thing) and put everything I’m working on in plastic bags.  I really feel I can’t just shove any old piece of knitting in there but I’ve just started a lace shawl in 2ply Claudia Hand-painted silk which I think is of a quality appropriate to such a beautiful bag.

AND she also gave me a skein of The Knittery’s Merino Cashmere yarn which I’ll save for something else a bit special (particularly as the Knittery has now closed down I believe so I’m never likely to get any more).

 

Isn’t that just gorgeous?  Thank you so much, Lyn.

Knittingness

One of my knitting friends in Sydney, Ness, has just produced the pilot episode of her video blog.  And it’s very professional.  Very smoothly presented with no umming and aahing at all.  

And I’m thrilled that I feature in her very first episode – looking about 85 years old and though I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards (but it HAD been a hard day!).

Please go and support her by checking it out. 

Great work, Ness.  Keep it up!

State-Sponsored Subversion?

Before anyone else asks me – NO, I’m not currently knitting squares to be wrapped around lamp-posts or trees, or used in any other way to adorn the landscape.

And Kris explains the reasons beautifully here.   

Stitches & Craft Show and Winterwarm

Last year I knitted for the Winterwarm Project, which is based in Melbourne and provides warm clothing (through the Save The Children Fund) to babies and children in Afghanistan.  The temperature in winter gets below -15C so they need all the help they can get.  A number of friends joined in and we collected 80 items to add to those collected in Melbourne.

This year I’m doing the same, but with an added twist.  Living Creatively, the people who now run the Stitches and Craft Show at Rosehill, have kindly donated a stall for us on Sunday 23rd August – the last day of the show.  We can have a knitting “get-together”, collect items that people have knitted, encourage passers-by to pick up a pair of needles for a few minutes to help towards a scarf or blanket, and if there are enough of us willing, we can do some teaching. 

So do try to come along.  Admission to the Show is $10 which includes some excellent seminars.  Go and look on the website for all the events taking place that day.  Please bring along anything you’ve made to contribute (socks, gloves, jumpers, cardigans, scarves, blankets, hats – all knitted in wool, please) and bring your knitting,  If you haven’t made anything for Winterwarm, don’t worry  -  but I WILL ask you to add a few rows to unfinished items!

The Show runs from 19th – 23rd August but we’ll just be there on that last day. 

I do hope lots of you will join us.  I know we don’t normally need much of an excuse to sit around and knit but I believe that this is a VERY good excuse.

Technorati Tags: Winterwarm Project