Projects between projects

Just a couple of quickie projects between my big ones. A chilly, overcast, cold day inspired the poncho made out of Little Mamma by Estelle. The yarn is like a really thick chenille wrapped in eyelash. Supa easy pattern, just knit two 25 st. rectangles, on 15mm needles. Voila, wrapped in a blanket to ward off the chilly mornings.

What started as a rough draft for a pattern turned into a project. I wanted to make my daughter a shrug out of worsted weight. She loved the colours and wanted me to finish it. Which meant the second ball had to be found on E-Bay and travelled all the way from the States. But as you can tell from her smile she loves it.

It was tweeked as I worked, just as all good patterns are. She decided that she wanted to bottom to hang over the back of her hands...and then to wrap around her thumb. *shrugs* OK....it that is what she is coming up with at 11 then I am curious to see her fashion choices when she is 16-17.

~Daughter #1

Bamboo..Wow

The first time I heard of Bamboo yarn. My mind conjured up this image. ...
Yeah right I thought...stiff, scratchy,.....shudder, no way.

Was I ever wrong. It is soft and silky much like cashmere.

Bamboo is an incredible plant.

You can eat it, build a shelter and furniture from it, walk on it and wear it.and sit on it...
Now if it would power our cars we would be all set..lolol
Here are some facts:
It is like a woody grass
It has some 1250 species in 75 genera with varying sizes
India has the largest bamboo forests, next only to China
According to the Forest Survey of India report, 8.96 million ha (about 12.8% of total forest area) is under bamboo cultivation
It surges skyward as fast as 1.2 meters in a 24 hour period!
Some species are suitable for soil stabilization, wind break, urban wastewater treatment and reduction of nitrates contamination
Potential to put a brake on the fire (create a fire line) in the traditional forests

I love knitting with this yarn, I also understand there is also a fabric made from the fibres.

How exciting is this?? a beige sock...out of Bamboo!


I would dearly love to knit myself a sweater out of this stuff. I will wait and see how the socks wash up.

~Mum

Meet Hannah....aka Granny Ann

Happy 83 Mummy! Sporting her fetching new jacket!


~MuM

Finally....I am finished.

I have started my first pair of toe up socks with the bamboo yarn, it is gorgeous stuff to knit with. The yarn is 4 ply, one strand of each of the following colours: pale aqua, white, grey and beige. The picture doesn't do the yarn justice. There is a lovely silky feel to the yarn.



Now for Mom's Secret birthday present. I quilted the jacket and knit the sleeves and bands.

Placement for the button loops.
The front edges are turned and stitched by hand.
Machine stitching on the neck band.

Then hand stitch the edge on the inside to cover the raw fabric edges.
Inside seams are bound also. That's the spare button at the bottom of the seam.

Finished......Yeah !

~MuM

Yardage...what I'd give for a bit more.

I needed some mindless knitting to do while watching a movie with hubby. What could be simpler the working on a shrug pattern? Very little shaping, keep it simple. So I dug up an ancient ball of Red Head super saver from the deep recesses of my stash. (stop hyperventilating mum) I had some to make sippers for the girls that just never got done. I didn't want to wast good yarn on a sample project that would only get 'frogged' in the end.

Cast on some stitches and away I went. 2x2 rib and 8mm needles gave it a bit of a lacy look but with a worsted weight it would keep arms warm. Well my daughter loved it and asked if she could have it. I tried to change her mind but NO it had to be these exact colours. Damn now I'm stuck working on the entire thing. Well up the arm I went and across the back of her shoulders and then it hit me. I didn't have enough to finish....... oh crap.

I have been all over looking for this stuff and NO ONE carries this particular shade. I don't even care about dye lots at this point.

So tonight I was on EBay and purchased 1 ball from a seller in Massachusetts. The yarn was cheap but with shipping I am paying exactly what I would have, had I found it up here. At least I can finish the shrug for the kiddo.

~ Daughter #1

Julia this one's for you!!

I couldn't resist sharing this cartoon. It is Michael's Christmas Sweater!!!

oops

My latest knitting post ended up over HERE. I didn't realize I was on the wrong dashboard...sigh

More Barbie's Fashions

The handkerchief dress was fun and simple to assemble the petals making the points.

I have to say that this jumpsuit is very simple and came together quickly.


I hope they will be around for a while.










~Daughter #2

Textured Knitting

Every knitter has their favourite aspects of the craft. I have to say this is my preferred style of knitting. I love texture in my work. Lots of cables or funky stitch patterns are the best. Currently I am working with a fingering weight yarn. Normally, I wouldn't touch the stuff, too fine for my patience level, but this pattern is worked in 4mm needles so that makes it ok. I was hoping the picture would turn out better but if you look closely you can see. This is a very simple pattern that adds amazing dimension to the piece.

row 1: (K1, K1 in stitch below) repeat to end
row 2: Purl
row 3: K1,(K1, K1 in stitch below) repeat
row 4: Purl
row 5-8: repeat rows 1-2
row 9: K1, (yrnfw, k2tog) repeat to end
row 10: Purl

That is all there is to it and it is gorgeous. The constant changing of stitch size and placement helps the colours to blend nicely. It's a variegated yarn but I shouldn't get too much colour bunching. Knitting in the stitch below makes it look like a moss stitch only there isn't any purl stitches on the front. I can't wait to see it finished.

So many projects, so little time.

I thought I would chime in for a moment. I've been bogged down at work, getting the new store ready for the May 8th Grand Opening. It has cut into my knitting and writing time something dreadful.

I did feel they was a shocking lack of yarn at the show. I know I wasn't alone in this feeling. I commented that I didn't want to leave one of the booths, and Julia suggested we make a nest out of all the pretties. I wish I could remember which company that was. Do either of you remember? Mum we saw them at the Bingman's show last September. Comments on that day can be found here.

Not that I didn't find any new projects. I got a lovely skein of yarn. I have no idea what I am going to do with one skein of fingering weight. For now it is going into my stash to drool over and rub against my cheek when ever I feel the need.

I got bit by the crosstitch bug again. I am notorious for starting cross stitch and not finishing it. I've been working on my "Green man" for about 5 years. One day I hope to finish him. This is a very simple design called Dragon's Heart and the linen is hand dyed, absolutely GORGEOUS. I couldn't resist the hand dyed silk thread I'm going to work with. All of it is from Enchanting Lair. I love their stuff
As soon as life settles down a bit and I can carve out some needlework time. I can't wait.
~Daughter #1