Finished the ballet cardigan

All done.

Added on a sideways knit band, which also included the ties. I knitted the whole thing in the round, using the double knit method - very easy actually. Just kind of boring knitting a long, long tube.


Next, I'll be making crochet gloves and choker for me (part of new character costume) and a men's long coat (patchwork, with applique felt leaves). For a costume for a character that used to be a tree.

Will post photos when I get to it.

Oh, and I picked up Smoulder again, and will be knitting on that at home when watching DVDs etc.

Nearly done on the ballet cardigan...

So I finished the second pink cloud cardigan, but forgot to take a picture before gifting, sorry.

I'm very nearly done on the ballet cardigan.

The body and sleeves are knitted, and I've even done a crocheted edge to stabilise it all over.

I'm now knitting the ties. I'm hoping to be done by the end of the weekend, if I get some DVD and knitting time in!

Progress thus far...Then.. well. I'm not sure.

I've been brushing up on my crochet skills, I've finally got the needles I needle to make socks two at a time , and I still have the stripy Smoulder cardigan to finish. I might try working on the latter - the weather is pefect for it coming into Spring proper..

Two pink cardigans. I must be seeing double.

Two small girly girls wanted a pink cardigan each.

One for ballet, one to match her friends.

Thus we have item one..


and item two.

Both mostly at sleeves stage. Both top down raglans, though at very different guages.
Knitting while watching ABC iView is the bestest thing ever, and I want ABC to add more programs covered. Pretty please.

A tale of woe.. where I should never speak aloud pleasure at knitting progress.

So I was knitting on my cardigan. And making good progress. The back was done earlier. I finished the left front. Excellent.

I started the right front. Then.. got about half way before I realised that there was an error on the left front, about half way down. Okay, I can deal. I put my other, half finished right front on a spare needle, and then rip out back to the error, and the reknit half the left front to fix the error. Cool. Not too-too painful. I pick up my other front, put it back on the needles and continue.

Except... Now I realise that my carefully knit-to-match-the-left-front buttonholes? Will no longer be evenly spaced due to the error that was made on the other half.

So. I could either have button holes that vary in distance from 6.5cm apart to about 5cm, or.... rip back to the first buttonhole. Being overly perfectionistic is just not all it's claimed to be, you know?

I have now actually knit the equivalent to almost a whole cardigan side again. And still have more to go.

Of course it's all my own fault for saying how pleased with the progress I have been making, due mostly to watching lots of ABC sci-fi on ABC iView. (Love that.)

So anyway, hubris - once again, I salute thee!

*sigh*

Life is crazy, but knitting keeps me sane (mostly)

So apart from a unreasonable meltdown on Saturday, my life continues apace.

Lots of stuff going on, but knitting has kept me sane.

I have photos of Mum's socks for you...

Note the eye of partridge heel, the ribbed and shaped top. They fit nicely and I am assured they are both loved and comfy. So that's a win.

I have also finished my Clapotis. Beautiful. Photos not the best, since I haven't had a chance to photograph it outside. It's also not blocked yet, though I am less worried about doing that.
Of course, this takes me back once again to picking what to work on.

I have a two works in progress, a cardigan and hexagon blanket, but the former is too big to comfortably lug around and the second is more of a "inbetween" portable project.

I have that lace yarns I mentioned a while back, but it occurred to me that if I am going to knit lace, maybe I should think about knitting myself that wedding shawl. So I have to pick "the" yarn. I don't think I'll be getting "the" dress, so I'm making do! ;)

Of course, I also have to deifinitively decide on a pattern also. It's all a work in progress. Or rather work yet to be in progress.

In the mean time, I look at my stashed yarns and think about what I can do while I decide on the other one...

Decisions, decisions...

So I have a couple of things on the needles.

A cardigan, and wrap and some crochet hexagons.

But I feel the siren call of lace. Unfortunately, the two laceweights in my stash are on the decidedly thin side. As in 1 ply wool and 2 ply silk. Skinny-skinny without any fluffy to make em look fat.

So what pattern to pick and fine enough needles to make the stitches not look too gappy.

I've cast them both on a few times with little success, so it's back to the drawing board and looking, looking again..

I am a ... Sock Knitter

So, I finished the socks.

I would show you pictures, only I left them with the giftee. Since she made me dinner while I kitchenered the toe and weaved in the ends, I am not complaining.

She has agreed to provide pictures, so they will come at some point.

Now to decide what to pick up next. That woolly & alpaca Clapotis is looking a good bet, except it's getting too big to comfortably lug around. I need to finish it so I can actually wear it. Which would be nice. Mmmmm.. warm black and gothy winter wrap. Nice.

I am just so over being busy

Work is crazy busy right now. Finishing a project, taking calls for a new position in my team, its all a bit nuts. And I need a holiday oh so bad. I'm just wiped every evening. Which has meant no knitting group, cos I just can't drag myself out.

I'm working on stuff still though.

I re-did that skirt properly. Took off the waistband, resized the whole damn thing and ended up taking it in 12 cm around the waist & hips. I mean, honestly. Patterns lie. But it fits now, and I am happy. It's fairly warm, too.

It looks like this : (no me in it, too tired to change etc)

And I've been knitting on my mum's socks again. They had a brief break because I felt bad every time I looked at them. Not due to the fault of the socks themselves, no. But due to what happened while I knit part of the leg and turned the heel.

It's one of those slightly odd stories where I still feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, even though I am not entirely sure I should.

It goes like this. I had to go to an all-day training course on bullying in the workplace. I took my knitting. During the course, quietly, while watching the single presenter, and actively asking questions, clarifications and so forth, I knit on my sock.

(You can see where this is going, huh?)

Several times during the day people asked what I was knitting, generally took an interest. Including the presenter, who I spoke to in at least 2 of the 3 breaks of the day. Sock knitting happened, below the level of the desk no less.

Okay, day finishes. The next day I get an email from the local learning coordinator to "just let me know" that she'd received complaints. From attendees and the presenter. When I went to speak to her about it, she increased that to state that the complaints had said I was rude and distracting. And that "everyone had the right to have a positive learning experience". I told her it helped me concentrate when sitting for long periods (true). She then suggested that if I "needed to do this, maybe you should have stood up and explained why and asked if it was OK.." (bashes head against wall) For... goodness' sake, when did knitting become a 'special needs' issue?

I felt this was massively unfair, particularly from the presenter - noone said boo to me about it, and I would have put it away if anyone had. For goodness' sake, during a table discussion I asked the guy next to me his opinion. He blinked, paused then said, "Sorry? What? I was in my happy place..." And I am the rude one. (sigh)

I told the learning coordinator that I thought the session wasn't much of a success - if someone can't complain in a session about someone knitting as bothering them, what hope will they have about making a complaint about actual harassment? I got the "oh, that's not fair, people need time.." etc. Maybe I was harsh on her, and still smarting about it. But jeez. I am cross about the person who made the complaint, but even more so about the presenter. Though the coordinator changed it later to saying the presenter "mentioned" that I had knitted - so god knows what the truth is.

Anyway, the whole thing left me feeling really uncomfortable, and still does. I don't do criticism well, particularly in a work context. So looking at the sock makes me feel bad, though that's passing thank goodness. Ah well, I have hopes it will make the wearer so pleased I forgot all about the other stuff.

Peace.

Why can't sewing patterns be sized correctly?

I know, it might be me. But I wear a standard size.

And both of the adult sized clothing items I have made come out way way different to the size I normally wear.

What happened? I made a skirt, based on the written sizing. It's too big :( About 1-2 inches too big around the waist and hips. Sigh. I shall have to acquire some assistance to pin and take it in. Which means the waist band will have a new seam, cos there is no way I can envisage me unpicking the whole damn thing and resewing it on. I mean, really.

And I was so happy with myself. I put in an invisible zipper!! Correctly, no less! And did a box pleat front correctly! Anyway, I'll take it in on the side. I am of the opinion that i don't think the slight off centerness of the zipper after taking it in will be noticable since it's on the side.

On a slightly, better note, I finished those slippers. They're drying by the heater now.

Giant pink troll boots for the small person.

So my daughter wanted her own troll boots (slippers) like mine.

They're finally done. At least the knitting is.

Now I need to felt them of course.

This is what they look like now. (That's a 10 cent piece for scale purposes sitting on top.) Yup, they're big.

My man looks dubious that they'll ever get down to the right size. Ye of little faith..

I want the T shirt. Edward v. Buffy

Things I am trying to do..

* Finish Mum's socks.
* Finish small person's troll boots. (close...getting close)
* Get my man to decide, (now he wants a jumper), what this jumper will look like so I can plan it, buy yarn etc..
* Finish the embroidered pillow number 2
* Get over my second cold of this season (I am so annoyed. I had a flu jab and all it did was stress me out)
* Not freak out at work, and hopefully make my new deadline.
* oh maybe get some more hexagons done.
* Usual housework stuff.

And on that last one, here's a great link for joining granny squares (for a note to self).

Hope your list is smaller than mine.

Starting a blanket and finishing socks.

So there is knitting and such going on. But my man objects to my use of double pointed needles in the car (as passenger - he's driving) as he sees them more like steel stilettos than implements of sock making (and yes, I can see his reasoning). Anyway, so that means no socks in transit.

Thus, I have been crocheting, since I don't really want to drag around either my Clapotis (blue, large and fuzzy) or my Smoulder (not quite so large, but requires 8 colours and paying attention, and hurts my shoulder to carry).

I do like the feeling of progress of doing the little hexagons.
I have seven now. It takes about one hour TV program to make one. I get about 3/4 of one done on the way to work. I'm good with that.

Socks are relegated to the in front of TV knitting mostly, so they'll probably take a bit longer. Ah well. Winter's going to be around for a bit. I'll get there. Giftee is keen to wear them. :)

And small person needs slippers, so maybe I'll dig up the partially knitted Mini Fuzzy Feet and get them done - I know she'd prefer them to actual slippers and they'd be warmer than socks.

Oh, and my absolute great thing? Falling asleep last night to rain on a tin roof. Love it, love it.

Errr... Now I can't decide.

So I tried out doing more 'filled in' crocheted last round. And now I can't decide.

Which one?

The all the way open version (on the left) , or the more hexagonal version I just largely made up? They are both a little over 10cm across.

Can't... decide....

It will be a full blanket, what do you all think? Help the clueless... it's charity, honesty. Without the tax deduction.

So we have gifts by halves...

Okay, so I didn't get the oh-so-secret (ha!) mother's day presents done in time.

I got them half done - one each.

One sock for my mum...

And one of two pillowcase embroidery for my mother in law to be at some point. :)

Both got given with a ... "Happy Mother's Day! There's another one coming, and you can't take that one with you yet..."

Thankfully, both mums accepted this with good grace. Which is a good thing, or I might have .. I don't know. Not given them hollandaise on their eggs benedict or something. (I made brunch).

Also, in other news... i have finished sampling hexagons.

I have three.
I have decided I like the right most one, the classic granny square vibe but in a modern heaxgon stylin'. (giggle).

Flowers to come at some point. Also considering the odd white hexagon scattered amongst the red to keep it modern looking.

Oh and.. I need to finish the sock/pillowcase mates at some point. Soonish. But perhaps not right this I-rushed-to-get-the-first-ones-done point..

Oh, and Smoulder.
So pretty. So wearable. Yet... gives my shoulder pains from carrying it and all the supplies around. Sigh.

I finally finished it!

That bag I have been meaning to make for an absolute age.

I am very happy with it! I learned how to put in a zipper, and made a lined pocket for my mobile, and it's even got reinforcing and such so it's nice and sturdy.

I only had to rip out one section - the handle is patched and I didn't notice until after I sewed it how one directional the pattern is in small sections, so I had to do it over.

Anyway, on to the photos!

Hey... wait a minute....

So, I'm testing crochet hexagons.

I've completed the first one (after the one who's instructions I couldn't follow) - the graphic granny afghan. It looks like this..

And then I decide to start the second one - Crochet Hexagon Throw.

After I've started round 3, I look at it.

And then I go get my other one, and then compare the patterns line by line.
And, realise, that despite using different names for some of the composite stitches, they are identical. Sigh. Well, I guess I have less to test now.

I still have this one.. and I am going to look at how this one is constructed and maybe try that too..Of course, they may be identical. I shall look more closely this time..

And I'm still looking for someone who can understand this pattern - Little Hexagon motif.

Maybe I should switch to flowers for a while?

Oh and I started sewing the bag I mentioned a while ago. Which stalled briefly when I realised that the fabric was definitely directional when in small sections and thus some of the strap needed to be ripped out and restitched to match the rest of the strap. But I feel better about it now, even if no further progress was made ;-)

I can't do photos right now.

Not that I am incapable or anything, but my Big Two projects on the go/about to be got on the go are gifts for mother's day.

And you know how mothers, god bless 'em, want to be supportive and everything?

How they stay interested in what you're up to, how you're doing, so they can provide thoughtful and caring encouragement?

Well, in these days of modern fangled-communication, they read blogs.

Who'da thought!

So, since both gift reciepents to be already kinda know what they are getting, I don't want to blow the surprise more than I need to.

I am still trying out those haxagons though, so I'll be able to post the first one soon (I have about a round or so left.)

I tried the Little Hexagon pattern but couldn't follow the instructions. Any more experiences crochet divas out there wanna take a look and get back to me, please do.

I also tried a flower or two, on the look out for the perfect one of them, so I'll get back to you on that also.

Peace to all, and watch out for the zombies.

The blankie with the hexagaons.

Okay, I've been crocheting. I have a nice cotton circular coaster to replace the purple felted square on my desk.
Then I tried out granny squares. They were fun.

I borrowed a book from the library 200 stitch patterns for baby blankets. I even made one of the blocks.

And then I thought to consult with the expected owner of said blanket. (That's afghan to you Americans in the audience).

So, remember how I can be somewhat finicky? Picky even? Shush you up the back.

My daughter can also be like that from time to time.

So after extensive consultation with her we agreed on a pattern.

Hexagons in red, with sewn on white flowers.

Now this may seem easy right. Two colours, clearly defined boundaries.

But now I have to decide on which hexagon pattern I wish to use.

They vary from the open lacy and small, to the solid. The granny-squarish to the .. well, there are a few.

I narrowed the list. There is only, oh, 5 I have to try out. :)

Will post with notes. And maybe a flower or two.

uh-oh

Have discovered dangerously addictive quality of crocheted granny squares.

Small size & ease of completion = great small scale satisfaction without requiring pattern or thought.

Daughter has requested red blanket to cover herself on the couch. I complain about her extensive using of the great grandmother's (mine, so her great-great grandmother's) crocheted blanket as hiding place/random stretchy/thing to leave on the floor.

She wants her own.

Plus... I have stash yarn.

Resistance is futile.

photos later.