Needles of Steel

Monday, May 19

That Sherbourne stash in full...

100_2075
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Two cones of baby acrylic, something fancy, something sparkly, and a few knitting magazines. and far too much cake!

My new knitting corner

100_2076
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

No longer populated by carrier bags, but a basket courtesy of Ikea!

Monday, May 12

I've started a new blog, "Machine Knitting 101", to post pictures of various MK techniques. I think it will build into an interesting online resource. Three cast-ons today, because Flickr is having problems.

Startitis strikes again

Not content with working on the Kauni cardigan and the drooping elm lace scarf, not to mention the basketweave baby blanket, I cast on for the Taos diagonal jacket yesterday. It grows really fast, I am already up to the shoulder on the first piece.

No wonder I never get anything finished! :) I did so much knitting on Saturday that by the evening my hands were beginning to ache. But still I continued - the Cog thought this highly amusing. Yes, I am an addict.

The UK has been enjoying a mini-heatwave this week so I've been out in the garden hand-knitting, and less keen on sitting indoors slaving over a hot knitting machine. Might have to do some tonight, though, as I have MK folk coming tomorrow and the chunky machine is in use.

The urge to run out the door with my picnic rug in hand, and go find somewhere quiet to lie down and snooze is quite strong today. Especially as I am feeling quite tired for some reason.

Saturday, May 10

Pickle's wrap

Pickle's wrap
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Made this in two evenings and an afternoon, it's a "Just Jussi" pattern.

Added shell crochet edging for stability - needs blocking I think though. The yarn is Denys Brunton Designer Yarn, and looks nothing on the cone.

Tuesday, May 6

FO: more socks

Finished socks on the Cog. Lost count of how many pairs I've made now.

This deckchair had been up for about 3 minutes yesterday, before Tom decided it was his. This is his "Wanna make something of it?" face.

Dippy staff do get my goat sometimes. I'm trying to overlock some knitted swatches using woolly nylon - alas, on one of the reels the slippery stuff just falls off and then catches and snaps. So I went a-hunting to Dunelm. After waiting ten minutes to speak to the lady on the cloth counter, it was plain she'd never heard of thread netting (it's rather like that plastic mesh you buy bird nuts in). When I explained what it was, she suggested I sew slower. Yeah, right. This is for an overlocker looper, which uses approximately 6mm of thread every 1.5mm of overlocking. Sheesh! Can't believe I had to explain such a thing to a member of staff in her fifties.

Luckily, ebay came up trumps again, which saves me trying to scramble around town in the rush hour. Did think later I could have tried to construct some kind of paper cone, to stop the thread escaping, but never mind...

Friday, May 2

Knitting on. And on...

Never fear, I am still knitting around, just nothing much to report ATM. The Kauni continues (not recovered from last week's frogging yet length-wise), a second sock was machine-knitted last night for G (hope to work the 2x2 rib this weekend) and the lace knitting is... resting... might also pick that up this weekend.

I was also inspired by Sarah Chilcott's suggestion in May's MK Guild newsletter, to use up some industrial yarns making blankets for charity - a nice easy knit! Well, perhaps for some, but my chunky carriage is squealing across the bed left to right, despite cleaning - I suspect oiling might be necessary. That is one advantage of the plastic bed machines - less lubrication required.

Anyway, it's been quite pleasing to see three or four cone middles go into the bin. I am determined to make a concerted effort to shift most of the industrial yarn this year, because it's just hanging around getting older and benefits nobody in the attic. Plus it makes me feel guilty when I succumb to yarn purchases of a far more appropriate thickness.

I'm only planning to get hand-knitting done for the next two days, as G booked us a mini-spa break in exotic Birmingham. In fact I am typing this on lunch at work, awaiting the sound of his car. Everyone else has gone down to the pub to celebrate our first accountant moving on, so it's quieter than the grave up here today. We have got some beauty treatments booked in, alas the pool's shut for a refurb but I plan on doing some frivolous shopping tomorrow - might get a new hand-bag - the current one pre-dates my current relationship! I feel the need for some sensible colours of nail-varnish, too - other than bottle green and burgundy I have nowt, the rest got chucked for going gloopy.

The Noro Kureyon socks have been machine-washed successfully - on the 30 minute quick wash - so I might now be tempted to use that on other handwash items. Otherwise they tend to languish in the bottom of the laundry bin for weeks on end - no good to man nor beast. The only downside of the noro socks is that I plied invisible yarn in with the wool for strength, and it is very hard to fasten it off, so consequently I have two gossamer ends sticking out. Have to think of a way to permanently weave them in that won't come undone.

I've booked the afternoon off to go down to the Guild AGM in Dorset in a few weeks. It was either that, or arrive there at gone 8pm and expect my host (who I've never met in person) to have some food on the table for me. And I'd rather get lost (ahem!) in daylight than in dusk, too! More shops and businesses are open during the day should I need to ask directions. I've also booked on the overlocking course - now, if I could just find some local sewing courses that were evenings and not correspondance... heh, I can dream!

Well, that's quite enough wittering from me today. Enjoy your May Day weekend!

Current mood: determined

Monday, April 28

Selecting a crochet hook

crochethook,
originally uploaded by steel breeze.

If you are crocheting with an unidentified yarn, this is how you should choose your hook. The red bit is the yarn in cross-section!

Sunday, April 27

FO: Felted bag

Sunniest day of the year so far on saturday, and I am ensconced in a damp & cold church hall. Am I bothered? No! I am making a bag out of some pieces of felted fabric I made.

I had a major panic Friday night, and felted some material for the second half. I needn't have bothered, really - the bag came out really long, I should've cut it down, but I do not like cutting my hard work up! :)

I made quite a few cock-ups during construction - made the first pocket inside-out and upside-down, then used the leather I'd cut for the top for the handle, then didn't have enough lining material so had to add another bit. I guess I was concentrating on getting it done and not paying so much attention to what I was doing! It turned out OK anyway and I have some more scraps of leather should I decide to make another (smaller!) one.

The heart was sewn on, and the bobbly yarn applied with the embellisher. My sewing machine would only sew the leather if the leather was on the bottom, so it was rather hard to keep to the edge (because I couldn't see it).

Now, some gratuitous pictures of the garden, before the heavens opened:

Bleeding Heart - my favourite!

One of only three tulips in bloom

Rosemary - this was just a twig when planted

Thomas discovers something interesting under the rose bush

Some sort of willow, aka the "Treebush", planted from a twig outside the french windows

Thomas: "I lurve the scent of freshly-cut grass in the morning". *wriggle wriggle*

Thomas: "You can't see me, can you?!"