In progress: Eve's rib tunic

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Yep, the observant among you will notice this is the THIRD item I've made with the James C Brett Marble Chunky.

Somebody made an offhand remark on Wednesday night, and now I'm wondering if it's too loud. I asked the Cog what he thought, and he started laughing. "You're asking me? Mr Black Jeans, Black T-shirt? I've only recently started wearing blue jeans!". When questioned further, he said it was a little loud for him, but perfectly normal for me. Threw it across the floor in disgust.

I give up. I don't know what this yarn wants to BE. Kudos to JB though, for making it fairly froggable.

In progress: "Plarn" bag

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

A bag made out of charity bags. Because I am getting up to 5 a week through the door. Only problem? I can't crochet it fast enough! :D

Ploughing

So I ploughed on with "Eve's rib tunic" last night - it starts off as Galena, but then you add hip shaping and more rounds for a longer length. I was really struggling to visualize what I was making - it was a kind of 3D C shape with 4 "corners" of increases. Then I got to the armholes, and then joined the neck, and it's all coming together. It's really quite addictive. I love all of the designs in "Everyday Crochet" and want to make quite a few of them - not so much the round-necked ones as they do not flatter a large bust, but they are still cute.

If it wasn't for the fact I'm unpicking a cardigan and crocheting in one go, I'd be working on it during the day too (the cardigan was quite bulky, hence its punishment). Not sure where this leaves the slipstitch jacket, which was also being made from this yarn (James C Brett Marble Chunky in pastel shades). I think it might get frogged.

The rowan top is coming along slowly. Because I'm knitting from unpicked yarn, I keep hitting knots, and having to go back to the start of the row (trying to keep the knots to the edges). Other than that it's just mindless stocking stitch.

Ordered the Tahki Stacey Charles City Crochet collection today (more Doris Chan patterns) and some Ravelry cling stickers so I can pimp out my car.

Anodised

Well I caved and bought myself a set of anodized aluminium hooks, not taking any more chances with my crochet tools. Which means I will have a selection of crochet hooks to destash at Wednesday's knit night.

Despite having other things I ought to be working on, I was seduced by the patterns in Doris Chan's "Everyday Crochet" and started Galena. Four times. I can't tell where I am in the pattern, and if I am doing it right. It's gonna be a bumpy ride....

Put it this way, in two more rows I'm supposed to have 34 repeats, and I only currently have 20 something. Hmm.

Answers...

Yes, Mary, it was a garter carriage jumper I was wearing on Sunday. My first garment using it, and only really one mistake in the pattern!

Thanks for the tip about Rowan denim, Caroline - I will have to check it out. And add it to my long queue of Things I Must Make.

Sue, the waterfall waistcoat pattern is from book 106 from Ann Brown of Posh Frocks, http://www.poshfrocks.com/ - you'll have to call her though because I don't see it on the website.

Gave the shorter one to my sister, actually I'm not sure who got the better deal to be honest! The long one is nice but it's quite hot in the office today so I've had to take it off. I think the short one might be less overwhelming. Loving the lambswool, though. Hoping I might have enough left over for a pencil skirt.

I have another pattern of hers I keep meaning to do - book 99, "a versatile jacket", it's a jacket with a long draped front that can be worn either way up. I love garments with more than one way to wear them, I feel like somehow I am getting more value for money! :D

I also need to make a skirt sometime. I keep finding other things to do!

Hook-tastic!

This week I have been learning about more obscure crochet techniques - linked stitches, and how to make an alternative, thicker turning chain. Haven't seen these in any books - we need a Montse Stanley-type book for these obscure crochet techniques!

The only book I've got that touches on variations is the Donna Kooler Encyclopedia of Crochet - she has a section on extended stitches, stitches at right angles etc. Does anyone have a book they could recommend that covers everything, even the obscure stuff?

FO: Roses Dress

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Think I'll probably make the next size down next time. Not sure I'm happy with the placement of the belt - my waist is lower. Have to open the seams and move it I think...

FO: Waterfall

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

You are supposed to be able to flick the fronts over your shoulders. Mine need to be at least double the length. Luckily I have plenty more of this yarn!

FO: Waterfall reversed

Waterfall
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Inspirations: Pineapple skirt

Anybody see this skirt/poncho on the back of Interweave Crochet? I really want to make it (it's a free pattern), but I'm not sure where I'll get Den-M-Knit cotton from in the UK...

You'd have to line it, too, of course...

Bill King Dress (back)

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Bill King Dress (front)

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Had to get a shot of this - the dress is made in partial knitting, and has NOT been cut and sewn, ie the shape has been created with increases and decreases. Genius! I wonder how he worked it out! And, can I have one?!

Patterns

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Bought three patterns at Nottingham - a long-sleeve twist jacket in hot pink kid mohair, a draped-front jacket in charcoal grey alpaca and a simple wrap (front) in purple lambswool. The wrap is very simple - a long piece of knitting with two armholes in. Have made a start on it already (and managed to damage the far left 7 needle channels somehow. Grump!)

Amaya - thwarted, but not for long

As is my wont, thought I'd make the front of Amaya first to check I was happy with the fit. No such luck - the instructions read "when the knitting is 80 rows shorter than the back". Ahem. Thwarted by the Rowan pattern writers. Botheration!

It's going quite slowly at the moment, as the top and sleeves are knitted in one piece, and the sleeve/top part needs to measure 24cm, so pretty slow going. Mostly managed to keep knots at the ends, but lost a few rows today when I had to rip back from when I'd suddenly turned mid-row. Well, I was paying more attention to Jack Sparrow than to my knitting last night I think!

I caved at the weekend, and bought some Nicky Clarke straighteners (we got a £50 voucher from Argos for buying a Dyson in January). I'm only straightening the top layer of hair. The Cog says my head looked entirely too small when I got back from the hairdressers. Mind you, I always think that of his cut, and he goes more often than I do. Apparently "a quick run over with the straighteners" means 30 minutes. Ahem. I'll only be using them once or twice a week, after a hair wash. I can't be doing with too much primping in the morning.

Been messing around with the blog wallpaper today. This is actually some knitweave I did ages ago, with a fantastic lumpy yarn I picked up from Uppinghams. All my own work!

It's the Nottingham MK show on Sunday, really looking forward to it! Chequebook at the ready...

FO: Fingerless gloves

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Used a Sirdar pattern that was so badly written I improvised for the fingers eventually. Think I'll stick to my old Mariner pattern in future - at least it makes some sense!

Finished: Armelle

Ok so it needs a plain button (I'm thinking clear or silver) but other than that, it's finished, and very cosy. Will post a pic when I have one. I'm also subtitling it "One hour in Banwy" and "Lost in Colinette".

I've acquired a newer knitting machine, a KH881, which has a built-in knitleader. It needs a good clean-up and oiling, but other than that (and a new sponge bar) it looks in pretty good nick. Means I can pass the KH836 onto a blind friend, might be more successful than the one-armed-bandit that is the KH710 (an early pushbutton knitting machine).

I need to tackle the nemesis that is the Rowan bamboo tape and make something useful out of it - right now I've cast on for a pair of fingerless gloves, which should be a quick and easy project. Rather obscure instructions in the pattern I'm using - good job I know what they actually mean!