FO: Ravellenic fingerless gloves and a beading WIP

Well, the weather continues to be rubbish - either grey and very wet, or grey and freezing. Either way, the sun has packed up and left. I felt sure we'd wake up to snow on the ground this morning, but no, it's back to blah. This is global warming, I guess - more water than we know what to do with, localised flooding, and yet the nearest carwash is kaput again. Pah!

This Sunday just gone, I had a table at the Alexandra Arts spring studio stash sale day - local artisans sell off old stock and extras they don't want. I donated some bobbin lace books to the book table, and managed to sell off some socks, my old bobbin lace board (with half-completed bookmark in situ and loads of notes and extra stuff), a hand-knit cardigan and a few sewing items. I raised £46 for Dementia UK and rounded that up to £50 just because I like round numbers. I did pick up some beautiful antique glass buttons, beads and some pretty fabric. The weather wasn't great (despite a brief glimpse of the sun  on Saturday) so visitors were low. 

Anyroad, being a bit down in the dumps, I made a list of all my hobbies (I have a LOT) and whilst having a stash dive in preparation for the above sale, I rediscovered a necklace kit I must have picked up at one of the NEC shows, so that's in progress. I also knitted two pairs of fingerless gloves on the KH965i, mostly because it's currently the Ravellenic games and as a moderator, I felt I ought to contribute something. I'd forgot there's a "yarn unwinding" event, I could have waited to frog that diastrous circular cardigan and made it into an event. Ah well! 

Sales table at the Alex

Fingerless gloves for the Ravellenic games, pattern is here. These are a great stashbuster and can be made in a long strip and then seperated later. T5 for sock yarn makes them a smidge too small (supposed to be ladies size) but would be great for teens. As this is sock yarn leftovers, one has to be frugal with the yarn! 

Another pair, think I made these over Xmas but didn't blog about them. Added extra cuff in a contrasting yarn, possibly making them a little too long. 

Beading in process - it's already further on than this, but seed bead spirals require good eyesight! The big yellow bead is a safety bead which will come off later. 

Gorgeous glass button and bead eye candy!

Current mood: crappy

Busier than a busy thing...

Gosh, didn't realise it had been so long since I posted. Life has been busy! We had a week in Lanzarote which was lovely (apart from a bout of food poisoning on the first night). I could bore you with pictures but I'm sure there are plenty of better ones online. We stayed at a hotel with a fake volcano (with LED lava at night!) - there was a bar and an indoor waterfall at the bottom. Lots of swimming pools (one of which was FREEZING), and we were well placed for the quiet little harbour with lots of restaurants within easy walking distance. Cocktails, good weather, what's not to like? A bit weird seeing snowflakes and Santa in a hot country, but very enjoyable anyway. The whole Christmas thing has kicked off at work and at home - this year we're putting a few things up every day just because we don't have time to dedicate a whole morning to it (we don't put up that much!). There have been lots of things to visit and we did a mini pub crawl of our favourite pubs in Coventry this weekend (and got to check out the Coventry Telegraph hotel, very nice!). Most of the xmas shopping is done asides from the food, which is a relief. 

On the knitting front, I have finished the red tee top on the Passap, though I didn't make a great attempt at the crocheted sleeve borders. I also demonstrated Diana Sullivan's fingerless gloves at the monthly club meeting - yes, we have a half-decent webpage as of tonight - partly because I was thinking about stocking fillers, and partly because it's getting cold enough working from home that I need them myself! Don't ask how I got them to match, it was sheer luck. I'm no further forward with the half fisherman's cardigan on the Passap, mostly because I have been trying to get my sleep pattern back into some sort of normality and the vagaries of the E6000 is more complication than I can handle. Hoping to send the console in for a service and new battery early next year. 

Current mood: happy

Lest we forget and an unplanned finished object

This month's local WI postbox toppers - I really love the remembrance one. I cannot take any credit for any of these this time as September was just too busy for me! We always watch the 11am service on Rememberance Sunday, though this year we had to switch off early. Weird not to see the Queen there.

Some delicious looking handspun I picked up at the Big Textiles show. Not shown, the block printing kit I picked up that is alas devoid of written instructions, I'll need to get onto Youtube / the vendor's website. Also (for the eagle eyed amongst you) I finally caved and treated myself to a new keyboard for my WFH office - I really wanted a Logi and I much prefer the split keyboard layout, typing around "the girls", and work wouldn't pay for what I wanted. As my trackball is also Logi I gained a USB port, hurrah for that! The old MS keyboard has a tendency to cut out (of course you cannot buy a new USB  receiver without buying the whole flipping thing again!) but it will go back to the office in case anyone else wants it as a spare (as it is not mine). The wrist rest has seen better days alas...  

A quick handknit for my sweetie - he was complaining of cold hands WFH, and the blue pair I machine knitted for him a few years ago have always been too big. So quick these haven't even made it onto Ravelry yet, they are from a vintage Mariner pattern that I have had so long I have a TYPED copy as the original copy was almost illegible. I made the ladies size as this yarn is a wool 5ply that the SK840 did NOT like... 

Also not shown, the back of a cardigan knitted on the E6000 in half fisherman's rib. I definitely still have at least one dodgy front bed pusher, so I must reprogram the fronts so that the tucking happens on the back bed. Of course it's right in the middle too! Of COURSE! Bah... It's a very simple pattern from one of the model books with sideways pockets knitted tubular in the front, which I wanted to have a go at. 

Current mood: okay

Gent, FO roundup and learning a new skill

Well, September flew by! I had a two day demo at the Alexandra Arts cafe, where I made two pairs of socks and a pair of fingerless gloves on the CSM and flatbed respectively. L helped me make some hats, which need a smidge of steam to control the flippy up mock ribs. Oh, and I made it to page 6 of the local newspaper, misspelt as usual (the photographer wrote it down correctly but someone always thinks they know better!) and not my best shot! 

The following weekend was the guild AGM, detailed in the previous post. Last weekend my partner and I had a short break in Gent, or Ghent (the H appears to be optional and doesn't appear in the train station name so I will go with the former!).

Gent was lovely, although someone narrowly missed hitting me with a properly dangerous full size umbrella, dropped off the bridge on the second shot (I was about level with the red life preserver at the time!). Not sure if it was an accident or a student prank, that bridge ballustrade is pretty thick! The weather was a bit hit and miss, but we loved the pavement cafes, cobbled streets, excellent beer and food, and the friendly people. We visited two of the churches and the bell tower, and I picked up a lovely tapestry handbag in the sale. Suitcase space was severly limited so we did not bring back chocolate or beer, alas!

This weekend I learned to do this:

I picked up a copy of "Learn Tunisian Crochet in the Round" by Sandy Walker at the AGM, along with two other tunisian books. The photo tutorial in the front was a bit confused - at one point it refers to working into the legs of the tunisian stitches, when you are still in the foundation crochet set up part of the pattern. Some of the pictures are clearly out of sequence, though that might be deliberate. I could not understand the bit about closing each round with a tks so decided to skip it in the end, having watched someone else do this technique on youtube - she did the corner increases differently - I might try that method next time, tss, yo and tss into the same loop is fiddly - and didn't join. I do wish they'd get such books read by a proofreader who tries the technique from scratch. It would also help if they'd put all the tunisian stitch diagrams on one page, instead of peppered throughout the book - this is an Annie's Crochet book and they have a comprehensive page of crochet stitches in the back, most of which aren't even required in this book. I did try and contact the designer via Facebook but you have to join her FB group before you can message her (and I haven't been approved yet) and anway, it's academic now... 

Anyway, those small gripes aside, my version is a true spiral - the lack of a join doesn't seem to be making a difference anyway! I love this technique and can see how I could rechart it for other designs - no idea what I'm doing with this sheep design but I'll figure something out! A cushion cover perhaps? It's supposed to be 16" square when finished though of course it's US DK which might not be quite the same as UK DK. There's an amazing fairisle sampler afghan in the back of the book - what a pity I'm mostly out of DK yarn, other than the two shades I'm using here! I suspect I might have to tackle that at some point, despite the fact I have no need of more blankets here! I just love making them and seeing the patterns appear, especially as in this technique the aspect ratio seems to be 1:1 so much easier to design things to come out in the correct proportions.

This morning we were greeted with this as we made our breakfast. Got to love those autumn sunrises!

Current mood:  impressed

Up and down and up again...

It's been an up and down week. Things have been pretty busy at work, but still with the uneven loading - quiet start and then too much by the end of the week. Luckily the CAD team are well-practiced in balancing workload, and learning that NO is a full sentence sometimes. There's a planning method which they ignore at their leisure. A close colleague resigned on Wednesday, which was completely unexpected. Before covid meant my desk was moved, I sat next to him. I'll miss his sunny outlook and his willingness to help anyone, even if it wasn't his area. I'm sure he'll go far! I think the thing that's tweaking me the most, apart from sadness, is not being able to say goodbye in person, though we're doing the best we can with the technology that's available. Talking of which, I've a streamed funeral to attend on Monday, another first for me. Gutted I can't be there in person, because there's a lot of family on that side that I've lost touch with (a family schism, I won't bore you with the details) and sadly, it's only events like this that we ever get together. Hoping perhaps there'll be a memorial of some sort when this is all over. 

The Cog and I have managed a few rambles lately, in between the rain showers. The footpaths are awash with people, so a ramble means getting a bit more space and a LOT more mud. Friends post pictures of their snowy streets online - looks like we might have had 1cm of snow overnight, but nothing more! My inner child is desperate for some snow - this winter we could enjoy it as big kids whilst we continue to work from home, without the worry of having to drive in it. Alas it seems it is not to be!

Knitting has slowed to a crawl this week. I'm at the crown decreases on another ribbed hat, and I've machine-knit the front and back and one sleeve of a jumper in black chenille 4ply (the last needing to be cast off). I'm not feeling the love for this yarn - I gained it in a destash at the Leicestershire MK club. Knitting black in the winter is hard enough as it is, and this yarn doesn't look great after a wash either. But I persist, because it's one of the full cones I identified last year with at least a sweater's worth of yarn on it, which will benefit someone if I knit it up. Maybe that's the issue - knitting things for others from stash is all very well, but if you don't love what you're doing, or like the yarn, it's somehow less urgent! I plan to knit the Cog a sweater after this and am trying to stop myself starting that before finishing the other. 

That being said, I did knit these mittens last weekend, from a Gerda Stitt pattern that is hosted in perpetuity on my Machine Knitter's Treasure Chest website. The thumb and finger sections could use a few more rows, and I halved the cuffs because I wasn't sure I'd have enough yarn otherwise, but otherwise they were knitted with no modifications. This is Yeoman's Cashmilon, a 100% acrylic yarn, and they are a lovely shade of purple in reality, the flash has washed the colour out a bit. Yes, I think my "hat phase" is over... I think I might be turning towards scarves and blankets for a bit. 

Not much else to report, really. We're staying indoors as much as possible asides from a brisk daily walk if the weather's being kind, and I'm still avoiding the nightly TV news, as it's just too depressing and paranoia-inducing. My sleep's been a bit crap lately, but we've got into the habit of doing 20 minutes on the exercise bike most mornings before work. Oh well - one positive this week, a real politician is back in charge in the US. This weekend I plan to play with knitting machines and clear out the garage. The former will be reward for the latter.  

Stay warm, stay safe, and mask up! :)

Current mood: indescribable

FO: Deformed toddler sock and fingerless mittens

One deformed toddler sock - tried knitting EON on the CSM at the tightest tension, but it wasn't terribly happy about that - but T3 seemed ok (it's usually T6 for every needle anyway). Completely forgot to work a toe so they are rather square. Oh well, it was my first attempt!



A room with a view - an early Sunday morning shot of the fingerless mittens (yes, there are two!) which I finished sewing up Saturday night. A very simple mitten knitted over 40 sts with a short-row thumb. If I can find the notes I'll post the pattern (quite easy to figure out anyway).

Current mood: working

Some finished objects

I am continuing to be snotty but think I'm over the worst of the head cold. I sure hope so, I miss tasting my food. The Cog keeps making curries, bless him, and I can't actually tell how spicy they are...


The colours are a little off in this picture, they are more vibrant in person.


Both of these are my "new" sock recipe - 30 rnds 1x1 rib, K to R145 in 3x1 rib, K to R150 in stst, short-row toe and grafted.


Some fingerless gloves based on a pattern that came with Sirdar Colourwheel yarn - this is King Cole shine, and the sparkly bit is pink although you can't tell from this shot.

In other news, I really do need to stop reclining on the sofa. I keep falling asleep! I've knitted the component parts to Swirl, hopefully it's something like the correct pattern, which seems rather open to interpretation. Now I just need to figure out how to sew it up - it's not happening with Grigna, that's for sure!

Current mood: crappy

FO: Star Wars fingerless gloves

Finished these on the 31st for my nephew's birthday. They were going to be Batman gloves but I decided Star Wars was easier as it's fairisle not intarsia. Thumbs a little long and top ribbing could have been deeper as it's curling a little, but overall a lovely pattern! Found on Ravelry :)

In other news, got DAK8 up and running on the Mac, no idea if it'll "talk" to a machine as I don't have the cables yet - next month maybe? Going on a two-day course at Metropolitan at the end of this month anyway so hopefully I'll get the basics :)

We did some DBJ at Manor House t'other week (which the Brother KH950i curtailed in spectacularly smoky fashion, when it blew a capacitor!) using my DBJ cheat sheet, which I think I need to update and improve upon. I also want to finish up some MK and HK projects that have been languishing in the sidebar waaaay too long, and start swatching some lovely alpaca I won in September. Despite having had a fairly free weekend, events overtook me as we had to go into Brum to get a DVD box set (also for the nephew) as Coventry is currently without an HMV and Rugby's closed ages ago. Must try harder! This is the year of destash, finish up, tidy up and dejunk the knitting room so that I can decorate it. To that end, there's some stash for sale on Ravelry (I'm steelbreeze). So far nobody's biting at 1p per gramme so I'm going to say "Offers, please!". Postage prices don't help though! :S

Current mood: determined

FO: Fingerless mittens and CSM mittens

Some simple fingerless mittens, in a discontinued yarn called "Loweth Wools Polka". Making some black ones now.



Made them just to try them out. An interesting experiment, but a 72 cylinder is too wide for fingers really, and I think the knitting machine is easier and more adaptable for these. My fave pattern is this one by Gerda Stitt - I offered to host it when Geocities closed.

Having started the cat on something to reduce his thyroid function - he's gone hyperthyroid and has started eating us out of house and home whilst simultaneously losing weight - it came as some surprise for him to go completely the other way this weekend - lethargic, hiding, not eating at all and unable to poop. A mad mercy dash to the vet this morning revealed nothing amiss except a tender behind (because he keeps licking it) - we're going to leave off the thyroid tablets for now, not much point if he's not eating.

Current mood: relieved

Free pattern: Sideways MK fingerless gloves

Machine: std 4.5mm gauge machine
Yarn: Any oddments of sock yarn 3-4ply
Tension: 5

Make 2 alike

1. Cast on with waste yarn over 52 sts, knit a few rows and end with carriage on right. 
2. K 1 row ravel cord RC000
3. With main yarn and T5, K 38 rows. Set carriage to HOLD - carriage should be on left
4. Put needles 5R to 26R into Hold
5. K1 row (COR)
6. Put 5 Ns opposite carr into hold, K1 row
7. Put 1 N nearest carr into hold, K1 row
8. Rep rows 6 and 7 until only 6 sts left in work in the middle of the bed (RC47)
9. Put all needles from 26L to 4R into UWP and K 6 rows (RC53)
10. Put all thumb needles back into hold except middle 7, K 1 row
11. Put 1N nearest carr into hold, K1 row
12. Put 7 Ns to UWP, K 1 row
13. Rep rows 11 and 12 until all thumb stitches (26L - 4R) back in work. Break yarn.
14. Put all Ns into HOLD, and pass the carriage to the right (free pass) COR (RC63)
15. Put all needles from 5R to 26R into UWP and knit 8 rows (RC71)
16. Cancel HOLD, K38 rows on all needles (RC109)

Break yarn, leaving a tail 4 x the width of the knitting, and scrap off on waste yarn. Graft the cast on and cast off edges together and weave in ends.

Notes:

• You might subtract multiples of 2 rows at (15) if you find the finger part too loose. I tried leaving them out altogether and felt it made the thumb hole a bit too tight - only advantage being you don't have to break the yarn
• I added a row of dc, a row of tr and some 5tr, 1dc shells to mine; you could add rib before grafting instead to counteract the natural curl of stocking stitch. 
• If you don't fancy grafting, cast on with e-wrap instead, knit the last row @ T10 and latch off instead. You'll have a seam down the outside of the hand. 

FO: Sideways knitted gloves

This is a pattern I came up with the other weekend. The original plan was to try and do it without breaking the yarn, but that makes the thumb hole a bit tight (that one is not pictured, might frog it yet). They looked ok but I added some crochet shells to counteract the curl. Next pair'll probably have ribbing instead. A great use for leftover sock yarns. The thumb is done with short-rowing. This yarn is very loud, I love it!

These are so pretty I think I might keep them for myself!

In other news, I bought a big cross-stitch sampler kit to work on. Yes, I'm contemplating going over to the dark side of needlepoint... :)

Current mood: thoughtful

Things afoot...

Bits and bobs

Well, the head cold has gradually turned back into a sore throat again. Let's hope the cycle doesn't restart, as himself came back from Austria very late last night with "I might have picked up another cold!" Harrumph! He can keep his foreign germs to himself! I did mean to wait up for him, but fell asleep almost as soon as the light went off.

Not much machine knitting happened this weekend, because I was actually teaching MK to a lovely lady in Hinckley on Saturday, and a lovely lady in Bedworth on Sunday. Although, I did make another reversible hat on Sunday night, I haven't finished sewing it up yet.


Easy handknitted gloves - based on a pattern by Busymonkey but modified to be knitted in one piece. Although, looking at the pictures on Ravelry, I think her thumb is probably nicer.


Simple garter stitch scarf - I love how the cat photobombed this shot!


Ipod cosy - needs a button or something :)


Very small hat - either for a preemie or for a doll, it was all the yarn I had left!


Child's hat made on the SK860. I think that machine needs a good oil, it always seems rather stiff.


And because I never got around to photographing them, the soft weights I made for the CSM, alongside a CSM needle which I don't think fits my machine at all, no idea how it got in the box!

Oh, incidentally, I'm helping a friend put up a website to talk about his CSM collection (amongst other things). Not much up there at the moment but hopefully it will build up into an interesting website.

FO: Easy MK fingerless mittens

100_3840
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Made these in about an hour on Saturday for his nibs. You make a simple straight piece of knitting, and then pick up stitches half way up the sides for the thumb. I'm reliably informed it was in the last Guild of Machine Knitter's newsletter, but as I have temporarily mislaid my copy, I cannot absolutely confirm that.

I refuse to make any more complex gloves for him indoors, as he has his own personal glove-shaped black hole and always loses one of them within a week. Plus, these are designed for typing in an unheated office.

FO: Gloves

glove
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

The first finished object of 2011 (I actually started them a few days ago). This is a sock yarn from Easyknits, and the pattern is an ancient one - Mariner no 1758.

I made some fingerless gloves last year with a modern version of this pattern (the stitch counts were identical). However, the pattern had been rewritten in such a way as to make it more complicated to understand, and the gloves it produced are kind of mishapen.

So this (vintage) pattern is now my fallback "old faithful" - and I usually use it to make fingerless gloves or mittens. This is the first time I ever made gloves from it - and they are a perfect fit! I don't actually have the original pattern, it was a photocopy I had since I was about 11, that had started to break up so I typed it up on an old typewriter. I wonder if I might find the original on ebay?! :)

Addendum: Woolly Thoughts has the pattern, off to get a proper copy!