Mystery knitting

I have joined my first knit-along, AND my first mystery knitting project!

The mystery knit-along is a Leethal pattern, and is a total mystery, the only thing we’ll know is that it is an accessory, and that it is a one size, fits all-item. You can read more about it in Leethal’s blog post.

Tonight I have been trying to choose yarns for the project, and I THINK I have ended on these two alternatives -

Lucca Fino, worsted weight merino – a multicoloured white/pink/sand/lilac, and a wine/burgundy solid.

Same multicoloured Lucca, with Drops Silke Alpaca as contrast colours, in chocolate, lilac and purple.

 

If you’d like to join too, check out the KAL-thread in the Leethal Ravelry Group!

Can’t wait for the first clue!

New way at looking at things

The most important of my knitting goals for 2010, is to continue my process of knitting up some of my old stash yarn, trying to see new opportunities in the stash, AND be better at “just doing it” – every little project doesn’t require detail planning, and there is always a recipient for a baby sweater or a hat. I don’t like not having anything to knit while watching TV, for instance, so I need some “go to” alternatives, as in just picking up a skein and knit something.

All of these goals combined, resulted in starting a “bestefargenser” (“grandpa sweater” – basically just a plain long sleeved sweater with a centre front button placket) from the Norwegian book Strikk til Nøstebarn (Christmas present!).

I’m using the leftover yarn from my Serafia’s vinter top, and hoping I’ll have enough. The pattern says 60 grams for the smallest size, I have a little less than a 50 gram skein, so I’ll knit the sleeves top down in the end. I do have some matching yarn in denim blue that I could use for stripes on the sleeves.

This, and other Nøstebarn patterns, seems like great “canvas patterns” that can be styled in a lot of different ways. I especially like Murf’s version of this and other basic Nøstebarn patterns.

I am also doing some test knitting for Leethal, it’s a fun project but NOT really mindless, so I started a game knitting hat while watching Flash Forward yesterday. Game knitting is REALLY great for meeting my goals too!

Swatching

I’m not knitting much on actual projects these days – the red shawl for my grandmother is finished, except for blocking, and the lace cape is being stupid and is on time out to think about what it’s done…

I’m in the mood for summery projects, and have been swatching for Daylight by Martin Storey, using Rowan Summer tweed in the colour Oat.

 

The chart in the book (Rowan Kasbah Collection) is a bit difficult to follow, because it has all three sizes, front AND back on the same chart, so I have redrawn the chart for my size in Excel.

The top is very short, so I will be using a provisional cast on, and knitting the lace pattern bottom up first, then picking up stitches, and knitting the waist rib top down afterwards. As I have one extra skein of yarn, I will probably be able to make it a bit longer.

The second project I’m swatching for is the Bubble Pullover by Norah Gaughan. As many others, I would like a more fitted version of the sweater (it’s really oversized), so I have been trying to figure out the right gauge and measurements. I’m using Marianne Svit Supersoft yarn, in Crocus (which is beautiful). Two strands will make worsted weight, and I tried that first, on 4.5 mm needles. The pentagon got too large, though (I’m aiming for 12.5 cm sides), so I tried again with a single strand on 3.5 mm needles.

That seems to be about the right size, which is a bit annoying, as I don’t have a 40 cm circular in 3.5 mm (and I just bought 2.5 and 3 mm to make baby stuff, forgot the 3.5, apparently!)

And last, but not least, I’m knitting a vest ‘Inderst inde’, in Filcolana Merci, 50% merino wool, 50% cotton, in Lavender. It is for my stepsister’s daughter, who will be born in July. Three of my friends/relatives are having babies in June/July, and I have had a hard time coming up with ideas on what to knit for summer babies, as I can’t knit with 100% cotton (always knit too loose). The Merci yarn is working out, and since it’s just a vest, it hopefully won’t bee too hot, even with the wool content. It’s really soft too.

I don’t have a picture though, as I had to unravel it because I was converting it to knit it in the round, and I messed up something (well done for 2x2 rib!) so that the rib wouldn’t go with the lace pattern on the chest.

Also, I bough A LOT of yarn, and will post about that in another post.

Yarn Forward Magazine

I ordered issue 12 of Yarn Forward Magazine, because I really wanted to read (and keep) the huge (6 pages +) interview with Terry Pratchett about the Pratchgan and his opinions on knitting, spinning and sheep.

 

 

Unfortunately, I am not too fond of the patterns in the magazine (which only would have been a bonus, anyway…), I find most of them quite boring and uninspiring. A thing I love though, is their yarn sub recommendation for each pattern, “Save, spend or spoil yourself “. That is really a nice detail.

Most of the articles in the magazine were interesting enough, especially one about weaving.

Knitting mail

Today, my copy of Ysolda’s Whimsical Little Knits finally arrived! I pre-ordered it in January, and have gotten the individual patterns as pdf-files along the way.

It’s the cutest little book, with ten lovely patterns from one of my favourite knitting designers. Ysolda even signed every copy!

I’m so happy I chose to get the printed and digital versions, for just £2 extra it was totally worth it.

I will probably be knitting the Hap Blanket ravelry and the small Ishbel shawl ravelry first :)

I’m still waiting for my copy of the British Yarn Forward Magazine, where there is a huge interview with Sir Terry Pratchett about Ankh-Morpork Knitter’s Guild's Pratchgan! It will probably be here tomorrow.

Considering new project(s)

As I finished Serafias Vinter Friday night (sprained my ankle on Thursday and got some extra knitting time!), and blocked it yesterday (pictures are coming!), I have started looking for a new project. I have been going through my ravelry queue, which is far to large, but I try to keep the first page (20-30 patterns) fairly accurate, with patterns I am quite sure that I will make in the foreseeable future. One of the smaller crochet projects are earmarked for the plane flight to Gran Canaria in November, though (no knitting needles from Copenhagen, unfortunately...).

I also have a few patterns not in my ravelry queue. A couple of weeks ago, Danish magazine Hendes Verden (meaning "Her World"), came with a small pattern book, with updated versions of vintage patterns from their database. I don't usually buy the magazine, but from time to time they do have these knitting brochures enclosed, and they usually have a couple of cute patterns.

These are my favourites from the 'Klassisk Vintage Strik' issue. I am considering making the cape next, but I'm not really sure if I have any suitable yarn, and I should really be knitting from my stash at the moment.

I was going to make my bf a helmetliner, but he seems kind of 'meh' at the opportunities that I'm showing him. I would like one for myself too, but would probably like one more like this or this - as I would like to be able to use different kinds of hats with it. It's really cold when biking during late fall and winter (I usually buy a bus pas from around November to February though, don't like to take risks in ice and snow) - and my nose and face can get totally frozen in the Danish winds.

I would rather make something prettier/more exiting, though, like Bottoms up in linen yarn, or Wicked - I was thinking of unravelling my purple Phildar vest for that... But both of them feels a little overwhelming at the moment, so I really don't know where to start. I guess I could make this pretty scarf, in the leftover yarn from Serafia, but I think I'll get bored using the same yarn...even though it does smell delicious!

I would be really happy for suggestions and inspiration from you!