Be My Valentine

Better late than never ;) February's endeavour for the Sweater-a-Month KAL is finally complete. I ground to a halt when I ran out of yarn and decided to put it to one side before I thought too seriously about frogging it and re-knitting it a size smaller. As it turns out, the extra ease I'd chosen to make it with was just right and fortunately I managed to get an extra ball on Ebay which miraculously was the same dye lot. The break inbetween gave me a fresh look at the design so I ripped it back a few inches from where I'd abandoned it to try something different for the arm shaping and finally got to do the long awaited yoke.

It's in Patons Crystal, which is a multi-strand construction made of 100% microfibre. It has really good stitch definition, but is very splitty. It's my own design but I took the heart stitch pattern from a vintage baby book and used it in bands as I didn't want to overdo it or be flashing too much skin. I went for 3/4 length sleeves partly because I was wary of the amount of yarn I had and partly because even when I knit them full length I always seem to push or roll them up.

I think I could have done with putting the middle lace section a little higher. Although it doesn't look like it here, it's on the same level with the ones on the sleeves and I would have liked it where they appear to be in the photos. That said though, I really like this and am very pleased with how it turned out... eventually.

Alien Invasion

I'm sure I can't be the only one with far too many UFOs. Never mind hiding them behind the sofa, I think I'll evict them and take refuge down there myself. They make me feel guilty when I stumble across them looking all forlorn languishing in a cupboard, pushed aside for nicer patterns, prettier yarns or the latest craze. None more so than this braided cable cardigan from Verena Herbst 2006. I started this with so much enthusiasm in December, but it got sidelined by a more pressing project and by the time that was done I'd signed myself up to the Sweater-a Month KAL and got carried away by that.

It was only when I came back from holiday too tired to think and convinced that I had nothing I wanted to knit and nothing to knit it with, that I turned in desperation to some old projects. I am so glad I picked this up again. I wasn't in a thrilling yarn, just some black aran weight acrylic from my stash, but it's just what I need. I've wanted a long black cardigan for ages and this is just right. And to top it off, it counts as the other half to this month's sweater total.I still need to add some form of fastening. The single hook and eye suggested doesn't seem enough, so I'm thinking about 8" of hook and eye tape from the chest down will be better suited to my needs.I'm thinking of crocheting an edging around the bottom too as it looks a little untidy to me, but as I could wear it in public I'm claiming it as finished. I may even come out from the sofa.

Twisted

I must be really twisted to think knitting patterns from the 80s is a good idea, but I have news for you - it's coming back, like the monster in a horror film 80s knitting is rearing it's ugly head again. I've had my eye on this pattern from the very day my Mum bought the book in 1987 and now a whopping 20 years later I've finally made it.
And it's a little, well...er twisted. There are so many freaking cables on it making me look like some sort of demented helter skelter.
It's like one of those mind puzzles that starts to move if you look at it for too long.
Am I glad I finished it? Kinda. I started knitting it on a whim pre-Knitting Olympics last year as I was between projects waiting for them to start and it's sat in a cupboard ever since. I get UFO guilt so this is one less thing to niggle in the back of my mind and lets me strike off another half sweater from my sweater-a-month total. I have to say that I did not enjoy finishing this at all, I started it in a time when acrylic yarn and metal needles were my staple diet. In the last 12 months I've used either wood or bamboo needles almost exclusively and I really missed them. Also this acrylic was one of the brands I like a lot less than the one I usually use and found it awful compared to the nicer yarns I've been using more recently. Basically I've been spoilt. I'm not sworn of acrylic forever. In fact I'm knitting with it right now but I think the worm has turned. Next month's it's cashmere for sure.

Excitement City

I'm miles behind the times with this one but figured you'd love to see it if you haven't already.

Although it won't be out until January this is the cover for the book one of my designs will be appearing in. It looks fabulous and I have the cover sweater (by Olga) on my 'to knit' list already. There are so many names I recognise contributing to this book that I can't wait to see the other items in it. There are more details on Amazon for the curious.

Another thing that's got me all excited is this...

Looks like February's sweater can be finished after all. Not that there's much knitting going on around here at the moment. That very glum looking puppy has just had an operation and needs constant care. I've been told she must be kept completely still until the stitches come out which anyone who has ever had a 10 month old puppy will tell you is nigh on impossible.

Three Bags Full

Not that I flew halfway across the world to go yarn shopping or anything, but it would have been criminal to be staying down the street from a fabulous store and not go say hi - twice. Well three times actually, but can you blame me? Look at this place it's wonderful.

If you ever find yourself in Vancouver be sure to check out Three Bags Full on Main Street. The choice is amazing and the staff are fabulous and super helpful. They are terrible enablers though and will tempt you will all manner of lovelies that are difficult to resist. While I only managed to bring home two bags full of yarn I was delighted with what I found and could easily have filled a third and a fourth and a fifth...

They were wonderful enough to wind it all for me too.
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (80% superwash wool/ 20% nylon) - no ideas yet
Malabrigo (100% merino) - wristwarmers/ headband
Euroflax (100% wet spun linen) - lacy scarf
Blue Sky Alpaca Silk (50% alpaca / 50% silk) - scarf
A few other lovelies may have come home with me too but they're a secret so shhhh!

Oh for more luggage space and a higher weight allowance.

TBF is also where you'll find Christa of the Christa Knits podcast about knitwear design, well worth a listen if you get the chance.

I'd love to say I had a relaxing and refreshing time on holiday but I got a stinking cold a few days before I went which knocked me off my feet a little for the duration of my trip. I still had a lovely time though. I also got to look at the blog from another computer and realised what a mess it looks in other browsers so I'll be working on an overhaul shortly so don't be surprised if things looks a little different over the coming weeks.