Tangerine Big Softie

As projects go, this one went quite easily, despite the fact that I decided to knit a bigger size AFTER I'd finished the back.  Studying the pattern picture closely, I realised it wasn't going to have enough swing and I didn't want yet another knitted item that felt too tight under the armpits (despite knitting the right size!)  So I had to pull out the back and start again.  I also made the ribs a little deeper which meant, of course, that I ran out of wool just before the end!

Fortunately, when I ordered two more balls from The Black Sheep, I could actually specify which dye lot I wanted, an unexpected service!  So I didn't have to worry about the shades not matching.  I actually finished it this weekend.  Spent hours and hours sewing it up, probably longer than I spent actually knitting the thing.  I then cried after I tried it on because it doesn't look very nice.  The sleeve seams kind of fall down my upper arm a bit (you think it might be too big?) and somehow it just looks like, well, something someone knitted, and not very well, with rather cheap wool.

I'm not entirely sure why I bother.  Do you think if I called myself "The Good Knitter" I'd be better at it?

Coffee and Cosy

Which one shall I send to Simply Knitting?!

Cafetiere Cosy

My Cafetiere cost is all done - wonderfully easy!  I used DK from my stash (hidden in the big wooden box).  Cast on 30 stitches and it fit my mini cafetiere perfectly.  I hemmed the ends and used Swiss darning down the sides to keep the piece flat.  More roses and leaves to decorate the middle plus another heart button and it matches the Kindle cover nicely!

Keeps my coffee warm and cosy!

The completed item!

Back

I sewed a lining to the back to keep the knitting firm and prevent it from stretching out of shape.  

Remind me to take a picture of both the cosy and Kindle cover together!!

Kindle Cover

I've finished the Kindle cover which was relatively easy, except for one hassle:  I grafted the bottom end with Kitchener stitch to make it look smooth and professional (I liked the way it looked on the hottie bottie cover I made) EXCEPT I misread the instructions and sewed it up with the RIGHT sides together, just as if one was sewing.  Oops.  It has to be done with the WRONG sides together!!  Much unpicking and swearing.  And unpicking Kitchener stitch is not the easiest in the world.  I ended up reknitting one row but in the end, it was worth it.  There's no real "pattern":  I used DK oddments, about 30 stitches.  I did a proper hem at the top which is simplicity itself:

HEM:  Cast on.  Knit 5 rows stocking stitch starting with a knit row.  Sixth row:  knit.  Then k/p/k/p/k the next five rows (i.e. stocking stitch).  That extra knit row is where you fold over the piece and forms the edge.  On the inside of the work, sew in the hem.  Nice, neat edge!

The flower pattern I found on a knitting calendar (!) and suit the cover as they are very small.  The roses I've knitted before (and other flowers) are all MUCH bigger and might have overwhelmed so small an item.  The leaf should have been bigger but I ran out of wool so had to finish it off rather quickly!  The heart button was free in a pack of six with the last issue of "Simply Knitting" (Feb).

Kindle Cover with roses

Back

Lined with pretty, matching cotton fabric to protect screen from woolly cover!

Happy New Year!

Only a day late!  I've frantically been making a pom-pom for my new hat and wanted to finish it before posting, but golly, making pom-poms is REALLY boring.  Got my daughter to do some winding for me! It's finally finished, though.

I bought the wool at a sale quite a while ago and didn't know what to do with it.  It was those deliciously long, silky wool wristies from the Hush catalogue that inspired me to knit myself a pair.  They are lovely and soft and very warm!  The hat is a very basic design with cool pom-pom but because of the silk wool, it looks lovely.  What a pity this yarn has been discontinued (from what I can understand) as it's gorgeous.

I bought that pretty bowl for myself at a gift shop at Somerset House and gave it to myself for Christmas.  It holds buttons and small knitting bits and bobs on the wooden box.

I recently discovered how lovely it is knitting on bamboo needles.  I'm now totally converted!  Does this mean I'll have to rush out and buy ten pairs in all different sizes?  

Over most of Christmas, I was knitting my experiment but by old year's day realised that it had gone horribly wrong.  Bit of a sour knitting note to end the year on but then, it was an experiment.  That wool seems to have brought disaster to my poor dear mother as well as myself.  This will be the third project that gets destroyed.  I think I'm going to separate the wool back into a single strand, the way it's meant to be, and then knit a cable cushion cover.  Surely I can't go wrong with that?!

In the meantime, I'm knitting small, easy projects to ease into the new year.  I've completed most of a Kindle cover.  It just needs to be sewn together and lined and decorated.  I've been using scraps for it and have been inspired to do a nearly-matching cafetiere wrap as well as a tea cosy.  Lots of flowers involved which I love doing.  Just hope my stash has enough bits and bobs to cope!!

Happy Birthday, me!

Or it was on Boxing Day!  My daughter got me all sorts of lovely things, including the most wonderful winter flowers:  various heathers and fancy pine cones.  Never seen anything like it!  I, naturally, got myself some wool!  12 balls of Sirday Big Softie in yummy Fanta orange plus an easy cardigan pattern.  My knitting efforts have taken a bit of a confidence knock and I thought I'd be slightly less adventurous and try something I know I can do and should (should!) work out.  My daughter fancies the pattern and colour too so I might be making two!

All my lovely pressies!

Can't wait to start knitting!

Nearly Christmas!

Two days to Christmas and I haven't posted for ages!  But I'm still knitting - working on that bizarre top, the likes of which have probably never been seen before and probably shouldn't.  About a month ago I finished some wristies and a matching hat which I haven't sewn up yet (and it needs a pompom) but haven't blogged about that at all!  Aaargh!  Also started a hat for my daughter but ran out of wool and the substitute I managed to find was disastrous so that's been shoved out of sight.  Will get back into gear again in the New Year with lots of photos and beautifully finished items!  This is a promise to myself!
In the meantime, this is the sweater I want for Xmas:
.....someone...?...anyone...?!...Santa...??!!