Yay!

Look what arrived, and an even nicer green that I was expecting. So soft. Baby blanket here I come.

H.B. Bear in drag. Again.

Dress for Gioia's 2nd birthday in June. I wish it was so quick to make frocks for me, I would have a wardrobe beyond anyone's wildest dreams!

Here's a tip...

If you want warm, sunny weather for an event like a picnic, outdoor wedding or such, just plan it for the day after I finish a toasty jumper. Results guaranteed.

It's like 24 degrees or something today.

Here's cabley, (Calista's Alexander McQueen Knockoff Sweater, see details in a previous post) basking in the autumn sunshine.

My first cables. They're a lot of work and they get a bit tedious after a while, especially on tiny needles and when the back and front are exactly the same. I used my new Boyes interchangeable circulars to do the neckband, and they weren't slippery at all on the 100% wool (Patons Fireside, by the way, I don't think it's made anymore looking at the website). I tried them on some cotton though, eeeeek, had my Denise's out like a shot.

They're heeeeeere....

Lovely! What quick delivery too. A girl at work today announced she's having a baby, so I might give these a baby blanket as their first assignment. What do you think of this one? Maybe in green or a cream?

Cherry cardigan

Mmm, a new obsession is starting with this short sleeved cardigan. I can knit it from my stash, too. It would look lovely and retro in pink, or I could use the red Zara you kindly found and sent to me. It's supposed to be done in cotton or a cotton blend, but I think the Zara would be very comfy and would still let the lovely bird cable stand out.

This will motivate me to get a move on and finish my grey cabley jumper, so I can get in to this one.

Quick Knits and Why I Love Them

6.5mm (size 10.5 US) needles rock! This knitted up sooo quickly and gave me a nice diversion from the intense concentration of cabley jumper, which I am now keen to get in to again.

Hmm, knitting scarves again reminds me that I haven't made myself a flamey scarf yet. So many projects...

And in more knitting news...

I finally succeeded in getting a boye needle master set on ebay. Yay for anodisey aluminium. I really got them because my beloved Denise set start at size 5 US and these start at size 2, so no more going out and buying small needles to finish off neckbands. Smaller needles are needed for vinatage and lacey things too, sometimes. Plus, anodisey! I don't like metal needles as a rule, but if it means I have the size I need when I need it, I'll be happy. Plus, anodisey! (By the way, check out the awesome skull afghan on this page. Woah)
And what I'm making with the Vintage Hues wool? Why a mini clapotis of course!

Vintage Hues

So I was in Spotlight see, and I sees this.

Um, I know it's cleckheaton again! Go figure!

Anyways, I says to myself I says, "just the thing to be fake busy with so I can avoid knitting on my cabley jumper which I will finish, but it will take some time because it's not TV knitting friendly and you know, I watches a lot of TV."

Can you guess what I'm knitting? Here's a big clue:

Now a knit blog!

Muwahahahaha! While you have been unable to sew and post, this blog has been boarded by pirates and is now a knit blog! Except I don't have any cats so I can't be a true knitblogger.

As you may be aware, I'm making 'Calista's Alexander McQueen knock-off sweater'. This is my progress so far. (I'm not putting the flowers on by the way). Needs a ruddy good blocking. I have done the ribbing on the second bodice piece, and there's still a long slog to go, so plenty of time to think about blocking.

On a bit of a knitting jag, must be the cooler weather. Although it has been very warm the last few days, I know it's just foxing and I will be unable to leave the house in a frock for months soon.

Cracklin' Rosie

Done! Rosie, using Dogwood Donna from spring Knitscene magazine with my own modifications. I used Cleckheaton 12 ply (I know. Cleckheaton. But I was desperate to knit and it was the only light grey in the approximate gauge. It is not too scratchy to wear, for which I am thankful.)
The rose is duplicate stitched from a chart in Vogue Knitting International's most recent winter issue.
I didn't do the ribbed neckline on this version, I thought I'd try single crochet edging, and I liked it! That saved the hassle of picking up stitches and having a higher and potentially-horribly-scratchy-on-my-neck-ribbed-crew-neck.
Yay, much quicker too, so I can wear it out tonight!
(Oh and I have woven in all the ends. Those are the woody stems of my chilean jasmine coming out of my left armpit.)

shpotty

How much do I like simple patterns? A whole lot, so for your delictation I present an easy pattern:


And how cute is she? Black and white coin spot cotton from Spotlight, with some of the cute elastic ruffle trim from the Vietnamese shop on Smith St (how I love you, supplier of trims). Super easy and mighty cute.

There is no zip, and I left out the back tie, as I will wear her with a wide belt, or my underbust corset (which is what I made her for - mine is plain black though)
or a pinafore.

Flippy

I had a longing for a skirt with some back interest. I found a pattern.

I bought some satin-backed crepe, but not enough. I have a stash. It all came together (that satin-backed crepe will have to live life as something else).

It's not easy to convey back interest in a photo, especially when you are taking it yourself with the camera balanced on an ironing board...