To Frog or not to Frog

One of my Works in (limited) Progress that has been sat on the needles for a while is a shawl. It's going to be an Ishbel, but there's a small issue... I've made a mistake in the lace, but I have no idea where *sigh* In fact, I have probably made multiple mistakes, so I really don't think I can get away with frogging the lace section.

I felt like I'd done loads and loads of work on it, so I was reluctant to pull it all out, hence why it has sat in my knitting basket in time out for a while. But when I got it out to take a few pictures, it seems I haven't done as much as I thought.

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing *laughs*

Anyway, the shawl in question:

And a better picture of the colours:

The yarn was originally purchased to be socks for my lovely boyfriend. I knit the toes and showed him, and he could see that I had fallen in love with the yarn - he rolled his eyes and asked if I suddenly wanted the socks to be for me *laughs* I said no, actually I thought it would make a really nice shawl.

This is where he gets lots of brownie points - because he immediately agreed that the yarn would be much nicer as a shawl, the colours will look great with jeans, and insisted I rip out the socks and make myself a shawl *grins*

Back To The Needles

After my small knitting hiatus (I had stopped enjoying working on pretty much anything) I'm pleased to say I've been back to the needles...

It's been ages since I took a picture of everything together for WIP Wednesday, but this week I have actually worked on everything that is still in progress.

My Firiel shawl is now past the halfway point, so the rows have started to get shorter. Hopefully it won't take too much longer.

My Reggae Reggae sock now has about an inch of leg - quite a way to go as this is the first sock still, but the colours are bright enough to keep my interest *laughs*

And I'm happy to report that my much neglected Celestarium has finally received some attention *grins*

I'm now ready to start the final round of increases. Which doubles the stitch count and will make each row take approximately forever. But hey, progress has been made (adding about an inch all around), and I count that as a win ;)

It's Been A While

Wow, it seems like ages since I participated in a Work in Progress Wednesday/Yarn Along.

I think a fair bit has probably changed - I finished my Berwick jumper/sweater and my Ice Cream Waffle socks (one or both will appear on Friday *grins*) and I have ripped out my diagonal stripe socks. They just weren't working for me and I want to make sure the lovely yarn gets the right pattern.

Also since I last posted a project round-up, I have started and finished a shawl. I'm quite excited about it, but again, I'll save that for a Friday ;)

So, current projects...

I'm still working on my Celestarium, although I haven't actually done more than a couple of rows in weeks. I think the combination of 4 charts plus beading apparatus makes it a bit more of an undertaking than I've been in the mood for lately.

Frogging my socks meant that I had an opening for new socks - I can't not have socks on the needles *laughs* These are my Vegas socks - using yarn I bought in, wait for it, Las Vegas.

I'm really enjoying using this yarn, Tofutsies - it's made of 50% Superwash Wool, 25% soysilk brand fiber, 22.5% Cotton and 2.5% Chitin (apparently made from shrimp and crab shells). Anyway, it's really soft. This is sock 2, I already have the first one finished. 

After finishing my last shawl, I have been quite taken with the idea of knitting lots of them, so I cast on another ;) The pattern is Firiel, and the yarn is Nooch, and it is so very squooshy that I want to buy many, many more skeins *laughs*

It doesn't look like much now, but when it is blocked it'll be lovely, honest! 

Ice Cream

This picture may look remarkably similar to last week's, but there is one important difference...

This is sock 2 *grins*

Do you ever get a project that just won't let you put it down? Because I don't think I have picked anything else up this week. Hence finishing the first sock relatively quickly. And being sensible and casting on for sock 2 right away.

I think part of it was the pattern - it was easy to get sucked into the "just one more repeat" mindset *laughs*

Based on the colours and pattern, these socks are hereby known as my Ice Cream Waffle Socks (ok, so the blue is a slight addition to the neopolitan ice cream look, but never mind!)

One thing about these, I cast on for the smallest size as I have small feet, but the pattern hasn't got much stretch. So I have made the leg a little shorter than normal, which means sock one only used 1/4 of the yarn. 2 pairs of socks from this one skein might be possible, which is awesome *grins*

First WIP Round-Up of the Year

Yay - first WIP Wednesday of the year (for me, who missed the actual first one, anyway *laughs*) And all projects are new and shiny, apart from one.

So, the project that is a cross over from last year - Noro Socks of Frustration (and Potential Disappointment)...

I actually haven't taken a new picture, because they are at a stage where it is really hard to get a good photo of them - halfway up the leg on 2 at a time socks makes for difficult photography! They're coming along, I don't like working on them and I don't know if I'll like wearing them, but the colours are nice *laughs*

To sate my sock cravings, last night I cast on for a new sock (only 1 at a time, this might be dangerous). I started it in the yarn Sarah gave me, and the pattern didn't show off the yarn to its best. But I wanted to knit this pattern, so I grabbed some sock yarn that has been waiting aaaaaages:

It's not easy to get a picture of the pattern at this stage, being that I have only done 2 repeats, but these are the V Junkie pattern from Socktopus.

Just before Christmas I started on Berwick, and now I'm just past the front pocket:

I love the brioche rib at the bottom of the pattern, it's so squishy. But I am slightly disappointed with my yarn - I can't seem to keep an even tension at all (as you can see from the picture). It's acrylic yarn - Caron Simply Soft - so I can't block it like normal. Hopefully a quick steam block will even it up a bit!

And last, but absolutely, most certainly not least - my How I Wonder shawl:

The pattern is Celestarium, and it is a circular shawl with beads depicting the constellations in the Northern Hemisphere (the designer is planning a Southern Hemisphere version too).

I am so in love with this shawl. I'm even starting to recognise constellations. Look, Cassiopeia

I have no idea how I would wear this (or even if I will wear it) once it is done, but I am knitting the night sky and it makes me seriously happy *laughs*

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Sneaky

Today you only get sneak looks at what I'm working on. Surprisingly this is not because they are gifts (I am not knitting gifts this year - it's weird but less stressful *laughs*)

No, the real reasons are...

a) this project is already finished. I started and finished it on Saturday, but if I don't mention it today, it looks like I haven't done anything in a week ;)

b) this one is so close to being done...

Yep, the Subtle Stripes cardigan now has 2 sleeves and one of the button bands. I just have to choose buttons and make the second band and it is done *grins* I'm not sure if it will be done by Friday, because the size of the button holes depends on button selection and I don't know if I have anything suitable in stock, but it is so close!

Oh, yeah, I also finished my legwarmers, a couple of weeks ago actually. And I did start and finish a project for a swap parcel, so I've done quite a lot this week. Which means I haven't done any reading of note, again. I must rectify this, I miss reading!

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Too Cold to Think of a Decent Title

Good morning on this freezing cold Wednesday *shivers and tries to smile*

I'm rethinking my current WIPs, and wondering if I should cast on lots of hats, gloves, mitts and scarves *laughs* I have actually finished my tweedy green cowl, so I shall post more about that on Friday.

Since finishing that, I have been giving my Subtle Stripes cardigan some attention. I think I've done about another inch, so not a huge amount, but enough that I feel good about finishing it sometime ;)

I have done a little bit of reading this week, which makes a nice change as I haven't read much in ages. I re-read (for the umpteenth time) Memoirs of a Geisha. It's one of my very favourite books of all time, and I read it every couple of years. It's been longer than that since the last time I picked it up, and it was like meeting an old friend.

Does anyone else re-read books they love over and over, or is it just me?!

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Minute Amounts of Progress

Well, I haven't been doing much knitting this week, thanks to taking part in GISHWHES (I'll explain tomorrow *laughs*) and not much in the way of reading either.

So my progress is pretty small...

An additional stripe and a half on my angora cowl. I'm on the final stripe now. It is so hard to photograph just how soft and fluffy this yarn is, but here's my best shot:

I have to be careful what I wear while knitting this, otherwise I look like I may have been assaulted by a muppet *laughs*

I've also made a tiny amount of progress on my Noro socks, but as I explained yesterday, the yarn is not fun to work with, so these may take a while!

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Startitis Plus A Favour

Before I move on to the usual work in progress stuff, I have a small favour to ask:

I'm taking part in a Guinness World Record attempt where we're trying to get 100,000 people to pledge to do a Random Act of Kindness before the end of 2012.

It will cost you nothing (apart from a little bit of kindness!) and I would love for you to help me with this. 

All you need to do is click here and then pledge that you will do a Random Act of Kindness before the end of the year. This will not add you to an email list!

Please remember to enter my email on the form as your referrer, and email me if you have any questions. My email is nat DOT howells AT gmail DOT com

Thank you *grins*

Anyway, on to the crafting...

I'm not sure if it was a side effect of posting about my stash reduction progress, but I have cast on 2 new things *laughs*

 This will be a cowl, using the softest, fluffiest yarn ever. I bought it in Calais, and have 3 balls of the teracotta colour, and 2 of the mustardy colour. Not really enough to do much with, so I thought a cowl with 5 stripes (one per ball) would be ideal. Also, this yarn is really the softest thing ever, so as long as it doesn't tickle my nose too much, it'll be lovely to have it close to my face to snuggle into *laughs*

I also cast on using the Noro I bought as a cheering up yarn. I deliberately started each sock at a different point in the colour repeat, so they will be matching but not matching at the same time ;)

I can see why people have mixed opinions of this yarn, I think this will probably be the last time I use it, but we'll see - it depends how the socks turn out really!

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Projects AND Progress ;)

I have works in progress, yay *laughs*

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the scarf I posted about on Monday is my primary project right now, and I am pleased to find that I have nearly finished it *grins* This is particularly helpful as I am heading back to see family this weekend and can hand it over if it is fully done.

See, very small ball of yarn remaining *smiles*

The top picture does have another project in it - which I was working on during my "I-hate-this-scarf-don't-wanna..." phase *laughs* It's nothing particularly exciting, but I have been planning to make leg-warmers for ages and it's cold now so I cast on.

First one is nearly done. Knitting this has demonstrated quite clearly why I don't particularly like the jumper I made with this yarn... I like brown, but this is so flat and boring a brown. There is no variation, nothing catches the light, it is just all one flat brown. Ah well, it'll keep my legs warm at least *laughs*

The book in the top picture is the third in the Maze Runner trilogy. I think I mentioned before that I don't think these books are particularly well written, especially compared to some of the other young adult fiction out there, but I am still really enjoying them which is what matters ;)

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Wednesday Progress

Before I start I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented, shared their stories, sent me emails and messages, etc, following my post yesterday. Every single comment means the world to me and I was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement. Thank you. Sincerely.

So, on to WIPW and Yarn Along...

Sorry for the crappy picture, the rain soaked lighting was not conducive to getting a good shot!

As expected, I added a couple more inches to my cowl during a couple of train journeys at the weekend. It looks massively long for a cowl, I know, but the way it stretches means it needs to be even longer.

The little white knitting is going to be a nerd wars project. I wanted some garter stitch, across a few stitches so that progress is made quickly ;)

The book is technically a sequel to one I read a little while ago, but I think sequel is the wrong word. It takes place at the same sort of time as Autumn, but follows different characters and gives a little bit more information about the zombie apocalypse that wasn't in the first book. I'm enjoying it :)

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Some Knitting

So, although most of my crafting has been of the paper variety this last week (check out Steampunk Iron Man and my cute robot), I have done some knitting too ;)

Due to their awesomeness, I have been working on my Starpower Socks, although I am sort of dragging them out a bit because I love the yarn. I'm torn between wanting to finish and get them on my feet, and wanting to keep knitting them forever *laughs*

I have cast on for the first front of my Concur Cardigan. It hasn't got very far yet, but at least it is on the needles!

My gorgeous green cowl gets a few rows here and there when I want something simple to knit. I think it is probably about halfway there now, and I have a couple of train journeys coming up this weekend, so I should make some decent progress *grins*

And, just because I like showing off the yarn (because it was dyed by cunning boyfriend and I love it *soppy grin*), here's a close up

I'm now on the third book in Scott Westerfield's Midnighters trilogy. I have to say, it's not the best young adult series I've read, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Um... Works Not In Progress Wednesday!

So, I have no progress to show this week!

This is partly because the weather is so gorgeous that knitting is the last thing on my mind ;) Finally having some sun has a great effect on my mood but a stalling effect on crafting. But I'm ok with this, I like the sun *laughs*

I have done a couple of repeats of my Starpower socks (naming credit to Vanessa *grins*) and that's pretty much it.

See, I'm even recycling the picture, because not enough has changed to warrant a new one *laughs* I do like this picture though, it really shows off the yarn and the pattern nicely.

The weather forecast is lovely for the rest of the week, so I don't imagine I'll get much more knitting done. I am reading a lot more though - sitting in the garden in the sun with a book is one of my favourite things *smiles*

To read about actual crafting progress, head on over to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Deja Vu

Hmmm, my picture today is very much the same as last week *laughs* I haven't actually made much progress on anything really, but that is mainly because I started and finished a completely different project instead ;) I'll show that one off on Friday.

My socks have come along, they have heels now and I'm still loving them. Thanks for all the lovely comments last week - these are my first non bright and crazy hand knit socks, so I was relieved that everyone seemed to like them *laughs*

I think the only thing that differentiates this picture from last week is the fact that it also contains a book. It's Touching Darkness, the second in Scott Westerfield's Mignighters trilogy. I quite enjoyed the first one so I grabbed the second from the library yesterday.

Skinny Yarn

It seems like I am in a 4ply mood at the moment - all of the projects I have been focusing on this week are in sock yarn. Usually I like to have a range of weights, but although I have other projects in DK and Aran/Worsted, these three are the ones I have wanted to work on.

My Skinny Bugga socks, my cowl and boyfriend's patient second sock.

Most of the progress has been made on my socks, because the yarn is gorgeous and wonderful and I can't put it down *laughs* I have reached the point where I can start the heels already (one of the benefits of having tiny feet - no wonder I like knitting socks for myself and not anyone else!)

I love the range of colours in this yarn (colourway is Ghost Moth if you're interested):

The pattern is Starflower and is a simple slip stitch pattern. I'm enjoying branching out into socks that aren't plain all the way, and I think this really shows off the colours of the yarn. It's quite muted but really pretty. It is slightly strange to be making non-orange socks though *laughs*

I still don't have a name for these socks yet, so any suggestions welcome!

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Quite a lot of Progress

Very quick update today, as I'm heading straight into a meeting...

I finished the back of my Concur. I'm now slightly confused, as my gauge was right but it seems really small. Hmmmm. But it has been surprisingly fast to knit - possibly because it has been ages since I made a garment in pieces!

I've been working on my spinning, because I really want to make this into yarn! The colours in the fibre (that I was sent by the lovely Geeky Heather) are gorgeous.

Boyfriend's sock finally has a heel and a gusset. And a small amount of foot *grins* With any luck, his February birthday socks will be finished by, oh, say Christmas ;)

And there is one more project in the picture...

I cast on using my Skinny Bugga. I meant to wait until I had finished something else, probably boyfriend's sock. But then he gave me his cold and I was feeling sorry for myself, so I cast these on *laughs*

Yep, my luxury, expensive yarn is indeed becoming luxury expensive socks. It seems extravagant, but hey, sometimes extravagance is necessary ;) I've only done part of the toes so far, so they haven't revealed a name and I haven't decided if they will have a pattern. Even so, I love the colours already.

Someone Knows Who You Are*

As I mentioned yesterday, most of my knitting activity recently has focused on starting and finishing the Multi-coloured Swap Socks! But, I have been working on other things too...

My green cowl (thank you to everyone who has commented on the gorgeous colour of the yarn - cunning boyfriend has been very happy that the yarn he dyed has knitter/crocheter approval *laughs*). Coming along nicely, it's a project I pick up when I don't want to think about anything.

Boyfriend's second sock... This poor sock has been languishing for months. I finished the first one in time for his birthday. Which was in February. Ooops ;) But, I have finally finished the leg, so hopefully things will start to happen a bit faster now.

And, yes, that is something new on the right there *laughs* After the speedy sock knitting, I wanted something a bit chunkier to knit. But my red vest is not coming along the way I want it to (I'm not sure if it's going to get finished at this stage - I have a feeling it won't turn out right at all)... So, I cast on Concur.

I'm using Caron Simply Soft, which I picked up from Walmart when I was in Vegas. It really is incredibly soft! I've made some progress on the back and it is actually coming along pretty well at this stage.


As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and reading content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles* I am lacking in the reading content this week as I haven't been reading much at all! 

* "It's such a human condition, whether you're a great track star or a great knitting person or you paint watercolors - someone knows who you are" - Tony Curtis

Slow Progress

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been having a bit of a crafting block, involving far less knitting progress than I am used to...

I do have some progress to show at least... Which isn't really displayed by this close up, but I liked the picture so I'm posting it anyway *laughs*

Ah, this one is a little better ;)

My second Euro Cowl is coming along. It's an easy and mindless knit, 4x1 rib in the round until the yarn runs out. And I'm loving the way the yarn dyed by boyfriend is knitting up :)

And I have assembled the assorted granny squares I had been making *grins* They are now seamed together and awaiting a border. They have become a small lap blanket, because that's the size that came out after I had used up most of the yarn *laughs* I'll show it off properly once it is finished.

One thing I discovered about granny squares (I'd never made any before, so that's why I have only just realised) - there are a tonne of ends to weave in! So many ends. I had to do them in batches so that I didn't lose the will to live ;)

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and reading content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Rain and Rainbows

Wow, it feels like ages since I last posted! I generally don't post at the weekends though, and for those of us in the UK this was a 4 day weekend to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. In perfect British tradition, it was primarily raining *laughs* Luckily I had handknits to keep me warm.

In fact, I lent my mum the cowl I was wearing as she was freezing cold - she was pleasantly surprised by how much warmth it provided despite being so light *smiles*

Anyway, onto the current knitting:

This week I finally picked up the red vest I started a while ago (I stole the needles for something else and the vest has been sitting unloved since then), and my gran's scarf, which had also been neglected for a while. And, of course, my Super Awesome Happy Rainbow Socks.

The socks only have a couple of stripes left before they are finished, so hopefully I will have them on my feet before long *grins* I can't wait to walk around on rainbows ;)

I decided to modify gran's scarf slightly:

Instead of doing the lace pattern for the whole thing, I am only doing it on the ends, with the rest in garter stitch. I was worried that having too much laciness would mean that the scarf isn't warm enough (especially as it is a soft acrylic, rather than a wool yarn). I think it works well, so hopefully gran will like it.

Bookwise, I have just finished the pictured book - A Handmaid's Tale. I thought it was about time I got around to reading it, as I've been reading a lot of dystopian books lately. I enjoyed it, I liked the way the background was revealed in little glimpses and it was an interesting premise.

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and reading content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*

Colourful Crafting

In light of yesterday's post, about crafting balance, I have a smaller set of WIPs to show you today. These are the things I have actively been working on this week! All other projects are sat in my pile-of-lonely-projects-awaiting-attention, and there they can stay for the moment ;)

So, granny squares, spinning and Super Awesome Happy Rainbow Socks are my primary projects at the moment. I posted about the squares on Monday, nothing more to report really at this stage.

My socks are as super, awesome and happy as ever. I'm torn between a desire to have them finished, and the pleasure of working on them *laughs* I still have a few stripes to go, as I plan to use up every scrap of yarn to have them be as long as possible. I can't wait to wear them, although the weather right now is not conducive to hand knit socks *laughs* Not that I am complaining, I like the sunny weather!

Spinning is going well, although I do seem to end up with tiny bits of fluff all over me and everything else when I'm doing it... More practice required I think ;)

One thing I have noticed from this picture - look how varied the colours are *grins* After spending so much time working with grey, I seem to have subconsciously chosen a whole array of bright colours. It certainly makes for a more vibrant in progress pile ;)

As ever, if you want more lovely knitting and yarn along content, head to Tami's and Ginny's *smiles*