This week I can show you a finished pair of man mitts!  They have been lovingly worn and tested for warmth.  My dear hubby is, I am delighted to say, very happy with them...so much so, he is praying the warmer weather comes along slowly so he can wear them a bit more before packing them away for next winter!  How lovely to have a hubby that is so easily pleased!

Talking of being easily pleased, I have joined a "Learn Something New A-Long" on the Phoenix Knitting Forum. The idea is that each month, we try a new technique or learn a new skill. It could be anything from trying a new type of cast on, knitting a first pair of socks or top down garment or attempting a first piece of lace.  We don't have to produce a complete  project, we just have to have a go and share our attempts.

So, what did I decide to try I hear you ask?

Well, I have an endless list but this month I plumped for "Double Knitting". This technique is where two pieces of fabric are knitted simultaneously (explanation from Wikipedia) using two yarns.  I'm using a free chart I found on Ravelry to produce an image on both pieces like this...

See how much fun I'm having with this!  As I said, easily pleased.

Is is easy to do though?  Er, not to begin with!  Each square on the chart represents two stitches.  One is knitted in one yarn and one purled in the other. I found it quite difficult to work out which colour I was supposed to be knitting and which I should be purling at first. However, as knit for the process and not necessarily for the end result, I haven't minded ripping this back numerous times to get it right.  Good job you say!

I'm not going to post the Ravelry link to the chart yet...you will have to wait - I'll give you a week to guess what it is!

I will, however, link this project, as I'm itching to try it now I'm getting the hang of it!

The Prettiest Hot Pad Ever



M is for Man Knitting...

Yep, this week after making my dear hubby is "Little Squares Scarf" I have been doing some more "Man Knitting".

Hubby asked if I would very much now mind making him some fingerless gloves. I had some yarn left so why the heck not?

After hunting on Ravelry, I decided to knit these as I could easily adjust the length of the fingers...

Cigar Gloves

I have finished one but won't post a piccy of it until I have finished the pair...here though, is a little sneak peek at glove number two...



These knit up really quickly and the pattern is wonderfully written. The gloves can be worn on either hand and as the pattern comes in three sizes, they make great gloves for men or women...I just so happen to have some lovely black sparkly DK which may be destined to turn into a pair for me!

Little Squares Please

My dear hubby wanted a new scarf - with little squares please, he said.

Well, what my dear hubby wants - he gets (and it did just so happen I had the perfect yarn squirrelled away and knew exactly the right stitch to use!)

So, do you want to see what he got? Okay, here it is...



and a close up



He was so pleased with it that I thought I would share my recipe for this scarf with you just in case someone else wanted a new scarf, with little squares please! I say recipe as this stitch has been around a very long time. I am simply sharing how I chose to use it...

Materials

I used approx 200g Rowan Pure Wool DK from stash

Size 4.5mm knitting needles

Measurements (unblocked) approx 8" x 68"


Cast on 48 stitches (or any multiple of 4)

Rows 1-4: (K4,P4) to end

Row 5-8: (P4,K4) to end

Repeat rows 1 - 8 until scarf reaches desired length.

Block lightly if you wish.

I did not block my scarf as hubby liked the bumpy effect of the weave.

Books, Lovely Books

I've bought so many lovely knitting books over the last few years but I have to admit to not really making much from them. I tend to just use them as reference books, pulling a book here and there to read and then putting it back on the shelf.

The other day I was feeling totally uninspired, staring at some dark blue sock yarn wondering what the heck I could make with it. I started two or three patterns, didn't like any of them, frogged it and stuck it back amongst my other yarn where it still sits.

So, I thought...what now? I needed to do something simple but challenging enough to renew my interest so out came my books and after a flick through, I ended up with this one.



Right, I had never made toe up socks (there was the challenging part) and I had some Kaffe Fasset Design Line yarn which could be knitted up in stocking stitch to show off the beautiful colours (there was the simple part).

The result was these...



I was very pleased with them and delighted I had actually made something from the book. I even made them matching!

Mmmm, I like this idea I thought so when I met my friend's three year old grandson who happened to mention he loved snails, I ran home, grabbed this



and made this



I would say, that if you are like me, with a lovely collection of patterns which are actually in books, have a look through and try making something from them...you may be pleasantly surprised!

Talking of being pleasantly surprised, look what else I have done! I joined a Dishcloth-Design-Along on Ravelry a little while ago where a very kind lady gave a tutorial on how to design a cloth - I thought it was too much fun not to give it a go.

I amazed myself by actually designing and writing up a pattern for this! Enchanted Mushroom Dishcloth



if you would like an Enchanted Mushroom of your own here is the link for my free pattern Enchanted Mushroom Dishcloth

I'll leave you with my second design which I have completed but have not yet written up



and another which I am still playing around with





STOP PRESS!

I completely forgot to show you my finished Norweigian Scarf!





This was a real labour of love but worth every frogged stitch =)

What's in an Egg?

Shall we take a peep and see?

Here it comes...



and here it is!

Great, great pattern from Mochimochiland and made for the Reception Classes at School for their next topic - "What's in an Egg?".

I am going to try but cannot promise, to make a couple more for them to play with...if time allows...

and from chicks in eggs to the first of two scarves I have to show you.

This is my "Willow" Scarf - pattern from VikkiH on Ravelry Willow Scarf - a truly beautiful scarf. As I am not a confident lace knitter (as I am sure you will remember) this took a lot of effort and concentration on my part - not because of the pattern I hasten to add which, if you are interested, is only £1.50 - a real bargain for such a beautiful scarf.

When it was finished and blocked, my Mum - who does not knit lace at all - promptly declared how much she loved it and I did what any good daughter would do and gave it to her; which leaves me to knit another for myself, in a darker colour...fingers crossed it is kinder to me this time =)



My second scarf is definitely for me and this one has been frogged more times than I care to mention! Actually, I will be honest with you dear peeps...it's four and the pattern can be found here Norwegian Snowflake Scarf

I have to stress, this is my first attempt at a large area of stranded/fairisle knitting. I knitted it in the round like the pattern said, on dpn's but although I loved how it was turning out, the stitches not lining up at the end/beginning of the round (jogs?) really annoyed me so I frogged it and tried again thinking it was me. Alas, it was not me and it was just the way it went...so I frogged again. Mmmmm, I thought, I really, really want this scarf but what should I try next? In an inspired moment I tried to knit it flat but you guessed it, the edges curled and the scarf was half it's cast on width.

Sooo after thinking and frogging again, I knit a black stitch at the beginning and end of each panel so the side has a black "seam"(?) running up the edges.

It may not be the most perfect scarf in the world (I think I said that about my Lady Eleanor too) but I am going to wear this proudly next winter!

I leave you with a sneaky peek!



PS...see those great big marker pins at the bottom of my scarf? I bought them from HobbyCraft a couple of weeks ago...they are knitter's pins and are fantasic!

Pictures...

Hello there! May I wish you all a belated happy and healthy New Year. With Christmas being over and life back to normal, I now have time again to tend to my blog...here are a few pictures to start the year...

Firstly, the Advent Calendars for my children. I have to say, they were a big hit and very gratefully received! They had them numberless this year and have asked if I would sew numbers on them for next year. Blue felt ones on the cream set for my dear daughter and cream ones embroidered onto the blue for my son. As you can see, I have made a start!





Next I have a Christmas mitten ornament for my friend using the same pattern as the Advent Mitts...




and a bauble using a snowflake chart by Erssie Knits which is one of my first attempts at fairisle!



My lovely scarf was knitted with Katia Ondas. Started Christmas Day, finished Boxing Day. Its soooo soft and light and very, very pretty. Interesting to knit with - its like stretchy netting!





and finally I leave you with a Jean Greenhowe Little Darlings doll for school. They need little dolls in uniform to pop around the displays showing pupils' work...sweet huh?



I must also tell you that my beautiful Lace Advent Scarf was sent to the frog pond. It ended up sooo narrow and long that I knew it was not meant to be. I will however, be casting it on again further on in the year making it as wide as the pattern intended ;~)

Hello...I am still here

I have not abandoned my blog yet again =)

I'm trying really hard to post once a week but the last three weeks have been so busy! I know I owe you a picture of my advent surprise but try as I might, I just cannot take a good one - it's long and not easy to photograph! I will perservere though as I think it's worth sharing.

Also, the little friend I was going to introduce you to still only has three legs so you will have to wait a little longer to meet him as he is a bit wonky when he stands up ;~)

I can show you a couple of projects that I have been working on though. I made a couple of bake free Christmas puddings the week before last - one for a swap and one for me!




It's a great pattern from Simply Knitting Irresistible Gifts.

I have also joined a KAL on Ravelry for a Lace Knitters Advent Scarf 2010 - the pattern can be found here Unikatissima's Blog



The designer releases a section of the pattern each day from 1st - 24th December and all being well on Christmas Day the group will have a completed scarf ready for blocking!

I was really dubious about joining this as although I manage to knit lace, it is not without a lot of trial and error. That being said, the sections in this pattern are very easy to complete. I think lace is finally starting to "click" with me and the thought of that delights me as I would love to be able to knit lace without frogging every other row!