Jazz Knits

Two FO's

2009-05-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

I knit Birch from one of the Rowan Magazines recently. It was a present for my friend Nicky. I used Rowan Kid Silk Haze in Fondant and the pink fluffy bundle of knitting I carried around with me while knitting this project looked just like a big blob of candy floss! After blocking it became a lovely airy shawl and I have some beautiful deep red Kid Silk Haze to make myself one.

I have also just finished a cabled baby coat from the first Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino book. There was so much work in this project but I am really happy with how it turned out. It is for a friend at work's new niece but as I don't have any babies in my family at the moment I had to rope in my bears for a spot of modelling

My Granny's bear below looks very cozy:

Teddy is so cute if a little wee for this coat:

Ishbels two and three

2009-04-23T02:34:00.001-07:00

This is my Fyberspates Ishbel in 'Moonlight'. I love this shawl. I am wearing it as I type. Definitely one of the most beautiful things I've ever knitted. While knitting this shawl I visited my mum who said she would love one too.

This Ishbel in Silk Garden Sock is the one I made for Mum. We blocked them together over my Easter visit and enjoyed watching them dry in the sunshine on the conservatory floor. Mum loves her shawl too.

Almost FO

2009-03-23T15:30:00.001-07:00

I finally seamed my Lush and Lacy cardigan!!

I just need to sew in the pockets and find the perfect fastenings.

Ishbel

2009-03-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

I finished my Ishbel! I absolutely love this shawl. I already have yarn to make another one!

For this first Ishbel I used St Magnus Orkney 100% Angora 4ply. A knitter friend gave me the yarn after finding it too tickly to knit with. I found it absolutely heavenly though and will definitely be buying it for future projects. One ball of the 4ply weight is 100 metres and I had enough yarn to make the small size stocking stitch section but the large size lace section of the Ishbel pattern.

Here are the pics!

I bought the Ishbel pattern on it's own when it first came out on Ysolda's blog but bought the whole 'Whimsical Little Knits' collection yesterday and have plans to make many of the projects . First off I plan on an Ishbel beret and another Ishbel shawl. I bought a skein of Old Maiden Aunt 4ply from K1 in Edinburgh in a purple and green colourway. I am heading off to Lancaster for a Women's Studies career day on Monday so plan on starting my second Ishbel on the train.

New Year Knits

2009-03-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

In the first couple of months of the New Year I knit quite a few projects. I don't have my shawls ready to photograph yet but here are a couple of projects, including my new haircut!

Gretel by Ysolda

For my Gretel I used the recommended Noro Cash Iroha in this gorgeous magenta colour. I did make this exact same hat before Christmas but it was always a little big for me as I made the largest size. Over Christmas when I was home my sister tried it on and it was perfect on her, a much better fit than on me. So she got to keep it. I still loved this hat/yarn/colour though so decided to make myself another one. This time I made the middle size and now it's perfect for me. I love this hat so much!!

Evangeline fingerless gloves knit with RYC Soft Lux for a work friend's birthday

I really enjoyed this project and plan on making some for myself in the future.

Here is a shot of my new hair. It's shorter than my usual style and much choppier. And I have a fringe!! These pictures are of the 'up do' my hairdresser showed me how to do. The actual haircut when in it's natural state is like Chrissie Hynde from the Pretender's style.

I really like it but I'm not quite used to it yet. I feel like I'm peering out under a carpet of hair with the fringe!

And here is my current WIP. It's the Selbu Modern beret. I'm using St Magnus Orkney Angora DK and it will be a birthday present for another friend at work. Another project I'm planning on making for myself at some point.

2009-03-03T01:45:00.000-08:00

Whoa, where did February go!!

I have been knitting and got Jamie to take photos of a couple of projects last night, so will blog about those later today.

I've also knit two shawls that are in need of blocking so I'll post pics of them once that is done. The shawls are Ishbel by Ysolda using the ever beautiful Orkney 100% Angora and the Birch shawl in Rowan Kidsilk Haze shade Fondant. It looks like knitted candy floss!

Be back later....

Happy 2009

2009-01-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

I can't quite believe it's 2009 already. This year has sped past for me. Like most people I have some goals for this new year. These include more frequent blogging. I hvae been a lazy blogger lately but I have been knitting a lot and I want to make sure I keep this record of my adventure with knitting complete. So I've taken photos this morning of some knits I've done over the past couple of months.

Firstly, a 100% 4ply Orkney Angora scarf. It has a very simple lacy eyelet pattern but nothing except the electric blue colour is showing up in my photos (another goal this year is to learn about my camera). This scarf is the most cloud like thing I've ever knitted. It is so light and floaty but oh so cosy and snug. I wore it yesterday before blocking and it was lovely to have it wrapped around my neck.

Another lacy scarf I worked on this year is a design by Louisa Harding using her yarn Kimono Angora. I finished this scarf a few months ago as a Christmas present for my boyfriend's mum.

Next up is another lovely wrap around for my neck. Laura Chau's Just Enough Ruffles scarf. I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted for this project. All I can say about this yarn is that it is an absolute delight to knit with. Unbelievably soft and buttery. I have lots of plans to use it again in the future. The pattern was also great. Very clearly written and quite a simple knit.

After knitting the ruffles scarf I had enough emerald Malabrigo left to make a Crofter's Cowl designed by Gudrun Johnston

I've also knit another patern by Laura Chau, the Simple Yet Effective Shawl. I followed the pattern but used one extra ball of the Noro Kurayon sock yarn to make the shawl larger.

And last but not least a simple beret using Manos del Uruguay Wool Classica.

And now for the WIP's.

The Lush and Lacy Cardigan by Sweaterbabe. I've only done the back so far. I'm using RYC Cashsoft Aran and had to go up to a 6mm needle to get gauge.

The cardigan is my main project at the moment but I also have a little portable project too, the Mohair Portrait Scatf by Veronik Avery from her book Knitting Classic Style. I;m using a lovely cashmere silk mixture called Filatura di Crosa Golden Line Superior. It's 70% cashmere and 30% silk. I bought it fromDi Gilpin's shop in St Andrew's where my boyfriend took me on my birthday in July.

Other knitting goals for 2009 include the usual stash busting I always fail to do but also to learn Intarsia. I want to learn intarsia with the aim of knitting the Map of the World afghan as a wedding present for my best friend. I have just over a year so it is an achievable goal but it will be a massive undertaking.

I also want to knit more sweaters this year and do a couple of lace shawls.

Hope everyone had a great new year celebration!

Still here and still knitting

2008-12-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I've started my new job and four weeks in I know I made the right decision accepting this position. I'm enjoying the work and everyone in my new office is really lovely. Also I absolutely love walking to work. It feels so freeing. I've also been able to wear lots of my hand knits to keep me warm on my walk.

I have two finished objects to blog about today.

Noro Cashmere Island bolero

This was such a quick knit! I really loved being able to zoom through this project and get to wear it so quickly. The only mod I made was knitting the border all in one go instead of in two parts and grafting the back edge together. This just seemed much more simple and I'm happy with how it turned out. I've work this top twice so far and it is nice and cosy and the colours look great over an all black outfit.

Fishy Earflap Hat

This is a hat for one of my new work friends. He chose the yarn and colours and requested earflaps and pigtails but I've secretly covered it in little fish as he is a keen fisherman. I'm sure he will really love this pattern! I used the earflap hat pattern from Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Knitted Gifts and a little fish chart that I found by doing a google search and then adapting it a bit to fit my stitch count. I made one row of fish swim clockwise and the other anti-clockwise. Mods I made include making the hat a bit shorter and following the instructions for a smaller size for the earlflaps. I am so excited about giving this hat to my friend tomorrow morning at work!

I also have two other FOs but I'll blog about them next time. They are Laura Chau's Just Enough Ruffles scarf using Malabrigo Worsted in Emerald and the Crofter's Cowl from the blog The Shetland Trader. I made the cowl with what was left out of the two skeins of Malabrigo. This yarn is so gorgeous and soft and I didn't want to waste a single yard.

I also have two WIP at the moment. A simple lacy scarf with 4ply weight 100% Orkney Angora bought from K1 yarn shop in Edinburgh. This yarn is so soft. The fabric is just so airy and light. I wouild definitely like to use this yarn again for a shawl project.

The other WIP is Laura Chau's Simple Yet Effective Shawl. This pattern calls for one ball of Noro Kureyon Sock but I want a bigger shawl to wrap all around me so am using a second ball. The rows are getting really long now but I'm going to love wearing it once it's finished.

I met my knitting friends yesterday at K1 and then had an afternoon of chatting and knitting in a pub. I love the Saturdays we all meet up. We meet in the yarn shop and usually buy some lovely yarn and then go to a nearby pub and knit for a few hours. Yesterday I bought three skeins of Arucania Ranco in a dark semi solid purple shade. This is going to be a lace shawl. I made a Birch shawl with this yarn in red and I wear it all the time so I thought a shawl in my other colour purple was in order. I'll be looking through my knitting books to find the perfect shawl this week.

I also bought one skein of Manos del Uruguay wool classica. I'm going to make a beret with this yarn. I did a search on Ravelry for a nice simple pattern that will show off the yarn's beautifull colours and I've settled on Wendy Bernard's Le Slouch.

I really feel like casting on for a sweater so I'm off to peer though my many many knitting books!

Photos

2008-11-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Briar Rose is finally finished! I just hope it fits Renee, I am quite a tight knitter and sometimes things turn out a bit too small. It fits my fllatmate who is a similar size so I have my fingers crossed

I've also been working on my 'Simple Yet Effective' shawl with the Noro sock yarn. It's a lovely easy project for travelling around with. I love all the purple shades coming out.

For the first time in ages I only have one project on my needles. This will change today as I am planning on casting on for my Noro Cashmere Island bolero. I'm also really excited about casting on for the 'Just Enough Ruffles' scarf with Malagribo mernino worsted. It will be my first time knitting with Malagribo and after winding up the balls I am so excited about it. It is amazingly soft. I can't wait to wear it all wrapped around my neck.

I wish my photos were better. I'm not the most technically minded and I'm not too sure what to do with my camera to get different effects. I need to hunt down my camera manual. Hopefully I'll find it today. I've just finished at my job and am starting a new one on monday. I'm planning on a major clear out over the weekend and give awy loads of books, clothes, yarn to the charity shop nearby so hopefully I will come accress the camera manual during this process. I'm planning for a nice fresh start with the cleaning out and the new job.

Gretel and my Cabled Tank

2008-11-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

FO's!!

I finished my Gretel beret and I love it. I've been wearing it all week. I love the slouchy style, it's keeping my ears cosy.

I'm wearing it in the photo with my Tie Neck Jacket finished a few months ago and also getting a lot of wear since the colder weather hit. It is so soft and squishy.

I've also finished my Cabled Tank. I seamed last night and wore it at work today. I love the first wearing of a hand knit, it makes me feel really happy. I'm looking a bit odd in the first photo as I was just back from the dentist. I had a filling fixed and my cheek was a bit puffy and felt really weird because of the anasthetic injection on the top right of my mouth!

Norovember

2008-11-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed the Norovember Button in the sidebar. I've decided to knit my Noro stash this November and then get back to the last of the Christmas knitting in December. I have two Noro projects in mind.

The Simple Yet Effective Shawl from Cosmicpluto knits blogger Laura Chau. Im using her pattern for fingering weight yarn and am using the Noro Kureyon Sock as suggested. I have three balls of colourway 188 and am planning on making a larger shawl than the one ball called for in the pattern. If it gets to a big enough size I'll stop and make a pair of socks out of the remaining yarn.

After I knit the shawl (all in November!!) I'm going to use the three skeins of Noro Cashmere Island below to make a bolero from the pattern booklet Mini Knits from Noro.

At the same time I'm knitting some Christmas socks and finishing my Debbie Bliss Cabbled Tank!! I wonder if I'll get all this done?! I hope so because I'm also planning on something knitted for Christmas for my mum and my sister!

I'm just about to turn the heel on the second sock. I'm using Anne Hanson's Lighthouse Gansey pattern and the pattern is just perfect. This is the most enjoyable sock pattern I've ever knit. I'm definitely planning on buying more patterns from her Knitspot pattern shop in the New Year. I plan to get this sock finished in the lunch times and train journeys to work this week.

My cabbled tank is coming on well too. I've picked up the stitches for the polo neck and am about 3/4 away from finishing the neck. After that I need to pick up stitches to do the ribbing on the sleeve edges and then sew the side seams. I'm hoping to get this done at the weekend.

Iorick Byrnisen's Adventures

2008-10-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend me and my boyfriend celebrated one year together. We had a lovely weekend of celebrating and I made him this Noro scarf to mark the occasion (pattern from Brooklyn Tweed)

He looks really lovely wearing it so I'll try to take a picture of him with it at some point. I used three shades of Noro Silk Garden; 47; 230 and I think 234.

I've also been using some other Noro yarn, this time Cash Iroha shade 111 to make myself a Gretel beret. I finished it last night and will get somone to take a picture of me wearing it this week.

A few months ago I made one of Ysolda's little animals, the little polar bear. In August me and Jamie took little Iorick on a trip to South Queensferry where he had some adventures:

In other knitting news I still have to seam and do the neck for my Cabbled Tank and the border for my Briar Rose bolero. I've just started making Anne Hanson's Lighthouse Gansey socks and am almost ready to cast on for another Ysolda beret pattern, Rose Red.

Wireless

2008-10-21T12:57:00.001-07:00

My flatmate organised Wireless Internet this weekend. I love it!! We have been sharing one Internet conection so now I will be able to post much more often.

The other reason for my lack of posting lately has been my secret Christmas knitting. I have managed to get the majority of it done and just have one pair of socks left to make. It feels really good being so organised.

So now I can knit for myself again! The main knit I've been working on for myself is the Cabled Tank in the new Debbie Bliss magazine:

I'm using some aran weight Wendy which is 50% merino wool and 50% acrylic. I usually prefer to use 100% natural yarns but this yarn feels nice and the cables have good definition. I decided to give this yarn a go because I'm trying to spend less money on yarn and it cost less than £18 for the 9 balls I needed. It feels plesant to knit with and it can go in the washing machine at 30 degrees so I'm happy to give it a try.

The other project I've made for myself in between all the Christmas knitting is the Robin Beret from Kim Hargreaves Thrown Together.

I love wearing this hat, I feel a lot smarter than when I wear my normal beanies. So I think I may go on a bit of a beret knitting kick. I made Ysolda's Gretel pattern last Christmas for a friend and I really enjoyed making it so I thought I'd make one for myself in this purple Noro Cash Iroha:

And I also want to knit Ysolda's Rose Red using the St Magnus Orkney Angora I bought from K1 Yarns in Edinburgh. I do love purple!

Vogue Holiday 2008

2008-10-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

Vogue Holiday 2008 preview is up!! I love these patterns. Can't wait for it to come out.

On knitting news I just have the border to do on my Briar Rose bolero. I think I've made it a little smaller than I intended. I was following the instructions for the 36-38 size but being a tight knitter and not doing a swatch has led me to knit more of a 34-36! I hope it fits Renee! If not it does fit my flatmate Eileen and she says she will happily claim it if it comes to it!

This weekend I have two patterns I want to cast on for. The Woodland Stole in some gorgeous orange Debbie Bliss Pure Silk from my stash and the Cabbled Tank from the new Debbie Bliss Magazine. I can't find a photo of this so head over to Green Apples blog (link in sidebar) and check out the picture she has posted there.

I have already bought some yarn for the cabled tank. I'm in a money saving moment and so bought Wendy's 50% merino 50% acrylic aran weight yarn. It feels really nice and is machine washable and cost under £18 for the 9 balls I needed, but I'm more used to 100% wool yarns so I'll wait to see how it knits up and feels when I wear it. This tank will be for myslef and the orange woodland stole for my friend Elaine.

I had a read of Ysolda's blog today and she has just published her grownup booties pattern. These are so cute! I see a pair for both my mum and sister for Christmas. I think I'll slip them into their stockings on Christmas Eve.

In other knitting plans I hope to make up the little Bramble owl from the Knitwhits website. I have a friend at work who loves owls and as she has been the biggest fan of the other little animals I've knitted up this year I thought she deserved her own little knitted owl.

I'm Back!

2008-09-22T10:09:00.001-07:00

Well, it has been over a month since I last posted. I haven't stopped knitting though! It's just been a busy time and I've been doing some secret Christmas knitting so haven't wanted to post photographs.

I have frogged Geno. It wasn't completely working out for me and I decided that it wasn't perhaps my style afterall. So now I'm planning on using the Rowan cotton 4 ply to make the eyelet chemise from a past issue of Interweave Knits. You can buy the pattern from Knitting Daily and there are some lovely versions on Ravelry.

Right now I'm working on Ysolda's Briar Rose. It is for my friend Renee in exchange for music theory lessons. I do like a bit of skill swapping! I'm using Cascade 220 in a lovely shade of pink. Renee chose the pattern and the colour. So far I've done the beginning of the body and sleeves and last night joined them together to do the rest of the body and the shoulders together. The construction is so interesting. I'm really enjoying every minute of knitting this. I may have to make one for myself afterwards! I have some lovely Rowan Pure Wool Aran that may be perfect.

I've also started knitting Robin by Kim Hargreaves from her new book Thrown Together. I'm using the Rowan cashsoft called for in a lovely red colour but think I will leave off the pom-pom. There are so many gorgeous patterns in this book, I love Still, Hannah and Aimee.

Ok, off to go work on Briar Rose and Robin so I'll have more pictures to post very soon.

Iorick Byrnison's eyes

2008-08-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Claire did the first eyes and we thought one was bigger than the other and she was going to fix it when we meet for knitting at the pub, but I visited my Mum yesterday and she decided to have a go at them. She decided to make them smaller and bring them forward a bit and he is definitely looking more Polar Bearish now.

I made this bag from a pattern in the knitty archiives I used recycled sari silk. I didn't enjoy knitting with this yarn, it's a bit rough on the hands. But it is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to give it to my friend Wendy for her birthday at the end of August. She travelled to Nepal with her partner a few years ago, so I think she will appreciate a gift made from yarn spun there.

I am getting on well with Geno. I finished the first sleeve today while hanging out with my friend Elaine and her three kids. It was really fun playing games with the kids so I didn't do that much knitting, but I did get to cast on for the second sleeve and I'll be able to work on it tomorrow at my knitting group.

There have been so many good patterns published this Autumn. Kim Hargreaves has a new book out called Thrown Together and it has beautiful designs in it as usual. My favourite design is Still.

I also have the new Rowan. Magazine 44 is the 30th anniversary issue and is a trully lovely issue. My boyfriend surprised me with it. There are several designs I want to make including Garbo, Lamour slipover and Florentino.

I'm reading this book at the moment. It is amazing. I highly recommend it. I usually speed through novels but I'm trying to savor this one and am only reading a couple of chapters a day. I have tickets to hear Salman Rushdie speak at the Edinburgh book festival later this month and am really looking forward to it. He is one of my favourite writers. I first read his book Midnight's Children when I was 17 and have been reading his work ever since.

New Laptop and Otto

2008-08-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

My Mum and Dad bought me a new Laptop!! It's my first wholly owned PC! I'm very excited about everything I'm going to be able to do with it. One of those things is update this blog more often!

I have started knitting Geno from Rowan 43. I have finished the back and started the first sleeve. The fronts have a lace pattern and I'm looking forward to tackling them. I'm using Rowan 4 ply cotton which should be lovely and cool to wear during the warmer weather.

I keep being distracted from Geno however by Ysolda's toy patterns! I've made two Elijah elephants which went to new babies but I made the polar bear for myself. I've named him Iorek Byrnison after the polar bear in the Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' novels. My little Iorek Byrnison however is not as fierce as an armoured bear from Svalbard! Teddy loves her new friend.

Have you seen the new online magazine Twist Collective? It is such a great idea and the patterns are wonderful. There are patterns by a few of my favourite designers; Ysolda, Anne Hanson and Kate Gilbert. I've so far bought Ysolda's Little Birds cardigan and hope to knit this in time for wearing at Christmas.

Gigs

2008-07-25T06:59:00.001-07:00

I have two gigs coming up in September:

Sunday 7th September at the Jazz Bar on Chambers Street, Edinburgh 9-11:30pm £3 at the door.

Saturday 13th September at 80 Queen St, Edinburgh 9:30-12:30

Any knitting jazz lovers would be most welcome. Say hello if you come along.

FO: Elijah

2008-07-01T02:04:00.001-07:00

Elijah and his new friend King Louis

The photos seem a bit dark on the screen but when we were taking them with the flash they looked too light. I'll maybe try to take some more pictures of Elijah and his new friends before I give him away for the baby on Thursday.

First 4 Yarns

2008-06-30T03:18:00.000-07:00

Just want to recommend an online yarn shop. Fist 4 Yarns gives great service. I've ordered from them twice and both times the my order has arrived the next day. This time my order was for some delicious Malagribo Worsted in Emerald to knit Ysolda's Liesl (yes I cracked and bought more yarn!).

Lat night I finished Ysolda's Elijah elephant pattern. I'll get some photos tonight. It is such a fun pattern to knit!

Liesl

2008-06-26T06:39:00.001-07:00

Ysolda (blog link in my sidebar) released her Liesl pattern yesterday. I've been waiting for this pattern so bought it immediately. I'm really looking forward to choosing a yarn from my stash and beginning to knit it.

FO: Tie Neck Jacket

2008-06-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

I've finally finished my Tie Neck Jacket from Rown Studio 6. I really love it, its so soft and cozy. It still needs to be blocked but I couldn't wait to get the photo taken! Unfortunately it is too warm right now to wear it. It's one for Autumn/Winter I think.

Now I'm working on Geno from Rowan 43. A nice cotton 4 ply cardie with a lace pattern on both fronts. It's my summer project.

Gig

2008-06-02T02:50:00.001-07:00

For anyone living in Edinburgh I have a gig at the Jazz Bar on Chambers St on Sunday 8th June at 8:30pm. £3 at the door.

http://www.thejazzbar.co.uk/

Wee Ted

2008-05-16T02:35:00.000-07:00

I've been having a problem with my camera lately but with some help from my flatmate I have pictures to post again.

I've been doing a spot of baby knitting for people at work lately. A little cardie which I will post a picture of once the buttons are sewn on and this little bear who came to be named Giles:

He even got his own jumper:

My Teddy loved him and was very sad when it came time to give him to the baby

I've also been making Eunny Jang's Endpaper mitts. It's my first colour work and after this picture was taken I decided to frog and start again becasue the first few inches were not as neat as the last couple and I wanted it to all look nice. It has been begun again but is smaller so I will work on them over the weekend and take more pictures then.

Barcelona and Birch

2008-04-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

I've just come back from a wonderful trip to Barcelona with my lovely boyfriend Jamie. We had some really nice walks in the sunshine and tasty food and lots of fun together. We loved Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and Park Guell and of course the Barcelona football Stadium.

The Sagrada Familia was breathtaking and far too massive to get the whole thing in a photo. We have lots more but I thought four here might be enough!

Below is the gorgeous Gaudi Lizard in Park Guell, a famous symbol of Barcelona:

And here is me drinking out of an unusually shaped can of Coke. It held the usual 330mls but was tall and skinny. I drank a lot of coca cola this holiday, I love the stuff and used the excuse of being on a holiday in the sunshine to drink a lot of it!

Before my holiday I madly knitted away on a Birch shawl for myself. I've knitted this shawl as a presant twice before but this one was for me. I used Arucania Ranco in a semi solid red shade and I love it. Jamie took a couple of photos of me wearing it on our trip. First here I am on the wonderful La Ramblas street in the centre of Barcelona and secondly in a jazz club where I am a bit wide eyed! We had been enjoying wine and dancing!

I have been knitting!

2008-04-03T01:31:00.001-07:00

Ok, bit of a gap in my blogging. I always forget to take pictures of my knitting while it is in progress, so thats the reason for my absence.

I have been knitting away at my Tie Neck Jacket from Rowan Studio 6. I've done the back and the smaller front and have done the border and one pattern repeat of the bigger front piece. I love the wavy edges! The Rowan Cocoon is lovely to knit with and it is knitting up really quickly.

I have also begun a baby cardigan using Sirdar Baby Bamboo. I've done the back but I can't seem to upload the photo at the moment. My camera is doing something a little odd. I have a picture of my Noro Mini KNits opera length gloves and will upload these once I've figured out how!

I have a finished object! It's the Open Waters Wrap by Ilga Leja. I love this wrap and have been wearing it a lot over the past couple of days. I used Mirasol Miski which is 100% Llama and is one of the softest most beautiful yarns I've knitted with. In some lights it looks quite bluey and in other lights more purple. I've been wearing it in both the ways pictured below.

2008-03-17T04:48:00.000-07:00

I've not had a chance to blog for a while but I have been knitting.

I've finished a pair of opera length fingerless gloves in Noro Caashmere Island from the new Noro book Mini Knits and started the Tie Neck Jacket from Rowan Studio 6. I've also started the most beautiful Open Waters Wrap. You can buy the pattern from Ilga Lega's webpage.

I'm knitting mine using Miralsol Miski which is 100% Llama and is so soft. I am so looking forward to wrapping up in it. Still quite a bit to go though.

Kilt Hose completed and modled by Jamie

2008-03-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

I finished the kilt hose last night. I'm super pleased with them and they fit Jamie perfectly. He put his kilt on last night to model them for my blog.

what I've been up to

2008-02-22T02:17:00.000-08:00

Here are finally some FO shots of my Tangled Yoke cardigan. I found it really difficult to get the detail to show up well. In this first picture you can see the cabbled yoke a little bit but the colour is more true in the second pic. I used Rowan Felted Tweed in the colour Ginger and I made the smallest size of Eunny Jang's Tangled Yoke pattern in Interweave Knits.

I've also been making progress on Jamie's Kilt Hose.

I've really enjoyed making these socks. Jamie is going to a wedding on the 16th March so that is my deadline as he wants to wear his kilt. I'm going away this weekend and will get quite a lot of time to knit so I'm taking the second sock and hoping to make some good progress. He has tried on the first sock and it fits him perfectly and he says it feels really nice on. I'm really pleased with them.

I've also been knitting the Wild Flower shawl which I found on the Posh Yarn website. It's a lovely simple lace pattern and I'm trying to complete one pattern repeat every night before bed. I'm finding it really absorbing.

My star student has finished another hat! This one is made from Noro Kureyon and the pattern is in the Simply Noro book.

FOs

2008-02-19T02:10:00.000-08:00

I've been teaching my friend Suzie at work to knit over the past few weeks. She has picked it up so quicly and can now cast on and off, knit and purl, do stocking stitch and various variations of ribbing, read a simple pattern and decrease stitches. She is a star student! She has just finished her first hat and is allowing me to post the picture here.

Its so good! I'm really proud of her. It is made from Noro Cashmere Island and feels so lovely.

I've finished my Tangled Yoke and am wearing it at work. Suzie took a quick phooto of me in the office so you can see that it fits nicely but it's hard to see the detail. I will take pictures of it lying flat at home. It is so cosy, I love the first wearing of a new knit!

I have a gig!

2008-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have a gig on the 23rd March (Easter Sunday) in the Jazz Bar on Chamber Street in Edinburgh. It is £3 on the door and there will be two sets of an hour each by two different singers. I'll be on around 9pm for an hour.

Very excited, I love singing in the Jazz Bar!

Dracula's Bride

2008-02-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am completely giving up on the whole destashing thing! I have just ordered some jaggerspun zephyr to knit the beautiful shawl Dracula's Bride from Goddess Knits. I've ordered the deep purple colourway.

Just away to do a google search to see if anyone else has knitted this and suss out potential difficulties!

I have finished my Tangled Yoke cardigan. I'm very happy with it. The Tangled Yoke is a little wonky but it seems to be consistently wonky so I've left it be. This knit has been on the needles forever and I'm ready to be wearing it! Just the buttons and blocking to do and then I will take a picture and post it here.

Failure!

2008-02-07T02:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I have completely failed in one of my stash busting goals! I have bought a few knitting books. Quite a few. It's the new season and I am a complete sucker for a new pattern book. I just love looking through them and dreaming about what I'll knit. Anyway, maybe I will just remove that goal from my list? Or maybe I should just start again?

I'm doing well on my not buying yarn and knitting my WIP's. I did buy some Rowan Cocoon at the weekend but that was the first yarn I had bought for some time and I didn't buy it as soon as I wanted it, but waited until I'd wanted to make the Rowan Studio tie neck cardigan for a couple of months. So it feels a bit like a measured thoughtful purchase rather than a sudden falling love spontaneous buy such as leads to beautiful yarn languishing in my stash for a year!

I am doing well with the Tangled Yoke cardigan. I've finished the cabled yoke section and knitted the stocking stitch section after the chart. I now have the neck shaping and button bands to knit. Then I need to graft the underarm seams and block and add buttons. I still haven't found the perfect buttons yet. I've been trawling the internet for them. I think I'm going to need to just take my finished cardigan in with me to try and match up the buttons with it. I intended to photograph it last night but only remembered that intention once I'd folded it away in my knitting bag and got into bed. Will try and do that this weekend.

Jamie is taking me to Aberdeen for the weekend and emailed me this morning about a yarn shop in Aberdeen. He had been searching on the internet to find one for me. He is so lovely!

Rowan 43 is out!

2008-02-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

I'm planning on buying my new Rowan magazine tomorrow when I go to John Lewis in Glasgow. I've looked at the previews and there are some beautiful patterns. I can't wait to have it in my hands to pour over. I think there will be a few designs I want to make. I have also cracked and ordered the Kim Hargreaves book Heartfelt: The Dark House Collection. I am so looking forward to this arriving too.

Interweave Spring 2008 preview

2008-01-29T08:14:00.001-08:00

The Interweave Knits Spring 2008 preview is up. There are some lovely designs including this beautiful cobweb stole

And these cute cardies

I really want to knit all three of these! I can't wait to have this magazine in my hands!

The new Rowan Spring Summer 2008 magazine is due out on firday. I'm really looking forward to this one too. Unfortunatley I haven't been able to see any previews but I've found the cover page going a google search. This is the only knitting book I am allowing myself to buy this quarter so I'm getting excited about it! I'm so pleased I have managed to go almost the whole of January without buying any yarn or knitting books!

2008-01-28T03:25:00.000-08:00

I started the cable chart on my Tangled Yoke cardigan this weekend. I've only done 3 of the 18 rows so far but I'm relieved I'm able to follow the chart. It looked a bit scary at first!

Last night I was in need of some really satisfying knitting. Something that would be pure pleasurable knitting. So I cast on for a simple lace shawl that I found on the internet, I can't remember where though. It's a free pattern called the wildflower lace shawl. It has the most lovely simple rhythmic repetitive pattern and I knitted the first 46 rows while sitting in my PJ's listening to some lovely relaxing music. It was just the end to the weekend that I needed. I'm using a lovely navy blue yarn with a greenish colour in it that my parents brought me back from the Scottish Island of Iona a couple of years ago. So it's a stash project - yipee!

Finished Object!

2008-01-21T03:11:00.001-08:00

I've finished Jamie's St Johnstone Scarf! I'm really pleased with it. I attached the fringe yesterday while listening to Harry Potter book 7 on audio book. It was a lovely afternoon! The picture of Jamie is taken in the living room of my new flat. I moved into the flat last weekend and am renting a room with two other girls.

I also got out the Tangled Yoke cardigan again. I hadn't worked on it in months, so it was nice to work with the felted tweed again. I attached the arms to the body and am now working the three inches of stocking stitch before embarking on the cabled section. The cable chart looks quite scary!

baby knits

2008-01-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

I've been asked to knit a gift for a friend who wants to give something hand knitted to a friend who is expecting a baby. The main criteria is that it must be a bit 'quirky' and not in the usual pink/blue/pastal baby colourway. I've settled on the pinwheel baby blanket (click here for pattern) and I'm planning on knitting it in rainbow colours collected from my stash. So something else on the gift knitting list but this one will help with my de-stashing goals!

I'm on the final stripe of Jamie's football scarf, so should get it finished and the fringe started tonight. I'd like to cast on for the pinwheel blanket too and perhaps do a couple of rounds of the kilt socks as they have been untouched for a couple of weeks.

I'm going to visit my knitting friend who has just had a baby tonight. I posted months ago (when she first told me she was expecting!) a cardigan and blanket for the baby that I've knitted. I'm really looking forward to giving her the knitting tonight and seeing the wee one (a boy). I used Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino so they are very soft and cuddly. Mum made me a matching hat to go with them.

2008-01-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I was too sleepy to compile a list of 2007 knits last night, but my Harry Potter scarf did catch my eye and I remembered this was a year of Harry Potter knitting for me!

Dark Mark Illusion Scarf

Harry Potter Weasly Sweater

Gryffindor scarf - most commented on piece of cloting I have ever worn. Loads of people on the street recognise it as a Harry Potter scarf and only the odd person thinks I am a Motherwell football fan!

Ravenclaw beret

long list of post-Christmas gift knitting

2008-01-10T01:34:00.000-08:00

I was at my knitting group last night and I managed to comply with my first stash busting rule - I gave away an entire bag of yarn! I feel lighter already. Hopefully in the hands of its new owners it will finially be knitted up.

While we were knitting in the pub last night an old man came up and asked us if he could commission one of us to knit him a pair of woolen socks. His mother-in-law used to knit them for him but she has died and all his hand knitted socks are finally wearing out. How could we refuse?! So I'm going to be hunting in my stash for some good sock yarn to make him a pair.

My list of things to make for other people is growing:

Finish St Johnstone scarf for Jamie (on stripe 16 of 19)
Kilt socks for Jamie
fingerless mits for a girl at work
socks for the man in the pub
Salina sweater for mum

and I still need to finish the Tangled Yoke cardigan for me!

I'm not quite sure if I'm going to manage to complete this list!! Might have to ask mum to do the socks for the man in the pub!

Over Christmas there were some reindeers in Princes St in Edinburgh. They were really beautiful. I'm starting to miss the Christmasy atmosphere and anticipation of being on holiday. Its my fourth day back at work and I really struggled to get up this morning. It was so lovely having two full weeks off.

I need to do a post looking back at what I've knit this year. Will make a list tonight.

Stash 2008

2008-01-08T01:52:00.000-08:00

I am moving to a smaller room in a new flat this weekend. I am therefore trying to greatly reduce the amount of things I own. I found a KAL yesterday called Stash 2008 and sent an email asking to join. They send invites to new members on the first of each month so I should get mine on Feb first (also the day the new Rowan Magazine comes out!!). So in the meantime I thought I'd set myself some de-stashing rules. My rules are for the first quarter of 2008:

Stash 2008 rules for Victoria – for the first quarter 1st Jan – 31st March

1. Give away as much yarn as I can bear to be parted from to my knitting group
2. Don’t buy any yarn or knitting books except the new Rowan magazine
3. Finish WIP’s (Jamie’s scarf and kilt socks and Tangled Yoke cardigan)
4. Knit three projects from my stash

The reward if I stick to these rules is, I am alowed to buy 7 balls of Rowan Cocoon to make the tie neck cardigan from one of the Rowan Studio books - if I still want to make it. This is my problem, seeing a pattern, getting an urge to make it and buying the yarn and then going off the project!

I also want to make better use of my blog and post much more WIP photos instead of just finished pictures. This should motivate me a bit - knowing all the half finished pictures are up here!

I went through my stash last night and was very ruthless with myself. I've managed to remove quite a lot of yarn to give to my knitting group and other knitting friends. I've managed to reduce my yarn into two plastic boxes on wheels that will fit under my new bed.

And here is a photo of the half finished StJohnstone scarf for Jamie. I'm just about to start stripe 14 of 19 and then I need to add the fringe.

2008-01-07T04:06:00.000-08:00

Happy 2008!

I'm so sad the Christmas season has passed. I was so enjoying all my little naps and knitting to afternoon films on tv.

Well, I had many good knitting intentions for the holidays but sadly the Tangled Yoke Cardigan is still unfinished. I have the body and both sleaves done, I need to work up the courage to get everything on the needles and start the yoke. I've never knitted anything with this construction so I'm currently feeling the fear. I just need to dive in.

I'm half way through knitting a scarf for my boyfriend. Its in his football team colours - St Johnstone in Perth. And I'm following the pattern for the year 1 & 2 Harry Potter scarf in Charmed Knits. Its white and royal blue.

I'm also knitting some kilt socks for my boyfriend. I got the yarn for Christmas so cast on on boxing day. I'm still on the first cuff as I've been concentratating on the scarf lately, but they are really starting to look good. I love the little cables.

I am just about to move into a new flat. I'm renting a room in a flat a couple of streets away from my current place. Its a bit smaller so I'm having to de-clutter my life a bit. I have knitting group on wednesday so I'll be giving away as much yarn as I can bare to part with! I've also taken lots of books, cds and clothes to a local charity shop and I'm beginning to feel lighter.

Christmas knitting finished!

2007-12-04T02:01:00.001-08:00

I've finished my Christmas knitting! I'm so pleased I wont be spending the last weeks before Christmas madly knitting! I did have a pair of socks to knit for my mum but when I got to the heel after lots of little cables I finally admitted to myself that no adult foot will ever fit it! So they have been abandoned and I've bought mum something nice instead.

Once I realised I had finished the Christmas knitting I cast on for the first sleave of my tangled yoke cardigan. Will take a picture of it tonight. It's really nice to get back to the cardigan and knitting with no deadline. I'm enjoying knitting witht the Rowan felted tweed, its knitting up into such a warm but light fabric. I'm really looking forward to wearing it.

Once the Tangled yoke is finished I'm planning on knitting the Salina sweater for my mum. Its also in Rowan felted tweed and I have some gorgeous red to knit it in.

I'm also planning to knit Elijah, the cutest little elephant in the world, designed by Ysolda and a scarf for my new boyfriend in his football team colours. I also have loads of lace patterns I want to attempt.

I ordered some yarn from UK online yarn store first4yarns last week. I just wanted to recommend them to any UK knitters. The service was great and I received my yarn the day after ordering it. I'll definitely be shopping with them again.

Gretal Beret

2007-11-27T05:38:00.000-08:00

Here are two pictures of the Gretal Beret (pattern from Ysolda's blog). This was such a fun project to knit, I'd definitely make another one. This one is a Christmas presant for a friend. Unfortunatley the pictures are a little fuzzy.

Just a one final Christmas presant to knit (for my Mum) and then I can get back to my Tangled Yoke cardigan. I also want to make Ysolda's little elephand pattern Elijah and the Salina sweater from Rowan's Vintage Knits for my Mum, but I have all the time in the workd to do those after Christmas.

Knitting Magazines

2007-11-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

Well, didn't get as much knitting done over the weekend as I'd hoped. Kept snoozing! Did manage to turn the heel and do the gusset shapings, so tonight I'm hoping to bash on with the foot and toes. My addis for doing the Gretal hat arrived on saturday, so I have that to get cracking on as well.

I had a lovely knitting magazine weekend. I picked up my copy of knitting from Mum and Dad's house and the Vogue knitting holiday issue arrived in the mail too. Both are great issues, The Teva Durham crochet cape on the cover of Loop-de-loop crochet was in knitting. I want to learn to crochet things other than Granny squares just to do this cape!

From the Vogue knitting holiday issue I love this beautful sweater. Its even made in Lorna's Laces Shephard Sport which is one of my favourite yarns!

Christmas KAL

2007-11-08T02:27:00.000-08:00

I've been invited to join a Christmas Knit-along which will be a great motivator. Hopefully after my weekend of knitting I'll have good progress to report. Ideally I would like to get Jenni's second sock finished and begin either Mhairi's beret or mum's socks. Check out the Gretal beret pattern on ysolda's blog. Have a look at the cutest little knitted Elephant ever as well. I bought the little Elijah pattern yesterday. I think I'll need to make a few of these for expecting friends.

I went to my knitting group last night. I don't always make it as its outside the town but we had a new person coming so I wanted to make the effort. It was a really good night. I've got the cuff of my 2nd sock done and this morning on the train I started the leg and pattern section. One of the knitters last night was knitting a cardigan out of Colinette Firecrasker in the colourway Kingfisher and it is going to be stunning! I really want to knit something out of Firecracker some day.

Dad popped into the pub to see me and drop off some mail including my Knittig magazine, dvd's hes made of my gig and a lovely picture of Teddy taken at the gig. My university friends looked after her while I sang. We've been inseparable for 27 years so she had to be there! She is wearing the mini Sublime cardigan Mum made for her last Christmas.

Christmas Knitting

2007-11-06T05:07:00.001-08:00

I'm starting to get prepared for Christmas. I've so far knitted my sister a pair of opera length gloves in Lorna's Laces, the first sock in a pair of Uptown Boot socks for my friend Jenni and a red hat for my friend Wendy made out of the most beautiful Noro Cash Iroha yarn which has 40% silk and 20% cashmere in it. I've also bought some Cash Iroha in pink to make a the Gretal Beret pattern from Ysolda's blog (link in sidebar) for my friend Mhairi. So I'm slowly getting there. I have friday off work so am planning a major knitting weekend.

I have also recently bought the latest in the Rowan Studio collection which is made up of designs by fashion students. There is a gorgeous tie neck cardigan in Rowan Cocoon I am itching to make. I thik I will buy some Cocoon after Christmas if I get any Christmas money - so much for yarn diets!

First Gig

2007-10-24T03:21:00.000-07:00

My first gig on saturday night went really well. I had so much fun and want to do it every day now! So many people came to support me including my family, friends from university and about 20 people from my church!
As it took place during National Knitting Week I got my mum to come along and knit and I sang Night and Day as a love song to knitting - lets face it, I do think about knitting most of the time!
Life has been really hectic lately planning for the gig, so last night I was able to just sit and knit for the first time in ages. I'm knitting the Uptown Boot socks from Interweave press's "Favourite Socks" book. I got the heel turned last night. I'm planning on knitting the socks during evenings after work and get back to the Tangled Yoke cardigan at the weekend.

I have a cough!!

2007-10-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

I have been off work all week with a cheast infection and a cough. I've been feeling terrible, but the worst thing has been worrying about my gig. The only thing I've been able to work on has been lyrics, singing the songs to myself inside my head as I'd lost my voice. I'm finally starting to feel better and have just a bit of croakynes left in my voice. I'm on antibiotics and they seem to be really helping, so hopefully everything is back on track for my gig.

I've not been knitting - a sure sign I'm ill! I just haven't felt like it at all. Last night however I finally finished off a fingerless glove and cast on for the second one. I might do a few rounds this afternoon.

Knitting by the Pool

2007-10-05T05:16:00.001-07:00

My Dad emailed me this photo of me and my Mum knitting by the side of the pool a couple of years ago on the Greek Island of Paxos. I'm working on my first ever jumper in Rowan 4-ply soft and mum is knitting an Aran cardigan - yes, both making 100% wool garments in the sunshine. Luckily we had a nice shady spot. Dad took this photo as he thought we were very funny knitting on the sun loungers. The other people in the hotel all thought we were slightly crazy!

knitting at the Jam

2007-09-27T02:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to the Jam session at 80 Queen street. I go every week to get an chanace to practice my songs with musicians. Quite often I go with my friend Kat but I also sometimes go on my own. When I go on my own I tend to chat to everyone and just sit and listen to the music, but last night I was quite tired and not really feeling the social butterfly so I took my knitting. They know I come to the jam quite often after my knitting group so they were aware I knitted, but they found it really funny seeing me knitting in the bar! Lots of people came and talked to me about it and a man who often takes photos of the musicians came and took my photo while I was knitting. It seems so normal to me to knit everywhere I go so it was really amusing seeing everyones amazement at my knitting in the bar!

I was knitting my second Clapotis. I had a case of cast-on-itis on tuesday and made a start. I have some gorgeous HipKits Aran Silk in colourway fallen angel which is all shades from white through gray through almost black, Its knitting up really beautifully. I'm looking forward to wearing it. Hopefully it will be ready for my gig on the 20th Oct as it would look lovely with the black dress I'm planning on wearing that night.

I just found out that the piano player I had booked for my gig can't make it. I'm really disappointed as we had had a practice together and I was starting to feel really positive about the gig. I've got two numbers of very good pianists to try today, so I really hope one of them can do it.

Its really chilly today so I'm wearing the pair of rock opera gloves my mum made for me last year.

edited to add - I've found a most excellent piano player!!

yarn challenge

2007-09-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

I've had a nice quiet weekend knitting, reading and napping. It was lovely, just what I needed. Last night I finished reading The Lord of the Rings which I absolutely loved! I'd been meaning to read it for a few years and am glad I finally have. I couldn't get to sleep afterwards for thinking about it!

Here is the progress of my Tangled Yoke cardigan. I'm at the stage where I set the main body aside (back and two fronts knitted at the same time) and I'm about to start the arms. I really love the felted tweed, its so cosy but also really light. I'm really going to enjoy wearing it. The second photo shows a truer picture of the Ginger colourway even though it is a fuzzy photo.

I've decided to go to Woolfest next June. I've wanted to go the past two years but haven't managed it, but this time I'm determined. I was talking to one of the other knitters in my knitting group and a couple of us at least so far want to go. I love the idea of woolfest because as well as all the yarny goodness there are also the animals there that all the fibre comes from.

I've decided my knitting goal will be to knit only from my stash from now until Woolfest. This is about 9 months, so its a lot longer than I've ever gone without buying yarn. I am a bit poor at the moment though - mainly due to my yarn habbit! So I'm going to reduse the stash and increase my funds at the same time. This will be really hard for me as I get strongly tempted by all the yarn out there, but I just need to remember the excitement I once had about all the yarn that is in my stash and get on with those projects, ie several sweaters, shawls, gloves, socks etc!! So I'm stating this publically so as to encourage myself. This should result in a very great time at Woolfest!

jazz and knitting

2007-09-19T04:19:00.000-07:00

I've just finished the project I have been working on for my sister's Christmas presant. I can't post it here in case she visits my blog, so thats why I've been a little quiet of late.

I've also been working on the Tangled Yoke cardigan. I am loving knitting with the Rowan felted tweed. It is so light but yet warm. The Ginger colourway looks really warm and reminds me of marmalade. Its been cold in my office lately, so I'm really looking forward to being able to wear this knit at work.

I've joined the fingerless Mitts KAL and am in the middle of making myself another pair of Lisa Shabhona Mason's Rock Opera Glove pattern. I bought this pattern from Lisa's blog My Life in Stitches but this time I'm making it in Rowan's new Kidsilk Aura in a beautiful dark purple colour. Its my portable bus and work knitting project right now and the cardigan is my current home WIP.

My gig on the 20th October is looming! It happens to take place during National Knitting Week so I have emailed the knitting group in Edinburgh (CityKnitty) to find out if any of the knitters would like to come along and knit during my singing. I would really love the combination of knitting and jazz (my two loves!) so I hope some knitters can make it.

crown

2007-08-29T01:31:00.001-07:00

Here finally is a picture of me wearing my Harry Potter jumper. Its a terrible picture of me, I look a lot bigger that I really am in it but at least you can see the jumper on. Its so cosy! I wore it to my camping trip at the weekend and was very warm in the tent. We ended up not going as far as Skye and camped in Fort William. It was such a lovely trip. On our way back we visited the Sea Life Centre and saw seals and otters and lots of types of fish. My favourite were the little rays as they kepts popping up to the surface and sticking their noses out as though they wanted to say hello.

I have some yarn for the Tangled Yoke cardigan from Interweave Knits pictured in the previous post. I have Rowan Felted Tween in Ginger and I'm planning on making a start on this project at the weekend.

These are pictures of the baby blanket and cardigan I made for my knitting friend Elaine's baby which is due in December. I've still to sew on the buttons and I'd like to sew some lining fabric onto the blanket to make it look neater at the back and to make it nice and cozy. The Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino was a pure delight to knit with, I'll definitely be using it again for future baby knitting.

I'm currently knitting a crown out of crepe paper. Its a project in Leigh Radford's Alter Knits book. Its for my manager who is going to be an induction coach at the new building my work is moving to. She has a blue sash with 'induction coach ' on it so of course I couldn't resist knitting her a crown to wear with it! Its coming on fine although the crepe paper is quite difficult to knit with, it tends to tear, so it was very slow going gentle work!

new Interweave Knits

2007-08-24T02:44:00.000-07:00

I got my new Interweave knits magazines yesterday. It is a bumper issue and full of beautiful patterns. I love the Tangled Yoke cardigan designed by new editor of IK Eunny Jang. It's so beautiful will definitely go on my to do list. Its knit with Rowan felted tweed which is a gorgeous yarn with a lot of colour choice. I've been readying Eunny's blog for a while (link in sidebar) and so I was really excited to see what her first issue as editor would be like and it lives up to expectations. Unfortunately I am on a yarn diet due to my ever increading piles of yarn and my ever decreasing bank balence so I can't buy any yarn for the projects I liked in the issue just yet!

I also love these mits, I really want to start experimenting with colour work in the near future

I also plan to make the skirt below from the summer IK. Its knitted with Rowan Bamboo tape which is just the most soft and lovely yarn. I already have the yarn in the pictured colourway and plan on starting it soon.

These are a couple of books I quite fancy. When I've looked online at the Colinette site the patterns for the yarn Firecracker have never really jumped out at me, but at a knitting friend's house last week I saw the yarn in person and it is stunning. My friend is makinng a cardigan out of firecracker in the kingfisher colourway and it is incredibly beautiful, the colours are so rich.

The other book is this one, I think a knitted pink pig toilet roll cover would look great in my bathroom!

I'm finished the baby cardigan in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and almost finished the matching blanket but I think I might line it to make the back look better and to make it even warmer. I'll take photos over the weekend and post them on monday.

I'm going to the Isle of Skye tomorrow with my friend. He drives a Lotus and I'm hoping its lovely and sunny and we can drive with the top down. We're going to camp for one night and just spend the weekend having a lovely drive and a good catch up. I'm planning on taking one of my warm knits to wear in the tent at night, so I'll get him to take a picture.

Yarn dieting?

2007-08-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

I wore my Harry Potter jumper to work yesterday. I love the first outing with a new FO. Unfortunately as its August and my jumper is 100% aran weight wool it mostly adorned my chair! I did go out at night though and it was cool enough to wear it then.

I signed up for Ravelry today. I had a look at all the screen shots on their website and it looks amazing. There are about 24,000 people ahead of me in line so I imagine I'll have a wait, but something to look forward to. I think I'll take pictures of my stash in preparation. I'm hoping by doing this I might shame myself into stopping buying yarn! Maybe I should go on a yarn diet - worth thinking about.

I'm knitting a baby cardigan at the moment. A knitting friend is expecting around Christmas so I want to make something special. I've found a nice newborn pattern book from Sirdar and am making a lacey cardigan and blanket. I'm subbing with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby in a beautiful buttery yellow colour. I'm alsmost at the stage of sewing up the cardigan and did try to take a photo of it but the yarn is so pale it wasn't photographing well at all. I'll try again in a different light tonight.

I've bought a couple of lace patterns lately. I bought three beautiful patterns from Knitspot (link in sidebar), they are designed by the blogger there Anne Hanson and her designs are gorgeous. I've also bought a couple of Sivia Harding Faroese shawl patterns. I have some Hipknits lace weight silk and some lace weight cashmere as well as quite a collection of Rowan Kid Silk Haze so I see a lot of lace knitting in my future.

I've been thinking about my Christmas knitting the last couple of days. August is traditionally the month I start to think about this. I normally stress myself out by being over ambitious so this year I think I'll limit myself to my mum and sister and a couple of friends.

autumn/winter

2007-08-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

I have finished my Weasley sweater. It is currently adorning my dress model (what I spent my birthday money on) and is looking good. I just wish it was cold enough to wear it! It fits well and is really cozy.

The new Autumn/Winter Rowan Magazine 42 came out today. I've had a peak at the designs on the knitting garden website and there looks like there are quite a few lovely cozy knits. I've ordered my copy from Getknitted so hopefully I'll get it before the end of the week. Getknitted give a really quick service.

More Harry Potter knitting

2007-07-16T02:14:00.000-07:00

I finished the Ravenclaw beret for the Charmed Knits KAL. I made the smallest size. Its a really nice pattern. Really simple and quick to knit up. I have enough yarn to do another one. I might also make a Griffindor one for one of my friends for Christmas.
This is the back of my Weasley sweater. It definitely needs blocked but I'll do that once the front and arms have been knitted. Since this photo was taken I have done about 10 inches of the front and am just about to start the 'H' - my first intarsia.

I saw the Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix film on friday and I loved it! It went too fast though! I wore my Griffindor scarf and quite a few people recognised it and liked it. I'm going to go and see the film again on friday with some fellow Potter fans from my old work. It will be good to see it again the day before the book comes out. I'm so excited! I'm planning on sitting and reading the book all day wrapped up in my Griffindor scarf!

first gig

2007-07-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

My mum and dad visited me last night with a birthday presant that hadn't arrived in time for sunday. They had told me to expect a mystery presant. It is such a lovely presant, little cards with the details of my first gig on it!

Birthday

2007-07-09T01:29:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday yesterday. I was 27, I can't believe my birthday came around again so quickly! These labels were a presant from my sister and my brother-in-law to sew to my finished knits. Such a cool presant!! I can't wait until I finish my Weasley jumper and sew it in. She even chose Griffindor colours!
This little knitted bag was a presant from my mum. She knitted it after seeing an old photograph of women knitting with little pouches to keep your yarn in while knitting to stop it rolling about everywhere. It will be especially handy for my bus knitting. Its knit out of Noro Blossom.

I received my Ravenclaw and Griffindor colour yarns this morning so I can start knitting up hats for the Charmed knits KAL. Once finished these wee hats will be sent off to the charity Warm Woolies who provide warm knits for children in need of them all over the world.

crochet squares

2007-07-06T04:24:00.001-07:00

This is a photo of the beautiful Debbie Bliss Pure Silk I bought at the John Lewis sale on Wednesday. I have six hanks and have to decide between two tops in the Pure Silk pattern book. Either a lacy one or a plainer one that tirs in the front.
This is my travelling on the bus project. I'm crocheting squares to make a blanket out of Noro Blossom in different colourways. Once I have enough I'll sew them altogether. This is a sort of ongoing project that will probbaly take a year or so.

2007-07-05T01:32:00.001-07:00

Just been accepted to join the Charmed Knits KAL. So will be knitting hts to send to the warm woolies charity once I've ordered some Griffindor colours of yarn.

Went to the John Lewis yarn sale and bought some gorgeous Debbie Bliss Pure Silk for half price. I'm planning on making one of the little bolero tops in the pure silk pattern book. Its beautiful yarn.

I also bought some Debbie Bliess Donegal aran Tweed to make a Weasley Sweater. I've got a nice bright red for the main body of the sweater and a wheat colour for the 'H'.

Charmed Knits

2007-07-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

Last night I cast on for Sherdir the hat in the knitty breast cancer special issue. I love knitting with the Rowan Calmer, its so soft and stretchy and lovely. I'll definitely use it again. I've done the first 9 rows of ribbing and hopefully tomorrow I'll make a start on the tiny cables.

I've requested to join the Charmed Knits KAL so hopefully I'll be able to join in on the hat knitting and also perhaps find someone else who would like to knit the Weasley clock blanket. It would be good to have a KAL for this project as its really big and knitting along with other people would be really encouraging.

Ballet Tee

2007-07-03T02:25:00.000-07:00

The camera is speaking to me today so here are the progress shots of Teva Durham's Ballet T shirt. This was a really quick knit and I made it in two sittings.
I used cotton fleece double stranded and 10mm addi turbo needles. I've not knit anything with such chunky needles for a long time and I didn't find it that comfortable or as fast as when I use smaller needles. I really enjoyed knitting the t- shirt from the top down in one continuous piece. I'll definitely knit top down again.
Here is the ballet t-shirt finished apart from blocking and sewing the ends in. There is a picture of me wearing it but the flash made it ultra see through! I think I will add another few rows onto the length as its a little short on me and wear something under it!

camera issue

2007-07-02T01:31:00.000-07:00

I had some photos of my new work in progress to upload this morning but my camera is doing something odd, so I'll have to take the pictures again and try again tomorrow.

I gave up with my Weasley sweater for now, the yarn I bought kept snapping and had loads of breaks in it and I just got frustrated with it. Its folded away for another day when I have more patience!

So, last night I made a start on the Ballet Tee form Teva Durham's book Loop-de-loop. I'm using cotton fleece double stranded in a gorgeous teal colour. Its my first project knit in the round from the top down, so its very interesting watching it take shape. Will try to post a picture of it tomorrow.

First Proper Gig!

2007-06-29T05:02:00.000-07:00

I've just been told the date for my first proper full gig. It will be the 20th October in the jazz bar 80 Queen Street in Edinburgh. I am so excited! (And scared!).

I've added a link in the sidebar that leads you to my work's music page where if you click on my name you can hear three of the songs I sing.

So little time, so many words to remember!

More Harry Potter Knitting

2007-06-26T01:54:00.000-07:00

This is my Griffindor scarf. The pattern is from Alison Hansel's Charmed Knits and is the pattern designed by the blogger at atypically knits. I made mine in Cascade 220 in Ruby and Goldenrod. The scarf is knit in a tube with fringes attached at the end and it is the most good looking scarf I've ever made. Sadly it is a little warm to wear this scarf at the moment although I will definitely be sporting it when I see the new Harry Potter film next month. I will be wearing this scarf all next winter.
This is the Dark Mark Illusion Scarf designed by the blogger at Storm Moon Knits. It is an amazing pattern. So simple and it looks really effective! I made this scarf really quickly as I got a bit obsessed with watching the pattern emerge! I finished it last night about midnight and will attach a fringe tonight.

Jumpers

2007-06-26T01:47:00.001-07:00

Here are three tops I kntted. The red one is Lizzie, the Noro cardigan I took to Norway. I love the yarn (Noro Kureyon) and have used it a couple of times, the first time to knit a shawl in shades of purple. This colourway is my favourite. I love red and this gets worn the most of all my knits.
This is Tammy, the pattern is from Rowan's Its a Tape Thing and is knitted with Rowan Cotton Tape. I had this yarn and pattern for a couple of years before I attempted it. Its my most recently knitted jumper.
This is another Rowan pattern. This time knit with Tapestry, a yarn made out of Soy Silk. This is really fuzzy and cozy and I made it over Christmas and New Year.

Matching Sublime Cardigans

2007-06-26T01:43:00.000-07:00

For my Christmas Mum knitted the stripey Sublime cardigan. Its made with lovely Sublime merino yarn and I love it! It is so soft and cozy and I love the ruffles! I knew mum was making this for me, but the big surprise was the mini one she made for Teddy! This was the best Christmas presant ever!

Teddy

2007-06-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

Teddy was given to me the day I was born. She does well out of my mum and my knitting as she is the perfect size for trying out new patterns or for making garments out of a special ball of yarn that is too expensive to make a whole garment for my self (Or it is handwash only and I've decided Teddy will appreciate it a lot more than a new mum who has enough to do without hand washing pure silk baby clothes!)

The two cardigans Teddy is wearing are the bolero from One Skein by Leigh Radford made from Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton in a purple colour. The second cardigan is a picot edge Sirder baby pattern made in the premature size. This one is a better fit. I made this from Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in pink which is so beautiful to knit with. I'd love one myself but I'll need more than one hank of silk for that!

2007-06-26T01:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't worked out how to turn the photo round the right way - bear with me! This is my Clapotis I was wearing in the Norway picture. I made this from Lorna's laces Shepard Sport which is a beautiful yarn I've used a few times now.

The gloves above are fetching from knitty.com made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and the longer ones which actually reach my elbow are the Rock Opera Gloves pattern bought from the blog My Life in Stitches (link in the side bar). My mum knit these gloves for me. They are made from Lorna's Laces shephard sport in Irving Park.

Finally worked out how to use my digital camera

2007-06-26T01:18:00.000-07:00

I have finally worked out how to get my photos from my digital camera onto my computer! Not so difficult in the end - just lacking technical confidence!

The boxes in this post are full of all my knits. Last night I took some out to photograph to post on the blog today.

First there is the Backyard Leaves scarf designed by Annie Moddesit for the book Scarf Style. This was the first pattern I read from a chart and I really enjoyed it. I've taken a photo of it while blocking and a shot of the detail. I gave this scarf to my friend Ingvil when I visited her in Norway.

Weasley Sweater

2007-06-25T03:55:00.000-07:00

I visited New Lanark on saturday. We left Edinburgh heading West and managed to leave the rain behind. We even sat outside with ice cream! The museum and mill at New Lanark is really worth a visit. I didn't know anything about it before, but the man who opened the Mill at New Lanark in the 1800's, Robert Owan, was really ahead of his time regarding workers rights. The families who worked for him had decent housing and access to health care and he provided schools for the children and even a nursery school - the first in the world!

The most exciting part for me was finding out that all the Weasley jumpers on the Harry potter films were knit out of yarn spun at the mill in New Lanark! So of course I had to buy some yarn! Its beautiful, I bought a redish-brown colour that is 90% wool and 10% silk. It is all spun at the mill using 19th Century techniques. It was an amazing bargain - £10 for a pack with enough yarn to knit a jumper with an 'H' for Harry including contrast yarn for the letter and a pattern!! I was super excited. Not too sure if I will wear my jumper to work, but it will make a great comfy jumper for knitting in! Will add a photo of my knitted version once its knitted up.

Knits in norway

2007-06-22T02:59:00.001-07:00

While in Norway I wore a couple of my FOs. My Clapotis (pattern free on Knitty.com) I made in Lorna's Laces shephard sport in colourway Desert Flower.

Lizzie, my Noro cardigan, is made out of Kureyon. The cardigan has frills on the sleaves and fronts and I love it. The colurway I chose looks just like volcanoes. Its very cozy though and it was pretty sunny in Norway so I'm just carrying it in the picture!

Holiday Photos

2007-06-22T02:38:00.000-07:00

I spent a lovely few days in Stavanger in Norway at the end of May with two wonderful friends Ingvil and Sarah. The picture is of us on our last night. While in Stavanger I met an amazing jazz pianist called Pedro. On our last night we went to hear him play and I ended up singing a few songs with him. It was great fun and we had really good chemistry playing together, we just knew exactly what we were going to do next without looking at each other. I've never experienced that before. Hopefully I will again with other musicians as it was a wonderful feeling. I felt really confident while I was singing.

Harry Potter knitting

2007-06-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry no photos yet. I still need to visit my Dad and get him to show me how to get the photos off my camera. I know this is bound to be fairly simple but I am a technophobe!

I finnished the Harry Potter Griffindor scarf last night. I love it. Its is so big and cozy and wraps round my neck a few times! Its just a pity its a little too warm in june for an aran weight scarf!

Once I finished I started the Dark Mark scarf designed by the blogger at Storm Moon Knits. It is amazing and such a clever design. Head over there for a look.

eeek moths in my yarn!

2007-06-13T08:56:00.001-07:00

be sorted @ nimbo.net

I just took a quizz and I am a Griffindor. Thats what I wanted to be!! I answered the questions honestly, I thought I would have been a ravenclaw or a hufflepuff but I'm very pleased to be a Griffindor! Good job too as thats the house colours I've started knitting my scarf in!

I had a shock on monday. I found three moths on one of my balls of yarn!! I have ordered a replacement. It was one of the balls for my Griffindor scarf and it gives me the creeps thinking some moths might hatch and come out of my scarf! All wool now safely stored away in air tight boxes!

presents in the post

2007-06-06T03:35:00.000-07:00

This is a photo my Dad took of me singing a couple of songs at a work concert. I did Cole Porter's 'I've Got You Under My Skin' and 'Miss Otis Regrets' and a beatiful song called 'Tis Autumn' composed by Henry Nemo.

I had some goodies arrive in the mail this morning:

Hanks of Golden Rod and Ruby Cascade 220 to make a Harry Potter Griffindor House scarf. I'm really excited about this scarf (even though it is now June and I am the warmest blooded person in the world!).

I bought Alison Hansel's book Charmed Knits a couple of weeks ago and have been wanting to make a Griffindor year one and two scarf for ages. Other patterns in the book I love include the clock blanket and Mrs Weasley's bag of sitch witchary. I'm planning on getting the scarf finished in time to wear it to see Order of the Phoenix at the cinema.

Also in the mail came two 200g skeins of aran silk from Hipknits. The colourway is Fallen Angel and it is all shades of gray. Its beautiful and I can't wait to get home to wind it into balls. I'm planning on making my second Clapotis with it. My first Clapotis is knit out of Lorna's Laces shephard sport in desert flower.

I also received the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, a book I've been wanting to read for a while. I recently read Shirin Ebadi's Iran Awakening and was very moved by it.

Tonight I was planning on going to a jazz jam session at a local bar in Edinburgh but those hanks of aran silk and cascade 220 are calling to me to wind them into balls!!

Brand New Blog

2007-06-05T03:33:00.000-07:00

This is my first ever post!!

I'm quite excited about starting my own blog!

This will be a mainly knitting blog but with some posts about my Jazz singing. I'm an obsessive knitter and beginner jazz singer in Edinburgh and this blog will discuss these goings on.

I'm also a real technophobe, so this blog is my experiment in trying to enter the 21st Century. Uploading my pictures will be my first challenge as I'm only just coming to terms with my digital camera!