Hardly taking time to draw breath after finishing the green lacey jersey, I went all out on the multi hue jacket for Ania.
I really love the colour themes of this yarn although I still prefer some merino in the mix. Merino seems to add a softness that I notice missing when it’s not there (bamboo, silk, possum et al also add softness).
The pattern - Sirdar 1780 – was an easy pattern to follow and interesting with the combo of cables and edging and yoke in moss. Most of the patterns I buy I usually only ever knit once, this pattern though, I would definitely knit again.
It was uncanny how each bobble worked came out a different colour, how clever is that! Couldn’t have been better if I’d planned it.
All done
I think the combo of the multi colour yarn and the highly textured pattern works incredibly well, it gives lots of added interest.
On the model – back view.
Despite being high summer in NZ and a sweltering hot day, Ania indulged me and tried it on.
I like the 3 button closure instead of a button-through front, the collar gives a neat finish to the neckline. Ania’s 3 favourite colours at the mo are orange, yellow and green so I hope she’ll love wearing this stylie item – it was a pleasure to craft it for her.
I instantly loved this Drops pattern when I discovered it on the Garnstudio website last year. After toying with colours, pattern, and yarn to make a fair isle cardigan for myself (a process percolating since last winter) and now finally decided, I wasted no time in casting on the 314 stitches required. I’m looking forward to almost no seams and using both circular and double-pointed needles. I’ve been aching to knit one of these classic beauties for yonks – I’m so happy (if you’re following my blog you’ll be familiar with my fair isle journey).
I’m using Patons Patonyle 4 ply wool 80% / nylon 40% mix for the main, in winter red. I eyed it for this project and think it will be just fine. So far I’m impressed with the beginnings – the band is looking and feeling fabulous.
You’ll probably recognise this yarn from a garment I made last year, also another Drops pattern. I had a couple of balls over and thought this would be a striking second colour. Surprisingly, this fair isle calls for only 2 shades.
iKnit will be starting up for 2010 on Tuesday 2 March @7pm, same venue. Please come and join us if you’re looking for a knitting group and we’re in your locale. We’re a friendly bunch and new knitter’s are always welcome. Also, if you’ve just discovered knitting or have decided this is the year you must learn, we’d love to meet you too
For address / contact details -> to my contact page.
Inspired by the beginnings of a New Year and some long-awaited R & R my creative juices got working on changing my blog header. Net browsing and searching for yarn/knitting images felt like an ever-expanding universe to be endured (with pleasure) in pursuit of the right pic. Like a kid in a lolly shop – which one to choose! Never a time waster though when there’s a purpose to it and I had a good idea what I was looking for. With my search approaching obsession I found exactly the pic I had in mind (hope you like it too ) . Phew, it was good to surface and get outdoors again!
I’ve become captivated by multi coloured yarn over the last few months. I particularly have a leaning towards the rich and vibrant colour mixes and many of the combinations I’ve stumbled on are simply stunning. By the end of last year almost all of us at iKnit were knitting in variegated/multi yarns. There seems to be so much on offer nowadays in a variety of yarn weights and textures, maybe that’s why its come into favour again.
So when it came to revamping my blog header, there was no competition in the decision to use a multi colour yarn background.
One of the cool things about being in a knitting group is the sharing of insights, ideas and information. I discovered new online sites like The Unique Sheep (hand painted yarn), Vintage Purls, Touch Yarns, Grrrl Shaped Yarns and the many stores listed on Ravelry, to name just a few.
Needless to say with my current focus on multi colours that’s mainly where I’ll be camped for a good part of this year. A cute little toddler’s jersey on display in my LYS caught my eye some weeks ago. (I’m really rapt this LYS finally went online with their wool shop – well worth a peek).
With her fair complexion, goldilocks and blue eyes she’ll look gorgeous in the muted colour mix of yellow, orange, green and blue. I’m hoping the cables and texture of the pattern will knit a more random look than colour blocks which I want to avoid. I’ll start with one ball anyway and if it blocks I’ll bring in another ball and alternate between the two.
At the mo I’m knitting the sleeves of my WIP green jersey for Ania and naturally, now I’ve got my next project sorted, I’m keen to get it finished!
Kate was around the other day and brought her last FO with her, nice one. She’s pretty much got tension sorted which is awesome considering she’s so new to knitting.
iKnit will start meeting again second half of February. We had good times last year and if you’re reading this, local and on the lookout for a friendly, welcoming bunch to knit with come along and check us out. Most of us who came last year were strangers to each other at the beginning and quickly became friends. Have a squiz on my contact page for meeting particulars
Our last iKnit for the 2009 – despite the bubbles, amid good conversation, hilarity and a delish Christmas supper……….
………lots of knitting actually happened.
Christmas stocking – FO by Alice. Her WIP is completing a stocking for herself in time for Christmas.
The yarn used has an attractive velvety feel and look to it. At first glance it could be mistaken it for velvet and the fluffy, unevenly textured white yarn around the cuff is superb. Alice wasn’t sure what the yarn was – a scrap of something.
Ali’s WIP – knitting in blue for her latest customer. All her garments are crafted in the round.
Raewyn adding her section to this travelling scarf destined for the USA.
Karen’s WIP, a garment for her daughter.
I’m enjoying knitting my latest WIP and the 100% NZ merino yarn is a delight to work with and oh so soft.
This yarn has a very high twist which adds texture to the pattern when knitted and means it will not pill, is very durable, combined with an amazing soft quality to boot.
iKnit meets will resume in the New Year as we take a hiatus for the holiday season. I’ll be posting over the break………..so watch this space.
♥ ♥ iKnit next Tuesday 8 December @ 7pm will be special………everyone who’scome along to iKnit during the year is warmly invited to celebrate theChristmas iKnit as we finish the year. We’ll be knitting as per usual and alsoenjoy a shared supper…….Christmas fare.
Hope you can come and join in the fun ♥ ♥
Being part of a knitting group allows you to be a part of what everyone else is knitting, even if it means your part is onlooker. You still get caught up in the creative process and watching Simone work her magic on beginning her Christmas decorations has been all joy.
These mini Christmas stockings could be knitted in pairs for baby bootees. Simone celebrated her birthday last week and was given a beautiful book of sock knitting – her latest obsession.
Another of Raewyn’s travelling scarves has arrived and everyone helped out by giving their opinion as to choice of yarn. She had several really nice yarns to choose from and in the end went with a multi blue/wine colourway for her section which she’s adding to the blue end.
My collared jersey is not growing as fast as I’d hoped – too much life happening at the mo. I’m enjoying the 16 row lace pattern and the yarn is a joy to work with. I’ve still got my heart set on hand painted random dyed or multi yarn, sooner than later. Raewyn put me onto the wonderful online yarn shop Unique Sheep, they have some amazing colours on offer….I’ll probably yield….and the exchange rate is sweet.
Another great idea this neck warmer. For those of us who find a flapping scarf a pain and ultimately like our neck area cosy this does the trick. Raewyn made hers in a lacey pattern.
Washed and blocked, Raewyn’s latest FO…..Neck Warmer. The pattern source via internet.
Wendy and Brenda continued with their current WIP’s.
♥ ♥ iKnit next Tuesday 8 December @ 7pm will be special………everyone who’scome along to iKnit during the year is warmly invited to celebrate the Christmas iKnit as we finish the year. We’ll be knitting as per usual and alsoenjoy a shared supper…….Christmas fare.
Simone is knitting up a storm making a selection of delightful Christmas tree decorations. They’ll be various in design and in the traditional colour combination of Christmas white, red and green. Because Simone’s using a thicker ply yarn and larger needle side than specified in the pattern they’ll be big enough to be stuffed with tasty snacks – great gift idea!
I’m so proud of this little number and it’s cute as. Made in merino 3 ply yarn, home-grown.
The lace design worked in a 16 row pattern – can’t say it’s a favourite but overall effective and a little bit different.
These are the first ever socks crafted by Simone and they turned out great albeit a rocky beginning. She’s a convert now and has heaps of plans and designs lined up.
The travelling scarf – Raewyn is all set to send this one on its merry way. It had the glam treatment of a photo shoot down on Lyall Bay beach before we met tonight.
The blue cabled piece is Raewyn’s addition.
Needle Food is the yarn brand – cool name – and the neck snug is almost done. The deeper shade of blue is much lighter in the pic.
I’m underway on a lacey 4 ply merino jersey (pink jersey with collar, above) in the beautiful green yarn I purchased last week and the pattern is gorgeous.
Wendy worked on the pocket of the second front piece of her WIP hoodie.
We’re having a Christmas knitting bash to finish off the year in a couple of weeks. If you’ve come to iKnit this year watch this space for details.
This week we met Ali. She’s taking her knitting to a whole other level by knitting to sell, specifically infants wear. I so admire her!
This gorgeous creation is destined for some lucky child. Launching her cottage industry only early November, Ali already has 3 orders – go Ali! Like most of iKnit, Ali has been knitting for a while and is a new fan of seamless knitting. Unfortunately, we’re not going to get to see Ali’s WIP finished because it’ll be sent straight to the customer before the next iKnit. Ali did promise some pics though.
Raewyn’s shawl is finished – beautiful! When you see a garment like this completed it screams out ‘make me’. So much knitting…….so little lifetime….
This is amazing – the pattern is interesting and I particularly love the edging.
Simone’s number 1 sock in Opal – number 2 is on the way.
Raewyn is now working on a neck warmer in the most delicious shades of blue, sooo Raewyn!
I can’t resist sharing with everyone a bargain I landed today. I only went browsing, promise, but one thing led to another and……..the next thing I knew I’ve left my local yarn shop with the above stuffed in my handbag. The yarn – 100% merino, NZ grown, in the most beguiling shade of green (destined for a now liquidated store and on sold to my LYS). So I took a punt – at $4.50 for a 50gm ball it can’t end in tears.
My WIP – a baby’s dress, maybe for Ania. I’m onto the sleeves now and think overall I rather like it.
As I’m using up leftovers from my stash this means discrepancies between the 2 yarns. Both 4 ply but from different yarn houses. The mint from The Wool Company is slightly thicker than the Shepherd 4 ply. That aside……sweet as….cute as….will be appropriate descriptions when done.
Brenda continued with her jacket, and Wendy’s labour of love – an aran hoodie by Peter Gregory (scroll down the link) for her friend’s toddler, is over halfway. In a couple of weeks iKnit will end our formal gatherings with a touch of Christmas revelry (not to be confused with Ravelry) – however in saying that, a few of us not leaving town for the hols may continue to meet. Knitting on the deck…..wine & cheese…hmmm.
Now I’m well into my current project – a toddlers dress – I rather like what’s being created. I’ve run out of the mint colour, which I expected would happen, and have picked up the pink again. I’m still rather ambivilant about the actual lace pattern on the skirt, however it’s an easy 16 row repeat pattern, all in one up to the bodice divide.
Well underway with another set of fingerless gloves, Lindsay is taking them to visit family in Oz later this week. That means we won’t see her at iKnit for a couple of weeks! We cooed over Lindsay’s lovely bamboo needles again tonight, they really are lovely to hold. It pays to buy quality, Wendy bought a pair for $1 and the tip splintered and began to split her yarn.
This is the promised tea cosy – under construction. Lindsay is sure it’ll be too small for her teapot so she was dreaming about lengthening the hem. A brainstorm later, she may dangle paua shell around the lower edge. The top knot is to have dreadlocks – awesome!
If you’re familiar with New Zealand paua shell, you’ll be able to see why Lindsay is heading in that direction for the lower border. The colours are dazzling.
I can totally imagine this skein making an excellent birds nest – of course it’s far too nice for that but it does remind me of our chirpy feathered friends.
Wendy’s hoodie is looking really fab. She’d been having second thoughts all week about the sizing issue but now I think she’s resolved to continue as planned. The others in the group tonight definitely agreed that the next size up would be too big. For a child to grow into a garment in a few months is one thing – but to have to wait, like 3 years…I don’t think so.
Simone’s second sock is growing. We encouraged her to unpick the toe of the first sock and knit a few more rows to make it fit, it’ll be really pretty painless to do. There’s not a lot of knitting involved so I ‘m picking she’ll do it.
The leaf pattern combined with the multi coloured yarn of Raewyn’s shawl is striking, only the edge to complete now and it’s done.
After the shawl is washed and blocked it’ll look even more impressive.
The multi coloured yarn Wendy used for her latest FO’s is unintentionally similar to Raewyn’s shawl colour. Returned from her holiday, Wendy brought the booties and hat topped with a perfect pom pom for us to admire. There’s also a jersey that makes up this set.
The lace stitch panels makes this set so charming, changes something ordinary to special.
The Aran hoodie is Wendy’s latest WIP, for a friend’s 2-year-old son. This Peter Gregory pattern is gorgeous – all 3 items look attractive. I think it’s the white fleck yarn used for the jersey that makes this particular garment appeal so much to Brenda and I. Wendy has chosen a deeper multi shade this time and in DK. It’s going to be gorgeous if the band is anything to go by. Almost everyone in the group is knitting with multi/random colour yarn, no surprises here – it’s so effective.
Lindsay’s fingerless gloves – her latest FO.
We’re talking cosy as, attributed to the merino possum mix. Lindsay has promised to bring her decorative tea cosy to show us when it’s finished – we’ll hold her to it!
This is my latest WIP – a toddlers dress. I’m warming up to the colours – I’ve so much left over 3 & 4 ply yarn I decided to dive into my stash this time. With not enough of the mint shade I’m opting for 2 toned. If you’ve been following my blog you’ll remember I made a cardy in these colours reversed, pink the main and mint the trim last time. I wrote the 4 row pattern out on paper so I could take my knitting to work, the pattern book being too large to fit in my handbag.
This is the design I’m currently knitting.
I became obsessed recently with baby/child’s dresses and have picked up various patterns from Trade Me. This is my favourite – note to self: knit it before you go off the boil.
I’m not quite sure what motivated my interest in the dress genre. Maybe because I’ve never made one before. Anyway, the idea appeals to me.
I tried to steer away from patterns with short sleeves and ribbons. This one came with another pattern I really wanted. I’m certain I won’t knit up half of them but it was fun bidding for them. Note the Mary Lou doll, I had one when I was a child. Mary Lou is a Kiwi classic and along with Buzzy Bee both are still being made.
I feel like I have a good selection of dress patterns now so I’m off the hunt. I chose only 3 ply or 4 ply patterns …… now to get on and use up more stash!
Simone brought one completed sock to show us tonight and is onto the second one. Too small for herself, her Mum may be the winner here.
Alice couldn’t bring her FO cardy with her because her niece has taken it away on holiday. She promised to bring it next time but did show us some pics of her niece wearing it – looks great! Now Alice is working on a Christmas stocking for her Man using an appropriate shade of Christmas red with white for the heel and toe. Karen finished her wash cloth and is working on completing a sock project. Brenda ran out of wool tonight and forgot to bring replacements, her WIP jacket is really starting to take shape now.
All in all everyone is flat tack, knitting this – finishing that – creating here – dreaming there ….. and we’re loving it!
I think the change from winter to Spring is my favourite time of year. Well, okay, I do love Spring to Summer too – really I’m a warm, sunny weather person. And how could you not be endeared to lambs like the two frolicking in the pic – they’re just rearing to go. I’m going to keep knitting over the warmer months and I’ve got heaps of projects lined up waiting their turn. For many years I put my needles away over summer and then went like the clappers come winter. Nowadays I keep going all year round. We got talking about this at iKnit this week, seems some find it too warm and there are more recreational pursuits to be had, while others in the group keep knitting but work on less weightier projects.
With her love affair of sock knitting waning, Karen spent most of tonight working on this dishcloth in 12 ply cotton.
Lindsay continued on her fingerless gloves tonight which she put down for the week to start on a novelty decorative tea cosy……and from her description we can’t wait to see it, sounds absolutely wonderful. Lindsay got all inspired after seeing tea cosy’s on display at an exhibition this week. This created some discussion amongst the group about the use of tea cosy’s these days. We wondered how long a pot was left brewing if it required a cover to keep the contents warm - not a happy thought.
The carry case is absolutely gorgeous on its own………..
……..however the Knit Picks inside are nothing short of impressive and I can see why Raewyn didn’t have a chance!
Simone picked up some useful tips on sock knitting tonight, they are her first attempt and I think she has them in mind for an up-coming tramping adventure.
In case you’re wondering, Simone’s hands are perfectly proportioned to the rest of her – apologies Simone for the angle of the pic (by the way, I like your ring). I helped out and knit a couple of stitches and I’m rather taken with her bamboo needles, they feel fabulous in the hand. I had dismissed bamboo needles before actually trying them, but now I’m having second thoughts…….I’m feeling tempted to get a set for myself.
This is my latest FO. A Pram Coat (old school for a hoodie), knit in Carnival Effects DK. I have to say right now this project was not a pleasant crafting experience, I did not like this yarn. It confirmed my love of wool as my preferred fiber to work with. The garment looks good and will wash and wear well which are its redeeming features. I agree with Raewyn that there are nicer examples of 100% acrylic for sure – guess for $2.50 a ball you get what you pay for. For my knitting pleasure though, I’m a pure wool girl and totally sold on merino, preferably 2, 3, or 4 ply. Which do you prefer?
There’s something comforting and nourishing about sitting in a circle of knitters. It’s primal — working with your hands in a group of, in our case, women who are talking knitting — what project are you working on, what size are your needles/what are yours made of, what kind of yarn is that, and can you help me with this? It’s fun to see the amazing talent and the beautiful and complex things we can make. For centuries, women have sat together knitting and doing crafts, making beautiful and practical things. It’s good for the soul.
Simone modelling her cosy, chunky knit cable/rib scarf – her latest FO (finished object).
Possibly with inspiration from Karen (our sock knitter), Simone decided to get started on a pair for herself and cast on tonight. Simone’s knitting her socks in the ever popular Opal yarn . It seems there are 2 camps, using circular needles or 2 pointers. Simone’s using 2 pointer’s – both methods give excellent results.
Simone made the beanie for her flatmate.
Lindsay brought her FO from last week to show us the difference washing and blocking makes to the finished garment. The pattern really does come alive.
With its candy floss qualities, I can’t think of a more appropriate yarn than mohair for this project.
This cutie garment is my current WIP (work in progress) and I’m just loving getting back to knitting baby/childs wear again. Not to say I didn’t enjoy knitting adult garments over the winter months, but hey, kids stuff is just so cute…and quick! Believe it or not…this is the first time I’ve used acrylic yarn – a very different knitting experience to working with wool. I’m not a believer though, I’m definitely a wool girl.
Brenda’s jacket is starting to take shape…well we get it. Knit in several sections, a very interesting project.
Fingerless gloves anyone? This version Lindsay is making of these ever popular hand warmers are no exception – knit on dainty bamboo 2 pointers, using a fine yarn (possum/merino no-less), in a heart warming shade of autumn. Lindsay kindly makes many knits for others, I’m pleased she’s crafting these beauties for herself.
Raewyn continues to make magic with her circular needles on her leaf design wrap. The group was shown Raewyn’s purchase of the week – a fabulous set of interchangeable circular needles presented in an equally fabulous carry case……nice.
The journey continues for another travelling scarf…..we just love this concept….very, very cool.
This is special yarn…spun by Raewyn herself and her first effort to boot – there is nothing this woman can’t do!
Alice is knitting a cardy for her niece to wear to kindergarten. In a sensible shade of blue to compete against finger paint and all manner of child fun things. If all goes to plan Alice may have this completed to show us next week, with only the neck and front bands to do.
Another thing I like about my knitting group – getting inspiration from seeing other people’s projects. It’s fun to see other people’s knitting patterns, new designs, and choice of yarn. You get ideas, encouragement, validation, and overall support from the other knitters in the group. You definitely get ideas about projects you want to start….like lace knitting….and sock knitting….and knitting toys…..and….and…and..
) . Phew, it was good to surface and get outdoors again!
