serendipity

Sometimes the best laid plans go astray...

Fresh from the success of Buttercup last week, I had envisaged showing you some lovely pictures of my finished Drops Alpaca Cardigan today, however it was not to be.  I am happy to share a picture of the finished cardigan - but you just won't be seeing me wearing it.

Project Specifications:
Pattern:  97-18 Tailored Cardigan available for free from Garnstudio
Yarn: 9 balls of Eki Riva Alpaca
Needles: 3.25 Addi Turbo circs
Project Started:  July 2007 for the Tour de France KAL
Project Finished:  November 2007 well after the Tour de France was already over

So why won't you be seeing me model this cardigan?  Because as lovely as it looks in the picture, it looks terrible on me.  You see I am short in the body and long in the legs which is something I have always known but it has never really affected my knitting before.  However with this project the buttons hit too low on my body and to be frank it just looks ridiculous.  So as much as I love the project I know I am not going to wear it as is.  To fix it I would need to pull off both of the fronts and reknit them so that the slope starts higher and the button holes are much higher.  Frankly I am way too lazy to even contemplate this so I have bequeathed the cardigan to my friend Tam.  For the amount of socks she has knitted me in the past she probably deserves it.  (Btw - it is not sitting quite right on the dressmaker's dummy which I didn't realise until looking at the photos now.  I promise you, it is a really nice cardigan no matter how dodgey my picture taking is.)

Not to be outdone by one stinking knitting disaster, I have started two new projects.  Firstly we have the Lace Rose Sweater from Rebecca #31.  I had briefly contemplated this project when the magazine first came out, but after seeing Isel's gorgeous version I had to have one for myself.  I haven't knitted on 4.50mm needles in a while, but you've just got to love how quickly a project grows on those things.  Here is the back already finished and I have just started the lacy pattern on the front as well.  There are a couple of sweltering hot days forecast this week so I am hoping the front might not take too long since this is the only cotton project I have on the needles.

The other project which I started was kinda planned, but kinda unplanned.  Meg and I had been contemplating knitting Arisaig together for a while now.  I had been putting it off and acting all noncommittal about the whole thing as really I wanted to finish off Buttercup and some other WIPs and then I fell in love with Serrano and had every intention of knitting it first.  But that evil woman Meg somehow made me commit (during a moment of weakness I might add) that if we hadn't started Arisaig by January 1st, we would start it together on that day.  Well I realised that if I started Serrano now and Arisaig in January that unless I was absolutely confident that I would finish Serrano in time, there was every chance than neither project would get finished.  Hence I now find myself knitting Arisaig first.  Hopefully I will still be motivated to knit Serrano next year. 

I am using Rowan 4ply soft in the colour Sooty and it really is knitting up beautifully!  I am loving the colour and everytime I knit with this yarn I remember why I like it so much.  However, why don't you all go and ask Meg how her Arisaig is coming along.  Or where is it for that matter??!! 

I think I've been stooged.

Days like this...

Days Like This - Van MorrisonWhen it's not always raining
there'll be days like this
When there's noone complaining
there'll be days like this
Everything falls into phase
like the flick of a switch
Well my momma told me
there'll be days like this

Project Specifications:
Pattern:  Buttercup by Kim Hargreaves, Scent of Summer Collection
Yarn:  Rowan 4ply Cotton - colour Bloom.  Available only in kit form
Needles:  2.75 & 2.25 cheapo aluminium straights  (I found knitting this on circular needles to be really difficult for reasons too long to explain here - email me if you are interested).
Project started: 20th December 2006
Project completed:  3rd November 2007

To be honest there were times when I didn't actually believe that I would finish this project.  It had gotten to the point where the thought of knitting it actually made my stomach churn.  I've decided that this is partially because I'm not very good with WIPs that drag on and on and when you consider that I first cast on for this project in May 2006, with the intention of finishing it before I left for my European holiday, it definitely fits into the 'took wayyyy too long basket'.

That said, now that it is finished I absolutely love it.  As conceited as this sounds, how cute does it look?!  I've already worn it out a couple of times and had compliments each and every time from that other race of human beings called 'non-knitters'.  I just know that Buttercup is going to get trotted out quite a few times over the coming Australian summer and I think there is nothing quite so special as getting a lot of use out of one of your handknits.  I have so many handknits that I barely wear so finishing something that I have already worn twice in a week is very satisfying.

A couple of patterns notes.  Steph from Craftoholic extensively documented her notes and changes to the pattern and mine were pretty much are the same, except as you can see I actually knitted and attached the garter stitch ties.   I knew I would never wear the shrug open and I quite like the ties however I didn't do any of the pattern's picot bits at all.  Even though I quite enjoy seaming and am relatively good at it, like Steph I threw Buttercup under my new Bernina (I think I forgot to mention I bought a Bernina back in June) because getting the lace pattern of Buttercup to match up was near on impossible by hand.  When I first tried Buttercup on I couldn't get the sleeve garter stitch bands to close around my arms.  Now, I don't have super skinny skinny arms but they are definitely not fat.  I quickly worked out that the lack of picot edge had eliminated the stretch in my traditional long tail cast on edge so I cut (yes with scissors) off the garter stitch band, picked up the stitches, knitted downwards and then cast off loosely.  It was a bit scary at the time but it turned our perfectly.  I have nothing more to add other than for all the heartache and bitching (and there was much bitching), I seriously love love love this little top!  In fact I'm already planning my next little lacy top from Kim Hargreaves. 

In other knitting news I am also very close to finishing my alpaca drops cardigan, just one more sleeve to seam and buttons to attach.  I have started two new projects but unfortunately you will have to wait until my next post to see them,  (unless you are on ravelry of course) as I have to acknowledge a couple of lovely hand knitted gifts which I received for my birthday ....ermmm ummm back in sheesh August!

You may have already seen these socks showcased on Amelia's blog, however I have promised Amelia a thousand times over to post photos of myself wearing these and since she put in all the hard work and I am a slack, albeit incredibly grateful friend, here they are.

 

Made with Rowan 4ply Soft no less, in the colour Victoria with a green ribbon to symbolise the colours of a passionfruit which as you know I am very fond of, these socks are absolutely divine!

As I am indeed a completely spoilt lass, Kris being the sock knitting extraordinaire that she is also knitted me a pair of socks for my birthday. 

I have coveted Anna's Elfine socks for a long time now and since I was too damn lazy to knit them myself, I am lucky I have someone like Kris!  The yarn which reminds me of the colour of Autumn leaves, is from Spirit Trail Fiberworks when they used to post internationally (which they don't anymore).  I think it was the year of socks for Jac's birthday because I also received socks from some of my Melbourne knitting girlfriends.  Tam gave me a lovely pair of Cookie's Baudelaire socks in a glittery pink colour and Maree knitted me a pair of Regia Patch Antik socks, however you will have to use your imagination as I won't be posting these pics.    

What can i say?  I am one lucky and spoilt girl. Well my momma told me, there'll be days like this...    

You know you haven't blogged in a very long time when...

Typepad makes you log in again as it no longer has your details cached!

Yes it has been a very very long time.  Firstly, there are quite a few people who have emailed me to see if I am still alive.  Thank you for that, I might even get around to replying shortly but please don't be mad at me if I don't.  I haven't really got my shit together in terms of emails, blogging etc etc.  In the meantime someone went and invented that great black hole of time sucking...Ravelry!  If you're interested, you can find me here.  Although be warned I haven't quite got around to updating all my past projects, I'm thinking it might be quite some time before that task is completed.

I have been flat out at work for the last few months which has severely cut into my knitting time.  It is usually so late and I am so tired when I get home that knitting has been relegated to a weekend task (as well as housework, shopping, chores etc etc), anyway, you get the idea.  That said I do have a few projects that I need to update you with.

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Project specifications:
Pattern:  Cottons bibs from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn:  One ball of black 4ply cotton doubled from stash and one ball of cream 10 ply Katia from Ms Lists stash
Needles:  4mm bamboo straights
Project started & finished: No freaking idea.  Some time around March & April
Knitted for:  Diana's Baby C

I just love how this bibs came out.  They are cute, quick, practical and the wooden button is seriously cute.

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Project Specifications:
Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks from Interweave Knits 2005
Yarn:  Nature's Palette Hand Jive colour Spring grass
Needles:  2.50mm Prym needles
Project started:  7th April 2007
Project finished:  Hmm....May sometime I think

The photos definitely don't do this yarn justice as they are rather washed out and whenever I try correcting the colour I end up with fluro green for some reasons.  Suffice to say, if you haven't got some of this yarn in your stash...quick run...run now and buy some!

I have a few more projects that I need to update you with, however I think I will leave you with two final projects before I sign off for tonight.  I'll update the remaining WIPs next time I blog (and no I don't plan on leaving it 3 months this time...but then again I didn't plan on leaving it 3 months last time!) 

My Drops Tailored Alpaca cardigan that I started for the Tour de France is coming along nicely.  I only have the right front left to knit and then it will be finished.  Here are all the pieces waiting for the right front so they can be sewn up but I'm thinking some serious blocking might be required first!  I'm also well aware that the Tour de France finished months ago, what can I say? At least I haven't given up on the project entirely!

Finally, a moment I never thought would happen...I'd like to present to you Buttercup. 

Ok I know I still have to sew it together, but seriously who out there even thought I would ever finish the knitting! I know I didn't!  I bought this kit in March 2006, started knitting it in May with the belief that I would take it with me when I went to Europe. HA! Frogged it, restarted it in December 2006...and now here we are!

Stay tuned for what I hope will be a finished Buttercup and a couple more WIP's to share.

And she's off and running...

By Tam

Having sprinted through the Prologue finishing up another project to free up the needles I needed, I started on Day 1 of Le Tour by gathering up my supplies……

And my knitting supplies……

I began knitting on the morning of Day 1, and by the time I saw Robbie McEwen come from behind to win the first stage, I had sprinted up the back of Juno to the start of the armhole shaping.

Juno from Rowan 40 in Cleckheaton Country Silk.

I thought with the end of Wimbledon I might be able to get some early nights, but it looks like that won’t be happening until August at the earliest, assuming no other international sporting event crops up!!

*As mentioned previously Tam will be guest blogging her Tour de France KAL progress here, as well as her sprint for the Green Jersey.

The first fall...

We have the first fall in the Tour de France KAL and like Stuart O'Grady, I am feeling rather worse for wear.

The gorgeous Laurent pattern that I chose and the lovely speckled Cleckheaton Country Silk are just not getting on...and you know what it is like when team mates clash...nothing is ever achieved and everything soon falls apart quickly.  Basically the Country Silk is too tweedy to clearly show off the bottom bands which is patterned and the fabric being produced is also quite stiff and dense, although, that said the stocking stitch section which I swatched in advance is fine.  However, as it stands it is just not a comfortable team and no green jersey will ever be achieved under the current circumstances. (I will share photos as soon as I can, unfortunately it gets dark early in this part of the world and by the time I realised that my bike and project were crashing it was too dark to get a decent pic.)

So a day behind the field it is time to reassess.  I have some stashed Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in a lovely red colour which I bought when I was in London last August which may be perfect to drag out for Laurent...however I am already a day behind and I suspect some serious swatching will need to occur before I can begin knitting.  Although as the real Tour de France started in London, maybe it is a serendipitous sign that these team mates will get on better.

Alternatively last weekend when I was in Sydney, tour  KAL leader Meg and I went to the Stitches and Quilt show where some money was dropped and celebrity status was achieved after literally bumping into my new best friend Nicole.  (Can I just say that she is absolutely stunning in real life...the photos just don't do her justice).  Anyway, after seeing my new best friend Nicole, both Meg and I succumbed to a couple of bags of Eki Riva Alpaca which I had no plans for but since have thought would be just perfect for this gorgeous Garnstudio cardigan which is available free from here.   

Kris did send me the recommended yarn for this cardigan about six months ago, however it seems serendipitous that I am now considering the yarn I purchased when in the company of the Tour KAL Manager ie. le Meg.  So a day behind the field, a decision needs to be made quickly.  Laurent in the Cashmerino DK or the Garnstudio Tailored cardigan in the Riva Alpaca......no time to waste dilly dallying...think think think...decide now!

Adieu until next time when hopefully I will have made a decision and some progress on my project instead of quite obviously bringing up the rear.