Actual Knitting Content

Now we have not had much actual knitting content in a while have we?  Most neglectful on what was originally supposed to be a knitting blog.  So, on the needles, Dad's jumper very much on the back-burner, more to the forefront is a cute 1950s cardigan from a pattern I bought in a charity shop.  I am extremely pleased with this purchase, not least because it contains the pattern for the matinee jacket with hearts and embroidery featured on last year's BBC 4 programme Fabric of Britain.



The cardigan I am making is called Rogue in Raglan, a name I suspect inspired by the wonderful expression on the little model's face in the photograph.  My alteration to this neat little textured cardigan has been to lengthen the cardigan by a good few inches to make it a full length cardigan, although as it is it would make a lovely cardigan to go over a girls' empire line dress.  The pattern is fun to knit, now I have got the hang of how it works, creating a very stretchy variation on rib; it would work well on socks, something I may have to consider in the future.  I am using the delightfully soft Patons Fairytale Dreamtime 4ply, in a discontinued colour I got for £1 a ball at Black Sheep Wools ages ago, I do love a good bargain.  For authenticity and practise in making up I am making it in pieces, even though a raglan cardigan is so easy to do top down.  May Elizabeth Zimmermann forgive me!



As the summer is upon us I have resurrected the double v cardigan I put away last year after it went wrong one too many times at a point in the year when I was never going to have it ready for that summer.  Mercifully I managed to sort out the problems I was having, despite initial confusion over whether the piece on the needles was a front or a sleeve and I am powering on nicely with it.  Part of a front and one sleeve left to go, then making up and hopefully I will have a new summer cardigan.  The yarn is Nikkim by Vinni's Colours from South Africa, bought at Purlescence, the colours are gorgeous, although it is hard on the hands being 100% cotton.



If I get my act together and sew on some buttons there may soon be a Baby Surprise Jacket and attendant bonnet and bootees to show off soon.

A finished baby cardigan

Ta dah!  A finished Baby Sweater on Two Needles, often called the February Baby Sweater, as it appears in the February section of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, an excellent and original little book.  Although it is worth noting that Elizabeth Zimmermann's pattern writing style is concise and takes a little getting used to; she expects her knitter to be using her (or his) brain when knitting, one's hand is not held through every step.  However, her patterns are rewarding when one has done the spadework and this cardigan is one of my favourite cardigans to knit for baby girls.  I have used Sandnes Garn Smart, a Norwegian yarn available from Scandinavian Knitting Design.  Now all I have to do is reposition the bottom button, which for some reason I have sewn on in completely the wrong place (relief at finally nearly finishing sewing on the buttons going to my head?) and post it to the intended recipient before their daughter outgrows it.

Next time I will definitely do the sleeves in the round, make the body a little longer and work out a more widely spaced option for the buttons as there are ten of them, which seems excessive on a baby cardigan and takes ages to do up.  Ravelry page here.

There we are, some knitting content at last, doesn't that feel better?

Knee Highs

I did it - I actually managed to knit a pair of knee high socks!  Admittedly they are in sport weight yarn, Knit Picks Stroll Sport if you are interested in such things, bought on sale at Great British Yarns.  They used just under four balls of yarn and being that bit thicker went rather fast.  The decreases down the leg helped me get along as I kept knitting on "just to the next decrease" and so on.  I came up with the pattern myself so I could custom make them to fit me, but I will try to gather my notes and write up what I did, it might help someone else?  And help me remember what I did for future reference.  Hopefully these will keep me warm in any cold weather we get, though given the weather today I think making my own galoshes might have been more helpful.



They look rather old fashioned to me, in a good way, like something a Victorian woman might have worn under her many petticoats maybe?  Only time will tell whether or not they will stay up effectively, if need be I will channel my inner Miss Mattie (in Cranford) and try knitting some garters to keep them up.

Naturally within minutes of finishing these I was planning the next sock and I am on the first leg chart of Elm socks by Cookie.a from The Knitter's Book of Socks in the most gorgeous green yarn from Countess Ablaze (alas her shop is currently closed due to illness).



Is there such a thing as an addiction to sock knitting?

Titchy snowman

I sincerely hope that this is as close as I come to a snowman this winter, but he's awfully sweet.  He's from Mochimochiland's tiny collection, brilliant patterns and well written and clear to understand, I'd recommend them.  Knitted in Sandnes Garn mini duett (bought at Scandinavian Knitting Design) with a thread of Drops Glitter alongside, his scarf is rather big for him, I forgot that it was supposed to be 4ply, but at least he won't get cold?



The penny is in the picture for size reference, not because he has holes in his pockets as one of my Ravelry friends suggested!  I think I'm firmly in Christmas mode already, but if you knit presents and decorations I suppose you need to get organised early.

Sock Swap

Lately I've been lucky enough to take part in the first ever sock swap on the Ravelry group "British Banter" and today was the day we opened our parcels.  It's also been my first ever sock swap and it's all been very fun, encouraging one another along the way as we knit our socks, then seeing them all unwrapped.  I made the teal lace socks I have already posted on here and received the following beauties in Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Sock in return.  My feet passed a very comfortable day in the new socks and I have washed them so I can hopefully wear them tomorrow as well!



Here's to the next swap!