A Little Quiet

I'm still around (and knitting). Just incredibly busy with the day job, and life in general. In case anyone is still reading this.

No pics this time, but I plan to show a new FO in 3 weeks' time. I hope.

Blankie

I used about 2.1 balls of Bendigo Woollen Mills' Rustic 12 ply in Elm. The .1 of a ball was courtesy of knittyrobyn from Ravelry. More pics here or on ravelry.

Oh and I finished the bumpy socks started just before our Japan trip.

The yarn is from Live2Knit, Joan in colour Choc Cherry. The pattern is based on Gentlemen's Half Hose in Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. I think I started with more stitches and made a longer heel, and used a tubular cast on. Needles were 2.5mm KnitPicks Options dpns.

Fabric Love

Here's something to brighten your day...

Fabrics from our Japan trip.

I'm thinking a few tops, dresses, cushions and lots and lots of bags.

I just need to learn to sew.

V

I finally finished the v-neck for my dad. He's happy, I'm happy.

Pattern: My own
Yarn: Jaeger Extra Fine Merino in Natural (SH 937), about 15 balls
Needles: 3.5mm/4mm Knitpicks Options circulars

Comments:
A pretty generic v-neck pattern with set in sleeves. I knitted both the body and sleeves in the round to reduce seaming.

The only difficulty I had was with the sleeves. I managed to mis-measure my dad's shoulder to wrist length, which led to a pretty long first sleeve that had to be completely ripped and remade. Designing the sleeve caps was also pretty tricky, but I found the article on the topic by Pam Allen in the Winter 07 issue of Interweave Knits pretty helpful.

This is the only photo I've got of my dad actually wearing it. It's taken on my phone, hence the awful quality. I can't take credit for the retro kitchen background though.

Dead Sock Day

First up, I've been hibernating. Partly because life has been really really busy, but mainly because there's not much knitting to show.

I've pretty much been working on my dad's v-neck in all my spare time, and that's about it. All the knitting got done last week and as soon as I finish this post, I'm going to attach the last sleeve and block the whole thing. And boy will it be a relief!

Not that it's not been fun. In fact, it's been quite a challenge since it's the first jumper I designed from scratch. But more on that when I actually finish it and have something to show with the commentary.

Today's post is mainly one of comiseration. Yesterday could aptly be called Dead Sock Day.

First I took out the laundry to find that this...

had become this...

I've machine washed these socks many times before, and there's never ever been a problem. For some reason, this time they completely felted!

When I checked the settings, I realised I had set the wash cycle to intense wash for the previous load and forgot to switch it back. And I only did that because (out of the kindness of my heart) I had taken the dirty stinky tea towels from work home to wash! Just goes to show doing good is bad for you.

After the anguish of this incident, I decided to mend another hand knitted sock just to make myself feel better. This one had a hole in the toe. Easy. Rip back a few rows, reknit, rekitchener, done.

When I finished, I went to get the other sock to try them both on. But when I put the 'good' sock on, this happened!

A stitch near the heel snapped and created this big hole! I just couldn't believe it. Two pairs of socks ruined in one day. If someone knows a good site on darning socks - please send it my way.

Anyway, I want to finish up on a happy note. I did manage to finish the Child's First Socks yesterday, from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks.

More pics on my flickr. And details on Ravelry.

Oh, and we're going to Japan in 3 weeks!

Scary Softies

Another diversion from my Dad's v-neck...

I used a pattern from this Japanese craft book but didn't have white felt for the bear's eyes. So for now it's just Scary Faceless Bear.

A New Hobby?

I have some Liberty fabric in my stash that I've been meaning to make into a simple skirt. Then I found this book at Kinokuniya (ISBN 978-4-579-11149-7).

It contains 28 simple patterns for floaty tops, smocks and dresses. Even though it's in Japanese, the instructions are largely pictorial and I think coupled my Chinese (many of the characters are the same), I should be able to figure most of it out.

As with so many Japanese craft books, the photography and layout is simple but oh so pretty. All the projects are for loosely fitted garments, which is a plus for covering up my fairly basic sewing skills, since I've never been able to make anything that's meant to be fitted actually fit.

My first project is going to be the top on the cover, although there are quite a few things I like. Here's a small selection to whet your appetite.

And finally, I've just finished my first sock in 2008.

This was mainly a distraction (oh no, not another one) from my Dad's v-neck. Pattern is Child's First Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. More pics on my Ravelry.

Convertible

Thanks to the unusually cold weather this weekend, I finally took some photos donning the very very warm Convertible Cardigan by Wenlan Chia from KnitKnit by Sabrina Gschwandtner.



For my 2 cents about this pattern, see this previous post.

Seeing it's meant to be convertible, I tried wearing it a few different ways - see here, here, here, and here. Or just visit my Ravelry.

And finally, here's a glimpse of Dad's v-neck. So far so good.

Green

A slight diversion from knitting this weekend - I indulged my fascination with Japanese sweets and tried the Green Tea Ice powder (from the Jap Grocery store Maruyu on Clarence Street).

This version came with English directions which were surprisingly easy to follow, despite some amusing phrases such as 'Whip to a thick.'

Basically you add milk and an egg yolk to the powder and 'whip to a thick'. Like so.

The only thing I struggled with was fitting it in our freezer.

A few hours later, wahla.

A bit more crumbly compared to normal ice cream, but tastes REALLY GOOD!

Next up, the Vermont Curry (with a touch of apple and honey). Will keep you posted.


Back to knitting.

Happy New Year Everyone

At least I managed to post before January's out. Just a quick knitting update really...

1. Second crochet bag, done!

For all the details check it out on my Ravelry. Incidentally this was made over our Christmas holiday near Jervis Bay where we stayed on a property with ALPACAS!

They are such funny creatures.

2. The Convertible Cardigan finally has buttons. They look like giant chocolate buds.

One day I may decide to model this cardigan (it's more like a jacket) but for now, I'm not insane enough to wear it in 30 degree heat.

3. Oh and I finally moved beyond swatching for my dad's perfect v-neck jumper.

Back in August last year, my dad asked me to make him a jumper after he saw the cardigan I made my mum for her birthday. So I promised to make him one for his birthday which is not until April. Plenty of time.

He specified that he wanted something he could wear to any and all occasions - casual, formal, weddings, funerals (my father is a pastor, so he actually goes to a lot of these). It has to be not too dark, not too light (definitely not Aran), not too plain, but not too fancy either. Piece of cake.

I then proceeded to do what I always do when I promise to knit someone something - I procrastinated. (This, incidentally, is why I do not knit Christmas gifts.) Since promising to make my dad this jumper, I've made 3 bags, a scarf, a cardigan, a baby sweater, a pair of socks and half of another jumper.

What have I done on dad's jumper? This...

So far this is my 3rd attempt at the border. And I still haven't quite decided on a pattern. I guess I work better under pressure.

Summer is just too good to blog. Talk next month.