Better!

Fortunately, I'd had the good sense not to finish the hat and weave in the ends before I got Em to try it on.
So I ripped out the decreases, and the last 8 row cable repeat, then redid the decreases.

Much better! (Notice that I again didn't finish it - I wanted to make sure it was right first!)
The fit around her head was just fine, the hat was just a bit too long. I tried to convince her that it would keep her extra warm in New York, but she wouldn't have a bar of it.

Something I've learned from this hat? (Well, apart from the obvious!)
I'm not a fan of cables.
Don't get me wrong, I love the way they look. I just don't particularly like knitting them.
My tension tends to be a little loose apparently, so I always have to go down a needle size to get gauge. But when I knit cables, I always feel like my knitting is too tight. If I try to loosen it up a little, my gauge is off.
And they're sl-o-o-o-w.

But I am happy with the hat. Now it's onto the gloves.

I need to finish these up and move on with my Hanging Garden Stole, because the next project is already planned.
Yarns Online is getting in Cascade Eco Wool. You know, the one that Brooklyn Tweed used for the Hemlock Ring Blanket?
Guess what I've preordered?
Yup, now that we're heading into summer here, I'm going to knit that gorgeous lap blanket.

And I guess that means that the Shetland Shawl gets pushed back a little again.

But I promise, it will be finished by Easter.

Hmmmm

Hmmm.

When you're knitting something, and it looks like it might be a little big, don't just keep knitting on with blind faith in the pattern, mkay?

Hanging Garden, how do I love thee?

Hanging Garden, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways.

1. Open and lacy, my favourite kind of pattern. I love holes, lots of nice big holes, but all flowing together in a gorgeous pattern.

2. Only just over 100 stitches per row, so they're not interminable.

3. 48 row pattern repeat. Not short enough to get bored with, and I'm not repeating the same row over and over.

4. The colour. I love it.

5. The beads, oh how I love me some sparkle. It feeds my "Shiny, shiny" syndrome.

6. Easy enough for me to knit in front of the television, but not easy enough for me to bored with.

Do you get the impression that I'm enjoying this project?

We are having perfect Spring weather again. Early yesterday morning, Twinkie and I resurrected a happy ritual.

Photo cropped to protect all of you. It was 8.30am on a Sunday, and I had bedhead. It wasn't pretty.
The sun, however, was glorious. And Twinkie was in her element.

Her only complaint was that I didn't stay there all day.

Saturday stuff

Saturday sky from the back door.

Saturday sky from the front door.

And as you've all come to expect from a Saturday, I have finished projects.
Two, to make up for the lack last week.

Green Stripey socks. Matched up nicely!
David is very happy with them, even if they aren't the Cthulhu he is yearning for. I like this yarn (Online 6ply) for his socks. It knits up more quickly than 4ply sock yarn, and hopefully being thicker, they will last longer.

I've knit him a few pairs of socks over the years, and surprisingly (or perhaps not) the ones that have lasted the longest are the first ones I knit him, in Elann's relatively cheap Sock It To Me. The more expensive sock yarns just haven't stood the test of time.

And the Cocoon Lace Scarf is done, too.

And some detail shots.

The centre pattern.

The end. Unfortunately, I bound off one end a bit too tightly, so it may have to be ripped and reknit, because the points didn't work very well.

The pic of me wearing it is closest, colourwise.

Specs:
Pattern: Cocoon Lace Scarf by Evelyn Clark, from FiberTrends.
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Liquer, one and a half balls.

It's a nice pattern, although it got a bit tedious for me towards the end. I'm really happy with the finished scarf though!

On the other hand, I'm in Luuurve with the Hanging Garden Stole!

More on that next time.

Does anyone else use the expression "As happy as a pig in shit?" Around here, we've decided that it should be "As happy as a bunny in hay"

And Twinkie is of the opinion that I just don't get it out quick enough.

Hanging Garden won. Sorta.

So, Hanging Garden it is.

Zephyr and beads. It doesn't take much to make me a happy girl! With lace to come? It's like christmas!

But something else did jump onto the needles, almost when I wasn't looking.

It's going to be a cabled hat for Em. I need something easier and more portable than a lace stole sometimes.

Although maybe I should have chosen something else. Something Not Pink.
I'll be all pinked out.

So close!

Green stripey socks.

Almost done!

Cocoon Lace Scarf.

Just 6 rows to go! And this scarf is not pink! My camera insists on making it a shade of pink. The name of the colour is Liqueur. This pic is more accurate, colourwise.

So, the big question is - what's next?

I don't know.

I think my queue list is too long because I can't decide what to cast on. I do need to knit some winter woolies for us all for our trip, so maybe some gloves for Em.

Or quite possibly, the Hanging Garden Stole, in Ladyslipper Zephyr.

In fact, probably that.

I couldn't keep it up!

So it's Saturday again.
And I failed. No finished project today. Well, there is, kind of.

Half a project, and another beautiful Saturday sky.
Yup, one sock. It counts!!
It especially counts, because David is now wearing that sock, with another sock. Do you think he's trying to tell me something?
Here's a better picture of the sock.

I mentioned to the family last night that I didn't have anything finished for today. Em suggested I knit a swatch.
I'm training her well, aren't I?!?

I've had a pretty good week. I spent Thursday with a couple of great knitters, playing ladies at tea, which was fun. 'm finally getting caught up on the sewing. I have five costumes almost done, and only seven not started. That's really been hanging over my head.
Tonight we're off to see Hairspray, which I've been looking forward to for weeks.

It's another gorgeous day today, but Twinkie just can't decide whether to come out or stay in.

It's a hard life!

Way back in the day...

Way back in the days, over 3 years ago when I started this blog, I used to blog every day, or close to it.

What the hell did I talk about?!? Did I log on and say "I did 10 rows of my scarf today"?

Some days it's hard to find something to blog about. Especially when you're knitting stocking stitch socks in self striping yarn.
But they're growing.

Not exactly exciting breakthroughs, but they're 6ply yarn, so at least they're relatively quick. The only other thing I have on the needles is the Cocoon Lace scarf. Mind you, that's growing, too.

The colour in that pic is pretty accurate on my monitor.

This is a pretty easy pattern to follow. It's a 12 row repeat, which is fairly easy to memorise. I did get a little bored with the same old, same old though, so I pulled out the provisional cast on and did the edging, just for kicks.

(This pic is too pink.)
All this repetitive knitting is starting to get the better of me, and I can feel a bout of startitis creeping up!

Tapestry Craft in Sydney is having Nicky Epstein book signing on Friday afternoon, but it doesn't start until 3.30pm, which of course is the worst time of day for me, and I can't attend.
But Ozknitter took pity on me! She saw Nicky at the Melbourne Stitches and Craft show last week, and kindly offered to pick up a copy of the book and have Nicky sign it for me.

I haven't had a really good look at it yet, but a quick flick through looks gorgeous. Thank you, Ozknitter!

And finally, I was walking past Em's bedroom the other day and spotted Roxie. I had to go fetch the camera.

She looks like she's recovering from a hard night out!

Twisted Flowers for Spring!

Third time lucky? For the third Saturday in a row, I have a finished project to show.

The Twisted Flower socks are done. I love them! Here's a few more angles.

Specs:
Pattern: Cookie A's "Twisted Flower Socks"
Yarn: Louet Gems Merino Fingering in "Eggplant" from The Loopy Ewe
Needles: 2.5mm on the leg, 2.25mm on the foot.

And one more shot, on the sock blockers.

My sock blockers came from Natty Yarns, btw.

I loved knitting this pattern. It's complicated enough to need some thought, but not too hard to follow in front of the TV at night.
I really loved the yarn. It's not available here in Australia, and it's the first time I've used it, but it certainly won't be the last. The label claims that it's machine washable and dryable, and it's a lovely springy yarn to knit with. I was a bit ticked when I found a knot in the first skein, but the second skein was fine. There was plenty of yardage in the skein, too. These socks are a little longer than I normally knit, and I still had a little yarn left over.

Overall? A+ for both pattern and yarn.

Saturday sky this morning.

Saturday sky 10 minutes ago.

In other news, Twinkie got a parcel this week.

She was pretty excited, and wanted to open it straight away.

But customs had checked it out, and were a bit heavy handed with the tape, so I had to help. She waited kind of patiently while I opened it for her.

Then she spotted what was inside.

Then she got really excited, and demanded that I open the packets for her.

Thank you to Kimberly and her furkids, Twinkie is very appreciative!

I'm behind.
Behind in my blogging, behind in my email, behind in my housework.
Behind in my knitting.

Not that there's an actual due date for the knitting, or a timetable I'm trying to stick to, I just feel like I'm not getting any done. Well, not enough.

Since i finished Fifi last week, there has been some knitting. The Cocoon Lace Scarf has seen some action.

It's slow moving. I'm trying to have some faith in the blocking process, because right now it doesn't look like much.

And I finally picked up the second Twisted flower sock. It's coming along nicely.

However, I found that with the Twisted Flower sock, and the lace scarf, I don't have any "mindless" carry along knitting. So I started some socks for David.

Let's be innovative and call these "The Green Stripey Socks". I thought they might be a little on the bright side, but David likes them.
I'm trying to prepare the family for New York winter days! New socks, new gloves, new hats. So I think I'll be on little knits for a while.

I'm feeling a little stressed this week. All my sewing duties are catching up to me, and I'm behind on that too, So now I have to try to catch up on those!

Em's knee is still giving her problems, so we're trying Bowen Therapy. (Hence the need for mindless knitting for the waiting room). She had her first treatment yesterday afternoon, and swears there's a discernible difference already, but she's ticked off and whining that the therapist has asked her not to dance at all until her next appointment on Saturday. Of course, the whining isn't helping my stress levels.

Anyone want to come meet me for a coffee?!?

Fifi!

For the second Saturday in a row, I present a Finished Project. (Don't get used to it ;)

Fifi is finished!
What a fantastic knit. Loved knitting it, love wearing it.

Specs:
Pattern: "Fifi" from French Girl Knits
Size: 33.5"
Yarn: Rowan Calmer, in Chiffon, less than 4 balls
Needles: KnitPicks Options, 4mm. The pattern recommends 29" circs, but I knit the second smallest size, on 32" circs with no problems.
Pattern modifications: Minor. I made it 30cm long in the side seam. The original in the pattern was 24cm long, but I don't think anyone needs to see that much of my flesh!

There is the option of short row shaping in the best area for more shapely busts than mine, but obviously I don't need it. I did decrease a tiny bit in the sides once I got past the boobage area. In the ribbing at each sides, I decreased 3 stitches. Here's a pic.

Barely noticeable, especially when I'm wearing it. So when I was at the very centre of the sides, instead of K2, P2 ribbing, it became K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2. It doesn't make a huge difference, just made it a little bit snugger.

Overall, it's another winner, I think!