Damn, Knit & Blast It

So.

What do you do with one skein of stunningly lovely Giotto?

I had found a pattern that called for one skein for my size. Unfortunately I think Colinette got a model who’d taken a few too many Valium…

It’s from this Colinette book, called Westcountry

It’s a simple variation on a ripple stitch - two pieces, straight up for 26cm with no shaping and a couple of shoulder straps. It is rather cropped but on a scorching hot day,after a couple of trips to the gym, I think I can get away with it.

I had a bugger of a time keeping the pattern correct! Mainly because it was virtually impossible to see the increases and decreases in ribbon yarn, in garter stitch.

Once I decided to use my trusty B&Q stitch markers to mark where the increases and decreases fell, I got on much better.

Here’s a question, if you’re knitting something with a ziggy zaggy bottom edge, where do you measure to? The tip of the point (making the garment shorter) or valley of the “v” shape?

I got as far as 26cm to the tip of the “V” and started to get that uncomfortable, knitter’s intuitive feeling that there was going to be a problem.

“Hmmmmm….There’s not much yarn left to make the front….” I thought.

I didn’t want to try and join the Giotto if I needed to make the knitting I’d already done longer so I decided not to cut the yarn and start the front. Instead, I wrestled the other end of the yarn out of the centre of my hand wound ball. I then proceeded to knit the front with the back sitting on my lap on a stitch holder.

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried knitting knitting from both end of the ball all once but let me tell you - you very quickly get in a great big tangle! I amused my fellow Guilt Knitters by spending about an hour painstakingly unlashing my near complete back from the remains of the ball.

The secret of knitting from both ends of the ball is to make sure the yarn you are not actively knitting with is wound tightly round the ball and looped into a loosish knot so it doesn’t unwind as you knit. The active yarn can then pull happily from the centre.

I managed, with some jiggling, to end up with a back and a front, both 26cm long. Unfortunately, to get that I was left with about 60cm of Giotto to make the straps! EEEk!

What shall I make the straps from?

I dug into my stash and came out with a bag of Paton’s DK cotton I’d bought intending to make a granny square blanket.

These are the colours I had to choose from…

This is the Giotto, knit up into the ripple stitch…

Not a bad match huh? Just goes to show that I’m drawn to similar colours, time and again.

I couldn’t choose between the cottons. What’s more, I didn’t want to limit the top by having one predominant colour. So I chose all of them!

I picked up an 8mm crochet hook, for no better reason than the top was knit on 8mm needles, and crocheted a chain using all six colours held together.

This is what I got…

You and see the “right” side of the chain at the top and the “wrong”, bumpy side at the bottom. I thought the bumpy side reflected the garter stitch of the top quite well, so that faced outwards. It also a happy accident that it’ll be more comfortable to have the smooth, right side against my skin!

In the course of making this strap, I also discovered that I had created an irresistible cat toy…

Thug says he was just checking for durability but I don’t believe him - he’s having too much fun!!

Do you want to see the finished article now?

I am pleased with it but I would have been much happier if it had been an inch or two longer.

If I’d used Giotto for the straps this would have been so short I would have been arrested! Especially as I’ve read that the Giotto stretches with wear…stretchy straps are not good!

Not quite the “get your knitting Mojo back” kinda project in the end was it?

I need a yarn sale….

After my Ebay Boo Boo, I thought I should really give the Kid Soft a whirl. After all, it’s a Rowan yarn I’d never heard of, let alone knit with. It would be educational….

After some research, I found that there’s only two publications for Kid Soft. The Kid Soft Booklet

and a “concertina card” of 4 patterns. Both are by Kim Hargreaves so I could be sure of something wearable in there. Being a bit of a “completist” I of course scoured Ebay and bought the concertina card too.

I chose a very basic high neck jumper called Dinny. Here’s the pic in the book - not sure if you’ll be able to see it though - in true Rowan style, they have photographed a black jumper on a dark background…

So, “How’s it knitting?”

The short answer is, “Very fast!”

So far I have done the back and front, joined the right shoulder seam ready for the neck (mainly because I’d mislaid half my stitch holders!) and stared the first sleeve.

Want to see a big black blob?

That’s the back. Here’s the best closeup I can get of the knitted fabric,

It makes a very lightweight fabric that looks a little slubby and fluffy - it verges on looking like it’s been badly washed IMHO! It will, however, be very warm judging by the toasty-warm knees I had knitting it.

The toasty-warm knees could have been because of large hairy creatures sitting on my lap whilst I knit. This brings me to another potential problem when knitting plain black in a household containing a huge ginger beast that is magnetically attracted to knitting.

Usually, I’d need to be careful to keep the knitting free of cat fur but the kid soft seems strangely immune?? Barely a whisker. Anybody got a clue why? It’s a great advantage for me - I might actually be able to wear something black in the house! Normally I have to change the second I get in the front door to avoid looking like I’m in the early stages of morphing into a a cat/human hybrid.

Of course, you’re asking yourself,

“How does she know for sure that ginger cat fur doesn’t stick to Kid Soft?”

Thug takes his duties seriously as knitwear tester. Look what happened when I left the back and front on the table for 2 minutes….

I think that look is saying, “Make me a blankie in this…Please! I need some luxury….”

I need a pleasurable project!

Fortunately, the next project in my queue fits the bill. Scrumptious yarn, rewarding pattern and for someone I love who will appreciate all the work that goes into it.

On a trip to Get Knitted’s store in Bristol, Steve (the lovely husband of my sister Carol) reviewed every blueish DK yarn in the entire store, assessed them for “scratchiness” and finally chose this one:-

It’s Sublime’s Cashmere Merino Silk DK. Any man who’s happy to drive two excited women 30 miles to a yarn shop wait several hours while the shop is thoroughly investigated and actively take part in all the yarn squishing is worthy of a seriously good handknit jumper!

It’s to be knitted to the same Bowie pattern that I made for Ben.

This is the “Ben” version in Rowan Pure Wool DK

The pattern is for a standard DK yarn so substituting is very easy!

And here’s the back made with the sublime -

…apologies - it’s a bit screwed up because it’s been in my knitting bag - I will block it - honest!

And the stitch detail…

I have to say, I love this pattern and heartily recommend it! It’s a very straight forward sweater but the pattern detail of a cable every 4 rows and a couple of knit rows on the purl side every 24 to give the grid effect really keep me going with it - you know how it goes,

” I’ll just finish the next pattern repeat…” or “one more cable before bed…”

I’m using Bowie from Jaeger JB28 - now discontinued- but Rowan have republished it as Edan in their Pure Wool Collection if you can’t find the Jaeger book and want to make one.

I started on 16th April and I’ve done the back and I’m finishing off the neck shaping on the front this morning - not bad huh?

There is a problem though. The men in my life are jealous.

The yarn is gorgeous. Soft, silken, beautiful stitch definition. So much so, Ben is feeling hard done by!

“Steve’s jumper is going to be nicer than mine…”

At least Ben hasn’t resorted to trying to stop me knitting like the other significant male in my life…

…Do you think Thug wants a cuddle?

When I told you about my yarncrawl I mean, romantic weekend in Edinburgh, I forgot to tell you - we flew to Edinburgh…and I knit on the flight!

It was a big decision, what to take to knit that wouldn’t offend airport security - a decision up there with what clothes to pack!

I can fully understand that metal knitting needles could easily be used a weapons and are not allowed for good reason. They are “weapons of mass construction” in my case! That ruled out taking my Top Secret project or Hildegard - both of which are on fine metal needles

**Warning - Ranting ahead**

But what is acceptable? The web is awash with stories of of needles being confiscated simply because they are knitting implements, whether made of plastic, bamboo or wood. If you ask, you are told a flat”no knitting needles” despite size or material. I hate the way knitters, who are typically not society’s most radical members, are reduced to “smuggling” something onto the plane. I wish the airports would be a little more specific - they could easily put it in the small print on the internet - no metal and nothing smaller than a certain gauge perhaps? I don’t know a knitter who wouldn’t comply with that kind of restriction. It’s just easier for them to say, “No”

In fact, on a trip to the Science Museum in London I was told I couldn’t take my 6mm bamboo needles (along with attached scarf) into the museum because they were dangerous! When I pointed out to the jobsworth security guard that the museum shop, just behind her, was selling giant sharpened pencils (and chemistry sets!) more pointy and sturdy than my needles and offered to demonstrate how much more damage a pencil was capable of, she relented in a gigantic huff. She clearly had delusions of working in a airport - Where has this idea that anything used for knitting is a weapon?

**End of Rant**

Enough ranting - back to what I could take on the plane with minimum fear of being accused of terrorism. I have a set of Denise Interchangeable Needles which are sold as Aeroplane safe.

They have plastic tips and removable cords that you can put end stoppers on. They are a really useful set and work very well but, for me, I don’t enjoy the feel of the plastic tips to knit with so don’t use them that often. But ideal for a flight!

I leave the half done knitting on the flexy plastic cord with the end stops on and put the needle tips in my makeup bag - now to be emptied into a clear plastic bag, probably in case I use my mascara to hijack the drinks trolley. “Give me gin and tonic now or I’ll make you look like Liza Minelli…Don’t make me use the unflattering shade of blusher!”

So what item did I knit on my airplane friendly, easy to smuggle needles??

Remember my Snuzzle Scarf - chosen to go with my lovely new green jacket?

In a strange incident of sisterly synchronicity, My sister Carol had, all they way away in Cardiff, fallen in love with the same green jacket. Unfortunately she hadn’t bought it on the spot and it had sold out when she went back. Can you imagine how jealous she was of mine? Luckily, I managed to find her one at my end of the country and posted it down to her. How could I let my sister be seen without the perfect accompanying scarf?

The scarf is knit in fabulously soft Misti Alpaca chunky on 9mm needles, is narrow so lends itself to a circular needle and is a very easy pattern - ideal!

I didn’t make a point of saying “Oh look, I have knitting” to security but they didn’t bat an eyelid - in fact my chunky metal belt buckle that set off the metal detectors was much more interesting to them!

I got home with only the end frill to finish….

…and a very warm happy sister!!

I may have to do a third one though….

…somebody else liked it….

I really must try and keep my blogging as fast as my knitting!

I finished off my Earth Stripe Wrap Sunday and started a new project - I’ve nearly finished it and I haven’t shown it to you yet!

It is in super thick yarn so it’s not entirely surprising it’s so quick…

Its from Rowan’s Country Escapes in Rowan Country…

a design called Branwen…

I really like the effect of the crocheted embellishments!!

I took this along to my Sunday morning Guilty Knitters meet and merrily made 25cm of back on my fabulous 9mm glass needles.

“Hmmm, I’d better check my tension. These needles are heavy and slippery and have been know to make my tension a bit loose…”

I needed 10 stitches in 10cm. I had 11 stitches! I measured it 5 times. I asked Judie to measure it for me too. It stubbornly read 11 stitches to 10cm not matter how much I smoothed, patted and tugged at it - too tight! I worked out that at that tension the garment was going to come up about 10cm too small on the chest. Ouch!

I was shocked! I’ve never had to change my needle size before when using the correct yarn for the pattern! I found it hard to believe that my tension was out. I even thought it might be because of my glass needles. I quick swatch on a pair of wooden 9mm blew that idea out of the water….

…I had to accept that for the first time in my knitting career - I had to change up a needle size!

A quick change from 8mm glass and 9mm glass to 9mm glass and 10mm plastic (my 10mm glass needles are beautiful but too heavy for me to really use) and some frantic reknitting later….

…My tension was spot on!

As you can guess - 10mm needles makes this a really quick knit. It’s half sewn up already!

I’ve really fallen for the subtle colour changes and thick warm woolliness…

Trust me to discover how great this yarn is as Rowan discontinue it!

I’m looking forward to rummaging in my Felted Tweed stash to see which colours work best for the “doilies” - I feel a fun evening of crochet coming on…

I have had one strange experience with this garment though - it kept moving around the living room overnight by itself…
….after setting up surveillance cameras and poltergeist detectors, I suspect I’ve found that someone was practising for his modelling career in front of the mirror

Just a quickie of a post !

Remember my denim Blankie???

We managed to get the beast hung in it’s intended position as a wall hanging at the head of the bed.

We had a bit of a wrestle to get Thug to let it go..He does so love to sleep on my knitting!

Mewsley is a cat of more refined tastes…

She preferred it on the wall…

I am so pleased with the result!

Do you remember the curtains I was about to make after decorating my spare room? No, not the bedroom I’m doing the Denim Blankie for. The room I did before that? Unfortunately, because the dates on my blog posts don’t lie, there is documentary proof that it’s taken me since February to make the curtains I said I talked about in my Window Dressing post.

I have been really “going for it” making the blankie squares and sewing them into strips.

I have today finished the magical 41st square - magical because it is the half way mark

I’m enjoying the blankie immensely but there is a down side - the Denim yarn is notoriously hard on the hands and joints to work with and my Golfer’s Elbow( first talked about here and here) has started to play up again. But more about the blankie later….

To give my painful hands and elbow a rest I thought I’d finally get on with the curtains. I had already bought all the materials and put up the curtain pole so I just had to get on with them.

Here’s the “stuff”…

As you can see, I’d chosen the “giant eyelet” type header tape. First time I’d used that so rather scary! Fortunately, it turned out to be ridiculously easy, especially with the instructions on this site.

Mewsley, however, did seem to need to inspect my measurements when I was cutting out???

She wasn’t impressed by what she saw….

Then she told me where I was going wrong…

I sometimes get the strangest feeling that Thug and Mewsley think they are in charge???

So here they are! All hemmed, ironed and lovely!

I’m really chuffed with them and I really can’t think why I left it so long to do them.

To much knitting I guess…

Talking of knitting (this is a knitting blog and not a curtain blog after all) as I was trying to rest my arm, it gave me a push towards sewing the vertical strips of my blankie together.

Wanna see? Ok then….

Looking good huh?

Just in case you’re wondering, the little cat trying to get out of the box is named “Schrodinger”….that’s a quantum physics joke for Ben….

Hello readers. It’s Thug here.
I thought it was time that you were told about the hard work my sister, Mewsley, and I put in to support our pet human’s knitting habit.

Mewsley and I have wanted to blog for some time. The humans have gone out hunting (at a hunting ground they call “supermarket”) so I’ve got my paws on the keyboard.

It’s hard work owning a knitting human!

Mewsley and I have owned Susan since we were kittens. She has knitted as long as I can remember. We adopted Ben as a stray. He kept visiting our home and eating Susan’s food. We thought he’d keep her company and he clearly needed a good home.
Apart from all the usual human owning activities (cuddling the humans when it’s cold, supervising food preparation, training them to open doors etc) a knitting human needs more attention.

I was spurred on to write this post after we didn’t really get credit for the work we put in rebuilding Susan’s confidance after the Buggering Felted Skirt incident. As you saw we both worked very hard to show that the skirt was a useful item!

“Look!” I said, “See how snuggley and snoozy it is. I love your work!!”

Humans need to be trained not to leave balls of wool laying around. Mewsley is expert at batting the wool and unwinding it. The human soon learns to put it away after having to unravel expensive yarn from chairlegs, cat paws and pot plants. Mewie is also proficient at killing wayward, waggling knitting needles…..

Then there is the work in progress. It must be tested fully for comfort before the human can wear it. I normally take on this duty…

Mewsley often gives advice on colour coordination. Here she is advising..

Mewsley’s guidance is in evidence in this Kaffe Fasset Tumbling Blocks cushion in Felted Tweed…

(She’s testing it for softness here)

Of course - I’m always available for a second opinion on “snoozability”

Sometimes it’s necessary to supervise the sewing up …it helps if the human doesn’t know you’re there so I usually hide under something …

She didn’t spot me for an hour!!

When my human ventures outside, she’s easily distracted from knitting by playing with plants. I like to nibble a little grass myself but she’s got a whole veg patch?? Doesn’t she know food comes in a packet or a tin??

When she’s distracted, guess who has to guard the knitting? This often goes on for hours so I make myself comfortable and watch the humans play…

Lastly - we occasionally get drafted in for modelling duties. I’m a busy cat. It’s hard to fit in my many and varied tasks but sometime I just have to put the needs of my human first and look beautiful for her…

It’s hard to own a knitting human but worth it. I love my humans…..

When the sun is out, I like to knit in the garden.

I can look at my tiny patch of garden, dream of the days in a previous home when I renovated huge garden, get a tan and watch over my emerging vegetables. I can also chase off the evil magpies who have been stealing my tiny carrots but that is another story entirely. (Anybody who mentions “Scare-Crowe” will be reported to the evil yarn pixies that tangle your yarn and drop your stitches in the dead of night….)

The problem is….my fabulously comfortable cast iron and wood rocking chair, rescued from a junk shop in New Cross (S.E. London), has been rapidly disintegrating! It was in a pretty poor state when I bought it two years ago and unsurprisingly hasn’t improved for being left out in all weathers.

I also have a problem that Thug fights me for pride of place on the chair (and on the tumbling blocks cushion in Rowan Felted Tweed!)…

Several of the slats have dissolved and I hold my breath each time I gently lower my tentative buttocks onto it’s protesting frame…

Time for action !

This was the poor sorry chair before we took it in hand…

We couldn’t find wood the right size to replace the slats so out came my big, scary, laser sighted circular saw to chop wood to the right size…

Then the old bolts were rusted together - nothing was going to move them…

Time to buy an angle grinder!! (I mentioned previously in Window Dressing that I love my power tools!) I must say, the sparks from an angle grinder on big metal bolts are pretty impressive!

I’m kicking myself for not taking a photo to show you

Once the chair was dismantled, all that was left was some nifty painting and putting back together. That took two days!

Now I have a chair that is worthy of finest yarns….

Great things will be created from this chair….