Damn, Knit & Blast It

I’ve really enjoyed the burst of creativity in making my Conservatory Cushion and I  love the logic bound technique for combining the colours.

Fabulous pattern
Here’s the finished creation…

From Double Vision Cushion

And in place in the conservatory…

From Double Vision Cushion

The slightly different gauge yarns I used (all apparently DK weight) really made the squares  different sizes. I blocked the hell out of the finished front and pinned the squares to size and let them dry – seems to have worked but another time – I’d try harder to use the same yarn.

I really made my life difficult by using the mohair in the “joints”too. Fuzzy, sticky and disguising any hint of a stitch – not ideal when picking up stitches. It kinda works though  and gives a different texture so I’m happy.

It did mean it was easy to join the two sides . I picked up and knit one row around the front of the cushion then cast it off. Then I simply oversewed it to the “knobbles” on the ends of the garter stitch back of the cushion…

From Double Vision Cushion

The strange thing is…

…I think I like the way the B-side even better -that’s the back to all of you too young to remember 45rpm single records

From Double Vision Cushion

I love the way the colours pool and seem to form waves…

… So much so that I’ve used this picture as my desktop background on my Computer!

From Double Vision Cushion

How sad am I? But, but….it looks so pretty….

From Double Vision Cushion

So how did I do the back?

I looked at the front and saw that there were in fact 10 different combinations of yarn, using it double.

I used the technique of knitting diagonally to get a square (start with one stitch and increase in the last stitch of every row until wide enough over the diagonal then decrease at the end of every row).

I picked a progression of 6 of the combinations that always carried one of the colours into the next stripe and picked up the next colour. Then I had 4 combinations left over so I just bunged them on top!!

Here’s a mini pattern if you’re interested  how the colours went – or were supposed to go !  I messed up a couple of time but ~I won’t tell if you wont!! (Look at the missing dark stripe in a couple of places…

Y= Yellow

L= Light Green

M=Mid green

D= Dark green

Use two stands held together in the following combinations:

Row 1    Y & Y

Row 2    Y & L

Row 3    L & L

Row 4    L & M

Row 5    M & M

Row 6    M & D

Row 7    D & D

Row 8    D & L

Row 9    Y & M

Row 10 Y & D

…And repeat until you’re done.

I think both sides go  well with the “inspiration cushion” but what do you think?

Front or back? Which is best??

From

I can’t believe I started Halcyon back in April.

It’s taken me two and a half, very dull and uneventful months. To be fair, it has been delayed by my usual attack of SKS  (Summer Knitting Slump) – there were a couple of weeks there I didn’t knit at all – shocking!

I’ve also been distracted because Thug hasn’t been too well. He suddenly seemed to loose a lot of weight and meow even more. I was worried sick. The good news is that he’s had every test the vet can think of – stopping short of opening him up! The vet can find nothing wrong and I’ve changed his diet to fatten him up. He seems OK now after a couple of vitamin and steroid shots but he is 18 . He’s an old man. But enjoying all the extra meaty treats and so is Mewsley

Just in case  you’ve missed his appearances, here he is in a favourite picture of mine, inspecting the conservatory..

From Halcyon

On top of all this – more DIY – This time we restored a dilapidated greenhouse from badly weathered wood, green algae covered glass and doors hanging off to this, my potting Tardis!!

From Tardis

Love the view from inside looking up!

From Tardis

Enough of this – you really want to know about Halcyon don’t you? The pattern is deceptively easy and became quite boring to do. I don’t normally knit such voluminous garments so I’m not used to the sheer amount of knitting this took. Nothing at all wrong with the pattern, easy to sew together- It was just a long slog.

But was it worth it?? I think it was!

From Halcyon

From Halcyon

Halcyon is storming along and so far, is a very enjoyable knit.

I’ve made both of the peplums, picked up the stitches for the back – VERY carefully and neatly…

From Halcyon

and started rampaging towards the armholes …

From Halcyon

OK I say ‘rampaging’…I probably mean slowly and meticulously plodding through the rows, checking my every step.

Halcyon is fun but it’s not going to be quick!

As there is not much to tell on Halcyon, I thought I’d tell you about the garment guilty of making me the Kidsilk Haze junkie I undeniable am – the Birch Shawl.

I’ve mentioned my problem with KSH several times but most notably in this post – “Cracksilk Haze – I can stop any time I want”

I can tell you, as someone who should be in KSH rehab, one ball is enough to hook you.  I started in big way – a three ball project! There was no hope after that.

It just a random thought -  What would KSH rehab be like? Aversion therapy? Electric shocks delivered by electrodes attached to the ends of your metal knitting needles  if you reach for the soft, fluffy stuff? Group therapy?

” My name is Susan and I own 130 balls of KSH and I am a Cracksilk junkie ”

So where did it all start? In Rowan Mag 34…

From Birch

There was and article called,  “Clever Ideas”, about snuggling up warm and cosy with knitted things…I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere conjured up by the accompanying picture and decided I had to have the shawl draped indulgently over the hanger.

From Birch

Strangely, all the “birch” pictures on-line use another picture of Birch from the same book, in which you can’t really see the lace pattern and the model looks cold!

From Birch

As well as my first use of KSH, this was also my first real lace pattern- Talk about challenging!

I knit Birch way back in 2004, before Ravelry, before knitting groups before I knew about good quality needles (my God, I shudder at the memory of the cheap circular that twisted into a loop  and caught every stitch!) and before I knew about so many online resources for knitters – I just slogged my way though.

Wanna see my Birch now?

You saw me wearing it with my pink beret…

From Pink Beret

Here’s a better “shawlish” shot – apologies for it being crumpled – It’s been worn a lot!

From Birch

And a close up of the stitch pattern…

From Birch

If you’re wondering, the colour is Dewberry

This is now a massively popular pattern and every one seems to have knit it so I’m not going to bore you with all the ins and outs here. Just google for Rowan Birch and there will be a gazillion hits. Wonderfully, Rowan now have this pattern for free download on their website if you want to try it but be aware – the cast on is 299 stitches! Rowan Free Birch Pattern.

I must just tell you about one incident with Birch though.

Ben and I had a fabulous holiday in the Maldives in December 2004. It was a long flight and this was before the current hysteria about knitting on planes.

I took my nearly completed Birch on the long  flight.

I was finishing off the second to last pattern repeat and getting excited about finishing when Ben knocked half a glass of lager towards me and soaked my Birch.

There was very nearly a justifiable case for banning knitting needles on air planes in 2004 due to air rage and a savage stabbing and strangulation of a passenger with a nasty plastic circular needle!

I managed to restrain myself to rather a lot of sobbing, recrimination and sulking for the next couple of hours. Actually KSH holds up well to being soaked in lager and rinsed in an air plane sink!

It was so hot and humid in the Maldives (fabulous – go if you can!) that Birch didn’t really need any blocking – I just wore and wore it the whole holiday – and pretty much regularly since then!

I really should knit another…I wonder if I have any Kidsilk Haze in my stash??

Oh Boy! I seem to have blinked and it’s been over a month since my last blog post – Sorry readers – I’ve been bad and neglected you

First I was busy with work – but in a good way. Learning new stuff, meeting new people but under some tough deadlines, doing long days and having to stay away from home.

Then we had a week off work.

The plan was to revamp the “DIY dungeon”, otherwise known as the Utility Room and celebrate my birthday. We got about half the work done then we both got hit with a really nasty tummy bug. I will spare you the detail but suffice it to say, neither of us ate or retained proper food for a week. 

(I’ll tell you more about the DIY dungeon in another post -but you can have a sneak preview in the pictures…)

Though all of this woe,  I did get some knitting done and do a have a finished object to show you!

Do you remember Catrin? I blogged about her here then found she was too hard for for a stressed out , “post house move knitter” so she was put aside in favour of Ronnie (who was supposed to be easy!)

So, to remind you Catrin is from Rowan Classic  Heartland

and looks like this in the book

From Catrin

I really don’t know why I put this project aside? Maybe I was just ready for a more challenging knit when I came back to it?  I really enjoyed Catrin when I picked her up again – much more than the accursed Ronnie!

I was, however,  shocked to see that I started Catrin just before I moved in October- time is flying

So wanna see it?

Here she is – a month’s hard labour!!

From Catrin

And one with me grinning at you…

From Catrin

I like this pattern as the cables are on the back as well as the front – I find in very boring to have to knit plain sleeves and back with all the interest going on on the front.

Here’s the back – just to prove it…

From Catrin

And the sleeves are pretty cabley too…

From Catrin

The cables are complex but once the pattern is going, I can see what comes next fairly easily. I do have to check with the pattern still but it’s a quick glance to check rather than a slavish following of every twist.

Sizing is curious – as the is from Rowan’s Classic range I decided to knit a 32″ size. I normally knit Rowan pattern, from their main books, in a 34″ but  I keep on finding that the Classic series comes up too big for me. I think you’ll agree this is a good fit – I certainly wouldn’t want it any larger. I did ask  a senior Rowan design person at one of the shows if the sizing was different between the main books and Classic but he said they were identical. That’s not my experience so be aware if you’re deciding between sizes.

I must say, I found the Rowan Silky Tweed a dream to knit with it’s a lovely yarn and highlights the cables really well. It’s 80% lambswool and 20% silk.

I love the unrefined texture of lambs wool but I know a lot of knitters find it rough (memories of Grandma knitted, wonky sleeve length, itchy, school V-neck sweaters immediately surface!) The 20% silk in the Silky Tweed softens the yarn beautifully and gets rid of any trace of that typical woolly scratch. The wool makes it incredibly warm and light too.

I will definitely be looking out for Silky Tweed in the sales!

Completed Knit Report
Name:	Catrin
Pattern:	From Rowan Classic Heartland by Martin Storey
Yarn:	Rowan Silky Tweed
Pattern Problems:	None – but did need an extra ball
Pattern Modifications:	None – straight forward jumper with all the detail in the cables
Washing and Wearing:	Very warm
Knit It Again???:	Possibly
Difficulty:	Medium
Rating:	4/5
Other Postings Relating To This One:	Cats ‘n’ knitting – tough going

My blog posts have been a bit negative, whiney and full of knitterly woe lately – mainly when Big Wool is being discussed

High time I tell you about a project I really like

Remember the beret I made for my sister that Thug modelled?

This one…

I liked it very much and struggled to bring myself to give it away.

So. I promised myself I’d make myself one when I’d finished Ronnie.

The same colours would be boring so I stash dived and came up with this pile of Rowan 4ply Soft.

Like an idiot, I grabbed the yarn and started without giving any thought to how the colours would work together in the stripe pattern. That’s exactly what I did with Carol’s Beret and it turned out super – what could go wrong?

I didn’t like it…..

The lilac, although lovely was far to dominant and the bright fuchia pink got lost in the lilac. I also realised I had forgotten to change needle size after the rib! What’s happening to me – I’ve not done that for years??

It’s a quick, fun knit so It wasn’t a hard decision to start again – with the right needles and more careful thought as to where the colours went.

I got about 8 rows into the reverse stocking stitch part (on the train travelling to London) and the awful truth dawned on me. I had missed the increase row at the end of the ribbing!! I really am regressing as a knitter

My train was badly delayed so I had time for some remedial work – any other time I’d have been miffed with the trains.  I carefully picked up the row of stitches at the top of the rib and separated the stocking stitch part – the teenage girl in the seat opposite was fascinated!

What I discarded looks like some kinda sea creature…

At this point I gave myself the necessary metaphorical slap and started taking a little more care – I could hear my Mum nagging me to be more careful or I’ll spoil it.

This time I did it right. I like the way the stripes are coming out too. It still looks like a discarded piece of underwear on the needles though!

One of my friends prefers the stocking stitch side – it’s not for me though – I like the “mattress ticking” effect…

Sewing up and sewing the ends in is daunting – the trouble  with stripes is that there are quite a few ends to loose in the seam…

But I was very please with how neat I managed to get the seam in the end…

Can you see where it is?

I suppose you want to see the finish hat now?

Here’s one of the hat…

And one of me modelling (allong with my birch shawl that I still need to blog!

Three guesses how Ronnie, the Big Wool Sloppy Joe turned out…

Here’s a clue…

Yep, it’s bonfire time.

I finished the beast last week but have been so disapointed, I couldn’t bring myself to blog it

It is huge.

It’s probably too huge for my sister too. I fact – it’s too huge for Ben (who is 10 inches taller than me!)

Some projects are cursed from the start – I should have know n when to stop huh?And it doesn’t suit me. I think chunky loose big wool garments on a short, slim woman are a near impossible trick to pull of without looking like…well look at the photos – you’ll see!

Here it is in all it’s glory…

OK, That’s not the most flattering shot of the garment but I had to have some fun. Try this one…

The sleeves are the right length – mainly because I read to the end of the making up instructions and you turn the edge of the cuff under so the cable is right on the edge – like this…

The neck is all wrong too. In the picture in the pattern book, the neck is a generous almost cowl next…see?

I knitted a generously long strip (the neck is knit sideways like the sleeve cuff) and tried several times to sew it on. I had knit way too much – there simply wasn’t enough neckline to sew a drapey big collar onto

What you’re seeing is the best I could manage – a slightly floppy polo neck

I tried standing more normally – a couple of guy ropes and a girl guide troupe could camp out in there…

I’m sure someone reading this out there is now thinking, “try it with a belt!”

I did…

I looked unsettling like a Dr Who alien…in fact, I could be a Sontaran!

I did have one final try at making it look good in true “Rowan photography” style – You know how it goes, sit at a peculiar angle, scrunch up the garment so you can only see half of it…etc etc…

Surprisingly this came out looking quite wearable

But the photo lies. This is easily the worst thing I have made EVER!

My sister has a hat need.

I have needles, an obscene amount of yarn and knit skills.

There’s only one way this can turn out

Given that my knitting has not been going well, I plumped for an easy option that I knew worked.

Do you remember the Accidental hat? (Snug from Rowan 42)

It’s this one…

I wear this all the time in winter and love it – warm, easy to wear, goes with everything and warm (I know I said warm twice – it deserves it!)

I knew I had some creamy coloured Rowan Cocoon in my stash…two evenings later I was looking for a model

My old bear, Basil, didn’t run away quickly enough but didn’t turn out to be much good at hat modeling…

So I had to step in – where’s Thug when I need him?

That wasn’t enough to meet the Hat Need.

I remembered a very old, 1970′s type bobblehat in an old Patons book…

This wonderfully useful book has been republished numerous times – my copy is the 1985 bicentenary edition! (and cost a princely 95p)

The pattern picture is hillarious…

…but it is a very good, basic hat that stays on. I love the neat decreases too.

I found 100g of Sublime Merino and whipped one up in a few evenings.

Then topped if with a huge bobble (that Carol can remove if she wants to) made of the Sublime, cream and deep purple Kidsilk Haze (Well, I have to use it up somehow!)

I was getting into my stride now and enjoying knitting for the first time in ages.

Then I found the perfect hat pattern – a French Beret in Louisa Harding’s “Hats Gloves Scarves” book.

I loved the striped option (there’s a plain, picot edge version too). It was knit in Rowan 4ply Soft – I kinda have a stash of oddments and balls from various sources

I chose 5 colours I think my sister will like and thoroughly enjoyed reverse stocking stitch stripes and the pattern in general.

I loved the contrast edging..

I loved the “target” in the middle

I loved the colours and textures together.

The only part I didn’t love was sewing up the seam accurately with mattress stitch(took some fiddle-faddle to get it lined up) and sewing in a thousand ends. I did carry the yarn up the side where possible but a few times it was at the wrong end.

I could have knit in the round but felt  the inevitable carried up unused colours and darned in ends would look messier than a careful mattress stitch seam with the ends lost in the seam.

I needed a model again…and Basil wasn’t very good (sorry Basil)…

Come here Thug….

Ben was very sheepish over Christmas (no wool related pun intended)…he was especially awkward when I was knitting…

Finally he found the courage to confess the problem…

…he’d lost his Iphone cosy I’d made for him – on the train – Grrrr!!!

If you remember, readers, he also lost a hat I’d lovingly made for him on the train too.

He whimpered and begged (rather appealingly) for me to knit him another Iphone cosy as he felt naked without it.

I made him grovel the appropriate amount then gave in graciously – I could use a quickie project to cheer up my knitting. Those of you who were thinking of any other type of “quickie” are very smutty indeed…

Again (this is the third one) we went to my Rowan 4ply soft stash and chose a colour – green this time – the last two were light grey and black – at least I’ve weaned him off the grey scale

It was such a quickie, I forgot to take photos of the work in progress but here’s the finished article and a mini pattern for you if you want one too.

Wanna see it modelled?

I’ve shaped the corners and grafted the bottom with Kitchener stitch because Ben appreciates a cute bottom

Pattern

Requirements

¼ ball Rowan 4ply soft (any 4ply or sock yarn will do – cotton isn’t recommended though)

2.25mm DPN Needles

Tension

Not really an issue!

Pattern

Cast on 36 stitches using long tail cast on and divide between needles.

Knit in K2, P2 rib until 13cm.

Arrange stitches across two needles, 18st on each  needle.

First decrease round

First needle – S1, K1, psso, patt 14 st, K2tog

Second needle – S1, K1, psso, patt 14 st, K2tog (32 st)

Next Round (no decrease)

First needle – K1, patt 14st K1.

Second needle – K1, patt 14st, K1. (32 st)

Second decrease round

First needle – S1, K1, psso, patt 12 st, K2tog

Second needle – S1, K1, psso, patt 12 st, K2tog (28 st)

Next Round (no decrease)

First needle – K14

Second needle – K14

Graft together using Kitchener stitch, darn in ends and enjoy!

Thug has been very busy preparing to move house. Fortunately he has still found time to help me with the finishing of Cheer.

I would get mad at him sitting on my freshly blocked knitting but how could I resist this face?

I did say Cheer wouldn’t take long but pressures of work, preparing for  house moving (Probably in October) and study for a work related exam in November have slowed knitting to a crawl.

The work exam is the “Version2 to Version3 ITIL Manager’s Certificate Conversion”  – it’s about as thrilling as it sounds an involves me knowing this little pile of books…

So please forgive me if I’m a bit quiet over the next month!

Back to Cheer.

She was a quick, rewarding  and easy knit but…I did have a little problem with the pattern when I knit the sleeves. Here’s the piccy first so you can see what I’m rambling on about…

Above the vent in the sleeve the basket weave pattern continues up the sleeve in a triangle. A nice design touch. Unfortunately I could not get the instructions in the pattern to match reality. The basket weave is a nice easy “K3,P3,K3,P3…”. The pattern would have me knit either side of the vent with 2 knit stitches one edge and 2 purl stitches the other edge with one increase in the middle where they join.

That makes the basket weave pattern wrong.

If I increased 2 stitches the stitch count was wrong.

Maybe I put the 2 pieces on the needle in the wrong order? Then the instruction for the decreasing triangle were wrong??!!

In the end I fudged it together and my decreasing triangle above the vent is a little smaller than the design intend.

This wasn’t too much of an issue for me to sort out, as an experienced knitter, but this is otherwise an easy pattern a beginner might try and get seriously disheartened with – not good enough, Rowan!

Enough of the negativity, want to see the finished Cheer?

I think she goes with the outfit rather well.

Here’s the back shot, not exciting but I always thing I have to show the back for completeness!

Of course, the problem with those shots is you can’t see the lovely shoes which inspired this knit…

…a point Thug was keen to have me pose to rectify!