Recycled swatch

You may remember this - from the Unwind Knitting Retreat in March. It was my swatch from the Persian Poppies class. My mother always said 'waste not, want not' and so I was wondering what to do with it.

It was pretty much the shape of a hottie (hot water bottle) and also looks very cheerful and sunny so I then decided to make the other side in a /dark/night/moonlight style

 and there you have it - the Kath and Kel Hottie Cover. I have named it after that lovely couple from the Australian TV show Kath and Kim - Kel Knight and Kath Day-Knight.

Of course it has no shaping for the neck of the hottie because I couldn't be bothered - and it works just fine. And unexpectedly, I have discovered that it makes for a very warm hottie all night

Finishing

I've got lots of projects I want to start but, in an effort to not get totally out of control, I've decided I need to finish some of my wips (works in progress) first.

 So - I've completed the second Wildflower Shawl...

...and am now working on the neck band of my Rainbow Kauni Cardigan

I'm Back

Well I arrived back home a week ago but then got hit by a flu and laid very low so that I could recover in time for Knit Camp - and I just made it. Knit Camp was soooo lovely - held at Waikouaiti it is a quick drive. Lorna does a massive job of organising both the class and the food.

Here we are beavering away on our lace knitting.

Everyone's was different due to pattern and yarn selection - some were a lot finer!
We were actually making a doily-style edging but mine seemed to bend the wrong way so I stopped after a few repeats because I had decided to make it into a wristlet. Now I just need some lovely pearl buttons.
I managed to finish the wildflower shawl while away - but I didn't do any public knitting!

I think of it more as a kerchief/scarf. It is lovely and soft and warm and I am now working on a second one.
My rainbow Kauni cardigan now has two sleeves and next to to do the neck and front bands.
I have also started on my Secret Swap project - which means you won't be seeing it until July - when it is officially swapped.

Mitts

 Well - this is my second pair of mitts using the Sanquhar designs. I'm planning to write up the pattern and put it on Ravelry as a freebie (my way of giving something back for all the free patterns I have accessed) but the process of writing the pattern is a lot slower and more cumbersome than it is to knit them. I'm getting someone to test knit and someone to check the pattern and then I think I will have a major attempt to edit it into something manageable...... but I am away for a few weeks so don't hold your breath.

 I'm also plodding along on my first Sock Club sock and have now got myself one arm of the Rainbow cardigan. This was my first go at steeking - so far so good.

I'm not much of a public knitter but I plan to take my knitting along on the upcoming trip - partly to see what reactions I get - I'll let you know

One plus one

OK - I now have 2 mitts knitted

There have been a few variations - it might help if I had a photo of them being worn - will try to get one. I am going to show them to my knit group and see what comments I get - and then attempt to write up the pattern. That may be a lot more difficult than actually knitting them!

And I have started on  my 2nd Sock Club project - the wool is a very vivid purple that my camera does no justice to...

The pattern on the top side is quite radical - like a shell. Still a wee way to go tho'

A Long Weekend of Knitting

Well I have just had a lovely long weekend attending Unwind - a knitting 'retreat' here in Dunedin.
It started on Friday and finished today - although I didn't go today as it was a trip to Flagstaff Alpacas and the Mill Shop - more for the out-of-town people - and I have ENOUGH wool now to last me for a bit....
Friday was a lazy day of people arriving, sitting around knitting and being tempted by the Trader Stalls selling delicious yarns. I helped out on the Registration desk - there were around 60 people attending - one even from Australia.
On Saturday there were classes - I went to one on steeking - the noble art of cutting one's knitting.
We started with this: a knitted tube

 then stitched it and cut it and practised various edges.

My Sunday class was on making a 'magic ball' and using it to knit Kaffe Fasset's Persian Poppies pattern.
We all took in spare wool and put it in the middle of the table. After choosing a background colour we then picked another 7 colours that were fairly close to each other, tonally, and proceeded to cut small lengths and knot them together and then wind it into a ball. Then it was knit time....

 It is great to see all the different colours people chose

And the  cheerful sample below is mine. 

I've even had an idea of something to make with it....

A lot of time was spent sitting around knitting so I've also made some progress on my Rainbow cardigan - which is also going to be my first proper steeking project

Something radical (for me)

At a recent Knit Study day we learnt about a lovelyScottish colour work pattern called Sanquhar - with the plan being to make some fingerless mitts.
I wanted to make a few adjustments so came home and trawled through my other mitt patterns and then devised a new one - using bits of all.
It's radical because I am usually a strict pattern follower and never deviate.
I've finished the first and will seek some feedback before doing the second. I think it needs a little tweaking - but basically it's great as the colour work makes it a double thickness - so warmer.

 There are two different patterns on the outer part, as well as the reverse of each

 And on the palm I used the Fleur de Lis

 Taking a photo left-handed has its limits and my colours always seem a bit off. It should be a dark green and sky blue. I am using Vintage Purls Sock Yarn.

If it works out OK I'll try and write up the pattern - that will be a real test of my intelligence - or lack of.

New project

Last year I visited my cousin in Vancouver and she had one of these Kauni Rainbow Cardigan
I just loved it - it is fairly simple to knit - the effect being created mostly by the colour changes in the wool.
So I found some yarn there and now it's time to make it.
Next weekend I am learning about steeling - which will come in handy as this cardigan is steeked and I've never done that before.

And then there were two

Or perhaps that should read - finally there were two. The Nightingale socks are finished.
Taking a photo of them, when living alone, is a bit tricky. I lay on my bed and put my feet up in the air - ceiling makes a good background. I made them a bit longer - they are below-knee length. And the hem at the top is folded over so I put some elastic underneath so they will stay up.
They feel too good to wear - arghhhh

My First Sock Club project

Vintage Purls is based in Dunedin and Morag runs a Summer and Winter Sock Club every year. Each is for 3 months and each month the subscribers receive a pattern, yarn and a few extra goodies. One of the extra goodies was some yummy fudge which I ate immediately. I should have held out until I had finished the project - that way I might have finished it earlier. But it was a fairly quick knit. The lace part is new territory for me - I am not sure yet what I think about doing lots of lace - but good to try one project anyway.
Oh yes - I know - it's Sock Club and I've made a shawl - well sometimes they make something different just - because.

The colour is a bright acid, lemony yellow. It has been a little controversial. I like it because I would normally never choose it and so it takes me out of my comfort zone.
At the moment it is drying and I can see from the photo I should go and re-pin a few of the tips.....

Ta daaaaaa

Finally - my Vivian is pretty much finished - now that the zip is in. I will also cover the zip edges with ribbon but that may take a while to find the right ribbon as I'm fussy about that sort of thing.
But I can wear it now - so who cares about our lousy summer weather.
I'll get someone else to take some photos so you can see the back next. 

Foot stools

 I've had these decrepit stools awaiting attention for quite some time. Finally I attended to them.
I only took the one 'before' photo - but that conveys all you need to get the picture.

I sanded and painted the metal bases, stripped the tops back to the wood support and then added new foam and covered with oilcloth/Japara  fabric - wanting to achieve a kind of industrial look.

They seem to have taken ages - so it is good to finally have completed them - and good to have made something nice from such rubbishy beginnings

Some knitting progress

 One sock done - at last. It is a bit hard to photograph my own foot/leg. I did it quite long - the hem at the top is a bit saggy - I may need to add some elastic. I really want to get the second one done now so I can move on - these have gone on for too long.

The Vivian hoodie is nearer to completion - just need to get a zip....and as it is summer here, most of the time, then there doesn't seem too much rush

...and then there were two

Buttons added to the first...

and the second is now complete. There are pockets but they haven't photographed well.

As I hardly sew anything I am very pleased with these. Cute labels huh?

and now for something completely different...

This is the first sewing I've done for a long time. I am making two dresses for my niece's daughters -
here is the first. Just need some buttons and buttonholes to finish.
It's not the best of photos - I'll try again when I finish it properly - the bottom is gathered and there are side pockets. I'll also try to get photos of it modelled - if it fits....