Size Matters

Well, I finally managed to pick up the sticks and string again yesterday after a whole week of D.I.Y. It was a blessed relief I can tell you. I have done enough filling, sanding, priming and painting to last me, oh, several weeks at least. As if the world knew how much I needed the respite, the sun came out as well. I spent the afternoon sitting on the back deck listening to David Reidy on my iPod and working on a sample Kid's Keyhole Scarf that I started a couple of months ago.

I also managed to finish the African Hope Hat that has been wandering around with me for months hidden in my purse. (There hereby follows a major lesson!) Now I really must insist that you NEVER, repeat NEVER leave a purse project in your handbag for months at a time. It would seem that it is absolutely imperative to gauge that your work sees the light of day on a regular basis.

You see, after I'd excitedly sewn in the ends of my project and stepped back to admire it, it just didn't look quite right. For one thing, I hadn't been measuring properly (couldn't always find the tape measure) and as I'd only managed the odd round here and there inbetween picking up a kid from an activity, there was just no continuity. The pattern looked continuous (and is indeed correct)..........but the gauge is totally off!

The hat is child-sized.

I can only surmise that my tension (in every sense of the word) was so 'up-the-swany' that the hat turned out smaller than I'd intended. I guess that's what you get when you have way too many W.I.P's. Still, it won't be wasted. As the hat was originally designed as a charity project, I shall just put it away until such a time as a charity needs it.

Still, I'd really better get a handle on this 'creating some more F.O's thing.' If hibernation always leads to gauge issues, there are a variety of items that I could end up having trouble with, a sweater for P.A. for one. I don't think he'd be too happy if I claimed "expansion of his girth" rather than "reduction in my gauge" as the reason for problems with fit!

I'd Love To Knit, But....................

Now I know that this is the same picture that I posted on Monday, but don't worry, you're not having a Groundhog Day experience. It is the same picture because, to put it simply, I have not knitted a stitch since Sunday!

I know, it's beyond comprehension isn't it. How on earth am I managing to survive, you're thinking? Well, I have to tell you, I'M HANGING ON BY A THREAD! (excuse the pun.)

The withdrawal symptoms started yesterday. I swear that I was shaking uncontrollably as I got out of the car in the afternoon, although that could have had something to do with my 'car-crazed' teen who was driving. This first week of Driver's Ed has completely taken over my life. Never have I needed to knit so much and yet never have I been so strapped for time.

To relieve my stress, I've been compelled to paint The Little Guy's bedroom. This project is coming along famously, it's just the assortment of toys and trash that his room has disgorged that's the problem. Climbing over an extra nightstand, three boxes of stuffed animals and a model aeroplane to get into my bed every night does nothing to quieten the mind at the end of a long day. I fall asleep aching and exhausted dreaming of traffic cones and kids in diapers driving high speed vehicles.

Fully aware of my present state of mind, DD2 has wisely suggested that we wait until the painting is done before we begin our Swallowtail Shawl KAL. Thank goodness someone is talking sense right now. It's certainly uplifting to have a pal who understands your pain; someone who doesn't Cast On in front of you; someone who is sensitive enough to take their own knitting to a babysitting gig and afterwards refrain from proudly showing you how much they've accomplished.

Although she's only been knitting for a year, DD2's become an amazingly astute knitter. Somehow she just seems to know when to usher me up to my room, place my knitting bag at my feet and say;

"Here, Mum. Knit!"

Sea Urchin

In the spirit of exhibiting my FO's (because I've actually got some at last!), here are the completed pictures of Sea Urchin too.

Now you may remember the issues that I had with this in the beginning. The good news is that it was all worth it in the end. Blocking was an important part of the creative process with this hat as it really set the lacework and has shown it off in its best light.

I think this hat is destined to become one of my all time faves. I've only been wearing it for a week and people comment on it everywhere I go!

Sea Urchin

Here's the Sea Urchin hat made from Noro Kureyon. I didn't get around to blocking it until yesterday, which turned out just fine as the Central Park Hoodie was blocked which freed up the mini basketball again. The Sea Urchin hat is now stretched over it doing its 72hr thing.

I'm interested to see how the top turns out. I was quite disappointed with the colorway when it came to the top as the color was not solid enough to really make the star-shape pop out well. If I make another, I think I'd have to join in further along the second skein of yarn just to get a better continuation of color for the star. It also seems a little strange to be decreasing to 15 sts and then finishing. This makes the top very bunched up when you finish knitting, but is probably why the blocking stage is so important. You can see from the pictures that once the hat was stretched out over the ball, the top flattened down more.

Should be ready to wear this by Monday.

Central Park Hoodie

Well, this is what the hoodie is doing now. I finished sewing it up on Tuesday and then bit the bullet and washed it very gently. I am hoping that the cables will flatten down a bit and that the arms will relax and widen (they were a little tight when I eagerly tried it on in front of the bathroom mirror.) I keep trying to resist the urge to prod, poke and generally fiddle with it and I'm constantly reminding the kids to keep the door to the room that it's in closed so that the cat doesn't try to 'help' me!

72 hours is a long time.

Yesterday I went back and put the miniature basketball into the hood to try to prevent the ribbed edge from flaring.

I'm trying to be patient...............while I swallow the large lump of anxiety that keeps forming in my throat.

72hrs is a long time.

I'm also about to block "Sea Urchin" so there's potential for throat lump number 2 as well. I haven't got a hat form, so I'm trying to think of something else I can use to block it over? (the small basketball is, ofcourse, otherwise engaged.)

I'm trying very hard to be patient...................but I think I may just have to turn the Central Park Hoodie tonight.................................... just to make sure it drys ok on the other side, ofcourse ;-)

African Hope Hat

Here's a little treat for 2009. I decided that it was time to share my Hope Hat. I made another one over the Christmas vacation and this time I actually wrote the pattern down.

I first made this last Autumn as a charity project for some children in Tanzania. They love bright colours and so I thought that the fun Fair Isle pattern would brighten their days too. This time I decided that it would be the perfect project to use up the yarn I had left over from the Center Square hat.

The African Hope Hat is a great introduction to stranded knitting for those looking for a simple starter project. It can be adjusted to fit a variety of head sizes, although the Patons Classic Wool Merino which I used has enough stretch in it to accommodate most head sizes anyway. The hat is 5.5 inches deep from the CO edge to the start of the crown shaping.

Let me know if you have any problems. Enjoy!

African Hope Hat

Materials:
Yarn:

Patons Classic Wool Merino: 1 ball Petal Pink 00210 (M)
1 ball Bright Red 00230 (C)

Needles:

3.5mm circular needle (40cm), UK - 10, US - 4
4mm circular needle (40cm), UK – 8, US – 6
4mm double pointed (dpns) needles

Pattern: 8 stitches in repeat

Gauge/Tension: 5 stitches = 1”

Abbreviations:

M = main colour
C = contrast colour
CO = cast on
Rnds = rounds

With 3.5mm needles and M, CO 96 sts. Join into a round being careful not to twist sts. Continue in K2, P2 rib for 1”.
Change to 4mm needles and work in stocking stitch (stockinette) for another inch (approx 6 rnds).
Join in contrast colour (C) and prepare to begin colourwork. Remember to keep your strands loose so that your work does not pucker.

Pattern:
Knit every round using following colour sequence:
Rnd 1: 2C,*1M,1C,1M,3C; repeat from * ending 1M,1C,1M,1C.
Rnd 2: 1C,*2M,1C; repeat from * ending 1C,2M.
Rnd 3: 2M,*3C,3M; repeat from * ending 3C,1M.
Rnd 4: 1M,*2C,1M; repeat from * ending 1M, 2C
Rnd 5: 1M,*1C,3M,1C,1M; repeat from * ending 1C,3M,1C.

Continue in C, working in stocking stitch (stockinette ) for 1” (approx 6 rnds.)
Rejoin M and work pattern again working M in place of C and C in place of M.

Work 1” in stocking stitch (stockinette) as before (approx 6 rnds.) Hat measures 5 ½ inches.

Complete hat by shaping crown. Remember to change to double pointed needles (dpns) when necessary so that you decrease evenly.

Shape Crown:
Rnd 1: K6,K2tog
Knit all even numbered rnds.
Rnd 3: K5,K2tog
Rnd 5: K4,K2tog
Rnd 7: K3,K2tog
Rnd 9: K2,K2tog
Rnd 11: K1,K2tog
Rnd 13: K2tog
Rnd 15: K2tog

Finishing:
Using a wool needle, thread yarn through the remaining stitches and secure work on the wrong side.
Weave in all ends.

I've Cracked It!

Hurrah! I've finally managed to get off and running with Sea Urchin. I attacked the project again yesterday while the Pro-bowl Football game was on tv and I've managed to get those center stitches to stack properly. I'm overjoyed. The yarn is zig-zagging beautifully as a result.

It wasn't easy though. For a while I thought I'd never get beyond that first pattern row. Everything was set up, the starting stitches were all in the right places, but I was totally thrown by the stitch marker. Slowly I worked it out.

What I did was:- I made sure that at the end of every round the stitch marker was moved so that it always sat after the second yo. This meant that I always had to slip the final stitch of the round from the left needle to the right, remove the stitch marker, slip that final stitch back to the left needle and then replace the stitch marker after the yo I'd just made. I then started the next round with K2, not K3. This has kept my 'center' rib stitches stacked properly.

Right now the hat is looking wonderful and I'm so glad that I didn't give up in frustration!

Sea Urchin

Today I wanted to show you this. It's "Sea Urchin" by SusannaIC of Zuzusus Designs. I found it on Ravelry last weekend and just happened to have recently stashed some Noro Kureyon. As soon as I saw the pictures, I knew that my Noro was meant for this design!

It's my first time knitting with Noro so it's quite an interesting experience. The yarn is very slubby and uneven at times, but the colours are amazing. I was a little unsure of the pattern when I started it because there seems to be slight errarta (one reference to the pattern is different to the other) so I'm just going to knit it the way I think and see what happens.

It certainly is the best yarn to be using during the dark, dismal days of winter though. Really lifts the spirits!

Answering The Call

Well, I've finally got a new purse project. I'm making a hat for a homeless man in the city as part of a contribution my knitting group is making to President Obamas call to service. Knitters are known for their big hearts and frankly, never has this country needed its big-hearted people more than NOW. It doesn't take much. Just one hat from one person will, collectively, become a heap of hats for lots of people. It's like the slow drip, drip of water dropping from a tap. Before long you have a whole cup and then a whole sink full!

My first hat turned out a bit small. I'm knitting with Red Heart which is 100% acrylic. It's not a wonderful yarn, but it washes well which is what they need at the homeless shelter. I was hoping it would give a little but the combination of yarn and a smaller needle led to gauge issues. My son is thrilled though. Now he gets the hat he's been asking me for since Christmas!



So now I'm casting on more stitches on a larger needle and making another. (The pattern is the Marsan Watchcap by Staceyjoy Elkin.) This one will definitely reach the person its meant for. As it's my new purse project, I'll be working on it wherever I am, serving our community one hat at a time.

A Memorable Hat

Here's another little finished object, my second Chameleon hat. This one is made out of Cascade 220 in a beautiful shade of blue appropriately named Puget Sound. During the run up to Christmas, this was my "Purse Project" (it sat in my handbag!)

This is the handbag in question.

I bought it several years ago, used it a handful of times and then threw it in the back of the closet. Last year I came across it during a daring spring cleaning episode and decided that it would be perfect for carrying a small project with me. It has several pockets inside which hold needles, markers, candy and the obligatory umbrella, while the outer pockets are useful for all those boring necessities like, keys, cell phone and, oh, yes....my wallet!

So, this is where my Chameleon hat has been hiding out. It's seen a lot of life during that time, I must say. When I look at it, I remember.......the Allergists office:-

"k1,P1,K1, P5..."

"Mum, I'm scared."

"K1,P1...you'll be fine, dear. P1,K1,P5...."

"Mum, it hurt SOOOO bad!!"

"P1,K1,P1,K5....never mind, dear. It's all done now."

Then there were the late nights parked outside the High School waiting to pick up a child from band or dance, football or hoops.

"Blimey, it's getting dark in here. I wonder how much more I can do before the light fades. Was that a knit stitch or a purl? I can't quite make it out. Maybe I can do it by touch? Oh, do shut up Peter Cetera, I'm trying to concentrate! I think I just dropped a stitch (raising panic). Oh no! Now I'll have to take back the last 3 rows."

I finally finished up during basketball season though. I took the hat to every practice, sitting on the sidelines while my son ran around wearing himself out before bed (perfect!) The problem with basketball practice though is that it doesn't seem to matter where you sit, you always get hit by the ball! I studiously avoided sitting directly under the hoop, that would be asking for trouble, but it proved extremely difficult to find a spot that was safer. I swear those balls have homing devices in them. I seem to spend every session, looking at my knitting and bobbing my head up and down to avoid a basket ball-induced concussion.

To be fair, the players treat me very kindly. They do always yell, "Look Out!" or "Heads Up!" as the ball comes flying in my direction, allowing me just enough time to incorporate the appropriate manouvre into my knitting:- "K5,P1,K1,Duck1,P1,K5,Head1, P1!"

So you see, Purse Projects are not for the fainthearted. You just never know where you'll be when you have a spare ten minutes to whip out your sticks. Exterior challenges can abound! But what makes them the most wonderful projects to indulge in are the memories you'll weave into them. They're priceless.

Christmas Spirit

Every year in Norway the televison channels broadcast their children's advent calendar. It's a series of programmes screened in 24 episodes, one for each day of December right up until Christmas Eve. This year NRK1 is showing "Jul I Blåfjell."

My children loved this show. The eldest was just 7yrs old when it was first screened back in 1999 and since then December isn't December for her without all the blånisse (the mountain elves.) Before we left Norway we bought the series on DVD, so now here we are in America watching "Blåfjell." DD1 can be found stretched out in front of the TV every night (she's very tall now, so takes up a lot more space than she did when she was 7) watching the 'julekalender.'

We have introduced her little brother to it as well. Although he no longer understands everything, he is now beginning to sing along to some of the songs and we translate the story for him when he gets confused. Last week, he was so excited about Blåfjell, that he just had to run and find the blue elf hat and sweater that I had made him when he was about three. Thankfully, it is oversize so still fitted after a fashion.

The sequel to this show is called "Månetoppen" and features some red elves who live on the farms below the blue mountain. Several years ago, I also made him a special red hat and sweater from a pattern published to promote that t.v. show too. Last weekend my Little Guy insisted on slipping into that outfit as well!

It's wonderful to see how much our knitted items can enhance every area of our lives. We knit a lot for every day use and don't think that it's such a big deal, but it really is. Seeing the delight on my son's face as he wore items that I'd made for him years ago, but that he associates with a special ocassion, made me realise that what I do is not just 'knitting.' We have it in our power to create memories with our knitted items. This is my legacy. Provided the moths don't get them or they aren't lost, the items I make for people and the spirit in which they are made, are what I will leave behind.

Anyway, enough of that. Not to be outdone, here are the pictures of the finished Tretta hat too. I've had a lot of compliments on it, so even although the yarn was slightly thicker than recommended, I'm finding it perfect for our more northerly climate.

This And That

Well, we had a lovely Thanksgiving and I trust that all my American friends did too. The Central Park Hoodie was put on the backburner for the long weekend in favour of smaller projects that don't require quite so much concentration. It's still sitting there calling to me inbetween all the Christmas shopping, card writing, cooking and event attending that goes on at this time of year.

I did make one little foray to the yarn store on Black Friday. I hadn't planned it, but my dear daughter persuaded me to take her. I had a long chat with the owner about choosing buttons. I had been surfing the Central Park Hoodie group on Ravelry checking out other people's versions and noting the myriad of different button choices. It got me thinking. It would seem that the best thing to do is to take the finished garment to the store, lay it out on the table and choose the buttons there. That way I am less likey to make a mistake with my choice. I'd hate to get home and discover that the buttons were too heavy for the fabric or just didn't look as good on the piece.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. I haven't knitted the hood yet! You see, I've also been trying to decide whether to continue the cable up the back of the hood or to keep it plain? It looks lovely both ways, but I've concluded that, as I won't be wearing the hood up very often, it would be a waste of time to decorate it. I will just stick with the single cable across the front, which will look fine layed flat across my shoulders, which is how I'll wear it most of the time.

Meanwhile, I've finished the Tretta hat. What a pretty pattern Grumperina has created. I think my choice of yarn could have been better though. My Lion Brand Wool seemed just a little too thick for this design. I thought I'd got a DK, but it turns out that the yarn symbol 4 (Medium) is actually classed as a worsted weight/Aran. I think that a DK/sport would have been better. I know, it says in the pattern DK, but I fell for the colour. I still haven't got used to these yarn weight symbols. I much prefer it when the band tells you straight whether it's a DK, worsted, fine etc. I hail from the old school of 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply and Double Knit, you see! It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks!!

Still the hat turned out well, so now I will just have to take some pictures of the finished product.

While I was at the yarn store though, I did fall in love with a sock yarn called "Happy Feet" by Plymouth Yarn. After the "Oh My!" debacle, this is the first yarn by "Plymouth Yarn" that I've bought. I'm hoping that it performs well. The colorway is a glorious red with a hint of burgundy here and there. On Sunday I cast on for Pomatomus by Cookie A. I'm hoping that this pattern will have the right balance of design to go with this yarn. I'm using 2.5mm needles, so it's very small work; progress will be slow.

Finally, I have finished my Christmas knits. DH's Navy hat was completed and hidden away until Christmas Eve, although I will need someone to model it for a picture before I wrap it up.

I wonder who's available? Perhaps Brad Pitt could oblige?

Time Challenged.

Now, I think I've managed about twenty rows on DH's hat this weekend. I've spent most of my time at The Little Guy's soccer tournament, but I did get lucky enough with the weather to sit in my chair and knit a few rounds inbetween games.

It was something of a relief therefore to get home last night and get back to the relaxation of my Central Park Hoodie. I knitted the second sleeve up as far as I had got on the first one and I'm now completing them together. I just have to try not to get too sidetracked while I'm doing them so that I work on the same sleeve twice and then find I'm ahead on that one and not the other!

Bit of a challenge there.

Christmas Knits

Well, life is slowly returning to normal after all the excitement with Halloween, the election and hubby coming home after a long trip. Now I might find some time for knitting again!

I have managed to complete the cutest little strawberry hat for my niece. It really is adorable. The King Cole Superwash Merino turned out to be perfect for this project. One 50g ball of each colour was perfect for the one year old size (45cm head circumference) and its anti-tickle blend should mean that its not itchy for her. Making it brought back memories of my son at the same age. I blessed him with a blueberry one and he looked adorable. Don't tell him I said so though!

I've also managed to cast on for the deep navy hat for DH. It's a very simple knit taken from a Gjestal pattern so it'll be my 'out-and-about' project. It fits perfectly inside my handbag, so I'll be able to whip it out in doctors waiting rooms and at sports events should the mood take me. I'll only need to concentrate when I come to shaping the crown and that won't be for some time yet, so I should be fine. I'm using KnitPicks Telemark to make it with, which feels as if it will knit into quite a robust fabric.

As for the Central Park Hoodie? Well, I'm about to cast on for the right front, so hopefully I'll be able make some good headway on it this weekend. Mind you with the amount of sporting and church events on the calendar, DH's hat could actually see more action!

Catching Up

It's Halloween, a great occasion for dressing up here in the US. DD2 has to play in her school band tonight at a High School football game. They are all dressing up in Halloween costumes for the event. She had planned to dress as black panther and started knitting K. Schmidts Official Kitty62 Hat last weekend. By Sunday night she'd completed the main part of the hat, only to discover that it was too small. She stretched it over a plate for a few hours which, thankfully, made it wearable. By Wednesday though, panic was setting in. She'd never made earflaps before or picked up stitches, so it was Mum to the rescue. I took over the project and started making the earflaps, I-cord ties and the ears.




It's now countdown time and I have one ear to go. I've already told her that we'll have to forego the pom-poms. There's just not enough time for that. Will I make it? I have 5hrs before she needs to wear it!

Meanwhile, I've almost finished the left front of the Central Park Hoodie. I'm still loving making this piece. Cables are my thing. I just love the artistry of them.

Next time I will knit this jacket in the round though. It's a little frustrating going through the same process up to the armholes three separate times (and I hate sewing up seams), but it's a good exercise in sweater construction, I suppose.

My yarn arrived for hubby's Christmas hat too. Now I'm really committed to making him one. I've picked out the pattern and am sure he'll love wearing it when he's out in the garage or roaming the garden. It's KnitPicks Telemark in a deep navy.

WIPs And Gifts

Well I finished the Odessa Hat and it looks lovely. The blue beads add a subtle elegant touch to the piece which will suit its recipient perfectly. I also came across the tube of pearl beads that I was sure I'd bought in the summer, but couldn't find when I went to start this project. (That's how I ended up using the blue ones.) I found them in a pocket in my handbag! Looks like I've been walking around with them in there for months!!

I now seem to have several works in progress (WIPs). Despite a totally manic weekend when my time was certainly not my own, I did manage to get myself organised enough beforehand, so that I had a small project with me wherever I happened to be. The project in question is Nicky Epstein's Chameleon again. This is my second version and on Thursday I took a moment to wind a skein of Cascade 220 (whose shade is aptly named Puget Sound) into a suitable ball for the project. I do not have a swift, so resorted to my Nan's tried and tested trick with a couple of chair backs. My greatest challenge was completing this exercise before the cat decided to investigate! Thankfully, I just got finished before my large ginger and white bundle of fluff strolled languidly into the kitchen to check out what I was doing.

I repeated the same procedure with the lilac Cascade 220 that I am using to knit the Central Park Hoodie. I cast on on Saturday evening and am so excited to see this pattern taking shape.

I managed to score a whole bag of this yarn at a closing sale at the beginning of the summer and it's knitting up beautifully.

My other WIP is the Strawberry hat that I'm making for my niece. As I've hit the construction of the top, it's not such a portable project anymore (I actually have to concentrate a bit now!) so I'll be working on it at home over the next few days. It will be another of my Christmas projects completed, so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself now.

I'm now awaiting the arrival of a KnitPicks order which will contain some beautiful yarn for my final Christmas project - a lovely hat for the man in my life. After 20yrs, it's about time I knitted him something!

Hat Spotting

Isn't it funny how you start looking at knitted items that other people are wearing. At church on Sunday, I found myself looking at this very sweet little knitted grey jacket that a lady was wearing. It caught my eye because it was a knitted fabric, possibly a handknit, with a very interesting basket weave pattern worked into it.

It's the same when I'm watching my son's soccer games. Now that the weather has turned more autumnal, people are breaking out the winter headgear, so there I am spotting different styles and wondering how I can make them into knitted hats. I then race home and draw a quick sketch, so that I don't forget what I've seen.

In the meantime, I'm cracking on with my Christmas projects. Yesterday, I finished my second Odessa hat and I must say the blue beads on the blue yarn have actually been pleasantly surprising. It's a cute little hat with a very feminine design, which knits up quickly once you get into the pattern.

I have now cast on in King Cole Merino Blend DK for a strawberry hat for my niece. I love this yarn because it's so easy to work with. My pattern is an old one from a Norwegian magazine, which I have used several times before with great success. The little green stitches incorporated throughout really give it the look of a summer fruit. Every child looks cute in this hat!

Stash And Dash?

I've finally turned a corner on my terrible cold and have got back to knitting again. I cast on for another Odessa hat by Grumperina, this time in blue. I have blue beads too, which I'm still not sure about. They are almost the same shade as the yarn, so sometimes I feel that it's hardly worth knitting them in. However, the person I'm knitting for this time likes her clothing items to make a subtle statement, so I'm sure they'll suit her in the end just fine.

Now, I wanted to mention stitch markers. How do you manage with them? Last weekend when I was making the Center Square hat, I tried using my daughters collection of plastic stitch markers to mark the decreases for the shaping. This was a first for me as I'm an old-fashioned knitter and have always used remnants of old yarn to mark my stitches with. I thought it would be a good experiment though, so I gave it a try.

It was indeed a useful exercise. I didn't get on with them at all. Every time I got to a marker it felt bulky in my hands and the inflexibility of the plastic really annoyed me. Consequently, I've gone back to my tried and tested bits of contrast yarn!

On another note, yesterday I went stash diving (like dumpster diving only for a different kind of treasure!) In fact I had a major sort out. The corner of the room where I knit has become increasingly untidy in recent weeks and my stash has been spreading all over the place. I couldn't run from it any longer. It was time to do something.

It was a wonderful experience. I came across some beautiful yarns that I hadn't exactly forgotten about, but I hadn't got round to either. I am now completely out of Ziploc bags as I've packaged everything up nicely to keep it safe from those dreaded moths. My knitting area is positively pristine (not sure how long it'll stay that way though) and my stash looks so much neater now. Amazingly, I can fit even more yarn into my baskets than I could before!

Hmmmm, that has an ominous sound about it.

A Touch Of Class.

I just have to share with you the fantastic book I found in our local secondhand bookstore on Friday. I was just browsing the Norwegian section (for the first time in fact) and came across this wonderful book of traditional stranded knitting charts, published in 1947!

Not only is the book beautiful to look at but it is full of absolute treasures for a former Norwegian resident and Fair Isle knitter. I feel like I struck gold!

This is helping me deal with the fact that my cold is so bad that I don't have the energy for anything. Just breathing seems to be taking the best from me today.

To top it all, on Saturday I decided to knit up a quick hat to wear down at my sons soccer game next weekend. Center Square by London Nelson is just such a knit. I cast on with Patons Classic Wool Merino from my Canadian delivery and made the whole thing in one day. Should have checked my gauge first though. It came out too big. Double stranding the yarn made a good chunky hat, but my knitting seems to have been quite loose. I should have dropped a needle size.

As I tried to peer out from beneath the cast on edge, I debated whether to just turn up the brim. This would lose some of the Fairisle pattern though and reveal the stranded underside. Instead I decided to felt the hat. This was the first time I'd felted in my American washing machine and I have to confess that I prefer my old one where I could set the exact temperature for the wash. Still, it was a quick knit I reasoned, so I'd take the risk. I threw in the hat with some Norwegian Grønnsåpe and hoped for the best.

The result was a little tight, but after some serious stretching and shaping, looks pretty cool I think. It's lovely and warm and will certainly keep the cold wind out, but at the same time has a classy look about it.

Move over Audrey Hepburn!

Socks..... and seasonal savories.

I'm coming down with a cold. I've already drunk four cups of tea and it's only 10.30 am. My nose is dripping and my head feels as if it's about to explode, so I think I have a hot date with my PJ's this weekend.
Creativity has not been diminished though. Last weekend I took receipt of a box of yarn from Canada. It's always so exciting, even although I know exactly what's in there because I ordered it. I just love to take out the balls of yarn, luxuriate in their texture and dream about the projects that I have planned for them. In this case it's hats.

I'm doing well on The Little Guy's socks too. I have chosen to just do a basic stockinette with the Reggio sock yarn, keeping it quick and simple so that I can get back to my hats.

My sister loved the baby blanket, which arrived safely in the UK by mail at the beginning of the week. It was surprisingly quick. My mum even called to say she'd seen it and what a beautiful keepsake it is. They all adore it. I am hugely proud of it and very happy to be able to express the love I have for the niece that I've never met, in such a personal way.

Tomatoes are still flowing in the garden. I'll be picking the last of them over the weekend I think. I've managed to make two quarts of pasta sauce this week and I have more tomatoes soaking in hot water (to remove their skins) as I write.

In the mean time, I think I'll be curling up on the sofa with a box of tissues, a movie and some knitting. Mind you, it is football season and I do enjoy watching a good game. I just have to be careful that I don't stab myself with my knitting needles when things get too exciting!

Until next week,

Keep clickin'