Teeny Tiny Toe up Socks

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/baxcreative/toe-up-baby-socks

Should have photographed with a tape measure... Also double up as nice thumb warmers...

Pattern thanks to Sheila Toy right here

half the fun of knitting

 is just looking through what you can make

shave it for later

So, a recent obsession with all things moustache has now joined my eternal love for beards.
I have decided to inflict this upon others, in the form of knitted gifts.
They have (fortunately) been well received.

 

I got the pattern here for free

mohair pullover

I went back to my family home a few months back and one of my favourite things to do, is rummage through the shambles of my old bedroom (I left it in such a mess!), find old projects & remind myself of the substantial wool stash still there.  I found this half-finished project, from maybe three years ago.  I'd done it all - the knitting, the side seams, everything except sewing up the shoulder seams.  I have to idea what stopped me (read: distracted me) but I brought it back to my London space and have finally sewn it up.  Now it just needs it debut wear (which I think will have to happen today).

I improvised this pattern and can't remember the details; but here is how I appear to have made it...

 There's a K2 P2 rib an inch high at the bottom edge to help give some shape.

 The front & back were knitted in two separate pieces, just plain stocking stitch [I was letting the yarn do the talking with this one] then sewn together down the sides.

However, around halfway up the front piece I knitted a row of purl stitches, which gives the impression of a seam - I'm not too sure if this was purposeful, but I like the appearance of structure it creates.

The shoulder seam is only a few inches wide, allowing the sleeves to hang naturally.

I'm really happy with the volumous shape that the knitting creates - the front has more fabric then the back piece does, which presensts itself as a cowl style neck.  The pullover measures roughly 19" long and 22" wide.  The best thing is, I also found a fair amount of this yarn left, so there's room for some matching items too...

Here is it on Ravelry [with a few extra pics]

JAPANESE stationary

Just amazing.

 Lots & lots of squares of beautifully patterned paper, about 2" x 2"

 I don't want to slide the gold clips off quite yet, because it just looks so pretty as it is - so perfect!

I can only imagine all the beautiful, delicate layers that are underneath.

This little bundle of paper joy came from a stationary shop in Japan and was bought by a work colleague for me.

STRIKKETOY & knitting

STRIKKETOY / knitter + 1" spring pegs

(Norwegian + local 99p store)

Cabled sock cuffs + Lacey box crop top

 (Pattern from a magazine + making it up as I go)

Choice of Cable Cuffs

So, I started knitting the Celtic Cable socks (from Knitted Sock Sensations)...
I finished the cuff of the first one and have started on the top of the sock...

 ...Then saw a similar pattern I had forgotten about, in the last issue of Simply Knitting, so for some reason couldn't help but start those too...

These ones are knitted with 4 ply yarn, the first pair with DK  (I picked it up at the Stitch & Craft show last month and was so happy I had something to knit that pattern with!)

However, the second pair are only ankle high, not knee highs like the first ones; my theory was that they'd be a nice quick little project before I sign my next couple of weeks away to knitting knee highs....

(Although the shorter socks also use yarn & needles that are half as fine, meaning the knitting won't 'grow' as fast...) 

I think eagerness may be out bidding ability (and time!) here, but we'll see how long it takes me to get both done, hey...

meet Spring Scarf

he's like winter scarf, only skinnier...

I made this scarf as a result of wanting to learn how to cable knit (a few years back).
I knitted with two fingering weight yarns, a wool/acrylic blend.

Slash Neck Top {finished}

The finished result of my Slash Neck Top project ~

 I began knitting it from a pattern I had been handed down, in amongst a bunch of second hand knitting needles, a few years back.  It had been typed up (on a typewriter!) and had no photo or picture to show what the top looked like.  So I decided to find out.

 I used second hand wool I had from my generous stash...

 The pattern calls for 2 x 100g ball of DK; I didn't have a whole 200g in the same colour, so opted for this 100g ball of sky blue acrylic yarn and this not-quite-a-full-ball of 100g mid-blue.

 The only amendments I made to the original project was to down-size my knitting needles; as I always need to do this to achieve the correct tension square for projects.  Although no tension measurements were given in the pattern, I decided it would be wise.  I also kept track of how many rows it took to knit the 2" rib, so it would match perfectly for the front and back.

 I knitted the back half of the top solidly in the light blue yarn; for the front, I had to mix both the shades in to make them last.

  So for the front, the rib was knitted in the light blue and then I joined in the mid-blue for the bulk of the stitch pattern.

 When it came to the sleeves; the pattern calls for extra stitches to be cast on and these knit in moss stitch.  I used a stitch marker to keep track of where the pattern changes.

 For the front; I cast on these extra stitches in the light blue, as the mid blue was running out...

 The darker shade lasted for a few more rows; then I completed the rest of the top in the main light blue colour.  It actually worked out really well in relation to where the colour change sits on the top and also in terms of the effect it creates.  The change in colour picks out the wave effect created from the lace pattern.  Perfect.

And it's a perfect fit, too.

Jiffy - Lace

I  was delighted to be introduced to this fantastic paper pattern book earlier today...

Jiffy lace uses a knitting needle and a crochet hook to create the stitch pattern (?!)

I'm in love with this collar and cuff combo ~

  Here's how JIFFY LACE is done:

STEP ONE:

STEP TWO:

STEP THREE:

STEP FOUR:

{Work.In.Progress}

W.I.P. ACTION

SLASH NECK TOP

A while ago, I came to own a whole bunch of knitting needles, a housemate's Gran was throwing out...

I'd never met her, so I thought it was pretty generous!

Folded in amongst the knitty sticks was this delightful typed pattern:

No photo, no diagram, no picture.

Just charming code punched out by a typewriter.

[I miss my typewriter]

I had to knit it.  So I did.

I'm sewing it up right now...

The end result will be ready soon!

I'm happy.

 

Saturday Morning Slippers

It's the weekend, I'm not at work, I'm getting me knitted slippers on...

 ...and alpaca socks... Cozy!

Another from my fave, fave, sock book Knitted Sock Sensations.

{See my Ravelry page here}

Lacy Summer Socks

I knitted these over a year ago... You may be able to see they have been well-worn if you look closely at the photos, so thought I'd better post them already:

 These were the first socks I knitted from the toe-up and was so happy with the sleeker result.

 The top edge is cast-off loosely and due to the nature of the pattern they create this charming, flowing cuff:

I think they're one of my favourite pairs of socks and definitely ones that get the most compliments!

The pattern comes from Knitting Lingerie Style (Joan MGowan-Michael), I'm also in the midst of finishing a knitted bra from the same publication.