just in time

This will be my last completed project for the year - The Utopia Hat. I just loved knitting this creation, just as much as I love my postman, although because of this festive season I haven't seen him as frequently as I'm accustom to. I'm still waiting for two deliveries, one being more yarn (or course) and a full set of Knit Pics circular needles. What else could a knitter need?

Anyway, back to the project. It was such a quick little knit. I used Cascade 220 and a 3.75mm and 5mm circulars. As I said before, I loved knitting the Utopia and more importantly the recipient my daughter loves it. The colour is a exact match to her school coat, so this little number has become part of her school uniform. How sweet!

This morning (2.30 am to be exact) when I completed my daughter's Utopia, I rushed to my yarn bin and dug up some more Cascade to cast on straight away for another one. This one's going to be mine.

Enjoy the pic of my last completed creation for 2007.

Utopia on the sofa.

A perfect fit. And I looked and said "It is good"

Pattern: Utopia Hat

Material: Cascade 220 100% Peruvian Wool

Colour: 4002 Dark Charcoal

Needles: 3.75mm and 5mm Addi Circular Needles

Modification: Ribbing using 3.75mm for 1.2 inches and and addition cable in the lower high of the hat

Started: 29th December 2007

Completed: 30th December 2007

There's only a little over 7 hours left of this year. I'm so excited about 2008, life is awesome and just imagine what we can achieve with our precious gift of creativity. Remember if you can conceive it you can achieve it. Start dreaming about all those beautiful creations you want to create next year with your precious hands.

May God give you all the desires of your heart. God Bless and Keep Knitting.

Joy

i've been shopping again

Ouch! I been shopping again. This time in the John Lewis SALE.

• Heartfelt Pattern Book
• Noro Pattern Book
• 10 balls of Noro Cash Iro
• 10 balls Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky
• 14 balls RYC Baby Alpaca DK

I may have to go on a yarn diet in the New Year.

Speak to you tomorrow. God Bless.

merry christmas

I wish you a 'Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year' (can you hear me singing).

Remember to take a few moments out to reflect on why we celebrate CHRISTmas. God gave us (the world) his best gift, his only son Jesus Christ to save our sins.

Now this is love! Let us not forget to show our appreciation by saying a simple 'Thank You'.

God Bless

the seven day challenge is over

My self inflicted seven day challenge is over, well, it was over from last week Thursday. It's amazing what you can achieve when you set goals and give yourself a time refrain. This is what I was able to create within the seven days; I had to pat myself on the back, considering I was also working and I'm not the faster knitter as I tend to send a lot of time frogging. May God deliver me from this.

Anyway, cast your eyes on these lovely head warmers - hats.

Completed Item 1 - The Slouchy Copy Cat Hat.

I love this stitch pattern. It's so easy to memorise and just look at it's definition in Cascade 220. This colour is also awesome.

Pattern: The Slouchy Copy Cat Hat

Materials: 1 Skein of Cascade 220 100% Peruvian Highland Wool

Colour: 8834 Pink

Needles: 4mm and 5mm Addi Circulars

Started: Friday 14th Dec 2007

Completed: Sunday 16th December 2007

Modifications: I casted on an extra 8 sts.

Completed Item 2 - The Le Slouch

I've knitted this pattern before but, I just had to knit it again. This is a must have for this season - a beret and the yarn feels just like a soft cotton.

Pattern: My Adaptation of Le Slouch (see previous entry)

Materials: 2 balls of Rooster Almerino Aran

Colour: Sky Blue

Needles: 4mm and 5.5mm Addi Circular Needles

Started: Monday 17th December 2007

Completed: Wednesday 19th December 2007

I also added 3 buttons of various sizes for decoration.

..............................and finally I was able to complete this

So I've had a very productive week. Let's see what I can create and complete between today and NEW YEARS EVE.

Have a bless and productive day.

day two of the seven day challenge - i really really love my postman

Look at what my postman delivered this morning; Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen's A Knitting Glossary DVD, 4 hours of nothing but knitting. What else could a knitter want? More yarn!!!!!!!! It has already made it's debut in my DVD player. A Knitting Glossary is a must for all knitters who want to develop their knitting skill.

Day 2 of The Challenge - The Slouchy Copy Cat Hat

Just thought I'd show you a couple of snap shots of what I started last night.


The first shot is a truer colour of the yarn, Cascade 220 Wool in Shade 8834 a beautiful dusky rose pink. I'm off back to my knitting, so much to be done and only 5 days left.

God Bless. In the words of Elizabeth 'Keep on Knitting'.

yet another!!!!!!!!!!

I've casted on for another new project. I won't tell you what it is yet :-) so you'll have to come back, if your interested. But I've set myself a challenge - The Seven Day Knit. To see how many garments that I can knit and complete within 7 days.

See ya. There's knitting to be done.
God Bless.

i've done it again

Yesterday I went to my LYS - IKnit; to buy a stitch holder, and walked out with these..........

• 8 balls of Rowan Big Wool
• 4 balls of Rowan Cocoon
• 12 Skeins of Artesano Aran

and this.........................

Rowan Studio Issue Number 6 (Royal College of Art special edition) pattern book and a receipt for £145. I intend to knit the cardigan shown. Oh yea I left without the stitch holder that I originally went there for. I suppose I can't have it all, or can I?

I'll be busy over Christmas, working my little fingers.

Stay Bless.

i just couldn't help myself

It's 12.12am but I was so inspired by this , I just had to cast on the stitches now.

Oh man! What time will I be going to bed now? I've work in the morning. Bother. But knitters must knit on.

God Bless. I'm out of here.

i love my postman

I so love my postman. This week he brought me these......................


.............well these are just part of what he delivered. The total delivery included 5 knitting books (I can't show you the others as they are Christmas presents for people who read my blog) and 17 skeins of Cascade 220 in 6 different colours. The postal service here is fantastic. I ordered the yarn late Saturday afternoon and they were here by Tuesday morning, and they were coming from a different city.

I was inspired by this so I've already started it, the Modular Tomten Jacket for my nephew Santi. It's part of his Christmas present (it's OK, my brother and sister-in-law don't have access to the Internet, so it's safe to post this now). This is such a quick little knit and the stripping is keeping me from becoming bored. I'm just adding colour randomly and if I don't like the last row, frogging it back and re-knitting using a different colour. The only problem will be all of the ends that I will need to weave in. Oh well! That's for another day.


After reading about the great late Elizabeth Zimmermann, I just had to do one of her patterns. Yea, I know! You may be asking; 'What about the Baby Surprise Jacket?' Well that has been laid to rest. It was one of those where I was not fully satisfied with the yarn and pattern combination.

At least I love my latest creation, a gift made by my own hands for my gorgeous nephew.

God Bless and Keep Knitting.
Joy

decisions, decisions, decisions

I want to order some new yarn 100% Cashmere. I've never used this yarn and I'm not sure which colours to order, but I need to get it right as it cost between £105 - £125 per kilo depending on the colour. Ordering 5 - 6 colours + VAT will cost me a few pretty pennies.

Should I order .............. Celadon or Sapphire or Misty Cliffs or Lavandula or Wisteria or Rapture or Rosewater or Amoroso or Marie Antoinette or Chanterelle or Oatmeal or Porcupine or Wildebeest or Dark Medium Dyed or Kelp or Rosine or Ombre Rose.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Helllllllllllllllllllllp.

Keep Knitting.

it's a wrap

I'm going to try to post more frequently this month. It should be possible considering that I'll have two weeks off work soon. And I'm going to do nothing but hand knit. Well, that's the plan. Lets hope I succeed.

Here's a little something that I knitted about 3 weeks ago. It's based on the same principle of the felted scarf that I knitted back in September. I used my favourite machine knitting yarn 2/14 100% Geelong Lambswool (it's sooooooo soft, people often ask if it is cashmere) and then felted it in the washing machine on a 60 degree wash.

Pattern: My Own

Yarn: 100% Geelong Lambswool

Colour: Kilim

Machine: Brother 940 Standard Gauge

Started and Completed: In One Day

There's not much more to tell you about it except that it's so warm. I'm not sure who is going to be the lucky recipient of this wonderful little thing. We'll just have to wait and see.

On my needles at the moment - The Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann. Well, it was on my needles until about 10 mins ago. I've just ripped it out again, for the third time. Pray for me. Hopefully I'll have more success the next time I cast on those 160 sts ;-(

Keep those needles clicking until the next time.

God Bless and Happy Knitting.

two more hats

From the sun coming in at the window you wouldn't know that it's cold here. Well it is, I have been wear my thermals for about 6 weeks now, but shhhhhhhh don't tell anyone. Anyway lets get back to the knitting.

Here are two newish projects, both knitted on my standard gauged knitting machine. One pattern but two looks.

• Hat No 1 - One Colour with ribbon and embellishment
  

• Hat No 2 - Multi Coloured Stripes

Both of these hats were knitted using 100% Geelong Lambswool and quick and easy to knit.

Pattern: My Own

Yarn: 100% Geelong Lambswool

Colours: Variety

Machine: Brother 940 Standard Gauge

Started and Completed: Both in One Day

Hope you enjoy the hats, now back to the knitting. Speak to you soon.

God Bless.

they're almost here

Both Winter and Christmas are almost here. In preparation for both of them I've knitted this hat, I'm not sure who is going to be the recipient of this little gift. It was knitted on my standard gauge knitting machine with a single snow motif placed in the middle.

• the hat

Pattern: My Own

Yarn: Forsell 4ply Machine washable Anti-Tickle Pure Wool

Colours: Denim and Sky Blue

Machine: Brother 940 Standard Gauge

Started and Completed: 1 Day

See ya .............................happy knitting.

sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry...........please forgive me

It has been about 5 weeks since my last post. I am so sorry, please forgive me. Things here have been...............well lets say a bit busy, but I have still been knitting, mostly machine knitting. Oh yea I also went to New York for 8 days. Well it was my daughter's 16th birthday present. Children are not cheap. I did manage to visit some yarn shops in New York but not as many as I wanted to. Also I missed Rhinebeck. How I cried. We were up nice and early the Sunday morning to go but in my excitement we jumped on the number 62 going in the wrong direction from Newark International Airport away from Newark Penn Station. We needed to get to Newark Penn Station to get the Path train into New York Penn Station to then catch the train to Rhinebeck. And of course because of the mistake I made we missed the train to Rhinebeck by minutes. Maybe next year.

Anyway, have a look at what is on my needles, or shall I say needle since I am using a circular needle. A mock rib beret. I have already completed one in school grey and I'm on my second one in beige. A very quick and easy project.

A close up of the stitch pattern.

Pattern: The Slouchy Copy Cat Hat

Materials: Cascade 220 100% Peruvian Highland Wool

Colour: 4002 and 7821

Needles: 4mm and 5mm Addi Circular Needles

Started and Completed: 2 days in October

Anyway I am out of here. Stay Blessed and Happy Knitting.

PS If you want a laugh I would recommend that you read 'The Yarn Harlot' by Stephanie McPhee.

just a quickie

Pictures as promised - another finished item.

This is my favourite scarf pattern. Over the last couple of years I have knitted approximately 30-40 of this organic looking scarf. It is an original pattern created by myself, and the pictures below are of the latest one that I have knitted.

Pattern: My Own

Material: 100% Lambswool

Colour: Off White

Machine: Brother 940 Standard Gauge

Started and Completed: 26th Sept 2007

Orders for the scarf can be taken, the scarf is available in a wide range of colours. You can use my email address to contact me for further details.

Goodnight and God Bless. Keep on knitting.

i,m back

How I missed you all. It was no fun not having access to my blog. Anyway I used my time constructively and spent it knitting, both by hand and machine. Hey I need a big pat on my back. Over the next few days I will be sharing all of my beautiful creations with you.

Here is the first one. A wip (work-in-progress for all you non-knitters).

• the front collar

• the side

• a close up of the stitch pattern

Well it has been a work in progress since last December. I actually place it aside thinking we were going to have a summer this year - and we didn't. I could of worn the cardi all summer if I had completed it. Anyway my target is to complete it in the next few weeks. The reason why I won't be able to finish it sooner is because I will be exhibiting at a craft fair next week and I'm busy working towards that, alongside my job. By the way I'm a Primary School Teacher and life can become rather busy with all the little people.

Happy Knitting. God Bless Joy

no internet

Sorry for the delay in posting all the latest creations by my hands. "I can't believe it" - I have no INTERNET at the moment. The power cable for my laptop has died, so I have no way of recharging it's battery - BUM. That all I can say.

I have one piece of good new though. I received my invitation today for Ravelry, but alas no access. I am actually typing up this entry from work.

What am I going to do?????????????????????

See ya, from a disappointed blogger.

completed at last

Here is another machine knitted item. It only took about 10 mins to knit and about a week to complete (to wash and to sew on the buttons and label). I know..........that's terrible. Anyway, it is completed at last. The words of Dr Martin Luther King Jr is ringing in my ears right now; 'Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty, I'm Free at Last'. That's how I feel, I'm free of this project, not that it took long to knit, but for me to get my act together to complete it.

Sorry. You don't know what is is yet! See if you can guess from the next three pictures.

Picture Number 1 - The item rolled up on the dining table.

Picture Number 2 - A close up of the stitch pattern.

Picture Number 3 - The item with the button markers in place.

The above three pictures are of the item just off the knitting machine and unwashed. Do you know what it is yet? I'll give you a clue. It's to be worn in the winter and is made out of 75% Angora and 25% Lambswool and is approximately 36cm by 10cm in size and will have 8 buttons.

Picture Number 4 - Washed and with the buttons in place.

Picture Number 5 - A close up of the buttons.

It's a Neck Warmer. The last two pictures shows it in it's full glory and is modelled by my beautiful daughter. This is a fantastic project to use up all those small ounces of yarn that us knitters can't bare to throw out, especially when it is a beautiful natural fibre. Also you don't have to go out and buy a card of buttons, just use whatever you can lay your hands on.

Happy Knitting. God Bless and why don't you be a blessing to someone today by knitting them a gift.

let me introduce you to Santiago

Before I introduce you to Santiago, I thought I'll let you in on what's on my needles at the moment - my third adaption of Le Slouch in less than 2 weeks. I think this one is going to be the final one for now, although it's a fantastic and quick little knit.

Anyway, this is 9 months old Santiago (Yea, yea, yea you've guessed it, his half Spanish, well with a name like Santiago his needs to be). He's my nephew and the latest addition to my long and ever growing list of nephews and nieces (I have 19 in total).

Santiago is sooooooooooo cute. God is so awesome, just look at this wonderful work of his hands.

So I just had to knit him one of these......................... an I'm cute hat, in preparation for winter.

Santiago: "I've had enough of all this modelling stuff. All I hear is Santiago look here. Santiago. Santi. Enough is enough."

And here it is again, off the head.................

and the inside.
Santiago: "This one is more like it."

Both of these hats are original designs, knitted on my knitting machine using Forsell 4ply Machine Washable Anti-Tickle Pure Wool.

Pattern: My Own

Material: Forsell 4ply Machine Washable Anti-Tickle Pure Wool

Colours: Olive, Pistachio and Maroon

Machine: Standard Gauge 940

Started and Completed: Both in 1 day.

Good Bless and Happy Knitting, I'll speak to you soon.

machine knitted

As promised, pictures of my machine knitted scarf. Machine knitting is just as enjoyable as hand knitting and you have the added bonus of it's speed. This scarf took less than an hour to knit from start to finish.

Pattern: My Own

Material: 2/14nm 100% Geelong Lambswool

Colour: Almond and Porcupine

Machine: Standard Gauge Brother 940

Started and Completed: 3rd August 2007

God Bless and don't forget to enjoy your life today.

le slouch adaption

I'm preparing myself for winter again, like we've even had a summer this year! Where has the sun gone? Summer has been miserable this year. Well, less of me moaning and lets celebrate my latest finished object.

My adaption of Le Slouch.

What a quick and fantastic little knit, taking only two days to complete. Hence I've already started another one, in no other colour than................. that's right, you've guessed it........ PINK.
I have a thing about chocolate and pink at the moment.

This beret was worked in Rooster Almerino Aran yarn and what a dream to work with. It was worth every penny of the £4.75 per ball, it's sooooooooooo soft.

Anyway less of my chat. I'll just let you feast your eyes on the rest of the pictures.

The Rib............The Adornment............The Decreases..........

Pattern: My Adaption of Le Slouch

Materials: 2 balls of Rooster Almerino Aran

Colour: Mushroom

Needles: Addi 5.5mm Circular

Finishing: 3 buttons

Started: 6th August 2007

Completed: 7th August 2007

Oh sorry, I forgot to show you theses in my last post. Pink mother of pearl buttons I bought at Get Knitted in Bristol on Saturday.

Back to my knitting.

God Bless.