Sunday 30 November 2008

Surprise, Surprise

I have had such lovely yarny fun this week. Unfortunately, I can't say anything about it until mid-January!

I have, up until this week, been working hard on present knitting. I am totally lusting some patterns I have recently come across:

Heathered Skies
by Claire Montgomerie (published in Yarn Forward Issue 8) [Ravelry link]
Tidewater Wrap by Nancy Shroyer (published in Interweave Knits Summer 2008)

At the moment I am totally delighted by stranded knitting. I am currently knitting a present using this technique and it is very enjoyable. I love the use of colours in the above two projects.

The other two patterns grabbing my attention are crochet patterns:

Woodland Shawl by Kathy Merrick (published in Interweave Crochet Fall 2008)
Spanish Moss Coat by Tracy St. John (published in Interweave Crochet Fall 2008)

I believe I have a lot more to learn before I can tackle the coat so this might be a project for next autumn. The shawl, however, is a different prospect.

Several of us are planning to visit Get Knitted next Saturday and I might purchase the yarn for the Woodland Shawl then.

Anyway, I feel I should show you a recent present made and given to a friend - thrum mittens. She did confuse them with boxing gloves but has reported they warm her hands up well in cold weather.

Monday 24 November 2008

Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

I have been bursting and wanting to write about one of my favourite projects for ages. However, it was a special present for my lovely friend Jess and her husband John.

Jess organises our knitting circle here in Bath and, when we heard about her wedding, several of us joined forces to knit the lovely couple something special. The idea was posited by CausticAngel [Ravelry link] and Lizard Ridge by Laura Aylor was decided upon.

With Elle, Elizabeth and Betsan also on board the project flew off the needles. We settled on a modest afghan 3 squares wide and 5 squares long knitted in the recommended yarn Noro Kureyon. It was a pleasure to shop for the different yarns and I think we produced something to be proud of.


I think wrapping the present was as much fun as making the gift itself.


I had so much fun making it. I loved working on a project with friends. I loved the fact this project removed my fear of purling and I now enjoy this stitch. Sewing the squares together was enjoyable, and I no longer shirk from such a job.

Everyone involved was so positive about this project and I believe we all loved working on it.

Together we have made a friendship afghan and I hope it wraps Jess and John in love whenever they use it to keep warm.