Sunday, December 31, 2006
Happy New Year!!!
All the best to all of you in the coming year. Hope all you knitting dreams will come true.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Cry Me A River!
My River shawl/stall is done! Finally after almost 3 months!!!
This is my first lace project and it surely wasn’t easy for me. To be entirely honest it felt almost as my first knit because I knitted 30 rows, spotted a mistake and then had to rip something like 10 rows and start all over again. It was a love-hate relationship and there were moments when I felt like Penelope and moments when I wanted to throw it away and never see the damn thing again.
This is my first lace project and it surely wasn’t easy for me. To be entirely honest it felt almost as my first knit because I knitted 30 rows, spotted a mistake and then had to rip something like 10 rows and start all over again. It was a love-hate relationship and there were moments when I felt like Penelope and moments when I wanted to throw it away and never see the damn thing again.
And then it was the artistic torture of blocking it. Blocking like many other things in life needs perfection which comes with the experience, so there will be other lace projects next year ;)
Yarn: 2 balls of Rowan Kidsilk Spray in colour Medici
Needles: Addi 7mm 40’ circulars
Modifications: none
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
I call it skiing sweater
As there is no name for each of the VK models, I ll have to make one.
The sweater is finished, but not without some disappointment: the collar does not look like one on the actual pictured model unless you stay in her pose with someone adjusting it on your shoulders prior to shooting. Practical? Not, so how can I ever trust their pattern if it just doesn't look the part? I guess it is all my fault as I never actually knitted yolk style before, if I did I would have known that the actual picture was not the real life one. But would I knit it anyway? Yes, I think I would as it is still pretty.
So here it is: my version of the sweater with 2 modifications:
1. the sleeves are chimeric (mirror image) instead of being the same
2. the collar is 10cm longer then the original because unless you are staying in the modelled pose your neck is exposed and lets face it what is the use of the super warm sweater if it leaves the neck cold?
The first picture was taken yesterday with the original neck line, the rest are modified.
Pattern: model 16 VK Holidays 2006
Yarn: almost 5 skews of Cascade Magnum in colour Celery for size Medium
Materials: Susan Bates US 17 29' needles and 12.00mm Addi 40' circulars
Modifications: see above
The sweater is finished, but not without some disappointment: the collar does not look like one on the actual pictured model unless you stay in her pose with someone adjusting it on your shoulders prior to shooting. Practical? Not, so how can I ever trust their pattern if it just doesn't look the part? I guess it is all my fault as I never actually knitted yolk style before, if I did I would have known that the actual picture was not the real life one. But would I knit it anyway? Yes, I think I would as it is still pretty.
So here it is: my version of the sweater with 2 modifications:
1. the sleeves are chimeric (mirror image) instead of being the same
2. the collar is 10cm longer then the original because unless you are staying in the modelled pose your neck is exposed and lets face it what is the use of the super warm sweater if it leaves the neck cold?
The first picture was taken yesterday with the original neck line, the rest are modified.
Yarn: almost 5 skews of Cascade Magnum in colour Celery for size Medium
Materials: Susan Bates US 17 29' needles and 12.00mm Addi 40' circulars
Modifications: see above
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Just another update
I started to post a lot more regularly, probably because I am finally on my holidays. Hurray!!! I love it despite being ill and even despite awfully cold and foggy-misty weather that has been in Cam recently. When they sang ‘I am wishing for the White Christmas’, I don’t think they could have imagined this weather in their wildest dreams/nightmares. Well, it is white, scary Halloween’ white with fog and not with the snow. And it is bitterly cold and wet and just miserable. It is not the type of weather people like to experience particularly over the holidays. I am craving for sunshine…
But it is the 22nd of December and with Christmas rapidly approaching I have decided to give my flat a clean-over. Actually, in Russia it is one of this weird customs to clean the house prior the New Year celebrations. It is believed that if your house is clean at the time it would remain to be clean over the year. Probably centuries ago it had a slightly less direct meaning with people believing in evil creatures. They probably wanted those creatures to stay away from the house and so cleaned it as a ritual? I am not sure, but so used to this tradition, I just had to clean my flat, everything, even the walls in the kitchen, even the much hated banister and all the clothes in the closet. And I have done it in less than 3 hours, still astonished!!!
Talking about cleaning, one of the things I absolutely hate with all my heart is dish washing. I have done a lot of it in my short life that is why. I have done in the places where there was no hot water and in the places where it was no tab water at all and I had to bring it form the well and heat.
There is an ad I hear daily on the radio about Mortgages, they go around and ask people what they want to have in their future homes. Some people wish for specific bathroom tiles, some for the game room with the pool table and white chalk on the string to keep score (bachelor guys I guess), some go wild and want to have a door bell ringing with the ‘Final countdown’. My dreams are less outlandish: I want to have a dishwasher.
Now, back to knitting. I have abandoned the Blue Bell Jacket in favour of the bulky sweater and it is going rather well with both sleeves and ¼ of the body being done. I have to say it: Cascade Magnum yarn is fantastic! It is FANTASTIC. The texture and the diameter are pretty much like Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky I have used in the VK Beret, but it is luxurious to touch, so silky and smooth and shiny. I think I would have to find another chunky model so I could use it again. Yes, it is that good. My colour is celery and it looks like it has been hand died as is it not truly solid, has slight orange variation, beautiful!
But it is the 22nd of December and with Christmas rapidly approaching I have decided to give my flat a clean-over. Actually, in Russia it is one of this weird customs to clean the house prior the New Year celebrations. It is believed that if your house is clean at the time it would remain to be clean over the year. Probably centuries ago it had a slightly less direct meaning with people believing in evil creatures. They probably wanted those creatures to stay away from the house and so cleaned it as a ritual? I am not sure, but so used to this tradition, I just had to clean my flat, everything, even the walls in the kitchen, even the much hated banister and all the clothes in the closet. And I have done it in less than 3 hours, still astonished!!!
Talking about cleaning, one of the things I absolutely hate with all my heart is dish washing. I have done a lot of it in my short life that is why. I have done in the places where there was no hot water and in the places where it was no tab water at all and I had to bring it form the well and heat.
There is an ad I hear daily on the radio about Mortgages, they go around and ask people what they want to have in their future homes. Some people wish for specific bathroom tiles, some for the game room with the pool table and white chalk on the string to keep score (bachelor guys I guess), some go wild and want to have a door bell ringing with the ‘Final countdown’. My dreams are less outlandish: I want to have a dishwasher.
Now, back to knitting. I have abandoned the Blue Bell Jacket in favour of the bulky sweater and it is going rather well with both sleeves and ¼ of the body being done. I have to say it: Cascade Magnum yarn is fantastic! It is FANTASTIC. The texture and the diameter are pretty much like Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky I have used in the VK Beret, but it is luxurious to touch, so silky and smooth and shiny. I think I would have to find another chunky model so I could use it again. Yes, it is that good. My colour is celery and it looks like it has been hand died as is it not truly solid, has slight orange variation, beautiful!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Thoughts out loud.
This is the beginning of my holidays and a perfect time to actually knit something. I have spent the whole day yesterday knitting the back of the Blue Bell top (Model 15 of the latest VK).
The problem with it is that the largest size they offer is 12cm smaller for me at the chest. I took all my measurements and compared them with the one given. The Medium size given should have been OK for me up to the increases from the waist up. It should have been, but it wasn’t. They actually give measurements 2cm bigger then the actual knit is and with the stretching allowance, what they don’t tell is that this particular pattern is better left unstretched as it makes you look like a fat hunchback.
So, I ended up frogging 60 rows and would have to make up the pattern now. I hate doing it, coz it leaves me in the limbo up to the moment both fronts and the back a safely sewn together to make sure whether it has worked or not.
And now I don’t want to see the damn thing (I have a cold right now and so have a very short patience). Instead I am thinking of knitting this. What do you think?
The problem with it is that the largest size they offer is 12cm smaller for me at the chest. I took all my measurements and compared them with the one given. The Medium size given should have been OK for me up to the increases from the waist up. It should have been, but it wasn’t. They actually give measurements 2cm bigger then the actual knit is and with the stretching allowance, what they don’t tell is that this particular pattern is better left unstretched as it makes you look like a fat hunchback.
So, I ended up frogging 60 rows and would have to make up the pattern now. I hate doing it, coz it leaves me in the limbo up to the moment both fronts and the back a safely sewn together to make sure whether it has worked or not.
And now I don’t want to see the damn thing (I have a cold right now and so have a very short patience). Instead I am thinking of knitting this. What do you think?
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
A short Meme
Elizabeth, I have been tagged.
Year's End Knit-analysis
1. What is your absolute favourite project you've ever knit (one that fulfilled both process and product)?
I think this would have to be my lovely Hedera socks by Cookie. Since being finished they have already survived a couple of washes. Wear them at home and out.
2. Which of your handknits do you wear the most often?
Grey Gedifra sweater, it is just fabulous, I washed it endlessly and nothing affects the yarn. Sweater is classy, so it is a favourite for Uni and out occasions. In fact I probably wear it once a week.
The runner up contestants will be Gray Bolero form the same yarn the sweater is (maybe it is something with me and Gedifra Merino Delux or me and grey colour?) and the latest VK beret (it is freezing right now and this beret seems to be my warmest hat, plus it is wind resistant).
3. Which of your handknits are you most proud of?
The baby combo and my future Phildar jacket if I will ever finish it (I love the look of stockinet stitch, but absolutely hate working it).
4. What was your favorite gift to knit?
I have a big family, so my gifts turn out to be baby/toddlers/children clothes. This year I did make my niece happy (or her mother) with combo, jacket and yet another combo. I also did a present for my sis 5th birthday.
5. Which of your handknits are gathering dust your closet?
My first knitted sweater, I don’t like they way the neck line looks, maybe I will pull myself together and re-do it next year. I also don’t really wear Spencer gloves as I find them cold and uncomfortable.
6. Which of your handknits have you gotten rid of?
My summer’ attempt to crochet-Green bolero. I hate the thing, now I have a suitable model for the yarn. I also frogged several hats I didn’t bother showing here.
7. If you've knit socks, what is your favorite pattern?
I didn’t knit that many yet. For now it is Hedera (you can read my praises for it before).
8. What would you like to make in 2007?
As usual, the list is endless, let just say that I would love to knit up as much of my stash as humanly possible.
I bought some fantastic lace yarn last month and Victorian Laces Book, so something interesting may turn out to be a birthday present for my granny (she is 70 next year)
9. What have you learned about your craft in 2006?
I re-learned sock knitting, no-needle-cabling and crocheting (still don’t like the last one).
10. What events/sites have you particularly enjoyed in the blogosphere in 2006?
I opened my own blog, that it is the main thing; joined several KAL on the Russian Knitting forum. For me it is a lot, but I wish I joined Knitting Olympics when it was on.
Year's End Knit-analysis
1. What is your absolute favourite project you've ever knit (one that fulfilled both process and product)?
I think this would have to be my lovely Hedera socks by Cookie. Since being finished they have already survived a couple of washes. Wear them at home and out.
2. Which of your handknits do you wear the most often?
Grey Gedifra sweater, it is just fabulous, I washed it endlessly and nothing affects the yarn. Sweater is classy, so it is a favourite for Uni and out occasions. In fact I probably wear it once a week.
The runner up contestants will be Gray Bolero form the same yarn the sweater is (maybe it is something with me and Gedifra Merino Delux or me and grey colour?) and the latest VK beret (it is freezing right now and this beret seems to be my warmest hat, plus it is wind resistant).
3. Which of your handknits are you most proud of?
The baby combo and my future Phildar jacket if I will ever finish it (I love the look of stockinet stitch, but absolutely hate working it).
4. What was your favorite gift to knit?
I have a big family, so my gifts turn out to be baby/toddlers/children clothes. This year I did make my niece happy (or her mother) with combo, jacket and yet another combo. I also did a present for my sis 5th birthday.
5. Which of your handknits are gathering dust your closet?
My first knitted sweater, I don’t like they way the neck line looks, maybe I will pull myself together and re-do it next year. I also don’t really wear Spencer gloves as I find them cold and uncomfortable.
6. Which of your handknits have you gotten rid of?
My summer’ attempt to crochet-Green bolero. I hate the thing, now I have a suitable model for the yarn. I also frogged several hats I didn’t bother showing here.
7. If you've knit socks, what is your favorite pattern?
I didn’t knit that many yet. For now it is Hedera (you can read my praises for it before).
8. What would you like to make in 2007?
As usual, the list is endless, let just say that I would love to knit up as much of my stash as humanly possible.
I bought some fantastic lace yarn last month and Victorian Laces Book, so something interesting may turn out to be a birthday present for my granny (she is 70 next year)
9. What have you learned about your craft in 2006?
I re-learned sock knitting, no-needle-cabling and crocheting (still don’t like the last one).
10. What events/sites have you particularly enjoyed in the blogosphere in 2006?
I opened my own blog, that it is the main thing; joined several KAL on the Russian Knitting forum. For me it is a lot, but I wish I joined Knitting Olympics when it was on.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
It is Party Time
With Christmas being only one week away, it is time for corporate Christmas parties!
This week has been really difficult, demanding and challenging for me as I had to finish all my courseworks. Thank God it is all over and done with!!!
So after such a hard time, last night’s party at my boyfriends firm was a blessing. Had fantastic time and met lots of cool and nice people.
And I have got my extra late and long waited for birthday present: beautiful knitting-needles bangles. Check this out!!!
Oh, on the actual knitting part: there has not been much I am afraid, hopefully next week will be more productive.
This week has been really difficult, demanding and challenging for me as I had to finish all my courseworks. Thank God it is all over and done with!!!
So after such a hard time, last night’s party at my boyfriends firm was a blessing. Had fantastic time and met lots of cool and nice people.
And I have got my extra late and long waited for birthday present: beautiful knitting-needles bangles. Check this out!!!
Oh, on the actual knitting part: there has not been much I am afraid, hopefully next week will be more productive.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
More socks
There are some kind knitters in this world after all; one woman from Germany has ordered the yarn for me. Fingers crossed I will get it.
Therefore, there is no Gedifra knitting for now, I also ran out of yarn for River (there is something definitely wrong with me) and have no willpower to knit Phildar jacket as it is in plain stockinet stitch.
So, what do I do then for now? I have started another pair of socks for my baby (he asked for it after seeing my Hedera!). This is a well known pattern of Miranda child socks from Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, but I am substituting yarn, needle size, the rib length, and it will be in 2 colours, not to mention that it should fit a big guy’s foot. I have long had 3 balls of Jaeger Matchmaker DK in the colour that is no more available, it makes it 360m all together, so I will have to match it with a darker colour and stripe. Hopefully, it will look interesting and nice in the end.
Therefore, there is no Gedifra knitting for now, I also ran out of yarn for River (there is something definitely wrong with me) and have no willpower to knit Phildar jacket as it is in plain stockinet stitch.
So, what do I do then for now? I have started another pair of socks for my baby (he asked for it after seeing my Hedera!). This is a well known pattern of Miranda child socks from Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, but I am substituting yarn, needle size, the rib length, and it will be in 2 colours, not to mention that it should fit a big guy’s foot. I have long had 3 balls of Jaeger Matchmaker DK in the colour that is no more available, it makes it 360m all together, so I will have to match it with a darker colour and stripe. Hopefully, it will look interesting and nice in the end.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
A complete disaster!
AAA!!! I am stuck with my Gedifra Sweater. The yarn specified for the pattern is one ball less then needed. I am almost done, just one cuff needed and there is no yarn to knit if from.
Spend lots of time on the net yesterday searching for it but all in vain. It just disappeared form the net shops, and I only need one ball
Please, all the nice knitters who saw Gedifra Fashion Trend Color (in shade 4508) in shops ( I know it is common in Canada), please, please, please buy it for me (I will pay you for it and the shipment via PayPal). This is my last resort!
Spend lots of time on the net yesterday searching for it but all in vain. It just disappeared form the net shops, and I only need one ball
Please, all the nice knitters who saw Gedifra Fashion Trend Color (in shade 4508) in shops ( I know it is common in Canada), please, please, please buy it for me (I will pay you for it and the shipment via PayPal). This is my last resort!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Bulky Beret
In October just Before Halloween I have received my copy of VK Holidays 2006 and the first model that struck me was this beret ( I am a hat addict remember), 2 weeks later I had the yarn, and now I can finally reveal it.
Pattern: Bulky Beret from VK Holidays 2006
Material: Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky Hand Dyes 2.5 skews in colour teal
Tools: DPN (Fiddlesticks) and 60cm circulars (Addi) 9mm needles
Modifications: none
I love it!!!! Absolutely wonderful: warm and cosy and holds its shape perfectly. It took me 3hrs to knit because I and big needles don’t go together much.
Material: Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky Hand Dyes 2.5 skews in colour teal
Tools: DPN (Fiddlesticks) and 60cm circulars (Addi) 9mm needles
Modifications: none
I love it!!!! Absolutely wonderful: warm and cosy and holds its shape perfectly. It took me 3hrs to knit because I and big needles don’t go together much.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Hedera
The socks are finally finished, and time could not be more appropriate as it is the first winter day today. OK, maybe it is not that cold yet but I am one of these people who always feel slightly cold in the foot department.
So, these beautiful socks are just perfect for couch knitting.
Cookie thank you so much for designing something that pretty and easy to knit.
Pattern: Hedera from Knitty
Material: 2 balls of RCY 4-Ply in colour Monet
Needles: Addi aluminium 5DPN 2.5mm
Modifications: none, just adjusted repeats to fit my slightly different feet
I highly recommend this pattern for any knitter, won’t regret to have such a pretty pair of socks. Mine are in solid colour, but look how great they my look in multicolour on Parikha blog (I am almost jealous)
So, these beautiful socks are just perfect for couch knitting.
Cookie thank you so much for designing something that pretty and easy to knit.
Material: 2 balls of RCY 4-Ply in colour Monet
Needles: Addi aluminium 5DPN 2.5mm
Modifications: none, just adjusted repeats to fit my slightly different feet
I highly recommend this pattern for any knitter, won’t regret to have such a pretty pair of socks. Mine are in solid colour, but look how great they my look in multicolour on Parikha blog (I am almost jealous)
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