Mimosa

Is finally done! But to be honest I am not sure about this one: it looks like it makes me fat visually and I cannot decide on how to close it. Initially I wanted to use buttons, but it looked bad, so here it is without it.



Pattern: Pink Mimosa from Interweave Knits Summer 2006
Yarn: 8.5 balls of Debbie Bliss Cathay in colour Wedgwood/ Blue-Gray for size 3.
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars 3.5mm, 3.75mm (for the st st border, not in the original pattern), 4.00mm and 5.00mm
Crochet hooks: Pony 2.5mm (I can use it any time ;)) and 3.75mm for assembly, closing and fancy edges
Modifications: I recalculated the waist shaping for size 1-2 (1.5), because I do have an unconventional figure; knitted the st st border in identical length to lace border just because I thought stitching them together (grafting) will look better; I don’t like seaming, so instead of binding off the st st border, folding it in two and seaming to the cast on row, I bound it off directly to the cast on row using crochet hook and 3 needle bind off method






In other news, I am going to Russia for 2 weeks tomorrow, but I am hoping to blog from there.

Of bobbles and lace

I am knitting the bolero for my sis as planed but now I know there is absolutely no chance in the world for me to finish it in time.


God it is tough, 40 bobbles in one row! 3 days of work and what do I have?..22 rows!!!
I know for certain now that I will not re-knit it for myself, not even for a million.

Habu Craze…

…has truck me lately. On Saturday I got two balls if Fique (FQ-1) in colour denim (20). I could not rest till the summer hat was done ;)


Pattern: my own
Yarn: 2 balls of Habu Fique in colour 20
Hooks: 5mm, 4.5mm, and 3.5mm


I have mixed emotions regarding this number, probably because I still could not wear it out. The weather here is monsoon-like, has been raining for over a week now without any sunny prospects what so ever. Perhaps I will come to love it later and will definitely take more pics. A couple of words regarding the yarn: it is FANTASTIC, strongly recommend to anyone!



The second knit was started last night and it is 20rows done. The lace motif is very simple but because I do hold the needles in a strange manner I have to twist a lot of stitches and it slows the process. So far I am infatuated: the colour is so sophisticated, simple, slick, and just yummy. The pattern I think goes extremely well with the yarn. This knit is intended for my godmother, who lives in Yekaterinburg (meaning a lot of cold days).



Just as I am writing, the sun came out!!!!

All Done!!!

So, what do you do when you finally finish your exams?... Fall sick, I swear I do, I think I overstretch myself with revision; I was so worried eventually I could not sleep. In the past two weeks my sleeping pattern went all sorts of ways, generally speaking, the insomnia kicked in. The exam yesterday was great, I think I did well, when I opened the paper I knew everything, so revision was good overall

But before turning ill, yesterday afternoon, I went for a little treat… not so little treat, the mighty expensive treat.

I was long planning my visit to the London Loop yarn shop, I do buy online from them for God knows how long, but being there in person is totally different. The main thing which struck me is its size, it is astonishingly tiny, but at the same time it has huge amount of yarn laying everywhere mixed with needles, hooks, books, mags, accessories.

My primer reason for visiting was Habu (they stock it but very-very little). Look at what I’ve got, isn’t it cute! Some purl bee cowl soon to be.



From that point I could not hold myself and bought some Alchemy as well which I was eyeing since IK Spring Issue. You know the lace nightie, I want it but not in bamboo, in silk, and it will be a top.


I am off to lay down and maybe knit something eventually (yep I still didn’t knit a single stitch, maybe I forgot how)

One down, One to go

I had my first of the two exams yesterday. Thank God it is over, next week this time I will be free like a bird, knitting frenzy for all I care.

I haven’t been knitting for a week now, and I have cravings. Seriously the thought of knitting keeps me sane in times like this when I go for 48 hours of continuous studying on pure adrenaline.

Today is the day dedicated to rest, so I have time to blog and show some pics of the current and future projects.

My current project Mimosa from Summer IK 06 (was current before exams). To be honest, I didn’t like it in the mag, just flipped through and forgot all about it. But then I saw it being knitted by Elizabeth and fell in love. I am copying her version completely; I even went for the same yarn in the same colourway. Shame on me ;)

Secondly I think I’ll post a couple of the project I will be knitting soon: Bolero for my sis and top for myself.

My Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

STR

I have joined the club this year. I am not sure why actually: it was more of the spontaneous decision. I love knitting socks, and I love hand painted sock yarn, so I went with the flow.

So far it hasn’t been that smooth: the first packet got lost somewhere in the mail, but the nice and kind people send me a replacement, which I received this Saturday. Thank you the owners of the STR club, I gave up all my hope of seeing this lovely Monsoon yarn again.

Today my boyfriend called me from Cambridge and said that the second pack had arrived (I soooo want to see it, but in view of having exams, I will have to live in London until the 8th of May without any knitting).



This brings me to the point: I will have to blog about my recently bought yarn and the project I’ve started last weekend but haven’t yet show here for the next couple of weeks. Hope it will not be too boring.

Stay tune, I have big plans for my after exams rest ;)

‘Or the ripples from a pebble someone tosses in a stream…’

Model: Swallowtail Shawl from IK Fall 2006
Yarn: 1 skew of Handmaiden Sea Silk in colour Capri
Needles: Addi’s 40’ 4.5mm circulars
Modifications: none

Blocking gets easier with time

I have to say it does not feel as a torture anymore, with a good practice it is manageable. I finished, washed and blocked the Swallowtail Shawl. The end result pictures in 'real life' will be taken later

The end result is stunning (well in my view); it is perfect for the summer and will go with different outfits. I know the colour is not mine but as is the shawl. That is right the yarn and the project were chosen back in January to become a present for my mum (she is blonde and has blue eyes, so fingers crossed she will be glad to receive it). I am proud of myself as I have finished it beforehand not a month or two after the birthday. I will go to visit my family at the end of May for about 10 days (cannot wait) and will give it to her. I think I will also take some pictures of my damned Phildar jacket as well on my mum

Holidays

Came and went so fast, I don’t event feel like I had one at all. I had so many knitting plans to convey but had a food poisoning instead.

As soon as I’ve finished wristbands I’ve decided to stay true to my initial proposal and pick up Highgate again. Which I did only to see yet another mistake at row 13! I am crazy about mistakes; I just have to have none of them if I possibly can, so I’ve ripped the whole front and started afresh. I am now back to where I’ve started: row 120.



Then I thought I could start another socks and relax for a while, sure I did, only I’ve chosen the wrong kind of socks for it: Eunny Yang’s entrelac knee-highs from IK Spring 2007. 2 evenings spend knitting frenzy, 5-6 ripping, plus ~10 ripping of the toe cast on. I don’t enjoy the process yet; I am now up to heel on the right sock and no passion.

To cheer up I’ve started a shawl: Swallowtail from IK Fall 2006 in Handmaiden Sea silk. That is a fantastic and utterly rewarding knit!

Useful or useless

Cannot decide actually, so what do you think?


When I finished my first Monkey Sock I was left with quite a leftover of yarn and taking into account the colour of it, I was completely lost at the prospect of finding a project that would incorporate it (I don’t like to store leftovers)

My boyfriend took a look and proposed to knit wrist bands. At the time I must say the idea seemed too appealing to resist because I use them very-very often. Ok, here is an embarrassing fact about me: as soon as the temperature strikes 25C my face starts to sweat enormously, just like in a sauna. I don’t sweat anywhere else but the face. Nothing helps against it, I can’t use any make up during the summer time, and to make things worse there is no hope of growing out of it. It is hereditary, my father and grandmother are just the same.

To wipe my brow I tend to go through loads of tissue per day and 2-3 wrists, so you see: it is an essential item for me. The thing I have noticed over the years as that sport wristbands are not as tough as they should be: they do not survive for more then a month in my care and every day wash (Nike sometimes lasts longer).

Here is the ingeniousness of my boyfriend’ idea: the yarn is for socks, so it is the toughest one available and in theory should withstand the summer. We’ll see about it.

Ok, enough on the advantages of the knit, coming to the uselessness of it: it took a really long time to knit. They only look small but being done on 1.5mm, it took about an evening each and I grew sooooo tired after the first one. I was only able to complete them employing all the willpower I seem to posses. I could have done a large garment at the time ‘wasted’.

Now you see why I have this mix feeling toward my wristbands


Model: Wristbands by me (72st x80rows for XS wrists)
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in colourway ‘Happy Valley’ (about 0.5-0.75 of the ball for the three of them)
Needles: Pony 1.5mm(US 000)

Martha

It’s done! It’s done….and I am in love! This is my favourite knit so far: love the pattern, the fit, the yarn, the colour. Oh, how I love this ice cream with blackberry jam colour, so pretty, not lilac and not pink, just right in the middle.

I had to wear it today, so here are some pictures.



Model: Martha by Sara Hatton form Rowan Studio issue 2
Yarn: just slightly over 5 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed in colour Melody for Size L
Needles: Addi 3.00mm (US 2/3) and 3.75mm (US 5)
Modifications: none


I know that hat doesn’t match the outfit but my ear is hurting and I had to wear it

The secret 5th button

Almost there

I am desperate to finish at least something, the cold is almost gone and so what would be the point of my winter sweaters? I won’t be able even to take a picture in them.

So, I am on the quest to finish Martha, and then the mystery item, and then the Highgate (it has been collecting dust for far too long).

I was knitting in the train today on my way to Cambridge (was determined to finish the second sleeve). The elderly couple was sitting just opposite of me and the woman was ever so often glancing at my growing sleeve. When the train was approaching the platform the woman broke the silence and asked me where did I learn to knit THAT way? I know I don’t hold the needles in any known way because I am self-taught and I was already knitting for years before I realised something was wrong, but I figured it would be far to late to re-learn.

Anyway, the woman said she had been knitting for years and had never ever come across my method and she also said that my way is fast and very tension controlling. I am so pleased!!! Finally someone said something nice, not just a blank stair of annoyance as if I am not a knitter but a clown.

Martha is now washed and blocked

Candyfloss

Or mint candies for kids: that’s what ‘Happy Valley’ reminds me of.


Pattern: Monkey by Cooki A. from Knitty Winter 06
Yarn: 1.5 skews of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in colourway ‘Happy Valley’ (Note, I started each sock from the different skew to obtain similar pooling)
Needles: Addi’s DPN 2.5mm
Modifications: chose to do 6 pattern repeats for the leg and 6 for the foot

Spring

Finally I feel some change, not only on the outside but inside as well. I despise the feeling of being ‘up in the air’ and it is exactly what I have been experiencing recently. Thank God it is all over and I can start knitting again.

To get the sense of the spring I wanted a knit with summery yarn (bit tired of wool), something cheerful, happy, and bright.

The pattern that immediately came to my mind was Monkey. And monkey means cheeky, playful, carefree…. Here the choice of yarn came in, or rather the choice of the colourway: Happy Valley from Lorna’s Laces.

I personally think that it is the great colour choice as pattern can be easily distinguished and it is cheeky enough to be worn out with keds and shorts and a geeky t-shirt. Oh, I want summer!!!!

The meterage of the skew is so generous, I think I will cast on a mystery item with the ends (my own design representation of my boyfriend's ingenious idea)






PS: Ava, thank you for your congratulations (I still don’t know how the retrieve peoples email form their comments).

Away

I’ve been an awful blogger recently: not writing, not commenting, and not even reading.
I have a very good reason for it actually-PhD interviews at Cambridge University. That’s right, my dream place-the fruit fly heaven, the Department of Genetics.
I’ve met lots of really-really nice and smart and friendly people over the two days I have spent in the lab.
And today Dr. Martinez-Arias confirmed that I can have a place in his lab, starting October 2007!!!!
It is an oral confirmation, not a written one yet, but I am sooooo happy my heart hurts.

These past two weeks were the most nerve breaking experience in my life: I could not sleep and eat, and I’ve lost 2.5kg during it. That explains why I could not knit and so haven’t blogged.

I am off getting back with my life now.

More images

From today's section on SEM

Not knitting but still art

I am afraid I wasn’t knitting much these past days, way too busy with my ‘primary’ life in a lab. This week I’ve been enjoying an introductory course to Electron microscopy. Pictures I was able to produce myself using pollen sample and SEM will follow later this week (Uni internet is way too slow).

For me molecular biology and genetics are fun and in a way a form of art. Some people have a misconception regarding the matter believing that science is all to do with maths. Well in a way it does, as it does with physics but then again physics may be regarded as a form of art too. You have to know how to draw diagrams, use sophisticated computer paint packages and take pictures (understanding the principle of image developing comes in pretty handy).

Aw, as some of you may have noticed I put a new name down in the ‘Progress section’, that is my new infatuation piece (again in tweed) called Martha. It comes from Rowan Studio Issue 2, and not from a Rowan mag. I am pretty happy with my progress so far: last weekend I’ve done the whole of the back and have to say it does look as good as in the picture.


Another thing I need to say or rather ask is a bit stupid, so here it goes: how do you find the e-mail of the person who commented in your post, so you may send him/her a thank you reply? I am totally lost…