With the cold comes the knitting

Posted on by ghotiindustries

As the days get colder and wetter, I’m more inclined towards indoor activities. Nowhere has this been more obvious than in my knitting.

I’m nearly done with the falling leaves socks, and not before time, as all the leaves are turning now. I have been taking them with me to knit night, but will have to find something else to take next week if this continues!

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This is a gift, and though it doesn’t look like much now, it is a truly magical garment. It is knit all in one piece, and then put together with 2 seams. Once it has been received I shall post you a picture of the finished piece!

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I had so much fun making this, that I may need to make a second one in different colours! Or perhaps just create a matching set for this one …

I have also been working on this piece;

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Those pointy bits there meant that I am on the home stretch! It took me quite some time to figure out the pattern. There was LOTS of cursing, and before I attacked it with a flame thrower, it did spend a bit of time in time-out. But I’m on the way now!

What projects have you been working on?

I’ve been knitting!

Posted on by ghotiindustries

So I haven’t caught you up on the knitting for a while, so here goes!

I finally finished the scarf I was making for Himself’s birthday. Turned out rather well I thought! More importantly, He likes it!

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I’ve been working out a new pattern for some brooches to sell. I found some beautiful vintage crystal buttons for the centres! And the mohair yarn is incredibly soft! They’re like flowers made from clouds!

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I have been forced to stop work on the Evenstar Shawl as I’ve run out of yarn. I have more on the way. It’s just still on its way with all our other stuff.

Of course, working without all my usual tools handy does have a few drawbacks! I’m really missing my swift and ball winder! But we made do. It just took a little longer than usual.

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You can’t stop me from knitting! Especially not when I get my hands on my favourite Lorna’s Laces, Helen’s Lace yarn, in the most warm creamy delicious chocolate colour! So smooth! So soft!

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It doesn’t look like much yet … Of course as beautiful as that piece is going to be when it’s done, it’s getting a touch big to take to Knit Night. So I’ve begun some socks in a gorgeous yarn sent to me along with a jar of vegemite from the UK! Thank you Clare! It’s just the most beautiful liquid buttery colour!

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I’m doing them in a falling leaves pattern in anticipation of my first real Autumn which is on it’s way! Living in a mostly evergreen country up until recently has had it’s downsides. I can’t wait to see all the leaves change colour!

*coughhacksnotwheeze*

Posted on by ghotiindustries

It’s been a quiet week.

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Knitting was achieved for a swap I have coming up.

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And neighbour obviously passed an exam.

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This is what you do when you pass your exams in the Nederlands. You hang your backpack/satchel out the front with your flag to tell the world that you’ve passed.

Look, another one …

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Local Groups

Posted on by ghotiindustries

In the interests of getting to know people Himself and I headed to the local knit night. Himself isn’t a knitter, but it was handy having him there to walk with when I walked down the wrong canal at first and got lost. This wasn’t all bad though, as I put it to you that what we found was a new breed of pukeko! A blue chicken that isn’t blue!

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Every time I walk outside I am struck again by how beautiful this city and it’s canals are.

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And how old it is too.

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Going to knit night though afforded us a new view of them, all lit up at night.

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They just get more beautiful.

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For now though, let’s leave the canals, and I’ll show you the projects I’ve finished since I got here!

First was this pair of socks for Himself which I began a year ago. (Yes, a year ago. No, I’m not sure where my mojo went) I loved this yarn from Dragonfly Fibres. The colourway was like working old spun metal as it cascaded from gray through green and into subtle burnished colours.

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And my travel knitting project, the one I thought I’d never finish, and was afraid I’d hate a foot into it, as posted here … Behold the wonderous rainbow scarf!!!

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I love it so much! Now I just need a hat to go with it!!! *grins*

Knit night was a wonderful group of people. All very friendly and welcoming! I’ll be going again next week. For the future though I’ll need to take something a little less brain intensive, as holding a conversation with people you don’t know, and following a lace chart, just doesn’t happen!

My Inner Knitter

Posted on by ghotiindustries

Taking inspiration from The Yarn Harlot, I thought I’d show you what my inner knitter has been up to.

She’s a silly bint, who has packed away my other unfinished objects and begun a new scarf instead.

This is ridiculous on a number of levels. The first being that; I hate making scarves. I have previously informed Himself that if I’m about to begin a scarf to tell me not to, and drag the needles out of my hands. Obviously he was unsuccessful in this instance.

I always get about a foot in and think “Oh my goodness! How much longer does this thing need to be?!?” And I can tell you now, I like LONG scarves. Think eight foot long, long scarves. (multiple wrap arounds)

The second reason is that I have 2 unfinished objects that have been hanging on for a year with just a couple hundred odd stitches left to go.

I mean you saw the socks! All they need is one toe decreased, and then to be closed up with kitchener stitch and they’d be done. But no.

For the shiny new colourful yarn with smooth gradient transitions calls to me. It speaks to me, and tells me that it’s much more engaging to watch the colours change as the yarn slides through my fingers.

And entrelac, the stitch pattern, is so much easier than having to follow lace charts! Though still results in an interesting and fun fabric! (Ignoring that fact that I have the sock chart memorised and in decreasing the toe, am no longer even on the chart)

Oh woe.

What ever shall I do with my Inner Knitter?

Isn’t my new scarf going to be gorgeous???!!! *grins*

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