Blissful Bank Holiday

Wow. I can't believe I'm in Ireland. The weather this bank holiday weekend has been absolutely stunning. Scorching hot all day, not a cloud in the sky. I've been up since the crack of dawn every day. It's too hot to sleep in the bed and I don't want to miss any of this gorgeous weather.

I sent hubby out on Saturday to "buy me a gazebo" for the garden so we could sit out more comfortably. (I keep thinking of Monty Pythons Holy Grail here - "Build me a shrubbery!")

Anyway, this is what he came back with:

Not a great photo I know, but it's early in the morning and I didn't want to wake anyone up opening the back door. It's a great gazebo, lovely and cool inside and the nets keep out the flies. I have sat out here all weekend.

Maybe this is what has spurred me on to complete some knitty stuff. I proudly present, finished Jaywalkers!

Pattern: Jaywalker Socks by Grumperina

Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta

Needles: 2.5mm dpns.

Can you believe I've finished them? I cast these on last Dec 30th! Longest WIP ever for me. But, I had enough yarn to finish them. I was so sure I was going to run out. Look how close it was:

I tell you I'll never knit with this yarn again. Horrible horrible. It was so sticky! It stuck to itself in big knots, stuck to the needles, stuck to the cast on tail all the time. It was such a pain to use. I'm not mad about the pattern either, I had to make the first sock twice as it came out so big, and the finished ones are quite tight round my cankles. Still, they're done!

Work on the February Lady Sweater continues merrily. I'm almost finished the first sleeve. It's hard going now as the garment is quite big and really warm on my lap in this weather. It's going to be gorgeous though. I just know it.

Anyway, today I am casting on for my first pair of socks from Sock Innovation. So excited! I've joined the Sock Innovation group on Ravelry and the pattern for this month is Sunshine. Very appropriate too!

Pic is taken from the Interweave Website. Hope that's ok!

So, I've decided to use this yarn for it:

It's Pagewood Farm Chugiak in Rainbow Sherbet. Really sunny colours, don't you think?

So that's your lot. I'm off to sit out in the sun!

Bolero Done

So I've finished the bolero for Alice's communion. What do you think?
I can't say it's the best thing I've ever done, there was too much seaming for my liking. But, thanks to Maria at my S&B I got some great tips. Particularly the border around the front. Still, it fits, matches the dress and Alice likes it.
So, job done! I only used three of the 6 balls I bought, so I'm looking for something else to do with it. Perhaps sone fingerless gloves for her? I've no idea of a pattern though, all I can find are adult sizes.

Pattern: Sirdar bolero for girls

Yarn: Sublime Yarns Baby Cashmere Merino silk DK

Needles: 3.75mm and 4.5mm

Progress is coming along on my Jaywalkers. I've turned the heel on the first sock. I still think they are a bit big, but I'll continue and see how it turns out.

Short but sweet for this week; not that much else to report except that it snowed here last night. A smattering compared with most other countries, but snow in Ireland is quite an uncommon event. Yuk. I hate it. I fall flat on my butt at every opportunity and it's cold. boo.

First project - not so plain sailing!

It had to happen. I started my first project of the year full of enthusiasm, and have gone awry. Well, not completely, because I wouldn't class this as a disaster, more of a learning experience.

I had decided to make a pair of Jaywalker socks. After all, it seems everyone else had made a pair, and they looked good too. I had some Plymouth Sockotta yarn in the stash that was perfect for the job.

According to the pattern, I measured the width of my foot (91/2") and cast on the required no of stitches, 92. I thought this was a lot of stitches, but it says that the pattern is quite tight fitting, so I carried on.

I called the socks Rhubarb and Custard because the colours of the yarn remind me of the sweets I used to buy as a child. mmm.

So far, so good, they looked ok:

A bit on the large side, I thought, but sure trust the pattern.

Alas, all went downhill. Here is the sock after the heel flap:

I'm going to have to rip these and start again. They're just HUGE. They'd fit a giants feet and still have some room! That heel flap wraps almost all the way around my foot. Crazy.

On the plus side, Alice has fallen in love with the yarn and begged me to make her some socks with it.

So, should I:

A) rip and try the pattern again for me

B) rip and try to scale the pattern for Alice's feet

C) not rip, continue and use as house socks

D) rip and make something completely different

I'm not liking the amount of options that require ripping. I hate ripping. Maybe I can do a McGyver and turn them into a pair of curtains with a toothpick.

In the meantime, until I decide what to do, these puppies are going in time out and I'm going to try and find a communion cardigan/bolero pattern for Alice. Or start the colourwork afghan I've always wanted to make. Or make that sweater for my Dad.

To finish on a happy note; look what a good pal of mine gave me for Christmas:

400 Knitting Stitches
Woot! I can now start looking at stitiches for the pattern I want to design! Perfect timing.