Swatching Stage 2

I have washed the swatches, and they turned out well.



This is the 3.5mm Muskat. This stretched a little, it is now 24 sts x 34 rows, a growth of 2 rows.



This is the 4mm Muskat. This stayed exactly the same, 22 sts x 28 rows.



This is the Silke Tweed. I had a hunch this would grow, and I was right! It is now 24 sts x 36 rows, a growth of 4 rows. Definitely something to consider when knitting with it!



This is the Lin. While it did soften up nicely, it is still a little rough. The drape is gorgeous though. This grew both ways, both in stitch count and row count. It is now 24 sts x 36 rows, a growth of 2 sts and 2 rows.



I went stash diving to see if there was anything else I could use for this garment, to try and save some money. I discovered 10 balls of a lovely dark red rosy colour Drops Alpaca (swoony soft) that would be really nice I think, so I grabbed this leftover in a different colour and I'm going to swatch with it.



I think this has been a really interesting experiment in swatching and how it affects different fibres. The silke tweed definitely confirmed what I'd seen happen to my Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool Tangled Yoke cardigan. It stretched like nobody's business.

While I was searching through the stash, hubby came up to help. I was describing what I wanted to do, when he spotted something else in my stash and proposed what I think is a super idea, too.
This is what he spied:



Absolutely faboo Cushendale DK that I have 10 skeins of. This is Irish yarn, spun in Kilkenny, that you may remember I ordered when I visited the mill last year. Delish. The colour is called Autumn, and it's a bit lighter than the photo.
He suggested a long jacket/coat thingy that sounds fab, and would be perfect for wearing during the spring. He's drawing me a picture of what's in his head and I'll do a swatch with this for it.

So now, I have a dilemma! Do I continue with my idea for the first design or do this one? Also, if I do go ahead with the first one, do I destash and use the Alpaca or buy more yarn? (I have so much yarn it's ridiculous). If I make the second project, it'd be something I could really use a lot and it's Irish yarn (yum) and it's already in my stash.

This is when I need to spontaneously grow another pair of arms, and perhaps a second brain as I don't really multitask very well. I'm reminded of Inspector Gadget, "Go Go Gadget Arms!"

Whatever decision is made, it needs to be made soon, as I need to have something on the needles quickly before I have a meltdown!

Good knitting!

Swatching Stage 1

I've finished my stocking stitch swatches:



Going on colour so far, I think my favourites are the green and the dark red.

Swatch No. 1:



Garnstudio Drops Muskat (100% Mercerized Egyptian Cotton) using 3.5mm needles. I got 24 sts x 32 rows over 4". This is a lovely tight fabric, and not too harsh to knit with. I wondered if it might be a little too tight, and I would lose drape as a result, so I switched to 4mm needles:



I think this is a bit better, I got 22 sts x 28 rows to 4". Just enough of a difference to make it more fluid. This is the more accurate colour, a really rich emerald green.

Swatch No. 2:



Garnstudio Drops Lin (100% Linen) using 3.5mm needles. I got 22 sts x 32 rows to 4". I had originally done this on 4mm needles, but it was way too holey. Even the 3.5mm is a bit too holey for me. I want this top to be something I can wear without having to layer underneath it. Plus, it KILLED my hands to knit with, especially my little finger on my right hand. I have a tendency to "push" the stitches along with it, and I have a red welt there now. Boo. Although, I have heard this softens up after washing really nicely. Stolen Stitches had a great idea to wash the linen before knitting with it, as this really helped to soften it up. I might try that!

Swatch No. 3:



Granstudio Drops Silke-Tweed (52% silk, 42% wool) using 3.5mm needles. I got 24 sts x 32 rows to 4". This is a lovely textured yarn, but again a bit rough. It feels almost identical to Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed, but way cheaper! I'll be interested to see how this looks after washing.

Which one is your favourite so far?

So, that's swatching stage 1, bring on stage 2, the wet round!

Good knitting!

Pointelle

I finished my Pointelle Socks today:



Pattern: Pointelle Socks from Knit. Sock. Love. by CookieA
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine, about 3/4 of a skein
Needles: 2.25mm dpns

I enjoyed this pattern, it was nice to see the pattern emerging. The only complaint I would have is with the charts. They are really long, and it's easy to lose your place, even with chart keepers. The yarn is really soft and squishy. I hope it wears well.

So, now I have nothing on the needles, let the swatching begin! I also have to read Barbara Walkers Knitting from the Top for guidance.

In great news, I won a prize! The lovely Amanda at NerdyTogether (brilliant blog, btw) held a giveaway for any scarf from her posts and I won! So, I chose this one: a Crazy Chain scarf. I love it, thanks Amanda!

Good knitting!

Swatching

Progress has been continuing on the second Pointelle sock, in between working like mad on my day job. There's no point in posting a pic of the progress, it'd look very similar to previous ones. Suffice to say I'm almost at the heel flap. Good progress considering!

I went to The Constant Knitter's tea party last Sunday for the first time in ages. I had a great time, and met lovely knitters I haven't seen for a long time.

While I was there, I acquired some more stash. I swore I wasn't buying anything, but I have an idea in my head and it won't go away, so I bought one ball each of three different yarns to swatch with. The idea I have is for a fine knit top with an empire waist, square neckline, bell sleeves, plain bodice and a lacy type body.

The first yarn I bought:



Garnstudio Silke-Tweed (52% silk, 48% wool) in a luscious shade of dark red. This looks to me like a cheaper priced version of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed. I've knit with silky tweed before and it stretched a lot on washing, so this will be interesting. I do love the drape and feel of silky tweed though.

My next swatch sample:



Garnstudio Drops Muskat. 100% cotton. I'll be interested to see how this drapes & washes. I'm unsure about using this for a top that will be worn next to the skin. But worth a swatch!

My last sample:



Garnstudio Drops Lin, 100% Linen. This is insanely cheap for pure linen. Although I don't think it's wet spun. Still, if it works this could be brilliant for a top as it would be hard wearing and easily cared for.

Wish me luck on my swatching! Once I decide upon the yarn, I need to figure out the fine details of this pattern. I hope it goes well, in my head I know it looks spectacular.

Good knitting!

Knock, knock, anyone there?

Oh my, it's been 13 days since my last post. That's shocking. I do have a good excuse though!
I was working every day for the last 2 weeks, and haven't had a minute. Plus we have builders in for the last 3 weeks and the house is an absolute shambles. I won't be sorry when they're gone, the mess is unreal. For me to notice it and be upset about it, you know it has to be bad.

I have been knitting though!

Pattern: Spiral Boot Socks from Interweave Knits, Summer 2007
Yarn: Reynolds Soft Sea Wool, 2.75 skeins
Needles: 2.75mm dpns
Mods: I wanted to make these socks larger for my chunky monkey legs, so I altered some of the stitch counts - 60 sts for foot & ankle, 70 for leg chart and 80 for calf chart. I also made them toe up so I could try on as I go.
Regular readers will know toe up isn't my favourite, but I will admit that it has its uses in cases like this. I wanted to be sure they fit right. Overall, I'm very happy with them. The yarn is really great to knit with, soft and springy and good stitch definition. The socks are a little bit tight at the top, but I suppose that's better than too loose and falling down!

I had a bit of a crisis of knitting once I'd finished these, I didn't know what to make. Fortunately the day was saved with the arrival of Knit. Sock. Love. by CookieA in the post. Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe the patterns and photography. I tweeted about maybe starting Pointelle, and Cookie herself responded to my tweet to tell me about a KAL on Ravelry for that very sock! With prizes! Once I'd gotten over the shock, I had to join. So, a week later I've finished the first one:



Slow progress to be sure, but like I said, I've been in work every day and come home to the filth pile of a house every night. Not bad going considering. I'm using Berrocco Ultra Alpaca Fine for these socks. It's 50% Wool, 20% Alpaca and 30% Nylon. I went stash diving to see if I could get inspiration for what to knit and this is what I pulled out. I initially thought lace, but I think the Nylon count is too high to be able to block it properly, so socks it is! It's lovely soft yarn, if a little splitty. But I don't mind splitty as much as some other people seem to do, once you take your time it's not an issue. (for me, anyway).

These two socks are part of a Dublin Knit Collective Sock Club for 2011, check out details of it here and here (Ravlink).

I cast on for the second Pointelle sock last night, but I've only done one round. Too much fun was had on Twitter last night playing a game called #PatternWars where we posted pictures of the fugliest patterns we had and generally tried to out-do each other. It was brilliant. I must say I found a few doozies myself! I put them up on Twitpic, but I must see if I can get them onto Flickr later.

This afternoon I'm taking a much needed break and heading to The Constant Knitter's place for a yarn party. This is usually good fun with tea, cake and of course, yarn. Although I keep telling myself I'm not buying any more. But, I have an idea forming in my head for a top for me, knit in lightweight yarn, top down, with an empire waistline & flared body. It won't go away. Still, I can hope she won't have suitable yarn (I'd love linen but costs too much) and I will leave empty handed.

Good knitting and I promise to post again soon!

Back Down to Business

After the euphoria of the last few days that saw my pattern released (up to 168 favourites!!!) it's high time I got back to business.

My Spiral Boot Socks are progressing nicely. I've finished the first one:





I'm pleased enough with it. It's a little tight at the top, but I'd rather that than for it to fall down! Plus I'm sure it'll stretch a little bit when washed and worn.

The second one is going at a great pace too:



I'm about half way up the leg. These should be finished by the end of the week. Then I need to decide what to knit next. I really can't decide. There's nothing that's grabbing me by the scruff of the neck and yelling "KNIT ME NOW". I think I'll have to do some Rav browsing.

My attention was brought to this pattern: Dr. G's Memory Vest . This is a really lovely vest that requires a donation to Alzheimers research to receive the pattern. What a great idea. I wish I'd thought of something like this for Dads vest. Hmm. Maybe I'll try and design a womans cardigan for Mam and have that donate to the Irish Alzheimers society, seeing as how she's the one with the awful disease.

In other news, I was back in work today. Boo. I really miss Twitter when in work! But my day was brightened when hubby brought this home for me to cheer me up. Look!



It's a widdle lamb! That's chocolate! Aww. Cutest chocolate ever. Poor thing, he's long dead now though. He got nibbled with a cup of tea a few minutes ago. He didn't die in vain, I made sure I enjoyed every bit and made sheepy sounds while I devoured him!

Good knitting!

Howth Vest

I'm feeling very proud of myself today. I've published my first design!



It's a vest I designed for my Dad. It's worked in the round and uses Elizabeth Zimmermann's Kangaroo Pouch technique for the steeked v-neck and armholes. It uses 3.5mm and 4mm circular needles. I chose Drops Karisma Superwash for it as it's 100% wool, therefore suitable for steeking. It's a lovely yarn and also very reasonably priced.

You can download the pattern from Ravelry: Download Now

Please let me know if you knit it, or if you have any feedback on it. Like I said, it's my first ever pattern, so any advice approeciated!

Here's a link to a slideshow of the other pics I have. For some reason, I can't embed the slideshow today.Click!