Can't Stop Knitting

Sewing's my first love, but I always have some knitting on the go. I'm far less successful with it, but I keep trying!

I just finished this jumper, the pattern of which was in the Knitter magazine:

 Here's my slightly baggy version:

I followed the directions diligently, but after a few wears it seems to have grown around the middle:

Oh well...... it's not going to stop me wearing it. It's lovely and soft (I used Artesano extra fine wool) and I love the lacy panels:

Not to be put off, I've jumped straight in to 2 more knitting projects, both from the 60's, and both cardigans (Can't ever have enough cardigans). Here's the first one:

I'm knitting the piece on the left, out of navy blue Millamia double knitting (that's worsted, for the benefit of North American readers). I seem to be racing through this, and have already finished the back piece:

Close up of the lace panel

I'm not good at waiting to finish a project before starting a new one, so I've gone ahead and started this cardigan:

I'm making the crew neck version on the left. Pretty boring, you say? No! I'm jazzing it up by  knitting the ribbing in scraps of metallic thread and the body in Debbie Bliss Rialto 4-ply. Here's the start of the back:

Sparkly ribbing!

As I said before, I'm not as successful with knitting, and this project illustrates that beautifully. I started this some time ago:

It was going quite well, except for the fact that it was way too small! I'd made some adjustments that I thought would make it work, but there was no way it was going to fit. The only thing for it was to admit defeat and start something new, and so we have the start of the lurex rib cardi.

Let's hope these ones's work out - see you soon!

Socks for Dad

Can you guess what this is?

Stumped?

It's a form for blocking hand knitted socks, which I quickly made out of an old wire hanger. According to this website I saved myself £18 by making them myself.

I never thought I'd become a sock knitter; I don't wear them much myself and Me Needles wears them out so quickly it's not worth the effort. But my Dad recently mentioned that the elastic at the top of his socks irritates him, so he gets my Mum to un-pick all the elastic from his socks for him. (I know - we have WILD conversations!) To spare my Mum some of this tedium, I decided to knit my first pair of socks, elastic free. And here are the results:

I didn't know there was so much to the world of socks - knitting toe-up, top-down, Turkish cast-on, wrap and turn - these are just some of the techniques I've learnt about since delving in to this project. I can see why people get into knitting socks - they're quick and there's so much to do that you don't get bored. Of course, I decided to start big and chose a complicated pattern from The Knitter (issue 56) for my first ever pair:

Close up of the twisted rib and lace pattern

And here's the man himself receiving them:

Dad in his workshop with socks!

They fit brilliantly, but I negelcted to get a picture of him modelling his new socks because I was laughing too much - Dad was winding Mum up by threatening to wear them with sandals on they're upcoming trip to Italy. But he definitely likes them - he's ordered a pair in burgundy. 

I've got some knitting to do!

February Festivities

February is a big month in the Needles household - we both celebrate our birthdays, as well as our wedding anniversary. Add Valentines day on top of that, and you get about 10 days of celebrations. This year, as we're having a new bathroom fitted which drains funds (Ha! Ha!), I took a couple weeks off work and spent most of it knitting and sewing, as well as watching copious amounts of T.V. It was bliss!

Firstly, I finished Mr Needle's Hot Rod Sweater:

Then I made these gloves out of some wool I had from a previously abandoned project:

Free pattern here

Next, I made a pair of mittens with flaps, as I needed use of my fingers, but also the option to keep warm!

And finally, I've started this sweater, which I'm about one third of the way through, again made from wool from a previously abandoned cardigan:

from 'the Knitter' Magazine

After all of this knitting, I finally got round to properly setting up my Ravelry account: http://www.ravelry.com/people/nicoleneedles

It wasn't all knitting - I've started on a new dress for work, from a pattern I've had for nearly 20 years, but have only got round to making now:

I see it in black twill, with a black satin Peter Pan collar and a black satin bow detail in the centre front. Believe it or not, but I'm in charge of about 15 people at work, and certain outfits make me feel more confident in my role - I don't think anyone will mess with me in this dress!

I did venture out into the fresh air for a bit, namely to Manchester to visit friends and buy fabric from one of my favourite fabric stores, Abakhan's. Here's what I got for a total of £18, about £3 per meter - bargain! -

From left to right - a wool mix tartan, a cotton horse shoe print, some polyester lining for the dress above, and some Alexander Henry cotton

So I've got plenty to be getting on with - see you soon!