Muir

Muir is finished. I must thank Romi for such a wonderful free pattern.
Here is a picture along with the dress I am planning on wearing to my friends wedding next weekend. Not a bad match eh?

And, as ever, I can never resist a little photo collage.
The sun came out so I took the chance to get some photos in the sunshine.
The ones with the blue background are taken with Muir spread across the double bed, and the ones at the bottom are pre-blocking.

Pattern: Muir from Knitty
Yarn: Posh Yarn Eva 2 ply in Hot Pink.
Needles: 4mm Addi Lace Turbos
Started: 5th June 2008
Finished: 8th July 2008
Comments: I did two repeats wide and 12 repeats long of the lace chart and it measures 60cm x 180cm - a perfect length for me. I left out the picots down the edge too. I had about 15g of Eva left over, so I could have managed the full 13 or maybe even 14 repeats long but I felt it was long enough. It was a joy to knit, and I had most of the pattern memorised after repeat 3 or 4.

Now I'm wondering what lace to knit next! Any thoughts? In my Ravelry queue are Hanami, Laminaria, Matilda, Luna Moth and Forest Canopy

I need to get on with some baby knitting too. Counting up I realise there are now 7 babies due to my friends before the end of the year. So I'm thinking this Alphabet blanket by Debbie Bliss (Ravelry Link) might quench my thirst for lace and make an amazing present.

New Stash

I've been doing a bit of shopping recent.... this is the result of some Ravelry, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Posh Yarn and Yarnbox shopping!
1. Handarbeitskram by Selana Handpainted sockyarn, 2. Lorna's Laces, 3. Skein Queen Cashmerino - Blush (large), 4. All Seasons Cotton, 5. All Seasons Cotton, 6. Stash, 7. Stash, 8. Stash, 9. Noro Kureyon Sock, 10. Posh Sophia 4 ply Divan, 11. Posh Yarn Diana Cobwebweight in Flamenco, 12. Posh Sophia 2ply Bluebells

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Yes, there is more sock yarn in there!

In knitting news I've been concentrating on Muir... upto 10 repeats now:


Whilst I was out in the garden tonight I noticed some VERY small vegetables... Butternut squash and purple cauliflowers - well they had to be purple didn't they?


Finally, this weeks questions:

Secret Pal 12: What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?
Noone can ever have too much wool :o)


UK Swap Week 3:

Is there a TV programme you watch religiously? ER is probably the only thing I hate to miss. I also enjoy Gardeners' World, Grand Designs, anything David Attenborough esque and things like that. I've been enjoying Glastonbury and the football this weekend

What TV programme(s) do you avoid like the plague? Most other programmes, there is too much rubbish on TV these days!

Is there a TV programme that you find works particularly well for knitting along to? Anything that requires not too much attention! Unless I'm knitting stocking stitch in the round! I'd rather listen to the radio though - especially if it is XFM

What was/is your favourite kids TV programme? Bagpuss, the Flumps, Pigeon Street - most other late 70's early 80's programmes.

More Muir, More answers

Muir continues at a pace.
I'm really getting into this pattern now. This is how it looks pinned out after just over 7 repeats and 1 skein of Posh Yarn Eva 2ply on 4mm needles

And all scrunched up (but with better contrast)

I decided not to wind the other skein of Eva last night before bed, I thought I would have enough yarn to keep me going on another trip to London today, but I ran out 2 rows into the journey back. Usually I take too much knitting, this time I had nothing else with me! Tut. I won't be doing that again. At least I had my Harry Potter audio book to keep me amused. Aren't libraries great?

Now for the answers to this weeks questions:
UK Swap Week 2: Which three guests (alive or not) would you invite to a dinner party and why?
I've really enjoyed reading other people's answers to this one, which makes it even harder to think of my own answers. I think Stephen Fry would be there, he is kind of in my consiousness at the moment (as he reads the Harry Potter books which I've been listening to). He is funny and intelligent but maybe a little too shy... but I reckon in a small group he's be great.
I'm tempted to put a knitter in there, maybe the Yarn Harlot as she is very witty and has great observational humour. Lastly I think I would pick someone to make us yummy food, maybe Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. I like his philosphy on life, and he cooks yummy things.
Secret Pal 12 Week 2: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?
As a child we used to have a static caravan on a small campsite in Wales, near Newquay. We used to go there for a couple of weeks most school holidays. I had a friend called Sue and I used to really look forward to seeing her. We drifted apart when I went to Uni, but have recently got back in touch (thanks to Facebook!) I remember being let out to play early in the morning and going on adventures on our bikes. There was a tree we had a swing from, days at the beach, even an adventure park of sorts (called Oakwood). Happy times.

Questions Questions Questions

Secret Pal 12 Question:
What is your favorite summertime drink?
I think this has to be Pimms, with lots of mint and cucumber. Yummy. That reminds me, haven't had a glass yet this year!
UK Swap Question:
What is the strangest place you have ever knit?
Probably at a football match, before the game started. I got some very strange looks!
What are you doing to participate in WWKIP day on Saturday?
I met up with some of the Brum Knit Night crew at a pub in Central Birmingham.

Alison and I finding something very amusing, probably the fact that my new socks match my teeshirt!
Here they are:

More Speedways, in Opal Feelings. This time I've done yo's rather than m1 for the increases.
I think I might be a bit chevroned out after this pair. I forgot to take the pattern with me and couldn't work out where my heel went, so had to put them on a spare bit of yarn and start the other one!
Knitting on Muir has continued. I've done 3 repeats now. Not the best photo but you get the idea...

Here is something I don't think I've shared yet, a pretty awful attempt at an argyle vest for a friends little boy. My intarsia is pretty rubbish, but I'm hoping it might even out after blocking and when the ends are sewn in. It's on hold until I finish Muir though.

Lacy chevrons.

Another pair of socks from my enormous sock yarn stash
Summer Chevron Socks:

Started: May 18th
Finished: June 11th
Pattern: My own, using a stitch pattern from 200 Ripple Stitches by Jan Eaton. This is the chevron pattern -
Row 1: k1, yo, k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, yo* repeat.
Row 2: Knit.
I cast on 60 stitches and did 5 rows of garter stitch.
The heel is a normal heelflap.
Yarn: Online Supersocke 100 in Holiday which I bought in Toronto last September.
Needles: 2.5mm
Comments: A quick knit, I think the second sock only took about 3 days in total. The pattern is really easy and it works really well with the self-striping yarn. They are lovely and colourful and summery, which is exactly what I wanted!

And now for something completely different.... I have chosen my next lace project...

This is Muir from Knitty in pink Eva 2ply Posh Yarn. I'm just over 1 repeat in and wondering if I can finish it before a wedding on the 20th July. Here is a close up of the pattern.