Swan Lake

Yes, it is true, after 3 months my MS3 is finally finished, blocked and ready to wear.
I am ridiculously proud of this project, mistakes and all.
I really feel like I have learnt a lot since August, and I am no longer scared of lace!

The Malabrigo lace was just devine, it is so soft and I know it is going to be really warm.

I'm not sure you can see, but there are little tiny brown seed beads all over the stole and they give a little weight to the ends.

There are loads of mistakes, but I don't really care. It still looks beautiful. I really can't believe I made it!

Pattern: Swan lake - Mystery Stole 3 - by Pink Lemon Twist
Started: 2nd August 2007
Finished: 1st November 2007
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace Weight

A little stash enhancement

I headed off to the Knitting and Stitching show on Saturday morning with my good friend Kerry. We were both ridiculously excitable, and were not disappointed as you can see from my haul below.
My new found interest in sewing meant I had access to lots of new and exciting fabrics. At the top left we have some Corduroy with little orange and white flowers printed on, enough for a skirt for me and hopefully dungarees for Hattie for Christmas. The baby cord on the top left is for more trousers/dungarees for small peoples Christmas presents. I need to look for a pattern now! Most of the fabrics at the bottom (except the Christmas one) came from Euro Japan Links
They have some amazing fabrics!
Now onto the wool. I was very restrained, and only bought the things on my list, (apart from the Seacell/Silk from Kerrie). I didn't buy any Qiviut (I cannot describe how divine this was) or any Yak - although I really really wanted to. There was lots and lots of great stalls and it was so much better than the show I went to at the NEC last year.
At the top we have some Pura Lana Ecologica in charcoal and cream from Uppingham Yarns. Alison told me about this stuff, and was absolutely right, it is amazing soft and a bargain at £2.50 a ball. My mom wants a poncho for Christmas, so this is perfect yarn for that.
I bought some bamboo dpn's for my Hogwarts Sock Swap Kit from Knit n' Caboodle. Two skeins of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solid in Slate to make knee high socks for Kerry's Christmas present. I haven't decided on a pattern yet (ideas gratefully received!) 2 skeins of Shepherd Sock in Denim from Get Knitted. About the only colour left that I haven't already used suitable for Tony socks. Lastly, whilst dropping off a couple of squares for Oliver's Blanket with Kerrie at the Hipknits stand I couldn't resist the gorgeous silk and seacell laceweight she had.... such a gorgeous colour purple with subtle variations. I have no idea what to do with this, but maybe I will use it for the Secret of the Stole which started a couple of weeks ago. However I do need to finish MS3 first! This is how far I've got... yes I'm onto the wing at long last ;0)
In the spirit of Socktober I have also finished some socks. Fruit Salad socks from my Yarn Yarn Club yarn for September. I also remembered to take a photo of Tony's Anniversary socks.
Madder Rib from Vintage Knitted Socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport colourway Safari. The pooling around the ankle annoys him as it is not symmetrical - but tough as he hates short row heels too!
Finally, I got some presents this weekend. Kerry was making me a shawl for my birthday... she had made lots and lots and lots of circles in gorgeous bamboo. However, after making hundreds of circles she realised she should have crocheted them together as she went... as any joins she did really didn't seem to work. So instead, she bought me a great Kim Hargreaves kit to make this ADORABLE baby hooded cape. Isn't it the most fantastic thing ever? I need to make it, and I need a baby to make it for! Tony got scared when I told him this :0) He also said he needs to have words with Kerry for encouraging me!
So, does anyone have any great ideas on how to join hundreds of circles without them looking stupid? I have some sock yarn in a similar colour which might work.

Sickness helps the stole grow

I've been off work since Wednesday with food poisoning. Or at least that is what the doctor thinks it is. This has allowed me a lot of time sitting on the sofa watching films and knitting. This is something I hardly ever have the luxury of doing, so despite the pain and nastiness of being ill, it has been an ok 3 days.
I've finished the Lacy Jacket for Hattie BeaThe pattern in from a Vintage Emu book I found on ebay.
Yarn is Rowan Cashsoft DK and it took about 2.5 balls I think, maybe a little more.
I started this last December, as a potential Christmas present, but it was going to be miles too big, hopefully it should fit her now. She will be 1 in about 10 days time.
My favourite is the little elephant button:
I have also managed some more on the MS3. I had a go at blocking it with the steam iron earlier, it seemed to work quite well (although now I can see the mistakes more). I've just finished the first chart of clue 4, which I think means I am about half way through.
It has been feeling distinctly Autumnal around here lately, so I decided to put my Posh Yarn to good use, and I'm making myself a cosy "posh" new scarf. It is a mini-clapotis. Modified using these instructions.
I can't wait to wear it, hmmmmm a cashmere scarf, what a treat.

Playing Catch-Up....

For Lauren's 30th birthday I decided to make her a tank top. She saw this top I made for Hattie and asked if it came in adult sizes, so I guessed I was onto a winner. After much browsing on Ravelry I chose to make Ms Marigold.
The pattern hadn't got rave reviews, but I really liked all of the finished ones I saw, so I decided to give it a go. I made it in Rowan Calmer... which is lovely and soft and very stretchy too!
After one false start when my gauge was completely off I managed to complete the shoulders Then join in the round - I had a trip to London at this point to make Kerry try it on as I really wasn't sure of the sizing!
Then before I knew it, it was finished bar the crochet frills. I knit most of the body when I was at the proms night a few posts ago!
I gave it to Lauren on Saturday...
I think the smile says she likes it! AND it fits - phew!
My favourite bit is the frilly sleeves!
Started: 14/07/2007
Finished: 15/08/2007
Pattern: Ms Marigold by Zephyr Style.
Size: Small
Yarn: Rowan Calmer in Coffee Bean - 4 balls
Needles: Addi turbo's - 5mm and a 3.5mm crochet hook for the sleeve frills Comments: It came out great, it fits and it really suits Lauren. I love knitting with Calmer. I knew the flaws of the pattern before I started - no schematic and no stitch counts. If I was making this for myself it would have been fine, as I could try on as I went.. as it was I winged it a bit...A success. Yipeeeeee.
I also managed to complete a very overdue 30th birthday present.
James' tie is finally finished! I have to say I hated every minute of knitting it. I vow now *NEVER* to knit anything on 2mm needles again. I don't know how the extra0.5mm makes so much difference, but it does.
Started: In january sometime
Finished: 16th August 2007
Pattern: From a vintage pattern book
Yarn: Rowan 4 ply soft in Navy and Beetroot - less than 1 ball of each
Needles: 2mm addit turbos.
Comments: I hated knitting it. James loves it. Enough said!
Still in progress is MS3 - I started clue 3 today. (Sorry the picture is so rubbish - I found out today that it is too dark to take photos at 8.15pm. Boo.)
I also made a purchase from John Lewis in Nottingham today...

4 skeins of Mirasol Hacho.... a new DK 100% merino, which I believe is exclusive to JL. 2 in shade 302 (top) and two in 303 (bottom). I might try and alter the Monkey pattern and make some quick socks from them. Or I might use them to make baby things... not sure yet. It is really really springy and soft. I think I might send some to my SP

A Crafty Week

Mystery Shawl Progress, I am about 6 rows into clue two. Hoping to get a lot more done on my trip to Surrey for Owen's Christening.
I have made booties for the latest arrival, Isobel. Actually I have only made one bootie... must make the other one. Isobel was bornon Thursday to my ex-work colleague Tracey who now lives in Melbourne, Australia. Congrats Trace!
Isn't it cute? The pattern is free from Saartje. If green and orange seems a strange choice, it matches the sleep suits I bought! I'm making an amigurumi butterfly to go with it too... or at least that is what it looks like in my head. Photos in the next post.
I have also made this bag for another person born on 9th August. Happy Birthday Non!
I'm seeing Non tomorrow. I am hoping she is too busy with Christening arrangements to read here before she receives this present! The pattern is adapted from "Bend the Rules Sewing" by Amy Karol. I added some wadding to the straps and made them the same length so I could add a button and button loop. Not bad for a second attempt at bag making!
Here is the first . Made using the free pattern at U-Handbag.com. I got a bit muddled with sewing everything together inside out and then turning it the right way. I'd sewn the handles in wrong so they were always inside the bag. Ooops. I managed to rectify this however and now I have a fab new tote bag.I will leave you with photos of the fireworks from the Proms night at Shugborough Hall last Saturday.

MS3

My Mystery Stole in the Malabrigo Lace has begun.
I am in love with this yarn. It is amazingly soft and the colour variation is so subtle. I think it is also the perfect weight for this shawl as you can really see the pattern. I managed the first 70 odd rows on the train to and from London (about 4 hours in total). I think this might take me a LONG time. However I loved every minute of it, and as Nic said to me, you get a break on the purl row!
Thanks for all of the lovely comments on my Sockapalooooza socks too - I truly am the luckiest knitter :0)