Doily done ...

... except for the final blocking.

With the great advise from Barbie McConnell and other knitters on the Laceknitters Yahoo group, (link listed at right,) I finished this edging.

OTN
- finally, the beginnings of a desparately needed felted purse to replace the current beat up leather bag. This one I'm going to keep, it'll be my take on the Dale of Norway designed sweater for the Canadian 2010 olympic ski team.
- have frogged the zigzag sock and will save the yarn for a simpler pattern, still want to make the zigzag sock, as well as 30 or so other socks from my knitting books, magazines and the internet.
- a couple of starts to lacy shawl projects that will probably be frogged.

Sideways Sock

Here's one finished TIGHT FITTING sideways sock that's knit flat and sewn up the back - quite a struggle to get the garter st cuff over the heel.

Confetti sock yarn
2.5mm needles
Gauge: 8sts 12 rows
Opal Sideways socks (eta NB: original link no longer works, use this one. I don't know if Opal Hundertwasser sock yarn still has the pattern, in German, on the inside of the ball band.)
Changes to pattern;
- shortened length, CO 120 sts; cuff-24sts, leg-36sts, heel-28sts, foot-32sts
- added rows, 80 rows total, not enough
- regular stockinette st toe, picked up 64sts, dec to 24sts, kitchener st to close
... fits a ladies size 5 1/2-6 1/2.

... more laceweight comparisons

- Lily Daisy 100 % mercerized crochet cotton, size 20
- Colourmart 45/55% cashmere/silk, cobweb wt http://www.colourmart.com/
- Jaggerspun Zephyr 50/50% merino/silk
http://www.shuttleworks.com/
NAYY
(- see July '06 for previous posting)

Stalled on WIP

1. Doily - my first knit doily ever - from Patterns For the Art of Lace Knitting Rachel Schnelling/Gloria Pennning
I can't figure out how to finish this edge . The doily is knitted but the edging is crocheted on - will just have to keep trying.
- Lily Daisy - size 20 mercerized crochet cotton from DS
- 2mm Inox circular needle, (ouch - those tips are sharp,)
- size 11 crochet hook
- magic loop (ML) - next time I'll have to try using toothpicks for the center as some loops stretched out of shape using ML. Also, sliding stitches over the bump on the circs is painfully slow.

2. More socks - stopped working on these because they're too busy-looking and too orange-y so I'm thinking of starting over with something else from the stash.

- Fotissima Colori #2405
- 2mm Inox circulars
- magic loop, co 72 sts

Cybersocks Done

- a fun Nov/Dec KAL, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SocknittersSAM/ .
I cast on 72 sts on two-2.5mm circ's and they're too loose, (about a ladies size 7 1/2 and I'm a small 6.) I'm getting better at stranding though - the knitting doesn't pucker and the sock doesn't bind.
I played around with the pattern on the sole to conserve on the coloured yarn. It turned out that I had plenty so now I have lots left over - oh well, more stash for mini or multi-coloured socks.

Also finished, but no pic, is a cotton sweater I made for DMIL for Christmas.

This bag's complete now that the button's sewn on. I gave it to DSL and I think she really likes it, (hm...mmm will see if she uses it.)

FFBag done

Yesterday's progress ...
I used the bag as felted and didn't bother to resize it, just eased in the fullness as best as possible when sewing in the lining.






Now it's fully lined with a zipper closure and one divider/pouch. I didn't use the buckram stiffener in the bottom nor the dowel inserts at the top edge. Instead, I used one piece of Flexi-Firm to line the front/bottom/back - sewn directly to the lining before attaching inside.
Also, the strap is made in one piece, (knit I-cord,) but both ends split and attach to the top edge along front and back.

Christmas Stocking done
- 2mm and 2.5mm needles, cast on 96 sts.
- finished size: back length ~12", diagonal from top of back to tip of toe ~18"
- Made from sock yarns;
red (x2) - 4218, Sandnes, Smart Superwash*
black - 1331, Scheepjes, Invicta Extra (leftovers)
green - 8514, Sisu, Maskinvaskbar*
multi - 2405, Schoeller Stahl, Socka Color* (Fortissima Colouri)
(NB: should have used double strands of the thinner green and multi-coloured yarns)
* http://birkelandwool.net/

Update on FFBag

- tried felting in washing machine, cold water - didn't felt much
- tried hand felting/agitating in basin with hot soapy water, 3 rinses (alternating cold, hot, cold) - still didn't felt much
- tried washing machine again, hot wash/cold rinse cycle - OVERFELTED! 13"x7"
- now, will try to soak overnight in vinegar/cool water to restretch a bit.
http://www.knitnik.com/ -see Oct 31, 06. (btw, I didn't do this after all.)

(link/info added to Oct 24 posting)

Knitting

Yesterday I saw a reprint of Nicky Epstein's Felted Floral Bag in the latest, (thinner?) Interweave Knits!!!
(NB- IK,Holiday Gifts Special Issue http://www.interweave.com/knit/special_issues/knits_gifts.asp)

OTN - a Christmas Stocking based on a pattern found in Dale of Norway, Best of Tiur No. 170.
- stranding technique, (not weaving one ie not PW)
- purchased book here, NAYY:
http://spinblessing.com/item.php?art=DG170E
- see Design 5 Akantus

FO - washed and blocked Maple Leaf Socks

Maple Leaf Socks

WIP from Oct 8 these socks are now done and waiting to be washed & blocked.

Pattern found here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T_Socks_KAL/

Fall Garden

Seasonal transformations never cease to amaze.



Hard to believe that this scene from January turned into these other ones ...






June








July









Today, some plants still hanging in there after 2 bouts of morning snow.

Decision time soon on FFB

Hmmm... do I shape it more like a purse or a box?

'Felted Floral Bag'

Progress so far-
DSIL requested Nicky Epstein's pattern.
- yarn: mainly Cascade 220, some Quebecois
- 3.75 mm needles
- narrower side panels with the upper part tapering slightly
-may add some sort of button type closure/loop.

Couldn't get just the right wool colours ... time for microwaving with Kool-Aid and vinegar, (I use a capful - just in case.)
This is what I got by adding just a titch of orange and 2 Tbsp of orange + 1 Tbsp strawberry to warm up the original colour, far right.


... the messy private side.
Instead of intarsia for the colourwork I used a fair-isle technique, in the round. Also, worked the design pattern on just the one side. Good thing this will be felted cuz my tension's wonky, (partly because the 2 types of yarn are different weights.)

Hazel Carter SLS - rectangular version

- blocked with tig welding rods

- finished size:

45 cm x 180 cm

18" x 71"


- shawl washed and rinsed gently in tepid water

- microwaved a wee bit of potato starch in a cup of water


- squeezed excess water out of shawl

- soaked it in cooled potato starch solution, diluted to 1 liter.

Laceweight yarns

- white Zephyr *
- black Skacel **
- loden Superlamb (coated, should bloom after washing) *
- white Grignasco Extrafine **



*http://www.shuttleworks.com/
** http://knittingroomcalgary.com/ NAYY

Shawl Edging and ...

These edgings are the ones that I've decided to use for the sides and ends of this shawl.





... and my latest purchase - cool self-patterning sock yarn, (AHHH, Mona, stop enabling me. LOL)

Samplers and Shetland 'Shawl' progress

I enjoy trying out different techniques and stitches. So when Carla started the 'Sampler M KAL' I hesitated just a split second before I joined, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KnitalongSamplerM/ .
YIKES, I'm now a member of more than 20 knitting groups! ... somewhat obsessive, considering that I started the year on one list.

Here are 2 sides of a sampler cushion I made using stitches from a Pinguoin publication.









... still trying out edgings for the sides of this shawl, definitely not the one with the NUPP-like bumps.









Wish you could have smelled the wonderfully scented mock orange bush and peonies last week.

Weather warning last Thurs.

The sun shone briefly during the pelting.








When I went to pick up DS from work the driving, in the heavy rain and hail, was like driving through a car wash. A few drivers were forced to pull over & wait it out. Other areas were worse off, cars were floating in a parking lot and many homes and some businesses had major water damage.

SLS progress

I've decided to make a variation of Hazel Carter's Shetland Lace Shawl - a rectangular stole rather than a square shawl.








Also, OTN is the Maple Leaf sock
designed by Jeannie Townsend, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T_Socks_KAL/


... and Cascading Leaves sock, also by Jeannie ...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TownsendSocksKnitALong/
(no pic as I will probably frog - instep's too tight, toeup with short row heel)

... and other attempts at assorted shawls, Faroese mainly.

paeonia Sarah Bernhardt

Sock pattern link

I found Marguerite's 'Old Shale, 2 yarn sock pattern' on her blog:

http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2004/12/old-shale-two-yarn-sock-pattern.html

Branching Out Scarf

I finished this on Sat. and blocked it the following day.