Overambition

Just over two weeks ago, I set out to enter the Ravelympics. I picked out my projects, which were to be a challenge for me to complete, wound the yarn, and got set. I had 4 projects to complete - a hat - Woolly Wormhead's Marina (I have never ever managed the stitch pattern used in the hat before), two pairs of Jorid Linvik's Cat Socks (I have never knit colourwork socks before) and Roro socks (never knit toe-up).
Full of enthusiasm, I managed the hat in one day:

It was a straightforward knit - Ruth's patterns always are.

I used Babylonglegs British Merino Aran, which was a dream to knit with.

The hat is knitted on straight needles, with short row shaping, and then finally, the last row is grafted to the cast on. Very very clever.

I already have Ruth's book on pre-order, and have another skein of Sarah's yarn ready to go. The hat I will be knitting is Medici, from Twisted Woolly Toppers, which is the March KAL on the Woolly Wormhead Ravelry Group.



So - onto the colourwork.

Count 'em - that's 2 pairs of socks!

The blue pair is for Jon, the pink pair for me. This was a fantastic pattern to knit - I love the details in this pattern - the fishbones and the paws.

I used Dalegarn Falk for this, which is a DK yarn. Despite this, and using 3mm needles, an old friend resurfaced about a week ago - I started to get a bit uncomfortable in the wrist, and even though I slowed down the knitting, I ended up back in the splint with pins and needles last week. Ah well.

Unfortunately, that meant that Roro were abandoned for now.

I'm still pretty pleased, though!

In pre-Ravelympics news, I completed another Woolly Wormhead hat on Valentine's day - this was Weekender, from Yarn Forward 22, and I used Jon's Natural Born Dyers Falkland Chunky yarn, colourway Ice (there is some in the shop!)




So - busy busy!

Wibbly Rib Socks

This is my first proper pattern! Wibbly Rib Socks are inspired by my favourite sweater, and are a rib with a difference. Knitted in Fyberspates BFL Superwash sock, they are a straightforward knit. If you can knit, purl and do basic increasing and decreasing, you can do these. Any questions, please send me a message, or leave a comment.

Instructions are for a pair of socks to fit leg circumference 7.5" to 9.5" and as written are sized for a UK Size 6-7 foot.

Click this button to purchase for £2.

Rough Day

Bit of a whinge-fest today - I've felt a bit icky all day, and it's been raining, which never helps. Then I've had to cover late-ish at work, got caught up in what appeared to be a flash mob of cars in the City Centre (30 minute queue for about half a mile, then everything disappearing, without anyone appearing to have turned off) and now Flickr's not playing with me. So Grrrrrr!

But to try and look at some positives, I'd like to thank everyone who has left comments on the blog over the last few posts. It makes me feel better to read them, and it doesn't half perk me up and make me feel that the world's not completely full of twits (just the car in front of me ;-)). I knit, largely for me, and it's lovely that you think that I'm doing some nice work. I'm always a bit funny about posting photos - I think I'm "showing off" sometimes, and possibly showing myself up (especially when I see some of the work others do) - so thank you again for your comments and keep them coming (now I have an ego, I need to feed it!)

I've been poddling along with the knitting - I have finished one of the Tyrolean Stockings, and I love it. I've been wondering if I can get away with wearing odd socks, as I'm really getting a compulsion to wear it. It's the lovely cabled design, coupled with Dee and Tony's wonderful Helena wool in Myrtle - toning greeny variagated loveliness. But, it's twin is having to wait, as I've begun Hanami No 2 - this time for a Christmas present. I'm using the same Colourmart Cashmere as before, and have managed 2 repeats of the basketweave so far. I'm using the second Tyrolean as a motivator - there's 7 repeats of the basketweave, and I found on my first one that if I'm not going to muck up the pattern, I need to break every now and then, so it's one repeat of basketweave to 12 rows of sock at the moment, to keep the variation. It's not that I'm getting bored, but giving myself a little bit of a change every now and then is helping me stay fresh at it.

And I've been so good this week - I have not dipped into the Posh Yarn shop this week, as I am building up quite a stash, and think I should get cracking on using some of it up before I indulge again... I do try to be good - but sometimes my halo slips a little and there's something I've got to play Fastest Finger First for!

And - if anyone liked the Mystery Stole 3 - Swan Lake that's a couple of posts further down, but didn't get onto the sign up in time, Melanie has now relased the pattern, which includes the stole as knit, plus directions for a Symmetrical pointed stole, plus a divine double winged version. For us UK knitters, the pattern's on the good side of bargain at $6, and can be ordered via Melanie's Blog. I found it a challenge, but tackling one chart at a time, and not thinking about the final item meant I could knit it one stitch at a time. Melanie's directions helped as well - I found the pattern easy to understand.

So - back to Hanami - it's a lovely knit and it's keeping me sane this evening.

Monkey!

Just a short note as I'm off to see James in a short while (the price for Jon liking Rock is that I also like Indie...), but I finished the waffle socks (pics to follow) and have, along with what appears like half the world, fallen for Cookie A's Monkey Socks from www.knitty.com. They're currently OTN and going well.
The comments, and the having a blog has been very motivational for me, Queen of the UFOs to actually get on and finish things, so thank you all!

Love

Claire x