Knitty Gritty...

Sunday, December 21, 2014

We've been having some really random weather lately, winter is still hanging around but we've had a few promising glimpses of summer. The cool temperatures and with Christmas just days away, has had me thinking about knitting quite a bit, or rather, getting back into it. I've knitted a dishie or two, but I've been dreaming of warm wooly shrugs and cardigans lately.

I'm still yet to finish my Aiken - I got to the bottom of the body, and I'm not so sure about it. The arm holes are huge (they seem to go down to my waist!) and it feels a bit like it's on the larger side, both in width and length (even after removing rows and increasing the decreases around the waist). So, it's in my 'I can't see you' pile. Everyone has one of those right? I don't know how to frog back to a certain point, and undoing the entire thing would be heart breaking, so, I'm ignoring it. The best way to deal with a problem, yes?

This means I'm officially onto shiny-new-knitting-project planning - it's almost as good as finishing projects in my opinion. So, what's in my Ravelry queue at the moment?

1) I seem to be in a shrug mood at the moment, and as soon as I saw the Maeve pattern, I needed it. How gorgeous is it?? While I want to challenge myself in the knitting department, I also don't want it to be so hard that I end up putting it into the I-can't-see-you pile (which honestly, is not actually that hard to get into). I'm thinking Luxury wool in Denim Blue. It'll go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe.

2) The Quick Silver Lace Shrug. I've had some 8ply Wild Barley Luxury wool (now discontinued but very similar to Leaf, it's in the photo above) just waiting to be turned into this. Perfect for layering in this chilly weather.

3) The Owls Sweater. I've had this pattern in my favourites for a while now and I've seen a fair few people make it. I'm a bit worried about it being knit from the bottom, since I'll need to take quite a bit off to hit me at my waist (my preferred length) which means some scary knitting math (oh the horror!). I'm thinking Stellar yarn in Lapis Lazuli for this. I was considering Garnet, but realised I'd get much more use from another blue knit. What can I say? I really like wearing blue...

4) Boring, but essential I-can-watch-stuff-while-knitting-this dishie knitting. I've got a bunch of lovely coloured cotton yarn sitting in my shopping basket from Bendigo Woollen Mills (seriously, that place! I could buy it all). I currently just do the standard one with lace borders, but I'm keen to expand my repertoire and try out this one (which they technically call a face cloth).

I'm a veeeeery slow knitter, so I'm pretty sure this list will easily last me until at least this time next year.

Are you knitting at the moment? What's on your list? And are there any easy shrug patterns I should be keeping an eye out for?

xx
J
16 comments on "Knitty Gritty..."
  1. I've got a cabled waist length sweater I'm slogging away on from last winter. If you get all this done you'll be a faster knitter than I.
    I too like to knit in front of the telly and that Maeve cardigan is pretty!

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    1. Hehe, yeah, I doubt I'll get more than one done in time for winter but it's always nice to plan and dream, even if you don't get much done :)

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  2. I'm still learning, anything i knit is littered with dropped stitches! Am determined to knit something thiscoming year. A facecloth sounds doable, good luck with your plans.

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    1. A dishie is a great 'learn to knit' project as it doesn't really matter if you drop stitches, because it's just a cloth. But a nice cloth :) I love using mine!

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  3. I'm knitting the Shalom cardi (with mods) at the mo but I've got a huge list including another cardi for my little one. The Owls jumper is fab, you should definitely knit it even with the maths! I have 2 easy shrug patterns in my Rav library if you want to take a look (miniandmerky) - I haven't knit them yet but they're essentially rectangles that you then seam for the armholes. I think they're by Lion Brand but I can't remember the exact names (just something like "easy shrug" I think!)

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    1. Thanks so much!! I'll head on over to have a look - I just can't seem to get enough of shrugs at the moment :)

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  4. I love the Bendigo woollen mills. My parents live in Bendigo so it's always great to pop in and ogle. I just wish they'd do more tweedy colours.... Anyway this is a pretty and easy shrug, gorgeous in mohair.
    http://www.knit.net.au/jo-sharp-patterns-digital/k002-ribbed-mohair-shrug-vers-2-digital-download

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    1. Bendigo are my absolute favourite! What a gorgeous pattern - I wonder if it would be hard to make the sleeves longer...?

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  5. I've made two owls and it's one of my favorite patterns. The maths are not so complicated but if you need help just let me know. I've finished my second recently and I'm so happy with it!

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    1. Thanks Elena!! I might be emailing you when I start it (after the Maeve shrug is done, which will hopefully be in time for winter, hehe!!).

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  6. I am all up in some socks right now. I like to have two pairs going at once. I just like to switch yarns so I don't loose interest. So I do one sock from one pair and then one from the other, then I repeat the whole thing once more. It keeps it exciting.

    I then have a slouchy hat for my wife to get going on. Red and ribbed with a slouchy crown.

    My final project is a sweater for me. I started it ages ago and I've hit a snag. I recently lost a significant amount of weight. Taking me from a U.S. size 12 to a size 6. So that sweater will no longer fit. So I'm going to be bold and crazy and im going to take it apart and start over. Ahhhhh. I can't believe I'm going to do this but it just feels right.

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    1. I've never knit socks and for some reason, they intimidate me. Maybe it's the fingering weight yarn? Or shaping the toe or the heel? I dunno, they just seem way harder than a cardigan, even though they're smaller.

      Sometimes you know when you need to start all over again - I have that feeling with Aiken too, but I just can't do it yet. Maybe soon though, once I've finished my wee list :)

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  7. We've had a few promising glimpses of summer but they've been few and far between. I'm sitting here, watching rainy mist with the heater on at the moment! Hope you have a very merry Christmas Jen! x

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    1. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year Naomi!! Yesterday we got to 27 degrees which is so strange for Dunedin, but I'll take it! Hope it warms up for you soon, no doubt our lovely weather will disappear soon...sigh.

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  8. Oh man, I learned how to knit just so I could make the owls sweater, but that was several years ago and I still haven't tackled it! I'd love to see your take on the pattern!

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    1. Oh wow Sonja! Maybe we can knit it together then, say, end of the year (to give me a bit of time to finish my other things??)?

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