Bullfinch and Hare

Resurrection

2009-05-09T20:20:00.002+01:00

I think it's about time I restored some service to teh Intarwebs, so here I am. Knitting wise, I'm struggling to finish Vihervaara and have started Back-To-School U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel, but couldn't find the book when I was packing for my long trip overseas, so its kind of stalled as I don't know where the pattern goes after the first 9 inches.

To help me pass some lonely hours in Switzerland I've decided to do some sock knitting, and am about to cast on for Cachoeira. I had the presence of mind to pack some Koigu KPPPM which will do for them fine, in purples and blues with little bits of golden yellow through it.
Pics to follow eventually, when I get myself a USB cable for my camera - something else I forgot to pack.

Blogiversary Month?!

2008-11-20T21:36:00.002Z

I've just realised, looking back at my post archive, that it is a year ago this month (a year and 10 days in fact) that I posted my first rambling on this blog. From 10 posts that month I have dwindled terribly to the odd one or two every month, but at least I've got a commenter - Hi Katey!
So as its an anniversary of sorts, I'm resolving to make a few commitments to this little space of mine. I realise that sporadic posts are incredibly disappointing, so I am resolving to post more often - to assist me in this I'm going to utilise the blogging capabilities of my ipod Touch. Sadly it has no camera so I can't use it to post photos, but at least there will be a bit more verbal content. I will also attempt to edit myself a bit better before I post, so that the missives are a bit more readable and nourishing to the brain. I tend to just splurge out everything thats in my head, like a gushing tap, then it sort of comes to a dribbling stop without any fullness or completeness to it. So perhaps I'll do some kind of creative writing course, just to try to regain some semblance of order around here!

Anyway, hurrah for anniversaries. I am actually still here, which is a surprise in itself really! Ravelry has certainly helped that, as well as my knitting. Speaking of which, I have a rather unhealthy looking list of festive knits to devour in the next 5 weeks, so I'd better crack on!

BF

New on the needles

2008-11-20T13:04:00.001Z

As a preliminary to the festive knitting of 2008, i've started a bunny for my friend's daughter who will be 2 next week. It's from the Sophie pattern by Ysolda Teague. I'm really enjoying knitting this, the pattern is ingenious and really quick. I'm planning on making a couple of friends for her from the other toy patterns on Ysolda's site, as it seems just about all my friends have kids now!

FO no. 2

2008-10-31T22:08:00.002Z

Second FO of the day....
Pomatomus

Finished objects and new beginnings

2008-10-31T20:41:00.008Z

I have 3 - count them - finished objects.

The first is Cherry - finished a good couple of weeks ago but I've been unable to photograph it until this week as my camera has been a bit blinky.

All in all I really enjoyed knitting this, although the finished object is somewhat larger than I'd imagined. I'm not sure if I've shrunk a couple of inches since I started it, or if the shaping is not quite right for my torso, but it's very baggy round the chest and back. In fact its fairly baggy round the waist too, so I think I could have gone down a size. I may well attempt some shaping of my own next time, and there will be a next time as I really liked the pattern and the result is beautiful, if a little large.
The RYC cashcotton was a great choice for yarn, it hangs really nicely and yet is not too heavy.

I particularly love the buttons, which I found in the antiques market near where I live. There is a button seller there who has the most wonderful range of old, vintage and antique buttons which I can't wait to be able to use more of - so more cardigan knitting will be taking place!
There are more pictures on my Ravelry page.

The second FO is Pomatomus - which, as socks tend to, took an age for me to complete. I am reasonably happy with them, but I made one foot narrower than the other and one toe longer, so I obviously wasn't paying much attention. I think they were just too similar to a pair I'd previously knit, so the pattern didn't really do it for me. The fabric came out rather stiff as well, which didn't really help.

Argh, the picture layout has gone all screwy!!

First iPod post

2008-10-07T16:40:00.001+01:00

This is my first attempt at posting from my iPod touch. I bought it on my holidays last week and am loving using it so far.

-- Post From My iPod

Progress

2008-09-20T08:22:00.002+01:00

I tried to post an update from the train last weekend, but my mobile wasn't playing the 3G game. I've now reached the waist detail of the second front panel on Cherry, and am absolutely loving it. I got some gorgeous burnt-orange flower buttons from a vintage button place in the antiques market in town, so I just need some matching grosgrain ribbon for the back of the buttonhole band and I'll be ready for the finish line. Mind you I haven't even done the sleeves yet, and I'd like to make them a bit longer than the pattern calls for, maybe half way down the upper arm or even elbow length. I am so pleased with how quickly this cardigan seems to be knitting up - I think before I started it I envisaged spending months on it but it's actually taking less time than socks do for me! Progress pics to come.

A photo at last!

2008-09-03T13:08:00.002+01:00

Taken with my phone, i thought i'd finally post a wip photo. This is a gauge swatch for cherry, so far so good and i'm loving the yarn, it's so soft and lovely to knit. Just sticky enough to stay on the slippery knit picks needles. I'm only slightly concerned about the splittyness of it, it's quite a loose ply as rowan yarns often are, but hopefully it will stay together!

Cardigans

2008-09-02T22:03:00.002+01:00

I've been sort of reluctant to post as I've had no photos to add, and people like photos don't they. I don't think anyone wants to just read reams of waffle on a knitting blog - we want pictures of beautiful yarns being transformed into gorgeous and unique garments, photographed in a quirky or original setting with good light and attention to detail. We want a brief glimpse into the life of the knitter, even just if it's to see what colour socks they wear.

So this is my second pictureless post in a row, but I felt it was time to come back and write something - even though by now the sparse readership I had have left for more bounteous shores and I'm just here talking to myself. I never really envisaged an audience when I set out to write this blog anyway, it was more of just a way of marking down what I do, recording the process and outcome for posterity.

Perhaps it's because I didn't knit much more than a couple of pairs of socks over the summer, but now that September is here my mind is turning to grander things - cardigans in fact.

I have finally discovered a pattern for which I can use the stash of Manos del Uruguay I bought on ebay last year - Vihervaara, or GreenGable, or 'cabled pullover' depending on whether you're Vogue or Ravelry. I did what many UK knitters seem to have to do to get hold of the pattern, and gifted myself a subscription to VK. The Fall edition arrived this morning, and I'm now in the process of knitting up a gauge swatch with the Manos. I'm getting 13sts / 4in on 7mm needles, the pattern calls for 12sts/4in but if I went up a needle size the fabric would be too loosely knit, so I will either frig it to fit what I'm using or I'll have to reconsider my yarn choice. Which is a shame, as although the Manos may be a little too variegated to do the cables justice, it would be a great way to use it and I've been waiting to do so for ages. Perhaps I'll knit the first one as an experiment and give it away if it comes out weird. Ideally I'd like this cardigan in a nice ivory or off-white. I'm also planning on making it a zip-up cardi instead of a pullover as I don't really like the button-up yoke and would get a lot more wear out of it if I didn't have to yank the thing over my head to get it on and off. It makes a mess of one's hairdo don'tcherknow. Also there seems something terribly uncouth about taking off a pullover in public, like undressing in front of strangers, and it always makes one red in the face.

The other cardigan I'm dying to cast on for is Cherry. I adore this thing - it's so 50's pinup girl, very sexy and looks great for spring / autumn weather. I've unashamedly copied a girl on Ravelry called "TwoSwallows" and gone for RYC Cashcotton DK in that lovely "pool" colour - which serendipitously was on sale at Get Knitted and there were exactly 7 balls left when I ordered - so I snapped them all up! I get to pick up the yarn and needles tomorrow at yon post office, so will be casting on for it tomorrow night I suspect.
I fully intend to photograph the yarn and swatches for both projects as soon as they're all in one place - then I will definitely post photos!

K

Long time coming

2008-06-27T17:08:00.001+01:00

Ok so 4 months have passed since my last post. I had no idea it was so long! This should mean that I have lots to write about, at least where knitting is concerned.
Well, I completed the socks for mr BF, which he loves, and have knit more socks too - the "froot loops" from the last knitty, in koigu KPPPM which is my new favourite yarn, and I've knit half a pair of plain knit socks in an attempt to determine an ideal pattern to fit my feet. So far I've discovered that the heel is too baggy and there are too many stitches in the leg, and not enough depth in the cuff. I've also knit another garter stitch scarf for someone at work, and a couple of teddy bears for babies of friends.

Other than knitting, I have found a new love - Yoga. I started with a foundation course at my local iyengar yoga centre, and am now attending twice a week when I can in their beginners class. I absolutely love it - it gives me nearly 4 hours a week where ego is completely removed from my environment and afterwards I can go home in a state of complete peace and bliss. Home practice makes it even better, I can really integrate it into my daily life and it is having such a wonderful effect in all aspects of my life. I really would like to take it further, I know its early days yet but I think I'd like to become a yoga teacher eventually. I can really see myself getting out of the rat race and making yoga the main focus of my days.

In the meantime however, I still have to earn some money, so I've just started a new job, which I am very much enjoying. I would be enjoying it even more if I wasn't off sick already - I think the new environment is carrying bugs my body is not familiar with, and its going to take a few days to build up some resistance.

I'll post again with some pictures over the weekend.

Long silence

2008-02-28T09:20:00.002Z

Wow. I hadn't realised it had been a month since I last posted.
I finished the scarf (see previous post) and it was a success, Mr BF loves it. I've now started Koolhaas to go with it, but hadn't realised it requires cabling - a skill I have yet to learn. I'm getting quite impatient with the twiddling of three needles at once.
I also finished the Bellatrix socks, and have happily worn them. They are nice and warm but I'm not so keen on the nylon content of the yarn. I will also have to start making my socks longer - I had enough yarn left to do at least a couple more repeats of the pattern on the sock leg, and the length they are at the minute seems to emphasise my chunky ankles, so in future I will throw caution to the wind and knit the legs longer before turning the heel!

I've ripped out the diamond waffle socks I started making for Mr BF as they were boring and I didn't like the gusset increases - they seemed to create a series of holes down one side. So now I'm using that yarn for a pair of socks I'm making up as I go along, using a stitch pattern from the vogue ultimate sock book. I'll post pics when the first sock is beyond the ribbed cuff stage.

I can now also start a project I've been wanting to do for ages, a scoop necked tank top for myself in the lovely manos del uruguay yarn I originally bought for my so-called scarf. I hope to get it finished in time to be able to wear it this spring, which might be a bit ambitious at this rate!

The ladybirds are still attempting to seize control of the flat, despite several culling sessions with the dyson and a can of Raid. They will not win, the little buggers.

K

Long train journey

2008-01-27T12:25:00.001Z

I've been visiting friends oop north this weekend, and now i'm on the train home. The journey is quite lovely, there is some glorious scenery through yorkshire and derbyshire and i get the chance to do a few hours knitting.
The whole experience is enhanced further by having the first class carriage to myself, the puppini sisters on my Ipod and the sun shining in through wispy clouds.
Bliss.
I've made inroads on this garter stitch scarf for O'neill so he'll be happy too. X

Get Knitted, Ladybirds and pictures

2008-01-16T13:27:00.001Z

I went along to Get Knitted on Saturday for the big ravelry meet up. I got there quite a bit later than everyone else, so it was a bit daunting as I entered and saw twenty or thirty people sat around knitting and chatting. I came over all shy and didn't actually introduce myself to anyone, apart from a lady whose name badge said she was "swroot" - which I took as a Unix reference... She was investigating the Koigu as I was, so we had a little chat about sock yarn and patterns.

I came away having spent a substantial amount on yarn and a modest amount on fabric for the marimekko quilt I'm planning. I've cast on for a scarf for RH, and stashed enough sock yarn for the forseeable future.

Here is current progress on the Bellatrix sock:

I've actually got about 2/3 of the way along the foot, so almost finished the first sock really. I think these will be the quickest socks I've ever knit if the second one goes as fast.

The stalled Clapotis:

And to round off this multi-media melee, I'll leave you with a picture of one of the many minibeasts with whom we share our home. There is a colony of ladybirds in the flat, who mostly live in the spare room but roam about on the floors and walls occasionally. You'll always see two or three between the front door and the living room, and they come in a wide range of colours. Most are either black with two big red spots, or red with big black spots, but we've had yellow ones and many-spotted ones too. Here is one which took a particular liking for the Gin:

New trix

2008-01-10T11:03:00.000Z

It seems the hiatus was a fleeting one, since after a quick run and early bath the other night, I decided to cast on a new pair of socks. I've finished the latest monkeys (photos to come I promise) and the Clapotis is getting too big to cart about on the train now, so I decided to ball up the Black Purl and cast on for Bellatrix.
The pattern is incredibly quick and easy, and unlike others I don't seem to be suffering from gauge issues on the dropped stitches. I started them tuesday night and am on to the heel flap of the first sock already, which is fairly quick for me. RH has decided he wants a pair of socks too, so I promised once the Bellatrixs are done I'll knit him a nice pair. At least that will give me something else to buy at GK on saturday - one can never have too much sock yarn!

So my shopping list so far for saturday goes like this:

4mm circ for the BSJ
Suitable yarn for a scarf for RH
sock yarn for RH

I'd quite like some of that Cascade variegated yarn as well, and of course there's the great range of quilting fabric they have up there... I'm sort of planning a quilt to go with the FatBoy beanbag we've just inherited from some friends who've emigrated, it's a marimekko one with the big red unikko flowers all over it. I'm thinking of using the mini unikko fabric as a backing, then using reds, black, white and maybe a little green for the patchwork side.

I think thats a long enough list for now!

K

Stumbling Mice

2008-01-03T14:44:00.000Z

I'm stumbling to a standstill with my knitting, which just won't do.
On the one hand, I've got this glorious cashmere busily twisting itself up into a clapotis which is now an unwanted gift. It's not my favourite colour choice, the pattern isn't nearly as challenging as it once was back in the day when it was the second thing I ever knit, and I get the feeling the yarn would be put to much better use elsewhere. Of course I still have a scarfless husband who demands satisfaction, so more yarn must be purchased to fulfil that need, but I feel almost criminal for wasting this gorgeous cashmere on a garment that no-one really wants. However, I can't get to most of my other knitting as its beyond Cardboard Mountain in Spare Room country, so I've been half-arsedly knitting on the Clapotis in the hope it would turn into something I really loved. Which hasn't happened yet. I could gift it I guess... ooh and as I typed that I remembered it's a good friend's birthday soon, one whom I haven't seen for over a year. Perhaps it will wing its way to her!

I love it when just writing stuff down helps solve your problems. I'll be knitting on that Clapotis with renewed vigour as soon as I confirm she likes the colours...

Ok this seems to be going well... next will be the BSJ. I'm feeling quite "meh" about it, partially due to my choice of needles - what was I thinking doing it on straights?! - and partially because the yarn is quite dull. And to be honest I'm not excessively fascinated with the genius of the pattern, however hyperbolic the surface becomes, its still just increases and decreases. I should just stick it on the right needles and finish the bugger really. Before the recipient gets any bigger.

So I could do with some more inspiration I think, I'd really like a nice warm hat for myself, and i wouldn't mind knitting another set of mittens or maybe some gloves. We're hopefully heading off to Paris in the spring so accessories for that trip would be glorious. I also need to put together a list of things I'd like when I go on the Big Day Out to Get Knitted, which is only a week away. I don't want to just aimlessly buy a few skeins of things I like the look / feel of, I want to purchase wisely with an intended project in mind. Any ideas will be gratefully received!

XX
K

Relocation

2007-12-28T10:18:00.000Z

It's been awfully quiet round here, sorry. This is because we have moved house. It took us about a week altogether, to move all our stuff from a 3 bedroom detached house to a 2 bedroom flat, including at least half that time to carry boxes and furniture up 4 flights of stairs as the flat is on the second floor.

It's all been worth it though, we're now ensconced in a wonderful apartment in a gorgeous Georgian terrace in Bath. There are windows galore, with wonderful views of the main city landmarks and most of the surrounding hills, with the Avon rushing by our bedroom window.
There have been casualties, notably a vivienne westwood dress and two suits, but we made it in by the winter solstice and celebrated our new life together here.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to do much knitting over the last couple of weeks, being up to my eyeballs in boxes, but I've done a little bit of work on the Clapotis. Not that I need bother, however, as my rambling husband has now decided that he's not that keen on the yarn. Apparently there's too much acid green in it, which he thinks will limit what he can wear it with. Regardless of the fact that he chose this colourway after carefully narrowing down his choices from Axelle's list of colourways, and lets not even discuss the fact that its come all the way from the US specifically for him. Or that I've got almost to the end of the first skein before he makes this decision, so ripping it out and using it for something else would be such a waste of effort.
So what do I do? Do I carry on with the pattern and end up with a second cashmere clapotis for myself, do I finish it and give it to someone else (who?) or do I frog it and use the yarn for another pattern? I can't think what I could use 3 skeins of cashmere for though - its one skein too many for socks, and not enough for a cardigan or sweater... and it wouldn't really be my first choice of colour for myself either. I think I may well soldier on and keep it. I could give my old green one to my mum, she might appreciate the luridity of the colour more than RH.

I still haven't knit any more on the BSJ. I think it's the needles, I'm really not getting on with knitting it on straights, especially now I'm over half way. I think i'll swap it onto a circ, it should go fairly quickly after that.

I'm almost in the mood to do some quilting again too, but I think that may have to wait until the spare room no longer looks like a graveyard for cardboard boxes.

xx

A finished object, finally

2007-12-10T13:15:00.000Z

I've finally completed Red Light Special, with additional brim extension to accommodate the recipient's head. It was so eagerly awaited that he wore it while it was still blocking - which i suppose is one way of ensuring the correct shape.
I really enjoyed the pattern, though I'm not entirely sure I did it justice with my choice of yarns or adjustments for fit.
I will try to get some pictures, the weather has been stinky here the last few days though so not a lot of natural light. The storm has pretty much cleared up now though, and i can see blue skies and little wisps of cloud left behind by the winds. I went out for a run this lunchtime and the wind is still wicked strong, it was like running on the spot a lot of the time.

Since I finished the RLS, I've cast on for the next Clapotis, which is destined for the same recipient. I think cashmere is my favourite fibre, perhaps closely followed by alpaca. Its just so easy to work, and lovely and sproingy when its knitted. I wish I could have some of every colourway that Axelle produces.
I've decided to allow myself only to cast on for another project when I've finished a current one, which means I will only ever have 3 on the go at once:

one for knitting at home due to its size or complexity (i.e. anything with more than 2 colours of yarn)
a sock for carrying around everywhere
something mid-sized but still fairly portable for taking to group knitting sessions.

At the minute I've got the BSJ to finish, Clapotis just started, and my last Monkey of which there is the foot to complete. If I finish Monkey first I'll start another pair of socks, I've got 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces shepherd sock in the Black Purl colourway (gorgeous!). The BSJ will be replaced by a tank top with the frogged Manos from my So-Called Scarf. Then when I finally finish the Clapotis (hopefully before xmas!) I may do a neckwarmer of some sort with a couple of balls of Rowan cashsoft. I envisage getting all of this done in the next 3-4 weeks, but that may be somewhat ambitious. I am also supposed to be knitting some fingerless gloves to go with the red light special, but as they're not for me I'm not so eager. Although it would be nice to have a bit of fair isle on the go, as I do enjoy stranded knitting.

Knitting in public

2007-12-07T13:47:00.001Z

At lunchtimes I like to sit in the cafe at work and do a bit of sock knitting. It's a fairly high traffic area and as I know quite a lot of people at my work, I always have 3 or 4 people stop and ask me what I'm doing.
Women are usually fascinated by all the needles and say something like "oh I tried that once and couldn't do it".
Men invariably raise their eyebrows at what they perceive as premature aging on my part, or else assume I'm pregnant - and believe me I have a sense of humour failure when anyone mentions me and pregnancy in the same breath.

Why do people have such an old-fashioned view of knitting? And why do they find it so difficult to reconcile it with their pre-conceived image of me as a rough northern biker girl with a taste for the Gin?
I ask you!

I am starting to panic about
my yule knitting. I've still got no FOs to show for the three projects on the needles right now, and haven't even started a clapotis destined for Mr Bullfinch's stocking. And there's less than 3 weeks to go. eek.

Tired birdy

2007-12-06T12:56:00.001Z

I'm a sleepy birdy today as I went to the gym this morning and did lots of exercising. The rest of the time I've mostly been spending on Ravelry, which is truly glorious.

I don't usually go in for social networking sites, as I'm not really much of a joiner. I read a lot of blogs but rarely if ever comment, as I feel like I'm intruding into the life of someone I know far more about than they know about me. It feels voyeuristic somehow, uncomfortable that I know things about a person but they know nothing about me. I guess this blog is in some way aiming to redress that balance - at least I'm putting a piece of myself out there to be examined and consumed the way other bloggers do.

Anyway, Ravelry - its so much better than just a social networking site, I've already seen a number of patterns and yarns I'm itching to try out, got ideas and inspiration from the wonderful people on there and even got myself some friends! I just need to make sure I keep up my profile, keep uploading pictures to my new flickr account, and generally join in a lot. What fun!

Here is the progress on the BSJ - as you can see, I've got a long way to go...

Red Light disaster

2007-12-03T11:20:00.001Z

I've had a bit of a disaster with the Red Light Special. I had to alter the pattern to increase the circumference by a couple of inches to fit O'Neill's head, but I forgot to also lengthen the chart to allow for a greater depth. So when I finally cast off and plonked it on his head, I discovered that it only came half way down his ears and exposed an alarming amount of forehead.

I didn't really want to unravel all the decreases and re-knit the top half, so I rather ambitiously decided to cast on along the bottom edge and add some length around the brim. I don't know whether it will turn out well or look crap, but I am soldiering on!

Desk

2007-11-27T10:10:00.001Z

Panic knitting

2007-11-27T09:47:00.000Z

It's the first birthday of my friend's baby girl tomorrow, so I decided what she would really love is a Baby Surprise Jacket. I dug out my copy of the Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman, and trotted off to the LYS for some appropriate yarn. I then duly cast on on sunday, and have managed to do about 3 inches worth of garter stitch so far. The thing is, I think I may have left it a bit late. I've got well over two thirds of the thing left to knit, not to mention the blocking time, and its her birthday tomorrow. Which probably means knitting til midnight tonight.

I even got up early this morning to do a few rows in the hope that even a few minutes knitting here and there would help overcome this huge Baby Surprise Mountain.

Nothing like working to a deadline!

:)

Ravelry

2007-11-26T09:26:00.000Z

Oh my goodness I just got my invitation to Ravelry! Squeeeeee!!!

X

The Great Winter Coat Hunt

2007-11-14T09:04:00.000Z

I've been on the lookout for a new winter coat for ages. Since last winter in fact, when there was just nothing out there that suited my shape and would last for more than a couple of seasons fashion-wise.
I was trawling various ladies fashion sites yesterday, looking for inspiration - I had in mind a nice military-style, high collared long jacket, perhaps with a belt or epaulettes, but all I could find were big shapeless sacks and pretty little things with bracelet sleeves and smock fronts - cute but entirely impractical for a UK winter. I also want something I can wear in Paris in the spring when Mr B and I go over for a long weekend, so it had to be chic darlings.
I was becoming distracted by work so almost gave up my search when it occurred to me to check out the Belstaff website. Of course, my search was over as soon as I saw the Barkston Cloak. (Unfortunately its a flash site so I can't paste a photo...) It is glorious - dark grey wool with a belt, high collar, front pockets and great voluminous cape sleeves.

Unfortunately for me, its £400.

*sigh*

So the search goes on for something I don't have to re-mortgage my house to buy!

BF

New entries and non-movers in the knit parade

2007-11-12T13:50:00.000Z

Its about now that I should probably introduce Mr Bullfinch to the proceedings. He's a dapper chap, and finds my creative outbursts rather charming and a source of gentle novelty. He's also lately realised the value of having a knitter in the house, and commissioned me for a number of articles for his wearing delight, including a hat.

I've been reading a number of craft blogs for a while now, secretly lurking and shying away from the comments sections - I am awfully shy about posting comments to complete strangers, I get that quintessentially English sense of awkwardness when confronted with the opportunity for such public engagements. But I am there, and I have picked up an untold wealth of information and inspiration from fellow knitters and crafters through this medium - for which I am deeply grateful. A recent addition to my list of bookmarked blogs is Brooklyn Tweed, who has turned me on to Elizabeth Zimmermann and also written a fabulous pattern for a hat (Red Light Special) which would suit Mr Bullfinch just dandy. So after much rummaging through yarn, changing my mind at least 3 times about needle size, yarn gauge, colours, etc, I finally cast on yesterday afternoon. I envisage this being quite a long slow knit as its not very portable with 3 balls of yarn in use at any one time, so it will be for home knitting only, but hopefully will be ready before the end of the month when I leave poor Mr B on his own for a week. Pics and a rundown of the process will be posted on completion.

Also in progress: monkey socks and my so-called scarf, both stalled in favour of the boy's hat. More work will take place on them today.

Chin chin
BF

Eureka moment #1

2007-11-10T19:10:00.000Z

OMG I've just discovered how to knit in the round on two circs... why have I never done this before?!!!

BF

On the Needles and On the Horizon

2007-11-08T13:22:00.000Z

As a complete swot, I've already started my Yule knitting, and even finished one piece - a pair of socks. I loved the pattern so much (Monkey) that I'm now making another pair for myself, in Colinette's Jitterbug in the marble colourway.

Also on the needles is a version of My So-Called Scarf in some lovely purple / olive / grey shade of Manos. I'm planning a possible hat to go with it as I've got 5 skeins. Not sure whether to gift it or keep it, we shall see how much I love the finished article!

In the planning stage, there is a clapotis for my rambling husband, in some lovely bluey cashmere from Axelle. Also 2 Baby Surprise Jackets for current babies of best friends, and a pair of bootees for the future baby of another friend (admittedly not due for about 6 months, but if I don't knit them now I never will). I'm also planning assorted hats and slipper socks but they are very much in the conceptual stages at the moment.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of the quilt I made in the summer.

Juno the Hare

2007-11-07T11:42:00.001Z

This is Juno, my first attempt at making a stuffed animal. He is knit on one side (Lorna's Laces shepherd sport in 'flames') and fabric on the other side (some Amy Butler quilting fabric I think).
I made his tail by wet felting a ball of felting wool, and sewed on a button for his eye. He was a gift for my friend's baby who was born in September.

To begin again

2007-11-07T10:52:00.000Z

Its not like this is the first blog I've started. In fact there have been 3 or 4 in various guises, but this time I mean it. This time I'll put in the effort, update regularly, post photos, maybe even have one or two readers after a while.

This time I've realised why I want to have a blog - not just as an online diary to record what i'm doing and thinking at any one time, but also as a catalogue of my creative work and the processes behind that creativity. I imagine being able to see the threads weaving from idea to finished product, and to grasp them and bring them together to form a more coherent body of creative work, to see the themes running through my work, and the progress I make from one piece to another.

So here we go, the inaugural post. I'll post some pictures of various things when I figure out the best way to do so.

chin chin

Bullfinch