Whipping through the WIP

1aamitts 004a
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Another finished item. :) Following the Garden Party Shawl I thought I'd tidy up some more Works In Progress for quick finish satisfaction and the next in the queue is my Winter Cottage Mitts.

Lovely wool, Posh of course, so soft they caress my hands as I wear them :) Sadly I spoiled a perfect finish wen blocking the first mitten (the one showing palm up on this photo) as I got interrupted when soaking the mitten preblocking and left it standing in the water for 4 hours. By the time I got back to it the colour from the variegated yarn had run into the cream contrast, not so badly as to ruin the work but enough to colour the cream and to streak in some areas so the contrast is not as strong as it is with the second mitten. So, I have odd hands! But, I guess they just match the rest of me :) and their softness is unimpaired. I have considered leaving the other mitt for 4 hours too, but I don't want to spoil its pristine finish.

I'll just have to knit more mitts!

Next on the WIP list is a simple square shawl using Shetland lace patterns, I have 4 more repeats of the border to do and then an edging to knit, haven't decided what to use for that yet. Then I am writing up the pattern, which takes much longer than you think.

Come In Spinner

The lovely David (on Rav) has his own etsy shop selling beautiful handdyed fibre, yum yum.
My creation
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

In a past sale I bought these batts

and I started spinning them last night

and they spin beautifully. Oh my, that's it I am not a knitter any more, now I spin!

Before I started spinning I used to look at blogs with fibre on and think, yeah, ok, but what's that about? Now I love love love to spin, I love to get new people spinning and I love fibre. Oh dear, I need more time.

I am still adding to the 'spin a sweater' project and still changing my mind frequently about what to knit when I am finished spinning, but for now I am enjoying the squooshiness of the handspun, soft and fluffy, more yum yum yum.

Join me in the Garden Maude.

I started this Garden Party shawl way back at the beginning of last year and made steady progress until I got to the edging chart. Nothing wrong with the charts or the pattern, just with my determination. Can't believe it took me nearly a year to get back to it and to finally finish it off. I always note down where I was in the pattern when I finish stitching for the night, otherwise I wouldn't have a clue. Just as well my previous entry was in July! One evening's enjoyable work and it was done, cast off ready to block and the finished shawl looks like this



Not a good day for photographs outside so here it is hanging on my living room wall. Maybe once we have some sunshine she'll get a proper photograph, mean while it makes me smile every time I look at her. Pretty lace, no?

Cecilia, approx. 50g
1aagardenparty 002a
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Nearly the end of January already?

Do you ever wonder where the time goes? As I get older I am sure the globe is spinning faster. When I was a child it was an age between summer and Christmas. Now Christmas is only just behind us and suddenly it's nearly Easter already. OK, so I exaggerate slightly but has anyone seen where I put my January because it's nearly all used up and I just don't remember what I did with the part that has already passed LOL

Things are going well on Ravelry with the p/hop knitalong so I thought now might be a good time to give some links to past blog posts which people could find helpful and also so that if anyone finds me blog for help with 'Flowers in the Rain' but isn't a member of Ravelry they can get some assistance too :)

these posts on my blog may help with lace knitting

lifelines
swatching
blocking

In other, rather shocking news, I used the excel feature on Ravelry to work out how many miles of yarn I own and I have a stunning 151 miles. Twinepixies kindly calculated that I could knit 12 yards a day for the next 60 years.

Better get busy then, hadn't I? It'll be Christmas again before you know it!

Quick wip round up

Possum horseshoe stole - barley started.
Garden Party Shawl - nearly finished.
Winter Cottage Mittens - half way through mitt 2.
Tess d'Urberville shawl - half way.
cot blanket in crochet - half done.
Cot blanket in mitred squares - quarter done.
Square baby blanket - just border to complete.
Square baby blanker - border to complete and edging to add.
Secret project for YF - planning and swatching.

Yesterday I had a lovely morning with the lovely Roz.
waves
Roz made me a tasty and healthy lunch which was very good of her as I am ready to give up on the diet :( I must try to get through this bored phase or the 6lbs I've lost so far will go back on with an additional 6 no doubt. More importantly (we'll move away from those unpleasant 'I am fat' thoughts, shall we?) we span, spinney spinney spin spin. And here's my Wildcraft Fibre and spindle club fibre all spun up.

101 yds
BFL
pot pourri
9 wpi

The first p/hop pattern is ready

you can download it for free from Ravelry if you are a member.

If you would like to make a donation to MSF for the use of the pattern you can either do so by clicking the icon in my sidebar or by clicking here

p/hop also has a blog here please go leave a comment to let MSF Pete know to watch out because the knitters are coming :)

and there will be more patterns to follow

watch this space...

My First Mitt for me

My creation
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Photos on the left are after blocking, those on the right are before. I left it soaking for several hours as I was busy and the colours ran a little so I probably shouldn't do that with number 2 :) Off to cast on.

Also joined 'seasons of lace' to knit up my first handspun laceweight project, I haven't decided on a pattern yet, and I am also 'spinning for a sweater'.

That should keep me busy for a while :)