Yarn Room Twist* in Artesano

Here's sumthin' else to look at.

Boy, I'm feeling the Garter Stitch Love here. Gorgeous, innit?





This is a design by Stephanie at The Yarn Room. Pattern coming soon I believe. It's knit from just over 1 skein of Artesano Aran stranded with 1 skein of Artesano 100% Alpaca 4ply. The paired colour options with these yarns are endless. Be all cool and understated with these colours or mix it up and knock yourself out.



It's luscious and soft and wrapped around twice it makes for style and warmth like you wouldn't believe. I had to replace the 1st one I made for my SIL because it was hijacked by someone living in her house. Replace it? Of COURSE!

It’s soooo soft that people run out of adjectives for ‘soft’ and go kinda weak and make ‘ooooohhhh’ and ‘mmmmmmm’ noises when they touch it.




Here's mine, almost at full length, around 130 cms long, (slightly shorter than the 153 cms specified in the original). There’s usually one of this project on the needles somewhere in the Wicklow Knitters Group. I’m on my 2nd with 2 more planned.

Next time I’ll change the colour of the lighter strand. I thought black would be nice, but the Artesano Alpaca 4 ply comes in a wonderful soft orange colour.....that's the one for sure.

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* named by the multi-talented Ms Lundgaard. Thanks!

Winter Wonderland

I realise that I'm late with my wintery tale, but it took quite a while to get camera and cables together.

Besides. I was occupied digging my car out of snowdrifts, gathering fuel supplies from the local shop using a wheelbarrow and trying to defrost the water pipes with a paint stripper to worry much about blogging the event. I know it sounds odd, but really we spent a lot of the day oganising heat, water and nourishment.


The rest of the time was spent clothing, warming and drying out children who were dancing in the snow one minute and wailing at the damp and cold the next.


So. We were pretty busy during the Ice Age. It was mostly fun I have to say. Even when trying to work with dodgy internet access and cranky employers. Even on the days without water or electricity we trekked up the very steep and winding hill behind our house to visit friends perched high with wonderful snowy views.

And then there was the high drama of the return trek home in the dusk, carrying torches and trying to avoid being crushed by the slipping and grinding farm vehicles on the treacherous hill. Seriously. I was a bit worried there.

Anyway. All was well. Here's the evidence. Thank you for your patience.

Knotty Needles

C'mere. I've something interesting to show you.

A young friend of mine (10 years old) showed me a variation he made of an unwanted straight knitting needle.



And then he knitted with it.

So cool.



Recycling? No, that's art.

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Purple Iris Cowl

Finally some knitting in 2010.

Here's my contribution to the Cowls group January KAL over on Ravelry (For the benefit of my ignorant non-knitting friends, that's a Knit-A-Long, where people sign up to knit a selected item and then show off compare results. I've never joined one before, but this was just too tempting.




Not one, but two cowls.

These are Christmas gift knits. Yes I KNOW it's almost Febuary.

And your point is?




These were knit from almost a single skein of Shepherd Sock Multi in the Purple Iris colourway.

(Don't I just come up with the greatest blog post titles, eh?)

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Miss Potter Test Knit

Yay!

The PDF version of Miss Potter Mittens is almost through the test knit phase and should be available on Rav very shortly. My thanks to the kind Test Knit Fairies!



Miss Potter Mittens in Rowan Tapestry with kind permission from Electrogirl


Now that's a good start to Knitting 2010.

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Happy New Year

On reflection, my last post sounded a little more downhearted than necessary.

Worry not. I'm optimistic for lots of knitting and good times ahead in 2010.

In the meantime...I'm lucky enough to have these little bundles of sunshine every day.

Taken at Collioure, South of France, over Halloween weekend 2009.

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