Welcome Doddy Designer to Blogland

Now we can welcome the designer of Doddy, the talented Ms Carol, (a.k.a. Stolen Stitches) to Blogland.

Go check her out and say hi!

Have fun with the blog Carol. Welcome to the madness. I'm looking forward to seeing all the lovely knitting that comes off your needles.

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Anyone got a phone number for the Olympic Council?

In which we introduce Little Mouse, NicKnits beloved younger daughter of 22 months.




This is how Little Mouse starts a race:

.......‘Daaaaaaaa-dy’

.......‘Teeeeddd-y’

........‘Go!’


Works for me!

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Knitting Bag Two

And continuing the theme, here's another Knit Bag from The Bag Lady. It's a miniature one for Little Monkey (aged-almost-7-years-old).




Little Monkey loves it of course. And here's her Very First knitting project. A scarf in alternating purple velour and a multi-coloured ribbon yarn.



Cute innit? That kitten really does it for me. (For those interested, the kitten was cut from another fabric and appliqued).

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Knitting Bag One

Continuing with the theme of where does one keep one's stash, I've got a good one for you.

Exhibit A, Armchair with 2 innocent cushions. Let they be entered into evidence as Cushion A and Cushion B. Entirely innocent don't you think?

Not so! Cushions B is in fact a cunning patchwork knitting bag, made by my Mum (a.k.a. The Bag Lady) who makes exquisite quilts and bags of all sorts. Of these more anon. It's a great knitting bag, comfortable, sturdy, pretty and holds a bundle.

Lucky me.

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Hat Trick

Another recent purchase to help with the Stash Control was this lovely hat box (from Dunnes Stores) for special yarn storage. I've recently acquired some silk yarns which in my view deserve an extra special storage solution. Besides, that Stiletto really looks like it means business! This-Yarn-Is-Precious-Approach-With-Reverence it says.

(PS: The box holds quite a lot and I shouldda got some more while I was there. Sigh.)

Anyway, ta da!

Lid off!




Lovely innit? There's some Louisa Harding, some Rowan Tapestry, some Hipknits Silk and Hipknits laceweight and some silk from a UK shop who were at the last Knitting & Stitching Show and whose name eludes me. The Yarn Something they were called. I'll check later and get back to you.

I've no idea what these yarns are going to turn into, but I can't wait to find out. There isn't enough of anything to make a garment so I'm thinking some lace scarves perhaps, but am anxious now about whether they'll show the lace stitches well enough - since the Louise Harding Grace Silk & Wool turned out to be a bit fuzzy. Just have to try some out and see I guess. As always, suggestions are most welcome.

Isn't that blue colour in the centre just divine? It's a kind of Midnight Blue shade with a fantastic sheen. Sigh! Who cares what they become. I'm just happy they're here!

Happy New Year to ye all!

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Nollaig Shona

Ok, OK I'm a bit late with the seasonal greetings, but between the shopping, preparations, house cleaning and decorating, general festivities, work pressures and of course holiday knitting - there just wasn't time to post anything, unless you count the late christmas cards of course.

I hope you all had a happy and blessed Christmas and will have a wonderful new year. I'm spending this weekend at a big family event and looking forward to it enormously.


So...even tho' it's not a cake or even a pud, here's a One Skein cupcake to make up for the lack of traditional baking.




Happy Knitting in 2008!

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Secret Project Success

So...the Secret Knitting Project is completed and has been presented to it's new owner. She was delighted I'm glad to say.

It was a relatively easy task to turn this....



...into this...




And, what is it exactly?

Er...it's a Gift Bag / Evening Bag I guess. I presented it with a little candle inside, but my friend wants to take it on the town as an evening bag...or would if it was lined that is. (Note to self, line the bag.)

Like I said, it's essentially a swatch of Snowdrop Lace with some eyelets at the top followed by a flared edge with a picot finish. This pic gives a better view of the makings of it, tho' it's a little dark I know. A curse on Knitting Pictures, they're tricky, eh?



I did make many some mistakes but left them in for (hah!) authenticity as a handmade gift. And so's not to offend the Gods.

In this pic you'll notice that some snowdrops are not so much drops as drips...the top one is 2 rows shorter than the lower one. Dunno how that happened. I didn't think the lace definition was great in this yarn, but come to think of it I didn't block it due to lack of time.




And yes, I could've should've knitted it in the round but I was in a hurry and couldn't figure out how to convert the stitch pattern into the round easily. Would have been nice to avoid the pesky seams.

Anyway, I make no great claims for it as a work of art but my friend LOVES it, and HER friends were impressed. Now there's a result for a knitter.

Here you can see how luminous and lovely the yarn is (Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool). Not all of that sheen is the darned camera flash.



I mentioned that I'd learned something on this project. What on earth possessed me to create a double flare (i.e. increased in every stitch in 2 rounds, 1 round apart) on the edge of something that was going to be gathered?

Daft.

Mind you, it does make for a nice little posey at the top, n'est ce pas?

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