Quiet Round Here

I may have been a bit distracted lately and neglected blogging
First Up Clothilde completed really quickly from my spun up Ixchelbunny update.
The yarn is called And We Danced (Previous update) I have yet to block it...but it is warm and cuddly

I might have been trawling for some Easter Gifts (almost better than chocolate) above
Wollmeise destash
Ixchelbunny update
Ewe Give Me the Knits Fibre Club and Beez Neez
What are you up to this easter?

I may have also been spinning up a storm Below is Rainbow Connection spun up to evolve from dark to bright colours from one of Ewe Give Me the Knits Magic Balls.

And We Danced

This weekend was spent spinning this gorgeous Angora merino Blend from ixchelbunny.
So Soft and such stunning colours I am truly delighted with the end result and cannot wait until I can knit it up. It is destined for a small shawl or scarf. It reminded me of Eighties colours so it has ended up being called And We Danced.

Below is the result of the previous spin in January/February. I used this 200g of Merino to play with my spinning techniques a little. The end result is fine and I have named it Copperhead Road. The streaks of copper are quite stunning.

On the knitting front I am a fair way into the back of the new Dusty Stars (Stardust) cardigan using some (Now unavailable) The Knittery Silky Merino 8 ply in Purple Nights. Photos when I get a chance. It is knitting quite quickly.

February Follies

February has been a month of finishing, starting, starting, starting and fooling about if the truth be told.

Knitting Wise I have managed to complete 2 pairs of socks (PSC) one that needs to have the cast on undone and cast off again (Note: do not cast off socks in the middle of tense olympic events). The Toy for the Easter show is all but done (Photos on completion). I have also spent a hell of a lot of time casting on and undoing Cedric the Celtic Dragon. For some reason I just cannot get the charts to not mess with my head. It is now frogged and waiting for some TLC

Stash Aquisitions have been limited to clubs (Knitabulous and Needlefood) and destash events (including some Purple Wollmeise and some Fleece Artist Lace - yet to arrive). The light is shocking today now that the rain has closed in so photos are a bit difficult.

To make up for the stash aquisition I may have been playing a litle with the spinning related aquisisions. First Up 2 drop spindles to see if I can make this spinning thing alittle more portable. They are Kevin Rhodes Spindles one is 29g the other 35g. They are just lovely. and I need to set about learning how to use them properly (a relatively blurry photo is shown above).

I have also (as a reaction to the shawl challenge) been spending some time completing the merino spin I started whilst I was on leave in January. Slack I know. The result which is about 220m is above on the left. Purple, Blue and Bronze.

Wet Weekend and a Mixed Bag

The weekend saw me progressing a few knitting projects in different ways

FINISHED
Final block on the Mountain View Cardi (Purple Mountain on Ravelry)
Toe-Up Slipped stitch Socks in The Knittery's slim sock (PSC - August in Arrears project on Ravelry).

PROGRESSED
I have also now turned the heel on Sock 2 for the PSC July hearts and flowers socks from Wendy Knits in Yarn Pirate (Merlot) only three pattern repeats to go.
I am continuing on with the Purple Alsace Monster for the Easter Show Toy Cabinet. (He looks a bit like a purple Kermit at the moment without his bits).

NEW AQUISITIONS
Best of all Friday morning I was greeted by a new Yarn Club package from knitabulous. It included one ball of Mumbai Skies Lace Merino a gorgeous blue/grey.

It was accompanied by some custom dyed Blue Black lace (Baruffa CashWool) totally stunning! Thanks Ailsa (knitabulous).

And Did I mention the fantastic club drawsting bag that came with it which was immediately packed with projects for the Knitters Guild meeting on Saturday.

STARTED
I have started Cedric the Celtic dragon in the Blue Black Baruffa CashWool from Ailsa.

Climbed the Mountain - Great View.

The Mountain View Cardi is done. I am going to do one more shaping block to straighten the bottom front and back and the neck.

Yarn: Louet Euroflax Sport in Violet (7.5 skeins)
Size: 48.5 inches.
Needles: I had to go down to 3.00mm and 3.25mm to get guage.

Back View above and Front View below.
I still have to add some buttons but she looks lovely. Better photos will come when we have no rain and a bit of light.

Sock Bag Done

Hoping the new sock project bag will re-inspire my sock knitting

Productive Days

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day knitting with friends and managed to complete the front of my Mountain View Cardigan after returning home. Thanks to missfee, LynS, RoseRed and FredAstep for a great day of yarn, conversation and amazing food and drink.

I also did most of the sewing up of a skirt (but needed a new iron to complete it). On the walk over to Missfees for the knitting catch up I picked up an iron on the way.

Today I have sewn up a cotton blanket WIP that has been long languishing in the must complete file and finished the skirt. I am contemplating this fabric for the backing.

I then finished the skirt ..a cryptic shot can be found below.

I have now cast on the first sleeve for Mountain View and we are shortly heading off for a BBQ dinner at some friends.

Productive Quiet days are the best.

Craft Week One

The intention for my 2 weeks off work was to get a kick start on the 2010 crafting and get some of my space sorted. The incredibly hot weather over the last half of last week played a little bit of havoc with that (but it is January) I have managed to get some knitting, spinning and sewing done if not everything i planned

What I have achieved is

• Blocking the Entomology Shawl (see previous post)
• Most of the Left front of the Mountain View Cardigan.
  
• Some spinning (I have been playing with some merino I had and some drafting techniques)
• Some fibre aquisition....including some EGMTK club fibre
  
  

EGMTK and Treetops fibre below.

• A trip to Crowle Foundations Fabric Cave and some Fabric Stash additions (I also got a couple of cones of wool for plying.). The bright yellow is actually from Ikea and destined to be a new Doona cover for O.
  

• The biggest achievement is the one below a skirt sewn from start to finish this afternoon. Not by me but by my eleven yr old step daughter. We cut 2 pattern blocks for her from her measurements for an elastic waist A-line skirt and for a A-Line skirt with fitted waist. We then proceeded to cut and sew up the A-line skirt below with an elastic waistband. She is thrilled and is now keen to try a skirt with pleating and a waistband.

Next up a few skirts for me.

Blocked and Oh So Lovely. Entomology

She is just divine. Handspun and knitted and in gorgeous teals with purple.

From this

to this

to this

then this

and finally this....