knit n bitch

Gemma Sleeve

With the back of my Gemma now complete, I've moved onto one of the sleeves.  After initially wasting an evening of knitting by increasing the first part of the sleeve, when in fact I should have DECREASED (it's shaped to go narrow first, then wider)...dontcha just hate that when it happens...I am now pelting along (translation of UK slang = 'going very fast').  I also discovered that for the WHOLE back, I had been knitting the 4ply cotton section slightly squiffily (you can't see anything in the knitting, I was just making the technique harder than it needed to be and therefore slower!).  Since correcting this, the sweater feels like it's finally growing!  So, enough from me, I shall now away and head back to my knitting! (P.S. Knitting in Calmer is DIVINE...must find more patterns where I can use it!)

Books, Books and More Books....

New arrivals landed on my doorstep from Amazon, and I would like to give them a mini-review!

• + cute cards with kids sweater, hat, poncho and wrap patterns on
• + cute box
• - forgot that there aren't that many of my friends who have small people and would appreciate the patterns
• + nice idea though!!

• + pattern on the cover is quite nice
• + separated into colour schemes, which I have never seen before
• - same old, same old and nothing that really inspires
• - disappointing after 'vintage knits'

• + pleasantly surprised with this one
• + 20 ponchos to choose from, so suits all tastes
• + nice size book....great for knitting basket
• + summer and winter styles

• mmmmm not quite sure why I went for this one
• + interesting look at different designers
• + great profiles
• - a little old fashioned

• + cute and compact
• + funny (or should I say 'witty')
• + must remember to use some of the sayings at The Wool Shack

More Tea Vicar!?

Bear in mind that we only meet every two weeks, do A LOT of chatting and eating cake at our knit-alongs, not to mention the fact that its fine cotton on 2mm DP's (but I think I've used that line before).  Ho-hum...!

Here's the latest growth of the tea cup project (with a reminder of what the finished cup will look like....eventually!)

 

Luka Update

A quickie update on my smallest person, who is getting cuter and more mobile....rolling, rolling, rolling!  Luka is now 6 months old and gawd knows where it went!

Fabric Frenzy

Ok, so we all have been on a knitting frenzy, but recently I have sought to aquire the fine fabrics of Ms Amy Butler.  The people who have helped fuel my obsession are Cabbage Rose, Quilthome and The Fat Quarter Shop, all of whom have offered incredible fantastic service!

     

I promise to curb my recklessness, at least until the fabric is all sewn up in beautiful quilts or other such fancy items!!

Gemma Growth

This is a quick post, just to show where I am at with the Gemma sweater.  This is the back, and I'm nearly finished.  I will be knitting the sleeve next, as it is mainly knit with just the calmer, and therefore less concentration.

Sexy Little Skirt

Ok, so I promised that I wouldn't let my projects grow, but we have just received copies of the new Rowan Book Shorelines, which uses their new yarn, Harris Tweed, and I decided that I wanted to knit the short herringbone skirt.  I am, however, choosing to knit it in the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed using the colour Potpourri, which is a dark greyish-plumish colour.  It's knit on one long circular, and is a wrap around.  I hasten to add that my days of wearing the skirt with just a pair of cozy tights are well and truly over (pin's are quite good still, but not really age appropriate!!), so this will be worn over jeans.

 

Ruffles Progress #2

About halfway through the cotton ruffles scarf (taken from Scarf Style and using Jo Sharp Soho Summer Cotton).  I also decided to start another one, but this time in the Rowan Kidsilk Haze, I chose Chill, which is a light silvery grey.  It's a little more fiddly than the cotton one, as you have to concentrate more, but it will have a completely floaty feel to it, which I love.

 

Noo Shoos

I am delighted to introduce to you, 4 pairs of new shoes, purchased for me by my mum & sister when they were visiting Oz.  Shoe therapy can't be beaten, and it has made me want to update my wardrobe and make a few numbers myself, so watch this space for home made creations!

Gemma Progress

It's been a while since I have posted, but my Mum & Sister have been visiting me from the UK, so the last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of touristy things, along with lunches and shopping (of course!).

Haven't got much completed of my Gemma, but here's what I have done so far.  I had to use circulars and two balls of the 4ply Cotton at the same time, in order to avoid cutting the yarn at each end of row (Rowan should really have been kinder with their pattern writing!).