itslikearuin - A world of knitting troubles.

A little note

2006-11-23T06:26:00.000Z

Damn you blogger beta. I switched just before I moved to vox. I wanted to keep this open so I could reply to your posts. But every time I hit login and publish, it tells me I must sign in to Blogger Beta.

Then it takes me back to the dashboard. When I try to post a comment again, it tells me the same thing. This is very annoying.

If anyone is reading this, can you tell me if you keep LJ feeds of your knitting journals.

I'm sorry.

2006-11-15T23:55:00.000Z

Dearest blog

In life, there are peaks and there are troughs. This is not working out between us and I think, deep down, you know it too. I'm sure out there is the perfect blogette for you, but it's not me. I'm too young to make such a long term commitment.

Also, I've met someone else, goes by the name of Vox.

I will always remember you fondly as my very first knitting blog.

Yours

Barbara

P.S. you can now find me here

Jelly on a Plate

2006-11-15T15:14:00.000Z

The Noro Kureyon has become an FO!
Well actually two. Or three if you count each seperate armwarmer.

The Hat.

My lovely housemate claims that it looks like jelly. I love jelly so I'm calling it my Jelly set. (Pun not intended).

One of the armwarmers. I've still not quite
figured out the whole blogger-layout thingy. I want the righting beside the picture, not underneath!!! I'm not too pleased with the thumb on this guy. It sticks out a lot colour wise.
They are also too short for my liking. I'm temped to frog the thumbs and re do them.
See? How is that going to keep my thumb warm?

And here's the set:

Inspiration!

2006-11-07T10:50:00.000Z

I know what I'm going to do with the Noro!
A simple ribbed hat and armwarmer set. If I make the hat first I can make "top dow" armwarms to make the arms as long as I like/can. Woo!

2006-11-03T19:21:00.000Z

Yes, I know, I said ages ago I'd post pictures of Rogue.
And here you go...

Mmm... Superhero pose.

I hate taking photos of myself, it's such a pain, and they never come out very good. PAH.

I love cables. Really. I really really love them, possibly more than chocolate or good music. The cables on this jumper were more advanced than stuff I had done before. In fact the whole jumper is probably the most complicated thing I have ever knitted.
I liked the construction (I love knitting stuff in the round once I get going. Although, I love seaming as well. Yeah, maybe I am a bit of an odd ball).

The hood is probably my favorite bit. That and the kangaroo pocket. I loved that too. I love pockets. Almost as much as I love cables.

There are a few mistakes in the jumper: I have two little holes where I've started the cabling chart on the neck, and I bodged up the cableing a bit on the left sleeve.

I still love it though, and I think it's something I will actually wear. Even though I find it as itchy as hell. I guess a few wears and washes will sort that one out.

Reading - On Beauty by Zadie Smith

2006-10-30T20:28:00.000Z

Zadie Smith - On Beauty

I enjoyed this book. The Belsey family brought you in to their life and allowed you to see them in intimate detail. Each of the characters were thoroughly thought through and the plot had structure and depth.
I felt the ending was a bit of a "cop-out", providing the reader with a way to end the story as they wished. On the other hand, it gives the reader the opportunity to daydream; to carry the story on, postponing the end of the book.

Well, that's what I thought anyway.

Now, dear readers (all, what, 1 of you?), suggest me something to read next.

Oh look, a pattern of my own design...

2006-10-25T11:30:00.000+01:00

I mean, it is only a hat, but I did make it up as a I went along.

Materials: Debbie Bliss Maya in a pink/red/orange colour way.
Needles: Addi Turbo Circular 4.5mm 100cm
Techniques: MAGIC loop.

CO 72 Stitchs

Edge: Work in K1 P1 rib for 6 rows.

Main Body:
Row 1: *yo P2tog* repeat from * to * until end.
Row 2: K all sts
Row 3: *yo K2tog tbl* repeat from * to * until end.
Row 4: K all sts

Repeat rows 1 to 4 till hat measures 7" from begining.

Next row: K2tog tbl to end [36 sts]
Next row: K2tog tbl to end [18 sts]
Next row: K2tog tbl to end [9 sts]

Cut yarn, pull yarn through sts left on needle and draw through middle to inside of hat

Finishing: weave in ends, put on head.

Note: I imagine someone else has come up with this before, so please don't shoot me if you've seen the pattern elsewhere. Totally looks like a stole it now, huh?

This picture is a little better for the colours

Decisions, Decisions.

2006-10-17T14:49:00.000+01:00

I've decided to make the Fairly Easy Fair Isle cardigan from Stitch and Bitch Nation. I wanted something relatively quick (it's knitted in bulky), but not too boring (hence the fair isle). It's also cute.
I've chosen to make it in Rowan Polar. The main colour will be "Combat" a dark grey, the thicker lines in "Zuchinni" a green, the thinner lines in "Silver Lining" a light blue, and the crosses in "Winterwhite" a white. I'm not sure how true the colours are, when I bought some Rowanspun Aran from there it was different, and I've heard Cucumberpatch's colours aren't the best.
The guage is slightly too big, but I'm hoping this won't matter too much.

What to knit next?

2006-10-15T18:47:00.000+01:00

So Rogue is finished (no pictures as yet, I've been at the boys for the weekend and now it is dark and I really need a friend to help me). I really want to knit another jumper. I like knitting hats and smaller things like that but jumpers, cardigans, other big projects are my favorite. I love things I can really get my teeth into, so to speak. But I really can't decide what to knit next!
I can think of four things that I would love to knit right now:
an adapted Sherwood,
BPT,
Serrano,
or the Fairly Easy Fair Isle cardigan from Stitch and Bitch Nation.

While I think that Serrano is lovely, I'm not sure it's something I can be bothered with right now, nor something that will be weather-suitable by the time is it finisehd. I'm tempted to knit BPT while theoretically adapting Sherwood to my size. Thoughts?

I'm still on the hunt for a job, and probably going to go on the "dole" fairly soon. I don't think I'm suited to working, I'm more academically minded. I'm tempted to find a masters course to do, although I wouldn't want to do something in music. I'm tempted to apply to a diploma in stage management, or a degree in costuming, but I know it's hugely competative and I don't think I have anything to offer that everyone else doesn't in that arena (except, in the case of stage management, possibly my gender). I'm interested in etymology. I'm interested in mythology, and folklore. But I don't know anything about either of these subjects.
I guess its good to not know what I want to do as it means I could have a crack at anything. On the other hand, it means I have far too many options open to me. I can't even chose which jumper to knit next!

It's not knitting, but it is an FO

2006-10-08T20:57:00.000+01:00

I made this dress for my friend/housemate for her 20th birthday, which was yesterday. We had a big 50s inspired "cocktail" party.
My hemming abilities don't seem to be getting any better. You can't see it in this picture, but the skirt stops just below knee-level and the dress has a black lining, which is slightly longer than the actual dress.

I am pleased with it, and she seems to be too. It's the first time I've sewn anything for someone else, particularly someone with such a different shape to me.

Cables!

2006-10-05T12:06:00.000+01:00

I've so nearly finished Rogue. I've been nearly finished with it for days, but it just doesn't seem to be moving on very quickly. I have adored making this sweater.

For my next trick, I am going to make Knitty's BPT, out of Wool-Ease in cranberry (because its cheap!). I'm being to develop a deep love affair with cables. They spice up any piece of knitting.

I'm unsure wether to knit pomatomus socks or the boyfriend socks for my mother. These would be my first socks and, as usual, I can't just chose something boring in stocking stitch.

Christmas

2006-09-28T11:13:00.000+01:00

And there's another thing. I haven't even started thinking about christmas yet.

Mum - socks
Dad - no clue
Brother - either pinky or exchequered
The Boy - I'm not making anything for this year. I'll buy him something (due to him last year "forgetting" to get me anything).
Grandma - Again, bought.
Godmother - I'd like to make the swallow tail shawl from the new interweave knits, but as I'm in the UK it might be difficult getting hold of a pattern. However, I might just make this for myself.
Carly - Possibly mittens to match her kitty hat, possibly something else entirely.

I'll probably also need two secret santa presents for my home friends, but I don't even know if this is happening anymore.

Pattern suggestions?

2006-09-27T17:32:00.000+01:00

Don't you just hate it when you make something as a gift for someone else, and then it turns out that you desparately want to keep it.

I've been sewing a dress for my housemate for her 50s inspired cocktail birthday party, and I absolutely adore it.

I bought my dress off ebay, it's gorgeous: green with polkadots.

We're both so excited about this party which we're holding in a week and a half time. There's going to be rum watermelon, multicoloured vodka jelly, all manner of cocktails - even "virgin" cocktails for the tea-totallers.

Speaking of tea, my kettles just boiled.

ttfn.

Bizarre knitting injuries

2006-09-25T00:09:00.000+01:00

When I used to play the piano, I used to find myself getting a sprained jaw occassionally. I realised it was because when I am concentrating, particularly when I was performing, I would clench my jaw tight. Recitals were around 35 - 45 minutes. And practicing would be around 4 hours a day.

Which meant muchos painos. And it took me a long time to realise what caused it.

For the past couple of days I've been having the same problem. It hurts.
I've been doing some doodling for a project I'm working on (embroidery this time, not knitting..oooh), and i stopped and put the pencil in my mouth while I did some calculations on my laptop. When I took the pencil out, boy did it hurt.

I'm working on Rogue at the moment, a jumper with cabled panels. I hold the cable needle in my mouth exactly the same way.

I've mananged to sprain my jaw through knitting.

Wow. I am good.

Bizarre knitting injuries

2006-09-25T00:01:00.001+01:00

Bizarre knitting injuries

2006-09-25T00:01:00.000+01:00

What's going on with me?

2006-09-21T13:12:00.000+01:00

So I've just painted my nails a bright red. I've been painting my nails more often recently. I feel totally Art.

I haven't updated much recently. I've finished the clapotis, although haven't blocked it yet, and I've started on the body of Rogue.
I've also been back to the parental units house and picked up most of my stash, which I may show you later.

That's about it.

ttfn

Clapotis Woes

2006-09-08T11:37:00.000+01:00

Balls.

Absolute balls

I am really quite annoyed by this. I order another ball, and as long as no one else bids on it, I should get it. *crosses fingers*

I am going to make a delightful cake today. Possibly.

Provisional Cast On Is My Downfall.

2006-09-03T00:30:00.000+01:00

I'm trying to do a provisional cast on. Unable to find instructions in my knitting books I turned to knitting help which in this instance failed me.

Or rather I have failed knitting.

This is the first time that I have been able to do something pretty much from the first try.

I fear this is the beginning of the end.

Socks!

2006-08-31T23:38:00.000+01:00

Am I the only person in the whole knitting world who does want to knit socks? Well.. I do want to knit them, but I know I'd get bored and I'd end up with a million half socks or half pairs of socks and loads and loads of sockweight yarn.
I have got a knitting book entirely of sock patterns, and I'd love to make some of them because they look lovely. All the pictures I've seen of other people's knitted socks look lovely.

I'm just a bit rubbish at keeping to schedules. I promised myself I'd finish Rogue before buying new yarn, but then I went a bit mental and bought loads of yarn. And then I promised myself I'd only tackle one project at a time. But now I've started two. What can I say? Yarn is irrisistable! And I have a rather limited attention span.

On the plus side, the clapotis is a little dull to knit (I say a little, what I mean is: Oh my life kill me now!), as is the baby jumper so it does make a nice change to swap over.

I really must get started on the body of Rogue though. I really want it finished because it's such a gorgeous jumper. I was going to add some pictures to this post, but then I got bored. See what I mean about the short attention span?

YARN!

2006-08-30T13:59:00.000+01:00

Some of my yarn arrived today. First up is the Noro Kureyon. I love love love the colours of this yarn, they're so bright and vibrant. I don't really know what I'll be making with this

I think I'd like to make a funky hat and a pair of wrist warmers.

This is the yarn from the Natural Dye Studio. It's going to be a clapotis for a friend.

Can anyone tell me how to "wrap" text around pictures?

Rogue

2006-08-29T19:45:00.000+01:00

This is one sleeve of Rogue. The other one is nearing completion.

It's a surprisingly quick knit, and the cable makes it rather interesting. I love working out how different stitches make different patterns, and how you can use different stitches and techniques to make different styles and such like.
Nice black mark there where my thumb was held over the lens.

I think I messed up the cable a little bit on this arm, but you can really see it.

I'm looking forward to knitting the body and the hood, particularly the cables.

I'm also going to knit a clapotis, something out of 4 balls of Noro Kureyon, and a jumper for my cousins new baby.

I'm excited about knitting baby things, because they'll knit up quick, and they're kind of cute.

I'm excited by the Noro because its expensive and it comes in gorgeous colourways and I think I deserve expensive yarn once in a while.

I also think that I need to explore the full potential of blogspot, because as you can see, my layouts, and content to be quite frank, leave a lot to be desired.

And, Lo, She Returns

2006-08-26T15:36:00.000+01:00

Well. It's been a while.
In the couple of months (?) that I haven't posted here I have gone from being a student to being UNEMPLOYED. Yes, that's right folks, I am trying to get a job.

It also means I have plenty of time to knit and do other crafty things.
I brought two projects with me (harry potter diagonally scarf and Rogue), and left my stash at my parents house when I moved back to Southampton. I am missing my stash.
I'm also sewing a dress for my friend for hir cocktail party birthday bash in October. I can't get my sewing machine to work at the moment though ( I think the needle is in the wrong way). I've threaded it all correctly, but it doesn't make a stitch. The thread goes through the needle front to back, and I think that it needs to go left to right. Anyone?

I've nearly finished the first sleeve of Rogue, and have developed a bit of an infatuation with cables. I'm planning on making a cabled scarf with harry potter colours (all four houses) for a friend, although this a) may be a disaster, and b) might decide it wants to stay with me.

Right, back to those application forms.

Jumper Pieces

2006-06-19T16:44:00.000+01:00

I have finished the corset pullover.
Well, not totally. But the pieces are there.
I have decided I hate hate hate finishing. My jumper is going to look so rubbish. And it is *so* heavy.
Even without the sleeves.

*sigh*

I totally suck.

Damn my tiny hard drive

2006-06-17T12:34:00.000+01:00

I was going to post some pictures of the jumper I have been working on.
I finished the sleeves last night, and only have the back to do now. Alas, my hard drive is full of stuff, so until I get a box to plug in the hard drive from my old computer I can not upload pictures from my camera.
This also means I can't upload the million photos I took at my Graduation Ball on tuesday.
I get my results on Friday *fear*.

The travelling knitter

2006-06-13T21:14:00.000+01:00

I'm staying at my parents house for a few days, and as I have *nothing* to do (except find a job but lets just leave that one right now) I've been knitting (and reading and playing Zelda - but mostly knitting). I got home to find my rowanspun yarn had been delivered. It's purple not blue like in the picture, but that was a pleasant surprise as I love purple. I've stolen purlfriday's idea for the yarn to make Rogue, although I've not brought my own computer back with me (slightly long story - trying to hide a new computer from my father) so I don't have the pattern.
This however is a good thing as it means I can concentrate fully on my corset pullover.
It's going rather well. I have the front and one sleeve finished. No pictures I'm afraid as my camera is at home.
Tomorrow I am going to visit some friends in London, and for the train journey I am going to take the other sleeve. I'm usually pretty scared to knit in public because I don't like to attract attention. But I'm starting not to care so much. Which I suppose is a good thing.
I also really want to finish this jumper because it looks so nice in the photo. And I want to start rogue. And BPT. And a corset thing from knitty that I want to wear to a pirate themed party!

Mouse House

2006-06-01T00:04:00.000+01:00

When I was little, my godmother used to have a knitted (or possibly crocheted) mouse house. It had a mummy, daddy and baby mouse, and they lived in a tree stump house. They had little tables and chairs in their house, and it was amazing.
When my godmother moved out of her old bungalow into a house with her friend, she decided to give this mouse house to the church fete.
Well, actually she asked my mother if I would like it, but my mother said no. On my behalf. Without telling me. But this is no place for me to rant about my relationship with my mother.
I am going to try to recreate this mouse house. In all its rodent glory.
It will take a while.
But watch this space

Coming Soon: Diagon-alley Scarf & Hat, for when the winter returns (so next week then).

Technology and me

2006-05-21T16:34:00.000+01:00

So, my computer broke. Which is why I haven't update in a while.
I've also not been knitting that much, as I didn't bring any yarn back to uni with me this term (need to work and it's less stuff to move out at the end of June). Although, there are a few scraps around, including all the red/gold yarn that used to be a Harry Potter scarf.

I also haven't had any immenent deadlines to avoid, until now. In the next week and a half I have four essays to do, and one exam to revise for. Which is obviously why I am knitting/procrastinating in any other way that comes along.

So, here's what I made yesterday:

I also dyed some yarn a while ago, but I think I still need a bit of practice at it.

sewing and dying

2006-04-20T12:02:00.000+01:00

It's exciting to know that some yarn and some Kool Aid are coming my way.
I've never dyed my own yarn before, so it's going to be quite an experience, which of course must be documented.

*excite*

Kool-Aid?

2006-04-12T22:35:00.000+01:00

Current project:
Ball Dress
Shrug to go with said dress.

One of these items is knitted. I'll allow you to make an educated guess as to which one (Hint: the ball is at the end of April.).

The shrug is being made out of Debbie Bliss Maya, in the purpley-red colour... mmmm...Maya... and yes, I did buy it in the sale :)

I've got three balls of the purpley-red one, and three of the orangey-pink one... I have no idea what to do with the rest.
I'd like to make a hat of some kind, but not a boring one... I thought of making a felted one, which should use up one of the balls.
Or maybe a bag.
It's so tricky.
I probably shouldn't have bought 6 balls of the stuff... or at least 6 balls of the same colour.

Which reminds me, I took a picture on my phone of me in a new hat. It's one of the hat knit kits from miss bell

I'm really not very good at taking pictures (this one was heavily cropped to miss most of my blurred face, and desk, although I decided to leave in my piano)
It tool about 3 hours to knit up, and I like it :)

Wrists

2006-04-02T23:42:00.000+01:00

ARGH! and OUCH!
Far far far too much piano practice last year left me with ballsed up wrists, and a combination of vaguely inflamed tendons and bad RSI. Of course, taking up knitting soon after probably didn't help matters. It hasn't been too much of a bother, and at least with knitting I can just stop without worrying too much about getting a bad mark at the end of the year.

It still flares up from time to time, and hurts like hell. But I really fancy knitting something now...
In the mean time here is a picture of a cow
COW!

knitting slump

2006-03-30T15:54:00.000+01:00

I have hit a bit of a knitting low. Straight after I'd finished knitting Peppermint Twist I started a new project, I missed knitting that much. Now I find that I'm not really interested in picking up the project so much.

However, I was thinking, I've been knitting for around a year now, and surely I need to by a knitting birthday present for myself?
I want to try dying yarn, so I thought I could buy some yarn of texere, and some Kool Aid or something and make myself a little bag or something.

I figure something quick will get me back in the knitting mood.

Was it just a dream?

2006-03-29T11:00:00.001+01:00

I dreamt last night that I was looking on texere for wool to dye.
And then I discovered that all their dying wool, had a new option - stuff that was already dyed.
There was only one colour choice (they were all varigated colours though) per type of wool, and they all had names involving words like "tropical".
But I was so amazed.

This morning I couldn't remember whether it was actually a dream or not, but now I realise it was.

2006-03-22T14:41:00.000Z

So, like many others, I want to make Knitty's BPT.
Two good things, a) it's gorgeous b) I can make the smallest size
One bad thing - more yarn.
Right now I can't afford more yarn, and also should probably finish the Corset Pullover I've just started, and Under the Hoodie, which I started months and months ago.
But I can still think about yarn, right?
The wonderful Yarndex gave me these two :
Rowan all seasons
I made my flower hat in this and is lovely ot work with.
and
Debbie bliss cashmerino aran
which is also amazing.
However, these are pretty expensive.
I quite like this Patons washed haze aran (I do want a varigated yarn).

I could buy some yarn from texere (mmm..texere) and dye it. Something I've never done before but want to try. Maybe I should start off with a simple bag or hat though?
Maybe the chunky wool?

I'd rather knit with the debbie bliss or the rown, because I know they are good quality, but I'm not sure I can justify it at the moment. *le sigh*
The good thing about knitty is they tell you what weight of what yarn you'll need. So I think I need 1350g of a worsted weight yarn.
At least I know that much.

Blocking

2006-03-18T15:48:00.000Z

I fiiiiiiiiiiiiiinally finished Peppermint Twist on Thursday night and here it is pretending to block.

I've heard that cotton doesn't block very well, and I'm not sure I even understand how blocking works, which is why I've been using my hairdrier to speed up the process.
mmmm... focused....

mmmm.... v-neck

mmm...glamour

Before blocking, which should magically make it fit, I am led to understand, the jumper looked like a big sack. Hopefully, although it just doesn't work in my mind, it will fit after, and there will be another photo.

The end is in sight

2006-03-14T14:21:00.000Z

I am so close to finishing peppermint twist. I've just hit "the wall". The sleeves are just stocking stitch in the dark red, and it's getting so boring. I've had to do 8 lines on on arm, then switch.

I want this jumper to be finished so badly.
But I also want to finish writing my dissertation, and catch up on all the reading I've missed over the last few weeks due to shows and illness.

*yawn* and go back to bed.

ETA: My portable sewing machine got delivered today - hurrah! Now I can make various costumes and a ball dress. I'm not entirely sure why I bought a sewing machine, and I'm not usually an impulse buyer.

Peppermint Twist from SnB

2006-03-07T13:43:00.000Z

I finally finished the body for Peppermint Twist. This was supposed to be my knitting olympics project, but life got in the way. This first picture is the back hurrah!

And now for the front, which I have cunningly changed to a v-neck. I had a very very small amount of the white left over - had to change the colour pattern slightly because didn't want the sparkly yarn.

And an obligatory glamour shot....

This is the first jumper I've got past the back on (still have under the hoodie to finish) so I'm hoping that the sleeves will be much quicker.

chicken vikings

2006-03-01T18:44:00.000Z

Someone on punk_knitters posted a link to this pattern for a viking chicken hat (here)

Sometimes I see things that look awful. Things like ponchos, or childrens clothes, or animal clothes (these are actually the worst things ever, any one who knits jumpers for animals should be shot in my opinion).
Things that give knitting a bad name.

This hat however, is awesome.

My first FO here

2006-03-01T13:14:00.000Z

So here is the flore hat from knitwhits .

Yarn: Rowan all seasons cotton.. almost one skein of each colour.

This hat is actually rather easy to make.
the first four layers are exactly the same, and you join them together by doing, what is apparently, a three needle bind off, but with out the bind off. The fifth layer, green in my version, is slightly different, but still pretty easy.

Still getting the hang of this stuff

2006-03-01T00:08:00.000Z

Ok, so, this is obviously my new knitting blog. For some reason at whatever time it was today, or yesterday now, I thought getting a separate blog for my knitting exploits would be a good idea. Hey, everyone else is doing it.

I thought I'd just tell you what projects I'm working on.

Firstly I will finish Peppermint Twist from Stitch and Bitch.
This was intended to be my Knitting Olympics project, but life and illness got in the way. Still, I've finished the front, which I turned into a v-neck, and started the back, so I'm making fairly good progress.

I also have Under the Hoodie from Stitch and Bitch, which has been on the needles since about September.. yeah, we've all been there haven't we?

I want to start the Corset Pullover, from some issue of Interweave Knits, which, when it is in progress I will provide a link to.

I also want to make Sesame, from a past issue, and the socks from the current issue of Magnits (Magknits?)

Oh, and I have just frogged my obligatory griffindor scarf from the atypically.net pattern, and started the diagon-ally pattern instead. I found the former pattern made the scarf much too long and bulky and unwear-able.

OK, so those are all the projects that I can remember and I find worth talking about.

Tomorrow, I may post a picture of the flore hat from Knitwhits, which is my most recent FO, so that I actually have some knits to show anyone who visits this blog.

first post

2006-02-28T17:26:00.000Z

coming soon:
my crafty antics.