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March 31, 2005
Is she pretty?
When we were staying in Toronto, the son of the couple we visited, who is 5, was very unsure of what is funny so would ask all the time, 'Is that funny Dad? Is it funny?'
So this is Sally.
She wont look anything like this when she's finished. As you can see I haven't decided what to do with the lower edge of the body, the neckline is wrong, and the sleeve length is wrong (but fixed since this pic was taken). But what you are looking at here is the sleeve - see how it fits in the hole! And how the stripes line up! Only my second attempt: thank heaven for Jenna's article on Knitty, and to-scale graph paper (thank you Honey).
Posted by Anna at 08:41 AM | Comments (3)
For balance
Because she doesn't always look so ill
Posted by Anna at 08:40 AM
March 30, 2005
Blubell
Blubell wrap, started 22 Mar 05 finished 26 Mar 05
Pattern: Knitty's Clapotis
I must have always intended to give this Clapotis to Little Sister, because she once had the nickname Bluebell. Little Sister held up her side of the deal with these pictures. If her face looks a little blotchy, it's because she had an allergic reaction to vodka and lemonade (don't ask me). I will definitely make another one of these, in a solid. I was looking at some Jaegar Aqua yesterday, which looks like it might be perfect, if only I could decide on a colour.
First I have a special request to fill though, for a lightweight cotton summer scarf for one of my best and oldest friends, whose birthday is approaching. She asked me specially would I please knit her something, and it will be a genuine pleasure to do so for her.
Posted by Anna at 12:31 PM | Comments (5)
March 28, 2005
Stagnant
Do you ever get those times, with your knitting, when nothing feels that inspiring? Clapotis, c'est fini - she went to my sister on Saturday night. I hadn't planned it, but the poor girl was tearful, had broken out in an allergic reaction all over her body (unusual, for someone who up til now hasn't been allergic to anything), and lonely, and the first thing she said when I walked in was 'Wow, I like that... did you make it?'. That'll teach her to compliment stuff. The condition of the gift (nothing is for free in my family) is that she must take a picture of it artfully draped for my blog, so I'll post finished pics as soon as she does.
My Rowan Calmer has arrived in good time for the start of nona's t-shirt KAL, but I'm trying not to start it yet. The colour is Coffee Bean, which I know will never photograph: it's a very dark brown, like bitter chocolate. And while I could have used this as an opportunity to practise my intarsia (which I haven't touched done any of for I think about 8 years), this t-shirt I'm going to keep plain. Because it's going to be soooo glamorous, and I may well want to wear it on smart occassions as well as casual.
I'm stalled on Sally, the spring sweater I'm designing, because my printer is out of toner and I badly need to-scale graph paper so I can measure the diametre of the sleeve cap. Isn't it always the way? I've found the process quite baffling, thus far I have just been knitting like fury, making it up as I go along. I need to rip back the front and back and redo the necklines - I had them pinned on my dressmakers form yesterday, sketching on the knitted fabric with tailor's chalk how I want the lines to go. I don't think it's a conventional knitwear design technique, but it worked for me.
I'll try taking some pictures of the yarns I bought back from Canada today, and maybe some progress on Sally too. I've been making progress on Land Girl to keep my fingers busy: front and back are finished, and the sleeves are mercifully short. She's working up very nicely but my passion is with Sally.
So, sorry for the lack of much content, but that's just how life is right now - you know? Without much content.
Posted by Anna at 10:06 AM | Comments (5)
March 27, 2005
I got those happy feet
Are these happy feet? Yes they are. My Sockapalooza socks arrived on Tuesday - imagine, my first day back at work after a trip, London grey and gloomy, my body rebelling against the time change... and the postman delivers these in the morning. Talk about making a girl's day.
Thank you so much Lori. They're fabulous, I wore them all yesterday and blended in with all the spring flowers that are just starting to come out. I'm wearing them again today. And thank you SO MUCH too for the two skeins of Cascade Fixation... Will be poking around looking for more Cascade sock patterns over the next few days.
Thank you one last time Alison.
Posted by Anna at 02:17 PM | Comments (2)
March 24, 2005
Going like the clappers
I don't usually take pictures with the flash, because the colours come out peculiar, as evidenced below. I thought I should make an exception on this occassion, because this project has bolted with me, and if I dont take pictures of the yarn now, it may be all gone.
I bought ten balls of this combed cotton at Romni in Toronto, because I really loved the colour(s) and it was only CD$6 per ball - a bargain in my book. Not being one to let a bandwagon pass by unjumped-upon, I cast on for Clapotis on Monday afternoon.
Blubell wrap, started 22 Mar 05
Pattern: Knitty's Clapotis
I'm halfway done, which is testimony to two things: 1) that Clapotis makes great TV knitting and 2) that I have been watching an awful lot of TV. I really haven't felt up to anything more challenging, like working on the sleevehead for the spring sweater I am designing, about which I am very excited.
The only trouble I'm having is with the striping. I've had the realisation for the second time (why must I require several realisations before the outcome sinks into my consciousness?) that I very often prefer variegated yarn on the skein to on the garment. I am very fond of these blues. I've been using double-row stripes of two balls to make the colour changes less 'blocky', but I'm unsure that this little wrap will be for me. I think I would prefer it in a solid colour.
Do you see? Luckily what you can't see from this is just how grubby the arm of the couch is.
I'll withhold judgement until she's finished, then try prancing around in front of the mirror with her and see how we get along.
Posted by Anna at 08:28 AM | Comments (5)
March 21, 2005
Back
We got back home at 8.30 this morning. Jetlag is rocking me now, and work in the morning seems a little over-ambitious. As always happens when we go to Canada, we ended up spending hardly any money at all on accommodation (having stayed with family and then friends), so I don't feel too guilty about having splurged on yarn in Toronto. It was after all entirely predictable. Thanks to Allison who sent me a really cool and informative email suggesting shops for my hitlist.
As if further evidence were needed of the strength of this knitting wave, my delightful hostess for the last three days of the trip, Tracey, and her eight-year-old daughter Pia, had both recently learned to knit. On Saturday Tracey and I went to The Knit Cafe, Romni Wools and Knitomatic. Yes I spent some money. Now my stash won't fit in its designated box. *Sigh*. There is simply too much yarn in the world.
There will be more in time. Thank you all for your comments while I've been gone. Now I must sleep.
Posted by Anna at 08:41 PM | Comments (2)
March 13, 2005
Gone to Canada, back soon
The bad news is, I didn't finish Hilde. I threw a tantrum when I found the sleeve head mysteriously two inches wider than the sleeve opening, and anyway, I had run out of black yarn to seam in. I cast her aside in disgust. Having calmed down, I now think the seam will be OK: but she'll have to wait for my return.
The good news is, I finished my wild duck socks, and made a very quick hat. Darling Husband says I look like 'a hoser' in it. I don't know what a hoser is so I've decided to take it as a compliment. No pics, because I have to pack.
So now, just as I've got into my blogging stride and made a couple of friends (hey, it doesn't come easy to a girl) I have to go away. Don't forget me while I'm gone, I'll be back in a week.
Gone to Canada, back soon.
Posted by Anna at 06:18 PM | Comments (8)
March 11, 2005
Thank goodness
Frederick scarf, started 25 Feb 05, finished 9 Mar 05
Pattern: My own
Thank goodness that's finished. Scarves are so interminably long I find, I invariably get bored long before the end. I'm barely getting paid for it, but it will at least pay for the yarn of the sweater I'm working on at the moment.
This weekend I'm going to have a really good try at finishing Hilde. I'm imagining being able to take her to Canada on Monday, although that is probably over-ambitious.
Posted by Anna at 08:11 AM | Comments (1)
March 09, 2005
This little hat
This little hat was so small, heartbreakingly small, to imagine fitting on a little head.
Two weeks old
Posted by Anna at 07:57 AM | Comments (5)
March 08, 2005
I'm in
I have it on good authority that Tuesday is knitalong day, so I thought I'd mention, in case you didn't know, that the talented and funny nona is hosting a knitalong for Alison's nothin' but a t-shirt.
If I were you, I'd head over and join up. If you were me, you already would have.
Posted by Anna at 08:11 AM
Sockapackage
Sockapalooza socks, started 25 January 05 finished 13 February 05, posted 8 March 05
Pattern: Magknits Pom Squad socks
These little socks are going on an adventure, they're off to the USA. They're going in the post today (because Tuesday IS knitalong day), along with a postcard and I've thrown in a little ribbon flower pin. OK so it's a few days later than ideal, but I couldn't get the postcard til the weekend.
This is the postcard. The river is the Thames, and Hammersmith Bridge is just out of frame, to the right of the picture. We're looking north, from the south bank. I love this picture because this is one of the very few views of west London that has hardly changed in all those years. The hotels and boathouses across the river are still there (joined by just a very few more), although the hotels are now pubs. It's a lovely place to go for a drink on a summer evening, to walk along the river and watch the sun set over the water. Just a little further down the river to the left is The Dove, a very old and beautiful pub, where we went for champagne and lunch after we were married, and where (more historically significantly), John Milton wrote some of Paradise Lost.
Sock pal, soon you'll find out who you are. I really hope you love your socks, and that you enjoyed the Sockapalooza experience as much as I did. Thanks again to the wonderful Alison, for enabling us all.
Posted by Anna at 07:49 AM | Comments (2)
March 07, 2005
Not all socks can be this chic
Rebel socks, started 13 Feb 05 finished 24 Feb 05
Pattern: based on Magknits pom squad
Think what you like, I think these look fabulous. As in ab-so-lute-ly fabulous.
Posted by Anna at 07:54 AM | Comments (9)
March 06, 2005
Beautiful scarf, beautiful mum
Zzing scarf, started 5 March 05 finished 5 March 05
Pattern: Child's rib scarf, but knit on 6.5mm needles and with two full skeins
It's Mother's Day here in the UK. I drove down to the south coast, where my grandmother lives, because Mum has been helping her move house. She couldn't cope with the big house any more, and the new, smaller and more bijoux home seems ideal. I hope she can be happier there, and less anxious.
Mum liked the scarf, I think.
Posted by Anna at 11:48 PM
Frederick scarf
Frederick scarf, started 25 Feb 05
Pattern: My own
Even the MOST conservatively dressed accountant could not be offended by this colour scheme/stitch pattern. I need to finish this this week, and get it to its recipient before we go to Canada.
Posted by Anna at 10:45 PM | Comments (1)
March 05, 2005
Autumn socks
Wild duck socks, started 23 Feb 05
Pattern: Knitty Crusoe Socks
After the non-swatching debacle, I tried again. I couldn't get guage so ended up making up a pattern and using the stranded stitch from the original. One sock is finished and it's beautiful. I love love love the colours, and the way each stitch is so defined. I need to get some deadline-driven stuff out of the way so I can make the second and get these babies on my feet!
It's wonderful knitting with this on the London Underground. It was snowing outside, and everyone looked cold, grey and miserable in the evening rush-hour. I sat and knitted my sock, watching as one colour turned into the next, all these warm rich colours, and I looked up and noticed everyone around me was watching too, warming their cold eyes on the beautiful pallette.
Posted by Anna at 02:15 PM | Comments (3)
Retrorib mkII
Huck socks, started 6 Feb 05 finished 2 March 05
Pattern: Interweave Knits' Retrorib socks, Winter 04
They're finished and just as lovely as the first pair. I buy my husband's love with knitted socks.
Posted by Anna at 02:04 PM
March 03, 2005
Inspiration overload
I was extremely excited to receive Knitted Embellishments and Knitting on the Edge in the post today. Inspiration overload!! I've got these two, plus Maggie Righetti's book and a stitch dictionary on my coffee table, and between them they're going to be keeping me up late at nights.
I was looking at a business/management type book last night, and a line which grabbed my attention read something like 'The most important thing you can do towards starting your own business, is to start working towards it TODAY.'
With this in mind, as someone who counts procrastination among her greatest faults, I'm pleased that I have cast on and started working on my own design. I couldn't decide what type of edge I want, so, shunning procrastination, I used a provisional cast and and set off on the body anyway. I'm glad I did; all those rounds and rounds of stockinette are giving me plenty of time make decisions about and refine the detail of the design. This is contrary to normal behaviour, where I would want to have every detail worked out before beginning.
So tell me, what's the dealie with blogging about one's own designs? I'll have to take a look around and see what other people do. Obviously I think this sweater's going to be highly desirable, and I dont want anyone half-inching my idea.
(translation: half-inch = pinch = steal)
Posted by Anna at 09:52 PM | Comments (3)
March 02, 2005
Grrr
Knitting at lunch:
Her: What are you knitting Anna?
Me: It's going to be a sweater!
Her: What happened to those socks you were making for Brad?
Me: Oh they're done
Brad: I'm wearing them! Wanna see?
Her: Ooh they're lovely. Aren't you lucky to have such a good old-fashioned wife? Does she warm your slippers for you too?
GRRRRRRRR
Posted by Anna at 08:05 PM | Comments (7)
March 01, 2005
Brrr
It's so gloomy and wintery these past few days. Lots of knitting has been going on; excitingly, I received my first commission - a scarf, for my business advisor. Mr Frederick is sartorially conservative in the extreme, and was quite clear that he would NOT be happy with anything remotely 'wacky'. I hope he likes what I've come up with, even though it is not 100% navy blue. Pics to come this weekend.
I've also started on the first sweater I've designed myself. She will be called Sally and will be very beautiful I think, although not a quick knit. She is going to be special and stylish, suitable for wearing to semi-dressy engagements. I've only done about 20 rows of stockinette for the body, but it's a start, and I haven't run out of motivation yet.
Here are some photos to remind us that spring is already springing: it just doesn't feel like it yet.
Primula
Garrya, also known as the silk-tassle bush. Check out those tassles! This guy is roccoco
Hellebore. Green flowers are so sophisticated, don't you find?
Vinca, or periwinkle. I look at my sockapalooza socks, and think of periwinkles.
Posted by Anna at 10:50 PM | Comments (1)
Congratulations Kate
Congratulations to Kate, who organises our lovely bi-weekly knitting group in Ealing, for her gorgeous pattern published in Magknits this month. And yes, she really is that gorgeous in real life.
Posted by Anna at 10:36 PM