Finished Object: Spate

Pattern: Spate by Jane Richmond
Yarn: Nice& Knit Worsted
Colours: Driftwood, Harpoon and Dockside
Needles: 4.5 and 5mm Round Needle

Start of project: September 6th, 2016
End of project: September 11th, 2016

On Ravelry

I started these mitts last week at the Knit'n'Sip at Piccolo Giardino. My Silversmith Hoodie was almost done and only needed the iCord bind off and it was too heavy and too warm to take along for some outdoor knitting. I wanted to start something fast and light but also something that would be good for the fall temperatures that had finally started to arrive; at least in the early mornings on the bike.

I've had this pattern in my favourites for a while. The mitts looked beautiful and squishy and I totally like the photos that Jane Richmond has on her project page. This isn't the first time I knit a pattern by Jane, I did a pair of Climb socks and the Clarke sweater earlier this year and both of them were really well written and I love how they turned out.

I knew I didn't have enough of the Driftwood (the MC) for both mitts, but there was still a bit of the Harpoon and slightly more of the Dockside left from my Boden. I started the cuff with only the Dockside but it didn't feel right. After a night's sleep I frogged back and started over with a few stripes for the cuff and I am really happy with that combination. The mitts grew really quickly and in no time the first one was done.

I knit most of the second one on the Stitching on a Boat tour we did yesterday. We took the boat from Zürich to Rapperswil and back and spent four lovely hours of knitting and talking on the water. I didn't quite manage to finish it on board, but at home there was only the ribbing and the thumb (which I added to the pattern) left to do and now they are ready for those early morning bike rides.

Currently knitting: Memory Blanket

Pattern: Knitted Patchwork Recipe by Martine Ellis
Yarn: lots of leftovers
Colours: everything but baby pink so far
Needles: 4 mm DPS
Start of project: April 6, 2015

On Ravelry

A while ago, in the beginning of April, I started a new blanket. I had lots of small leftovers, most of them in either Fingering or DK weight. So I decided to start my own Memory Blanket with them. I either use a single strand of DK or I use a double held strand of Fingering. The squares don't all have the exact same measurements but I hope it won't look too wonky in the end.

I really love knitting these little squares in between other stuff, they are so very simple. You start with 2 times 16 stitches and they use about 5gr of yarn each. Right now I used all my yarn at least once so I'll guess I'll start repeating or hoping for new leftovers ;-)

I have no idea how big I want this, I'll just keep knitting until it feels right.

Finished Object: Rainbow Legwarmers

Pattern: Adapted Stulpen
Yarn: mostly Lang Yarns Merino +
Colours: Grey with coloured stripes
Needles: 4.5mm DPS
Start of project: February 27, 2015
End of project: March 11, 2015

On Ravelry

While I was waiting for the yarn I ordered for my next project I tried to use up some more of my stashed yarn. I still had quite a bit of the Merino + left over from different projects and I had this interesting pattern from our handicraft teacher, which I'd wanted to try just to see how it would turn out. It took me a while to figure out how to knit the different colours for the stripes to be wavey but in the end it wasn't terribly complicated.

4 rows of k4 p4 in grey
4 rows of purl only in colour
4 rows of p4 k4 in grey
4 rows of knit only in the same colour

The leg warmers weren't very interesting to knit and I have to admit that I am not totally conviced of them. They are ok but they are maybe a bit boring. But then again, they are here to warm my legs in winter and will probably be worn on the sofa, in bed or underneath my jeans, so who cares ;-)

I also found out that neither my son nor I should consider becoming a foot model, it's just not in our genes...

Finished Object: Honey Cowl

Pattern: Honey Cowl by Antonia Shankland
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK
Colours: Hosta Blue and Worn Denim
Needles: 5mm round needle
Start of project: January 8, 2015
End of project: January 20, 2015

On Ravelry

For this cowl I was able to use up more than 1.5 skeins of my stashed Madelinetosh DK in Hosta Blue. I had two skeins left over from my Lush since June and never  knew what to use it for. The Honey Cowl had been a possibilty for a while but something didn't feel quite right. I liked the pattern but maybe the colour wasn't interesting enough. Then I came across a modified version with two colours on Julie's blog and knew that was the way I wanted to go too. I ordered one more skein in Worn Denim and those two colours are just made for each other. I love how the Worn Denim changes from an intense blue to almost brown and back again.

 

The knitting of the cowl was easy enough to watch TV at the same time, but I had to go back about 10 rows and pick up all 220 stitches again after having talked to intensly on a knitter's meet up. I am glad I did because I know those mixed up stitches would have bothered me forever ;-)

I wasn't quite sure how to wear it. It felt a bit akward when it was open, too much weight in the front somehow. When worn double it was a bit on the short side but I after I had it blocked it gained a few inches (it's now 48 inches wide) and now I think it fits nicely.

Finished Object: Adelia Mitts

Pattern: Adelia Mitts from Tanis Fiber Art
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock
Colours: tart and silver fox
Needles: 2.5 and 3 mm DPS
Start of project: December 31, 2014
End of project: January 7, 2015

On Ravelry

Project #1 of 2015 is done. These are my first real mitts, before I only made fingerless ones and with much thicker yarn.


I had the Adelia Mitts on my wishlist for a long time but then I had other things to finish first and I couldn't make up my mind about the contrast colour. It was a hard decision between Tart and Jade, both of them really beautiful colours. In the end I went with Tart because it will work better with my
coat. And I am glad I chose it, the gloves look really festive and are very warm.

I am very happy that I was able to use up some of my stashed yarn. I wasn't sure if there was going to be enough of the Tart, but in the end, it was more than I thought and there were even 18g left. Knitting with yarn I already have is one of my goals for 2015, like that I'll have room again and can buy new yarn. So far I made out of this same yarn my Ravello sweater, five christmas balls and one little heart and now these mitts.