WIP: Seeing double

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Double knitting!  How freaking awesome.

So I find myself knitting a double knit scarf, just in time for this balmy spring weather.  Woo.  As usual, I'm teaching myself.

I google searched 'anchor knitting chart' and found this baby here. I added a few stitches either side, made a contrasting border, some stripes top and bottom and voilà!  We have a scarf pattern.  I wanted to keep it simple for my first double-knit and consequently it's a bit too simple as I am now in the no-mans-land of plain stockinette until I reach the other end.  So my initial enthusiasm has worn off somewhat.

So check it.  One side.

And the other.

Rad.

~Tan

FO: February Lady

Hey hey look what I made!  It only took me 6 months!

Well, I wasn't like knitting the whole time. As happens with so many of my projects, my initial enthusiasm wore off and this piece spent a bunch of time in hibernation.

What a great pattern! Super easy to memorise.  It grew like a whole bunch.  I knit until it was just sitting on my hips, and you can see the results post-blocking.  And I didn't block it a lot, really just laid it flat.  Also, look how cute the yos are just before the lace on the yoke.

One day I will knit something with some shaping, just wait and see :)

Pattern:  February Lady Sweater.  I made the larger sized 41" bust.  I think I probably could have gone down a size, but I also quite like the coziness of it.  Even thought the fact that it is full of holes kinda makes it a bit useless as a cardigan.  But anyways, I like it.  The buttons were 85c each at Clegs. Big spenda.
Yarn:  Bendigo Woollen Mills (what else?) Luxury 10ply in Autumn Glow, which I think is the perfect way to describe the colour.
Ravelled here.

~Tan

p.s. thanks lil sis for the photos!  Saw some local wildlife nesting, among a bit of rubbish sadly, but he seems pretty chill.

-Linking with-

Tami's Amis FO Fridays | Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder | Natural Suburbia for Creative Fridays | I've Made Friday at SusanD1408 Crochet Addict | I ♥ Fridays at Petals to Picots | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)

FO: Contemporary

Let's ignore the myriad of WIPs that are taunting me. 

Let's cast on new projects just because we can.

Let's knit a super cute hat for ourselves, because we realise we're half-way through winter without a single new hand knit to wear.

Let's use this gorgeous yarn we've scandalously had in the stash for over a year.

Yes.  Let's.

Pattern: Contemporary.  Lovely little pattern with the 3 different sized cables to keep it interesting.  I made this in under a week.  I made this exactly according to pattern, which I rarely rarely do (usually because I sub some different weight yarn).
Yarn:  Madelinetosh Pashmina in Oxblood. Gah this is I think the nicest yarn I've ever used.  It's absolutely luxurious and snuggly, I almost feel bad for using it in an item that won't be up against my skin.  I used about half for this hat.
Ravelled here.

-Linking with-

Tami's Amis FO Fridays | Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder | Natural Suburbia for Creative Fridays | I've Made Friday at SusanD1408 Crochet Addict | I ♥ Fridays at Petals to Picots | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)

FO: Hatchling Cardigan

Babies!  People have babies sometimes.  Not me.  Nope.

But good excuse to knit eh?

Here's a hatchling cardigan.

I made the smallest size but it came out big enough to fit my friend's 16 month old.  It measures 25cm across the chest and 25cm from shoulder to hem.

Pattern: Hatchling cardigan.  Good little pattern.  I knit the sleeves in the round instead of seaming, because I'm cool.  And I didn't have matching buttons so I did a bunch of different ones.  I really like them.  I also did less repeats of the lace, making it more of a cropped cardi.
Yarn:  Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton 8ply in Blush. When will I learn with this yarn?  It knits up lovely and soft but I really need to use smaller needles, and get better at stockinette, look how messy it is?  ugh.
Ravelled here.

~Tan

-Linking with-
Tami's Amis FO Fridays | Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder | Natural Suburbia for Creative Fridays | I've Made Friday at SusanD1408 Crochet Addict | I ♥ Fridays at Petals to Picots | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)

FO: Safety Scarf

So this project has been sitting around for a loooong time.  I finally wove in the ends and took some kinda shoddy photos.  As it's a Stephen West, so I thought I'd try to channel him with my pics.

How did I do?

But seriously...

This took me so long because I was not liking how it worked up.  While initially I thought it was quite clever, as you go on it feels like a bit of a dogs breakfast.  So many different stitch patterns, not all seeming to go together.  But now that it's done I don't mind it.  Its certainly snuggly, and kind of interesting to look at.

I also think I did a bitchin' job of the seam.  Check it out mo' fos'.

Pattern:  Safety Scarf.  Love the icord eding, and some of the stitch patterns are interesting, but altogether?  Some of the stitch patterns are narrow and dense, and some are wide and loose.  But it does come together.
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 10ply.  Not sure if I'm still in love with BWM, luxury seems to get a bit hairy upon handling a lot.  But it is mega soft after washing. mmm.  I think the economy of this yarn will keep me coming back for more.
Ravelled here.

~Tan

-Linking with-
Tami's Amis FO Fridays | Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder | Natural Suburbia for Creative Fridays | I've Made Friday at SusanD1408 Crochet Addict | I ♥ Fridays at Petals to Picots | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)

The Giant Pineapple Cosy KAL

Guess what everybody?  Lisa and I are hosing another KAL/CAL!! 

This time we've (well, Lisa) found a super funky retro knitting pattern for a pineapple tea cosy.   Not a knitter?  No worries, Lisa has whipped up a gorgeous crochet version, so there's no excuse not to participate! 

If you would like to join in our Giant Pineapple Cosy KAL, all you need to do is download the pattern and get crafting!  Please also join our Giant Pineapple Cosy KAL Ravelry Group  to connect with other KAL participants. 

Click here to download the knit version.

Click here to get the crochet version.

We'll officially begin the KAL on 5 May, and you will have until 2 June to post pictures of your completed cosy in our special purpose KAL group on Ravelry.  Click here to join!!!

And what's a KAL without prizes?  One person will receive the GRAND PINEAPPLE PRIZE of all the pineapple themed goodies you see below, and maybe more.  Just like last time we'll also have some minor prizes, which will include some amazeballs handmade goodies! 

You just know you want those cool pineapple sunnies.  

So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to the rav group to let us know if you're in!  We'd love to see all your WIPs and FOs! 

Finally, we'll be using the tag #giantpineapplecosykal for those of you wanting to play along on instagram! 

~Tan

WIP: Babies

I kinda want one of these tshirts.  Do you think my expectant friends would be offended?

Kate Beaton is da bomb. 

But seriously, good for them!  I could think of nothing worse, the whole experience sounds super gross.  But people still enjoy their babies, so I wish them well!  And I like making baby things, so there's that. 

Here we go, babeh caridgans.

In red we have Easy Baby Caridgan for a lilttle girl.  I'm thinking red riding hood?  Ugh so cute. 

In pink we have Hatchling Cardigan for another little girl (duh).  It's cotton but I'm afraid the needles might be a bit big?  My stockinette is kinda crappy.  Damn you purl! 

I'm so clever, starting things before finishing other things.  

~Tan

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | Fluster's Creative Buster (Fluster Buster) | Yarn Along (Small Things)

Something for me

Because I'm worth it! 

Here we have the very popular February Lady in some of my favourite yarn, BWM luxury of course.  10ply and coming together quickly.  Really liking the simple lace, hoping for a nice snuggly cardi ready for winter. 

If only I could take a picture true to colour, the colourway is autumn glow.

I am a big fan of stitch markers, can you tell?

~Tan


Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | Fluster's Creative Buster (Fluster Buster) | Yarn Along (Small Things)

Garter

After completing a supremely intricate project, it's nice to get back to some rhythmic garter stitch.

Working my way through a doctor-who inspired scarf that was due to be gifted last Christmas, and have cast on a February Lady - unlikely to be finished in February but I can only try.

It's so nice to see these projects grow so quickly compared with all the laceweight I've been dealing with lately.

~Tanya

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life)

Year of the jumper!

I refuse to call jumpers sweaters.  Really!

My 2014 craft year is looking chock-a-block full of gifts for others.  Here are a few of the yarny things I'm thinking about.  Not including WIPs which are a top priority.

Adam's mother has requested this fetching cardigan.  Oh my.

Hopefully some chunky yarn will have the ordeal over with relatively quickly.

And I have promised each of my sisters one of these, in adult sizes of course!

I will be Donatello, because I'm the smart one.
Jackie will be Michaelangelo, because she's the funny one.
Candy will be Leonardo, because she's the eldest, and has more of a leadership capacity.
Kat will be Raphael, because she's the angry one.  LOL sorry Kat, but I think he will suit you ;)

My younger sisters and I all had TMNT jumpers hand knit for us when we were young.  I'm so excited to re-live my childhood!  I'll dig out the photos of us wearing our adorable jumpers for you at some point.

I also want to make myself another Miette, this time more of a cropped length with no lace, as well as a February Lady in this red-brown colour.

So that's some of the plan for the moment.  I also want to make all kinds of scarves, shawls and hats, because small things are the best.  I have no idea if I will be able to accomplish 7 jumpers, but here's hoping!

~Tan

WIPs

Life is hectic, but I still craft every day.

Honey cowl

Moose

Doctor who scarf

~Tan

FO: Honey the second

This pattern is really awesome.  But with over 13,000 projects that goes without saying.  I made one of these for my sister last year and while simple, it's super wearable.

The lovely Rhonda gave me this great yarn for my birthday.  It has some very subtle long colour changes in it, and I instantly wanted to use it in something that would show off the yarn.

I used about half of the mega 200g skein for this cowl, and it has already seen much wear.  In hindsight I wish I made it a touch wider, but I'm always in a rush to cast off and show off!

Pattern:  Honey Cowl duuuurrrrr
Yarn:  Patons Australia Rainbow in a blue/purple mix.
Needles:  4.5mm circulars.
Ravelled here.

~Tan

FO: Hanami Stole

Here's my finished Hanami Stole!  Very happy with it, silk just has the most beautiful drape.

This took me way too long, as is my habit with large projects I procrastinated and worried about how long it was going to take me rather than getting on with the job.  Once I started working on it every day it did work up quickly.  Even with having to refer to the pattern line by line, no memorising this one, definitely my most complicated lace knit to date!

pre-blocked

 This was a definite skill-upper for me, at the beginning I was writing out the pattern line by line as I found the chart too difficult to keep track of, but by the end of it I was able to follow the pattern and read the chart. as I went

Photo-shoot at the local man-made lake!

 This was a wedding gift for a dear friend.  I intended to make a scarf for the groom as well, and indeed started on it, but ran out of time - oops!

Ducks could not give a crap about my shawl.  How rude!

Luckily, this is not my colour, otherwise it would have been very difficult to wrap it up and give it away!  No word on my friend's thoughts are at this point (ok, the wedding was only on Saturday so I'm sure she has other things to do...).  I'm sure she will love it but I am insecure and am in desperate need of some feedback!  

This is how I would wear it.  Hint hint nusm!! 

All in all, happy to have this done and looking forward to making some more knitted wedding gifts!  Have already promised 2 scarfs for a late December wedding... stay tuned!

Pattern:  Hanami Stole.  Most of it is charted, and it has very detailed instructions for a beaded cast on (which I didn't do because I thought like 30 beads in the scheme of things would not make much difference).  Also has instructions to make
Yarn:  Handmaiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk in Moondust purchased from Eat Sleep Knit.
Needles:  I started with 4.5mm, but it was far too loose for the lacey design and went down to 3.25mm.  Really want to work on something chunky now!!
Raveled here.

~Tan

p.s.  I also commissioned Anna Rettberg to draw a portrait of the couple (and their cat!) as an additional gift.  I think this is the coolest gift ever!

p.p.s.  At said wedding they gave out PENGUIN BOOKS as their bomboniere.  If that's not the tightest shit you've ever seen then you can just get out.  I chose The Shiralee - I've seen the miniseries and did not even know it was a book!  Adam chose The Power of One.

FOXY KAL wrap up

The FOXY KAL has officially finished and I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who participated and made an awesome foxy hat of their own!

I thought I would do a quick round up of the makes!

Row 1:  ttvphoto, aggrokikker, AlexandriaB, TheBumbleBee
Row 2: rofelpixie, ejeddington, hayleyransley, booniesangel
Row 3: perfectlytracy, Jazz0209, mar2713 (knit and crochet versions!)
Row 4: teaandcraft, DWScissors

Those are some fantastically foxy hats, I especially like how different everyone made theirs!

I partook making my own version of Lisa's excellent crochet fox hat pattern:

Both of the fox hat patterns released during the FOXY KAL are now available for free to everyone!  The knit version here and Lisa's crochet version here.

Thanks again to anyone who participated or spread the word about our first KAL - the response was overwhelming and I'm quite grateful to everyone!  Extra props must go to co-organiser Lisa, whose enthusiasm I am always in awe of - it was a total treat to collaborate with her on this project!

If you do make a fox hat I'd love to see it!

~Tan

getting acquainted

Attempting to channel Liesl with the fuzzy project picture.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right?

I know last week I said I was being project monogamous with Hanami, but I think this counts.  See, hanami is a wedding gift for a friend, and Safety Scarf is the accompanying gift for the groom - so there's no cheating!

I'm getting acquainted with Stephen West for the first time.  Already really enjoying this pattern, it has icord edges?  How freaking clever!  I'm enjoying the simple back and forth (compared to recent cardigan shenanigans and hanami) but with enough variation to keep it interest.  And 10ply!  I'm in heaven!

~Tan

p.s.  Let's be serious, my photos will never be that fancy.

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life)

Quarter

I may not have blogged about crafting recently, but I assure you there is tonnes going on. Not a day goes by that I don't get some crafting in.

I'm trying to be project monogamous at the moment. Hanami is a wedding gift for a dear friend, and by George it will be complete on time! It has taken me a while to become confident with the pattern, but after 5 repeats of the basket weave chart, I'm feeling good. Not don't-need-a-pattern good but I-can-tell-if-I've-fucked-up good. And that's a thing.

I'm enjoying watching it grow, and now that I have worked on it conistently, it has grown quite quickly. I couldn't imagine it as a scarf before, but now it's about a quarter done I'm feeling optimistic and confident that this piece will be one of the most beautiful I've ever made. Can you tell I'm pleased with myself?

~Tan

p.s. Before posting I looked up to see where the exclaimation "by George!" came from. Because I'm nerdy like that. You're welcome.

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life)