Tuesday 21 June 2011

Knitting FO's and a WiP

My first pair of toe up socks!! The bottom (the sole) is 1x1 rib, and the ribbing around the top is 2x2 as I didn't want it too tight. Sarah (the teacher) also showed us a new-to-me way of casting off that makes it nice and loose too :) She was also kind enough to show me how to do fair isle, as I've never been able to get the hang of it and have never had the chance to ask anybody. She answered all of my questions in a really friendly way, and then let me have a go on a sample after showing me :) Dom has already started making charts (at my request) on Excel using 8bit characters! :D
I've also made another Dalek dishcloth, this time out of dishcloth yarn. I got it from Spins and Needles for £2.20, and will be able to get at least 2 more out of it. To say they'll last way longer than disposable dishcloths, I think that pretty cheap!
This would need blocking if it was for a garment, but as its only a dishcloth I'm not going to bother. This one is for Dom's little sister Imogen who is a big fan of Doctor Who, but I'll be making more for me and Dom too.
And now for my work in progress. I'm really proud of how this is going.
Wristwarmers!! With a fancy cable pattern! The yarn is Andes by Debbie Bliss, 65% baby alpaca and 35% mulberry silk. I used it for the lavender cushions shown here that I made for the swap between me and Sarah. I liked it so much that I had to get some for me too! It's beautiful, so soft and with a lovely sheen from the silk. Easily my favourite yarn that I've used so far. This is the first complicated pattern that I've ever made! My Knitty Gritty book certainly helped a lot. There is a mitten pattern in there that I knitted up for practice first, to make sure I understood the pattern and how the thumb is made. The pattern calls for aran weight yarn, but Andes is DK weight. This isn't a problem however, as I did a gauge swatch and it came up slightly small. The pattern would have been a little too big for my hands though, so the Andes is perfect :)
Apologies to those of you who have no interest in knitting, my sewing mojo has been on holiday for  a while. It's nearly home though and I might do some sewing after tea. I've also got a couple of dresses that I want to try refashioning into skirts :)
Ashley x

6 comments:

  1. The socks look fab and I love the colour of the wrist warmers.

    The yarn you made my lavender bags with is super soft and has a lovely sheen, I've been meaning to ask which yarn it was.

    Incidentally, I've put the bags in my fabric cupboard and my fabric now smells lovely!!

    BTW have left a comment on your swap post, goodness knows how I missed that!!

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  2. I have really been wanting to try toe-up socks, but I'm a noob that's still working on hats. Those are cute!

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  3. Well done on the socks! Are you a toe-up convert now? And that Debbie Bliss yarn looks gorgeous!

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  4. Thanks Sarah :) It is lovely, I'll definitely be using it again. Ooh, good idea, I'm going to make some for in the wardrobe too.
    Thanks Nikki :) Toe up socks are easy once you know how. I think youtube is your best bet as the cast on is difficult to explain on paper.
    Thanks Roobeedoo :) I'm definitely a convert, and am coveting 'Toe up socks for everyone', I had a quick look through it at my local yarn shop and I think I want to make every pair! :)
    Ashley x

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  5. I've got a toeup sock book on my amazon wish list in itching to get my hands on. I only learnt to knit to make bed socks lol

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  6. Socks are becoming my favourite thing to knit! :) I've just got 'Toe up socks for everybody' for my birthday. Well, my birthday is on friday, but my boyfriend let me have it early :)
    Ashley x

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Thanks for the comment!

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