Operation Christmas Child

Schools around here take part in the yearly Operation Christmas Child. Every year we have enjoyed picking little gifts to put in a shoebox and until this year we used to buy a hat, scarf, gloves combo from a supermarket.

This year I thought I should knit a set.
I certainly have enough yarn.
I had bought a ball of red chunky yarn in Switzerland.
I was testing it for Sylvi. It is a good yarn and deserves consideration. I bought it in the Manor department store it is their brand.


The blue yarn is Wendy Merino from my stash. I surfed Ravelry for some free pattern and based the hat on this pattern.
I checked the cast on for the mittens but did the rest by eye. I frogged the first mitten because I thought it was to small. I used my own personal toddler for size. Because she is small I knew I had to size them up. We are aiming at an age range for 2-4 years. I hope whoever gets this shoebox will be happy with all the contents. We had fun choosing sweets today. Our local high street has a new old fashioned sweets store.
Another store had the little finger puppets.
Both shopkeepers asked us if we were shopping for the shoeboxes!
I will now attempt to knit a hat and maybe scarf and fingerless mittens for a teenager.

Frou Frou

The week has flown past again. Where did the days go?
I finished knitting the sleeves last weekend. I knitted them in the round and actually took them out and about with me.
Then Monday and Tuesday was spent with the neckline border and finishing touches.
I got the Frou Frou pattern with a magazine called The Knitter. It is a new magazine and has lovely pattern aimed at a more experienced knitter. Frou Frou has been taken from Sublime Pattern book tough.
I used Rowan Fine Milk Cotton yarn. It is a nice 4ply yarn that my local yarn store sells. No other reason really. I also wanted to try the yarn.
I needed four balls of yarn. I wish I had knitted the sleeves a few rows shorter and then I would have used only three balls. The colour I used is called Sherbert.
My LYS had a nice blingy button to go with it. Miss T loves a bit of bling.
Yesterday we went to see Debbie Bliss, Miss T did a photo shoot for her new book. Miss T wore a dress knit with a lovely organic yarn. Can't wait for the book and yarn to come out in spring.
Miss T was much better modeling for Debbie than she is for me.
I can barley get her to stand still for 2 seconds.
But I don't have an assistant and a baby groomer.
Not that she needed much grooming!

Frilled to bits

After I finished Decimal I went and got Frou Frou out again. I was stuck somewhere on the right front.
I had increased the length on the back and had to incorporate the extra rows in the front and recalculate the slant decreases.
Forgetting the pattern at home while I went to Switzerland did not help. I abandoned Frou Frou and started Decimal.
I like knitting frills. I love the way knitting works. My oldest daughter used to love them to. There was a time when all her knitted clothes had to have frills.
I like the ones on Frou Frou, they look like little pleats.
I started the sleeves yesterday. I first knit them as it is stated in the pattern. But then I thought I should knit them in the round. I frogged them and started again. With a little luck I have two finished sleeves by the end of the weekend.
We are booked into a photo studio to have a photo done off all 18 grandchildren. Hope the photographer gets them all to look at the camera at the same time! We have so far not managed at family parties.

Decimal

My Summer knitting for 2009 is done.
I finished Decimal last night. I am very happy with the result. It is a good fit. I knitted the Medium size, I used Rowan Cotton Glace in Excite. I knitted the pattern as stated. The same amount of rows etc. In the end I used about 10 3/4 balls of yarn.

I think the pattern is well written and had no problems with it. Only the neck button border took some thinking and ripping. I used my usual end of row technique. I always slip the first stitch of every row and I always knit the last no matter whether it the pattern tells me to purl. I learned to knit this way in school. I do it so automatic I don't think about it. Decimal uses a similar edge stitch. I was not sure how many stitches the designer wanted me to pick up along the edges.
I am happy with the result, I think I did it as was intended.
My yarn store had lovely matching buttons to go with my yarn.
I need to sort out my hand knits and store this one away until spring 2010.
Yes, in case you are wondering, I did have my hair done. My first ever high lights. I am still not sure if I like them?

We went to Ally Pally

Yesterday we went to the Knitting and Stitching show in Alexandra Palace.
I had not been there the last three years.
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day. It had rained all day Wednesday and London looked bright. The view was amazing.
Tara did try and run from stall to stall. I forced her into her pushchair and she actually fell asleep.
I managed to walk around in peace and shop. I had taken a certain amount of cash with me and I stuck to my budget. I bought a Hanne Falkenberg kit, it is a for a jacket. Of course the jacket is for Miss T. She choose the colour. I got myself some square knitting needles. I have to test the needles first before I can say anything about them.
I got a magazine subscription for the Debbie Bliss magazine. That way I won't miss it.
We also spoke to the great Debbie Bliss.
All in all it was a very nice day out. I feel very lucky that Ally Pally is fairly close to home. Only problem is the traffic jams to get there.
We did make an effort and wore show piece hand knits!

Cat finds money!

Autumn has truly started here in London this week. I know I am still knitting a cotton cardigan with 3/4 length sleeves. I am glad to report than I am making good progress. The body is done until the armholes and one sleeve has also reached the armhole. Once I finish the second sleeve it will all come together for the yoke, yeah, can't wait. I love trying out new techniques and knitting a yoke with all the pieces is new for me.
Of course I am already on the lookout for a new project. I keep dreaming of Sylvi. I am searching for the right yarn. It is knit in a Canadian chunky wool yarn. I have spend a lot of time on Ravelry looking at all the other Sylvi's.
I ordered a skein of Malabrigo chunky yarn. Now I am looking for a scarf or hat pattern to use the yarn. My other option is Lamb's Pride yarn.
Lucky the Knitting and Stitching show starts on Thursday. I am planning to go there this year.
I will have to take little Miss T with me. Hope she will cope.
Whilst I was ordering the Malabrigo yarn from Stash yarns, I came accross this lovely looking Smooshy yarn by Dream in Color.
I may use that to knit Boheme. A lovely free pattern. I have seen some knit in the Smooshy yarn on Ravelry.


In other news!
Perry the cat has found money. I must be the happiest cat owner. He came home with ONE penny stuck to the magnet on his collar.
I could not stop laughing and chanting: the cat has found money, the cat has found money. Wonder in which garden he has found the penny. The penny has not dropped yet. He has not found anymore. I think that is a very special lucky penny. I will keep it somewhere safe and not spend it - on yarn!