Friday, October 22, 2010

Delphine

Say 'Hello' to my new autumn cardigan.
It's Delphine by Kim Hargreaves.
Knit with Rowan Felted Tweed DK in Bilberry.

It has taken me over 6 months to knit. I started sometime back in March and did not finish it in Spring.
But now it is ready for the colder weather.
I love the peplum shaping. I believe it is very flattering.
But I have to wear a scarf around my neck as I find the yarn a little itchy.




My LYS had lovely Italian buttons, the purple inside the buttons is a perfect match.
I have seen a few more lovely peplum patterns that I could consider knitting for myself.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

New Baby = New Project

Hearing that a friend or family member is expecting a baby is always exiting news. I think for a knitter it's double joy.
The chance to look at patterns, yarn and to start a new project.
My pen pal in Singapore had a son in July. As she lives in Singapore it made choosing knit wear a bit harder. I have no idea really if one would need a jacket or not. But one thing that was sure, a blanket in cotton.
Lucky my local yarn store (LYS) has Debbie Bliss ecobaby yarn and the little pattern book.
I love, love knitting with the ecobaby yarn. I used up almost all 8 balls of yarn.
I finished the blanket a few days after the baby was born and it has safely arrived in Singapore and it's getting used. One day, I hope, I will go and visit my friend and meet her family.
Closer to home, my sister-in-law had a baby boy Sept. 22.
I knew I wanted to knit another project from the same book with the same yarn.

I knit the Striped Sailor Top in size 6-9 months.
I knit the body and the sleeves in the round. Not having to sew up seams makes for faster finishing.
My little daughter loves looking at the pattern book and she wants me to knit her a dress. I think I have no other option but to knit her this for next spring. It is from Debbie's new book, Design it, Knit it for Babies. We had a lot of fun at the photoshoot almost a year ago. The dress too is knit with the ecobaby yarn. Debbie told me about the new yarn then and I have spent all winter looking forward to it. It knits up to the same tension as her Baby Cashmerino yarn.


Yesterday my husband lost his iPhone cover and he has asked me to knit him one.
I had a quick look on ravelry to see how many stitches to cast on and I came accross a pattern that uses a 'sock from the toe up' cast on.
Rather than sit in front of the computer with my knitting, I remembered I had a good book that explains different cast-ons. I had no problem following Wendy's great instructions. I went really wild and started using the Magic Loop method as well.
I am sure my husband will have a new phone cover tonight and I have learned two new knitting techniques.