round and round

I've always been a fan of argyle. Yes, I'm a little bit preppy. But I never tried knitting it because of all of the colorwork involved. So when I found a pattern that created an argyle pattern in texture rather than color, I really wanted to try it.



Pattern: Argyle Purl Scarf, by knarlyknitter (can be found as a free download on Ravelry)
Yarn: Berroco Comfort in red (1.5 skeins) on US 8 needles



The verdict? It's a great pattern and comes out really sharp looking. This was also the first time I'd used Comfort, and I really liked it.

Another close up of the pattern:



It's already gone to its new home, and I've even got another project finished, though it needs to be blocked before posting. And then, I don't know...

double trouble

A friend of mine is due to have twins next month, so there's been more baby knitting going on and this time, in sets of two!



Pattern: Vertical Stripes Baby Sweater, by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Classic Elite Sundance in mauve and chocolate brown (about 2.25 skeins of each) and Classic Elite Sundance in light teal and dark teal (same as others), on US 6 needles



The main modification I made, since I was trying to use only the yarn I had, was to knit in stockinette rather than garter stitch. However, I still ran out of yarn and had to buy more. But I like the smooth look of the stockinette anyway.

And two pairs of little booties for little baby feet!



Pattern: Saartje's Bootees
Yarn: Regia Tweed 4-fadig (above) and Regia Bamboo (below) on US 2.5 needles



The straps didn't seem to come out quite long enough, so I made them button to each other rather than do the criss-cross style.

I love this pattern; I think it's the simplest I've done but also the cutest.

Me myself & I

A couple of weeks ago I followed a few links and ended up at the site for Stitch London's Stitch Yourself project. The idea is to have people knit, crochet, or sew miniature versions of themselves for the "Who Am I?" exhibit at London's Science Museum. I was really intrigued by the idea, and here is the result.



Pattern: Stitch Yourself Knit Body Blank (available at the Stitch London site, above)
Yarn: Leftovers of Red Heart Classic, Vanna's Choice, Valley Yarns Colrain, Valley Yarns Amherst, Berroco Chinchilla in various colors on US4 and US6 needles

She's weaaring purple Mary Janes, like a pair I have.



And she's carrying a Tenth Doctor (Doctor Who) doll, since that's what I'm most known (infamous?) for knitting. This was suggested by the brilliant Kate. I made him out of felt and superglue.



The other thing she's carrying is a copy of 84, Charing Cross Road. I figured those two things summed me up pretty well--a dork, a knitter, an Anglophile, and a bookworm all rolled into one.

She's going off in the mail today to London, but I couldn't resist taking a picture of her with my Doctor Who dolls.



I hope my Mini Me enjoys London as much as I do.

Break of day

Shawl done!



Pattern: Daybreak, by Stephen West
Yarn: Blue Moon Socks that Rock Lightweight in The Cookie Next Door (almost the full skein) and Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Island Red (almost the full skein) on US4 needles



It's a very simple pattern--so simple you might get tired of the stockinette--but really pretty. I love the stripes and the slipped stitches, and how these two yarns worked together.



And from the front...

the socks that would never end

They just went on and on, my friend.

Seriously. I started this pair of socks in January, as a carry around project. After months of stopping and starting I finally finished them this afternoon.



Pattern: Basic Stockinette Sock (72 stitches)
Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball in red on US1 needles



I love the color and gradation effect of this yarn. The yarn itself I'm not so in love with. It's single plied, and not tightly, and tends to be splitty. And at points where it's very loosely plied it breaks apart entirely. So beside the two knots in the ball of yarn, I had at least three other breaks to contend with.



But they look nice and they're done, and I can move on to something else. Time to go through the stash!

Sheeps!

This weekend was the annual Sheep Shearing Festival at Gore Place.

Alpaca!



Sheep shearing!





Sheep herding and dogs!



Nigerian dwarf goats!



Lambies!



Woolly stuff!



Hedgehogs! (for Kate)



Kilts!







Always a fun day, with the critters and the crafts.

baby in blue

Thanks to amazingly speedy service by the USPS and the Royal Mail, you're seeing this a lot sooner than expected!

The baby parade continues with Lizzie, who is due early next month. For this little one--who we've been told will be a girl--I made these goodies:



Pattern: Ballet Blossom Cardigan from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, size 6-12 months
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Forget-Me-Not (1.5 skeins) on US3 and US5 needles



I didn't do the flower called for in the pattern but improvised a rose instead.



And instead of doing a tie around the back I put a button closure at the front, with a snap inside.

What I'm most proud of on this project is the seams. I've been knitting for six years but I've only just figured out invisible seams!

See, right side:



And wrong side:



And since it's going to be a spring/summer baby, I made another of the sun hats.



Pattern: On the sunny side, by Melanie Hoffman
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Coral Beaches on US7 needles

And booties, too, of course!



Pattern: Triange Edged Booties from Debbie Bliss's Quick Baby Knits
Yarn: Shelridge Farms Soft Touch Heather in Crocus on US2 and US3 needles



Welcome, little one.