Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I have been busy, really...........

I have just noticed that I haven't blogged about knitting recently and it's not like I haven't done any, so this blog is dedicated to recent work.

Well apart from a brief update about Once A Sheep, the shop. Basically there is no update as I still don't have a property. The unit I particularly want is still under offer and I am awaiting a decision from the landlord. So back to the knitting.........

Paul's cousin's wife has had her baby, a girl called Lois. Lovely name and a bonny baby too, all 10lb 6 oz of her! I had knit a wee cardigan for her

but after finding out her birth weight I have quickly knit up a second cardigan a wee bit bigger. Both are knit in the same Patons Smoothie DK which is so lovely to knit with and feels just like bamboo without the "give" and best of all it's machine washable. I'll be sending these off along with the baby pinwheeel blanket featured a wee while ago.



My brother and his partner and daughter came to visit for a week recently. I realised (too late) that I had not knit anything for Ruby Rose (two and a half years old) so began what I thought would be a quick knit stocking stitch top down cotton smock, Heidi from Yarn Forward. However with 180 odd stitches it turned out to be quite full and has taken rather longer than anticipated. Only the second sleeve to complete now and I can send this one off too.



My June socks were completed in time, though only just and whilst I loved the finished look of them I discovered on Thursday that I had made life very hard for myself by misinterpreting row 7 of the pattern Duh! I think I will knit these gain and compare the correct version to my "designer" version! The photo was taken late at night in bad light, Stephen I am awaiting your photograph which should be much better. These are Kai Mei from Cookie A. Sock Innovations.


I completed my July socks (in the sock a month challenge on Ravelry) which was the Switcheroo sock from Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns. I didn't continue the pattern onto the foot as I was afraid it would be uncomfortable in a full shoe. The lovely yarn is Natural Dye Studios CHI socks in Sweet Violet. I really like the way these came out. I have used Magic Loop for the last 3 pairs of socks I have knit and love this technique. I think I will give two at a time a go next time. I haven't cast on any more socks yet as I'm trying to finish some UFOs this month.


Talking of which, I am still knitting the Milkweed Shawl in Fyberspates Unicorn yarn. I am about halfway through but put it aside for things with immediate delivery deadlines. This is an easy pattern written in charts and in full which is great for those of us with chart blindness. It is knitting up very pretty but I will save the photograph for when it is finished and blocked.

I also completed, a little while ago (but failed to blog), another unicorn project, The Crest of the Waves scarf. Another very easy pattern and I'm looking forward to some cooler weather so I can wear it out!

And finally Carrie helped me to learn how to crochet a couple of weeks ago and I jumped in feet first and joined a CAL (crochet-along for the uninitiated). It's the Posy CAL designed by Queenieamanda of Natural Dye Studios. I think I may have over-committed on this one and rather than a shawl I might be aiming for a hankie just now!

p.s. sometimes I hyperlink to Ravelry, only members can view Ravelry but I can highly recommend a (free) subscription.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

A trip doon the watter

Last Saturday a few of us went on a fabulous knitting trip on the Waverley, the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer. The forecast was for "dreich" weather so suitably dressed in jeans, long sleeved tops with waterproofs we headed down to the Custom House Quay in Greenock.

Of course the sunset the night before should have given us a clue as to the real forecast. Red sky at night etc....


Kimberly and Lewis treated us to ice creams on the quay whilst we were waiting with the sun blazing. Here's Carrie (suitably dressed!) discussing Kimberly's Kai Mei socks.

Then the Waverley appeared puffing down the Clyde from Glasgow.

Here's Val under steam (well she wasn't personally under steam but you know what I mean), look at that sky, no rain in sight there!

We soon passed by the ill fated Captayannis, a sugar boat holed and sunk in 1974, we got quite a good view of her as she lies on her side on a sandbank. We stopped at Helensburgh to pick up some more passengers and headed off to Dunoon.


In Dunoon we picked up Sandy and Ali and as we set off again, we all opened up our picnics for lunch. It was so hot by this time that we were having to strip off our outer layers and slap on the sunscreen. But we weren't complaining!


After a further stop at Rothesay to pick up more passengers we headed through the Kyles of Bute toward Tighnabruaich.

The Kyles act a bit like a wind funnel so it was a wee bit breezy but as we rounded into Tighnabruaich the wind dropped, and we were accompanied to the pier by some beautiful local boats.


It's so pretty here, if a little bit remote.

We stopped for an hour or so and walked into the village for a nice cuppa tea! Meanwhile the Waverley steamed off for an hour's mini cruise to raise funds for the pier association.


On the way back much knitting, chatting, cake eating (of which no photographic evidence I'm afraid) and general hilarity!


And here's a gratuitous engine shot for those of you interested in old steam engines!

We have decided, despite the sunburn, that it will become an annual event so all aboard for next year's trip!