Second Year of Projects Week 44

A very brief update this week. I've been knitting on preemie cardigans again when I've had time, and I've got two on the (same pair) of needles

I decided to knt two before stitching them together because the dark blue with white sleeves looked silly and this way I have one that is dark and light blue and one that is light blue and white without wasting any of my yarn. I actually really like this yarn, Teddy Bella Bambina, the colour changes would be really nice for a bigger garment, and it's really soft, which isn't bad for £2 from the market.

So that's my update, since exam work is taking up so much time! I will be reading everyone else's when I have time, and hope you've all had more interesting knitting weeks than me!

Second Year of Projects Week 43

So I have got a bit of knitting done this week. I actually worked on my socks, since I spent 4 hours on a train last Thursday.

It's a really easy pattern to memorise, and I think it makes a nice effect out of the semi-solid yarn, because it adds a bit of interest without detracting too much from the lovely colours in the yarn. The pattern is also really well written, both charted and written out for people who don't like charts. The only thing I've found is that being a tight knitter strikes again, but since I know I'm a tight knitter, I know what needle size and number of stitches I need to make a sock fit me, so I'm making the large size, and I went up a needle size from what the pattern called for, and they seem to be fitting really well.

However, I'm in the grip of exam work (3 weeks left, eek!), and I needed something even simpler to knit in breaks, so I cast on a preemie cardigan, since I know the pattern off by heart by now

The yarn I'm using has big colour changes, so it looks a bit silly right now, with the one white arm. I'm planning to knit two more sleeves and another body, but in the opposite order to the way I knitted this one, so I can mix and match to have one cardigan in light blue and white, and the other in light and dark blue.

We got a new washer/drier on Friday, which is very exciting as a) I haven't been able to wash for two weeks, and had to take two loads of laundry to my friends last weekend so I had something to wear for placement and b) I have a drier for the first time! I decided to wash and dry my Honka scarf, as I had heard that it softens acrylic slightly, and it came out silky soft, which is amazing as I have quite a sensitive face, and it was a bit itchy before.

We've been enjoying the sun here, and decided to go wonder round a little town centre near us, as I had found out there was a LYS. It was very nice, and Connor was flicking through pattern books, and found a book with not one, not two, but three jumpers he wanted. Since he's never expressed any interest in a hand knit jumper, and they were all made in bulky wool, so it won't be too big an undertaking for a 6'3" guy, we bought it, so one of them will probably feature on my list next year.

Not sure much list knitting will happen until after my exams, but I should have quite a collection to donate to the NICU by then!

Second Year of Projects Week 41 and 42

I actually have another finish this week, my Honka scarf.

Please excuse the facial expression, I had the sun in my eyes, and it was very windy! The scarf is 70 inches long, so just less than 6 foot, and very warm, which is just what I need since it looks like spring has finally come to the UK! It's been pretty warm here, and we've actually had sun!

I've also been working on my socks.

They don't look very different from last time you saw them, because I seem to have lost my knitting mojo. I've been working hard towards my exams, which are in 4 weeks, and when I'm not working I somehow don't feel like knitting, which is really rare for me. I don't know what's been happening!

I also haven't had much knitting time because I went on holiday! I went to Ireland with my club for the Irish Students Trampoline Open, a four day competition of bouncing, partying and generally being silly. I did alright in the actual competition, but it was so much fun to just go on holiday with my friends and spend some time with them. But since we were restricted to hand luggage only, I couldn't take any knitting with me!

My team, if you look closely, that spells out ISTO 2013 (I'm the one holding a hula hoop for an O since we were one person short to do the whole thing). There were full days of bouncing and also helping out with the competition, which is student run, so everybody has to get involved in helping out, and then dressing up and dancing all night. There were also silly challenges, like getting into a fountain (which, yes, I did do), and a full inflatable obstacle course on the last day.

As a club, we only won one medal, but since there were well over 1000 people competing, I think we did pretty well!

Second Year or Projects Week 40

I can't believe there are only 3 months left of this year of projects, where has the time gone?

I've been working on my Honka scarf, it looks much the same as last week, except twice as long!

It's going really well, though I was very confused by the fact that I was getting through the purple yarn a lot quicker than the black, until I realised that the purple has 230 yards per 100g, whereas the black has 300, so I'm guessing the black is a bit thinner, though not enough to be noticeable in the scarf.

I've come to visit my parents for the Easter weekend, and since it's still really snowy "oop north," we've had a log fire burning, which is lovely

It makes you feel warm just looking at the picture!

The cat isn't impressed to be here though, he's spent most of the weekend finding strategic hiding places.

He had a traumatic journey getting here as well, he managed to poo twice and pee once in the cat carrier on the way here, and he peed just as we hit five miles of standing traffic, so we couldn't stop. At the same time, Connor's phone alarm started going off in the boot, so we had half an hour of standing traffic with a wailing cat, an alarm going off that we couldn't get to, and the music on to drown them both out. After an unceremonious bath with some wet wipes, a washed carrier and a new cushion, he was fine the rest of the way, his dignity was just a bit insulted.

The main reason the cat is not impressed now is because he can smell this thing:

Sorry for the blurry picture, but she will not stay still long enough to be photographed. At the moment, there is a pitched battle going on over a milk carton that Siouxsie (the middle dog), will not let her have.

We nearly had disaster when my Dad let the puppy through when the cat was out exploring. Luckily, Connor drew on his several years of rugby training to pick the dog up like you would a rugby ball out of a scrum, and ran with her back to the kitchen. The puppy didn't see the cat, but the cat's face definitely said "OH MY GOD, WHAT IS THAT THING?"

So we have a sulking cat, but other than that, a lovely Easter. I hope everyone else has had a wonderful Easter Sunday.

Second Year of Projects Week 39

Is it really time for another update already? Time seems to be flying by!

I decided that instead of casting on another pair of socks, I would knit one of the other projects from my list, and I settled on Hönkä. I've been meaning to knit this scarf since last year's list, so it was definitely time I started, and I know that it's the end of March, but I definitely have need for a warm scarf, since we have about a foot of snow that's fallen over the last 2 days or so.

The UK is not meant to look like this in March! This has also meant that we have a very pissed off cat, since he's under the impression that we are magical weather gods, and have sent this snow deliberately to annoy him.

I've managed two repeats so far, and it's very nearly 2 feet long, so I'm thinking 5 repeats will be the perfect length

The scarf itself is much more purple than it looks in this picture. The yarn is the one I've had in my stash the longest, as it was the yarn I learnt to knit with. However, it was originally knitted into an unfinished scarf which looked like this.

I think its new incarnation is much nicer, and much more likely to be worn. Plus it isn't triangular and full of accidental yarn overs, which is always a bonus.

I have also cast on for a pair of socks, because I needed a portable project, and two balls of yarn are not easy to transport around

The pattern is School Days, and I had forgotten how much I hate doing Judy's magic cast on for toe up socks, it took me at least 7 tries, so they're already in time out! Hopefully they can be worked on this week, and behave themselves a bit better.

It's going to be another busy week this week, but I finish my term on Thursday, and I get a whole 10 days holiday, including a trip to Cork for a trampoline competition, so I'm really excited. I've not been on a plane in 4 years!

Second Year of Projects Week 38

I have finally finished my Jera socks, so pleased! It felt like these took forever, and they've been my only project for the last month, which is surprising, as I can usually knit a pair of socks for me in 2 weeks, and these are smaller than I would usually knit.

A close up of the front pattern. Am I really pleased with them, and I think my Mum will love them. If I was doing them again though, I would continue the side cables all the way down to the toe, rather than stopping them when the front cable stops. The pattern is really well written, and is available in both a written and charted form. The only problem I had with it was that the number of rows and the stitch count for the toe didn't match up, so I went with the stitch count and they came out fine.

I'm debating casting on another pair of socks, or going for a different type of project, feeling a bit socked out!

Need to get on with some work now, as my exams are looming on the horizon, so I'm feeling like I won't get a lot of knitting done now for the next couple of weeks.

Second Year of Projects Week 37

Again, not a huge amount of progress on the socks, but I have finished the first one

I've gone by the size of the sock blocker for the sizing, so I hope they're going to fit. It's looking like they are going to take a bit of a tug to get them on, but they should stay on really well when they are actually on. I was knitting on the second one all day yesterday, but since I was at the pub for the LSG UK meetup, I'm not surprised that I didn't get more done!

I also came to do the cabling on the second sock, and realised that I'd followed the cuff instructions for the first, so I had to drop down 8 stitches and pick them back up in twisted rib, which took ages, though not as long as reknitting the cuff would take. This was after frogging the cuff twice because I couldn't get the stitch count right. I think these socks are cursed, and I'm sick to death of them!

I had a great time at the LSG meetup, with a very early start to catch a train to London, to visit the fabulous Loop. I was very tempted by the Woolmeise, but it was just too much out of my budget, so I got some Uncommon Thread Tough Sock instead.

Who doesn't love hot pink socks?

Then it was onto the pub for lunch and cocktails. Whilst I was there, someone was offering a braid of Angora/Tussah which was partially felted to anyone who wanted to deal with it. It was so soft, and the colours were so yummy, that I couldn't resist. I have no idea how to deal with it, but I guess re-carding it will probably help... Anyone with any suggestions?

My Celestarium was much admired whilst I was there, and I think I've been an enabler since people have now seen it in the flesh. I was surprised just how easy it is to wear, and how warm and snuggly it is. I think I'm in love! I never want to take it off. Speaking of which, it was featured in the Twist Collective Newsletter, I'm internet famous!

I'm just trying to get the house sorted having been away for a week again this week. Glad to be back, though I am looking forward to my second two weeks there in April. I'm starting Dermatology tomorrow, so that should be fun!