Autumn knits.

This week the weather has turned decidedly autumnal and the woolies are coming out of storage. But I'm getting prepared early this time and getting the needles clicking on the warm, cosy jumpers. This is the latest woolie to be finished:

Started on Tuesday evening, quickly knitted up in Wendy Chameleon chunky wool/acrylic mix shade 522. The wool was on special at Hobbycraft (I think it was £1.49 a ball) so I picked up a pattern too which was also in the offers section. The pattern is no. 5380 and specified 6 balls in Cain's size. However I ended up not having enough despite buying an extra ball AND working to the correct tension. Usually I don't bother with the tension as I am far too impatient but this time I wanted to make sure the shortage wasn't down to my error ;-) so I measured up.


I thought there would be a problem after knitting the back so moved onto the arms next whilst I formulated a rescue plan just in case. By the time I started on the front I knew I needed to put the plan into action and so rifled through my stash looking for co-ordinating yarns. Luckily I found an odd ball of Twilley's Freedom in dark green and so I added a band of this just above the ribbing. The rescue plan worked and I had just enough yarn to finish the project:


I am thinking that the stripe still looks added in rather than part of the design so am considering different embellishments to bring it all together. I'll be back - as someone once said ;-)

Stashbusting - part one.

The great thing about keeping a crafting blog is that I have points of reference for all things I do, and a record of when I did it, or didn't! So looking back a few days ago to this time last year I came across this post, and remembering how lovely the colours were I decided to dig out the wool again. Well I also remembered that it is a very fine DK, more of a cross between DK and 4 ply, so I thought I would hash up a pattern as I went along rather than relying on following one. I made that mistake here, and had to rip it all back once already. Added to the lack of pattern was the fact that that ripped back wool won't knit to the specified tension anyway as it is more springy and finer than before.
So I thought I'd make a little jumper for Heather and this is what I ended up with:



She definitely has better things to do than pose in her new jumper, can't you tell?

The yarn is Adriafil knitcol 100% merino and self patterned to give these lovely stripes. I didn't want to distort the striped effect by ribbing any part of the jumper so I worked a picot edging to the hem and cuffs instead. I also avoided ribbing the neckline by working a row of double crochet right round, including across the button shoulder opening.
So one more ball of this wool left and I'm thinking a hat might be nice?
Or maybe that would be stripey overkill?

The chunky sweater.

We have a very poorly little person here at the moment so finding time to do anything other than hold her is a major problem. But............she does so want to be held in the sling which means whilst she sleeps I have two hands free to knit. OK that's not really how I like to spend my crafting time but as I am virtually confined to moving only slowly and gently for fear of waking or upsetting her then knitting and such are great time occupiers especially in the dead of night.
So I have finished the jumper for Cain. It's been done for a while actually but no chance to take photos and upload them here. Cain has a real dislike of having clothing pulled over his head, as do most small children I suspect, (never understand why shop bought clothing is always so fitted and so hard to get on?) and so I finished this jumper with a couple of lines of double crochet around the neckline rather than ribbing or any form of knitted trim. The crochet is a much looser finish and therefore much easier to pull over his head without problems. He tells me it is lovely and warm and feels soft too. The hem edges are all worked in double rib for a few rows on 6.5mm needles and then switched to 7mm needles for the stocking stitch main pattern. The back is just one rectangle from hem to neck, with the stitches for each shoulder left on holders. The sleeves are slightly sloped by increased 1st at each end every 6 rows until they are the length I wanted. The front is again one straight piece until I reached the centre parting when I just decreased at the neck edge of every other row for I think 6 stitches decreased on each side. The remaining stitches were worked straight each side and then the front and back shoulders were grafted together for the slightly raised ridge effect by using a 3-needle cast off. A lot of making up as I went along but very, very easy as there was no shaping or insetting for the shoulders at all. Then I just stitched the arms in place and joined the sleeve and side seams. Of course for this jumper I had to knit a tension square, which I HATE doing, but from that I worked out all the details I needed so well worth it. It was so quick and easy that I'm thinking of making another in a stripe pattern. And possibly one for John too in the future for his biking getaways. Anyway here's a picture of the gorgeous boy in his new mama made clothing:

By the way - what do you call it? A jumper? A sweater? A pullover? Never know which is the right word!

Making things........slowly!

Crafting time has been difficult to find lately. Sophie has been staying here more often, Heather is not settling until late, I have been reading more than usual, and life has just been rushing along. But I do have a few things to show.
First is a chunky sweater for Cain. I have been knitting it in plain stocking stitch as the stitches are so well defined and uniform and I think they look great and need no embellishments or creative stitchery. The pattern is from the top of my head and all guesswork but I think it is coming on nicely. Just the arm to finish and the neck to trim in some way and then it will be done. The colour is great don't you think?



Another thing I have been finding very relaxing is making these little needlefelted balls:


There's something about all that rolling and stabbing that is so therapeutic, especially at the end of a hectic day. Heather especially loves them and has a couple which she loves to pass between hands and follow around the floor. The boys just like to throw them at each other!

Also on the needles is a small blanket which I am making to cover Heather's legs when out in the car. Our car is not the best of its type and the heating is a bit hit and miss so she needs a little something to keep her comfortable. And I can't wrap her in a big outfit as she'd get too hot when I pop her in the sling when we get to where we are going. Hopefully this blanket should do the trick and keep her warm. It's being knitted in Paton's fairytale color 4 me DK which is a pure wool which comes in lots of lovely colours. I chose these three colours as they are so warm.


And finally............I still haven't bought any wool! I'm doing well aren't I? Even John is shocked as I turned down the chance to go to BlackSheepwools craft barn last week. This weekend might be a bit difficult though as John heard about the stitch and craft show in Manchester and asked if I wanted to go............... Must resist the urge to say yes. Besides, it's the Aintree craft and hobby fair in March and I do want to go to that one. Anyone else going to either?
Oh well, that's enough for now. Off to get on with the list on the right.
Happy crafting everyone.
xx