March 18, 2007
Beware of the knitting dragon
A boy can never have too many dragons.
See what I mean? Which is why I couldn't resist Morehouse Farm's Puff Dragon Scarf when I saw it. Puff bears an astonishing resemblance to at least one of the dragon's Jacob already has and he does need a new scarf. The knitting kit arrived this week so I can start straight-away. One thing I will be changing though is those white firey-things emanating from the dragon's nostrils. Call me old fashioned but to my mind they should be red, or as Fluffyasacat suggested, red, orange and yellow.
Right then, all I have to do is finish the jumper I started last winter, (it will soon be too small) and the jumper for which I bought wool at a summer sale, and I can get started!
Posted by Faith at 04:42 AM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2005
Mimi Very Long
Now that it's sufficently close to Christmas to be a really dumb idea I've embarked on the annual christmas-gift-knit-along. It's not like I've got anything else to do. Move continents, process and order 1 billion photos, build Dominic's web site, buy Sint presents, birthday presents, and did I mention pack-up-and-move-continents? So here's the first offering. In Rowan's Summer Tweed Mimi Very Long
.
I'm using much bigger needles than usual with this yarn as otherwise you end up with a very dense not to mention exceptionally expensive scarf.
Posted by Faith at 04:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 08, 2005
Cozy
I never did get anywhere with Clapotis. Couldn't work out what to do with all those stitch markers and the pattern did require some concentration and I've now accepted that I'm a knitter of small and shiny things. Concentration and focus are beyond me. Lately I have been entertaining myself with Cozy. A very forgiving pattern, luckily, as there are quite a few too-many-glasses-of-wine or distracted-by-CSI-Miami moments immortalised in this piece. The pattern is perfect for me, very very simple but produces something that looks just a bit more complicated than it is.
I'm knitting it in Rowan's Summer Tweed Oats, which I already had, on 5mm circular needles. I was thinking it would then be a nice weight for those cooler summer evenings sitting in my Mum's backyard in Melbourne sipping my chardonnay.
And I'm hoping to get to Coco & Pearls which sounds a bit more fun than the average crafty expo. It does coincide with our nephew's birthday though so I will have to be creative in working out a way to fit in the two events!
Posted by Faith at 01:26 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 05, 2005
Knot choosing
True to form, I'm swinging from one extreme to the other. No knitting at all for months and then, rather than gently easing my way back into things, I've solved my how-to-make-a-choice dilema by NOT making a choice.
So, I jumped on the Clapotis bandwagon, just long enough to practice my kfbs and pfbs before being distracted by a long skinny scarf, another scarf I didn't even like much but I had some wool it would suit and the need to knit a wedding present. Oh yes. I have to KNIT the wedding present. Couldn't just go and buy one like everyone else could I?
Posted by Faith at 10:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 08, 2005
Oh Knitty Knitty Knitty!
More and more its the really simple things in life that make you astoundingly happy! The way Jacob repeats a new word back at you almost every hour these days. A hint-of-spring-in-the-breeze and that one stolen glass of rose on a terrace. Or a new issue of Knitty! Coinciding magnificently with my latest infection of itchy-fingers I receive an email alert that the Spring Issue of Knitty is out! Can it get any better? Can my bliss be more complete?
I was busy preparing to dive into Clapotis but have now found Petals, the perect balance, for those brain-dead moments. Plus lots more nice projects. All I needed when I already had a long list of dinosaurs and knuffels to do!
Posted by Faith at 10:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 20, 2004
Leaps and bounds!
The Christmas knitting frenzy continues. It WOULD help if I stopped having brilliant ideas about who else I can inflict items from my rather limited repertoire on.
These two scarves, that may, or may not, be Christmas presents for someone, who may, or may not, be reading this were knitted in different shades of Rowan Cork on 8mm bamboo needles to a pattern by Marie Burns at Chicknits. The Cork is lovely and well-named, nice and springy wool. The pattern is very easy but manages to look quite a bit nicer than than it is, if you know what I mean. Neither of my examples so far is a patch on that at Chicknits. Only two more to go! (I think). And then there's the rest.....
Posted by Faith at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 09, 2004
..and counting
Christmas present no.1 is finished.
(is that the sound of knees-knocking Down Under?)
Posted by Faith at 02:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 05, 2004
The whole shebang
So here it is in all its glory, the Fall/Winter Collection from the House of Jacob.
Jacob's snazzy scarf and beanie set has been specified elsewhere so I won't go into it again.
Ron's scarf is a K2P2 (yup, too impatient to actually look at a pattern again) in Rowan's Big Wool on 15mm needles. Sort of like knitting with tree trunks. I used Best Brown, Latte and Pip. I did start out on 5mm needles having managed to ignore the signs all over the store screaming "Rowan's Big Wool=15mm needles". The 5mms produced an absolutely gorgeous scarf that was going to end up costing about 100 Euros in wool and would be too warm to wear anywhere on this planet. I persisted halfway before giving in to the inevitable and pulling it all out and starting again on the 15mm needles. Its still a nice scarf but not as gorgeous as its first incarnation. Ron's beanie is another bastardisation of Hot Head from the Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook. For this I used 10mm needles. As the needles and the wool are both much bigger than that in the pattern I had to guess a bit re number of stitches and how many rows. I could have knitted one of those practice squares but that would have made life too easy and predictable. It's turned out a little bit too big so I'll probbably pull it out and start again.
My blue scarf is a very basic affair. Again, in Rowan's Big Wool, this time using Bubble, on the 15mm needles but just plain stocking stitch which was because I just felt like knitting without thinking. This means the scarf is curled, something probably any half-assed experienced knitter could have told me would happen but which of course I've only just found out, but I've decided I like it this way. I made my fringes extra-long. The hat is Vinster from Rowan's Big Just Got Bigger book. The pompom affair on the top is not quite as alarming in real life as it looks here, its actually two tassles which should be hanging more towards the back.
Rowan's Big Wool is absolutely gorgeous to knit with, soooooo soft and despite its chunkiness, not as heavy as you'd expect. I could have knitted much more interesting scarves for half the price if I'd been bothered to spend even five minutes browsing through some patterns. If nothing else it proves that if you spend enough money on a quality wool then you don't need to have skill, imagination or even the patience to read labels and directions and you'll still end up with something half-decent!
Now, if we'd only get some really cold weather!
Posted by Faith at 11:28 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 23, 2004
From the trenches....
Another parcel has arrived from Australia with more fresh knitting for Jacob. This jumper and matching hat were knitted by Sue, a friend of my mother's. The shawl collar looks great on Jacob and is also very practical with the cold Amsterdam winds that come whistling down the canals from the Ij. The wool is a lovely mix of wintery greens which also suit Jacob's fair looks. (As to why our landlord chose that particular shade of red high-gloss for the hallway, I can't help you I'm sorry)
Simultanously I managed to finish the orange scarf from Rowan's Cork Delight and an almost-matching hat. The scarf is a very basic K2 P2 rib and the hat is a bastardisation of the pattern in the Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook for "Hot Head". Both were knitted with 5mm bamboo needles. I've since discovered that 8mm needles are more usual with this wool so the scarf especially is nice and thick. The wool I ordered online from www.breiweb.nl They are not cheaper than going to the Afstap but after they had helped me with a tricky wool-matching problem for another project I wanted to buy something from them. Their service was great, especially as I gave them the wrong address to deliver the wool too!
Posted by Faith at 12:29 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
October 26, 2004
Koninginnedag navelstreng mutsje
I've finally started and finished something within a reasonable time! This Umbilical Chord hat (navelstreng mutsje)from the Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook was knitted in two evenings. (I know you serious knitters would have done it in five minutes but I can only aspire to such productivity, at least while there's a glass of wine at my elbow...). It is knitted in Rowan's Cork Delight, which, as I've said before, is practically edible it's so delicious to look at. You can't see it in the photo but there is a slight colour variation through it, the effect is pumpkin soup with a wee bit of creme fraiche. As I said, delicious!
It is destined for Jaap and Edmee. At least the baby will be well-prepared for Koninginnedag!
Posted by Faith at 01:08 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 16, 2004
Knit happens
On the knitting front a dismal summer effort on my part at least has been slightly atoned for with a bit of an autumn flurry. Struck last week by the realisation that Jacob, while blessed with an embarassment of riches in hats, beanies, jackets and jumpers is lacking in the scarf department I've launched myself into action. A rather uninspring but very practical ball of wool, was promptly whipped into a long and serviceable, if not particularly attractive scarf. It strikes me now that I'll have to knit a beanie to match.
Meanwhile, there was always the plan to knit an orange Pumpkin hat but before this could be realised the ugliness of the first scarf had propelled me onto a second, in Rowan's Cork Delight, to go with the as-yet-non-existent Pumpkin hat.
Hot off the needles from Ijsselstein comes the latest offering from Oma, a cable jumper in which Jacob looks very handsome indeed.
Not to mention a very handsome blue number that arrived with grandma from Australia at the beginning of the summer. It has languished all summer long in a drawer but I'm here to say, its day has come. The weather is turning cold and this blue looks so handsome on Jacob, the collar is very dapper too!
But its Great-Oma Smits in Vianen who is just plain showing off with Jacob now coming home weekly with a new pair of socks!
Posted by Faith at 05:55 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 08, 2004
Goats wool socks
Not only is Jacob spoilt by two grandmothers knitting for him but he also has a great-grandmother who has just knitted for him his first pair of real can't-get-much-more-Dutch-than-this goats-wool socks.
(Meanwhile his naer-do-well mother is struggling to finish even one small beanie for him.)
The sock timing is uncanny, I was just talking to Jeanette at Kidskitsj yesterday about a pair of nice blue clogs for the boy. (To go with the blue disco pants, you know? .....just kidding!)
Posted by Faith at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 12, 2004
Knitty
The new Knitty is out with another fabulous design for a little girl, Tigger, but nothing nearly as cute for a little boy. Just as well, I still have to finish the Lil' Red Devil Hat and then knit the Pumpkin hat for Jacob. What with all the summer madness and getting hitched and lolling around the terraces of northern Spain, I seem to have let the knitting go for a while. And now there is also Jaap and Edmee's impending bundle-of-joy to knit for!
Posted by Faith at 12:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 10, 2004
We are making some progress on the knitting front. The Kittyville L'il Devil Baby Hat is coming along nicely. You can't rush these things you know. And I have made some progress with the boring-blue-jacket for Jacob and am now onto an astonishingly broad arm!
But better yet I have found the perfect pattern for the scrumptious ball of Rowan Cork Delight that I bought at the Afstap a couple of weeks ago. In this he will be practically edible!
I've always firmly believed that it is impossible to own too many hats and Jacob is going to be living proof!
Posted by Faith at 09:19 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 02, 2004
Ta - da!
Finally, a decent version of the Unbillical Chord Hat! This one's in Rowan's Kid Classic Pinched and not bad looking at all, even if I do say so myself. Its for Analu. I also have a gorgeous orange ball of Rowan's Cork Delight which has Jacob's name written all over it, just have to decide which hat it is to be. The colour is so yummy its almost edible!
Posted by Faith at 07:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2004
Read the manual first
My ongoing transformation into a Domestic Goddess hasn't, unfortunately, made any appreciable difference to my knitting skills. I haven't done any knitting for ages and ages and Jacob's blue jacket is not progressing at all as I seem to have totally lost interest in it.
In order to re-ignite the flame I decided to try a few smaller more 'fun' projects. Frankly, I don't seem cut out for the serious stuff! I finally this week got around to buying some double-pointed needles and a circular needle so I could try my hand at the Umbilical Chord Hat from Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook. (Inspired by the thought of Analu...) Its the first time I've used the four needles to decrease and it turned out just a little bit 'rough'. Plus I forgot to read the instructions for the I-chord. So its not a huge success but now I can undo it and try again having re-found my enthusiasm.
And after that its the Kittyville L'il Devil Baby Hat for Jacob, I've already bought the red wool!
Posted by Faith at 12:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 20, 2004
Klaar!
Finally I've finished something! This little number will be a present for someone, I'm not sure who to inflict it on, there are two contenders in mind so I'll have to think about it! I fell in love with the wool and then had to think of something to do with it. It lent itself to a long skinny scarf and after trying various patterns I settled for the K2 P2 rib. I used the last three balls in Amsterdam and haven't been able to buy any online or I might have tried something a bit more ambitious.
Or maybe not. At €6 per ball its not a cheap scarf! (3 balls). As it is its boasting a bald patch from being re-knitted so often!
I've also started on a beanie for John which was going along just nicely until I drank some wine. Its never recovered so we'll have to see how that turns out!
Posted by Faith at 04:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 06, 2004
Catching up
Its been tricky to find time for knitting lately. I have been working on Jacob's blue jacket now and then, I've finished the back and almost one of the front pieces. The problem was my increasing was going very strange and I ended up knitting the first twenty rows about 17 times!! But I am quite pleased with my little pocket!
I also visited the Afstap, one of the few wool shops in Amsterdam and bought some nice wool that inspired me to start lots of little projects none of which were designed for this weight of wool, nor my needles, nor the combination of wools, so I'm a bit stuck there. I did however, get lots of lovely bamboo needles which made me realise how horrid the ones I was using were!
The new knitty is out with another gorgeous design for a little girl. I wish they had something just as delicious for a boy!
Posted by Faith at 01:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2004
oops!
Jacob's great-grandmother in Vianen knitted this striped jumper for him. Unfortunately, due to a fault in the dispatch system for delivering used and new clothing to-and-from Ijsselstein it was washed in the washing machine and dried in the drier when it was mistaken for a similarly striped wash-and-wear affair! Just hope great-grandma doesn't get online anyday soon!
Posted by Faith at 01:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
the beanie that Jacob's mother knitted
So here it is, the 'test' beanie
that I knitted for Jacob. Up against the efforts of Jacob's two grandmothers, his great-grandmother and various friends-of it doesn't look like much. Up close it looks like even less, with this photo cleverley disguising no less than five holes(!!!!!) and an interesting purl feature.
I don't know if I'll ever have the heart to make Jacob wear it in public but it has served its purpose. Kintting has turned out to be (at least for the moment) strangely relaxing and even addictive.
Posted by Faith at 11:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 09, 2004
diamonds are forever.......
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Rhine...........
Oma Corrie is busy with her needles and has whipped up this blue jumper featuring a diamond pattern. As usual, the blue looks very fetching on Jacob. Shame we're having such a mild winter with all these nice home-knitted jumpers.
Tussentijd, an de overkant van de Rijn.........
Oma Corrie is bezig met haar naalden en hebt dit blau trui met een diamond patroon gebried. So als normaal de kleur past heel goed met Jacob. Jammer dat wij so zacht een winter hebt met alle deze mooij huisgebried truitjes!
Posted by Faith at 01:19 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 01, 2004
Sue's jumper
This blue jumper was knitted by Sue, a friend of my mum's in Melbourne. Its being lying in a draw waiting for Jacob to grow into it but its day has dawned! At 4 months it fits him perfectly and the colour also looks great on him. I don't know anything about the pattern but it is all in knit with two buttons on the neck, one either side, and flared sleeves.
Deze blauwe trui was door Sue, een vriendin van mijn moeder in Melbourne, gebreid. Omdat het te groot was ligt het in een lade voor en paar maanden maar nu past het heel goed. De kleur past ook goed bij Jacob. Ik weet niks over het patroon maar het is allemaal in rechts st met twee knoppen aan de nek, een op elke kant, en uitgebreeded mouwen.
Posted by Faith at 11:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
red jacket
This red jacket is gorgeous. Mum knitted it for Jacob but unfortunately when it arrived jacob had grown too tall for it. Its very sweet and mum said if I sent it back to Melbourne she'd unpick it and make another, although now i hear its going to my sister. Its from an old Paton's pattern in garter stitch with dropped shoulders. It has decorative corchet trims on the edges and really cute owl buttons!
Deze rood jas is heel mooi! Meine moeder hebt het gebreided voor Jacob maar ongelukkig Jacob was alweer te groot wan het was in nederland arrivereed.
Posted by Faith at 09:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
rechts 1 averechts2,
The knitting-thing continues. Busy with the laptop I didn't get the time to do any knitting this weekend but I did translate a knitting pattern into Dutch! This is more impressive than it sounds.
The only person I know who speaks Dutch and knits doesn't speak a lot of English,(hence the need to translate the pattern). And 'normal' people, (i.e. non-knitters) don't know the Dutch terms, let alone their equivalent English terms. While there's plenty of knitting information on the 'net there isn't a lot in Dutch but I managed to find a couple of patterns with enough in them for me to work out what the Dutch for, Purl, Knit, cast on, cast off, row, place on holder at the back, etc etc are.
I think. Jacob's oma, Corrie is planning to knit the pattern Marshall from the Rowan Babies book. Its a snazzy little number meriting 3 balls of wool in difficulty, (thats ADVANCED to you and me) and some twisted rib and cable. So, understanding the pattern in English was enough of a challenge in itself! Mind you, Corrie is such a good knitter, I think she could just about work it out from the photo! Luckily, as if she is depending on my translation alone, Jacob could end up wearing a very strange affair!
Posted by Faith at 11:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
international knitting frenzy
Jacob's arrival has sparked some sort of international knitting frenzy the source of which is mainly his two grandmothers. Visitors to Australia are hijacked with parcels to bring back and the needles are clacking on both sides of the Rhine here in the Netherlands. (Ijsselstein AND Vianen)
Meanwhile, even I have been bitten by the knitting bug. In the face of the expertise of Jacob's grandmothers this would seem like lunacy. In the face of my inability in the past to finish anything bigger than a handkerchief its just delusional! But thats motherhood for you! (delusional lunacy) Loobylu led me by various means to the Rowan site and I am now the proud owner of a book full of gorgeous patterns, some wool, (much of which is already in a knotted heap) and a half-finished beanie with two unintentional decorative features! (A hole and a ridge of purl in the middle of a knit row, if you must know!)
Meanwhile the experts are busy and more is whinging its way from Australia and being planned in Ijsselstein as I type .
Posted by Faith at 01:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack