WIP Wednesday - 27.04.2011

Here's my other WIP project, a matching Beret and Scarf.  Knitting with Wendy's Cashmerino yarn, in cream and green, ribbed around the rim and then in stocking stitch. 

The Beret's finished, as you can see following. I knitted the Beret from a pattern (can't remember which one right now) and I finished it ages ago.......

 
.....and then I decided to start the Scarf but Oh My Lord, why am I knitting with 3.75mm needles - I must have been out of my mind!!!! - seriously!!!!!  It's taking forever.  I seem to knit for hours and only do about 2cms.

Actually, it did start out life as wanting to be a scarf but now I've decided it's going to be a much shorter neck warmer, of some sort, (the scarf is my own design, so I can make it up as I go along). I can't think of anything worse now, than knitting this as a scarf, with those dreaded small needles......why oh why did I start with them....why......why.......oh why??????

I'm persevering though, I WILL complete this, I WILL!!

Note to self and others - stay away from the 3.75mm needles if wanting to do a scarf - unless you have plenty of time, nothing else to do and want to take some years of your life!!!

I'm hoping to finish for Winter this year, I'm not holding out much hope but will keep you updated :)  x

WIP Wednesday

Just realised that I haven't blogged for a while, so before my Easter Weekend descends into utter busy-ness, I thought I'd catch up with you all.

I've decided to take part in WIP (i.e. Work In Progress) Wednesdays, in conjunction with my fellow group members on Ravelry.  

Some of you may remember my blog on A Tale of Two Yarns (or maybe Three) and my love of the bamboo yarn, following:

I decided to make a nice sleeveless top - primarily for the beautiful SUMMER, we are going to have this year in the UK (and yes I am very optimistic...but it can happen).  So at the beginning of this month I commenced working on the back and here is the start:

I've now completed the back (just the neck to complete)....lots of knitting on the train!!

.........and now I am working on the front:

And so the front is travelling with me on the train also, (please ignore the other WIP's shown in the bag - that's another WIP Wednesday blog):

Here is hoping...no.. praying, for a good summer and that this top fits....!!!!

Secret Project Is Now Finished..!!

I had promised to knit my friend something about 2 years ago but I knew that given my track record of rarely completing projects within a relatively short period (and I am putting that mildly - as my 7 Year Throw will attest to), she wasn't expecting something for at least 3-4 years.

Well anyway at the end of last year, I decided I was going to knit her a Throw in time for her birthday on the 1st April.  So I took my daughter off to Hobbycraft (as you do), to choose some wool, she chose the colours and I paid. Realised I would need to knit in a slightly bigger needle than my usual 4mm if I wanted to finish on time (decided on 5mm...well!!).   I then found a pattern I liked (Bernat's Handicrafter Cotton Colours Stripe Throw (Free Pattern) - realised I needed another colour so went back to Hobbycraft and got some Goldy/yellowy yarn.  Now I was ready to begin.

On the 1st January 2011, I casted on and began to knit.  Everyone was sworn to secrecy, this was my most secret project (I had to hide anything remotely associated with it, anytime my friend visited - it was a nightmare..!!)  All was going good until about a third of the way through, I got cold feet over the colours, especially the goldy/yellow.

However, my daughter convinced me that my friend would love the colours and as I didn't have time to frog it ( I was determined to finish on time), I continued.  Thank God I did, I began to fall in love with it, the more I knitted.......so much so, that I decided to add a couple of personal touches, such as the crocheted edges and the knitted flower petals:

So I finished bang on time...well a couple of days early...and more importantly, my friend loves it!!   Although she did say..."About Time..." (cheek).

My Knitting Time - 2KCBWDAY7

Ok here's my final blog for the Knitting & Crochet Blog week (although I am a day late)!!

So, I do tend to knit anywhere...trains, planes (well lately - see previous blog) and automobiles but I must admit my favourite of all times - is typical late evening/night when the kids are in bed, the hubby is somewhere else (i.e. out or upstairs); all the housework is done; I am sat on the sofa in my favourite corner in front of the TV, with my throw, watching some kind of period drama (e.g. Pride & Prejudice (the Colin Firth one) - for the 19th time), the lights are dimmed (but not to dim so that I cannot see the stitches.....), nice drink to hand, my feet are up on my knitting box and there is no disturbance.....aaahhhh a little piece of heaven!!!!

Seeing that I am now writing this late evening/night and the kids are in bed and the hubby is upstairs, I'm actually watching Real Housewives of Orange County (not quite period drama..I know but hey, I like it!!!!)...I think I am going to go now get a drink, put my feet up and knit for a while....see ya!!!

And Now For Something Different - 2KCBWDAY5