F is for....

Fair Isle Meanderings!

Remember the Endpaper Mitten of Doom, I did look at creating my own fair isle pattern, but felt the drawings were too contrived. These Fair Isle swatches are knitting homework from the City and Guilds course I'm doing. The original design source was a stencil I made from a simplified drawing of seaweed. We then had a look at turning the stencils into repeat patterns and I found that isolating a part of the stencil into a shape of a triangle changed it into something more abstract and interesting. This month we transferred the image onto knitters squared paper.

These first two are the image transferred to small squares, the pattern itself is actually 19 stitches by 25 rows so not very practical in reality, but the exercise is really looking at how the original image can change by using different scale knitters graph paper, and knitting it at the same gauge!

This second photo is the same drawing onto larger squares, the actual repeat is 14sts by 14 rows, possibly more manageable.

This final swatch is a slight tweaking of the 14 sts x 14 rows pattern, into a 12 sts by 16 rows repeat, having 12 sts means that I can repeat the design by stacking repeats directly above each other or by offsetting the design by 6 sts on alternate rows which is how I've knitted this final swatch!

They may not grow up into anything yet, it could be an edging or a mitten, but what's important at the moment is the journey, and the discovery, not the final 'product'.

Batty's Box!

So exciting! My UK Swap package arrived this week, Batty has been one of the names my secret swap pal has been known as, and it's been such fun reading the comments on my blog and the regular e-mails she has been sending, and getting to know her but not knowing who she is!

This is a perfectly gorgeous box of delights, I can't believe I actually managed to get it all in one photo! So I'll just talk you through everything, and leave you to ooh and ahh at your leisure!

From bottom left we have a sheepie tape measure a ball of 4ply wool (from Wingham Wool Work), Vanilla soap from l'Occitane (almost good enough to eat), Sheep post it notes (genious!), a selection of Thorntons chocolate bars (yummy), I love this butterfly postcard, (it's a special card that if you move it one way it's a butterfly and if you move it the other way it's a caterpillar, so cool!). Then there's the fibre.... LOOK, Merino Silk Angora Cashmere, it's gorgeously soft, and as if that's not enough a bag of Pure Beige Cashmere too, I am well and truly spoilt!

Alongside this is a fabulous crochet felted pot that my special pal made just for me, and in there are some Quills, which I have never heard of before and some Clover Bamboo needles too! Last up we have another ball of 4ply from Wighams and a fantastic retro fair isle mitten pattern.

It really is the most well thought out fibery themed package you could possibly imagine so with no further ado I shall reveal the Batty Behind the Box is none other than Rosie, thankyou so very much Rosie, you've made my week!!

Watch Out Humphrey's About

Sorry to my overseas readers, the title of this post is referring to an advert for milk from my childhood, although this post has nothing to do with milk!

If any of you subscribe to Berocco Knitbits you may have already seen Humphrey, but what you may not realise is I am one of the designer's that Norah Gaughin met on Ravelry.

Basically I joined the Norah Gaughin fans group in Ravelry, and since Norah was a member there I decided to add her to my friends. When Norah added me to her friends I sent her a message thanking her, and telling her how much I love her work, and next thing you know I'm crocheting another little bear, like the one I made last year, and I'm writing up the pattern for Berocco, all thanks to Ravelry!

Actually that reminds me I didn't get around to stitching that second bear up, that would be another FO for this year!
There is a little knitting going on, I am knitting cakes for a window display for an Art Gallery and Cake Shop opening early May. I am desperate to start 'something' but that something eludes me at the moment, and I'm feeling a little lost.

There is also a little dyeing going on (pictured), I had a small order to supply a local Crafts Website with some handpainted fibre in 5 colourways, these are 50g bundles for feltmaking!

And there's been a little spinning going on!

I was attempting to spin a 3 ply sock yarn, although it's a little on the thick side, and wouldn't do a pair of socks. This is my first 3ply, and it needs a little work, I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I'll keep practicing!

E is for ....

Embroidery. Before knitting and spinning took this hold on me I used to design and stitch needlepoint, these are all worked on 18 holes per inch canvas. I have got a couple of recent works, which haven't been stretched and mounted yet, and when I look at these I do miss it but there are only so many hours in the day!

D is for Dyeing

I've been doing quite a bit of dyeing lately, 1200 grammes last week, above is what's left after I sold five Saturday at my Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild meeting.

C is for...

Cables

Both the above cable samples were knitted from the book Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, Cables book, a most impressive book if you are a cables fan!

Candle Tree

Candle Tree is in Barbara Walkers Treasury of Knitting Patterns, one day I hope to add both of these books to my library, but thanks to college and my tutor's extensive library for now I can just borrow them!

B is for...

BOBBLES!

BIGSOCK!

ABC Along!

Ok first things first I did remember to do the drawing for my little promotion competition, there were five people entered into the hat (Pat, Peri, Lorraine, MUK, and Jill) and Neo pulled out Peri! I'll be having words with you Peri about what you would prefer for your prize!


I have also joined the ABC Along on Ravelry, and I see D has just been posted so I've got a little catching up to do!


So A is for...Alphabet





A is forArt Knitting! I also joined the Art Knitting Group over on Ravelry, and it was nice that after uploading photos of this piece to the group that 3 people marked it as a favourite.

This is the finished object I promised, the Shibori Seaweed Neckpiece, I just need to write it up and make a folder with all the related artwork and sketches in and my first course piece will be ready for assessment!

Technically it's ok, the hardest calculation with felting things is a small sample will felt differently from a larger piece, and so even after the swatching and felting that I did in the first instance the final piece didn't actually shrink in length quite as much as I expected, and I've found that if I wrap it around my neck twice that I prefer the shorter look of it, but that's all part of the learning curve!

I do like the seaweed itself, and think it would work quite nicely around a felted bag, a bit Noni like! Maybe a future design idea!

Mitten of Doom

This is the Mitten of Doom! I'm not going to knit another one, this isn't a case of second glove syndrome, more 3rd glove, because basically this was my first attempt at fair isle, and also doing it two handed, and although this attempt is ok-ish, it doesn't really meet my high standards, and I have minor issues with the pattern that I would change if I were to knit any more, so basically if I wanted to knit Endpapers I would have to knit another pair, discarding this doomed mitten.

So I am going to swatch with some 4ply wool and get my squared paper out and I'm going to design my own fair isle mittens.

Later this week, I have got a finished object i havent blogged about yet!

More handspun!

And I sold a pattern...yes really, don't you just love Ravelry!

Fair Isle February!

Cast this on Friday, I was attempting to cast it on Thursday evening but I was struggling with the Italian Tubular Cast-on.

I'd like to say I persevered and then got it, but what really happened was I struggled with it, gave up, tried the Cable Faux Tubular cast-on which I can do, messed that up a couple of times, threw my knitting around the room in frustration, actually that bit was just wishful thinking I just cursed a bit, and then I looked at the instructions and diagrams for the Italian Tubular cast-on again, now I hadn't bothered watching the video, I thought that if I didn't get it from the step by step photos, that the video wasn't going to help, and then.... I watched the video...hey presto
one Italian Tubular Cast-on, and one Endpaper Mitten in progress!


Topic of The Week #3 on the UK SWAP BLOG!

Q: What is your process when planning a project? Do you shop for yarn and then find a suitable pattern? Do you find your pattern and then go out to buy the yarn? Or are you stash-busting? If your stash is out of control, how did it get that way?

My process when planning a project?.... I don't shop for yarn and then find a pattern, ok maybe I have yarn in my stash that was bought just because I had to have it, but mostly, well at the moment I have a few projects earmarked which are looking for suitable yarns. Koolhaus is on that list, Karendipity Gloves, Thrummed Mittens, Anemoi Mittens or some of Hello Yarns Fair Isle designs, I may even have a go at designing my own.

I am stash busting, if I can match a yarn in my stash to a project, then I will, the Endpapers I am working on are just unknown stash freecycle 4ply, I think there is a small percentage of wool in them, but this is my first attempt at Fair Isle knitting and I didn't want to jump in with the good stuff. (Ok I hadn't really got any suitable good stuff for this particular project) Isn't it always the way though, that you never have just the 'right' yarn for the project you want to start.

I don't think my stash is out of control (ok maybe I'm in denial) it's just there aren't enough hours in the day. It didn't help that I started spinning, I can't keep up with the amount of yarn that I spin, and I do love to spin, which is why I am trying to sell some of it in my Etsy shop.

World's Biggest Sock

I Should Be So Lucky!

I was very lucky just before Christmas to win Claire's blogiversary contest, and my hand picked prize certainly brightened up the dull days of January, what you can see here is a small bag of rainbow wool sliver, some patches of silk, some handmade paper, a cone of Habu Stainless steel, and some lovely seeds, I love the Sea Holly, can't wait to get those in, with Spring just around the corner.
And with Spring approaching I was also lucky to win a little contest over on Amber's blog, and my 'fiery' elemental felting wool and 'Mr Mog Made' stitch markers arrived this week!

It's been a busy week, I have been updating the Bigsock blog, ok it's not quite up to date yet, most recently the sock has been in Canada, and there are some fantastic recent pictures here
it's also been spotted on You Tube!

Drama Queen

I got my Soap Opera yarn spun up last night, I've called it Drama Queen!

With real blue skies and a smattering of sunshine I managed to set the twist, get it dry and actually managed to take some photos! Infact I went overboard on the photos, so if you want any more just pop over to my flickr album!

I'm not sure if I'm going to come up with anything for this weeks theme, but then again I did dye up some fibre this morning that might fit in. This weeks theme is Asia.

Friday Fibre Fix!

Hot off the wheel, well lukewarm really because the weather has been so rotton for photos are these two 100g skeins of merino.

They were dyed at the same time although the top skein has alot more pink and grey verses the blues of the bottom skein.

I've just joined a group on Ravelry called Fiber Friday where the host sets a theme and then the participants spin and then submit yarns inspired by the theme. Last weeks theme was Ocean, shame I missed that one, and this weeks theme is soap opera!

Shameless Self Promotion

Update on The Knitting Daily Pattern store: I have managed to purchase Koolhaus! yippee! I shall probably go back for the Central Park Hoodie at a later date, remember garments are off limits for the moment.

Today I have been uploading yarns to my Etsy shop. I have decided to try out a 'free'postage to everywhere promotion. I also try to keep my prices in line with other handspinners and small businesses so I would appreciate any feedback on this, if you think my prices are high or if anything in my shop doesn't read right please let me know. If you don't want to let me know via comments you can always e-mail me, my e-mail is listed in my blogger profile.

Now for more shameless self promotion...well actually I need you to promote me if my Etsy store and fledgling yarn 'business' are to succeed...I don't need it to go mad but the only way for it to really work is via promotion and from word of mouth or word of blog, so to reach a wider audience I need my friends to blog about my etsy store too, and for everyone that does I'm offering a 10% discount off all my yarn for life, and a chance to win some custom spun yarn in colours of your choosing, we will have a Prize draw on 15th March! Just let me know that you've linked/mentioned me in a post to be eligible to enter!

Talking of my etsy store I'm having a bit of an identity crisis, as you will see my etsy store, old website and e-mail are all under the name Limegreenjelly, although when I started spinning and set up this blog I came up with the name freestylefibre. I have purchased freestylefibre.co.uk for future use, but at the moment all my yarns are labelled with my limegreenjelly branding. My helpful hubby has designed a freestylefibre label, which I really like but does it confuse things to sell yarns under the name Freestylefibre in the Limegreenjelly shop?

Edited to add...if anyone wants to display my limegreenjelly button from my sidebar on their blog to link to my etsy shop...please do!

Grrr Knitting Daily

I just need to get this off my chest...KNITTING DAILY IS MAKING ME CROSS!

Ok its just this small matter of the Pattern store, living in a different country shouldn't make it that difficult to buy the pdf's should it, I mean I get Interweave Magazine.

It all started with the Central Park Hoodie, then Koolhaus, now they are really tormenting me with Babette.

I have e-mailed them about this small matter, which is now turning into a bit of a campaign.

ok feeling a little better now...but it just irks me!

Dull Frog Day's of January!

Is 2008 the year of the frog? It is in this house, but I keep reminding myself its all part of the learning curve.

It started with Rosedale United, I knitted the neckband the week before New Year actually arrived, and frogged it and knitted it and frogged and knitted at least three times, I then tried it on, and the raglans weren't in the right position for my arms and basically decided to start 2008 with a clean slate and frogged the whole thing! Its all labelled and ready to be knit into some kind of a raglan sweater, but everything is on hold this year.

I have decided that the Handknitting course needs my full attention, so for 2008 it has become my top priority. This doesn't mean I won't be knitting because the course (obviously) involves knitting, it just means that I have to be strict with myself about what I knit and concentrate my efforts into designing, swatching and producing the 2 garments, 1 accessory and 1 item for the home, that I need to pass this course, and some of the time it may mean I don't have alot to show for it. Although that said I will have non college knitting on the go...I've just decided not to try and tackle anything that needs alot of commitment...like a sweater, and stick to small items like mittens, maybe some colourwork handwarmers, experimental felted pieces and bags.

Of course I will still be spinning, I don't think I could stop even if I wanted to!

So on the needles at the moment is a Rowan kidsilk scarf, which I'm going to be felting in the washing machine and I'm working on my first design piece which is a scarf based on seaweed.

Frogged this week: I had a 50g ball of Noro Cash Island to knit a sample for the seaweed scarf project, gorgeous colour and velvety soft, but it didn't have the drape I envisioned so I cast on for Luce. It just didn't have the right drape and feel either.

UK SWAP QUESTIONNAIRE

Part One: Crafting

Do you knit, crochet, or both? I mainly knit, I do a little bit of crochet occasionally mainly amigurumi type stuff which doesn't involve a pattern.

What do you like to make? I like to make sweaters, scarves, mittens, gloves, bags, hats

Do you have a favourite project? Not really

Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn? I love Noro yarn although Kureyon can be a bit scratchy, I also like Habu, and unusual yarns like linen paper, and things like that! And I spin my own handspun too!

Do you have a least favourite type of yarn? Eyelash

Do you do any other crafts? I'm a keen handspinner, by spindle and wheel. I'm also interested in paper making, feltmaking, button making.

What knitting do you bring ‘on the go’? at the moment I'm doing some shibori felting experiments so some vanilla stocking stitch

What do you carry your ‘on the go’ knitting in? Do you want something new? I have a 'Go Knit' pouch, that is perfect for my projects.

Are there any knitting gifts (book, toy, yarn, item, tool) that you have been lusting over? Can't think of anything off hand


Part Two: Your Favourites

What is your favourite colour? Blue, purple, green, brown

What is your least favourite colour? yellow

What scents/smells do you like? vanilla, chocolate, apples

What don’t you like? lavender

How do you like to pamper yourself? (bubble bath, hand creams, massage, manicure) bubble bath, handcream

What goodies to you like to treat your tummy with? (chocolate, biscuits, truffles, etc.) I love chocolate orange, belgian seashells, peppermint creams, soft centres, most biscuits, nothing with nuts in.

Do you prefer tea or coffee while you knit? Any particular kind? Favourite mug/cup? I prefer tea, although I do like hot chocolate too, I only tend to drink plain old tea, i do have a favourite mug...its called scraffito and its from Habitat!

Do you listen to/watch anything while you knit? (TVshow-Along, movies, music, podcasts) I tend to watch tv mostly while knitting although I occasionally listen to music, and play online scrabble! I like Heroes, The Mighty Boosh, and I mostly listen to Radio 1, i like an eclectic mix of music, one of my favourite bands is Hot Chip!

Part Three: Living & Past-times

Where do you live in the UK? (General idea not address) I live in St Leonards-on-Sea, in East Sussex!

Have you always lived here, or did you grow up somewhere else? I grew up in Ipswich, and spent most of my adult life living in Wales.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? I'd like to visit the USA

If you couldn’t go to a knitting group, what other kind of gathering would you go to? (book club, tea party, yoga class, jewelery class, etc.) I do like to read so maybe a book club, I also attend a Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers, yoga class.

What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamourous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.) my anti style more like, casual, arty, sort of lost look!

Final Part:Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)? Some bath essences and things can make me itchy, and I don't do nuts.

Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know? If there is anything further my swap partner wants to know they can always ask me!

Last FO!

I'd just turned the heel of the first sock in the Trekking XXL. I was browsing handwarmer patterns on Ravelry when I came across the Scrunchie Handwarmers from the book 101 Designer One Skein Wonders, knitted in exactly the same colour of Trekking I was using. I just had to have them and proceeded to frog the uninspiring sock.

I just love the colours of this yarn, so there we have it my last FO of 2007, a Happy New Year to one and all!

PIMP THE SWAP!!!!!!

Hey readers near and far, especially all you UK Ravellers, I'm just interrupting this blog to do some gratuitous PIMPING...the Ravery UK Swap group will be having a Swap, sign ups open January 7th, now I do apologise to my overseas readers but this is a UK Swap group.

Now (doesn't matter where you are from) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE could you please go and comment on the SWAP BLOG so that I'm entered into the PIMP THE SWAP competition, stating that you heard about it here!! (I get an extra entry into the PRIZE draw if you do)


Please note that no yarn suffered as a result of my pimping!