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Friday, February 08, 2008

A trio of armwarmers for the workers

I'm still singing the praises of Last Minute Knitted Gifts, this time for the speedy wristwarmer pattern. Yes, you could have figured it out yourself, but I needed a recipe to coax me back to my needles. My mother asked me for some wristwarmers for herself and her colleagues, who work in a wonderful converted barn that is less blessed in the heating department.

So I headed to my stash to craft a pile of woolly protection:


There's not much to say about them: Noro Silk Garden, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in green and some anonymous old brown aran. So we just mucked about trying to make them look a bit more interesting...












Kelly [ 12:41 PM ]

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Hello again :)

Well, well, well... I bet you didn't expect to see this on your Bloglines!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack. More specifically, I am knitting again. I need to get off my butt and take some photos, but for now, I'll show off a little something that got me through those last few days of pregnancy.


Pattern: Children's Cotton Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson


Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, less than half a ball


Time taken: About 2-3 hours as promised!


Needles: 4.5mm DPNs


This is a lovely little pattern and one of the few in the book that actually take the time indicated. This seems harsh, but I think Joelle's interpretation of time does not include idly watching TV, occasionally dropping stitches, drinking coffee or baby-related interruptions.


Oh yes, baby. I had one!



(she clearly loves that hat!)

Chloe Alice arrived on December 19th (a week late) after a short and relatively untraumaic labour. She is a delightful smiley little person who enjoys milk, snazzy hats and spending time without her nappy on. She is fascinated by knitting with all its moving needles and bright coloured yarns but is as yet unable to coordinate her hands well enough to produce anything of her own...although I imagine the first thing she'll do is snatch the hat off her head when she develops coordination.

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Kelly [ 3:36 PM ]

Saturday, September 29, 2007

WARNING! Actual knitting content...

This may surprise you, but despite being almost 7 months pregnant, I have not completed a single garent for the impending bubba. This is not because I do not love to see babies swaddled in woolly loveliness, or that I haven't seen a bazillion patterns ripe for the knitting.




It's just that I have been facing my needles with indifference lately. Blame my close relationship with throwing up, lack of sleep, long working hours and general bad mood. However, the past couple of weeks have given me a renewed interest in knitting, so hopefully the bubba will have something handcrafted by its mother before it arrives (ETA December 12).





I have, however, been doing a bit of knitting. I was enthralled by the latest Knitty and quickly cast on for Back to Basics. Ok, so it's not the most exciting sock in the world, but it's a twist on the usual, isn't it?


Do heed the designer's warning - these socks come up big. Idly knitting in front of the TV has left me a sock that would be more aptly suited to my giant-footed brethren than myself. I am stalling on sock 2 until he has tried it on and confirmed whether this is a viable project...

There's more, and it'll come as soon as daylight does (and photography can be completed).



Kelly [ 9:01 PM ]


Ok, so I am still lacking in that proper post....

It's because I got my Ravelry invite.

I'm PurlFriday there... hope that you're not all still watching your inbox!


Kelly [ 1:52 PM ]

Monday, September 17, 2007

Psst! I am knitting again!

Wowzers, I bet you didn't expect this to light up on your Bloglines again.

Yup, Purl Friday is still knitting. In fact, she will be doing very little else when she kicks off her maternity leave next month.

What's that? Yes. Purl Friday and the The Boy are expecting a little wool swaddled bundle of joy in December. Long story. Proper update soon though!


Kelly [ 11:14 AM ]

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Woolly joy!

I prefix this post with a warning that I am broke. Totally broke beyond belief. But I have always been curious about Knitpicks. They are a great source of curiosity to Brits as they don't ship here. I am also yet to find a very affordable source of 100% wool for my musings and $1.99 a ball (albeit a bit scratchy) sounds amazing.

So I ordered some goodies today. Some Knitpicks Gloss to make myself Thermal from Winter Knitty, a couple of monochrome balls of Telemark to make some piratey happiness and plenty of Palette for little colourwork projects from Eunny. The whole lot only cost a bit over £20, which isn''t bad at all if you ask me.

There's no progress shots of my sock as it has remained untouched for a couple of days but the sock and I have a date with a mug of coffee and some ginger nuts tonight.

I will also be flying a lot over the coming weekend, giving me lots of down time to enjoy knitting and bad food. Hurrah! I also hope to find a LYS in St Augustine (know of any?) to pick up some US yarny goodies...


Kelly [ 1:02 PM ]

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Starting small...

Yes guys, I'm knitting again.

I started by heading back to Stitch and Bitch and meeting up with all the wonderful ladies and their amazing creations. The crowd hadn't changed much in the months I was gone but it was good to see a few new faces!

I have to say that I did finish the Central Park Hoodie, although I didn't manage to sew in the ends before I went to New York so it couldn't be unveilled in Central Park. Besides, it was too damned cold to take off the two billion layers I was wearing anyway.

Out of love for Miss Eunny's creations (and to celebrate her being appointed to head honcho of my favourite knitting mag) I decided to give entrelac a try. It looks a bit like voodoo and I have to admit that it did require me to put blind faith in the instructions that I was using. I started with some squeaky old acrylic and really got into the motions of it, although I realised my picking up of stitches looks screwy and all those ends to sew in would have just annoyed me. So it'll get frogged in time, but I will definitely consider it for proper projects in the future.

Instead, I decided I needed something basic:


A simple sock, using the self-striping I dyed about a year ago! I am kicking myself for not making this yarn into a pair of Jaywalkers for myself, but I couldn't remember the cast on number late yesterday evening and my lack of internet access meant I couldn't look it up. But they are proving incredibly speedy and relaxing to knit - this much progress was made during a part-episode of Grey's Anatomy. It's also the perfect size and difficulty to stash in my bag in the hopes of making progress on the short train journey to work.

Let's finish with the lovely view from the window of my new place:



Kelly [ 3:27 PM ]

Friday, February 02, 2007

Blogger (silent) poetry reading...

Breaking my silence to participate - thanks for the heads up Cara...

Mean Time

The clocks slid back an hour
and stole light from my life
as I walked through the wrong part of town,
mourning our love.
And, of course, unmendable rain
fell to the bleak streets
where I felt my heart gnaw
at all our mistakes.

If the darkening sky could lift
more than one hour from this day
there are words I would never have said
nor heard you say.

But we will be dead, as we know,
beyond all light.
These are the shortened days
and the endless nights.

By Carol Ann Duffy


Kelly [ 3:07 PM ]

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Silent needles

I'm afraid I can't knit right now.

My boyfriend of six years broke up with me and I am unable to continue knitting as a result. It's odd - for him knitting has brought great comfort during a difficult time. But for me, it has given me too many memories and difficult times to face.

A tangle in a ball reminds me of how he'd patiently sit and unwind the ferocious knots that somehow find their way into my knitting, all the time cheekily berating me for making such a mess. I'd like to sit quietly and knit at the end of my sofa, but that reminds me of all the times I did that to escape the problems we had.

My Central Park Hoodie was supposed to keep me warm on our Valentine's Day trip to New York City, but I just cannot bring myself to finish it now. Besides, I am crap at picking up stitches for edgings - that was his job. It just needs finishing, but I can't do it.

I read such inspirational stories about how people knit through the greatest adversities. But I just can't. I don't seem to even be able to pick up the needles. It's hard to inspire yourself to make something beautiful if you feel so ugly inside.

So expect this place to be quiet for a little while.


Kelly [ 4:46 PM ]

Sunday, January 07, 2007

The end is night - woo hoo!



When you lay all the pieces out, it kinda resembles a sweater! This is one speedy knit. I could finish tonight if I wanted... and if I knew I had enough wool. I am not sure we're going to make it all the way - I might just bite the bullet and order a couple of extra balls for piece of mind.



There's definitely enough to reach the second shoulder - I am just being lazy.

Why has this gone so quickly? Because it has been the solo object of my affections. I haven't even entertained the idea of starting anything else. But right now, I might just break my resolve and cast on my Swallowtail Shawl. Or stop being a wuss and finish the side. Or maybe start a Pot...


Kelly [ 4:30 PM ]