Getting things done - slowly.

Well, I've been busy, knitting and completing my shopping bag repair.

The photos above show all four sides of my newly completed bag. I just don't have the heart to use it as a shopping bag any more. Well, not everyday. I shall probably have to use it for a little while since my second bag now needs a lining. I shall be adding a big pocket inside this second bag, as well as the zipped pocket and a small open pocket for my mobile phone. I always seem to lose mine somewhere deep down at the bottom......... Why do they always ring just when its impossible to find them?


The original lining on my third bag is also beginning to go, so I shall have to find some suitable fabric for that one too.


The lining I am using for the second bag used to be the cushion cover for a large oblong beanbag. Its now washed and ready to hang out on the washing line to dry. The old zip which fastened the cover is now sitting with the rest of my zips ready for a new use. Sadly, it was far too big to use for the lining I am planning to make.



As you can see from the next photo, I have finally reached the stage of adding the knitted on border to the shawl. Its been a little bit of a struggle since I regularly get myself into a dreadful tangle with the wool, needles and dropped stitches. Still, I'm getting there and it seems to be getting a little easier - oh dear, should I have said that?











The edging looks as if it has been knitted using a darker yarn. I am still using the variegated yarn I have used all along. This part seems to be one of the darker lengths. It looks better when seen as part of the whole shawl. The wooden needles to the left are the ones that I am working the border with. The circular needle to the right is just holding the invisible cast on stitches.





The shawl is being knitted as part of the Elizabeth's Year group knitalong. Its such fun to be part of such a large and friendly group. Many of us are knitting the shawl his month. I have found the project a steep learning curve, finding so many new techniques that I have needed to learn - invisible cast-on, knitting on a border to name but two. It certainly helped being able to learn from the others in the group.

When reading through other Blogs this morning, I visited Christine's Blog. She is another member of the Stitching Sisters group - we are working on a Band Robin project together.
In her excellent Blog, Christine mentioned the Blog without obligation site. I have added the link to the side of this Blog. The basic idea is not to feel guilty about blogging - especially those times when life gets in the way and the Blog doesn't get added to regularly......... Its so nice to be encouraged to give myself permission not to feel guilty.
Do visit Christine's Blog - its delightful. She also has a costume Blog too. Christine is one of those talented people - she makes the most amazing period costumes.

Shawl and socks.

Well, its been a busy week on the knitting front.




Firstly, I got both my socks to the gusset stage. I shall be getting on with these another time, but I had to get started with another project which should have been started on the 1st of July.

This is my shawl. I am a member of the "Elizabeth's Year" group. We are knitting projects from Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Knitter's Almanac". The first project was to be the shawl. I only managed to get everything together this week. I am using Malabrigo lace weight yarn in Baby Merino.

More knitting.

Well, I am busy learning new skills at the moment. Its scary to think that I have been knitting on and off for over 40 years now (actually its 46 years!), but I am still keen to try anything new. Well, new to me........

So I have knitted my very first pair of fingerless gloves. I've wanted a pair of these for ages, but not seen one until a podcast mentioned Knitty..............

The pattern is the excellent "Fetching" by Cheryl Niamath from Knitty, Summer 2006. I have used the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, which is gorgeous to knit with.

And I have started my very first pair of socks.

The pattern I have decided to use was sent to me by Charles of the "Stitchstud and his bride" podcast. Sadly, Blogger doesn't like this photo, so I shall tell you about it instead. Charles was very kind to send me a copy of his knitting tutorial, "Design your own toe up socks" after I responded to one of his podcasts. Since the instructions were so clear, I decided to follow this instead of a patterned pair of socks. Because the pattern I am following is plain, it should show the patterning of the yarn to perfection.

This is where the learning new tricks comes in. To start the first of this pair of socks, I have had to learn Judy's Magic Cast On. It took me three attempts to get this far, but then perhaps I have been stuck using the same cast on technique for rather too long.................. I must admit that I started using my usual way of casting on when I got fed up of waiting for my grandmother to help me to start yet another project. She was really clever, my wonderful grandma. I'm now certain she knew that if she kept me waiting just long enough, I would be able to work it all out for myself............

The yarn I am using is Cotton Surf Color by Regia. The actual colour is rather more of a subtle orange than shown in the photo and is so soft to knit with. A delightful surprise, since I ordered the yarn through the internet - I usually like to handle yarn before buying, but couldn't find anything suitable in my local shops.

Since starting to put this Blog entry together, and taking the photo, I have managed to get to the 16th round of my socks. This is so much fun. I love watching the pattern the yarn makes emerging under my fingers.

Hello again.

Still busy, but managing to get some knitting done. I completed the back of my tunic yesterday.

I have just started the front, and was starting the first lace row after the garter stitch border. whilst waiting for Blogger to upload my photos. The tunic is sitting on the top of my shirt quilt.

Since I last posted I have made another piece of felt. This was made using bubble-wrap rather than the more traditional rolling. This was because I used a range of bits and pieces, not all of which were wool.

The following photo is a close-up of the "top". It shows some of the bits and pieces I used - some really curly Wensleydale fleece (amazing stuff!), metallic rayon yarn scraps, and some threads.

The last photo shows the "back".

This was the last piece I made at the Textiles course. I am not sure what I shall do with next. We are supposed to be adding stitching, but I still haven't made up my mind. The felt now hangs from the message board, waiting for inspiration.

I must completely mad, but I have joined up with the "Elizabeth's-year" group started by Kelley of the Knit Picks podcast. This should be an interesting challenge, since we shall all be knitting pieces designed by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I must admit that before I heard Kelley's podcast I had never heard of Elizabeth Zimmermann. We are starting with a shawl. I have to wait a little longer since I have ordered the books I need from Amazon.com and they will not get here until later this month. Then I shall have the fun of sorting out suitable yarns.