Home from a good weekend break and finally got my camera to talk to the laptop and the internet!
Here's Vanda - pattern from Knitters 91 knitted in Rowan Bamboo Tape for my Ravelympics Sweater Sprint. It was finished on Friday so I claimed my medal
A quick and simple knit, I like the feel of the Bamboo tape and think I'll get quite a bit of wear out of this project
..is in sight!
I'm halfway up the second sleeve and then there are just a few rows of the yoke. If possible I plan to finish knitting by Thursday night at I Knit.
All of which leaves me in a predicament, We're going away for the weekend on Saturday so I need motorway knitting; knitting for sitting on a beach; knitting for sitting on the common; knitting for walking around the zoo and knitting for reclining in the hotel - I can't think of any single project that will meet those kinds of demands - any suggestions?
I manage to achieve the essential minimum chores in record time so that I could sit and watch the Olympics and Knit.
Vanda now has a back and two fronts which leaves me with 2 sleeves and a yoke to complete....
The pattern is simple, I'm enjoying the yarn but wish I could find some of my older circular needles, the Knit Picks Harmony are lovely to work with but the sharp points mean that I keep stabbing the Bamboo Tape.
I'm hoping to finish a sleeve today so am on-track to complete this project.
It makes me wonder why I have so many partially completed garments lying around the place, then when I looked at them I realised that they are the ones usually knitted in one piece - I seem to stop when they get too big to carry as commuter knitting - what a shame as I usually prefer the fit of these projects.
Thanks to Liz for sending me these photos which prove that I occasionally finish knitting that I start!
The first photo captures my delight at the moment of cast off! I enjoyed knitting this shawl using Manos silk/wool, I'm hoping that it has arrived safely with my victim for this year's Rowan Exchange - I had fun knitting it and hope it's new owner gets some wear out of it
The other photo was taken this evening to show my delight with my Half & Half jacket - one interesting trend I noticed is that friends and colleagues kept touching the jacket - it's got a very tactile feel to it and I'm clearly happy with the outcome!
There is further progress on the olympic knitting but dark brown stocking stitch isn't a thrilling picture....
Silly I know but I got quite a thrill when I saw my name in the podium list!
Here's the start of the main project
It's Vanda from Knitter's 91 - the original was knitted in wool, I'm attempting it in Rowan Bamboo Tape - I'm not sure if it will work but I'll give it a very good try
Otherwise known as Half & Half (from Knitters Summer ) knitted in Rowan Colourscapes "Hedge"
I bought the yarn on Wednesday and intended to keep it until after the Olympics. It then tempted me to swatch it and before I knew it I has hlf way through before the Olympics started. I decided to list it as a WIP Wrangling event and intended to keep it until after I had completed my main challenge.
Fat chance! I did dutifully work on my main project on Friday and Saturday but late last night the siren call began so I knitted some more. This morning I was so near the finish line that I switched on the TV to watch the cycling and finished casting off as Nicole Cooke won the first GB Gold!
I'm thrilled with the fit but even more with the yarn - it was a dream to knit with and I couldn't believe it when each skein I wound started at the same point in the colourway. The stripes have really balanced out in this pattern.
It's been an interesting week. Last Saturday was spent in the Innocent tent in Regents Park teaching beginners to knit. Saturday night was spent at one of my favourite London hotels for a low key birthday celebration. We went home on Sunday lunchtime so that I could open cards and presents and then help sort Matt out for his trip to Bulgaria.
Matt left at 3 am on Monday and I promptly went back to bed and fell asleep. In fact I've spent most of the last 4 days asleep!
I escaped briefly on wednesday to visit Stash for some stash enhancement - 4 skeins of Lorna's Laces to put with some other yarns for a future project. I then ventured to Oxford ST and managed some clothes shopping in the sales and then on to Liberty's to see the new Rowan yarns and pattern books. I was quite restrained and bought the new Cocoon book and the Colourscape book + 5 skeins of the Hedge colourway.
Thursday saw me cast on and thanks to an evening at IKL I managed to finish half of the Half & Half jacket from Knitters in the colourscape.
This morning I realised that Matt was due home and I'd done nothing of what I'd planned re housework - oh well it was my birthday week! I did manage to finally get my Rowan Exchange gift in the post - so if you are an International member waiting for their gift - it could be yours...
The Olympics started at 2pm and although I swore I'd never knit to time ever again I found myself signed up for this
Matt arrived home at 3pm and my birthday gift was finally delivered at 4pm - the boy did good - I have a new macbook to play with.
No photos of Olympic knitting as I got sidetracked!!!!!