My long suffering pumpkin ale

 Ysolda first published Pumpkin Ale as part of Rhinebeck Sweater collection book. I only purchased the book for this particular design. This is how eager I was to get the pattern.  I love the original rusty orange Ysolda used but was determent to use stash yarn.
My five skeins of lioness arts  MCN dk  in(dark) hortenes were originally destined to become Joji's dragonflies jumper and then changed purpose. I'm still going to knit dragonflies as a cardi.

I knew I needed to make this shorter as I'm not tall so omitted quite a few rows from the body length. Not sure what had happened , perhaps I was too carried away with the blocking but it still rather long.

Another issue was the pockets. I still remember how excited I was to see the pocket hems in Ysolda's pumpkin ale but then a close study of the pattern revealed some sewing was necessary. I'm absolutely a complete ignorant when it comes to sewing machines. The one in my house I had over ten years ,was never been used. I'll happily waste time hand sewing than try to operate that devil's devise.

Right ,so in no time I cast on and things progressed smoothly more or less up to almost pocket holes- my skeins were disappearing in an alarming rate. The yardage for me was wrong and I needed to order another skein which I knew most likely wont be a perfect match because it was hand dyed from a different batch. I was right. It took sometime to arrive and it was somewhat lighter so I had to introduced it gently in stripes . If you look close you'll notice the pale cuffs..

Then the big hurdle was those damn pockets. I meticulously cut four equal pieces only to discover they could never serve as pockets- you need two mirror pieces to complete a pocket ,dah! Then what? zigzag stitching, bias strips? Begging begun...  Elseline  patiently prepared the pockets including stabilising interface, for me then to hand sew into the knitted holes. Thanks a million..
Once I started pinning the fabric I realised the match is poor- pocket holes were way too big for the actual fabric pockets. I ran out of fabric material so instead used mattress stitching on the sides to disguise the ugly gap.

My pumpkin ale is not perfect but is still such a lovely easy throw on with a garter shawl collar (that I would continue to widen if I had more yarn), textured back and cable running along the sleeves, drapery sides achieved by clever short rows and yes , those pockets .. :-) 

 

Focus- the double knot !

I am a knitter and been knitting over thirty years . I think my learning curve has been at its most in last few years thanking to the Internet social media. Couple of days ago my good friend Elseline who have been coming to the Southampton stitch and bitch demonstrated an excellent piece of knowledge that she herself learnt from listening to the knitting pod cast 'knitting pipeline'. This has really made my day and I'd like to share that with you.

I was always taught not to knit with knots because mainly they are weak and in time might unravel. I think all of us  encountered annoying awkward knot in the middle of complicated row and then had the dilemma of how to deal with it. I usually choose to tink back to the beginning of the row and start it with a new knotless thread of yarn. But imagine this scenario - you are almost completed 350 sts of complicated lace row and there comes the dreaded knot- would it be wonderful to know that you can just continue?? and hey, no threads to weave after !

well just have a good look at this you tube tutorial by Jane Richmond. If you do it right you'll end up with two knots (hence the name double knot) which you glide towards each other until they join. Then pull together.. the yarn will break before the knot.. This is so exciting for me ..

I've just completed my Ysolda's follow your arrow shawl and had chosen to use the double knot method-
here is a sneak preview-

Good knitting !

Choclate Stout !

Choclate Stout was finished in 2013 but only now I managed to take some photos mainly because of the dismal wet weather and the fact that my photographer have an increasing busy social life and not always available or willing to attend to the selfish needs of her mother.
I showed you the progress here and in last few weeks my finished Stout is hanging carefully on the dummy in my bedroom and that's means it is almost constantly in use..
I apologise in advance for lack of an ironed top underneath the cardi :) The cardigan was all buttoned up at first but then thought to show how it looks when opened and hands tucked in pockets for warmth  and pose..
Do we like ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cria

I have started the popular Cria by Ysolda numerous times. For those of you in the know , Cria is being knitted seamless top down with an genius method of picking up stitches and using short rows to build up the neck and shoulders area. I'm really bowing and removing my hat here for Ysolda - just the calculations here for all the sizes, wow ! You have to pay attention for the garter stitch neck edges because there aren't any hems later on. I was unhappy with my knitting at first until I decided to slip the first stitch on the neck edge instead of knitting it - that created a tidier edging. I know some knitters added later on edging by crocheting or I-cord but for me the wet blocking was all what it took to smooth matters. Another struggle for me was to find the right yarn. I've started with some grey 4 ply alpaca and it looked good at start but then my fickle knitting heart decided to frog it all and invest in the real McCoy- oh yes baby , old maiden aunt, hand painted alpaca/silk dk ion-dubh (blackbird). Ysolda used it in one of her Cria samples. The yarn is beautifully dyed, colors changing ever so slightly between the shades of this sophisticated dull blue. You just know quality when you see and knit it - recommend !

Its a tight fit but I like it that way.

Cuff close up-the buttons were bought in Ally Pally this year from the textile garden stand- lovely selection of buttons there  and a good customer service..

See the cute little pockets?

Enjoyable knit and I wear it often , its a one to keep !
                                            

The perfect shawlette

I have finished one sleeve of Marion Foale's green Jacket but I think It is a bit like watching paint dry, few more inches will be too boring to show so decided to bring you ishbel, courtesy of Ysolda http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2009/01/14/ishbel-pattern/. On ravelry you can see dozens of this lovely shawlette.

I purchased the same yarn the original pattern was made from, an Old Maiden Aunt yarn. a 4 ply mix of alpaca and merino, 'moody'.

It is the perfect size for me to use as a cowboy triangular scarf;

Here I am in a chilly spring day somewhere in the new forest. Love it and it is almost always in my handbag ,ready to be pulled out in time of need.