FO Simplicity Cardigan

Simplicity, she be finished.  I haven't had a chance to wear it yet, but I blocked it a few days ago, concentrating particularly on the back as that was very curled up.  I ran out of yarn before the sleeves were finished but that was okay as they're meant to only be 3/4 length anyway.

Something I knew but didn't understand

When my aunty saw my red Percy, I think for the first time I really impressed her. She said it looked like a cobweb and she'd have one in black with black beads. Whilst I've knitted for her before, I'm not sure she's asked me for anything before so I was very happy to oblige. Finding black yarn was a bit of a challenge but I plumped for 100g Grignasco Merino Silk 2ply from Violet Green. I haven't knitted much with lace weight but I knew it commanded serious respect from other knitters and I'm all about the glory. I knew it was finer than the sock yarn I'd used for the previous percys. So, perhaps some part of my brain knew the finished shawl would be much finer. And, I knew I'd used about 50g of yarn so it would be half the weight of my Percy. But then, knowing isn't the same as understanding.

I'm now concerned it's too nice. Too fine. Too unsubstantial. I'm worried my aunt won't dare wear it for fear of it floating away in the breeze or disintegrating between her fingers, because that's certainly how I feel when I hold it.  It is beautiful though.

I'll take it round and see what she thinks.  If she likes it then I hope she can wear it every day, and if she doesn't like it, I hope she says so as then I can make her another one, no I'm not bored of Percy yet, and keep this one for myself. And then I'll take up flamenco dancing.

MOFO: Jubilee weekend socks

I've finished my Jubilee socks. They took just over a week but that did include many hours of knitting in front of the Jubilee coverage.

If the calves look a little wide and the feet a little stumpy that's intentional as they feet reasonably well, but the calves are a little loose and the feet a smidgen short.  I'll adjust for that on the next pair. 

When I calculated my swatch, I declared I only really wanted 64 sts for the calf but still trusted the calculations and went for 72 sts.  Never blindly follow science, people!

I bought the Faires and Elves Opal sock yarn in Berlin, with Emily, who is now an expert on where to buy yarn in Berlin.  We went to many places and saw many things.

 I posed here, particularly for the crocheted lime green and acid yellow waist coat in the background.

 There was an expansive selection of sturdy German sock yarn in this department store and I quickly gave up on the plan of only buy enough for one pair.  I was surprised to see that even if I didn't have time to knit my own socks, but was desperate for that particularly strong wool blend and faux fair isle patterning, I could buy them ready made.

I think they must have been machine knit as I didn't faint at the price.  I didn't look too closely so I didn't see if there were size option but there were plenty of colours.  I suppose you could even buy them and pass them off as your own work if you took the label off. 

FO Red Percy for me

I showed my new percy to my aunty at the weekend.  She was very taken by it.  I had showed her the grey version when it was still in production and she'd seemed...doubtful.  This one really impressed her, partly because she preferred the colour and partly because it didn't look like a dishcloth.  I suppose I forgot that stretching part of the knitting out over my knee doesn't perform the same transformation as full on blocking does.

She liked it so much I've agreed to make Percy#3 for her. Yarn, bead and needle shopping followed.

Renegade Raccoons

This weekend I satisfied one of last year's resolutions and finished an old project.  I started this one year ago with yarn from my knitting xmas dinner lucky dip. It's Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and I used 3.25mm needles. The pattern is Ringo and Elwood by Barbara Gregory.  I knitted the smallest size but with bigger needles so they fit my hands. The raccoon pattern has a beaver partner which I have enough yarn for but I'm not sure I'll knit it.  I like the result but not the process of colour work.

Wedding blankets!

 The newlyweds arrived back to glorious July sunshine in October so we all met up for a barbecue.  And blanket presentation! My sister and I managed to give them away when we saw how pleased the recipients were.  I didn't even consider stealing mine back before I left.

 Of course, it wasn't the best weather for snuggling under a blanket but we tried anyway.

Their living room is split level which makes it excellent for photographing illusion knitting. My sister's boyfriend had a slight eureka moment and claims to have been able to see it clearly for the first time.

The blankets were 3 squares by 4 and although I didn't measure it, nearly 5 feet long.

We haven't decided if we're going to knit each other our own ones for xmas, but we are considering it. Although, each blanket took over 2 months of solid work so we'd have to start very soon for this year.  They are totally brilliant though.

FO: Xmas 2009 Jasmine socks

Yarn: Unicorn in Pink and Blue from The Natural Dye Studio
Needles: 2.25mm dpns
Pattern: Cast on 60 sts. Work k2 p2 rib for several rounds. Knit until desired length. Work short row heel. Knit until instep is desired length less heel length. Work short row toe. Cast off using three needle zigzag technique.





These socks are completely gorgeous. I thought about doing something more complicated but stocking stitch really shows off the lovely colours. I've called it Pink and Blue but there are several shades of pink and blue and purple and almost white. I haven't weighed these yet to see how much was used but I think I've enough left for a pair of footsies for me.


These are beautiful socks but I did want to add some decorative finishing to make them a little less ordinary. The zigzag bind off suits a short-row toe really well and has the double bonus of not having to graft the toe. It's a variation on a three needle bind off where here you alternate between knitting one stitch from the front needle and purling one stitch from the back needle.


When working the short rows, I decided to make the seams more noticeable. To do this I used k3tog tbl and p3tog when working the wraps. If you use k3tog and p3tog tbl the seams are less visable but I think this way is pretty.

One Down

three to go. I've finished one pair of Xmas 2009 socks, I just need to weave in the ends. I really have no idea where all my darning needles have gone.



I bought a few more needles in my fight to get everything finished on time. My sister's celebration socks are coming along well but I think I will start the other one now, without finishing the first. I want to use as much Unicorn as possible. I've weighed the ball and know that I have more than 50g left so I haven't gone too far.




I've already used the circular needle for Elfyn to try on the sock once I'd turned the heel. Now, the foreseeable future is strictly Unicorn as I need to wind the yarn for neice's socks. It really helps having two pairs on the go. Whenever I need to pause on one, for measuring in particular, I can work on the other. Also, the children's socks are stocking stitch so are easier to work on in front of Alias Season 4.

FO: Rick socks

Pattern: Rick from Sock Innovation, Cookie a
Yarn: Opal Cotton
Needles: 2.75mm
Time taken: About 2 weeks

This pattern is actually deceptively simple. There is patterning on every row but the leg section is easily memorised. I needed to consult the chart for the foot more frequently for the edge stitches but overall it was a relaxing knit. I definitely recommend it for someone who wants to progress from a stocking stitch sock.

I made my usual mistake of worrying I would run out of yarn so the leg is very short. I could probably have added a few more inches. I also made it too wide and then too short to try to compensate so the socks aren't the best fit I've ever had. I will definitely consider knitting this pattern again, and taking more time to get the fit right. I rushed to be part of the knitalong on Ravelry for July. I think I'll join in this month's aswell which won't be such a rush.

FO - sneaky baby socks

I couldn't resist.


In other knitting, I have finished the back of Colonial Cardi by Sublime in Fyberspates Scrumptious. I also have a cold.

FO: Quick Fyberspates socks

Yarn: Fyberspates Dream Sock
Amount: 1 skein with plenty leftover for new baby socks
Needles: 2.5mm Knitpicks dpns
When I started these, I wanted some quick socks that wouldn't be as ridiculously involved as my mum's pair (over 100 sts, 2mm needles) so I used much bigger needles than normal for me and cast on far fewer sts than normal and came up with some lovely yellow and blue socks. I did some ribbing and some calf decreases and a heel flap and boom, first sock done. The second sock was even quicker, especially when I relised I couldn't find my notes so decided to just pretend it was the first sock again and not worry about trying to make them identical.
They look small (and my feet look a bit stunted in the first photo) but they feel lovely and I can't wait to wear them. I love socks, so of course, my immediate reaction to finishing them was to want to cast on some new socks. I have managed to resist so far as I can't decide whether to make some mini socks for the new nephew/neice or start ball winding for a new pair for me. Decisions, decisions.

FO: Mum's socks

FO: Cora's Bobble Hat

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran
Amount: 2 balls with some leftover
Needles: 6mm addi turbos and Knitpicks harmony options with 60cm cords on each, going round and round and round and round and round

The brief was for a hat to fit a 52 cm head. Mine is 56cm and the hat is snug but not overstretched so I think it will be fine. I tend to like knitting that is not too open but this yarn has a lot of bounce and stretch which makes it good for hats. I used a lot of yarn for the pompom and it feels a little heavy but then it is a long time since I have worn a bobble hat.

I need to go to the post office now.

Noblin Design - Cosy Christmas Friends

As featured in the December issue of Let's Knit.

Santa and the Reindeer are my designs, knitted in DK yarn.

The Tree and Snowman are designed by my sister, Elisabeth Flynn and are crocheted.

The Snowman is not published in Let's Knit so look out on Ravelry for him.

True to my word: FO Tiger socks

Hooray these are finished. A long stint in front of the tennis on Saturday and a bit of weaving on Sunday night did the job. I think I over decreased slightly on the toe so my foot shape is rather flattered in those photos. I really like the yarn - it is Opal 6-ply in one of the rainforest shades (tiger) which I think has been discontinued now but they might do another version. I used 2.75mm needles which made it feel like I was flying through the sock as often on socks I use 2mm. In previous posts, you'll see I experimented with circulars and dpns but thanks to my birthday present I finished off just using 5 dpns. It really is my favourite method. I didn't try to match up the stripes on each sock as that would have been too much trouble for me. I did make a note of the pattern repeats and it was about 20 repeats long and quite confusing. I quite like not exactly matching socks. It reminds me of that phase everyone goes through of wearing odd socks. My next project is a shrug: I've finished the arms so will seam it and then consider a border around the neck as I have a whole ball left of Rowan Ribbon Twist.

Amazing husband socks

Special post by Chris, Abi's hubbie.

Here they are, at last. Yes there are two of them (socks not husbands):

But I couldn't take a photo of both of them at the same time on my feet since I was outside, using a clothed- but quite weak table as my photography prop, and was all on my own. So just one sock on and photographed at a time was my limit.

I'm so lucky! Custom made socks. I had to erm well be quietly persistent in reminding Abi about knitting MY socks next!

After the first one was finished, I did actually refuse to wear it for any period of time, aware that this would perhaps encourage Abi to knit me a second one too! As if someone would just knit one of a pair. I would never do that, say, with gloves in Japan (and essentially refuse to do more than 2 rows of rib leaving the rest up to poor old Abi).

Thank you very much my love. Here is one of the finest flowers of the season yet:

P.S. they are wonderful to wear xxx