FO: Hoodie – Blogtoberfest: Day Eleven

I’ve managed to finish the hoodie I was knitting for myself. I started it back in May and took a bit of a break with it during the Summer. Mainly because the yarn I was using, Drops Eskimo, is really warm and thick and it just didn’t feel right to be knitting with it in weather that was in the twenties. The pattern is a Garnstudio pattern that I had found when I was waiting for my little man to arrive in February.

It’s a really easy to follow pattern that is knitted on circular needles up until it’s split for the arms and the front band. Knitting with Drops Eskimo is quite nice as it’s quite a thick yarn and it practically flies off the needles (when I decided to finally focus on it).

When I started knitting it I decided to go for a large size as I think it’s quite nice to be comfortable in this kind of sweater. I was a little bit worried about the sleeves being too short when I was knitting them (even though I knitted a large), but they turned out to be just the right length.

My best friend was still here on Monday so we did a photoshoot of me wearing the hoodie, so prepare yourselves. Doesn’t it look good? I do think the hood looks a little bit like a pixie or gnome, maybe I should block it after all?

WIP Wednesday – Blogtoberfest: Day Five

Inspired by Kate over at Confessions of a Graveyard Gypsy, I thought I’d start blogging about my works in progress, hence the title of my post today. In fact, I’ve actually got two WIPs to show you, the first one is a cowl I started today. It’s a project that I’m using with my mother and toddler group (Tots & Toast in West Hampstead, London) as I’m teaching them to knit. It’s an extremely simply straightforward knit, with size 12 needles. I don’t think I’ve ever knitted with bigger needles, so the cowl just flies off the needles.

My other WIP is a Drops Design hoodie that according to my Ravelry I started on 30th May. It’s a very easy knit that uses size 8 needles (I know, I know, another set of massive needles) and Drops Eskimo yarn. I’m nearly done with it, just finished the second sleeve off today and now only have to knit the hood and sew in the sleeves and finish it off.

I decided to knit a large, as I wanted to be comfortable in it. The sleeves to seem a little bit short, but the body looks like it’s the right size. I’ve not yet decided whether I will block it, but will make up my mind once I get a chance to wear it.

I’m hoping that I might be able to finish it tonight, as I’ll have quite a lot of time, sitting in front of the TV (my favourite place to knit is in front of the TV, as I find that I’m actually quicker when I don’t look at my knitting, isn’t that odd?)

Cotton Scarf for my Man

When I was sitting and waiting for little Luke to arrive I kept myself busy with some knitting, particularly this scarf for my man:

I used the Drops Safran yarn and picked some manly colours with some nice orange stripes interspersed. It’s worked out very well I think and was such an easy and quick knit and my man has had many positive comments on it from his colleagues and friends.

This is actually the second scarf I’ve made for my man, but the other one is more of a winter scarf, it’s made out of wool and is rather heavy. So this can be worn in Spring and Autumn, and those days when it’s just a little bit too chilly.

Fingerless Gloves in White

I’ve been meaning to put these fingerless gloves on here for about a year. I made them for a colleagues mother last year, can you believe it? Last year? He did tell me that his mother had put them on the other day, as it’s getting colder. Yes, it definitely is. Even I, who am always really warm, am now getting cold. Especially when I’m outside. Anyway, here they are. I used a pattern from Garnstudio and it was such a pleasure to knit, really easy and quick.

I remember when I started making them I took them apart a few times as I thought they weren’t going to be big enough. That probably has something to do with the fact that my colleague didn’t tell me that they were for his mother and not for him. Oh well, I got there in the end.

FO: Fingerless Gloves in White
Yarn: Karisma Superwash, White
Needles: Double pointed needles, size 3
Pattern: Drops Number 98-8
Description: Easy to knit pattern that could be finished in half a day.

My Mum’s Dress

A little while ago I asked my mum to have a look at Garnstudio to pick out a design that she wanted me to knit for her. She picked this lovely linen tunic, for which I used exactly the yarn that is mentioned in the pattern: Drops Lin. It was really easy to knit, but at first I was a little worried that it was a little rough around the edges. As the skirt was knitted with quite large needles it meant that the stitches were quite lose. This is not something I’m used to as I always knit quite tightly, but it seemed to work well.
    
Following the skirt I knitted some pleats for the first time ever. This was quite well explained in the Drops Design pattern, but I also found my Ultimate Knitting Bible that I recently bought (thanks to my friend Dom) extremely helpful. It explains very nicely how to do pretty much anything in knitting, how amazing is that?

I made the smallest size of the dress as my mum is quite petite, and at first I was a little worried that it might be too small and that it wouldn’t fit her. But I didn’t have worried, it fits her perfectly and looks nicely elegant.

I’m loving the fact that I’m starting to try out more and more new patterns as it is a perfect way to enhance my skills. I’ve still got a huge list of other things to finish, including a number of baby blankets (which take very long, compared to small baby clotes), some baby booties (nice and quick), a cardigan for myself (a new pattern) and a baby dress for a friend.

I finished the dress off with a nice crochet border and of course my trusted label.

Personalised Scarf

Last weekend I finished a scarf for my boyfriends brother in Sydney, Australia. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, surely a scarf isn’t necessary in Australia? That’s exactly what I thought, but apparently it does get quite cold. He wanted a scarf in the Sydney Swans colours, so I came up with the following.

I think it has worked out well and the colours work well. I was going to knit wider stripes, but as I had to swap colours and change the yarn it made more sense to make thinner stripes in order not to have to sew up left over threads after every single stripe.

And of course I’ve finished it off with my label, which includes the address to this particular blog, maybe it’ll get me more visits!

Just a quick reminder, I’m now on Etsy and Folksy!

Socks

Firstly, my niece arrived last Tuesday: Clara Mathilda. I can now start knitting and sewing little baby dresses, I’ve already ordered Burda sewing patterns and some wool to follow another Garn Studio pattern.

Secondly, I finished some socks a little while ago for a friend, as she always had cold feet.

I followed a really old pattern that my aunt taught me when I was about 12. It’s very easy to follow and also easy to change if that’s what is needed. I usually get my sock wool from Germany as there’s more choice with all kinds of different colours, and I’m slowly but surely running out of wool. So, I should get someone to get me some more!

Fingerless Glove for Warm Fingers

I finished these greyish coloured gloves for a friend and colleague some time ago, could have been before Christmas. The pattern is another great one from the folks over at Garnstudio.

The fingerless gloves were surprisingly easy to make. I remember making some gloves when I was at school and the fingers were particularly complicated. I might attempt gloves again, now that I know that they are not actually that difficult to make.

My friend chose to colour, which I think works really well, as it can be work with any other colour. I think they’ve worked out quite well and my friend really liked them. I’ve also made another pair for a friend for her birthday (pictures to come later) and I’m just finishing another pair in white that a friend is going to give to his mother.

I’ll try making some proper gloves, I’m sure there are some nice patterns on Garnstudio.

Something that’s Mine!

I’ve finally finished a cardigan for myself. Even though the wool was quite thick, but it still took a lot longer than baby clothes to finish. After all baby clothes are so much smaller.

The pattern is a great Drops pattern. I also really love the colour and I think it looks really nice, but that’s just my opinion.

It was easy to knit the cardigan and it was all knitted in one piece, which makes it nice as it’s without seams. The pattern on the finished piece looks good as well and it was nice and easy to knit.

I was able to use some old buttons that used to be on a waistcoat I made years ago. I basically wore it out, but didn’t want to throw the buttons out, as they’re really nice.

Winter Coat – in Summer?

I know I’ve been quiet for a few days, but it’s so lovely and sunny outside so I want to spend my time outside in the sunshine! Anyway, here is a winter coat that I made for the same friend that I finally finished the white shirt for, see my post from 6th May.

It is another case of the picture having been taken before I owned a digital camera, so the picture isn’t brilliant, but it gives a good idea of the style of the coat. It’s a basic winter coat made from wool fabric and a nice strong satin lining. It closes with buttons, which are hidden.