Wednesday 13 August 2014

Yarn Along.....lots on the needles.

Hello my friends, how is your week going? I'm writing this hoping the rain will stay away this morning so we can take my niece and nephew to the park. Well, I seem to have cast on quite a few things this week, including something using these gorgeous mini skeins from Fivemoons Yarns.

I'll start with this project first, though these aren't my usual colour pallet but they jumped out at me at Unwind Brighton. They came in a little wooden box called A Big Box of Sweeties and had 10 x 10g mini skeins of Luna Plus 4ply, 75% superwash merino/25% nylon. I resisted at first and bought the Fade to Grey which I knit my Pebble Beach shawl in.

As I sat in the Pavillion Gardens, knitting on my shawl, Zena said those mini skeins would be perfect for the Leftie Shawl by Martina Behm. I'd had my eye on this pattern for some time and thought what a great idea and those colours I'd been looking at would be perfect, so later that afternoon I headed back to the Marketplace and bought them.

The main colour needs 150g of yarn so rather than having to buy 200g and having leftovers, I started looking for 50g skeins. I found some Artesano Alpaca Silk 4ply which is 70% alpaca/30% silk. It is beautifully soft and has a very slight halo, I love how it looks against the bright colours.

After speaking to Zena, we decided to cast on and knit it at the same time, I then found out Rachel from The Good Yarn Guide wanted to knit it too, so we are having a mini knit along together. We were all just about ready last weekend to start it and I cast my Leftie on Saturday evening, managing to get six leaves finished.

My only reservation with this pattern were the short rows, I've always had a problem picking up the wraps and making it look neat. I looked on You Tube to see if I could find any tips and after the finishing the first two leaves found it wasn't too bad. After avoiding short rows when I could, I'm now finding them not to be a problem. If I need any help with knitting, I tend to use the tutorials by Very Pink Knits, she is very clear and does great close up shots.

My next new project is by Mel, she has a brand new look blog with a new name and podcast, if you take a look at the first video, you can find out the reason for this new look and name, it's wonderful news, you can find the first video here.

Mel is such a warm, kindhearted person and loves to bring people together, she has come up with a great idea for knitting together. On the first episode she encourages us to pick up 100g of fingering/4ply, some 4mm needles and cast on a gorgeous, easy to knit shawl that she's designed especially for her podcast listeners.

She talks us through the intructions and also has them written on the video, so grab a note book too. It didn't take me long to finish the first part and was ready for the second episode.

As promised, Mel was back the following week with episode 2 and the next part of the pattern. I'd got 460 yds of yarn so I wanted to make mine bigger which Mel explains how to do that, leaving enough yarn for the border. She then goes on to tell you the instructions for the first part of the border which I'm just about to start. I just think this is a wonderful idea, the pattern hasn't been released yet, this is just for her podcast viewers at the moment, so go check it out.

I've also cast on a mini version of the Georgie Blanket by Helen Stewert, I've cast on 81 stitches rather than what's given in the pattern. It will be the perfect size for the carry cot and car seat. I'm using some leftover Rooster yarn which is one of my favourite commercial yarns, it's a dream to knit with.

We went up to see her on Sunday, here she is with just 8 weeks left to go.

We took all the baby things up that she'd been storing at ours until the nursery was finished including this sweet little Mose's basket we bought them, you can just about see the first Georgie blanket I knit for him.

Now on to the book I'm reading this week, it's a great thriller that I have on my Kindle called Abducted by T.R. Raglan, it's an on the edge read and I'm loving it. This week I'm linking to Yarn Along, WIP Wednesday and Keep Calm Craft On.

Thank you for stopping by have a great week.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

26 comments:

mamasmercantile said...

Some beautiful projects on the go. I was drawn to the moses basket what a delight, not long to wait for a gorgeous little bundle of joy.

Lynnda said...

Loving the colors Deb!! Beautiful .. Hugs x

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Loving all the projects you have going on!!!!

Unknown said...

I love the warmth of the mini skein colours and I bet they're a real treat in alpaca, too.

Caffeine Girl said...

Holy cow! You are in a casting-on mood. I get those, too.

That Leftie shawl is SO cute. Now I know what all those mini skeins are for!

I recently mastered short rows, too, and it opens up a whole new world of patterns!

Unknown said...

Oh my so many beautiful items on the needles and not a single one I couldn't imagine myself knitting. I think you are absolutely right, that kit will make an amazing Leftie. You have to share what you are using for the shawl, love the colour!! Love the baby blanket, such a great pattern/yarn/colour combo. 8 weeks, getting so close.

Barbara said...

That Leftie is stunning! I just favorited it on Ravelry and will tuck that away for another day. Right now I am knitting a Color Affecyion and just started the short rows so I know just how you feel! No matter how many time I do short rows I never remember how. I think I messed up my first four rows last night while watching Downton on Amazon, and I'll have to frog back.

Unknown said...

Love the colors for your Leftie! And what fun to knit it with friends! I just finished my pebble beach......yours is just lovely!!

Melissa Marie said...

I love the yarn! The colors are great! Congratulations on the baby! :)

Nat at Made in Home said...

I love the colour of that blanket and also the pattern - I may have to add to my possible new blankets for my own baby!

Donna said...

Great colors you chose for Leftie! It's a real pretty pattern. I just love Mel. I haven't had a chance to catch up on the new podcast but I think I will do that at lunchtime today.

Anonymous said...

Your post is full of stunning colours, yarn and projects. It all look so beautiful to me, i really don' know which one is my favorite. Love your work, I always do:)

steph said...

fabulous projects.....Leftie has been on my list for a while, too.....haven't come across just the right yarn; you definitely found it!!!!!
thanks, too, for the podcast link....i'll be checking that out

thesnailgarden said...

I love the colours in both of your projects. You have such a good eye for colour. Best wishes, Pj x

Lea Lacoste said...

such sweet projects you are working on, love the multicolor look!

gilly said...

Deb, reading your blog always inspires me & puts a smile on my face, because you always have so many lovely projects on the go. Ooh, only 8 weeks to go.. how exciting!
xx

Iris said...

What a set of lovely projects.

Beautiful yarn candy with all those mini skeins, and I love the project you bought them for!

CathieJ said...

Beautiful knits. I love the colors you are using I the leftie shawl. What great combinations.

Diane said...

Wonderful post Deb.

Hugs diane

HillyT said...

Woww, you seem very industrious with your projects at the moment, as always your colours are so pretty. I have a skein of five moon yarn sitting in my stash waiting for the perfect project.

Jo said...

Oh my look at the leftie thing - It is amazing. I want one! Jo x

Unknown said...

I definitely should wear my reading glasses when blogging Deb, for I thought your blog title read "lost the needles", and I was like "huh? No way Debs is going to stop knitting" ;-) Great projects again, but I'm in love with your 'leftie' shawl! Ira x
Ira’s Crea Corner

Unknown said...

I'm knitting Leftie too. I started it to help a friend who was having problems with the pattern. I thought I'd just work one leaf and call it a day. It's too lovely a pattern for that! I'm committed!! Can't wait to see how it works up.

Amy at love made my home said...

So many lovely things! The Leftie shawl is beautiful!!! xx

Unknown said...

Oooooh! Those colours are perfect for a Leftie, can't wait to see how it continues knitting up

Stefanie said...

What fiber candy this post is. I drooled over that yarn for your Leftie shawl. That blanket is so awesome. Love how you're keeping track of growing baby. I did that for the first daughter. The bassinet is fantastic.

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