June Mystery 220

After my poor choice of yarn for the May project, I've made an early start on the June Mystery.

The instructions were to use a blockable yarn (therefore no acrylic for me, I can never get it to stay blocked) and a circular needle at-least-two-sizes-larger-than-recommended for that yarn. One of the moderators, Heather, used DK weight yarn with US 10.5 (6.5mm).  The other moderator, Ariel, used light worsted on US 10.5 needles. Both were happy with the way their projects were knitting up.

The designer did hers in DK on US 10.5 and had 180 yards of the yarn.

I am going to use 5.5mm (US 9) Harmony needles (which I will borrow from DD) and knit mine in Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 5ply (sport), in a dark green colour left over from a cardigan I knitted many years ago.

Care to join me?

Fantasia Shawl

I have finished knitting but have not blocked nor sewn the ends in on the May Mystery 220 item - the Storm Cloud Shawlette by Hanna Breetz (all Ravelry links).

My version is slightly larger. The pattern calls for 137-192 metres of 4ply (fingering) yarn; I used most of a 400m yarn of Moda Vera Noir sock yarn in the colourway "Fantasia" (hence the title of this post). This is how much yarn I had left after I cast off.

I really like the pattern, the way the part-circle works and the slight ruffle effect of the outer (largest) ring but I think my choice of yarn could have been better! I really wanted a new project (I had, after all, finished four projects last week) and this one looked good. I have lots of sock yarn in my stash; but it's mostly self striping and that didn't help this pattern at all.

I was glad to get it done because I didn't like knitting on my Knitpicks Options 5mm (US 8) needles; lately I have been mostly knitting on Knitpicks Harmony needles and much prefer the wooden ones. I bought the nickel plated Options before the Harmony needles became available in Australia and wish I had waited but, of course, I didn't know the Harmony needles were coming or just how wonderful they are!

I also think the size is a little small to be useful but I guess a little covering is better than none at all!

ennui - over and out Part 2

My second secret for boredom with projects on the needles is ...

Cast on something new!

Here we are, more than two thirds of the way through May and I realised I hadn't even looked at the Mystery 220 (Ravelry link) project for this month.

So, I found some appropriate 4ply (fingering) yarn

Moda Vera Noir sock yarn; colourway: Fantasia

and cast on!

after 60 rows

close up detail

Mystery 220 - April

This one is DK (8 ply) weight on 3.5mm needles. The moderator suggests a luxury yarn in a solid colour and says it has a delicate pattern (so, I'm guessing dark colours would not work).

There are very few luxury yarns in my stash so I guess it'll be plain old wool for me!

March Mystery 220

I finished it!

I finished it on 29th March.

I knitted clues 2, 3 and 4 and completed the finishing (clue 5) in one day.

I made an i-cord for the first time.

I wish I had used a single coloured yarn - the pattern gets a little lost in this yarn.

It's a bit big for me but the beauty of charity knitting is it will fit someone!

Presenting, for your viewing pleasure, Liffey (Rav link), by Iryna Klionava.

To be honest, I would never have chosen to knit this hat - it's way too fussy for my ususal choice. I want quick knits because the faster I finish the project, the sooner I can get on to another. This suits my need for variety and gives more items to the needy.

However, the detail in this hat is gorgeous, especially the decreases around the crown. Check the Rav link to see them better.

knitting progress

Some knitting has taken place here between the piecing and patchworking sessions. The socks are finished, except for the grafting.

The Cynthia Blue No-Purl Scarf, aka the Corrugator Scarf (Rav link), continues slowly. It's my commuter knitting and therefore doesn't get much knitting time since I only commute one day per week. I did, however, knit some last night while watching Midsomer Murders; I needed something I could knit without following a graph or instructions.

The March Mystery 220 project hasn't proceeded past Clue 1. I must get onto it before it's time to cast on for April! Even though I know what the finished object is, I'm not entirely sure what it looks like. I skimmed past a photo on another blog (well done on completing yours, C.)

My sample for the entrelac workshop (part 2) I am teaching at the Blue Mountains group of the Knitters' Guild of NSW is finished. This one (unblocked) is in garter stitch but the foundation triangles are made the same way as they would be for stocking stitch, except this way has no purl stitches.

And... since I didn't show you my samples for the workshop I did last weekend (19th March), here are two unblocked examples of garter stitch entrelac (a la Brenda Horne).
 

 

What's in the knitter's corner?

My knitting corner is a mess! My preferred place to knit is on a 2 1/2 seater lounge (sofa) looking out onto the garden. My knitting bag, a project bag (or two) and a book (or two) are usually all that's on the other seat. Today there is a pile of stuff on the "spare" seat. It doesn't usually look like this and today it will be cleared and look like normal again. I like to be reasonably tidy and to be able to just move things quickly so someone can sit there if need be. I have been so busy knitting and reading or listening to audiobooks that I have got into a big jumble!

So what's there?

• two hats, a scarf and a pair of socks waiting to be photographed - scarves, socks and hats look so much better modelled than photographed flat (DD is visiting today so we can take the photos and pack the stuff in the "ready-to-go" charity box)
• my March Mystery 220 project - second clue today; woo-hoo! action: knit the clue then pack the WIP in a project bag until next week's clue
• one Ambassador of Love mitten (Rav link) - incomplete, waiting for the top to be grafted and the thumb knitted; this was one of the two January Mystery 220 projects; I cast on two days ago - I am knitting it as a mystery object so haven't paid attention to the pattern page
• three loose dpns that were being used for the mitten and will be needed again to complete the thumb
• a magnetic board holding the chart for the Ambassador of Love mittens
• No Purl scarf (Corrugator scarf) - started last week and ripped out and started again last night because it was too narrow; this is my television/travel knitting
• the project bag containing the yarn-in-use from which I am knitting the No Purl Scarf
• two pre-wound balls for the No Purl Scarf - the project I took to DD's and didn't get around to knitting!
• an empty project bag (to be used for the March Mystery 220 project)
• scrap papers containing instructions for the Corrugator Scarf, the Ambassador of Love mittens and the Old Shale Wimple (now frogged but I'd like to try it again)
• two knitting books (Rav links): Handknits to Wrap and Adorn (I was going to knit a beanie from this book but settled on the Slip Stitch Stash Hat instead) and Big Book of Knitting by Katherine Buss (I was looking for cast on instructions but it didn't help because being left handed I couldn't follow the directions and didn't have a mirror handy)
• patterns for Slip Stitch Stash Hat and Fourth Grade Hat (Rav links): both completed - see first bullet point
• a yarn label with the instructions for knitting socks - file for possible later use/reference
• a pair of scissors and a pin cushion holding my tapestry needle and needle threader (used for grafting and sewing in ends) - these are usually on the lounge within easy reach
• a tape measure because my knitting bag is under so much stuff I can't put it away
• a booklet containing information about workshops and coupons for the Craft Expo which opens tomorrow
• The Tin Ticket: the story of convict women in Australia; my great-great-grandmother, Agnes McMillan, is one of the central characters
• Bridget Jones's Diary - I've never seen the movie and was offered the book to read - didn't even finish the first month of the diary, didn't like the writing style or content; skipped to the end which was as I expected! Won't bother to hire the movie!!

And in the immediate vicinity?

• a bag containing two EZ UFOs - a February Baby Sweater that needs buttons and a Tomten that needs the zipper sewn in; the zipper is pinned but I have to search for some matching yarn/thread to do the job
• my Fibonnacci Strip blanket (afghan) which still has about 300 ends to be sewn in!
• my iPod (in its docking station) loaded with a couple of audiobooks - my current listening is Julie Andrews*: an intimate biography (by Richard Stirling), and next in the queue is Slave: my true story (by Mende Nazar)
• the TV guide from the Sunday paper

What's in your knitting corner?

*Although Julie Andrews had an intinerant childhood, for the most part she grew up in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England; which is the same place where my great-great-grandfather, William Thomas Bowley, was born and raised. His father, Edward, was the local barber/hairdresser.

Mystery 220

I have joined the Mystery 220 group on Ravelry - knitting a project a month that uses less than 220 yards of yarn - should be fun!

I'm off to cast on the March project.