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| Whimsical Tarot |
We've had some almost seasonal weather this week, so I have spent more time outside with my pots on the patio with lots and lots of washing on the line; of course, it only takes a warm patch for both the shower and the fridge to break down, and Mini Diva's laptop (new at Christmas) is headed back to the shop this weekend too - but if trouble comes in threes, that should be us done, for now.
Like this cute little vintage 4ply baby cardigan (neat segue, huh) :
Somewhere along the line I made an error with measurements, as there are supposed to be 5 buttons but I only had room for four - and nice little unusual buttons they are too. This is a shade called 'Camel', of Sirdar Country Style 4ply - it felt a little scritchy at first (I'm guessing the wool content), but after a wash & fabric conditioner, it gained softness and a bit of bloom.
The color is true in the 1st photo ... but this one shows the detail of the cable pattern, separated with moss stitch rather than boring old purl, and the decorative detail of the raglan sleeves. Altogether a dinky and rather pretty little cardigan, I think: Robin 1139, for Robin Bri-Nylon Supercrimp 4ply.
Today it is FO Friday and Friday Finishes which, when Googled, will give you lots of pretty things to look at.
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| Witches' Tarot (Dugan) |
I know, I know ! I was doing so well with the whole 6KCBW, I mean - 5 days out of 7 and that even included the photographic challenge ! ... Only to fall at the last hurdle ie. the weekend posts. But I just couldn't find the time, plus I didn't have any inspiration, which of course made it so much harder to find the time to sit there just to scratch my head.
But I have been knitting like a fiend. Or, it feels like it, anyway. I have started another baby cardigan (the 3rd out of a planned 4) with some Sirdar 4ply Country Style that I scored in a megasale at PurpleLindaCrafts for a mere £1 a ball ... add that to a pretty little vintage pattern that I found a while back, Robin 1139 for some yarn called Bri-Nylon (no, not sure what that is) and Wah-Lah, you have this:
See the decorative raglan edge ? So pretty ....
And the kids are out again, one at a sports camp, the other at her Bestie's (it's half-term) so I am going to use the opportunity to do a quick catch-up on the housework - even I am having trouble tolerating the carpet vs. fur ratio. However, you may go indulge in other people's lovely WIPs by popping over to Life & Yarn ...
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| Ludy Lescot Tarot |
So, this is the post of not talking about things, so I guess it'll be pretty short. We're not talking about how it's my sister's birthday and how much I miss her.
We're not talking about why there are no pictures or any progress on the Sirin Bird Shawl.
We will instead hint at new life - I shall knit for two friends' babies, both due in September; and while I await a delivery of baby yarn - I know, Titch didn't believe I had nothing suitable in my stash either - I have made a start on a cute cardigan:
I forgot I had this leftover of King Cole ZigZag in my stash, from the last set of baby cardigans I made; I had only used a smidge (to complete the Vintage Lee Target Baby Cardigan), so I'm crossing my fingers there will be enough - the pattern calls for 100g of 4ply/fingering-weight yarn.
Anyway - you'd better make good your escape before I get chatty again.
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| World Spirit Tarot |
Mini Diva's school production of 'Oliver!' is this week - and it being set in Victorian times meant I was suddenly cooler than ever amongst her friends, who are all aware that I knit shawls. Many shawls. Many shawls in many colors. Many shawls that could be borrowed to wear as part of the costume.
I thought I'd better whip up a quickie just in case there was a need for an extra shawl, and chose the Thimbleweed Shawl: being for 4ply/fingering yarn, a fast knit, not too complex but without being too boring. And I had 2 balls of Drops Alpaca in charcoal gray hanging round which I had no other plans for.
No, I have no idea why they were in my stash either, actually. It's not exactly like I'm a jay for color, and have nothing but ponycorn rainbows in my stash, but dull drab subtle colors like gray are definitely not my bag at all.
About halfway through, I decided the color and the pattern were both 'meh' without much to redeem them. But I plodded on, finished the shawl in a couple of days, then washed and blocked it. It did look better.
I left it on the back of the sofa prior to photographing it and giving it to Mini Diva.
Somehow, someway, somewhere, someone .... managed to swoop it up into a pile of dirty laundry.
Yes, one of the markers of a tragedy is the inevitability of the result. I know you know what that was, and here is the crime scene photo evidence:
No, I shan't be bothering to re-make the pattern. It might be a good thing and a lesson from the Universe that this was ruined ie. at least it was inexpensive yarn and a pattern I didn't care about, the lesson being not to waste one's time with things one doesn't feel enthusiastic about.
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| Animals Divine Tarot |
I thought the 6 of Wands for the unusual Animals Divine Tarot would be a good choice for today, as I have completed the Wild Flower Shawl MKAL.
I'm quite pleased with how it turned out; I'm glad I didn't bother with the 1700 or so beads that were part of the original - the sparkle of the metallic strand that runs through the Rico Design Creative Reflection yarn I used was more than enough.
I kind of wish I hadn't bothered with the nupps in the pattern - for the hassle involved, I'm not sure the results were worth it, as this yarn doesn't really show them up. However, looking at other people's projects, I noticed in many of them the same lack of ... not definition exactly ... but the 3D aspect that nupps ought to provide.
The sharp decreases near the end of the shawl may create a sort of gathered effect, and this may require careful blocking to avoid. You don't have to ask me how I know, cuz I know you know how I know already.
I did particularly like the bobble in the first amazingly long row - when blocked, they create a really lovely edging.
I know, I know, you're itching to see it. Wa-Lah !
The pattern itself is well-written and clear, and the designer is readily accessible through the Ravelry group if there are questions.
I hope you have as enjoyable a weekend as I am hoping for ....
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| Tarot of the 78 Doors |
I know you'll be disappointed but not surprised that neither the Wild Flowers MKAL Shawl nor Yalinka is here -clue 4 arrived in my inbox this morning, and Yalinka is getting to the size where a row is not a quick thing to achieve.
So instead I have photos of 3 baby sweaters I did recently for a friend of mine who is expecting her Surprise Baby any day now:
This was her favorite - and I like it too, for the cable and how clever the striping is. I have made it before, but this time I paid more attention, so there are no unplanned 'design features'.
The following sweater I found in an issue of Woman's Weekly Knitting & Crochet magazine. I made the edges a different color to add a little extra interest. I liked the patterned cuffs and bottom, and the star motif came out OK, but it is back fastening and I didn't like the way the neck is done, so I probably won't bother doing this one again:
And finally, this lovely vintage cardigan in 4ply - I hadn't made it for a boy before, but I think it works pefectly well in this lovely traditional baby blue:
And of course, the buttons are just great. They 'make' the outfit, and to me show just how important the 'little' things can be - putting plain old cheap ordinary buttons on this would have been a shame.
While I plod on, why not browse the lovely things over at Tami's Amis ....
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| Paulina Tarot |
Well, the test knit is blocking, and looks pretty in spite of where it went wrong. I am not one to sit idle, as you know. At least when it comes to knitting - housework is a whole 'nother story. But as I say, February is a heavy-duty month for birthdays - I have one gift made, and have just started another, in a beautiful rich shade of Stylecraft Special DK called 'Emperor':
Yes, that is a Magic Loop, and my 'spensive KnitPro Symfonie fixed circulars. I luffs them. They are wood, they feel good, they are pretty, and the cable is nice and flexible. I do worry though that maybe some of the patterns I do which may involve things like P3tbl (purl 3 through the back of the loop) may end up either dulling or ruining the points.
And here is more knitting-in-a-circle, but it is too large to count as Magic Loop, it is just a plain old circle, the beginning of a summer top, Fluidity, for Mini Diva, using Wendy Happy 4ply in 'Prussian Blue' that I had frogged from a previous project that I lost enthusiasm for:
I have way more things to share with you, but I'm hanging on to those for a little while to make you come back. Meanwhile, go check out all the projects at Tami's Amis ....
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| Tarot of the Cat People |
So here we are again, and of my 3 main WIPs this week, I shall show you two, as the third is languishing somewhere and nothing has been added to it all all except dust.
I need to figure out how to put vintage patterns in my Queue; I found this one in a charity shop for like 20p or something. It's original price is 6d, which is before-my-time money, like groats and farthings; and it specifies the yarn to be used as 'Lee Target Courtelle 3oz'; the needles are size 11 and 12 old UK style.
I could find nothing about the yarn online, but fortunately the conversion charts available told me that a size 11 UK is 3mm (between a US 2 and 3), and size 12 is 2.75mm/US size 2. I am using a skinny 4ply yarn, King Cole Zig Zag in ruby. No, I don't see any zigzags in it either. But it is 50% wool/50% nylon and machine washable.
Of course, all we immediately recognize is that those are dang skinny needles. Therefore they must be for dang skinny yarn. The other thing we know is that skinny string on skinny needles, if used to make a solid (as opposed to a lacy) fabric, takes foreeeeevvvveeeer.
But - this is a baby cardigan for the Nephew (Aug.2013 Edition) and baby cardigans are small and quick, which ought to balance out the midget size needles and yarn. In addition, many vintage patterns like this one have what I think is ingenious construction - fronts and back are knitted all in one piece until you get to the arms; and even then, things remain straightforward. This we love, as we hate seaming.
And using Cygnet DK in pale blue, and white, I am nearing completion on the crocheted baby blanket, Heirloom Lace Baby Afghan by Terry Kimbrough (which is part of my KTQ2013 yaaay me). I still have issues with gauge - stitch gauge is spot on, but row gauges is miles away from what it should be; which has entailed some fudging creativity doing the border to make the maths work. If 2 + 2 might = 5ish sort of maths, anyway.
I whisper it quietly as a traitorous mouse, but there is slight possibility that crochet is faster than knitting; certainly, when you rip it out several times to re-do it, it doesn't seem to entail the same frustrated heartache. But ssshhh, that may be just a noob's perception.
Pop over to Tami's Amis to see the progress being made by others this week ....
