Been busy.

Few days ago I finally finished my Arleen. It was a test knit for Dona and I really enjoyed knitting this project. Large amount of plain stockinette was very relaxing to work on and I absolutely love the button slit: it makes a simple raglan more interesting. It is a lovely detail.  I'm very satisfied with the finished garment and it will be worn this winter a lot. My next Arleen will be with long sleeves.

Pattern: Arleen by Dona Knits

Needles: 4mm/ US6

Yarn: Cascade Yarn 220 Heathers in 'silver spruce', 2.75 skein

Modifications: I modified waist decreases and increases to adapt them to my body shape (3 decreases every 10th round starting at 5cm from underarm, knit 20 rounds straight, 3 increases every 10th round) and made the body a bit longer.

And why is it so difficult to choose buttons...? After few days of searching I bought these coconut shell beauties but wasn't sure about them until I sew them on... 

I had some yarn left from Arleen as well as some old Cascade 220 Heather in 'birch' (roughly 25 grams) that had been sitting in my stash for way too long. I decided to use it for Norwegian Star Earflap Hat (link below). I think this blue and mustard colours make lovely combination together.

I cast on for the hat last night and got so much into knitting it that I got up at 6am this morning to carry on working on it. 6am for a sleepy head like me is quite an achievement :)

I cast on for child size but it turned out to be in adult size. I like it so much that I might wear it (though I'm not a big fan of hats on my head but on the other hand it's getting really freezing here so a hat would be nice).

I will make another one for G. from different yarn and one for C. in darker colours (black/grey or brown/beige). The pattern is easy and fun to knit.

Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat by Tiennie

Needles: 4mm/ US6

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Heathers (less than 0.5 skein of 'silver spruce' and less than 0.25 skein of 'birch').

Modifications: I didn't purl the first rounds and applied simple crochet chain for the edge.

*

I started making some decorations. I want to be ready whet our Christmas tree arrives. These knitted Christmas trees are quick to make and I'm planning to knit plenty of them (great way to get rid of all unused old yarn stashed in the back of my wardrobe).

Pattern: Christmas tree by Baiba Dzelme.
Needles: 3.25mm/ US3

What are you working on these days?

Happy knitting Everyone!

Quick update.

Recently finished:

Simple beanie for G. She loves this little owl and I'm glad I finally got rid of this odd skein of Artesano Aran that I bought impulsively long ago in I Knit shop (just couldn't leave the yarn shop empty handed, could I?)

 Currently in progress:

"Arleen", test knit for Dona. This is a therapeutic project, loads of smooth stockinette is what I really need these days. And I love the yarn (Cascade 220 Heathers). And the colour (silver spruce). I ordered buttons today (it was difficult to pick up the right ones...)

New in stash:

New Lanark  Aran (90% wool, 10% silk, blue, 10 skeins)
New Lanark DK (100% pure new wool, fawn, 10 skeins)
Lovely, lovely wool. I just had to cheer myself up (well, it is Wovember, isn't it?)

On my bedside table:

 Some delicious books :)

The Dude abides.

Not much has been happening lately in my knitting world. I have few projects snoozing on the needles and the only thing I've been working on almost every day is The Dude  but I'm struggling with it a lot. The first excitement is long gone, replaced by frustration. In two months I've only finished back and left front. I'm tired of constantly ripping it off and redoing. I'm sure more than ever that knitting in pieces is not for me; I'm overwhelmed by the amount of loose ends, the fair isle worked flat is a nightmare and I feel like it's killing all joy of knitting. Not good. Especially that I have to carry on knitting it: C. is in desperate need of warm cardigan and I really don't want to waste this lovely (and expensive) yarn. Oh, boy. I hope I'm done with it soon.

Some new yarn and works in progress.

Some more new yarn in my stash... I got 7 skeins of this wonderful Filtes King Baby from C. It's fingering weight but I will be knitting it double- I already made a swatch and it does look great. I don't know what I am going to knit with it yet and anyway, with all the projects started already, I will have to wait until I'm ready to use this yarn.

Filtes King Color Baby
Gauge: 27 st/35 rows
Needles: US 2½ - 4 / 3 - 3.5mm

Also, my Sirdar Tweedie arrived. I'm going to knit a Christmas sweater for C. and I hope that 12 skeins are enough for this project. I already started it few days ago and it knits nicely although I'm not a big fan of Sirdar yarn. The project I chose is "Elliot" but I will write more about it in my next post (I need to scan some photos first). I do like the color of this yarn:

Sirdar Tweedie Chunky
Gauge: 14st/ 19 rows
Needles: US 10.5/ 6.5mm

A piece of back of new sweater:

And some more works in progress:
My very first shawl (or rather shawlette) is almost completed. I've got only one skein of yarn left. I'm happy with the result. It's been a good shawl-knitting exercise, maybe now I wil try to do something more complicated like lace shawl. I love Travelling Woman pattern but I still feel a bit lost while reading the charts.

Little Sister's Dress by Tora Frøseth. Half of it it's done and I hope to finish it before Christmas.... I love this pattern. If I have more time I might knit yet another one.

Mr. Bean Bear by Sarah Bradberry, my first knitted toy for G. I can't wait to finish it and see it done, hope it is going to be one cute little bear! There are lots of pieces to knit which is fun but thinking about sewing them all up together is already giving me a headache... (I so hate sewing up the seams...). This time my seams look neat and tidy- thanks to some explanation of my dear friend. I hope it makes the process of joining the seams easier... So far I've got body, legs and one arm parts done.

And Boheme by Allegra Wermuth that has been on my needles since September, I think. I'd love to finally finish it before Christmas. It's in a deep red color and I think that G. would look very nice and "Christmasy" in it.

What's on my needles, whan's gonna be...

...another words: little knitting update

* At the moment I have at least five projects in progress but have been working mainly with one: green jumper for C. It is almost done, just need to knit another sleeve and sew it all together. It's resting at the moment as I run out of yarn (I'm knitting it a bit longer than pattern suggests). I have ordered missing yarn and, while waiting, I started hat for C. It's going to be just a basic stocking stitch hat with ribbed edge.

* It's official now: I am a real yarnoholic. I went to get some fresh fruits and veggies this morning and of course I came back home with a bag of new yarn. Didn't really plan it; the idea of knitting a shawl for C.'s mum for Christmas popped into my mind just like that. I got eight skeins of Giunco again in purple. Not really my colour but I think C's mum will like it. We'll see. I really want to give her something hand-made and shawl seems to be a good idea.

Laines Du Nord
"Giunco"
100% merino wool
Needles: 3.5mm-4mm
Gauge: 23 st/33 rows
Color: 919

I think I will try to knit Travelling Woman shawl with this yarn. I haven't decided yet ast here are so many patterns and it's difficult to choose.

* Yesterday I learnt to knit grecian plait stitch; it took me a while to work it out but I do like the result. I'll be knitting grecian plait sweater by Rebacca Hatcher as soon as I'm finished with my current work in progress.

* I also ordered yarn for my Paper Dolls project. Just can't wait for it to arrive!