Desperate Knitter

Finished in 2009.

2009-12-31T06:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I know the list is not long but I only started to knit seriously in thesecond half of 2009...

Happy knitting in 2010 Everyone!

My very first shawl; free pattern.

2009-12-29T03:55:00.000-08:00

Finally, this shawl is done as well. It was a big fun to knit and I'm very happy with the way it came out. Someone on Ravelry asked me about the pattern. Well, I didn't have a proper pattern for this shawl but I felt highly inspired by few photos I saw on Ravelry. It is my very first shawl and it was a good exercise for me. Here is what I did (it's more "my projects notes" than a proper pattern but I hope I can help someone)

I casted on 5 sts.
First row (RS): k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1. 9 sts
Second and every row on WR: purl

Then I just kept increasing number of sts on RS by YO: k2, yo, knit to the centre, yo, k1, yo, knit to the last 2 sts, yo, k2

Because knitting in stocking stitch sometimes gets boring, every six or seven rows I knit on WR instead of purling. This way the shawl looks more interesting.

Knit the last 3 rows. Bind off. Block and enjoy.

My very first shawl.
Pattern: my head
Yarn: unknown
Needles:US7/ 4.5mm

Recent finished objects.

2009-12-28T14:35:00.001-08:00

I haven't been a good knitter recently. Getting ready for Christmas didn't left too much time for my knitting passion. I have completely failed to finish Christmas cable sweater for C. It is sitting in my basket, untouched for the past two weeks or so. The front piece with cables came out very tight, much tighter than it was supposed to so I have to do it all over again...

But I did finish few things.
This hat, for exaple. Wasn't on my list at all but one day it was so cold here in Genoa that I knew I needed a warmer hat for little G. I also had some leftover yarn and since I don't really like to waste anything I decided to knit a nice warm hat out of it. It only took one evening to finish it. And in the end there was still some yarn left so I turned it into a pom-pom. And here it is:

Pom-pom hat for Baby G.
Pattern from: my head
Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Heather
Needles: US6/ 4.0 mm

I also managed to finish Teddy bear for G. Just in time for Christmas. I did enjoy knitting all the pieces but it was a real pain to sew them all together. I admit, I cried. I wanted to throw this thing away. I lost hopes I could ever be a good knitter. Once again I understood that I just hate seaming. After few hours of fighting with needle and stitches and after few glasses of wine, this little guy was finally done. And he looked at me with his buttony eyes like he was sorry for all that troubles he'd caused. So I felt sorry too. And what's most important: G. seems to like him so it was all worth my work.

Teddy
Pattern: Mr. Bean Bear by Sarah Bradberry
Yarn: Laines du Nord Giunco
Needles: US 2½ / 3.0 mm
Modifications: I made the arms much shorter as I was running out of yarn.

Knitting cables is fun.

2009-12-16T04:13:00.000-08:00

This is Elliot- a pattern I've been knitting now. It was published in a supplement to the November 09 issue of Knitting Magazine that M. sent me from London. When I saw this pattern for the first time, I knew strightaway I wanted to knit it. The pattern calls for quite expensive Rowan Colourscape Chunky yarn; I'm knitting it with cheaper but still nice Sirdar Tweedie Chunky.

It's my first cable project and I find knitting cables not as difficult as I thought. Actually, it's kind of fun.

I have modifed this project a bit- I omitted ribbed edges because C. doesn't like them. I do like the result so far but I'm so slow with my knitting that I almost feel embarassed...

Some new yarn and works in progress.

2009-12-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

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.

New additions to my stash.

2009-11-27T07:04:00.000-08:00

My yarn has finally arrived :) Three skeins of Sirdar (not pictured) that I need to finish C.'s sweater and supply of Rowan Scottish Tweed for my Paper Dolls pullover.

Rowan Scottish Tweed 4ply
100% new wool
Gauge: 26-28sts/38-40 rows
Needles: US2-3/2.75mm- 3.25mm

8 skeins in Grey Mist (001)
1 skein in Wine (012)
1 skein in Midnight (023)

Few days ago I visited LYS and found this yarn in sale basket. There were only three skeins left with no label on them so I have no idea waht kind of yarn it is. I couldn't resist... I'm going to knit a shawl with it.

The hat is finally done.

2009-11-20T03:39:00.001-08:00

Although I have been knitting few hours every day, it took me couple of days to finish this hat for C. I've been occupied with other project as well. I still have Angel top on my needles and Boheme for baby G. and I'd like to finish them before my new yarn arrives.

I'm quite satisfied with the hat. However, it came out a little too big but C. prefers if his hat is not too tight, so I wont be redoing it as I thought I would. I had some problems with decreasing and I ended up mixing few patterns together. It is as it is... C. likes it and that's what counts.

I liked knitting with Laines Du Nord "Lampedusa". If I were to knit a hat for myself, I would probably use the same yarn. But I rather focus on my other works in progress before I start a new project. I really wish that the yarn I ordered was already here so I could finish my green sweater for C. Only half a sleeve is missing and the neckband.

I have also changed my mind about that purple Giunco I wrote about in my last post. After knitting a swatch I decided to use it for a bigger project rather than for a shawl as I intended. It knits beautifully and feels very nice in my hands; now I just need to look through some patterns and find some more time to knit...

Project notes:
pattern: improvised
yarn: Laines Du Nord "Lampedusa", 1 skein
needles: US9/ 5.5mm

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

2009-11-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

...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!

Something new.

2009-11-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

Few days ago I visited one of my favourite local yarn shops in search for some new yarn. I want to knit winter hat for C., it's getting pretty cold and windy here in Genoa around this time of year. C. actually went with me because I wanted him to choose yarn himself and I must admit I am quite happy with his choice. Although I had only one hat in mind, I will be definitely knitting two: not being able to decide on color we bought two different kinds of yarn in two different colors; here is what we got:

Laines Du Nord"Giunco"

100% merino wool
gauge: 23 st/33 rows to 10 cm
needles: 3.5 mm-4 mm
2 skeins of brown color (colorway 333/ lot 8236)

Laines Du Nord
"Lampedusa"
50% wool
25% alpaca
25% acrylic
gauge: 19 st/20 rows to 10 cm
needles: 4.5 mm- 5 mm

2 skeins of green color (colorway 7/lot 8236)

I especially like "Lampedusa"- it feels very soft and warm in my fingers and I hope it knits very well too. And just look at this color... I'm a big fan of green.

I have already chosen few hat patterns in Ravelry pattern base; now I just have to narrow my choice to two patterns only (which is not going to be easy ;-) ).

Hopefully I am finished with the hats before the end of this months (I still have some wip on my needles too).

Desperate Knitter- Introduction.

2009-11-03T02:43:00.000-08:00

My adventure with knitting started in November 2007. I'd rememberd some basic technics from my childhood (my mum used to knit a lot and she taught me how to knit and purl) but it was only two years ago when I picked up needles again and found myself in love with this craft. I lived in London that time and I discovered I Knit yarn shop- a real sanctuary for knitters. But working full time didn't leave me many oportunities to develop my skills and my knitting wasn't as feverish as it is now. Currently I'm leaving in Genoa, Italy, and I'm enjoying my maternity leave, having more time to knit and discovering local yarn shops (there are few here).

I call myself a desperate knitter because:
* I always have an endless number of works in progress and yet I start new ones;
* my yarn stash is growing rapidly, I tend to buy more yarn that I am able to use. My mouth is watering whenever I enter any yarn shop;
* If I have some problems with patterns I am so desperate to understand that I wont give up. until I get it;
* I am Ravelry addict (but who isn't? ;) )
* I love learning new technics, searching for new yarns and patterns etc

Here, on this blog, I will try to keep track of my knitting adveture. This is a place where I will collect my ideas and links to sites of inspiration (other knitters are such a motivation for me!), keep track of my work in progress, finished objects and the future ones as well. Here, I will focus only on this beautiful craft that has become my passion recently.

My main blog can be found here.