Viften - F.O.

So I finished my Viften yesterday.  I may have botched up the sewing together and I now feel it isn't quite perfect enough for the show but I am going to proceed anyway with the entry.
This was a really interesting knit - the construction is two fronts with curved edges that make up the collar, the back and the sleeves - with raglan shaping.  I had hoped that I had enough wool to make the long sleeves but after a slight panic at the Knitters' guild AGM I forgo that thought and just stuck with the short sleeves.   The sleeves are a bit snug and the fronts quite billowy.  I did have heaps of positive comments at work yesterday and one makeup friend nearly stole it from my bag - saying I'd buy that if I saw it in the shops.  I am really pleased with the colour and wish I could be taking it away with me to show off this weekend.

The knit picks yarn did knit up well and towards the end I was spit splicing it together - this was a first for me.  There were a couple of mistakes with the slipped stitch that I dropped and fixed as I was going and I am so less fearful of fixing things on the go now.

So now for another cardie for me - I have cast on tea leaves in the correct yarn - and I am in love with the colour of this one.  In my head I am determined to knit the list of cardies I have had ruminating for the past year or so........but that list I will save for another post.

Po was most upset I moved his scratching post this morning to take photos, then had renewed interest in scratching whilst I was photographing.

Progress so far or how I bought more wool

Another pair of socks blocked and stashed in the sock drawer ready for winter - this is my personal sock club 2010 #3 - and I have now cast on #4.  

These ones are waving lace socks from Interweave Favorite Socks in Jitterbug - colour way Monet's Garden.  I loved knitting this pattern and especially seeing how the colour way unfolded.  I am officially a 2.25mm magic loop convert.

I did buy some more wollmeise - and how good is that pink!!!!  Thanks Donna - a girl cannot have too much pink.

As I sit here writing this I am waiting for my Viften to soak and then pink out to block.  What next you ask - English Breakfast Tea I say - Tea Leaves in Madelinetosh yarn - thanks to a destash on Ravelry (ok I am an addict).  This colour way is Venetian - and again I am embracing my girly side.  swatch done - not measured though.

I have cheekily called this "Popping the Cherry" my first wollemiese knit.  I have been eyeing off the Wast Side Shawl since knitting Aeslight by the same designer.  This is knit from the edge first - so 42 diddles later.......

I have now cast off the sleeves you see below for my Viften - and I have 10grams left of the yarn  - phew.  I did have a mild panic yesterday thinking I was going to run out of yarn.  As you can see I have made the short sleeved version and I am waving the knitted pieces over water at the moment ready to block, dry and then sew up.  This is what the pattern says to do so I am following the pattern.  I am so glad to have finished this I was getting over the garter stitch......

But I love the effect.

Under pants on the outside - finally remembered what an acronym stood for.

Thanks Lara love the logo.  Now what to do with this.....

seeing red

I am getting a bit addicted to red and a certain wool label at the moment. There is one more ball in the mail too.  My first ball was from Rosered and the rest are just company really.  I am obsessed with the different hues and tones of the reds here.

My currently fondling obsession is the third one from the left  and although I have show knitting and a small toy to make I am tempted to cast on this shawl.

The lace weight at the far right may just become a featherweight.

My second show entry is complete and I am just over the hump with the third.  I was sailing along last night when I realised again how bad my pattern reading skills are - and had to unpick back to the start of the decrease.  Now I am doing the 'have I enough wool' fret.

My 3rd pair of socks for 2010 are coming along nicely and I am currently researching the next pair - as I did two for S.V. I think the next pair is for me again.  I am not sure whether to start the hard ones or not as yet.

I just could not resist the Sunny-boy bag from buttontree lane.  The print and the shape takes me back to my childhood.

Finally a hello from the kittens - Tom is just about disinterested in yarn and Po is still in love of heights.

Easter Show 2010

So this year I am going to enter in the show.  I am really I am.

So far there is one finished item to enter - for the 'Take Over The Toy Cabinet' charge from the inner city group.  Aggie Bear should do nicely for this I think.  Toy Class 202 here we come.

Then what next - I am fast but a lace shawl really smacks of madness and I am mad but not that mad.

So I thought this would be a great opportunity to finish a long lingering project my fractal cardigan aka Frost Jacket from Knitting Nature - for Class 115 - 'Adult's Cardigan or Pullover, with sleeves, in yarn thicker than 8 ply'  - this would be two birds one stone - and finally a finished garment.  How this has lingered so long I am not sure at all.  I am scared about insufficient yarn but I just need to bit the bullet and go there.

Finally I thought this could also be an opportunity to make myself undertake something that has been brewing since earlier last year - the Fan Cardigan from Japanese knits.  I am intrigued by this pattern.  But what colour and what to knit it in?  This I thought could be a stash buster and I could use either Tango (choices there include charcoal, pink, beige or cream) or Bambi in pink.
Any way choices choices.......... I am leaning towards long sleeves though.