Window Pane Scarf

My LYS (Local Yarn Shop - Mine is WeKnitYouCanToo) stocks some beautiful yarns dyed right here in Cornwall, Perran Yarns and I have to be honest I am a little bit in love with them. The colours are amazing, every time a new batch comes into the shop I fall in love. So many beautiful colourways. These are special yarns for special projects, the kind of yarn you buy yourself as a birthday treat or when you're making a gift for someone you really like.

Now the item I am blogging about today all came about from one of these skeins of yarn. I wanted to make a Christmas gift for someone with some of this gorgeous yarn. I knew my LYS owner was about to make a trip to Perran Yarns to stock up and so put in a request for something made up of blues and with a little bit of wow. I was not disappointed! She returned with a beautiful 4ply skein of 'Ocean' a mix of blue with sparkle running through. Now, anyone who knows me knows I'm not a bling person and sparkle has to be tasteful in my books. This was perfect!!

The next question was what do make with that, a scarf of some kind, but something a little bit different, a little bit special. I had really enjoyed my feathers and fans snood but that was DK and not suited for a 4ply, so I began the hunt. Computer mouse in hand I began the Ravelry search. I love Ravelry, it is not only bookmarked but featured on my toolbar for easy access. After a little deliberation I settled on the Windowpane Scarf by Adrienne Lash, it's simple but effective, especially with variegated yarn (as I could see from the pictures of scarves others had made using this pattern - thats a really bonus of Ravelry, you can see other peoples makes). It took me a 3 days which I was pretty pleased about.

                 

      

I couldn't be more pleased with the finished product! I felt happy giving this as a gift (of course I would have loved to keep it for myself - but that's just an excuse to buy some more lovely yarn and make another one, isn't it?).

Perran Yarns

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I don't get paid for linking to business etc. but firmly believe in sharing jolly good stuff and so wherever possible will link to patterns, supplies, yarn shops etc. so that you can enjoy their fab products to.

Socks - I will not be defeated!! - Part 1

I have written this post in parts as I have completed this project and will post the entire thing when it is complete. I have dated each part to show the process.

17.3.2016 - I know I mention my LYS (Local Yarn Shop) a lot but that is where I get lots of my inspiration and energy. I have WeKnit to thank for an awful lot, wonderful new friends, laughter, inspiration, new skills, energy... the list goes on.

This post is about a new skill. I am always up for trying something new or learning something new. I firmly believe that we never stop learning from the relatively new things e.g. I must remember that step is there next time, to new skills and qualifications. This has lead me into all sorts of exciting chaos, including jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet for charity and spending a week on a magnificent tall ship to mention but a few.

Anyways... At my LYS this month there is a theme/focus. Sue has called it Sock March - see her blog post for details, in short this includes a fantastic window display, and sock knitting lessons (you really do have to take a look at the blog). Now, about a year ago I did try my hand at making a pair of socks, but the 4ply yarn, 2.75mm needles and me didn’t exactly get off to a flying start. As explained in a previous post I pick crochet over knitting any day of the week. My first mistake with the socks had been that I didn’t realise that when you are using circular needles and doing stocking stitch you only need to knit, not knit a row, purl a row. My next mistake is I would completely forget whether I was knitting a row or purling a row - in short, it was a mess!

With Sock March in full swing and lots of people giving sock knitting a go I decided I couldn't be beaten by socks! I dug out 2 balls of Big Fabel from my stash that I had brought ages ago (gutted they have discontinued this!) and got myself some KnitPro 4mm needles. The Aran weight yarn and bigger needles made it so much easier and I soon got the grasp of the cuff and 'leg' part/top of the sock...

20.3.2016 - In fact I found myself unable to put it down and rather than tucking it away, when I thought it was long enough, until the heal turn lesson, I unscrewed the interchangeable needles and put them onto a fresh cable to cast on the 2nd sock!! Yes, the second sock!

Whilst the final games of the 6 nations were on this weekend I multi-tasked, listening to and watching parts of the rugby whilst knitting the second sock. I now have 2 socks ready for a heal turn!!

22.3.2016 - One heel successfully turned and I am pleased to say it really it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I was dreading the heel but once again the lovely Sue showed me the way and I've successfully managed a fish lips kiss heel. The question is, can I turn the second heel without Sue's expertise? I have continued to knit the foot of sock number 1, it won't be long before I'm ready for the toe lesson.  
It does however turn out that I can't multi-task, I have been wrapping the yarn the wrong way!! (clockwise instead of anticlockwise) Opps!

23.3.2016 - Happily turned the second heel with no more than the written instructions to prompt me! :) Happy bunny!

24.3.2016 - Successfully finished the first sock today, completing the toe (which I was dreading) using just written instructions :) I needn't have worried, just like the other parts this turned out to be less troulesome than anticipated. Happy, happy me!

Well to begin with ... When I tried it on I realised it doesn't fit, width wise. I suspect it is because I was wrapping the yarn clockwise to begin with (play spot the difference above) and so that part of the sock has far less give than where I had knitted correctly. I can just pull it on but its very tight!

I am still determined to succeed at socks and not be defeated. So here's the plan: I think I'm going to 'frog' my second sock back to the cuff and do it properly, saving some yarn. I also have enough yarn to redo the first sock. I won't frog the first one but think I may just keep for sentiment. Keep your eyes peeled for part 2...
Meanwhile have a lovely Easter all.

Feathers and Fans Snood

My LYS (Local Yarn Shop - mine is WeKnitYouCanToo) stocks some simply gorgeous yarns hand dyed here in Cornwall - Perran Yarns. I had noticed one that had been catching my eye for a couple of weeks a DK (Double Knit) Skein in a colourway names Sweet Pea. The colours caught my eye and just made me think of holidays in the Scottish highlands amongst the heather. Each week I would admire the colours and the softness when I could resist no longer I snapped it up and took it home.

As so often is the case, the next question was what to make with it. I am a far more confident crocheter than knitter. In the same way I drive an automatic car because I simply can't get my feet to do two different things at the same time, I crochet because co-ordinating one hook is easier than two needles. At the time of making this item about which I am blogging, I would say I was still really learning to crochet, I wasn't confident remembering the stitches or reading patterns. However, I had the wonderful Sue at WeKnit, to encourage and guide me - she's brilliant like that (don't tell her, but I have a lot to thank her for, not only am I now a pretty ok, and I would go as far to say, have become an intermediate level crocheter, but have also gained an awesome friend in the process).

Sue showed me a pattern she was working on - feathers and fans (this stitch for scarves etc. can easily be found on Ravelry with a quick search). However being the awkward ladies that we are we wanted our pattern to appear horizontally rather than vertically. Here is a link to the pattern written by Sue and posted on her blog - I love it!! Feather & Fan Neckwarmer and here is a photo of my snood. I absolutely love it, it's soft and snuggly and I love wearing it.

 

Perran Yarns

On Etsy: Here
Facebook: Here or Here
Twitter: Here

I don't get paid for or asked to link to business etc. but firmly believe in sharing jolly good stuff and so wherever possible will link to patterns, supplies, yarn shops etc. so that you can enjoy their fab products too.

'Finish it February', friends and Corner to Corner baby blanket

A bit more catching up to do...

 Friends
Since my surgery I have spent a lot of time at my local yarn shop/cafe. It's great you can sit and sip a cuppa, nibble at some homemade cake, crochet/knit and natter - Perfect!! I'm the kind of person who would be diven mad kept within the same four wall and so as soon as I was able I was in the wheelchair and up the road to WeKnit coffee corner - Find them on Facebook here. Or visit their online shop: weknit-youcantoo.co.uk Or check out the blog written by the fabulous Sue: WeKnitYouCanToo Blog Without everyone at WeKnit I think I would have gone stir crazy. As well as the yarn, coffee, and cakes the support has been fantastic - I can't thank you ladies and gents enough!
The chatter has kept me upbeat and busy with different projects - all of which will appear on here in good time.

Finish it February
One day at the beginning of February I was in the cafe and said something about wanting to get the Corner to Corner (C2C) baby blanket I started last year finshed. I had pretty much got half way and it was the daunting idea of the decreasing that had made me put it to one side. One facebook I made a comment about 'Finish it February' and wanting to finish all those projects I had put to one side mid way through or had brought yarn for but that sat in a bag or cupboard untouched. Without realising it I started 'Finish it February' amongst my fellow knitters and crocheters. Soon an event was created on facebook and photos and comments were being shared, projects being pulled from their dusty resting places. It was great to see everyone getting the satisfaction of finsihing pieces they had previously given up hope on or just lost the enthusiasm for.

The offending Corner to Corner (C2C)
The C2C technique is really rather simple, increasing to the halfway point (diagonally) and then decreasing to the last corner giving you a complete square upon completion. This was ideal for my first baby blanket  as I brought 2 balls of yarn and worked up using the increase to the mid point until I ran out of yarn on the first ball. This meant I knew there would be enough in the second ball to work the second half in decreases.

When finished I worked a narrow border of double crochets in a complimenting colour.
The yarn used for this project:
With Love DK by Woolcraft - colour Ocean 617
New Fashion DK by Woolcraft - colour Lemon 4385
Puchased here: weknit-youcantoo - woolcraft