Empty needles

So, having completed the flamingo-pink frilly-edged cardi and variegated blue/pink version of the fauxrisle jumper, I now have nothing to knit. I still have the crochet flower garland to finish but knitting is my favourite. So, I'm doing a yarn audit before deciding what to cast on:

• 10 skeins of Sirdar Country Style DK in lavandula (pink/purple)
• 4 skeins of Sirdar Country Style DK in russet
• 1.5 skeins of Sirdar Country Style DK in grey
• 9 skeins of Patons Cotton Perle (approx DK weight) in white
• 3 skeins of Patons Lulu in purple (plus handles and lining to make a bag)
• 1.5 skeins of Wendy Supreme 100% luxury cotton DK in pink
• 2.5 skeins of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic) in pink/white/blue
• 3 skeins of Sirdar Juniper in green
• 2 skeins of Mirasol Sulka in navy
• 4 skeins of Patons Diploma wool-rich high-performance DK in cream
• 6+ skeins of Patons UK Beehive Soft Blend 4-ply in grey (currently being used for a lace cardi, which is an on-hold wip)
• 1 skein of Schachenmayr SMC Frilly in dark red
• 1 skein of Wendy Choice DK in cream
• 1 skein of Fyberspates merino tencel sock yarn in green/pink
• 2 skeins of Hobbyprint sock yarn in blue (part of a sock-making kit)
• 3 skeins of Nexopka sock yarn in various, variegated colours
• 3 skeins of Lana Grossa sock yarn in various, variegated colours
• 1 skein of unknown sock yarn in variegated grey

Given the season, it would seem sensible to knit something Summer weight, so perhaps continuing with the lace cardi would be the best option? But that pattern requires a lot of concentration and I'd rather do something easy at the moment. 

I'd quite like to knit something for myself and I have had that Fyberspates sock yarn in my stash for a long time now! I've also been looking out for a project for the Mirasol yarn (I had thought about bed socks or leg warmers?) and would like to use the Juniper to make a tubular scarf - perhaps I'll design one?

I could knit another couple of items for my daughter but, given how long it has taken me to complete the last couple of projects, it would make sense to knit the next size up for her to grow into! I'm tempted by a lace shrug (for which I could use the leftover Wendy Supreme) or Debbie Bliss's boat sweater in a larger size (which I could knit in Patons Cotton Perle).

Alternatively, I could use some leftovers of DK yarn to make a series of AI1Bs to give away.

I'm going to sleep on it and see where inspiration leads me...

Pretty flamingo

I just finished sewing up a Summer-weight cotton cardigan for my daughter:

It was knitted in Wendy Supreme 100% luxury cotton dk yarn (3 balls) and I used some jade-green, hexagonal buttons that I bought at Get Knitted.

The pattern was supposed to be more complicated, with lots of intarsia hearts all over, but I decided to knit it plain in bright pink instead. The collar, pocket top and button band are worked in moss stitch; the edgings are frilled. All in all, it was a simple project (although I had to count the rows from the pattern chart given).

My daughter loves the colour and the FO!

Knitting pretty

I've been knitting / crocheting things for my daughter the past month or so. Here are the fruits of my labours:

A brightly-coloured jumper for Spring:

Lots of flowers for bunting (wip):

A flamingo-pink cotton cardigan for the Summer (wip):

I'm going to try really hard to finish the cardigan over this bank holiday weekend and then complete the bunting by the end of the month!

Lead us not into temptation...

A friend asked me if I had ever been to Get Knitted. (Of course!) Then, she asked if I'd go with her to help choose a summer project for her holiday. I didn't need to be asked twice!

I was looking for some nice, brightly coloured yarn to knit something for my daughter. She's coming up for three years old and, at the moment, her favourite colour is pink (although I've tried not to encourage too much pinkness). I normally choose easy-care yarns when I'm knitting for children but I was tempted to get something cotton to make a summer-weight cardi.

In the end, I plumped for four skeins of Wendy Supreme 100% Luxury Cotton DK in flamingo pink and four skeins of Stylecraft Special DK in pink/white/blue. I loved the brightness of the cotton yarn and couldn't resist the allure of the variegated acrylic. I knew my daughter would love them and, if you can't get away with such vivid pinks when you're a toddler, when can you wear them? I also bought six hexagonal green buttons.

I'm using the cotton yarn to make a frilly-edged cardigan. It's based on a pattern with intarsia heart motifs but I'm just knitting it plain in a single colour. If there's yarn leftover, I might crochet a flower or two for decoration.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the other yarn yet. Possibly a couple of simple jumpers/cardis or perhaps a hat, scarf and glove set for next Winter? Maybe, a crocheted blanket for her bedroom?

Easily distracted!

I have completed the second Sleeve of my lace cardi and started on the Back.

However, I have been distracted by bunting!

We are in the process of re-thinking how we utilise the rooms in our house and are considering moving our daughter from her current bedroom (the second-largest) into the box room. This would give us a guest room that could accommodate a double bed and thereby allow the grandparents to come and stay.

My daughter seems interested in the idea of moving rooms (especially as this would put her in the room next to ours), so I have been thinking about how we could redecorate the box room.

One simple, yet effective, way to brighten the room would be with bunting. My first thoughts were to make some from fabric and then I thought about knitting. I looked on Ravelry for some inspiration and found this lovely flower garland pattern. It's crochet (which I'm not so good at), so today I have spent a couple of hours practising the flowers:

All I have to do now is choose some brightly coloured yarn and get hooking!

It's a very portable project and each flower only takes 10-15 minutes to make.

Lace cardi: sleeve 2

I spoke to soon...

At the point of casting off all remaining stitches for sleeve 2, I noticed a mistake in the trellis pattern. It was about 10 rows back.

I stared at it. I swore.
I stared at it some more.

I tried to unravel. I dropped stitches.

I frogged it.

******

I cast on 54 stitches and knitted 16 rows in 3x3 rib.
I took a deep breath and summoned up the courage to begin the trellis pattern again.

Lace cardi: work in progress!

I chose this pattern last year, when I was looking for a comfortable cardigan that would go with anything. According to my notebook, I first cast on in March 2012 (longer ago than I thought)!

I love the trellis lace pattern (see photo below), the 3/4 length sleeves and the fact that there are no buttons, so it just drapes at the front. Also, the front edgings are included in the side sections, so there's no need to pick up lots of stitches after knitting the main pieces. There are lots of things about this pattern that made me fall in love with it - on paper, at least!

As per the instructions, I initially cast on to knit the Back. However, I soon ran into problems. I was knitting the cardigan in the evenings, after work and after putting my toddler to bed, so I was tired and kept making silly mistakes. I lost concentration on the pattern, especially when working increases and decreases. I ripped it back and started again. Several times!

So, I decided to stop knitting the Back and try a Sleeve instead. Sleeves, I reasoned, are smaller and shorter and would give me a better grasp of the trellis pattern. By the Summer, I had one sleeve completed (see below).

And that is how the cardi remained...

Until last week, when I drew in a deep breath and cast on for the other sleeve.

To my surprise, it's going well. When I look back at my notes from the Summer, I can't believe I got myself into such a pickle! The key to my new-found success - stitch markers! I have placed them at the ends of each pattern repeat (i.e. every 6 sts) and I'm staying on track. No blips and no frogging!

My goal now is to strike whilst the iron is hot, keep knitting and get the whole cardigan finished by Easter.