Knitting

Well, after knitting my Honey Cowl I had Lil asking me for one for her.  How could I say no?  I had actually been planning on knitting her a scarf sometime, but when she suggested a cowl it made more sense. If I get frustrated with the loose ends of a scarf, then I knew that it wouldn’t last long on her but a cowl would be perfect. Easy for her to wrap and wear and nice and warm to keep her all cosy.

Last year I had actually crocheted a bag using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece from Tangled Yarns. I finished the bag, but there was something not quite right about it (I suspect due to not following the pattern correctly!) so I’ve never used it. So I unpicked the whole thing and used the yellow yarn for Lil’s cowl. I skein was the perfect amount so you can bet that there will be four more little cowls for little girls in the future! I feel much better about putting the yarn to good use now after the failure of the bag!!

I changed the pattern so that I cast on 150 stitches and continued knitting until the cowl was about 6″ wide.

I think Lil looks super cute in it and she has worn it a lot so we are both happy 🙂  Although you wouldn’t think it from these photos – she was feeling a bit grumpy to start with but I soon pulled a smile out of her!!

 

It was super easy.  I actually knitted it a few months ago, and finished it over one weekend.  My first times using circular needles (sold!), knitting a seamless garment (love!) and knitting a cable (soooo cool and easy!)

I remembered to take chest measurements this time, and knitted Tommy a size 2 with size 3 length.  I didn’t have him near me when I finished it so was unsure of the length.  It turned out much too long though, so I’ve tucked the bottom under for now.

My only negative thought is that I’m not too sure it
looks “boyish” enough in this yarn?  I’m also thinking that next time
I’ll decrease the stockinette stitches under the arm and start the cable
a little higher up, I think that will look nicer and a bit more boyish.
Also, next time I want to knit one for Tommy or an older boy, I think
going with a yarn with a fleck or variegation through it will look
better.
The yarn was lovely to work with, from Bendigo Woollen Mills – Luxury in Blue Denim.

I’ve since knitted one for Lil too, but it’s been sitting on my sewing table for weeks waiting to be blocked and have the ends woven in…I’ll get to it soon!!

Another knitting project complete!  I wonder if I can say I’m a knitter now that I’ve finished four projects?  (Still need to blog about a couple…) 

I’ve worked with this yarn before and loved it.  It’s 80% cotton/20% merino wool and super soft to wear.  I can’t stand any scratchy yarn on my skin, even just a tiny bit of scratch but this stuff is amazingly soft.  The colour is Spanish Olive.

I love cowls.  Have never been much of a scarf wearer – the long hanging ends drive me crazy and I’m always adjusting it.  Cowls are great to wear though, no moving around or getting uncomfortable, stylish too.  You’d think there would be no reason for me to be cowl wearing now that we have headed into Spring, but this week has been bitterly cold – the coldest it has felt all Winter and I’ve been wearing it every day!

The Honey Cowl was a really easy, relaxing knit.  I did most of it while we were holidaying in Queensland…a good project to work on and still maintain a conversation at the same time! I knitted the long (220 stitch & 11″ wide) version as I wanted a double loop and it is just the right length.

I love this project so much that I’ve ordered more yarn to store away and slowly work on more cowls…some for me and some to put in the present box ready for Christmas and birthdays.

I am so proud of myself – my first real knit (knitted?) project and it worked out!  This was such a lovely knit, the MillaMia yarn is gorgeous – silky smooth and easy to work with.  I learned lots of new techniques and feel much more confident with my ability to knit something wearable.

There was one little (well, big) problem though – I was so excited to have finished the dress one night and put it on Lil the next day and it is SWIMMING on her!  Like massively huge – like she’ll be wearing it when she is 10!  Soooo disappointing, but it is totally my own fault as I didn’t bother to take any measurements and dove straight into sewing the size 4-5 years (she turns 5 in a couple of weeks so I thought it was going to be a snug fit!). I’ve since found out that you really have to go by measurements and not ages of kids when knitting.  After measuring her, I realise I should have knit a size 1-2 or 2-3 in the chest and then a 3-4 in length!  Anyway, I’m hoping that she will be able to wear it eventually and I’ve learned a very valuable and important lesson in knitting!!!

It will be cute sitting on a hanger in her cupboard for a few more years.  Maybe I’ll even try it on myself – I think it will probably fit me as a tunic!  Ha!!
Thanks to MillaMia and Suzy Hausfrau for the gorgeous pattern book and yarn – looking forward to more knits from the same!

I’ve got the knitting bug bad!  When I first decided to get knitting I didn’t know that it would consume so much of my time!  It’s definitley not a bad thing, because I am loving it, but I am well and truly addicted.

Now that I’ve had a chance to road test the MillaMia pattern and yarn, I am more smitten than I was before when I reviewed the book from MillaMia and yarn from Suzy Hausfrau.  They really are an absolute dream to work with and have knitted up beautifully.

I’ve almost finished the whole back of the Pernilla Dress and am about 1/3 of the way through the front.  I’ve been at it for just over 3 weeks now and am really pleased with my progress as I thought it would take me at least 6 months to get it done!!!

 It is very handy having Mum nearby to show me what to do when I get stuck (and unpick a few mistakes for me!). 

Hopefully the next time I blog about the dress it will be finished!  Just in time to keep Lilsy nice and warm this winter!