Knitted Daffodil

This one is available on Ravelry as February Gold Daffodil Not a bad pattern with a pretty nice result.

Tomorrow is Ireland's Daffodil Day, please support.

Yarn Winnings

I entered a competition by Knitcave or Knitcave1 on Twitter, selecting a colour called Hail as my favourite of her colourways.

It arrived this morning



it's more purple than grey in real life and is probably not going to be socks at the end of the day. It's too pretty to be socks.

Cancer

For those of you who may wonder why I'm supporting the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day and who don't know me outside this blog, here's a little filler of what my relationship to cancer is.

In 2002 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Hodgkins Lymphoma is a cancer of your lymph nodes, those things that clear the crap out of your bloodstream and ensure that you're not susceptible to illness. I had six months of chemotherapy and have been left with a compromised immune system. I've been off sick this week which has reminded me that Cancer doesn't just annoy it can leave you with some other presents which aren't always welcome. I continue to have checkups and semi-regular scans and my oncologist continues to be happy with my lack of recurrence.

I've also had two aunts have breast cancer (thankfully isn't the right word but it's all I can think of right now, thankfully they're on my father's side) one had hers return and kill her. I've also had one of my grandfathers die of Stomach cancer and my uncle die of Liver Cancer (scarily both geeks in their time, why yes I'm the third generation of geek to get cancer).

All of this makes Cancer personal. The Irish Cancer Society were there when I needed to cry down the phone because work was putting stress on me because of the number of sick days I had, they also had a presence in the background that while I didn't use them often had the potential to be used.

This is why I'm knitting and crocheting Daffodils.

Victorian Lace Headband

I liked the yarn the Daffodil Cloth was in and I had another ball, and needing a hairband I decided to knit this:


It's the Victorian Lace headband Ravelry Link in Kon-Tiki in a colourway known as Parchment Marble 1459 which is a slightly variegated colour, and I do like it.

Daffodil cloth

As part of an attempt to highlight the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day this coming Friday 26th March I'm knitting and crocheting some Daffodil themed items, this is a Daffodil Cloth in a cotton/linen mix called Kon-Tiki by Stylecraft in the Parchment Marble 1459 colourway.


A little too narrow for the length but still a nice pattern.

Daffodil the first

Friday is the Irish Cancer Society's Annual Daffodil Day. Over the next few days I'll be knitting and crocheting some daffodils as reminders to people to support this worthy cause.

I borrowed 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet US Link UK Link; BookDepository Link; Ravelry Link from the Library
My Project Page I like how it turned out and it was a bit of a challenge without being too hard. You crochet two sets of petals and then join them with the trumpet.

Sometimes I could scream

I figured that having removed the bobbles, ripped it back because I had the wrong size the first time and having knitting opportunity due to ill I'd have this done soon.

NO!

I mean it looks good

but it's only 44" at the moment with about another repeat left in it, and with about 5" per repeat that's going to maybe take me to 50". Even with allowing for my shortness (I'm 5'1" or 61") and the fact that generally wrist to wrist measurements = height that's still going to be too short. Each ball is giving me approximately 17" of knitting, so another ball would give me 67", still short of the magical 71" the pattern calls for, but would get me over the 61" absolute minimum. The pattern is Versatility from Knitty; my pattern notes Ravelry Link

Whats worse? I'm pretty sure I bought the last few balls of this colourway in This is Knit when I got it. Hopefully I can get more of it. Going to put it in a project bag, mark it as hibernating and see if I can find more of the yarn (Royal Purple Flutter)

Another Finished Object

I finished a crochet top from Everyday Crochet(Amazon UK Link)
Everyday Crochet (Amazon US Link) Bookdepository.co.uk link Ravelry Link that came into the libraries recently, and is currently on order from the Book Depository for me!

the top is called Sweet Tea; made in some Debbie Bliss Prima; a yarn that's 80% Bamboo and 20% merino, bought on sale in This is Knit



The pattern called for 4.5mm but I got gauge with 4mm. Once I was left with only 2 balls and I had row 2 done, I did the straps and top finishing with 3.5mm hook. Then I returned to the bottom of the piece with the remaining yarn using a 4.5mm needle to get a bit of a flare. My Ravelry Project notes are here

No I didn't change my clothes for the shot, I actually was accidentally wearing matching clothes.

New top

I've been working on this one on and off recently. It used to be Honeycomb that I wasn't 100% happy with and ripped at the last Fiber Fun Friday, so it's becoming Sweet Tea from Everyday Crochet
(Amazon UK Link) (US Link) Ravelry Link Bookdepository.co.uk link

This is how far I've got, 11 of 25 rounds, I've tried it on and it fits nicely.


Yes one side is slightly bigger than the other, this is to allow for the difference between my front and my back, i.e. boobs. It's worked from the top down and the way it works with this book is that there's one basic pattern per chapter with variations. A great idea.

I think this is looking better for this yarn than this was turning out

Crochet Galway Bay Square

As yesterday was St Patrick's Day I felt a need to do something vaguely Irish so I rooted through my collection of Irish Crochet Books and found Irish Crochet Designs and Projects (Amazon UK Link)Irish Crochet Designs and Projects (Amazon US Link) and in it is a pattern for a Bedspread called the Galway Bay Bedspread and I decided to make it in DK yarn and just make it a big ass motif and some day attach it to a cushion and have it as a feature piece. I did the maths, this one weights 68g and is about 15" (or approx 30cm), so to make a 90x120" bedspread I would need 3.264kg of cotton yarn. Now while I might have a fair bit of cotton yarn that's a lot of yarn and a fairly big weight of bedspread!

Yes it's not square for the photo that would take a lot more effort than I have at 1 am in the morning.

Why the Galway Bay Square? I'm actually from Galway originally so it attracted me to it, the disadvantage of this pattern was that it's in US terms, which meant some ripping as I went. I also had a minor error early on that had 9 sections rather than 8 and I had to restart half way through. At this stage I was starting to get pretty headachy and the crochet errors weren't helping. UK terms are one above US, which means that what UK calls Doubles the US calls singles, sometimes it can be hard to work out if a book is US or UK and really publishers should take a few seconds, if they don't have a how-to, to give a small paragraph to say that there are differences and which one they're using.

Couture Crochet Workshop

(UK Amazon Link)Couture Crochet Workshop: Mastering Fit, Fashion, and Finesse(US Amazon Link) Ravelry Link Bookdepository.co.uk
Any other info: 1596680083, 2006, Interweave Press

Types of patterns: Women's garments and some accessories

Number of Patterns: 26

Split of patterns: Women

Size Range: 36"-58" (not in all garments)

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs, some black & White

Schematics: Yes, with a lot of detail to allow for modification

Target Audience: This is more meant for Advanced or nearly advanced intermediate. This is for people looking to do some serious design and modification.

How to Crochet guide: No, there are some tips but this is not a beginners book. Note it's also US terms, UK crocheters beware.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Some Classical but some very modern looks here

Comments: I'm not the target audience for this book. I'm not advanced enough in crochet to really use it well enough and the patterns didn't have me reaching for my hook. It would be a book I'd come back to if I was going to go into crochet design as a lot of the information at the beginning of the book is quite useful. Doesn't just use her own brand yarn

But the patterns didn't really catch my attention. Many will need a slip or undergarment to make them publicly acceptable.

(Pattern Links are to Ravelry, you'll need an account to view)
Suits me Jacket and Skirt: Seamed with post-stitches, this has a classical look to it, the skirt has a matching style. The top has an interesting colourwork. Looks somewhat boxy and I'd be inclined to make the collar narrower if I was going to make it, it's not the best look for the model. Like the skirt but then again, purple is my colour.

Maiko Jacket: I'd like to see this one in a plainer yarn to really see how it comes together. The book has it in a furry yarn and I'm not a fan. Interesting hem detail. Would like a photo of the back to make a full judgement

Positive/Negative Twin Set. Using two colours to trim each piece and working with the dominant yarn on one as trimming on the other this is an interesting looking piece. Sleeveless top, button to neck cardigan that has quite a Chanel look, only without pockets.

Not so Bling Jewellery: Jewellery in crochet with some beading.

Full Metal Jacket: Chanel inspired jacket in a metallic yarn with fun-fur trim. Yeah. Do I need to comment further? The style isn't bad and could be toned down if you wanted to.

Two-Toned cape: Cape with shoulder shaping, not bad

Cossack Hat: Exactly what it says

It's in the bag: Rectangular bag with covering large beads, you would need to be careful about this, the beads in the first variant would be murder on tights or easily snagged garments. The handle looks a little overlong for the style of bag.

Coming Full Circle Vest: Circular waistcoat thing, sits a bit off the shoulder in the pictures so it could be something that may need attention.

Molly Ringwald Stole and Dress: Pretty in Pink moment. Lace stone and dress, the top of the dress is solid with a lace skirt. Definitely would need undergarments with this, slip or half slip. Bodice is worked up from the waist and then the skirt worked down.

Lady who Lunches Sheath and Gloves: All-over lace sleeveless dress with sleeveless opera length gloves (i.e. above elbow) Writer uses fatal phrase "fashion-forward" in the description. Undergarments definitely needed.

Ensemble-Acting Tunic and Skirt: It's a JUMPER, a slightly v-necked jumper. With some shaping. Matching skirt designed to be above the knee. Undergarments needed.

Skirting the Issue: "Light as air and drapey as sin" this needs a slip or half slip to make it modest as it's very openwork, designed to be below the knee.

Bollywood Tunic: Openwork lace with beads this is designed to be a over-garment to be ornamental, could be lovely for a wedding. Sleeves could be worked seperately.

Bolero: Scallop shell pattern, stripe underbust in contrast yarn that also trims, this is a short-sleeved piece that is one of the few I actually liked.

Hat: To match the top, not worn in pictures.

Flying Trapeze Tunic and Hat: the hat I like. While the trapeze construction of the top may flatter most the horizontal stripes don't. Interesting play with the stripes where it starts with the darkest stripe as the widest at the bottom and becomes thinner over the garment.

Chic Chevron Pullover: Afghan crochet technique. This does absolutely NOTHING for the model, it fits in all the wrong places and just plain makes her boobs look like they've drifted south. Perhaps if you dropped the neckline, no, it's a box it still would look wrong, a bit of shaping might help. I'm trying to see the good in this but no, failing.

Altar Halter and Let your Fingers Do the Walking Gloves. It's a chevron, v shaped in the back and inverted v to the front, two straps coming from the point in the front to "where bra straps might begin". Possibly if you were getting married in Vegas... The Gloves are fingerless with a finger ring.

Yes, the book has some good parts but I won't be buying it anytime soon.

Buy/Borrow: Borrow to see if it has things you want out of it, if it does then buy but I wasn't incredibly impressed.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has a few in circulation.

Hand Knitting: New Directions(US Amazon Link)

Types of patterns: Garments, accessories, domestic

Number of Patterns: 9: Jumper (2); Child's Jacket (1); Waistcoat (1); Jacket (1); Hats (2); Cushion (2)

Split of patterns: Jumpers are mostly unisex, 1 childs

Size Range: 40-50" (not on all garments)

Colour/Black & White: Colour and black and white

Schematics: Yes

Target Audience: Intermediate

How to knit guide: yes, but a knowledge of basics would be useful before you start into this book.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Pretty classical stuff

Comments: Yes there are only 9 actual patterns in this book, that's not what this book is for those people who are looking to explore knitting further than the basics. She details how the stitches work, how different methods of manipulating knitting works, how to design, how to play with colours and to see from a swatch how a larger piece of knitting would work and other ideas. I like how each stitch illustrated also comes with annotation to tell you how it acts when knitted and basically this one looks like a great springboard for further exploration of knitting.
The patterns are sparse:
Project 1: Jumper is a boxy plain jumper, probably more suited to men than women with a fairly basic fair-isle-esque pattern which could be easily changed. Knit in the round from the bottom seperating at the armholes she also includes variations on the theme.


Project 2: Square yoked jumper. Knit from the neck down with a square opening, contrast on edges, reverse stocking stitch stripes and raglan sleeves this is quite basic. Some variations suggested, again unisex, knitted for a woman it could be nice as a sloppy joe style, oversized and comfortable.

Project 3: Child's Jacket: to fit 31" or 34.5" this is knit in one piece across the sleeves and yoke and then knit down along the body, the author does say that it's designed for expansion, interesting construction and a good introduction to the concepts, variations included.

Project 4 Waistcoat, with shaping, this is knit in one piece back and forth, with some colours. Begun in two pieces these are joined above the back vent. This one caught my eye and I'm itching to knit it.

Project 5: Jacket with Shaped back: Knit side-to-side this has a dropped shoulder style and the back comes up in the middle forming almost a kimono-style garment, interesting but not me. Minor variations included

Project 6: Hats
Two hats knit in the round, one with hearts and a rounded top, the second with a diagonal pattern and a pointed top.

Project 7: Cushions
Cushion A is worked in four triangles each one picked up from the side of the previous one and knit in a different direction and then sewn together.
Cushion B is a plain square with a square pattern on it and then with a knit border.

No the patterns aren't very exciting, but it's the rest of the book with it's ideas and concepts that really got me interested and thinking. I reckon it's one for people looking for new directions, like the title implies, and wanting to play with the way knitting works. While the projects aren't very exciting they do deal with ideas and ways of changing things around to play with concepts, methods and are more springboards than concrete patterns.

Buy/Borrow: I borrowed this one from Fingal and it went on my wishlist almost immediately.

Where found: Fingal via ILLs

Heirloom Knits

Heirloom Knits: Amazon US LinkRavelry Link

Types of patterns: Household

Number of Patterns: 22: Cushion Cover (6); Baby Blanket (2); Rug (4); Throw (3); Bolster (1), Lampshade (1); Curtain (1); Tieback (1); Quilt/counterpane (2); Baby Pouch (1)

Split of patterns: one size

Size Range: none

Colour/Black & White: Colour photos but most work is in white.

Schematics: none

Target Audience: Intermediate, some crochet required for some projects

How to knit guide: some basic stuff

Experimental/Classical/Modern: modern classics

Comments: Most of the patterns are in white including the rugs, which is often great for photographs but not so great for practicality. Much of them are the kind of fancy thing that really people admire from a distance, some are made so open that I have to wonder about the practicality. Some of the patterns are split so the end is in the back (a practice I hate!)

Twined Cushion Cover - a woven pattern with a tufted fancy wool that I would have a sneaking suspicion is currently out of production, it could probably be substituted with a handspun fancy or beginners yarn. Medieval knot toggle fastening is done with crochet but could be done with i-cord.
Quilted Baby Blanket - pretty basic blanket then quilted and edged, could be very interesting if contrast colour thread was used for the quilting.
Whitework Cushion - checkerboard cushion with crocheted appliqued flowers and long ornate fringe.
Vintage Floor Rug - Cotton rug with appliquéd braid and flowers
Lacy Leaf Throw - linen, 5 panels with an edge and openwork insertions. Looks pretty complicated.
Lace and eyelet bolster: bolster with appliquéd scrollwork i-cord, braided i-cord on the end with tassels
Lace and Flower Decor - Lampshade, panel and tieback, lampshade would need lining, crocheted flowers attached, no real picture of the panel but it's described as a cafe panel. Almost looks like broomstick lace.
Honeycomb throw - Quilt up in panels that are then crocheted together at the end, no complete picture given to give a true idea how this looks on a bed.
Candlewick cushion: French knot flowers embroidered on a cushion and a picot point lace edging used. You would have to LOVE french knots to do this one in it's entirety, it's also a freeform design with no guidance except the pictures, theres a suggestion to use a transfer design if you don't want to go freeform. (this one is one of the colour exceptions, the background cushion is in white and the embroidery and edging is in mauve!) There is some shades of mauve and white used in the embroidery which isn't listed in the list of essentials.
Basketweave Cushion: knit 40 strips in garter stitch, weave them.
Rag Rug Sampler: knit some yarns with some fabric in a few different patterns, picture doesn't really show the variety or detail.
Classic Baby Blanket, knit triangles like a counterpane, sew together, knit edging, use crochet flowers as intersection ornaments.
Art Deco Quilt - it's straight lines or squares so it must be art deco. Knit squares, sew them together (closeups not impressing me with professionality) in staggered pattern line and tie lining to top with contrasting pieces of fabric.
The Garden Plot Counterpane - yes it is, the classic garden plot pattern, done in squares, sewn together with a garter stitch edging and fringing.
Ruffled Cushion - Triangle pattern cushion giving an interesting 3-d effect, fabric ruffle attached.
Circular throw - huge pom-poms edge this piece that also has bobbles knitted in (not that I noticed until I started reading) afterwards appliqué leaves on to create a sunflower effect (in white of course!), bonus pom-pom to cover up the centre.
Box Cushion - would possibly be more useful if you could attach it to a seat instead of having ties but still not bad, some contrasting threads used for embellishment.
Denim Rug - for the I-cord enthusiast, for the small rug knit a 6 stitch i-cord for 3x450cm in one colour and 2x250 cm in another colour. Then you need to knit some embellishments. You would need to know 4 cord braiding. Features COLOUR!
Baby Pouch - in a tufted yarn knit a baby holder.
Recycled Rug - using plastic bags and Rowan yarn knit a rug that can only be spot cleaned. Because you have orphaned Rowan yarn looking to be made into this. Another project with colour

Buy/Borrow: Borrow, look, perhaps something will make you want to knit, nothing here made me want to

Where found: Borrowed via ILL from Fingal.

Also reviewed here by sheknitupthatball who is not quite impressed either!

Knitting Quote

(UK Amazon Link)(US Amazon Link)

This book is mostly a crossover Horror/Mystery/Dark Fantasy read but on page 132 in the UK Edition

"At four a.m., Donal was exploring a room in his apartment, a room that he'd scarcely been inside. In a small chest of drawers, he found bundles of soft, dyed mammoth wool in a dozen different colours, along with knitting-needles, a just-started scarf of burgundy and silver, and a knitting-algorithm, printed in purple in flimsy paper, that indicated how the scarf-knitting was to proceed.

"Laura. I didn't know you could do this stuff

"It was nothing that Donal had ever watched or thought about, but the instructions were mathematical in a way that reminded him of his brief stint in Artillery School, and it wasn't as if he needed to sleep. There might be more useful ways for a zombie to pass the night-time hours, but what the Hades - no one could be serious twenty-five hours a day, nine days a week.

"He picked up the needles and wool, read the algorithm through once more, and then tried to follow the instructions.

"It took seventeen minutes to get the rhythm going, and two minutes more to decide that however much amusement he might get by taking his knitting in to the task force office, it wasn't for him. He threw everything back into the drawer."

I love the way it's phrased, this is an alternative world and it's such a throwaway scene. I also love the knitting-algorithm idea instead of knitting pattern.

Ffrench part 1

I started this sock behind the registration desk on day 1 of P-con and while I did a few rows today most of this was done during the con. I like how this fairly cheap yarn from Lidl has worked out!

Confirming my suspicions

I have a sneaking suspicion that this



will never look like this I think the frog pond is the only place for it, but it's taken AGES to get to here. Dammit.

The yarn is Debbie Bliss Prima and I don't think it has enough spring for the job.

So the choices are rip & abandon; continue; or rip and change yarn

Ravelympics Loot

Picked up today at the Saturday meetup, well I was in town. Dublin Knit Collective organised a draw and I did kinda load the bases with way too many entries!

Tribes of Galway

For my reference. I have half a plan to knit 14 projects that have a bit of an echo of the tribes.

From here

Athy
Blake
Bodkin
Browne
D'Arcy
Deane
Ffont
Ffrench
Joyce
Kirwin
Lynch
Martin
Morris
Skerrit

Starting with Ffrench with a pair of socks called Jules in Black, grey and white, tenuous I know, but it is ermine colours.

Moonstone

This was in The Knitter Issue 5 and I've been working on it on and off from last October.



I had to move up a needle size in the sleeves as they were very tight in the original needle size, I possibly should have gone back to the original size needle when I stopped knitting in the round but it's done now. All bar the buttons and I'm not sure that I really will bother. While it's a little short it will fit under my bike jacket.



The instructions for the collar were a bit too open to interpretation.

ETA T-Shirt here Why yes I have a few of these t-shirts and enjoy wearing them, I'll probably trot a few out over the weekend.

March 10 for '10 update

My updates:
1. knit through some of the stash - so far this year I’ve knit about 3500m
2. destash some of the nasties either by giving it away or using it up. still looking blindly at this
3. practice spinning still hoping
4. sell or just publish some of my designs next on my list of things to do
5. Buy/obtain less yarn than I use. used 3500 bought about 9134, failing this
6. review my queue try to knit at least 10 items from it The ravelympics ate into my queue, Mrs Beeton, Brigit, Sunflower Tam, Burning Embers, 4-corners dishcloth, diagonal dishcloth, 198 yards, Ridged lace cowl were on my queue, earlier this year I knit Spring forward and Hemlock from my queue so with 10 done, this ambition is officially finished but I’m upping it to 30, so now I’m 1/3 of the way there.
7. Knit at least 10 pairs of socks third pair finished, I’m en route for this
8. knit from my bookstash, from at least one book I haven’t knit from before. I’ve knit from New Pathways for Sock Knitters and from Knitting Nature, so keeping with this
9. seriously review my book collection. some whistling now
10. Review more of the books in my collection, try for 26 reviews (one a fortnight) I’ve kept up with this, I think I’ve done about 10 so far

10A: organise my knitting blog. working on it instead of my regular blog, will have to make up some balance here

Colour book review

Kristin Knits(US Link, same book different title)Ravelry Link
Any other info: 0715329189, 2008, David & Charles

Types of patterns: accessories/garments

Number of Patterns:27 Scarf (5); Afghan (1); Hat (5); Boot Topper (1); Socks (5); Fingerless Gloves (1); Mittens (3); Gloves (1); Jumper(4); Cardigan (1)

Split of patterns: Men/women/children

Size Range: Children(26.5"-32") Adult 38"-54"

Colour/Black & White; Colour, lots and lots of colour

Schematics: Yes for 3 of the 5 garments

Target Audience: intermediate

How to knit guide: no basics but a pretty detailed colourwork guide.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Modern and experimental

Comments: The colour theory is well illustrated, the how-to on colourwork is quite interesting but good gods the garments...

Pattern Links to Ravelry
Polka Dot Scarf - embroider, use pom-poms or knit in bobbles in a contrast yarn.
Dotty Striped Scarf- vertical stripe scarf with french knot bobbles embroidered in after and pompoms at the end.
Collegiate Scarf - another vertical stripe garter stitch scarf this time with a slight checkerboard pattern.
Floral and tasseled scarf with mitred corners - again cast on lengthwise this has a mitered edge worked on afterwards and embroidered flowers, this could be a good practice piece for working mitered borders on shawls etc.
Coleus Scarf - worked in the round and cut up afterwards, worked lengthways in the round so has possibilities for bravery in piece cutting, if you can see past the bright colours. Bobbles also included, again in french knots.
Navajo-inspired afghan. Diamonds that clash. Again worked in the round, could possibly be interesting in less garish colours.
Sister-love striped hats - striped cylinder hats sewn across the top, pompoms or tassels and embroidery detail.
The Twins' beanies - slightly different reverse stocking stitch detail in either 3 or 5 colours, tapered at the top and pompoms, finished off with french knots along the crown.
Kaleidoscope cap - Bobble edged has diamonds and an interesting radiating pattern on the crown, with some minor embroidery and duplicate stitch and the ubiquitus french knots. One of the few in the book that I would be tempted to knit with some tweaking (the bobble edging would be the first against the wall); has technique learning possibilities but I have better patterns
Bull's eye: Circles on circles in this hat, some embroidery to "enhance" some of the circles along the sides with a concentric circle top. Interesting.
Waves and tassels- the hat has 4 rows of a wave pattern to start into fair isle technique. Embroidered to enhance the wave and then french knots make another appearance, then they hid the hat under tassels.
Boot Toppers - described as a gauge swatch in the round, to me they have no real use or interest.
Be happy, be colorful socks: Her socks seem to always have a reverse stocking stitch band just before the heel flap, these are done in a mix of colours in a worsted weight or dk yarn.
Wild and Woolly socks - again worsted or dk weight by the needle size. these have french knots before the heel flap and cross stitches along the rib
Atlantic and Pacific Socks - bobble or decorative roll edge, two-colour rib, contrasting heel and toe...
Autumn Leaves Socks - again heavyweight socks in worsted or dk, 4 colours, roll-edge socks stripes and fair isle work.
Persian Carpet Socks: Colourwork goes mad, again with the rolltop, heavy weight yarn, 5 colours and some duplicate stitch to acentuate the clashing colours
Fingerless Flower gloves: Colourwork gloves with embroidered flowers.
Olivia's and Celia's Mittensversion IIOlivias mittens alone: Striped mittens with either lazy daisy or french knot decoration
Dots and checks mittens: not both at the same time but either dots or checks and contrasting cuffs.
Nordic-inspired mittens - if you left the french knots off the cuffs these actually aren't bad. A good pattern to start trying the colourwork technique.
Put it all together gloves : Mad contrasting yarn with bright colourwork bodies and plain fingers, duplicate stitch "enhances" the body.
Ode to Picasso - Striped to the armholes then plain garter stitch top with optional embroidery, polo neck jumper.
Circles, Bobbles, and stripes - this jumper has it all. Pompoms on a drawstring, bobble edged, circles "enhanced" with embroidery, 5 colours, I found it amusing that the main picture was pretty blurred.
Diamond Panes; Horizontal band of boxes to the bottom, picot edging that's added later, worked in the round with steeks for the armholes and front neck, 6, yes SIX colours, lazy daisy embroidery this is a fling as many techniques at a garment and see what sticks.
Striped turtleneck in the round: Reverse stocking stitch ridges of several (5) contrasting shades. Polo neck, french knots along the neck this is one for the thin, it's knit from the neck down.
Embroidered fair isle cardigan: Be afraid, be very afraid, steeking, mismatched geometric patterns, floral embroidery, 8 colours, mitred edging, zip with pompom detail...

This is a bit of a riot in a paint factory, the colours seem to fight rather than work and I really didn't feel inspired to run off for my needles and try any of them. A few stood out as being less bad or actually workable but most made me just boggle. Yes, there are people who knit socks in heavier wools but that's not me. I also wear boots almost all the time and the only thing that I can think of with those ridges is discomfort rather than interest. I do get the trying to make people think about more colour and different designs but this doesn't appeal to me. At all.

Buy/Borrow: Borrow and see if it inspires you, I suspect this would divide people into two camps those who like it and those who think it's a bit much. Your mileage may vary.

Where found: Interlibrary loan from Galway Libraries, it's going back without much of a pause on my desk, I want it gone.

this is one book that myself and She Knit up that Ball largely agree on! See her review here I blame looking for it on her!

Decisions, decisions.

What to knit next. I'm on a day off today with a stomach that isn't happy with something or somethings.

I felt somewhat guilty last night about not knitting, after two solid weeks of knitting the idea of not knitting was alien. So now it's back to some neglected projects. It's probably going to be Moonstone, for crying out loud all I have to do with it is do the sleeves.