Rogue

Rogue is possibly one of the pieces that has been resting for the longest. I bought the pattern about 3 computers ago, I seem to recall printing it out on the desktop in our bedroom. I had the body of the piece sitting waiting for me to get the finger out and do the sleeves. I had decided to do it as a cardigan and without the hood as I'm not really a hood person. I inverted the

As one of the events in the Ravelmypics is to finish a WIP this seemed like a good opportunity and a great incentive to finish the damned thing. Especially as I really only had a small amount to do, the body is knit in the round and all I had to do was to knit the sleeves, sew the sleeves, sew in the hems and find a fastening for it. The hardest part was finding a fastening! Hickeys only had black frogging and while the one I found in the Dublin Woollen Mills is okay it's not absolutely what I wanted, still it's now finished and if I find something different I can use it to fix it. The collar also needs a little stitch or two to fasten them down.



Sleeve detail


Back of the collar:


I'd knit this again, possibly with a plain edging or possibly with an open cable to take buttons...

Small Shawl

The pattern is called 198 Yds of Luxury


all stretched out on the sweater dryer.

Outside on the bench outdoors


Knit with Noro Silk Garden it's a small shawl but nice. I wore it this afternoon on my way to the shops. I changed it a little along the edge so the edging matched the body of the shawl a little better than designed in the pattern.

Cowl Finish

Today had a combination of small things ending with three finished objects.

First was this cowl. It's only taken a little over 2 days to finish and it's wonderfully squishy.



It's made from a yarn called Malabrigo, in the Merino Worsted in the Nostalgia colourway visible here

It's quite long so it pools well around my neck

I used the knit 2 stitches, slip stitches back to other needle and knit the two together which produces an interesting effect along the edge which you can see here:

I'm left with about 10g from the 100g skein, which I will find a use for some day.

Unwound

what once was this



is now this



Aerial Unwind entry.

I was actually looking for the yarn to finish my Art of Knitting Scandinavian throw cause I'm missing the bag of blue yarn. which is somewhere!



Edited to add my medals!

Spring Forward Socks

So I finished them last night and have been happily wearing them today.



I still think that it's funny that Léan finished hers a little sooner and in a similar colouring. I'm enjoying mine.

I started into the sleeves of my Rogue and I have one done today.

One down and second on the heel

This sock is just flying along.



This was taken earlier this week, I'm actually finished the heel of the second one now and about to launch into the gusset.

I also took a photo to clarify what I was talking about with the front and back of the cast-on



to the front you can see the front of the cast-on and to the back you can see the back, there is a subtle difference between the two but I happen to like the one to the front.

The temperature outside isn't warm so I suspect there may be a bus in tomorrows plans. That should get some socks knit, there will also be the Friday Fiber Fun in the Tea Garden which will get more sock done.

Ravelolympics

For the duration of the Winter Olympics people are taking part and trying to gain their own medals...

While it’s tempting to start something. I think this might be a chance to get some things finished and decisions made about some others.

For WIP-Dancing

To start with I’ll see about finishing up the Scandanivan Style Throw from The Art of Knitting. I only (only!) need to finish about 6 squares and do all the sewing up and edge crocheting. I haven’t touched it since before Christmas so it qualifies.

If I can find it I’d also like to finish my Rogue modded to be a Cardigan. I only have to knit the sleeves and it would be done and finished and it would be pretty.

I rotated the cabling down the front (why yes, I am a masochist!)

Knotty gloves (PDF Link) haven’t been lurking as long as some others but finishing them would be nice

Plaited belt in hemp would also be good.

For Designer Pattern Skeleton
Get my dad’s scarf design up. This is great incentive to get it done
possibly also the two dublin bridges done as well.

Aerial Unwind
Top of Doooooooom
it's way too big and way to open, it's an object exercise in why Gauge is important.


Either Aerial Unwind or WIP-Dancing

Honeycomb nice pattern but the yarn isn't really working
Kimono
Camo top for him

All I’m a little unsure of so I will use this to make the choice between finishing up or ripping them and getting them off my KIP pile.

I may also take part in some others but this seems to be a good way to tidy the pile up a little.

Possible new projects:

Bag Jump
Aran bag for the netbook, this might be a little complicated as I may have to adapt it a bit for size.
Celtic Aran Tote - I have this kitted up(magazine and yarn in a bag ready) waiting to go.

On Ravelry I've marked Rogue, Scandanavian Throw and Dad's Scarf for inclusion, if I get them go I will continue to work with this list.

Irish Knitting - Patterns Inspired by Ireland

Irish Knitting: Patterns Inspired by Ireland (Hobby Craft) (US Amazon Link)
Name of Book: Irish Knitting - Patterns inspired by IrelandRavelry Link
Author: Rohana Darlington
Any other info: 0713633395, 1991, A&C Black

Types of patterns: Garments

Number of Patterns: 24: Cardigan (2); Tank top/sleeveless top (2); Childs Jumper (3); Jumper (14): Baby Layette (1, 4 part); baby dress (1); bedspread (1)
Split of patterns: Men/women/children

Size Range: 32"-43" not all patterns cover this range. But with the plain portions of the garments several of them would be very adaptable both up and down.

Colour/Black & White: Colour photos, black and white sketches, colour charts, written cabling instructions, often in panels.

Schematics: no, sketches of the garment

Target Audience: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced/mixed

How to knit guide

Experimental/Classical/Modern

Comments: Pretty typical late 80's early 90's book, some of the patterns are a bit laughable but I think it could be useful for inspiration in places and in other places the patterns aren't too bad. The author also delves into history, visiting the National Museum and the Aran Islands as well as other places to delve into the history of Knitting in Ireland and doesn't perpetuate the Aran Jumpers Myth, she does detail some of the myths that have built up around it, but clearly stating that these myths have now passed into part of the story of the jumpers. She also notes which ones are newer designs than others. When she was finished talking with some people she went back to the National Museum and lodged her notes with them.

Yes there's no real shaping in the pieces and you would probably have to play with some of the designs to make them work but what's interesting about them is the completely different slant she has taken to Ireland and Irish design. She's exploring more of the heritage than I've seen many designers do and using it in different ways. A book that it would be interesting to use for concepts and ideas and maybe for some designers to look at to see if they too can play with the concept of Irish beyond cabling.

Pattern Links are to Ravelry
Newgrange Cardigan is an Alice Starmore meets Kaffe Fasset concept, the swirls of the entrance stone with a variety of yarns it's complicated and shapeless but an interesting idea, knit in 5mm needles with a bulky yarn and sport weight yarn, pictures notable for only showing back of the garment

Inishmore: uses Kilcarra Bulky yarn - a tank top with texture, designer wanted to capture the stone walls.

Crios uses DK for a childs jumper that captures the traditional belt or Crios used on the Aran Islands. Main body in bright red with colour bands on the bottom of the jumper, cuffs and top of sleeves

Torc is a sleeveless top knit in "Naturally Beautiful Aura 8/2 Silk" which sounds like fingering weight as it's knit on 2.75mm needles, plain with detail at top and hem

La Tene is another starmore/fassett work, this time in a jumper

Tara: Knotwork in the body and a torc type top, the colourwork is a bit off but it might work as a solid piece in another colour.

Kells Mosaic is a striped jumper with colourwork stripes, interesting but only for the thin

Dublin Silver is a double breasted shawl collar cardigan with colour and cableing,yeah.

Herald is a colourwork jumper with heraldic motifs. scary

Carrickmacross is a jumper worked in a nubby yarn with a lacework collar and cabled cuff and welt.

Shamrock Lace Layette is a heirloom christening set in white. There's a shamrock lace motif but otherwise not too twee, it is knit in very fine laceweight.

Primrose Petals is a baby dress in yellow with white trim, not the fussiest party garment for an infant I've seen.

Kerry Bedspread: Adapted from one crocheted in cotton in Listowel in the mid 19th century this is a spread knit in diagonal squares and then sewn together. Bobbles abound.

Sampler: In my humble opinion these belong on walls, as cross-stitch, the author disagrees and makes it into a jumper in 2ply shetland yarn no less!

Fisher Gansey: Red with moss stitch stripes this isn't a bad one of it's type, would probably suit a man

Diamond and Cable Aran - interesting rib detail with not too much cabling

Carrageen: not only modern designers show garments modelled in swimwear! Batwing jumper worked in one piece with cable running along the top of the sleeve and irish moss stitch body, original knit in Cotton DK.

Honeycomb Cable Aran - knit in aran wool, this has a cabled rib and cuffs and strap shoulder shaping

Betrothal Aran: heavily cabled with trinity stitch this is an interesting piece, blocky but the variation on the aran theme is interesting.

Rope Plait Aran - an aran weight jumper with some fairly heavy cabling this would be a good man's jumper, particularly if he likes boating.

Sailboats - Kids Jumper, inartasia but one for the boater. Not the worst of it's kind

Galway Racer - Kids Jumper with horses racing from side to side.

Seabirds is an adult jumper featuring an ocean, a few different textures of yarn for clouds and seabirds, I've seen much, much worse of it's kind.

Wild Fuschia - Plain jumper with fuschia along the neck and the sleeve top. Not something for me but not a bad jumper overall

Buy/Borrow: I'm adding it to my wishlist, I like some of the ideas and might try a few of the jumpers with some ammendations.

Where found: DUblin City Public Libraries has a few copies.

Gift for a Steam Iron

A colleague in work decided that because I was having a stressful week and one of my last straws was not being able to find my iron that I needed one, I decided that he needed something and I thought this might be a good response.

A scarf. It's double sided and actually quite warm and nice and it's made out of wool from Lidl that I had in the house. It's warm and washable and that's good because my colleague isn't all that bothered about serious care of garments.



It's also almost impossible to photograph because of the colours, it has three strands of colour in the yarn, white, grey and black and it's quite soft. It took four balls of the yarn and is long enough I think, five would be long enough for me but it's a bit bulky for me. Husband thinks it's a good man scarf. The pattern was Steam Scarf (link to PDF) free from D-made.com's free patterns

Knitting For Dummies(US Link)Ravelry Link
Name of Book: Knitting for Dummies 2nd Edition
Author: Pam Allen, Tracy L. Barr & Shannon Okey
Any other info: 9780470287477

Types of patterns: mostly accessories, a few garments

Number of Patterns: Bag (4); Scarf (10); Cushion (2); Hat (2); wristlets/hand warmers (3); Jumper (1); Baby cardigan (1), Baby Booties (1), baby hat (1), baby Blanket (1); Jacket (1); Pot holder (1); Recycling/hot glue projects 3; Knit Journal Cover [vague directions] (1); Drink Cozy (1); Flower brooch (1)

Split of patterns: women mostly but hats and scarves tend towards unisex

Size Range: the top down jumper is custom sized in heavy worsted (Malabrigo or Brown Sheep Bulky is the suggestion); Jacket is 42-49"

Colour/Black & White: Colour insert but the majority is Black and White

Schematics: for the garments

Target Audience: Beginner

How to knit guide: yes

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Pretty classical

Comments: Not a bad how-to guide and the 2nd edition layout flows a bit better than the 1st, the changes are pretty minor and I wouldn't rush to buy the 2nd edition if you already have the 1st.

Buy/Borrow: As a starter book I'd buy if you're looking for a pretty comprehensive book on how to knit, the diagrams are clear and the text pretty clear too. I wouldn't buy it if you already have a good starter book or if you have the 1st edition.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has a copy or two of both editions.