Nighshift – Finished Version

I finished this shawl last week but have been too busy to write any posts.

I am pleased with the way it has turned out.  In the end I did decide to extend it by knitting another half section and then another full section of the pattern.  It is now almost the same size as the original.  The reason it turned out smaller is because I have used thinner yarn.

The following is the back view of me modelling my Gossington shawl for Karen Draisey of Oxford Yarn Store.  

I am pleased how this shawl has turned out as well. While I was in the shop – I bought some more yarn to knit yet another shawl.  They are quite therapeutic.  They are the right size – not too large, not too small and fiddly and it doesn’t really matter what size they turn out to be.

I am still trying to finish a little baby coat that I started in January.  I have unravelled the sleeves several times.  I couldn’t seem to get them to look the same – so I started again knitting them both at the same time.  This seems to have worked and I have now got to the sewing up stage.  This is something I am not keen on – so I had better get on with it before I put the project on one side and start on something else.

Actually I have already started on the “Brick bag” that I have wanted to knit for a few years – but it is the kind of project that – you do a bit and then stop and think about it – so I can leave it and go back to the sewing up.  I am hoping that I will be able to write more frequent posts but I know I have said that before and it didn’t happen.  I seem to be better at knitting than writing about it.

Nightshift by Andrea Mowry

I received this pattern for Christmas after seeing it advertised in the Tangled Yarn newsletter. You are supposed to use Spincycle Yarns but these are not easy to find and very expensive.  I decided to visit Oxford Yarn Store and find an alternative.  I chose a mixture of yarns.  

They are mainly Malabrigo Arroyo which is superwash merino wool, but also Isager Jensen, Rowan Island Blend and Fibre Co Acadia.  It was the colours that were important to me not the yarn thickness.  I wanted to choose a mixture of brown, orange and turquoise.  I added a bit of green – because I often wear this colour.  I originally intended to include a pink colour of Malabrigo Arroyo – one I have used before fairly recently, but on my last visit to Oxford Yarn store – I noticed a new colour which was more chestnut brown, so I changed my mind and have used this instead of the pink.

I have almost finished knitting the shawl.  I started with a plan of which colours to use – and then as I knitted I changed it.  That is the best way – it is not a good idea to be too rigid. There are 10 pattern sections.  I am on the last one.  I think my shawl will be smaller than the original because the yarns are finer.  When I have finished Section Ten – I will decide whether I have finished or whether I want to knit another section to make the shawl larger.

Finished Version of Gossington by Brian Smith

This weekend I managed to finish something.  I have finished this shawl.

I used the pattern called Gossington by Brian Smith which is supposed to be knitted in 2 shades of Debbie Bliss Rialto luxury sock yarn but instead I used one shade of Fibre Fox sock yarn.  I used 2 skeins and have a small amount left over.

I fell in love with the vibrant red colour. In the photos it looks pink.  In reality it is definitely bright red.  It is very cheerful. It will go well with my brick inspired bag – when I get around to knitting it!  I have a selection of yarns laid out on the floor – but I haven’t cast on yet.

I have actually nearly finished something else – a little pink jacket for a baby.  I started this in January and have picked it up and put it down a lot.  All I have left to do now is sew on the buttons – which I intend to do later today.  I then intend to start something new and exciting!

Happy 6th Birthday Maud Tabron Blog

It is 6 years since I started writing this blog.  I am very conscious that during the previous year the posts have become very irregular.  This is because I have not done much knitting and so have little to write about.  In fact I was thinking I could write my next post about all the things that I haven’t finished!

When I reach a birthday – I usually look back at what I have knitted during the previous year and I am often surprised about how much I have done when all I can remember are the things that I haven’t finished and those that I haven’t even got around to starting.  I am really surprised to find out that I actually knitted 3 throws during the early part of the year:

The Creative Cables Throw

The Bauhaus Throw

The 100 Yarns Throw

Otherwise I knitted various presents for people – particularly babies and a few shawls which I enjoyed knitting.  

The throws were easy – even the “complicated” cables – in comparison to trying to knit those duck feet.  The problem is that I knit lots of throws and I feel comfortable doing them but I don’t knit socks and I don’t like small fiddly things like toys.  However although I didn’t completely follow the pattern – I did manage to produce some duck feet.

This year I do hope to be able to spend more time knitting and more time writing this blog. 

Another Favourite Knitting Pattern

At the moment I am knitting another shawl using a favourite Brian Smith pattern called Gossington.  

I first knit this shawl a couple of years ago using 2 different shades of Debbie Bliss Rialto Luxury Sock Yarn.  Unlike a lot of other shawls – I have worn this one a lot.  It is the right weight and seems to go with lots of things.

I hope the same will be said about the latest shawl that I am knitting.  This one is made from one shade of The Fibre Fox Merino Sock yarn.   I have bought 2 x 100g skeins of a shade called Embers.   It is 75% Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon.  There are 425 metres in each skein which will probably be more than enough.  It is such a lovely colour.  I didn’t intend to buy it but it was impossible to resist.  

The shawl should go well with the bag that I am hoping to get knitted this year.  I would like to start it this month – but I think that is a bit ambitious.

Favourite Patterns

It was entirely a coincidence that when I went to the last Knitting and Crochet Guild meeting – where the topic was “Favourite Things” – that I was knitting one of my favourite patterns.  It is an old 1980s pattern for a baby jacket which was published by Littlewoods.

The original was a fair-isle pattern but it can be knitted in any way.  I have done stripes and checks as well as using multi-coloured yarn.  When I decided to knit a couple of baby coats for the Oxford Baby Bank – it was obvious that I would choose to use my version of this pattern.

I have knitted this one in Stylecraft Tweedy and I am now working on a second one using Stylecraft Special for Babies.

During the meeting we discussed things that could be knitted to raise money for the Guild.  Babies coats are something that are easy to knit; can be sold fairly cheaply and that people like to buy as a gift for a new baby.  Bootees were also suggested as well as little hats and gloves.  These are all popular for the same reasons.

A Few Favourites

I managed to finish the shawl that I was knitting for my mother at the end of last year.  There are several other shawls that I would like to knit.  I had Stephen West’s latest book for Christmas and some red yarn which I intend to make into a shawl.

Tomorrow is the latest meeting for the Oxford Branch of the Knitting and Crochet Guild.  This month’s topic is a discussion of favourite designers, patterns, yarns etc.  In anticipation of this I have been thinking about my favourites.

I know I have written about my favourite yarns before.  Some of them are discontinued!  My top 5 all-time are:

1                     Colinette Fandango

2                     Noro Kureyon

3                     Sirdar Highlands and Islands

4                     Rowan Felted Tweed

5                     Debbie Bliss Rialto Sock

I have a few patterns that I have knitted many times – most of these are for babies.  I am currently knitting a few little coats for Oxford Baby Bank.  My liking for shawls and multi-coloured knitting influence liking for particular designers – my current top 5 would be:

1                     Horst Schulz

2                     Kaffe Fassett

3                     Valentina Devine

4                     Brian Smith

5                     Patricia Werner

I could have also added Martin Storey – but that would have been 6!  I just had another thought – I could have added Sirdar Escape to the yarn list – so that would be 6 as well.

I would like to start knitting another shawl, but I am going to take the little baby coats to the meeting because they  are much easier to knit when you are talking.  If I take the shawl – I will have to unravel it when I get home which will be really frustrating – so I am going to stick to knitting something “boring”.