The furry and the woolly

Cat tested:

Cat approved:

Dig those crazy stripes!

I am celebrating the first snow of the year by breaking in a new pair of warm and woolen stripey socks. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Pattern: Generic cuff-down, short row heel, 60 stitches
Yarn: ONline Supersocke 100 Circle Color
Needles: Size 2

Really…

quite…

groovy!

31 Days of Crafting

Poor little blog – I have neglected you.

But I have been knitting. I am knitting. And, considering all gifts this year will be homemade, I imagine I will be knitting all the way through Christmas Eve. All of that conjugates to a whole lotta knitted items, and I’m going to try very hard to photograph them and post them here. You know, now, not three months later.

Let the knitting begin…

Hedgie

Last year, while browsing the shelves of Waterstone’s in London, I came across Hugh Warwick’s The Hedgehog’s Dilemma: A Tale of Obsession, Nostalgia, and the World’s Most Charming Mammal. I have to admit to a fondness for hedgehogs, a fondness slightly bordering on the obsessive. But I had already come with a list of books to buy and was tempted from pretty much every shelf I saw, so I heroically put it back.

But one of my favorite people in the world, someone who knows about my hedgehog fondness/obsession and humors it, saw the book and thought of me. He did more than that, for he sent me a copy. And while he already has hedgehog visitors from time to time in his backyard, the proper kind that snuffle and everything, I could not resist making him one to thank him for such a lovely surprise. (As you can see from the photos, the American hedgehog acclimatizes quite quickly to the British office environment, and has already begun finding the best spots to nest. Like his new owner, he appears quite fond of computers as well)

Pattern: Little Oddment Hedgehog
Yarn: Patons Grace and a scrap of black embroidery floss
Needles: Size 0 and 2

Shrug this

It’s been so long since I made this shrug that I’d completely forgotten about posting it. I wore it all summer, and have a feeling I will continue to wear this straight through winter.

Pattern: Top-Down Shoulder Warmer by Laura Chau
Yarn: Berroco Softwist, about 500 yards
Needles: Sizes 8 and 9

I was seduced by the gorgeous color and sheen of this yarn, but I did find it difficult to knit with. It’s worth it, though. Literally EVERY time I wear this out, I get asked where I bought it. Plus, if you’re feeling a bit silly, you can pull the collar up Miami Vice style and strut about. Not that I would know about that…

I can’t seem to get a good shot of the back, but the ribbing continues all the way around the sides and down the back, and the whole shrug is constructed to be finished together, with no seaming. It’s really ingenious.

Mystery Sock

The Moody Autumn Mystery Sock progresses. We have legs…!

The color is showing up lighter than it actually is, but the photo shows the rather strange texture of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock. It’s lovely wool, with a tight twist, but it has the oddest feel to it. I can’t quite put my finger on what’s bugging me about it. Still, it has really generous yardage, so I’ve done 6 repeats of the chart. If I go bonkers with impatience before the heel pattern is released on Thursday, I may even do another 2 rounds on each sock.

Aira

I frequently look at patterns on Ravelry and marvel at the kind of creativity that can create such amazingly detailed patterns. It’s even more striking when the pattern is constructed by a 12 year old, as this one is. The pattern is not yet up on Ravelry, but it will be soon. And remember Lily’s name – I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing even more beautiful designs from her in the future.

Design: Aira, by Lilykate
Yarn: Regia Silk 4 ply (probably about 240 yards) in cream
Needles: Size 2 and 4 (gauge 26 stitches/4 inches)

Apologies for the washed out photos. It’s been a washed out kind of week in Dallas and I, too, am feeling a bit washed out.

Lace details

Perhaps my favorite thing is those puckers. They’re a lovely touch.

As is the beautiful picot band. Both warm and stylish.

I have a cosy sweater, now I have a beautiful beret…bring on the frosty weather!

A bit of bounce

Yikes, it’s been awhile since I posted here. I have been knitting, though, and have been enjoying the time to turn out finished objects. I’m also blessing my greedy grasping self foresight in laying up a stock of lovely yarn over the past two years. I’ve always enjoyed knitting, but it’s become a real comfort lately, something I can pick-up in the middle of the night or use to occupy my hands when restless. And, when knitting a gorgeous bit of extravagance in pure silk, it can become a bit of bounce.

Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, 2.5 skeins, silvery-blue
Needles: Erm, size 6 (I think…it’s been awhile!)

I blocked this three times, but I never could get the points to go pointy. I eventually gave up and now I quite like the way the ends seem to have gentle waves.

So nice next to the skin!

You can see the variations in the silk, where the yarn gets a bit slubbier. I’ve noticed on Ravelry that this seems to upset people, but I rather like it.

It looks lovely (and is easier to walk about in) held up with my grandmother’s winged brooch.

And, in a first for me, a photo of my back…that’s a happy back.

Shocking! She has a back!

Summer greens

It seems an odd thing to make a scarf in the middle of summer, in the middle of Texas, but make a scarf I did. Partly because, despite the heat, I keep seeing people wearing gorgeous scarves over t-shirts, which is more than enough to legitimize my need to knit, but mostly because I fell in love with the Madeline Tosh sock yarn I brought home from the DFW Fiber Fest. I loved the soft green leafy color, and I kept pulling it out to look at it. And pet. Gorgeous stuff. It’s lightweight, cool, and one skein made a surprisingly long scarf.

Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Sock in Clover, 1 skein
Needles: Size 3

8 Things

I have one project blocking and another almost complete, so I should have some photos up here soon. In the meantime, to while away the time while we have yet another tornado warning, here’s a meme from Minder.

8 things I am looking forward to…..

1. Tagging a desk in the East Stacks and getting some much overdue research done
2. Listening to the Proms online
3. My mother has promised to teach me how to make fried green tomatoes, Yankee-style
4. Finally, it’s almost time for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Mmm, Alan Rickman…
5. Seeing if I can grown little frankentrees from my apple seeds
6. The new Sarah Waters novel, The Little Stranger
7. Autumn — the changing colors, the sights, and crisp, cool autumn weather
8. Going away on holiday

8 things I did yesterday…….

1. Got laid off from my job
2. Had several cups of tea and stuck my tongue out at my old company, metaphorically (mostly)
3. Blocked a scarf. Spent half an hour picking cats and/or cat fur off blocking scarf
4. Read an article on the changing of children’s culture in the Victorian schoolroom.
5. Cast on for a new project
6. Got taken out for a lovely dinner with a lovely person
7. Talked with friends
8. Took a long bath and started rereading Emma

8 things I wish I could do…….

1. Teach the cats to make my early morning cup of tea and bring it to me in bed
2. Move somewhere more interesting
3. Knit in public without sticking my tongue out when I come to the tricky bits
4. Archery. I loved it as a child, and was quite good at it, but it appears to be frowned on to run around with bows and arrows as an adult.
5. Learn the art of shrugging things off
6. Run away and spend the summer near the ocean
7. Whistle
8. Gather all my friends together in one place for a truly spectacular party

8 shows I watch……

1. Like Minder, The Archers, which I don’t watch, but I do listen to the omnibus edition each weekend. I have been known to google Archer genealogy and back stories.
2. Doctor Who. Although, due to never being home when it’s on, I still haven’t seen the last season.
3. Gossip Girl. La la la, I can’t hear you, it’s fabulous!
4. Masterpiece Theatre. Have loved since I was a child. Am pleased they’re having an Agatha Christie season, although I do wish they’d just show all the Miss Marple’s they’ve never aired.
5. Pushing Daisies. I <3 the cranky knitting detective.
6. How Clean is Your House. I love that show, and not just because it makes me feel better about the state of my closet.
7. Erm, that's about it, really.
8. Although I do frequently watch the cats. They're better than TV, especially since one of them still hasn't figured out that the coffee table is made of glass and glass is solid.

And here are the rules in case you need them!

1. Mention the name of the person who tagged you.
2. Do the lists of 8.
3. Tag 8 bloggers of your choice.
4. Let them know that they have been tagged!

I'd love to hear from anyone, so consider yourself tagged.