Saturday, March 23, 2013

Cables, patches and beanies!

Hello! How was your week? Mine was delighfully stress free as we broke up from school on Wednesday for the Easter hols! Three weeks off!!! Yay!!! Have you noticed how happy I am....!

So, aside from winding down for the hols, what else have I been up to? Well, I've currently got two wips (work-in-progress) which are both fairly big projects so they'll be around for a while. Firstly there's this...


It's a cable sweater that a friend of mine has commissioned me to knit for her! Blimey! We had a bit of a tricky time finding the right wool but eventually we got it sorted and I'm using Elle Pure Gold Double Knitting which is knitting up beautifully but tends to 'fluff' a bit which is annoying. I hope that isn't a sign that it's going to bobble very quickly when it's finished! (For those of you who don't knit, 'fluffing' is when bits of yarn fluff off whilst you're knitting and 'bobble' is when you get those little balls of yarn on your garment after a few washes - hope that's clear but you're probably more confused than ever!)

This is the pattern and can be purchased from this link. http://store.vogueknitting.com/p-405-cabled-turtleneck.aspx
What do you think? She liked this particular pattern as it wasn't too baggy. She's quite short and petite and hates loose fitting sweaters as they swamp her! This one seems to be coming up with just the right amount of stretch so I really hope she likes it. Will keep you advised of developments.....

My second wip is something I've wanted to start for a long time. I've always wanted to crochet a blanket for our bed but something that doesn't look too new or too bright. I love bright colours but not in the bedroom where I like everything to be warm, snug and cosy. I decided that this would be year that I made it and seeing as we're going into autumn now, I thought I'd better make a start: Here are the colours.


As soon I pulled these together in my local wool shop, I knew they'd work well. Three shades of blue, three shade of green, three shades of brown, one grey, one cream and one red. I wasn't sure of the red at first but felt it needed a pop and the red is a lovely raspberry red which blends with the others very well.

This is what I've done so far....





It's all rather scrummy and lovely. As you can see, I'd done three rows when I took the pics but I've actually almost finished the fourth row so it's growing really quickly! I'm using Lucy's Patchwork Granny Pattern as well as her join-as-you-go method which makes life so much easier as there's no sewing up - always a win in my opinion!!!! The stats for the blanket are simple: 24 squares wide and 24 rows - 576 squares!!!!!! It does sound rather alot, doesn't it? .When finished, the blanket will be a square which seems strange for a bed but it'll hang to the floor on both sides (mainly to hide the 'space of doom' which exists under our bed!) In England we had a loft for all those items that don't seem to have a home in the house but here we have our 'under the bed' filing system..... Do you have one of those?

I'm also knitting/crochet a few beanies for a charity I support here for homeless children so if you have any patterns that you've tried, please let me know. I get sooooo bored using the same pattern over and over again!

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be posting regularly with both the above wips so let me know what you think! 
Til soon.
xxx





11 comments:

  1. Your cables are seriously professional - no wonder you were commissioned to make this! Love your patchwork grannies too - going to be a bright and beautiful blanket! Happy Weekend, Laura! E x

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    1. Dear E - thanks for popping over. The cable pattern looks really tricky but it's one of the easiest I've done and it grows really fast (thank goodness). Not keen on commissions because I'm always so worried the person won't like it when it's finished but she's a dear friend so I know she'll be honest! If she doesn't like it, I'll keep it for myself so it will be a win/win situation! Much love. xxx

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  2. Hi Laura! I was a bit dubious when I read about you and wips (which of course sounded initially like whips)... You know I'm not into knitting or crochet, but even I can admire the skill and beauty of your work. Been doing any gardening recently??
    I don't know if you still read my blog occasionally, but if you do you will have seen that I have been writing more about food and drink than about gardening, simply because our weather is still atrocious.By this time of year I would expect to have sowed quite a few seeds, but not this year!

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    1. Hi Mark, thanks for stopping by. Yes I do read your blog still but I don't always comment as my gardening knowledge is nowhere near as good as yours. I do enjoy your food and drink posts though - always a favourite subject of mine! Have been watching the UK weather on the TV .... not pleasant so I don't envy you. We do get some snow but usually here today and gone tomorrow so it's easy to live with! Stay warm and I look forward to lots of comfort food posts (soups especially) (hint, hint).... Love to you both. x

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  3. Oh I do love a cable and those are fabby.

    Crochet coming along beautifully too.

    CN x

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    1. Thanks so much! The cables grow daily and I'm now on row 5 of the blanket!! All steam ahead!!!!!!! xxx

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  4. I love both your projects. The Sweater will be perfect for your small friend, I can see you are a super expert at cabling. The bedspread colours are beautiful, I'm just learning about 'pop' colours (and I adore raspberry red!)

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    1. Thanks Catherine. I too only just learnt about colours that 'pop' so it's all a new experience but seems to be working!

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  6. (oops, its me Maryanne from Woolhogs commenting from an old account)


    Mack SnapMarch 27, 2013 at 8:17 PM
    Laura, your projects look incredible! WOW, that cable....I can only dream on being able to knit like that!!! Adore your blanket too xxxx

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    1. Thanks Maryanne! The cables are much easier than the look I can promise you! x

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