Category: europe2008

  • little black whatchamacallit

    Well, it only took four days to knit this little sweater, but over a week since then to block, photograph and blog about it! Oh well.

    26.365 - little black whatchamacallit

    My own pattern, just a simple top-down raglan bolero/shrug thing with half-length sleeves and curved fronts. I had the yarn lying around and really wanted a simple super soft, black cardigan, so here it is! I used six balls of Sublime cashmere merino silk aran (there’s a mouthful) and used up every last drop. I’ve got a tiny length left (like 1 m) so I think I might crochet a little loop and do a button.

    I was a little unsure about the chunkyness of this sweater at first – it’s on 5.5 mm needles, which is way bigger than I’ve used in awhile! But a good soaking opened up the fabric a bit and it drapes much better now. If I’d had some more yarn I would’ve liked to do longer ribbing around the edge, but as it was I had to tink back a row just to have enough yarn to bind off!

    little black sweater

    I’m thinking of writing it up (it would probably be pretty quick, too) but I’m not sure when I’ll get to it! So we’ll see. I want to write up that skirt from the last post, too, which is actually a bit easier…oy, so many ideas, so few hours in which to get things done.

    I’ve actually had a really productive day “off” – it’s off work from the store, but that doesn’t mean I’m not working! I’ve laid out the patterns for the baby and child, top down versions of the Thermal sweater, so I’m hoping to release those very soon. Just as soon as I get some photos! I also did a bunch of stuff in preparation for my trip – calling the bank and credit card companies, finding a suitcase, making some lists, I even packed most of my clothes.

    Now I’m down to the tough parts of packing – deciding what knitting and/or crochet to take! I want to take some crochet for the plane, I think, because I’ve got a design idea and it would also get around the whole are-needles-allowed thing. I guess the thing is that I’m sure to buy yarn there (especially at iknit!) so I can always start up a new project there if I get bored or something. Yeah, I kind of doubt it too. But we do have some longish train rides worked in there.

    Five more sleeps, people. Whoa.

  • evidence of life

    I’ve been spending pretty much all my time this week more or less like this:

    5.365 - the view from here

    Insert Doctor Who and some Stargate:Atlantis in for the Dr. Horrible (which is SO awesome by the way, you should all go watch it) and the Mooi shawl in for the pink thermal, and that’s today.

    Thanks for all the well wishes for my ankle – it’s definitely better, the swelling’s gone down a fair bit and I’m hobbling around okay (although still resting! of course!). I’m aiming to be back at work on Monday, although I might leave Tuesday in Natalie’s capable hands! We’ll see – I’m probably in no shape to be standing around in the dye studio next week.

    Despite all the resting and sitting around time, I’m getting surprisingly little done in the way of work! I’m knitting the edging of the Mooi shawl now, and it’s coming along nicely.

    starting the edging!

    I like that it’s knitted in along the edge. It’s pretty!

    I’ve also been writing a number of lists –

    8.365 reject

    At the end of the month I’m headed out on a jet plane to visit with Ysolda! You might remember she came and stayed with me back in May, so now it’s my turn. I’ll admit I’m apprehensive about the trip, mostly the flying – I’m not a great flyer and it’ll be the longest one I’ve been on! Across water and stuff! Yikes!

    I’m flying in and out of Edinburgh, but in between we’ll be taking some trips to London and Paris – we’ve got some accommodation in London, but we could still use some for a couple nights in both cities. Hostel recommendations, offerings of couches? Would be awesomely appreciated!

    Suggestions of things to do in each city would be fantastic too! We’ll definitely be hitting up iknit day in London on the 6th, but other than that, I think we pretty open to recommendations!