Backlog of FOs

It's been awhile, yes yes. I'm still using the excuse of having a baby as an explanation for my lack of posts.

I have, however, managed to sneak in the time to finish a few WIPs lying despondently around the house.

The Springtime Bandit shawl/scarf was an epic project for me. For some reason, I just couldn't get into the pattern. I don't like charts that only show half the rows, for one thing. I also didn't like the roaming stitch markers.

The yarn almost made up for it, though. The Berroco Ultra Light Alpaca in fingering weight is what I chose, anticipating a lighter and lacier finished product. Alpaca is so warm, a thin layer would do.

Well, enough chitter chatter, on to the yarn porn!

The colour of the yarn is brilliant, and it was wonderful to work with.  A bit splitty if I wasn't paying attention, but that's my own inability to concentrate and no fault of the yarn. I am very pleased with the final result, but it's not a knit I enjoyed. I can't explain exactly why; perhaps because it wasn't relaxing.

I also finished the Squash hat pattern from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders for my baby. There is a surplus of Rowan DK Cashsoft in my stash so I decided to make something quick and easy whilst on the train.

That's her, modelling it when she's several days old. Unfortunately there isn't much call for a warm woolly hat at this time of year. She's worn it several times, but it may be passed on to a winter baby. The pattern was easy to follow and it was a quick knit. There is a definite squee factor when you see it on a tiny head!

Currently I'm working on a Tomten jacket for the droplet in cotton. She needs a light summer jacket. No pink, though. We've been inundated with pink. It's a nice, in your face red. I've also been knitting her a pair of legwarmers, since trousers are almost impossible to wrestle on and off.

I've also been working away at a Stitched Self for the Stitch London Science Museum shenanigans. I will post about that in the very near future. I'm very please with how the little me is turning out!

My big project of the moment is a design for my wedding shrug. I'm currently swatching lace and stitch patterns, and hope to cast on soon!

I love Dalston

This poster made my day.

It's on Kingsland Road, visible southbound, after several large Tory campaign posters.  I know, I know, I need to update this blog with my recent knitting, but I had a baby, so cut me some slack! More posts this week.

Use the force!

Baby Yoda sweater is complete.

The rabbit stole the matching booties.

Lazy blogger

I haven't posted here since my birthday, I know.  I think I'm still suffering from a Ravelympics hangover...no finished objects to report.

In terms of projects, I cast on the baby Yoda sweater by Cari Luna, which I have completed but for the seaming. I seamed the body pieces together, but the sleeves are proving a bit tricky to line up. Once I've succeeded at that, I'll have something to post. 

The mini-me is due to arrive in three weeks, so it's been baby cast on time. My current commute knit project is the baby squash hat by Tamara Del Sonno, which will hopefully be completed in my last four days of work next week!

You might think that I've been neglecting all my blogging duties, but I actually donned my other OTHER blogging identity of late to rant about non knitting related items.

Screw you, soothsayer.

It is the Ides of March.  It is my birthday. I am 30.

Eat cake.

That is all.

Harder than it looks

I ventured into the land of hand spinning yarn on Sunday.  I have long admired spinners from afar, but haven't been able to jump into it myself.

I threw my fears into the River Lea and made my way to Finsbury Park for a "learn to spin" class at the Handweavers Studio.

During the course of the day, I tackled the tasks of carding fleece, preparing fiber, spinning by hand, spinning on a wheel, and plying my creations together.  The result?

Yarn Frankenstein.

Yes, that's one hank. I call it two ply, five colour, multiple gauge novelty merino.

Will I venture into spinning again? I'm not certain.

Ravelympics gold medal finish

I am exhausted. A combination of the flu, two gold medal curling matches, and a nail biting ice hockey goal medal match are to blame. In honour of the Canadian medal haul, I started and finished a last minute baby bootie project in Team Canada colours. My bundle to be will wear them with pride...or baby like indifference.  Better photos after I recover.