Aran complete!

Yippee! It's finished and fits perfectly and am wearing it already since it's gotten cooler again.
I have decided it was worth all the aggro to get it done ;o)  next project is on the needles already just hoping I have enough yarn

Cabled Sweater by Bernat

This pattern has been driving me crazy from the start and it's just as well it's free because I would ask for a refund.  It started with the C4B which in traditional knitting is worked on a ratio of 2/2, so why in the name of mother earth would anyone change it to a 3/1 ratio? as if there isn't enough terminology to work through. I'm no stranger to Aran knitting and have not had any difficulty with cables until this pattern.

So I scrapped panels B and C because I didn't like the look and the C4B/F drove me nuts. I introduced a panel from the book Cables untangled [number 24] and was glad to have all my problems solved! Or so I thought until I reached row 53,, arrghhh pattern error should read 53rd row: P10. C6B. P4. T4F. K2. T4B. P4. C6F. P10

Perhaps I should have put cables to match the center one at the sides. Hmmm maybe next time?!

OK so now the back is done and the front started, I'm hoping that when finished it fits well and hasn't lost what first drew me to it.

Update on Lacey knit

Well the main part is done and yippee after blocking it's a perfect fit...phew and it's still a crop top on me despite all those extra rows.

I don't think I will find lace in that colour so I've started to knit in 2ply an 1958 woman's weekly lace edging which is a bit tricky and can only be worked on in the daytime....... I'm seriously starting to wonder if I should have gone for the easy option of quick crochet around the neck line.

Will be in town on friday so will get the ribbon trims then.

In the meantime here's the preview of the almost finished top.......I'm sure I'll get the neck done before the summer actually arrives.

Lacey knit

I've just finished the aran sweater that has been on the needles for what seems like an eternity.......since it was plain I got fed up with it and started other things as you can see from the previous post. I thought I'd better bite the bullet and get it done and dusted.  So now it's done and it knitted up pretty good considering it was the second time I'd used the yarn........ it had been a zip up cardigan in it's last life.
No sooner had it come off the needles and been sewn together than it was on the Misters back....... nope I hadn't even the chance to finish up all the loose ends. ;) still I pinched it back when he wasn't looking and fixed that.

I spotted Shiri Mors cropped Lace Top on Ravelry and fell head over heels for it, just had to make it...... hmmm I had thought the green yarn in my stash was 2 ply but now I don't know??
Anyway it would have been better to have the gauge before blocking , but I've doubled my yarn and gone up 2 needles sizes.... fingers crossed that will work out big enough?? doesn't look like it to me.  I have loads of the yarn so I can make another one after a little maths.... I've made modifications to the top so it's longer so we'll see how that turns out. I'm currently at the armhole shaping.  Doesn't look like much in the photo.

In the Pink

I've had this mad knit phase.  I have clicked n clacked my way through a few items and still have a waiting list. 

I got this big cone of pink 4 ply which has been used up a bit, but still has a few things to make before it's done.

I'm one of these people who can't wait to finish something that I've just started and even though it doesn't take too long, it sometimes seems like forever before it's finished. 

I am glad to say I finished this tank finally, there was lots of knitting and taking back because I didn't like it or it wasn't working for me. I'm still not entirely satisfied with the neck line but it's staying.  The design is based on the Romanssi on Ravelry however I had to make a big size and I never had circular needles.........that seems to be something I will have to invest in sometime soon.
I also made another tank top (Isabella tank on Ravelry)

 

I've decided to try and finish the yarn by making baby cardigans, basically because they go quick and I really want to finish the yarn so I can start the next cone.  Also the fact I can't save oddballs I just have to finish them somehow.

Ok I made some wrist warmers, basic and easy to make. Originally these were from a legwarmer pattern but I decided I didn't want pink ones. Am now in the process of making another cardigan...... hopefully that will finish the yarn!

Have your cake and eat it

I finally managed to bake a cake from Dove farms Plain flour, this was my 3rd try and it worked out great.  No complaints from anyone! Yippee

The first one was too dry, the second a disaster. I've also managed to successfully bake a zesty orange sponge with the same flour, but am still perfecting the Madeira cake recipe.

I've also discovered  Tritamyl Gluten Free Bread Mix so now make my own bread and it's great for home-made pizzas too. I made a pizza the other night and was told it was the best they'd ever tasted.
So with that in mind I will be working my way through Odlums gluten Free recipes which are available on their site.

http://www.odlums.ie/index.php?page=gluten-free

The V day card

Well I finally made the card for himself. I like the way it turned out, even though this was not the intended design. I found a silver card gift box, so I used that for the card and just printed out the rest and glued it on.

I was brought up to believe that homemade gifts are the best because the person took the time and care, as well as some thought into what they made.

I for one am quite happy to get knitted/crocheted goods as well as edible goodies. I have to admit it has been a few years since I got anything handmade! If I remember correctly it was a crushed velvet scarf.  I don't have enough crafty friends I guess and it's easier for everyone to go to a shop and buy something, well maybe not but it's less time consuming.