I will Prevail!!

I'm really happy with the first cardigan. It was SUCH a relief to have one finished! So when I started the second one I thought I'd try to do it in a slightly different construction in an attempt to get around having to do intarsia on a purl row.
I decided to do the whole thing in the round with an extra 8sts for a steek at the front. Seemed a good idea. So off I went.
But I began to have doubts as the number of strands having to be held at the back increased from the 2 that I'm used to to sometimes 4! As I struggled on however, I began to look at the nearly completed chart section quietly mulling over how thick the fabric of the knitted garment felt and then a horrible realization came to me. I was still knitting on 3.25mm needles. I'd forgotten to change to 4mm needles. The two cardigan's would be different sizes and since they're for a set of twins this is a bit of an issue.
Oh. My. G....
There was only one thing to do. Only one thing that could be done to rectify this problem...
I was going to have to rip it all out.
Yep!
RIP. IT. ALL. OUT!
So, after accepting that, I reduced my work of a day and a half into a collection of yarn balls. Sigh.
I started again and this time I didn't do it in the round but I did knit the two sides and the back all at the same time since it seemed silly to knit them each seperately only to then seaming them together later. I did the intarsia like you're supposed to.
So now I finally finished the bottom of the cardigan. I'm still not that in love with intarsia but I think we've reached an amicable truse :-)
Sleeves are coming!

I should have thought this through...

I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew. I'm knitting 2 cardigans for my friend Kay for her twin grandkids. I'd forgotten how fiddly intarsia can be! The cardigan isn't difficult so I'm just going to push on. It really does look good :-)

Dyeing (as in making things other colours!) is FUN!!

I am so enjoying playing with these fabric dyes I've got that I thought I'd get creative and dye some bought yarn that I wasn't keen on the colour of. Dyeing in the microwave is much tidier than any other technique I've tried!

90% Wool, 10% Silk

This yarn feels beautiful but I find the beige SOOoo boring! I wanted to liven it up so I used a combination of Cerise (red) and Old Gold (yellow) and I mixed a blend of the two for a rich orange. I am so happy with the result I can't even begin to tell you!

After the dyeing process, just off the niddy-noddy.

All balled up...and so pretty!!

Closer view of the many gradients and variants of colour. Yummy!

This is so much better than the dull beige. Now it really stands out, so warm and lovely, almost flame-like colours! Now I'm racking my brains to think of something knit-worthy to knit in it. Definitely a shawl of some kind, with lace I think. No?

I've really enjoyed dyeing but I think I'll give it a rest for a little while. Second of which, I'm almost out of dye. Might have to get more. We'll see.

Happy Knitting!

Flying pig...away!

I thought I'd have a break from the endless skirt and do something cute and fun. And it being ANZAC day all the shops are shut. Except the pubs :-)
Anyway, this was even quicker that my easter bunny! Very sweet and it naturally sits on it's bum once you've stuffed it which I thought looked really good too.
I decided to give it felt wings since I thought if I gave it wings in the same yarn as it's body that they wouldn't stand out as much and I think these are MUCH cuter!
So cute! I'm so impressed with myself :-D

Test Knitting...

Seems the best idea to try and do something useful with the enormous amount of stuff I seem to churn out. On Ravelry there is a group called Free Pattern Testers. On their forum you can chose a pattern that's kind of advertised on their board and you can get (potentially) a new pattern for free which you knit up and then provide concise feedback and good photos. Seems like a good deal to me. So far I've signed up for a baby poncho for a 3 mth old and an adult beanie. I have till May 3rd.
So far I've done one practise poncho because it's the only way I can figure out how much yardage I use.

It is a very unusual shape but rather appealing.. The pattern is very well written. The one I'm doing proper is a much nicer colour, I swear!

Haven't got any pics of the hat yet. I've only just started that. Another excellent and interesting pattern :)

Okay, Pattern Completed!

I said I'd make up a sheet with a photo for the ridiculously-named knitted undies...
...And I have!

Cotton Undies

Notions:

1 - 2 Cotton Yarn 50g

3.75mm circular needles

Yarn needle

Gauge:

6 stitches x 8 rows = 1”

Sizes:

S (M, L, XL)

CO 68 (80, 92, 104)

Purl first row.

Work in Stockinette for 16 rows (measures 2 inches)

BO 23 (26, 29, 32) stitches at the beginning of each row twice.

16 (20, 24, 28) stitches remain.

BO 1 stitch at each end of the needle every 4 rows, 4 times.

8 (12, 16, 20) stitches remain.

Work even for 12 rows.

CO 1 stitch at each end of the needle every other row, 40 (48, 56, 64) times.

Until you have 48 (60, 72, 84) stitches.

CO 2 stitches at end of the needle every other row 5 times.

Until you have 68 (80, 92, 104) stitches.

Work even for 16 rows (measures 2 inches)

BO

Pick up and bind of 96 (136, 150, 164) stitches along each leg edge.

Stitch together hip band.

Pick up and bind off 136 (160, 184, 208) stitches from the waist.

Optional Crotch Insert:

CO 16 (20, 24, 28) stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch.

BO 1 stitch at each end of needle 4 times, leaving 8 (12,16,20) stitches.

Work even for 12 rows.

CO 1 stitch at each end of the needle every 4 rows, 4 times.

BO

Stitch insert into crotch of the undies.

This is a copy of saltonyourwound.tripod.com/basic_panda_food_panty.html pattern. Just to present the pattern with an example of the knitted item for all of us who are visually orientated J

Isn't that better? Now I can see how it's supposed to look (these are knit in XL) but I can tell you the picking up of stitches and then binding them off next really stabilizes the legs and waist. Sadly to the point that I can't get my fat topped legs into them :(But now I have somewhere to go from. Other modifications I made from the original patter was to knit the waist 10 rows longer both back and front. So 26 rows instead of 16. And when the bind off for the legs begin instead of casting off the 32 stitches I halved it and bound them off over 4 rows at 16 stitches each row. That's about all. I like the way they turned out even though I can't wear them. It at least gives me a point to work out how to knit undies with a bit more give in the legs and waist. But it's a well written pattern. Excellent :)

Here's a thought!

I've been leafing through my OBSENE pile of knitting magazines since it really seems criminal to have so many resourses and not use them more effectively, when I had a thought!
Quite often I look through them all and think "Oh, I like that! Oh! And that!" but when I go to find the darn thing later on I can't remember what the pattern's called or the magazine it's in! So frustrating!!!
So I think I'll take a pic of the pattern when I see one I like and put it here and that way I'll at least have a visual starting point to go from if I ever decide at a later date to give it a go!!
Maybe a picture of the cover too :)