Yet more squares

Well, I'd post a significant entry, but I've no real time.
So suffice it to say I'm working on a knitting entry (with a couple pictures) for this.
I'll try to get it posted within the next couple weeks. *cross fingers*

Until then

Oh, yes, I've finally gotten a new camera. I'm happy. *grin*

An update on the squares

Well, at this point, I've knitted over 120 squares.

I've also done a rough estimate of how many squares I'll need given that I want a blanket measuring 125cm x 200cm.

580.

Five Hundred and Eighty Squares.

Well. I'm not sure I'll do them all. I'm not sure I won't, but from my track record about projects, the future looks set to see me get within sight of finishing them all and they end up getting put in a bag to end up slowly rotting in the pit/box of Unfinished Projects.
Not because I get fed up of knitting, but because I can't face finishing off the project - the thought of sewing or crocheting all those squares together will make me blanch.

But I don't know - there's this small determined lizard in the back of my brain gritting it's teeth and willing me on to complete all the squares and finish the project.

I hope it wins.

Until the next entry.

New Knitting

Not in the sense I have started a new project, but that the blanket project (small square knitting)is getting a little dull.

So I decided to try out some textured knitting.
I've done small squares of alternate stocking stitch and reverse stocking stitch (5 stitches for each small square) on a square - lovely. I've done a couple of those so far.
Then I did seed (moss) stitch - it required that I drop the cast on to 18 stitches, but it turned out fine. I've done a couple of those as well.

I then tried doing seed stitch rib (I don't have the pattern as the book is downstairs) - that was nice, as the pattern is reverseable. Only one of those so far, but I'll be doing more.

I have tried doing a "easy" cable pattern (indented diamonds), but it occasionally required twisted cabling and regular cabling on the same row, and with frustration and dropped stitches, that got frogged. I will try it again later in the month, even if only to conquer it.

I also did a alternate to the diagonal half colour intarsia square and for that, I cast on 20 stitches, and purled the first row. (square was done using st. stitch)
(note - colours are single skeins of embroidery floss doubled in half, casting on with the loose ends - the loop will be used in case of the floss running short)

On the next (knit) row, I knitted the first stitch using the alternate colour (AC) and knit the rest of the row using the first colour (FC).
The next row (purl), after slipping the first stitch, I purled with the FC until one stitch before the AC, then purled the remaining stitches.
The rows after that, I slipped the first stitch, and knitted or purled the row increasing the AC until I was left with one remaining stitch of the FC (this would be the 20th row).
On the last row, instead of slipping the first stitch, I purled the whole row in the AC, and then cast off knitwise with it.

There occasionally were problems with the FC being short on the very last stitch, but that was solved by wrapping the end of the floss loop (doubled skein) around the inserted needle and then purling that into the last stitch, I then knit into the loop with the first stitch of the next row with the AC, thereby locking it into place. It does look a little odd, but it works.


Bye for now.

Camera gone

My Father has gone on a trip, taking the only Digital Camera with him.
This unfortunatly means that there will be no photos until he returns.

So be it.

A Tiny Change of Plans

Well, knitting the squares is going well. I've done 40 of them so far and once the two that are on the needles are finished, I'm going to wash them. I figured that if I wash them in batches of 40, then I won't have too much to do.

The next batch of 40 will be knitted half-and-half colour squares. Cast on a colour, purl a row and on the next row introduce a colour on the last stitch (intarsia knitting technique). After that, increase the new colour by knitting one extra stitch of the second colour and decreasing the first colour by a stitch. Eventually, the square will be finished by casting off in the second colour.

Colours will be moderatly randomly picked. There are colour combinations I cannot abide, like red and green (any shades) or bright yellow and royal blue.
Other than that, if it looks ok, it gets knitted.

Wish me luck.

Ok.

I'm proving not so frequent at updating for this month.

So what's new.

I don't spend a lot of time on the internet because I'm crafting.
And in the case of this particular journal, if I'm crafting, I'm not doing this, and if I'm doing this, I'm not crafting.
A hell of a catch 22.

Then add to this I'm doing two university courses, both with enormous reading lists.
(Philosophy and Neurobiology teamed with psychology)
and there's another problem for the majority of this year.

I'll update when I can.
And when I don't, please imagine me sweating over large textbooks or trying to complete mountains of knitting.
Because I'll probably be doing just that.

The knitting projects have increased by two - I've started a new knitting project consisting of small squares of doubled skeins of embroidery floss (2 skeins make one square). They work out very nice knitted on 3.25mm needles, casting on 20 stitches and knitting stocking stitch for 21 rows (slipping the first stitch of every row after the first row), then casting off using stretchy cast-off. It works out that a square takes 30 minutes to do and I can knit them while I'm watching TV.
I'll keep knitting squares until I've used up my large-ish stash of cheap embroidery floss and then I'll update on this when I'm at another stage.

Then there's the baby sweater adapted from a pattern (Baby's First Tattoo) in the "Stitch and Bitch Nation" Book.
I'm knitting it in 4-ply blue King Cole. I've also dropped it down 2 sizes. It's still pretty big for a NeoNatal unit, but I'm hoping it'll work. I've finished the back, and started on the left front.

Bye for now.

Not much happening here

I've gone into limbo, crafting-wise. I just can't do any work on anything. Not that I'm in a funk, or that I have no energy. There's a LOT of work that needs to be finished, or started, or just worked on.

I do not want to do anything enough to actually do it.

I'll pick things up and look at them, then put them down.

A few days ago, I was working on the scarf for the hat-and-scarf set (hat was completed a while ago) and I had to frog it due to a dropped stitch. I've cast the stitches back on, but that's all.

*sigh*.

I think spring fever is slowly building and it's affecting me by creating this feeling of "not now, there's something important coming".

I hope it's bloody important.

Later.

It's been too long since I've done this. Sorry.

Well, I just looked at this journal and I'm surprised that it's been so long
since I've updated. I really had thought that only two or three weeks had
passed, not a month and a half.

Well, In that time, I have:

Finished the second front of the kimono sweater/cardigan,

completed all of the crocheted bracelets that needed to be stitched closed,

finished the rainbow hat and scarf (no pictures will be forthcoming because I'd
forgotten that they were on the project list),

finished the red eyelash scarf,

and

I have:

started the back of the kimono sweater/cardigan (just today)

and a eyelash hat and scarf set (just the hat so far)

I'll be doing a little more updating later - I just don't exactly know when.

Bye for now.

<<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>>

There will be no justice as long as man will stand
with a knife or with a gun and destroy those
who are weaker than he is.
-Isaac Bashevis Singer

Christmas bracelet photo 1

Christmas bracelet 1

This bracelet isn't perfect, but it's growing on me every time I look at it. I did the majority of the work on it when I was about 20 pounds (1 stone 6 pounds) heavier, so it's a teeny bit loose on me, but I can live with it.
The reason the bit of red cotton (peeking from around the "corner") is on the first charm (unseen partridge) is because when I had them loose in a baggie I had to find a way to distinguish between the partridge and the turtledove. I had meant to remove the cotton, but that's grown on me as well.
I'm going to make another bracelet like this one as a gift, but in gold instead of silver. I have to find the right chain for it though. That's being a bit of a pain to find, since it's got to match the charms - which are in a specific antique gold finish.
But I'm sure I'll find it when I least expect it.
Oops, got to go.
Bye for now.

Christmas bracelet photo 2

Christmas bracelet 2

Notes for bracelet photos are in the next/latest post (depending upon when this is read).

I would feel bady that I haven't updated in over a week, but last week was a bit fraught. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and do what needed to be done. All my journals (all 4 of them) suffered. So be it.
But, I managed to take pictures yesterday of the things that I promised to last week. . .
The three pictures are divided into three entries (this one and the two after it), but I just can't get the picasa/hello thingy to send all pictures at the same time even though I'm following the instructions. Never mind. This entry has the sweater bits that I've done so far, and the ones after have the Christmas charm bracelet photos.



kimono sweater knitting


The reason the two knitted bits are different shades is because the finished front (on a straight needle) is in a specially finished mulberry silk yarn (Texere Arctic), and the started one (on the circular needle) is in a Chinese silk bourette yarn (Chinese Number 2) - yes, I am knitting that one from three cones - the yarn is a different thickness as well and it's the only way to make it work.
I am thinking about space dying the sweater when it's finished to try and make it a bit more cohesive. But I'll have to see WHEN it's finished - I JUST might unravel everything and start again.

Some projects on hold - reasons at the end of the entry. . .

Project work as it stands:

Another crochet bead bracelet completed (Bracelet of silver-lined transparent
purple size 9 beads).

Knitting started on surprise gift. Details cannot be given yet as I don't know
if this journal is being read by recipient of gift.

Knitting continuing on sweater and shawl, although the sweater was recently
ripped back 15 rows because of an unnoticed mistake. Sweater knitting was
continued after calming therapy of chocolate eating.

Photographs of sweater-in-progress will be taken at the same time as the
christmas charm bracelet.

Knitting (small amount) done on sock (toe up Socks (first one started) in Regia
nation "Rainbow" sock wool on size 2.5mm DP needles.

Fillgap braiding continuing by increments.

All other projects on hold as I'm trying to remember WHY I started most of
them - especially the old fillgap ones.

Once I remember, I'll start work on the ones most urgently needed to be
completed in the list. *snicker* Urgently needed . . . yeah.

Bought two balls of acrylic baby wool today - one pink and one pale yellow. Work
on baby stuff (for hospital) begins after Christmas.

Bye for now.

Weekend Work

I've completed the Christmas charm bracelet. It's not really to my satisfaction,
but it's the best I can get with the chain I've used. I wanted a big link chain,
so I have to accept the limitations that come with certain things like that.
Photos later in the week when I've used up the cone of silk yarn I'm halfway
through (I want to use it as a "stand" for the bracelet).

Done lots of knitting on:

1) Kimono sweater and done about a third of one front - this is really due to
the fact I'm not a big fan of knitting stockinette because of the dullness of
the repetition. I love the fabric produced, so I'll put up with the boredom.

2) Prayer shawl and I have finally knitted over half of it *cheers*. The fabric
produced with the elongated moss/seed stitch is lovely, but it too, with my
dislike of repetition, is knitting hell.

The things I do to produce things I like. *grin*

Worked on raven fillgap braid and got frustrated due to being too damn tired to
realize that I only jump three threads. Had to back track 4 times in two days.
Will not work on braid when tired again. But I'm over halfway done.

Bye for now.

And just because I don't have enough knitting projects . . .

I have started yet another:

A kimono sweater in DK weight mulberry silk yarn (bleached).

The pattern came from the Crystal Palace yarns website (www.straw.com), off
their free patterns section.

Luckily, it's a simple design, with no real fitting required.

I guess my fidget gene was too bored.

Bye for now.

Plans for the Prayer Shawl. . .

I purchased 4 spools of 3mm ribbon yesterday in colours that are in the prayer shawl I'm working on - or colours as close as I can get to ones that are in the shawl - the self striping yarn that's being used graduates through a lot of colourways and shadings from pale cream to a medium dark brown to an an odd olive green to an odd dark grey (I can't decide if it's a warm grey or a cool one) and all inbetween, so I'm not too worried. The plan is to thread it through the shawl as accent lines and use it also as part of the fringe.
You see, the knitting pattern I've used leaves behind regularly spaced holes along the length of the shawl.
The pattern is an elongated (3 stitch) Moss(UK)/ Seed(US) stitch.
I'm hoping the ribbon will look nice. I'll do a test next week. There's half the shawl to complete, so I've plenty of time to decide if it will work.
Bye for now.

Clear silver-lined size 15 bead crochet rope bracelet

Well, at least I remembered this photo eventually. Unfortunately the silver lining in the beads causes microscopic glare, so the colour isn't quite right. You can't have everything.

Bye for now.

Raven pendant fillgap braid.


I finished writing yesterday's entry and after I sent it off, I knew there were terms at the end about the christmas charm bracelet that were wrong -
1) it is a toggle clasp that I used.
2) the chain is a loose rope chain. Same construction as a standard rope chain, but with bigger links-because of thicker wire.
*sigh* I knew all this when I made it in the first place, and to forget it while writing frustrated me.
I am still working on good photos for the "bracelet on bead loom in mid-project". I'll get it up as soon as I can. The problem is that the beads are reflecting too much and I can't get good photos of the pattern - it is very subtle, but I think it is really very pretty. I'll keep trying.

Weekend workings

Life is fun. I'm busy and I like it.

I worked on completing a pair of socks (I dragged them out of the "knitting in
mid-project" basket) - but I didn't quite manage doing any knitting on them at
all, because of a cross stitch project that decided it wanted me to work on it -
"The Magpies on Oak and Honeysuckle" - mainly because I see it every day because
it leans on a dresser in my bedroom.

You might think that's a recipe for disaster, but this dresser is in a corner
near the window and I have to negotiate some boxes to get to it, therefore the
project is very safe - safer than if it were stored behind the couch. But even
having said I worked on it, I only got a few stitches done before my back
decided to complain. Though I suppose that's a few less stitches to do, isn't
it?

I also worked on yet another couple of beaded bracelets - the "Bracelet of matte
transparent red size 11 beads - red cotton cord in center for support due to
unexpected stretchyness of crochet" and "Bracelet of silver-lined transparent
purple size 9 beads". They're both in a state of almost finished, but the first
one needs the cord knotting securely and stitching shut before I can finish
closing the beads and the second one I need to find a needle that will both hold
the thick thread AND go through the beads, as I've closed the bracelet, but I
now am at the stage of needing to put the thread through the other beads and
knot it a couple times so it doesn't come undone. That's not as easy as it
sounds with the thread I've used. I'll figure it out. But this does mean that
there are less projects left to complete and the projects left to work on are
more prevelent.

Then the prayer shawl I've been working on, I moved on to another ball of wool.
I'm now on the 5th ball of wool with only another 4 or 5 balls to go. I'll
really know once I'm halfway through this ball. This shawl is going to an aunt
in California and I hope she likes it.

I've reached a point with the "raven pendant fillgap braid" that if necessary, I
can put fittings on it and use it, but I've threads left on the bobbins (lengths
unknown), so any more length I get out of it is a bonus. I initially cut the
skeins of black floss into thirds, and then I didn't know if I'd be able to make
the braid long enough. I have been trying to take photos of it, but the darn
thing is just a bit too thin to get good detail on it. I've tried to do a
focussed shot and blow it up, but it becomes too pixillated. It's frustrating to
say the least. I'm going to try a few shots of it outdoors in the next couple of
days and see what I can get. *cross fingers* I also decided to check if the
pendant would fit on the braid - the pendant has a very small split ring on it
for hanging. Luckily the braid will work, although it will be tight.

Then I decided to work on a jewellry project I had to abandon due to illness.
It's a charm bracelet of the "12 days of christmas" illustrated in charm form.
I've got the chain and closing(a circle and bar with spiral accents) set up and
6 of the charms attached, but the chain is an interlinked chain that doesn't
give me a lot of leeway with regards to spacing the charms. Anyway, I'll update
in a couple days with more info -type of chain and other things- then I'll post
photos of it once it's finished.

Bye for now.

Forgot to mention this in the entry yesterday. . .

That in the photo of the knitting (Prayer shawl), you can see a purple plastic
box with a heart catch.

That's my SMALL portable craft box. I keep two crochet projects and two lucet
projects in it.
The only reason I have it is because it was in a 50% sale at a motorway service
station (and it was the last one).

Next entry on Monday.

Bye for now

Then, I did some fillgap braiding on my Raven pendant cord, crocheted some of the ripped bracelet - which is comeing out nicely now. and sewed up this:

a bracelet of matte transparent deep purple size 12 delicas.

That's all.