Christmas Recycling

Dad spotted this in today's Eastern Daily Press - many a true word is spoken in jest!

My first and second hats

It's been a bit quiet here on Stitchin' Bints! In my case, that's because I turned my attention away from the fishnets (which, in turn, had distracted me from the Shapely Tee) in order to start two hats. I couldn't post because they were to be a surprise for my Mum and Sister. The pattern is Asminah's Hat from Kody May. (Now listed in the 'free patterns' to the right.) It looked effective and doable within the few weeks that I had. The wool is absolutely beautiful - Allegra from Wendy - a fluffy alpaca mix.

The hat is knitted in the round from aperture up. You're supposed to start knitting the lace pattern, then pick up stitches and crochet the lower border. Instead I started by knitting a few rounds of garter stitch and just continued up. This worked very well, and the resulting hats look the same size and shape as the pictures in the pattern. They both looked a bit small, though when tried on, so I'm adding some rows to both.

Belts, bags and bellies (or, thank god its finished at long last).

At long last I've finished the glitter belt, well it was done a couple of weeks ago now, but I've been waiting to get a picture of me in it (O.k so its Helen not me and as it turned out I needn't have made it quite so long as half of it was tucked down the back of her trousers to make it look right!)
I have picked out a few of Helen's ceramic buttons to embellish the bag and double wool belt, which I think set them off nicely. We seem to be having a bit of a run on buttons on the blogg with Robyn's last entry. Helen tells me she is about to show you all the buttons she has made recently. They are quite lovely.

A Little Something Extra

I have finished another project, a wrap very similar to the green one I knitted awhile ago only twice as long at least and striped in two shades of purple. I can't post a full picture of it because it will be a Christmas gift, and I wouldn't want the recipient to see it before hand.

I can show some embellishment, though. Inspired by a table runner that decorates my dining table, I added silk flowers, beads, and shell buttons in various sizes and shapes in four different random spots. Seriously, I was having dinner one evening and thought something similar would look nice on the wrap. What do you think?

Update - Lolita legs

I didn't expect it to start looking quite so much like wooly socks! So far it doesn't look half as sexy as the pattern!

It's interesting how it's twisting as I'm knitting. No doubt the pattern will straighten out when it's blocked or worn, but I quite like the twisted 'diamond' pattern!

I'm enjoying this project more than anything I've made before, I think. To add to all of the other things I've had to learn, I've just made my first short-row heel. (It only took about an hour to do that, and a lot of that time was spent scratching my head over the pattern!) I've had a lot on my plate these last couple of weeks, but despite that, I'm pleased with the amount that I've done in the short time I've spent so far. I'll certainly tackle a pair of socks when I've finished these.

Wrong-Sized Wrap

I have finished a fun but simple project--a wrap that I almost typed as "warp." That wouldn't have been so wrong because this isn't quite like the instructions. The pattern called for a finer yarn than I used, so my wrap/warp is wider than it should be. It also called for 13 50-gram balls, and I only had 10, so the wrap/warp is a little shorter.

When I put the pin in it and turned it to the side a bit, the scalloped edge naturally folded over, making an automatic collar that I think I like. So, I chalk up the wrap/warp as a success. It may become a Christmas gift for a sister or niece.

Here is the pattern:
Cast on 105 stitches (or something suitable for the yarn you have)
First 12-row sequence:
Odd rows: knit
Even rows: knit up to 8 stitches to end. Slip stitch, K, Pass slipped stitch over, (YO, Slip stitch, K, Pass slipped stitch over) repeat three times
On the 12th row, after finishing the pattern, cast on 6 stitches.
Repeat this 12-row pattern and for half of your yarn (I had ten balls, so I did this until 5 were used and I had 16 points on the scalloped edge).

Knit one row.

For the other half, a 12-row sequence:
Odd rows: knit up to 5 stitches to end. YO, knit two together. Repeat once. YO. Knit one.
Even rows: knit
For the 12th row of this 12-row set, cast off 6 stitches pearl wise and knit remaining stitches.
For the final 12th row, cast off all stitches pearl wise.

I still love casting on...

It's a bit out of character for me to have only one project 'on the needles', so feeling slightly bored with the Shapely Tee, I've started the Lolita Legs. I love the idea of knitted fishnets. I spotted a fishnet pattern in the 'Stitch n Bitch Nation' book a while ago; didn't buy the book, wrote down the pattern and then lost it. Doh! However, this free pattern is much better. Looks perfect for that special leg man in your life.

I found this cashmerino in my local craft shop (soon to be moving to Moira Furnace, folks). It feels GORGEOUS - it's probably the most beautiful wool I've used so far. Perfect deep red colour too.

The pattern claims that they knit up super-fast. We'll see - that's not the case so far. This is my first go at figure-of-8 cast on, knitting 'in the round' and lace knitting, so there's a good chance that it'll hold my interest till they're done!! Now, how does the 'yarn over' stitch go again....?

[update]

Just a couple of hours in and I'm pleased with the progress!


I've discovered that it's very easy to drop stitches when using these double-pins. While I was working on the toe (plain st st) I had to rescue one dropped stitch - see the top photo, where it looks like I'm playing jack-straws - that was successful, but I've just managed to drop 3 - and with this lace pattern, there's no chance of picking them up or even going back a couple of rows. I've rescued one, but the others have kinda disappeared. My heart sinks at the thought of re-doing all of this, and it doesn't seem to be 'running' so I'm going to make a couple of stitches and keep my fingers crossed that it's not noticeable!