WIP: "Stonor" by Belinda Boden

I had an acute uncontrollable case of startitis this week as I finished off the wedding shawl and my shrug for my brothers wedding, for more info see Whats on my Needles: March 2012, although I have yet to post about them as FO's. And even though I haven't finished the little dolls for the cake I just needed to start something else (bad me :( ). However, its involved me using up a cardigans worth of stash so GO ME! 

 
Introducing Stonor by Belinda Boden ;) she is a beautiful long sleeved cardigan with a deep rib at the waist and an incredibly addictive lace pattern. The lace pattern is a really simple 4 row repeat which although the cardigan only uses 4ply, its going to knit up nice and quick I think.                                                              

The other aspect I found really attractive about this cardigan is the way that it just has buttons at the top and due to the deep ribbing it opens up beautifully at the waist but in doing so really emphasises your body shape. Whereas some cardigans that open like this can just leave you looking a little bit pregnant.       
      
The pattern is only available in Fyberspates Scrumptious Collection Vol 1, which offers 20 patterns and retails at £12.50, to be honest I bought the book primarily for this pattern although I have spied a few other projects in there that I will be making, such as "Challow", "Hinksey",  and "Tirrold".                       

The book is lovely, very well set out and all the patterns are presented really well with the inclusion of graphs and some of them are seamless. This cardigan is meant to be knit in separate pieces but I have chosen to knit the back and fronts together up to the arm hole where I will split them and start to work the sections separately, I have included a faux purl seam though to split the sides a little bit visually.                          

Now, the yarn that I'm using isn't the suggested yarn. If I had the money I would definitely have splashed out on some of Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply, that merino and silk blend is SO SQUISHY! Not the mention the beautiful colours its available in. However, when I'm still on a bit of a yarn diet, and I had just the right about of Cygnet 4ply in my yarn cave I had to behave myself and satisfy myself with this.

I love how its turning out and even though its not going to have quite the same amount of sheen that it would have with the suggested yarn, I love the colour and its going to be lovely and just the right amount of warm. The lace detailing on it will make it cool enough for the summer cardigan its designed to be whereas the wool will make it just right for a Scottish Summer, or its attempt at it at least! I can't wait till its finished!I love the colour and think it will go well with alot of the things I wear :)

Craftsy

So, I've just joined up to the site Craftsy, (heres my little bit in it) mainly to make my patterns available for purchase on there. Its an interesting little site, although I'm aware it could be a danger zone for me. At least with Ravelry I'm stuck (in the best way possible) with just knitting and the occasional bit of crotchet if I so desire it. But Craftsy :o there's sewing and felting and all sorts of crafty-ness on it. I don't need any more hobbies! I serious! There's lots of workshops that you can sign up for aswell which seems very intriguing, although I am not investigating that front just yet as I really don't have the time and do not want to get sucked in.

The pattern data base is a bit slow uploading the patterns which was a little frustrating when used to the streamlined format that Ravelry has. But I'm sure this is only because it is "beta" format and so as it grows I'm sure it will be a much better experience :).

I really am going to have to be careful and not go on the site too much for the next few weeks. At least until after Paul's wedding otherwise I'm going to end up with my schedule going completely to pot.

What's on my needles: March 2012

My big Brother is getting married in April this year and so currently the only things I am working on right now (along with uni work-grump) are things which I need to do for the big day!

"Sea & Shells Stole"  by Val Campion
For Rachael (the Bride).

This shawl is based on "Print o' the Waves" by Eunny Jang. This is the forth time I've knit this beautiful Shawl since Mid 2010. All 4 Brides I have knit a shawl for as soon as they see pictures from the FO's page for it on Ravelry all want that one. Now usually I hate knitting the same thing even twice. But this shawl is simple and stunning and the perfect addition to any wedding dress. Not too complicated, it doesn't take too much attention away from the dress! Here is a pic of the most recent, I'm working this newest one in that same yarn.
Craft: Knitting
Yarn: Natural Dye Studio "Precious Lace"
Colour: Silver
Fibre: 100% pure silk *swoon*
Needle: 3.5mm















The next bit of cuteness is a Saplanets Original wedding couple "Jake & Fiona" they're to go on the table with the cake.

The plan is to make them a bit more like Paul (the big brother) and Rachael. I've crocheted a tiiiiny little climbing harness, the same colour as his, and I'm planning to do a climbing rope too. I have a camera which I'm going to fix to Rachael and she's going to have bright yellow hair. If I have enough yarn let from her shawl I'm aiming to do a mini shawl for her figurine.
Craft: Crochet
Yarn: Various bits and bobs of scrap 4ply
Hook: 2mm





"Aphrodite Shrug" By Sarah Hatton, in Vintage Inspired Projects. This is to go with my dress, no not a bridesmaid dress :( (she has 3 sisters, there would have been to many) the dress was a bargain! £23 down from £80! The shrug has a very interesting construction and I love how it's turning out.Not the mention the yarn is AMAZING
Craft: Knitting
Yarn: DROPS Lace
Fibre: 70% Alpaca 30% Mulberry silk
Colour: (not sure on shade number) Rust
Needle: 3.5mm






31st March (Update)

I have finished all the projects!! Yey!! I'll post picutres in a new post after the wedding when all the items can be seen in all their glory! I'm very impressed with the dolls, in the beginning I wasn't too sure about them and thought they didn't look brilliant, but once they had been personalised and put on a cake base with the other little bits and pieces I crocheted to join them, I think it looks really cute! Even if I do say so myself! 

A different way to M1L and M1R

As you will see from my 'about me section' I'm not a typical knitter. Being predominantly self taught and knowing I was left handed lead me to knit in a very different way to most, even to many left handed knitters.

However recently, I realised I had also been doing my M1R & L's totally different to the "proper way". Instead of lifting the bar between the two stitches, I have always lifted the leg of the stitch below.

To explain this is a righty way, to do a right leaning increase ( / ) I would lift the leg of the stitch on the row below from the stitch I was about to knit, and knit that as normal. For a left leaning increase ( \ )I would lift the leg of the stitch from the row *below* that which I had just knit.

I aim to take pictures to demonstrate this in the near future once uni demands have diminished.

Even though I have now realised this isn't the proper way. I'm going to carry on doing it! I find it gives such a nice and clean effect!