The spring shawl is finished - just in time for my mother’s birthday!

The yarn (Margaret Stove Arisan Lace) is a true lace weight, and I used less than 60g. Although I was using a finer yarn, I decided to stick with a 4mm hook, as I wanted a light and airy effect. I’m really pleased with it - it’s probably my favourite so far.
 

The first red pesto sock is now finished

I’m really pleased with it. I am really enjoying knitting these. I think it’s because I’m doing a simple stocking stitch pattern, with minimal ribbing - a nice simple mindless project with the variegated yarn providing some interest to the knitting.

I will be spending all my available knitting and crochet time this week trying to finish the Spring Shawl. I need to get it finished by Friday night, so that I can block it in time for my mother’s birthday. I think I am about halfway there at the moment.

I really hate knitting or crocheting to deadlines, as I usually fail, and I find that it takes away a bit of the fun. I know my mother will love this shawl - she really appreciates my handmade gifts, so I will make every effort to get it done in time!

I’ve had quite a productive week this week. My Olive Round Yoke Cardigan is working up very quickly.

I’ve also started a couple of amigurumi toys for the girls using oddments of DK yarn, and completed a few more sock yarn squares. I’ve been thinking about how to edge and join them together. I was thinking of joining them in either cream or black, but I’ve actually decided on a charcoal grey colour (I had to break my no new yarn rule to buy some charcoal yarn as I didn’t have any in my stash)

 I’ve been playing about with different joining methods and I’ve decided to go with slip stitching them together through the back loop with right sides facing.

I crocheted so much this week that my  wrist started to ache so I decided to do a bit knitting to give my wrists a rest.  I’ve started a new pair of socks. These are going to be simple stocking stitch with a 1×1 rib. I’m using some yarn I dyed a while ago with food colouring.

 The reds and oranges are actually a bit more vibrant in real life. My daughter Carmen thinks that the colour is reminiscent of Red (sun dried tomato) Pesto, so I have named them my Red Pesto socks.

I’ve now made several more of the sock yarn squares - they are quite addictive.

I think I’ve got enough oddments to make a fair sized blanket without having to knit any more socks. I’m still not sure how I’me going to join them. I was thinking of edging them all in cream or black, and them crocheting them together. I would like quite a flat seam, so I might actually end up sewing them.

I’ve also been swatching with the olive colourmart cashmere that I bought last year.

 

I’m going to make another round yoke cardigan. I’ve been trying out different stitch patterns, but I think I will end up sticking to the same one that I used for the original. I might try some waist shaping with this one though - we will see how it goes!

I’ve now finished the blueberry waffle socks….

…so I thought I would use the leftovers to crochet some more sock yarn squares. I started crocheting squares out of oddments of sock yarn about two years ago, and hopefully at some point, when I have enough of them, I will join them to make a blanket.
 I didn’t write the pattern down when I started making the squares, but fortunately it was fairly easy for me to work out what I did by looking at the completed squares. The squares are worked in back loop double crochet (UK terminology). I started out joining at the end of every round, but then decided it was easier to work in a spiral.

Here is a rough pattern for a square.

Sock Yarn Square

Important - this pattern uses UK terminology (DC = UK double crochet = US single crochet)

Using 3.5 mm hook Chain 4 and join into a circle with a slip stitch

Foundation Round: Chain one, work 12 DC into ring (adjustable ring technique could be used as an alternative if preferred)

Round 1: DC into back loop (BL) of first stitch,  3 DC into BL of next stitch (first corner made), DC into BL of next 2 stitches, 3 DC into BL of next stitch (second corner made), DC into BL of next 2 stitches, 3 DC into BL of next stitch (third corner made), DC into BL of next 2 stitches, 3 DC into BL of next stitch (fourth corner made), DC into BL of next stitch (end of first round - do not join at end of round but continue to work around the square in a spiral)

Subsequent Rounds: DC into BL of each stitch to next corner, 3 DC into BL of corner stitch. Continue working around in a spiral working 3 stitches at each corner until square is desired size. I did a total of 10 rounds to make squares of approximately 4″ across. Finish with a slip stitch at end of final round and fasten off.

This pattern works particularly well with self striping yarns (noro kureyon sock yarn would be great!) . Here are some squares I did with the same ball of trekking yarn.

I’ve finished another project this week - the alpaca lace shrug from knitonthenet.com(pattern available here)

…and I’ve very nearly finished the blueberry waffle socks. My mum tried the first one on, and it was a little bit short, so I am making the second one longer, and will need to lengthen the first.

I’ve also picked up the lace weight version of Carmen’s shawl.

 I wasn’t sure whether or not I liked it in lace weight, and I was about to frog it, but changed my mind. I’m quite interested to see what the finished product will look like.

I changed the eyelet row instructions on Eva’s shawl yet again to make it a bit clearer. I’ve also added a photo of the first few rows, so hopefully the pattern is now easier to follow. One day I will get round to putting it in pdf format, but for now, I am putting a link to the pattern in the sidebar to make it easier to find

I’m still in a bit of a knitting and crochet slump. I’ve yet to finish the 2 overdue presents although I have now completed one of the blueberry waffle socks. I did manage to finish me navy alpaca shawl though. I’m really pleased with it - the alpaca blocked really well. Sorry about the poor quality photos, I have literally just removed the blocking pins and haven’t yet had any caffeine this morning! I love the subtle colour variations in the yarn and think this will be a really nice shawl to wear on summer evenings with jeans and a little top.

Unsusal Yarns are closing down their ebay store on 15th March and are having a final close down sale. All yarns are half price or less, and they are also selling selection packs of odd balls (see photo) starting at £1.99

I am very much an amateur pattern designer. I usually design something because it is something I would like to make, and I can’t find a suitable pattern.  I like to share my patterns but must admit I don’t usually get them tested so I can not guarantee that they are error free. I am however more than happy to respond to any questions about my patterns, and I try to correct any errors as soon as I am notified. If you notice a mistake, please let me know by posting a comment on my blog.

I have recently been notified of errors in the Eva’s Shawl pattern and the Retro Style knitting bag pattern. The error in the Eva’s Shawl was in the eyelet row - it wasn’t clear that you had to skip a stitch after the Ch 1. With the Retro Style Knitting Bag, the error was in the butterfly blocks instructions - the pattern repeat is the last 12 (not 13) rows. I have now made corrections to these patterns.

I know I should really get the patterns tested before posting, but if I did that, I would probably never get round to posting them! Please be assured that if you find an error, or have a query, I will get back to you ASAP.

I’m in a bit of a knitting and crochet slump at the moment - I just seem to have lost enthusiasm over the past couple of weeks. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve decided not to buy any new yarn for the next few months (we’re currently saving up to buy a camper van for this summer) or if it’s because I’ve been (trying) to knit to (failed!) deadlines. I suspect it’s a bit of both.

It blueberry waffle socks are turning out nicely……..

…..but they will not be finished in time for mother’s day (tomorrow), and I didn’t get the alpaca wrap finished in time for my sister’s birthday, but both my mother and sister say that they are very happy  to be getting them, and don’t mind waiting. I still feel that I need to complete them before working on anything else. I think that, for me, most of the enjoyment in crochet and knitting comes from planning a new project, buying the yarn etc, and I often loose interest fairly quickly once the project is underway, which is why I usually have so may projects on the go at any one time.

Maybe I just need to take a break for a while, or start something else from yarn in my stash. Any comments?