Loz's long long long socks in grey

After speaking to Loz, I've got her row and sts counts, and I am going to make them on the KM from the instructions in the book. She says she doesn't mind, so I'm hoping she will be pleased. Using the grey from knee to toe. She wants the blue done down to the toe, and she will do the rest.

Spring Fling finished

Anth's Spring Fling is finally finished. Yippee. Photo after Christmas.

Christmas Prezzie Knitting - Molly Ringwald Top Knitted

Finished all the knitting for the Molly Ringwald top (Knitscene Fall 2006). It's an unsurprise for Anth for Christmas. As she is down visiting me, I will sew it up and crochet around the neck edge after she is going home. Photo will be after Christmas, with Anth modelling.

Christmas prezzie knitting

Got the Knitscene Fall 2006 mag today, along with some special secret samples, 2 skeins of Silky Merino... such a shame I have the do the christmas prezzie knitting!

Have started the Spring Fling about 2/3 up the back.

Have cast on the Molly, will put it on the KM tomorrow and let her rip! Says to do the front before the back, BUT may do the back first so can free up long needles.

Too many nice things to play with!!

Queen of Cups finished

Thank goodness. The Tofutsie had knots and blobby bits, unimpressed. That said, they are on my feet now.

Loz's Spooky Arm Warmers

I made Loz some arm wamers to keep the English cold out and here she is:

Wisteria Rib jumper is finished

Oh happiness and joy, I've finished all the knitting, now for the sewing up. next week! So pleased with it, looks fabulous.

My English Translation of Pull Evase #465

Here's the original: http://www.bergeredefrance.fr/document/upload/tricotheque/bloc/72465.pdf

before anything: I DO NOT SPEAK FRENCH, but I do speak KNITTING PATTERN.
my modifications are in bold:
465 PULL EVASE
Tailles 1-2-3-4
Fournitures
Qual. BERGEREINE, Faïence = 11-12-14-15 balls, n° 4 needles.

Points employés
K3:P3 RIB, n° 4 needles.
Pattern repeats 6 + 3.
1st Row (all alt.) : * K3:P3,*repeat*, K3
2nd row and alt: continue pattern

Tension
10 cm in 3:3 RIB lightly stretched = 22 sts & 28 rows
Check tension and adjust needle size to give correct tension.

Réalisation aka Start Knitting
BACK : Cast on 109-117-127-135 sts. needles n° 4.
Work 7 rows as follows: 19-23-25-29 in 3:3 Rib starting (and ending) with
T. 1 & T. 3 K1 instead of 3, (T. 2 & T. 4 P2) then, P13, 3:3 Rib 45-45-51-51, P13, 3:3 Rib 19-23-25-29.
8th row and every 8 rows thereafter, dec. 2 sts (5 times in all) in each group of 13 purl sts.(=by; k1, SSK, k7, K2tog., k1. For each of the following decreases, knit 2 sts less between each dec. Do the last dec. each side of the centre st.) Knit the sts in intervening rows as they present themselves, without shaping.
Continue 3:3 Rib (89-97-107-115 sts), to 17 cm (48 rows in total). Increase 1 st each side edge every 10 rows (6 times), to obtain 101-109-119-127 sts.

Raglan : work till measures 38-39-40-41 cm (108-110-114-116 rows) from beginning.
CO 4 sts each side the next 2 rows, then dec each edge, every 2 rows as follows:
T. 1 : **2 sts once, then ***1 st 5 times.
T. 2 : **2 sts 3 times, then ***1 st 14 times.
T. 3 : **2 sts x 5, then ***1 st 4 times.
T. 4 : **2 sts x 7, then ***1 st 3 times.
Loosely cast off remaining 59-61-63-65 sts.
For decreasing **2 sts on edge: on right, K2, S1 K2tog PSSO, continue until 5 sts remain on the left needle, K3 tog, K2.
For decreasing ***1 st on edge: on right, K2, SSK, continue until 4 sts remain on left needle, K2 tog, K2.

FRONT : Work as for the back, but do not do the 4 last raglan decreases. Loosely cast off 67-69-71-73 remaining sts.

RIGHT SLEEVE : Cast on 63-65-67-69 sts n° 4 needles. Knitting 7 rows as follows 25-26-27-28 sts. 3:3 Rib (beginning and ending with):
T. 1 by K1 instead of 3, then
T. 2 by K2 instead of 3,then
T. 3 3:3 rib, no adjustment needed,
T. 4 by P1, P13, then 3:3 Rib 25-26-27-28 sts, as previously for the back, dec. 2 sts in the group of 13 Purl sts every 8th row, Cont. 3:3 Rib on the 53-55-57-59 sts until work measures to 17 cm (48 rows) from beginning of work.
Inc 1 st at each side edge:
T. 1 : 1 st 5 times every 8 rows, then 1sts 5 times every 6 rows.
T. 2 : 1 st 12 times every 6 rows.
T. 3 : 1 st 6 times every 6 rows, then 1sts 9 times every 4 rows.
T. 4 : 1 st 2 times every 6 rows, then 1sts 15 times every 4 rows.
ME: 1 st ev 6 rows until 73-79-87-93 sts.

Raglan : Continue until 41-42-42-42 [50] cm (116-118-118-118 [140] rows) total length, cast off 4 sts each side, then dec. Left edge as for the back, and right edge as for the front, then cast off (on the right edge) 7 sts every 2nd row, 5 times.

LEFT SLEEVE : Work as for right sleeve but reverse raglan shaping.

COLLAR : Cast on (on waste yarn) 26 sts. needles n° 4. Knit. 3:3 Rib commencing with K4 and ending with p4 * 4 rows on all sts, then 2 rows on the first 13 sts (right) while leaving the 13 dormant sts (outer edge) (to prevent holes, Pattern 13 st, slip 1, turn, wrap yarn around base of sl st, slip 1, pattern 13sts) *. Repeat from * to *. To 244-250-256-262 rows in total, loosely cast off. (or cast off on waste yarn the remaining 26 sts, if you wish to graft together).

FINISH : Sew seams. Sew or graft the collar seam together, then attach onto the neckline beginning at the top of a raglan centre back.

Chariot is ready

Finally, after half a bottle of oil, then copious spraying of silicon spray, I have a perfectly working colour changer. I do think it will need an eye on it when working with it, just in case it seizes up again. I've got some really nice stuff coming from Bendigo Mills to put through it. Happy days.

The Chariot of Fire

We are a clean machine, all bits are back and shiny clean. The 4 colour changer is still a bit frozen and will need more oil and spray.

Today we will fire up the chariot (driver with copious qty of coffee, I think) and will have knitted stuff flying off the needles. AND from memory the upper body strength will be awesome, eventually...

Wheels fell of the Chariot

Well the optomistic prediction that removing and cleaning 358 needles and 358 needle pattern rods and their needle beds could be done in an afternoon, was, well, optomistic! the BACK bed is done. I started it first. I know me. If I'd started on the front bed, I would've NEVER not in a million years done the back bed. Things were going along so well. time consuming, but well. all 358 needle and bits came out of the back bed beautifully, look a bit of time to clean but worth it. I don't think it's EVER seen an everything removed clean and I bought it in 1981.

Now onto the front bed, the one used most, bllaaahhh, out came the needles, put into soak. then the pattern rods. jammed solid shut in the rail. * applied copious quantites of cleaning solution, pushed, proded, and jiggled ALL 179 of the little darlings, applied a gentle tap of encouragement from the hammer*, repeat from * to*, most of yesterday afternoon. Now all sitting in solution soaking themselves clean. the needle beds will need working on too, hopefully all the stuff I applied yesterday will have improved things.

Then last but not least, the chariots themselves. Applied the lubricant to all the bits the book said, but was still rough. Email ex-. Get really good reply from ex- buy silicone spray lubricant for chariot, if still troublesome, but will probably loosen up. Tomorrow: Have to find a good place for the Chariot and it's rails. I must not use Chariot where it is - will break window.

We have a Chariot

Out from under the bed and dustcover comes the chariot. I removed dust, shinied up the legs and managed to put them back on, and the whole thing has been inspected (sniffed) and apparently meets approval. Now it's time for arvo coffee and cuddles, then we (and I do mean me) will clean the needle beds and oil up the needles. Got the books out of the draw for inspection. So maybe tomorrow we will be ready for a test drive of the "chariot". (I've been getting some of the French patterns ready to knit, and the instructions say move the chariot a gauche and knit 1 more row.) So I can't in all honestly go back to calling it the carriage. nevermind, the bloody heavy darling will be just great. I've found instructions to knit socks even... there will be no stopping me now. I may even knit knee length ones. and all who have seen me know there is no way I'd be knitting world's biggest longest knee length socks any other way.

Spare time activities

Well I have been spending time this week on reworking an en francais pattern. I really like the site, and I really like some of the patterns, even though all en francais. I do believe if you are going to go to the trouble of knitting a garment, then make it spectacular - not too little and not too much, for either the yarn or the wearer. So far so good, never read the instructions anyway!

The pattern is
http://www.bergeredefrance.fr/trico/trico.phtml?limit=78&max=126&id_rubrique=2
the white twin set on the bottom of the page, # 467 & 468, now is that a twin set or what??
there is a great pattern for dotta #2, but she doesn't wear what I make her - no knitted gift from spectacular French design for her, however dotta #1, may find something nice and french (but not oh la la) in her Christmas parcel. Depends how long it is going to take me to do it, should say next birthday, and be safe. (that's for if she is secretly stalking the blog, she does that, I know, I should switch around the dotta # and confuse her, haha).

Jazz Up Your Paint Sock Pattern

I have looked at lots of patterns suitable to knit painted style socks. I gave up and designed my own. This is Panda Cotton- Dreamy.







excel chart

written patt

Click view to see more photos

First day on Ravelry and First day of blog

Got my invite for Ravelry this morning, and arranged the blog tonight. That is far far too much for one me to do in one day.