Posted By Laura on July 24, 2010
School is over for another year so today we are going on our hollybags! Yay! We’re going up to visit my parents which will be lovely. I just hope the weather will hold. So far so good. I will be taking lots of knitting with me, namely my shamefully unfinished Uh-Ohs and my Ella Funt cardigan for Niamhy. Maybe I’ll have some finished objects to share with you next week. I’m not counting on it, mind …
Have a nice week, everyone 
Posted By Laura on July 19, 2010
Introducing, Totoro!
This is, apparently, a character from an anime film. I don’t know what the film is but I thought that he was really cute. And he was meant to be blue! But I didn’t realise the yarn was actually green. I thought it was more of a cross-over. Anyway, I digress …
This is from the Blue Totoro by Heavens Hellcat. It was a really cute, simple pattern that was so easy. I used Wendy’s Supreme Cotton, which was almost half the price of the Patons 100% Cotton that I was actually looking for. And I feel that it comes up just as well as the Patons. I shall definitely be buying this instead of the Patons in the future. I really liked it. I haven’t researched colours yet, though, and the Patons have a really good colour range. That may be a downside, but I don’t know yet.
I did make some modifications to the pattern. I decided not to put the arms on – I thought it was quite cute without the arms. And I decided to not crochet the front panel, but to use a piece of felt because I thought that another piece of crocheted material would make it too bulky. And I think the felt works. The ears are a bit squew-wiff, but I think that adds to the charm.
This is destined to be a present, but I’m not 100% sure who for yet. It depends!
As well as Totoro, I have been plodding along with other things that I have cast on. I had cast-on-itis recently, which isn’t that great!
I have a blankie for Niamhy that is still on the go:
This is just a simple, striped blankie made out of Sirdar Baby Bamboo, which is so yummy to work with. I am about half way through but need to purchase more yarn for it, which is why it’s not really been touched for a while. I have also swatched another blankie for Niamhy …
This is just some yummy granny squares, in 2 colours with yarn that I’ve had for a long time for something for Niamhy. I had some of it before she was born. It is gorgeous Artesano Alpaca 4ply. It’s sooo yummy.
Another thing for Niamhy that I have on the go is the Ella Funt pattern by Pamela Wynne. I saw this and needed to cast on as soon as I saw it. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Although there’s a helluva lot of stockinette! Anyway, front and sides done, one arm done and then it’s the yoke. Yay.
I love love love it. I’m using the Drops Merino yarn which is really nice to work with. It’s slightly splitty but knits up really nice.
I am also knitting other gifts, including Uh Ohs from Mochimochi Land:
… and a Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan …
Phew!
Posted By Laura on July 19, 2010
Yes, today is very special.
I have finally finished making something. I have had a million things on my needles for weeks now and today I finally crumbled and decided to do the dreaded sewing together and sorting out loose ends. I really detest doing this bit but if I actually just do it instead of thinking about it I’d get more done.
Photos later. Crying babba to deal with.
Posted By Laura on July 16, 2010
I have just come off Ravelry and I now have a rather sour taste left in my mouth.
Cascade Yarns have brought a lawsuit against Knitting Fever Inc (AKA KFI). Apparently, various yarn companies have been, allegedly, selling yarn that does not have the fiber content stated on the label. Cascade believe that various yarn companies have been putting on their labels that there is, for example, cashmere in their product when, in actual fact, there is no cashmere content at all.
Basically, various companies are selling, alledgedly, yarn that is wrongly labelled so that the companies can gain an extra few pence for the more luxurious ‘content’. The companies involved are Debbie Bliss, Elsbeth Lavoy, Louisa Harding and Noro.
Now, I know that this is all just allegations and may not be supported in a legal capacity, but the fact that these allegations are out there leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth that puts me off purchasing these yarns again. I have to admit that leaving these out of my shopping basket is not something that would affect me greatly (I’ve never purchased Louisa Harding or Elsbeth Lavoy and I am not a big fan of the scratchiness of Noro or the price of Debbie Bliss!).
But it does make you think. How do I know whether the yarn I purchase is exactly what is written on the tin? I don’t have the capabilities to check these things. Now, I don’t normally worry about what is in the yarn as my main criteria is the squishy squeezy test, but if I am purchasing for something specific, particularly if allergies are concerned, then I want to and need to know the exact content of the yarn that I am purchasing.
Now, I know that there is a possibility that Cascade is scaremongering so that any lost business from any of these companies may result in higher sales for them. But looking at Ravelry again (my source of all knitting information!) Cascade 220 is the most popular yarn with over 52,000 projects being knit/crocheted using it. So one cannot blame profiteering completely. Which makes me think that there is some sort of substantial evidence to bring a rather costly claim against one of the largest yarn distributers out there.
My biggest concern is your average Joe Bloggs, though. Have people been fleeced? How many? How will this affect us in the future? I think that I shall take this as a positive, mind. I think this will encourage me to support more local yarn companies and independent yarnies as they are less likely to fleece me as they are just trying to make a living instead of all the larger, more convenient yarn companies.
Posted By Mr mist on July 14, 2010
Many apologies to those of you who browse this site using a feed reader and have recently been redirected to a spam weight-loss site. Looks like some cheeky hacker found his way in and introduced a background hack to redirect through Google.
I’ve extracted the offending code, and for now we should be back to normal. Unfortunately I can’t tell entirely when the code was introduced, so it’s currently impossible for me to say how it was originally introduced and therefore determine if it might happen again – but hopefully not.
The gallery section is currently offline in case that was the culprit…
Cheers, mrmist (I’m Mr Laura, for those who do not know.)
Posted By Laura on July 13, 2010
About an hour ago Knitting MochimochiKnitting Mochimochi arrived through my door. I had preordered it mid June and, even though the book has been out for a week or so, I only received my copy today. I never normally do book reviews, but feel I should start. And where better than an absolute corker!
For those of you unfamiliar, Anna Hrachovec is the wonderful designer and author responsible for Mochimochiland. She creates wonderfully quirky toys for both children and grown ups. Although I am only in the middle of my first Mochi Toy (my UhOhs) there are many toys that I would create if I had the time. I particularly love the Rain Cloud and the Bath Tub and the Cats and … hell, I like them all!
So, I am rather excited to receive Anna’s new book. And it hasn’t disappointed. Due to not being Stateside and the wonders of Ravelry I was able to see which patterns were in the book before I had it physically in my hands. And I was really impressed at the selection. On receiving the book I was not disappointed.
Anna own quirkiness is in this book and not just in the patterns. It is not just a ‘factual’ pattern book but Anna’s personality shines through completely. It is a fun book to read, even though I’ve only managed to read snippets. Her diagrams are extremely clear and I can’t wait to try out all her different seaming techniques. What has always put me off toys (bar the wonderful Ysolda‘s is the fact that I am not a very tidy sewer-upper. Seamless all the way for me! I have really even tension, normally, and can create a million different pieces, but come to putting them together to create a toy is something I am Not Good At. However, Anna has very detailed instructions on how to do this tidily showing many variations of the mattress stitch. She has wonderful photos and her diagrams are, IMO, spot on.
My favourite part about the book is at the end, though. Anna wants to share her passion. This is obvious throughout the book, and she has even written a good section on how you (and me!) can write our own toy patterns. I love this and it is something I definitely want to try, when inspiration hits me!
The patterns are great and, when I finish the million or so objects that I have to do for others, I shall partake in some selfish knitting and make myself the Feet Eaters. I may create something for Niamh, too. And David. If I can bear to part with anything from this book.
Brilliant stuff. Well done, Anna.
Posted By Laura on July 6, 2010
Must stop casting on new things!
Someone remove Ravelry from me, please.
Posted By Laura on June 26, 2010
Argh. I have a hundred and one things to finish. I hate finishing off. I love knitting but there is something about finishing off that really does my head in! I am too impatient I think and I am not that great at it. I prefer seamless things that are finished when the yarn is off the needles. I have 2 hats, one baby jacket and one toy to finish off. But they have to wait. I am too excited about my next project to do anything about the finishing off.
My next project is Ella Funt by Pamela Wynne. I have purchased some Drops Baby Merino and it has just arrived. Literally.
Now, where are my needles …
Posted By Laura on June 14, 2010
… is something I don’t really have. I wish I had more of it for knitting and crafty stuff.
Saying that, though, I have 2 FOs to share with you. I just need to take some photos of them. I’ll get round to them at some point …
Oh, and I took a photo the other day of what happens when your craft gets mixed up with a baby. But it’s still on the camera. *sigh*
Sorry for the nothing post. I am still about, mind!
Posted By Laura on June 3, 2010
Today I am plotting. There is at least 2 different types of plotting happening today. I shall explain all!
First type of plotting is Father’s Day. It is our first father’s day in a couple of weeks so wanted to organise something to ‘mark’ the day and, by jove, I think I’ve done it. I can’t say too much because the hubby can read this and will find out, but am rather pleased with what I have done. Yay!
The second type of plotting is baby related. The world and their oyster are having babies in the next few months so, as I am a knitter, the needles need to get going. And that’s all very well, but I have had a) no inspiration recently; and b) no time to do much. But I shall persevere. I have earmarked various patterns to make, including tiramisu, which is really rather cute. I’ve been eyeing it for quite a while. Then there are these ace chickens from blue sky alpacas, which are rather fun. I then decided to purchase Itty Bitty Toys which is another Susan B Anderson creation. And goodness! It’s filled with some wonderful toys to make. I think my current favourite is the snake, which is so cute. And then, obviously, the giraffe. However, the negative to the giraffe is that there is seaming involved. I have been spoilt by Ysolda Teague and her seamless toys.
So many choices, so little time!