Thermal

Without futher ado, I give you Thermal!

Thermal by Laura Chau from Knitty Winter 06
16 balls of Merino Bambino in Off-white (on sale for 99¢ a ball!!)
Ravelry link to my version

I love this sweater so much! it's so light, warm and soft! It took me quite a long time to knit, but folks, it was totally worth it. I have had numerous people ask me I have knit it myself or I bought it. I really like this pattern in white and I know that it will go with everything I wear.

Boatneck sweater

Pattern: Boatneck sweater by Shiri Mor. My version on Ravlery

Yarn: TLC CaraMia

I did not modify this sweater apart from applying a different gauge (18 sts to 4" instead of 16 sts to 4 ") and knitting the sleeves in the round.

This sweater really didn't take much time to knit and took less than three weeks of regular knitting. The finished sweater is very plain and simple but is so comfortable! The yarn is so soft and squooshy so I wish I had more to use! I know of some people who would go mad knitting this as the whole sweater is stockinette stitch, but I found it really nice to sit down and knit mindlessly in front of the television after busy days.

This sweater is certainly not fitted and is quite roomy especially the sleeves and armholes. If you are thinking about knitting this sweater be warned that on the schematics it seems as though there is 0 inches ease around the bust in the body section. In reality, the raglan seams of this sweater come down past your bust so you are given a little extra room. The styling of this sweater is a wide boatneck so on me it slides down on one side naturally which I think it is designed to do. The sleeves are also shorter in length to accomodate this and the large raglan armholes. It is a nice realxed casual sweater.

I apologise for the terrible photos! Lack of sun combined with my trusty camera phone did not produce very good images. Hopefully this Christmas I will be upgrading!

Christmas Knitting

As the school term finally draws to an end this Friday, I decided to get underway with my plans for some knitted gifts for family and friends. As it is summer in Australia this time of year, I find it difficult to come up with knitted gifts because are they are generally for cold weather, although where I live, it doesn't hurt to have a couple of extra scarves.

So far, I am planning to knit 2 Elisa's nest totes and a Tilted Duster from Interweave Fall 07. Being the super organized person I am (not really), I have already bought the yarn:

Some more Moda Vera Bamboo/cotton for the string totes.

My progress on the Tilted duster. The back has been completed. I am knitting with 12ply Rustic in a steely blue/grey called Delta from the Bendigo Woollen Mills.

What are your plans for knitted gifts this year?

Back with a FO

I haven't been posting as regularly as I would like recently so to make up for lack of posts, I have a new finished project to show:

Pattern: Elisa's Nest Tote

Yarn: 2 balls Moda Vera Bamboo/cotton

Overall I am pretty pleased with the end result. It's not perfect but unbelievably practical. The yarn choice probably wasn't the best idea I have ever had. It nearly drove me mad while I knit with it. Bamboo/Cotton is made up of no less than 18 (!) different plies it was very splitty, although the finished fabric is really silky soft and lovely. I have found the perfect pattern for quick summer Christmas presents!

Catching Up: Magazines and Progress Shots

I know, Its been a while since I've posted. My excuse is school and a very badly timed flu.
What have i been up to apart from the end-of-year homework rush you may ask?
Good question, not much.
Well, not anything that I can show you at the moment anyway ;)
I have, however, bought some new knitting magazines as of late; Knit.1 fall 07 and Vogue Knitting Holiday 07. I have already started a project from knit.1:

I have completed the back and am up to the armhole bind-offs and I have been working on this for only a week! Although, it is pretty much mindless and I can watch a movie and knit at the same time :) The yarn, TLC CaraMia (yep acrylic but awesome amazing yarn) has been sitting in my yarn crate for quite a while. It's so squooshy and soft. My vision of the completed product is a sweater that I can put on that looks good and comfy.

Here are my favourites from the magazines:

Cropped cardi from Knit.1 (is that FUN FUR she is knitting with??)

Sparkle Tank from Vogue

Fair-isle sweater from Vogue

Thats all for now! Bye! (And yes, I know I still need to take a FO shot of Thermal)

Spoils of the U.S and A!

My mum recently got back from a holiday overseas and guess what she bought me! Yarn!

I received some True Love Fiber Merino and Tencel sock yarn (destined to become some pretty vintage gloves cos it's too pretty to be worn on my feet!):

Some Wisdom Yarns sock yarn:

And who can go to America without getting some Knit Picks?

It's Shine Sport in Cream and Cloud. I bought it to make this (ravelry link, sorry if you are not on) little summer top from Vogue Knitting. I am still waiting on two more colours: blush and aquamarine.

Baudelaire socks and show sucess!

I finished my first and probably only pair of socks for socktoberfest: Baudelaire!

Baudelaire by Cookie. A

4 balls of Cleckheaton Merino Bambino

Size medium with high instep

I really like these socks and the pattern is really great because it has included the normal sizes and also options for making socks for higher insteps. My favorite thing about these socks are the lacy pattern and the nifty way cookie increased 8 stitches in one row by hiding them as a cable. At the moment I am wearing them with my new Mary-Jane Slippers! The obligatory photo of them on my feet:

As for the show: In the open sections I got a 2nd place for Thermal and a 1st placing for these Baudelaire socks. In Junior, I received a 3rd place for my Chevron Scarf , a 2nd place for my Sweet Georgia handspun and a 1st for my Mary-Jane slippers (I won 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the junior division but I am not sure if I won just because no one else entered :-s ) I am pretty happy!