Another Seraphina
Bought some blonde laceweight (2ply) merino on eBay. Used two strands and a 4mm hook to approximate a fine 4ply/fingering weight. This is my 4th Seraphina, so I now have 1 for each season!
Ivory Chanson
This was my second Chanson. Although the pattern looks complex, providing you take it 1 row at time, It’s not that difficult. I used a basic mixed-fibres aran yarn for the first one but felt that the yarn didn’t really show off the stitches. It seemed that the pattern needed a drapey yarn with a slight sheen but good stitch definition. I already had some 4ply (fingering) weight mercerised cotton in my stash. so I decided to try using two strands throughout. The finished Chanson has a much better drape and stitch definition. I’d be quite happy wearing this one…
K’s Crocheted Vest
K suddenly announced that he’d like a crocheted vest. So, after a quick stash recon, I opted for In-VEST for Peace and K chose the colours. He seems to like it. Well, enough to wear it when he plays out sometimes…
Pink Blossom Stole
Based on the Apple Blossom Stole. 1 skein (600yds/50gms) of Elann Peruvian Baby Lace Merino (shade: coral) and a 4mm hook. I suffered Severe Yarn Shortage and only worked 4 repeats of the lace pattern on each side. So the final wrap is a little shorter than the pattern suggests but I’m still very pleased with it.
Lace Cashmere Shawl
I treated myself to 100gms (1000 yards) of undyed laceweight cashmere last October. Just before Xmas, I finally plucked up the courage to start work on a crocheted lace shawl based on Seraphina’s Shawl. I finished it this weekend.
Crocheted Fingerless Gloves
These Openwork Handwarmers to less than 2 hours to complete. Although they don’t look much when not being worn, they actually include some clever simple shaping — which means that they fit really nicely and don’t look at all shapeless when worn. I was so taken with them that I bought some James C. Brett Pure Merino in cherry red and made another two pairs for Christmas presents. Each pair only takes about 35gms of double knit yarn, so they make ideal last minute presents. All I have to do now is decide what to make with the remaining 80gms…
Seraphina’s Shawl: Quick Reference
I managed to get hold of 500gms of Debbie Bliss Stella in Chocolate (Shade 005) the other week and decided to make Seraphina’s Shawl. Not long after I started, I realised that there were a few omissions in the pattern instruction – mainly missing ch1 before, and after, each shell-in-shell and a missing V-stitch at the end of each row. But they were pretty easy to sort out. I completed the first 14 rows in one sitting and settled down to the 4-row repeat part of the pattern. And that’s where I hit a problem… Because I began to find…
Quick Catch Up
Haven’t posted anything for ages – primarily because I’ve been spending most of my spare time knitting or crocheting. In the past 6 weeks or so, I’ve completed: A pair of Spirogyra fingerless gloves The Branching Out scarf using 3 skeins of absolutely gorgeous Rowan Kaffe Fassett Kid Silk yarn in ivory that I picked up on eBay. 3 pairs of Crochet Openwork Handwarmers (having made a pair for myself in under 2 hours, I promptly made 2 more pairs for Xmas presents) 1 pair of new socks for K – he’s started growing! A pair of Fluffy Cuff Mittens…
Recent Projects
I thought it was about time I listed some of my recently completed projects that used other people’s patterns. Aran Cozy Knitted with James Brett’s Denim with Wool (aran weight). Finished Length: About 5 foot Finished width: About 2 foot Pattern: Knitty (Fall 2004)
Thrifty Shrug
Crocheted this shrug in a day based on a Bernat pattern using about 250gms of yarn that I found in a local thrift shop. Cost? About £2. The yarn was some sort of cotton mix and around fingering/sport weight, so I used two strands held together throughout. Rather than sewing up 8 inches to create sleeves as the pattern suggested, I found it was easier (and safer) to leave 18 inches in the centre open.
