first sock

i have finished my first sock.
only one left to do.
alison's ankle socks is a fabulous little pattern,
as too is my virtual sanity's tutorial on the kitchener stitch.

slipper yarn

300 grams of moda vera sorbet wound into two centrepull balls.
100% merino wool destined to be felted slippers

ankle socks

my first attempt to knit on double pointed needles and my first attempt to knit socks. i'm using alison's ankle socks pattern, fingerweight black wool from spotlight and 2.25mm needles.

merlot jacket

and here's the photo in colour.

view progress of merlot jacket

merlot jacket

i'm not sure what's happened to the colour in this photo... it's seemed to have drained out somewhere between photoshop and here. i kinda like the effect though.
so, the merlot jacket is finished, and i love it.

view progress of merlot jacket

aubergine kyoto

the 'charred aubergine' is knitting up nicely.
it's difficult to see in the photo, but there are irregular, random stripes of black and interesting gradients of colour coming through. i'm most happy with the results of my first dyeing attempt!!

new project

casting on is always exciting.
i've picked the project for my restitched: salvaged 'charred aubergine'.
i'll be making a modified version of karen stockton's sweater, kyoto.
it's going to be grand

finishing merlot jacket

the merlot jacket is almost finished. it's been blocked and i'm waiting for it to dry so that i can sew the buttons on. this is by far the most ambitious garment i have made. it's also been really nice to knit with new jo sharp yarn (yummy yummy yummy) rather than salvaged yarn for a change.
thanks to sandi marshall on about.com for her instructions on how to do whip stitch. thanks to studio knits for their instructions on how to sew ends in. thanks also to techknitting for her instructions on how to block. these techniques have allowed me to finish the garment in a very professional manner.

restitched: salvaged 'charred aubergine'

six balls of restitched: salvaged 'charred aubergine'
hand dyed from recycled 100% australian wool

weight: dk
yardage: 201m / 220 yards
unit weight: 100g / 3.53 ounces
gauge: 22.5st and 30 rows = 10cm / 4 inches
stocking stitch using 4mm (USA 6) (UK8) needles

care instructions: hand wash (40 degrees max); wash separately with minimum of handling; do not bleach; dry clean - any normal dry clean solvent; warm iron

joining yarn invisibly

thanks to morcatknits for her tutorial on how to do 'spit-splicing', although i have to admit, i used water instead of spit. it worked a treat.

to do list

• merlot jacket:
• stitch up the right sleeve and side.
• finish knitting the collar.
• attach collar.
• sew in ends.
• block garment.
  
• attach buttons.
• photograph garment.
  
  
• restitched - salvaged 'charred aubergine':
• finish winding the last third of the yarn into centre-pull balls.
• weigh balls.
  
• photograph.
  
• find project for yarn.

dyeing yarn

my first yarn dyeing attempt has yielded 600 grams of salvaged 100% wool yarn, the finished colour is a deep, rich aubergine with black flecks. i've called it restitched: salvaged 'charred aubergine' and i have included in the photo above a swatch of the original colour. i think the finished result is gorgeous.


a close up of three balls of restitched: salvaged 'charred aubergine'.

salvaging yarn

i purchased a secondhand 100% wool sweater the other day for A$10.25. it was a large size with lots of cables, which means lots of yarn. unraveled it has yielded 600 grams of a weird purple-plum coloured wool. certainly not my colour, so i've embarked on my first attempt to dye yarn. it's in the pot and i'm hoping for a deep black-purple-red.

merlot jacket

the merlot jacket is almost finished. the buttonholes were a success, my first buttonholes ever. i followed this tutorial and am very pleased with the results. all i need to do now is stitch up the garment, sew on the buttons and knit the collar to measure. i've cast on for the collar and am planning to stitch the jacket up after i've gotten some sleep.

i'll just knit a couple more rows before i go to bed...

merlot jacket - buttonholes

four out of five buttonholes finished, which means i've almost completed the right panel (for the second time) and then all i need to do is block, stitch it all together and knit (and attach) the collar.

buttons

buttonmania, a fabulous button shop in the nicholas building, melbourne, made these gorgeous buttons for me from japanese cotton. they match the colour of the merlot jacket perfectly.
the jacket is coming along, i'm knitting up the left front panel, the back and sleeves are finished, although i'm in a bind with the front right panel because it is supposed to have buttonholes. i do have options, but i'll figure out precisely what i'm going to do when i've finished knitting the left panel.

random acts of kindness

i was on the tram the other day
knitting, as you do,
i met a lovely old woman
who's knitting days had passed
she gifted me her knitting needles, complete with box,
and a copy of lincoln knitting book no.727
it made me feel blessed to be in this world