Monday, June 20, 2011

A trio of shrugs

Three little girls have turned one in the last few weeks. I thought they all deserved a little knitted something. I knit a Little Girl's Shrug for Carys to wear at our wedding and I remembered it was a quick and easy knit; plus it is perfect for spring/summer babies.

So I started off with a ball of Dale of Norway purple merino/cotton that I got in a swap a while ago. I used a crochet edging on the neck as seen here and decided to modify the lace pattern (removing two of the knit stitches) and used this rather than the ribbing on the sleeves. I cast on 12 stitches under the arms, rather and the specificed 8, so the lace pattern would work.
Mathilda is now wearing this on the streets of Paris!
Little Girl's Shrug for  Mathilda

Next up, little Alice. Thomas' friend from down the road, born exactly a month before him. Her mum and I met at a breastfeeding support group in those hard early days, and we have become good friends.
This time I added stripes - which required a little bit of jiggery-pokery as you knit the button bands at the same time, but I think it worked out just fine. This was knit in Rowan Wool Cotton.
Alice's Shrug
Finally, a shrug for Evie who was one at the start of May. This time I followed instructions to make the front curved as in this project. This was knit in the same Rowan Wool Cotton as Alice's shrug. I knit the age 2 size as Evie is a big one year old, and it fits her perfectly. However she is still wearing her February Baby Sweater as a shrug!
Evie's Birthday Shrug
Now, onto a present for Thomas....

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

11 Months

I'm starting to look quite big in my cot.
Thomas - 11 Months
Still smiling lots
Thomas - 11 Months
Sticking my tongue out is my latest trick
Thomas - 11 Months
Along with growling like a tiger (can you see my teeth?)
Thomas - 11 Months
I am also going backwards and mummy keeps finding me in the corner or under the sofa... crawling next month maybe?

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

A Spring Mystery

There have been times over the past year when I felt I would never have the concentration level to be able to knit a lace shawl ever again. However, thankfully those days are (mostly) behind me. I have my evenings free and when Alice from Socktopus announced a Spring KAL at the start of April I decided to take the plunge.
I even managed to keep up with clue one (there were two weeks between clues)
Spriteling Clue One
Clue two was done on time as well, but then I lapsed. Finishing socks, presents, life generally got in the way. However when I started to see some of the finished shawls on Ravelry I knew I needed to buckle down and finish this one.

So, here I present you with a finished Spring Mystery (Spriteling) Shawl.
Spriteling
Made in Malabrigo Sock Yarn (which I now realise is far better suited to non-footwear).
Spriteling
The colourway is Indiecita, which is hard to describe and even harder to photograph... a greeny, bluey, greyish mixture of colours. not quite variegated but far more coloured than a semi solid.
It was always destined for a shawl, and perhaps would be better suited to one a little less lacey, but I love it all the same.
Spriteling