Not much knitting today. It was the last day of the school holidays, so I took myself and Emily off across Sydney to the closest Lincraft.
I hadn’t read the Gigi pattern properly, and when I bought the yarn, I didn’t realise that the sweater only had 3/4 sleeves. Seeing as I’m planning to wear this in winter, I decided I’d make the sleeves longer, but I wasn’t sure if I’d have enough yarn. What a wonderful excuse for return trip to Lincraft. 😉
So I now have one more ball of yarn for Gigi, and can knit long sleeves without worrying whether I have enough yarn or not. And I also got some eyelash yarn and some pure wool to make a little felted evening bag off a free pattern leaflet that they had.
Oddly enough, I couldn’t get a 3.25mm circular needle there. I wanted an 80cm (32″) one, but they only had them in a 3.5mm which is not a standard needle size in Australia. I didn’t get it, as I doubt I’d get much use out of it. I’ll just pick one up at the local craft store tomorrow.
Happy Tuesday!

I finished the beanie 🙂
It is the oddest shape hat I have ever knitted! I usually have patterns that do the shaping as part of the pattern, finished by having just a few stitches left at the top to draw the thread through, and maybe a back seam. This, as you can see, was quite different.

Lots of ends to weave in, which is not my favourite part! But weave in I did, and the hat is finished, and modelled by the house model.

I think it’s too big, even if DH does have a much bigger head than Em, although the gauge was right. But then, I’m used to rib beanies, and I guess that they’re smaller. I enjoyed knitting it, and I quite like the slip stitch pattern.
In other news, I cast on Gigi. I didn’t take any pictures, as 5 inches of sleeve isn’t very exciting, afterall 🙂
I was going to start with the body until I came to the realisation that I don’t have a 3.25mm circular needle. Wow, an excuse to go shopping! Like I need one 😉

I stayed up very late last night, and got more done on the beanie.

Thats two full pattern repeats – I’m almost ready to begin the crown shaping. Here’s the pattern up close.

I think I’ll stay up and finish the shaping tonight.
I noticed that Jill has started her Gigi – I think that means that I should start mine too 🙂

I got some more done on DH’s new beanie.

This is not going to be as quick a knit as I had hoped. Here’s a close up of the slip stitch pattern, but I’m only 12 rows into a 24 row repeat. Sorry about the bad colour.

I also cast on Em’s papyrus tank from the Plassard pattern books I ordered from Threadbear. I can’t say I’m entirely happy with this pattern.

See how big the stitches are? I don’t think I want my 11 year old wearing this tank. It’s a little too revealing I fear. She’s a little young to copy Janet. The gauge is correct, and if I change the pattern I won’t have enough yarn.
So what to do with the yarn? Good question. It’s not bad to knit with, I just think that the recommended gauge is not the best for clothing. I do like the hoodie in the first Plassard pattern book, but I’d have to get more yarn. Damn 😉

I finished Emily’s bucket hat today, but I don’t have any pictures yet as it’s still blocking. All in all, I’m pleased with it, and she certainly is! It’s a great fun knit, really quick and not difficult. The yarn I used was probably a little on the soft side, I’ll wait until it’s dried before I decide.
I cast on DH’s new beanie, but no pictures of that, because an inch of ribbing just isn’t that exciting 😉
Aside from that, the current focus in my house today is Mother’s Day and my birthday. Both of which occur next month. Now I’m being asked what I want. I don’t know! I’d really like an Everyday cardigan kit. But with the car needing repairs, and with the current size of my stash, maybe that’s not the best thing to ask for. I don’t wear alot of jewellery, I don’t need clothes, I can’t think of any particular books or CD’s I want. Except for a few knitting books, but I can imagine the faces when I mention a $65 knitting book 😉 I don’t want kitchen tools, I hate to cook. I don’t need slippers or a dressing gown. Hmmmmm. Suggestions welcome.