Yet another Clapotis and other FOs

Playing catch-up with FOs again, as I seem to end up posting pictures everywhere else and forget to blog them!



Another Clapotis, knitted in Mirasol Hacho shade "Northern Lights". This is a DK so I went down to 4.5mm needles, although 5mm would have worked just as well. There are two extra repeats in the straight section, and this is around 70" long by 21" wide. The Hacho is a great yarn to knit with, quite tightly plied, and pure wool to boot.

I also took part in this year's Woolly Wormhead Mystery KAL, as last year I just didn't have the time. There were two hat patterns to choose from, with a great deal if you bought both (the prices are still reduced until the 30th of November). I chose to knit hat A, as this was described as a slouchy hat with lace pattern. I even had the called-for yarn in stash, Stylecraft Pure Wool DK. This was bought several years ago and it was nice to have a good project to use it for.







I love the finished hat, and the crown shaping in particular is very pretty. I'd certainly make it again, probably in a more "squooshy" DK.

Tonight I'm planning to cast on for a pair of Cranford Mitts, using Yarn Yard Hug bought back when the pattern was first released. There is a glove KAL on the CTnY forum at the moment and this is a good excuse to finally make these! I'm also quite keen on mittens and "proper" gloves so hopefully will be trying a few patterns out in the near future.

Finally, I've created slideshows on Photobucket for my 2007 and 2008 FOs. My Flickr Pro subscription ran out at the end of October and I didn't see a reason to renew it, now that Ravelry has a number of options for uploading pictures. You can only view the latest 200 photos uploaded to Flickr, so in future I will be using a combination of PB and direct uploads.

Heather Hoodie Vest

Pattern: Heather Hoodie Vest, Knitscene Fall 2009
Yarn: Sirdar Denim Chunky, shade 509
Yardage: 5.08 skeins
Needles: 6mm straights and 6mm circs

Another garment that I am very pleased with indeed. The yarn is a wool/cotton/acrylic blend, handles very well, washes well and keeps its shape, and the cables really pop. It's also very cosy! The hood is of elven proportions and would certainly keep your head dry in a rain shower. The pattern is one I would knit again, maybe in a dark leaf green. The Mr thinks it looks like a top from the latest Robin Hood series and I'm inclined to agree.

Another recent finish was the Piper hat from Twist Collective:

Knit in Sublime Merino Silk Cashmere aran, a gorgeous yarn but a bit drapier than I think this needs. I made the slouchier version too and would knit this again using a wool yarn. The piping was done in Cascade 220.

I also turned the heel on my sock!

The decreases have also been completed and it just needs the main foot section completing next. I've also knit the right front section of Tender, my KSH cardigan, and am aiming to finish that before Christmas.

My current project is another Clapotis, using some Mirasol Hacho bought at the Black Sheep Craft Barn shop (a wondrous place to visit, there is a huge yarn pile amongst other things!). I'm going to the theatre in a couple of weeks' time and decided I'd like a more moody, autumnal scarf/wrap to wear. The photo doesn't do the colours justice, hopefully my next progress shot will be in better light.



The blog has also had a revamp, I hope you like the new look!

Clapotis

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, shade Watercolour
Yardage: 3 full skeins + 16g from a fourth

Very pleased with the finished object, it was wet blocked (gently pinned, not stretched too much) to even out the fabric and the dropped stitches. Beautifully soft and warm. The fourth skein used was from a very different dyelot, much darker, you can see it on the "wrong side" photo at lower left. More details on yarn usage etc. on Ravelry.

24 in 2009

Having decided this is the year of knitting up some of my stash, into some of the lovely projects I have queued, I've joined up for the 24 in 2009 challenge (link is to the Ravelry thread in the Stash Knit-down group, where the idea originated).

This is also a knitalong/project on the Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns forum, thanks go to KnittingLadybird for the button in the sidebar! When I counted up the projects I'd completed in 2008 I was quite surprised to find there were 21. This in a year where I struggled to be able to knit at all at times, and I certainly felt my output was reduced. The 24 projects can be anything you like, there are no restrictions, and you can count anything you already had as a WIP in 2008.

Speaking of WIPs, here is my current progress on Clapotis #3:



I've just completed the ninth straight repeat (of thirteen), and am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in "Watercolour". It looks like I'll need a little of a fourth skein to finish, based upon my yarn usage calculations thus far. This yarn has been in stash for some time, always intended for another Clapotis. Why Clapotis? I know it's quite an "old" pattern now, but my original one has been worn day in, day out for nigh on 3 years. It's a perfect design for wearing as a scarf, and if it's chilly (think air-conditioned offices) it serves very well as a wrap to ward off the cold. My original piece is starting to look a little faded with washing and wearing, although it has barely pilled at all, and I'd always promised myself another, in worsted weight this time.

I now need to head off and tackle the raglan seaming on the cardigan, it has been pinned for a couple of days, but I need decent daylight for sewing-up.

I also decided to keep track of how much yarn I've actually knit up this year, using the KnitMeter. I'm usually clueless how much I've used, and as I'm trying to knit some of the stash it seemed a useful thing to have a record.

Finally, thank you for all your comments, they are all very much appreciated! It's not always that easy to reply directly to the author, given that Blogger doesn't ask for an email address when commenting. However I will try to post some responses in the comments themselves, which I believe you can track by selecting the option to have follow-up comments emailed to you.