My knitty stars..............

Ok in light of my recent knitting projects I found this quite amusing when opening and reading my new copy of Simply Knitting which arrived today.

Capricorn (23Dec - 19Jan)
They say cold hands mean a warm heart, but that's no excuse not to knit yourself some lovely gloves. If you've been neglecting your own needs, it's time to pamper yourself.

Interesting as I have spent the weekend knitting gloves for others! (I really enjoyed making them. I love knitting for people when I know it is going to be appreciated.) To be fair I have already knitted myself lovely gloves at the start of the year which I have worn practically everyday since.

Sock(topus)Club Part One - Knitting started..........

I've started. Just as I promised myself, a little quiet and some time to myself to get started on these little lovelys. I am really pleased with how they are knitting up so far. The pattern isn't anywhere near as complicated as you initially think the only pull back I have had to do so far is when I knit instead of purled one round. I love the way the colours go together. Also my 'gold' yarn has quite a bit of green running through it which adds another dimension. I am hoping to get a little more done this evening. I plan to have turned the heel tonight.


The initial tentative cast on.






I love the way the little ladders run there way down the leg. I now need to find some time to listen to the book. I was able to hear the first five chapters last night on the train up to Iknit but I'm not sure how much I took.

The Karenina socks aren't all I have been knitting though I have also been working on my first pair of gloves, thats gloves with fingers and pretty, girly buttons. I set aside my skein of Dream in Colour Smooshy to knit these with a while ago and have been waiting for the holidays to have some time to master them. I also needed to do a little preparation and skill aquisition first. This consisted of first of all knititng the Tabi socks - practice for fingers. I then knitted the fingerless mittens where I learned how to increase a thumb gusset. So armed and ready I finally attempeted the gloves. I completed my first one last night on the train home from the Iknit meeting at the Royal Festival Hall. I pulled the thread through the five remaining stitches as the train pulled into the station.








I now need to find 8 delicate little pearl buttons for the cuffs. It is great to have gloves custom made so that they fit the fingers perfectly. I just have to finish the second one now. I have to say all the preparation that I did knitting the other patterns was certainly worth while.

I have also knitted my first hat / beret on circulars over the christmas season and have been spotted wearing it on more than once. Something to keep my ears warm. It was knitted in 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK. In fact I managed to get two hats out of three balls. I knitted the second a little tighter than the first. I also had to run a little shearing elastic around the rim of the first one as it was a little too loose. It has worked really well and made it quite robust.

Yogi feet.......................

I was kindly given a sample skein of yarn to knit up and see how it washes. As it was a 50grm skein it needed to be something small but also washable if you know what I mean. I had already queued these little yoga sockettes on Ravelry a few months ago and decided that they would be a fitting project. They are currently drying out on the side of the bath but here are a few pictures of the finished article. I love the way they actually match my flip flops. I will post details of the yarn once I have checked with the person who gave it to me.

So here they are......






The yarn is incredibly soft and appears to have washed up well. It has been dyed with natural dyes.

I have also cast on my first pair of gloves which are coming on very well - they are another creation from the Sandi Rosner - Not Just More Socks book. They start on straights where you knit a very elegant cuff and then transfer onto DPNs to knit the palm and the fingers. I have currently completed, two cuffs, a thumb increase and half way up the palm of the first glove. I have used my Dream in Colour skein of Smooshy for this. I am now on the look out for small but elegant pearl buttons to adorn them with.
I have taken some pictures which I will try and load up tomorrow, yoga and knitting permitting!

I want to knit these gloves........................

Aren't they just lovely and I think that this yarn will do just perfectly. I haven't knitted gloves before so this is going to be a new challenge. I am one step closer by knitting the tabi socks which have the separate toe. I guess gloves are just like doing five separate toes just a bit thinner and a bit longer? I also want to find some lovely beads to go down the sides too. Will have to get the lovely Gabrielle to guide me to the bead shop when she is back from her visit across the pond.







This is my Smooshy - Dream in colour yarn that I bought at the Socktopus Launch party in September. It is so smooshy! These will be perfect with the bright new pink coat I have bought myself.
Does anyone have any good tips for knitting gloves?
It really is time I invested in a skein winder.