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December 31, 2005
Delicious
Have you come across Karabella Margrite? I am deeply upset that Karabella don’t seem to have a stockist in the UK, because this is sheer luxury. It’s 20 percent cashmere (80 percent merino) but feels at least as soft as the 100% cashmere sweater I spent Christmas in. Sadly, but inevitably, the quality is reflected in the price. Twelve balls was a gift to myself, a congratulation on the year’s knitting, and it is bliss to dive in after all the gift knitting and deadlines (for now).
The current plan is for a cardi in the same family as Pippa, with a twist. I’ve got a stinking cold but I tell you what, New Year’s Eve with Mr Raitte and Margrite, a movie, and quite possibly some Thai hot and sour soup sounds like just the ticket.
PS: Speaking of delicious, “Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again…” Divine Rebecca was on the telly today. If you’ve never seen it I suggest you take steps to remedy the situation, as soon as you possibly can.
Posted by Amelia at 05:21 PM | Comments (15)
December 27, 2005
Buttonloops
I hope you are all enjoying the delights of the season. As promised, here is the tutorial for the applied (ie sewn on afterwards) buttonloops used in Jemima. You can find the tutorial for the tubular cast on here.
I think the pictures are not as good as my previous efforts. Hopefully you will get the gist.
1. Thread your needle with the yarn for your buttonloop. Secure it with a few small stitches on the wrong side, then bring the yarn through at the left edge of your buttonloop. Make a long, loose stitch, the size you want your buttonloop to be, passing the needle through your knitted fabric at the right edge of your buttonloop.
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2. Bring needle back through knitting at left edge of buttonhole again. The aim is to have two loops of yarn, the size, shape and position of your finished buttonloop.
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3. Insert needle from front to back under both loops. Note, the needle isn’t going through any knitted fabric – it’s passing under the loops the way a button will. Wrap the yarn around the back of needle then round to the front, then pull needle out through back of buttonloop.
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4. You’re left with a little knot, hugging the left edge of the buttonloop.
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5. Repeat step 3 – needle through buttonloop, yarn around back of needle, pull through.
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6. Work stitches to cover length of buttonloop. Don’t work too many though or it won’t lie flat. Fasten off yarn and weave in loose end.
Posted by Amelia at 02:33 PM | Comments (10)
December 24, 2005
Silent night
Christmas comes late to Raitte Hall. In my mother’s tradition, I leave it late to dress the tree. Partly to avoid pine needles in the rug, partly due to the pressing demands of Life.
Once that was out of the way I was able to concentrate on Christmas knitting. Thankfully, some of this simply entailed finishing off things started some time ago, and many small items. Ene’s scarf and Shedir you have already seen, here is most of the rest.
Clockwise from the top left hand corner we have the Corrugated hat previously seen in this post, but less squat post-blocking. It is sitting on top of a blue/green feather and fan cardigan for Mother: pictures when I know if it fits. A very sophisticated Jemima, the colour of wet sand with a contrast of a rich peacock green and shell buttons. On it are three rose pins, deepest red, pale pink (not lilac as it looks here), and true scarlet. In front are two pouches made from leftover Koigu, with necklaces that go inside them. A ski hat, based on the staff patterns from winter’s Interweave, modified crown shaping. This One Skein Wonder. A mini-Clapotis made with one skein of Colinette Skye in Toscana.
All I have left on the needles is this:
A Here and There Cables scarf from Scarf Style, in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in Charcoal. So soft. I may not finish but just one gift with needles still attached is a respectable tally.
Gosh Christmas. It is exhausting. Now it’s almost here, it’s silent, holy night. It’s time to go and wrap these gifts for those I love and listen to a carol on Radio 4. However you spend the 25th, have a wonderful day, and love the ones you’re with.
Posted by Amelia at 11:44 PM | Comments (17)
December 11, 2005
Advent
I’ve been toiling away to meet a deadline, which is not yet met but will be. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute to sharpen the wits. And having sworn I wouldn’t be knitting for Christmas, somehow now I am. Let me show you some…
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Ene’s scarf, started 8 Oct 05 finished 9 Dec 05
Pattern: from Scarf Style, ed. Pam Allen
Yarn: Laceweight handpainted from Marta’s Yarns, a gift from Jacqueline
It’s beautiful.
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Shedir, started 3 Dec 05 finished 4 Dec 05
Pattern: by Jenna from Knitty
Yarn: One ball and about 3 yards of Rowan Calmer in Coffeebean, left over from my NBaT.
This is a wonderful knit, the design is expert and really makes the most of one’s abilities. Looks extremely impressive, and lovingly hugs the head.
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Rose pin
Pattern: from elements in Knitted Embellishments by Nicky Epstein
Yarn: Leftovers
Many more of these to be made before December 25th.
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Corrugated, started 10 Dec 05 finished 10 Dec 05
Pattern: from Loop-d-loop by Teva Durham
Yarn: Two balls RYC Cashsoft DK, used double. Just over half the two balls used. I’ll make another using a strand of Cashsoft and more leftover Calmer.
A couple of hours’ work, ridiculously flattering for what it is. The next one is for me.
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Between all these and the deadline, I’m feeling rather pressed. Of course in the middle of this I came across Cara’s Jaywalkers, and then this, distractingly, happened:
Followed by this:
And then this:
Roar. Or, if you prefer, purrrr. Roll on January.
Posted by Amelia at 11:14 PM | Comments (33)