My latest little knit - "Pebble"

I'm really pleased with how this little "Pebble" vest turned out. It is made with my new favourite yarn - Malabrigo "Arroyo" in colour 'Archangel'. Kettle Dyed Pure Superwash Merino.

Knit on 4mm needles, it knits up quickly.

  Find the details here.

It was made as a customer order for my Etsy shop.

Cheers from Fran.

Cute Little Owl Row Counter

I recently got this cute little owl row counter with an issue of UK’s  “Simply Knitting” magazine.

You simply press the button on the top of his head when you finish a row and the numbers come up in his eyes – he’s been very handy!

It came with a little book of baby knits too. Cheers.

More Malabrigo.

I couldn’t resist the sale at Jellyware’s Online shop’s recently and ended up taking delivery of these little babies!

Two skeins of Malabrigo worsted and 5 skeins of Malabrigo Lace, and some free stitch markers – thanks Jodie! I have already hand wound them into centre-pull balls, and have also done some test swatches.

Here’s my Malabrigo Lace test swatch using 2mm and 3.25mm needles, and also using single and double yarn.

The Malabrigo lace yarn knits up into such a soft and delicate fabric. I prefer it on the 3.25mm needles. Cheers.

Twisted Cowl in Noro

 The twisted cowl in Noro is now complete.

It turned out well and is easy to wear. You can find my free pattern for this on Ravelry here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/twisted-cowl-in-noro



Stash Building

Malabrigo Worsted x 4 + free buttons = :-)

I purchased some Malabrigo Worsted from Jellywares online shop during the week - love this stuff! She sent me some lovely free buttons with it. (You can find her shop if you click on her name in my blog list on my side bar.)



  I'm thinking of making this. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eco-vest

Ive just noticed that she has some Malabrigo Lace for sale so have now purchased some of that too!

Cheers from Fran.

A new project.

I've been going crafting crazy lately! I started a new knit project - a twisted cowl in Noro Silk Garden Lite. My own pattern: 7 stitch (stocking stitch) side bands, with 6 repeats of the 'gull stitch' pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman, found in her book,"Knitters Almanac".
I meant to do garter stich on the side bands to stop curling - oh well - moss stitch would be good too. I am slipping the first and last stich of the 'purl' rows to reduce 'curling' of the edge.

I've used stitch markers between the pattern repeats to make it easier.

I've now added a ball of Noro (not Lite, which was already in my stash) and changed from 4.5mm needles to 5mm needles, yarn change is after the green band. Progress so far.

While I've had the knitting bug I've also been making some 'mini' roll edge beanies for a friends crochet soft toys.



Mini Beanies for Darcelle's crochet toys.



A great book I'm reading.

Apologies for so many posts in one day but I haven't been able to get much computer time over school holidays and now my son has started playing games via skype with friends, so I am doing a bit of catch up posting today.

At the moment I am reading this book:- 'Down to Earth. A guide to simple living.' by Rhonda Hetzel.

I like her philosophy of simple living, growing some of your own food, recycling things if you can and making your own things if you can such as soap etc. I highly recommend it, or you can just read her blog - the link is in my sidebar.