You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2007.
Heehee.
The Boteh scarf first. Neat design, neat outcome.
And the specs:
Yarn: Patons Kroy sock in Blazing Blue that Rosi sent me, 2 full skeins (mine have only 192 yds, not the 203 as currently advertised). I liked working with it, it felt nice and squishy.
Hook: Clover Takumi 4.00mm bamboo from Vicki
Pattern: Boteh scarf by Kathy Merrick, from Interweave Crochet Spring 2007
Time: 2 days (took longer because I had to redo the edging when I realised the spacing I was using would leave me short of yarn before I finished)
Size: 5″ x 96″
Extra #1 The pattern has errata, but if you just follow the chart, that shouldn’t be a problem at all.
#2 Boteh is supposed to mean a bouquet of leaves or something, but it reminds me of how we drew plaits as kids.
#3 This is meant as a surprise gift for someone.
#4 I did only 15 motifs overall, refer to yarn shortage. But it’s a very good size anyway. That’s the best part about scarves, I suppose!
#5 I hate these three words: Pick up evenly!!! I never seem to get the count right.
Now here’s the Beret:
Yarn: GGH Aspen, in pink (the website calls it mauve), one skein.
Needles: Denise #8, not strictly 5mm
Pattern: Rollin’ Beret by Woolly Wormhead (scroll down). Nice and quick and easy 😀 Somehow I chose to do it in the same colour a similar colour to the one that Ruth made hers in.
Time: Overnight
Size: 5″ x 96″
Extra #1 I have a doubt about the finished product (size-wise), but until this reaches its recipient, I am not voicing those. But otherwise, a good, satisfying knit 🙂
Here’s how much yarn I was left with after finishing the edging on the Boteh:
Cutting it very fine!
Remember the packing twine I used for my towel topper a few weeks ago (scroll down)? I had some left over and I badly needed a thingy for a side table (you’ve got to love the Military Engineering Services for the sheer numbers of dinky little tables they provide you with), so in overweening optimism, I started a doily called Pineapple Posy from Pineapple Crochet Designs ed. Rita Weiss. Naturally, the twine ran out, and I ended up with this. It shall remain in this condition forevermore, so in my books, it’s a finished object. At least the pineapples are done!
For my August CAT PAC, a friend sent me lots of blue-themed yarn and the Spring issue of Interweave Crochet, which had the Boteh scarf pattern. I had to start it immediately, so I grabbed the Patons Kroy sock yarn Rosi sent me as a contest prize and set off. The pattern repeat is simple enough, but I had to rip a bit after the second motif, having confused myself with right and wrong sides. Now it is making sense, though, and I’ve made quite some progress. Here it is:
Please forgive the blurry pictures, I’ll try and get a better one of the Boteh once it’s done.
I’ve also finished and added a zipper to Jacque‘s pattern that I was testing. Turned out a bit small, but more on that later. Have a hat FO in the wings, also, perhaps tomorrow.
I’ll never understand the fascination of the Larger than Life Bag, though. It’s just some motifs, right? Perhaps I’m missing something.
Does anyone have any hints/tips on yarny shopping to be done in Beijing? My father is visiting there next week and I’d like to give him some specific requests. Someone on Ravelry said China yarn is cheap(er). So what fibre would be good? I know bamboo needles and hooks sound likely, but…
LYS recommendations also welcome, please?
she is found!!
She was hidden in a box being used as a TV stand, which had been properly sewn up by the MIL in a tablecloth. There were some items of yarn-thread related effort as well. This crisis has for now passed.
Thank you all for your support!
The Ian Rankin I read (Black and Blue)… I had to keep reminding myself this was Scotland, not the US. I kept feeling the gritty atmosphere was in North America. Don’t know if I’ll read another immediately. They need a different sort of mood.
Then I read Reginald Hill’s Arms and the Women. Had a sort of surreal atmosphere, but on the whole, I enjoyed it. Ellie gets a bit more sympathique.
Read Ruth Rendell‘s From Doon with Death, her first Wexford mystery. On Ravelry someone was saying she likes to read series in order, but on reading this, I feel quite happy not to have come upon it first. The characters seem as though they haven’t grown into their skin yet. Reading Wolf to the Slaughter now, and the impression continues. I agree that as the years (and books) pass, people change, and it might be that Rendell deliberately changed them (“grew” them). But Wexford in the latter book sounds like Andy Dalziel, not the mellow man I usually picture him as, plus he isn’t even a Yorkshireman 😉
Stephen Fry’s got a blog now and it needs concentration and a clear mind. Erika alerted me to it, I still haven’t made up my mind whether I should subscribe to it or not. My attention span isn’t what it used to be… His “blessays” are long and intellectual.
Denise. Sorry, I couldn’t resist! The thing is, my Denise set has gone missing, and try as I might, I can’t remember when I saw it last. I remember showing it to Ruth in London, and in Vizag beginning Jacque‘s pattern on it, but here in Cochin? Nope. Now all I have are two pairs of tips (the one I’m using for Jacque and another 6.5 mm pair I have in a UFO), plus 3 cables (one ultra short, one medium and one longggg – on second thought, that last one might be two joined cables, which would mean I have one of those joining thingies) and two end doodads. If anyone can remember where I put the set, do please tell!
I have made some progress on the pattern as you can see above, having detoured wildly on both the crochet and knit fronts, by turning out these two FOs (now, isn’t that a rare word for you to hear on this here blog?). First up is the Gingham Country Tea Towel I had a bit of a duh moment with:
Specs:
Yarn: Lion Kitchen Cotton (navy) and Sugar n’Cream (light blue)
Needles: Unknown plastic/resin (very flexible) 4.5mm circular and for the handle a metal circular that’s among my favourites, which is loose in the 4.5mm slot and won’t go through the 4mm (Is there a 4.25mm size in western needles?). Both needles courtesy Heide.
Pattern: Country Gingham Tea Towel
Time: About a week?
Size: Haven’t measured, but it’s a good size. It’s been immediately pressed into action in my kitchen.
Extra #1 Did two-colour double knitting for the first time, following a chart. Phoenix was good enough to hold my hand throughout and spell things out in words of one syllable! It was wonderful to be able to hound her interact with her on Ravelry. (If any of my readers want me, I’m MrsFife there).
#2 Got confirmation my finishing is terrible
#3 My floats are too tight and my wraps are too loose. Resolve that conundrum if you will
#4 Perhaps a thinner needle would have made the work neater
#5 Stopped the handle when I ran out of the light blue.
#6 I liked the grid stitch better than the gingham part (not to mention my work was neater)
#7 The original colour combo was scrumptious, and was what made me do the towel, actually. Also possibly, yarn which wasn’t 100% cotton might have fared better.
A great learning experience, though, overall. Five stars all around. Now for a crochet FO:
The details on this one:
Thread: Something called Fitpack, a twine from Jaipur that I bought in Vizag, in the philosophy of “any string will do to hook with”. It isn’t bad for bags and things, but I doubt any other colour would be available. On the other hand, I remember a crochet goods salesman telling me you can get cotton yarny type of fibre in Jaipur, so maybe the place is a hotbed of fibre.
Hook: The 2/0 (2mm) end of a Clover double-ended 2/0-4/0 hook. Nice and light.
Pattern: Acrobatic stitch from The Harmony Guides (the instructions are for a straight swatch, but I made up the decreasing on my ownsome). Pat yourself on the back, sweetie!
Time: One hour
Size: Seriously?
Extra #1 Nuthin’ much. There’s two more towels where that came from which need topping.
We now have a working washbasin, and the rains have stopped. Now all I need is some good roads, and we’re all set.
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