One of my testers had a genius idea when she was starting Wildacres. She printed out the schematic and coloured it in to see how the yarns she had chosen would work. You can see it on rav here.
I thought it was such a good idea that I have supplied a picture here for you to colour in too!
Please feel free to download/print out this image and plan your own Wildacres.
I had fun colouring some in using one of the basic paint packages on my computer.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
I couldn’t resist these lovely red oval s either – I think they’ll be great on a grey assymmetric layering piece.
And who could leave these sweet little hearts? No idea what I’ll do with them, but they won’t go to waste!
And the beads? Those I got from Moon Beads. I picked out some sheeny-jet black ones in size 5. They’re gonna really give the wrap some heft.
This was me at my most abstemious. I could have spent a fortune so easily.
The best thing about Unravel though, is bumping into people you already know from the knitting community, including a good many I heretofore only knew online. In my previous post, I mentioned how complimentary people had been about my capelet, and I gotta tell ya, I’m still on a high from that, knitting peeps rock.
Mwah!
X Elanor
In keeping with the recent bow ties theme on this blog, here are some simple little bow ties that you can use to decorate your work.
These cute little bows add a lovely little decorative touch to almost any project. Sew onto hats, scarves, jumpers, anything wearable. Make them into brooches or hairpins, put them on gift tags or greeting cards, the list really is endless. And the best thing is you can work up several in an evening in front of the TV!
Artesano Superwash Merino (DK; 100% Merino; 122 yds/112m/50g ball)
Scraps of
1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles
22 sts and 30 rows to 4in/10cm over stocking stitch
Shown: one each in colours A and B.
Bow: Cast on 16 sts. Work 18 rows in garter st and bind off.
Tie: Cast on 4sts. Work 10 rows in st st and bind off.
Wrap the tie around the centre of the bow and pull it tight so the bow crumples at the centre. Stitch the tie in place.
Bow: With colour A, cast on 16 sts. *Work 2 rows in garter st, then change colour. Repeat from * 8 more times. Bind off.
Tie: Using colour A, work as for Squat Bow.
Cast on 94 sts. Knit one row. Bind off. Tie it into a bow.
Tip: Sew a flat button onto the back of a skinny bow and you can then attach it to your garment through a buttonhole or a lace hole.
Weave in ends.
Block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.
I’m very excited that one of my designs (my very first, actually) is going to be published in a book. Stephannie Tallent is curating “Hitch”, and seeing as she’s linked back here in her 2013 Knitting and Design Plans post, I figure it’s safe to say as much!
The latest news is that it should be in print prior to Summer 2013 TNNA (June 20-24), with the PDF coming out sooner.
The design is a lovely top using gorgeous Fyberspates Scrumptious. And I’m pushing the envelope on what I’m allowed to say now, so I’ll hush up.
I’m so stoked!
But I’ll be in print sooner than that! I’ll tell you more in May. ;)
Yarn labels can be daunting for the novice knitter. Luckily, they have become fairly well standardised, so once you can decipher one, you can read most of ’em.
A typical ball of yarn
The pic above shows brand “Artesano” and name “Superwash Merino”
Detailed ball band information
Showing 1. fibre content, 2. weight, 3. manufacturing details, 4. care information, 5. gauge information, 6. yardage, 7. needle info and anything else the yarn company want to tell you.
The gauge is probably the most important piece of information. A DK weight yarn like this one will typically knit up so that a 10cm wide piece of knitting will be 22 sts, and a 10cm long piece of knitting will be 30sts. Or, as usually written, 22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm over stocking stitch. That grid symbol is used a lot, so look out for it on other ball bands.
Prising the ball band out so you can check ALL the info
This pic shows colour/shade number and dyelot number.
Some manufacturers put critical info like tension right at the end of the label, inside the ball, I’ve no idea why! Check it’s okay with the sales assistant first before you take the ball apart – they might have all the info you need in a folder or on a colour card (a card with a small sample of the yarn on it in each of the available colours). Don’t be afraid to check all your balls are from the same dyelot.
Hope this helps!
Got a weird ball band you can’t decipher? Send over a pic and I’ll try decipher it for you!
Happy New Year!
A capelet of many colours! Use up your old DK singles and get your stashbusting groove on for 2013!
– and –
Daisy’s in the Arts (Inside),
Harrow Arts Centre,
171 Uxbridge Road,
Hatch End,
HA5 4EA
The Harrow Arts Centre is right next to Morrison’s in Hatch End.
There’s a large car park, but it’s frequently full. You can chance your arm in Morrison’s car park though.
Daisy’s in the Arts is inside the arts centre and it’s a lovely evening space – there’s alcohol available if you’re so inclined and the hot chocolate is good. Lighting is slightly better than in Oddfellow’s so you can bring non-garter st projects. Remind me to find out if children are allowed.
Simply Daisy’s is tucked away next to the Dance Studio, photo instructions here. A great place for daytime meets and it’s kiddie friendly (as are we).
Bus routes: H12, H14
Trains: Hatch End Station on the Watford DC line.
The Oddfellows Arms Pub,
2 Waxwell Lane,
Pinner,
HA5 3EN
Oddfellow’s is opposite Lidl or the Police station in Pinner. The lovely, lovely landlady seems to have a soft spot for us which we abuse terribly. We must knit up something for her again! Ideas pls!
We meet here twice a month and it can be calm and quiet or very, very busy with us knitters! Features include a special chair to sit on under certain, controlled situations. Come along and find out what we’re on about!
There’s always plenty of parking in the car park ‘round the back of the pub.
Pinner is on the Metropolitan line, and the following bus routes serve Pinner: H11, H12, H13, 183
Costa Coffee in Harrow Town Centre
1-9 St. Ann’s Road,
Town Centre
Harrow,
HA1 1LQ
It’s a Costa, what can I say? It’s NOT the one by the station, it’s opposite the fruiterer’s market stall in the big pedestrianised piazza in front of the two main shopping centres. We tend to sit in the alcove round the back of the barrista station, so we’re not visible from the door. Come right in and take a proper decko if you don’t see us at first glance!
I tend to park in one of the shopping centres, but there are plenty of choices.
Harrow is on the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines and is served by the following bus routes: 114,140,183,186,258,340,640,N18. Possibly more besides.
Papa Gateaux
4 Cumberland Court,
Princes Drive,
Harrow,
HA1 4UD.
Papa Gateaux stays open late especially for us, so there is a £2 contribution if you come to this meeting. The cakes and hot chocolate are well worth it though! He’s a lovely guy, we should probably knit him something too! There may or may not be a couple of fluent french-speakers in the group, so this meeting’s a little bit like taking a holiday in France for a couple of hours (I think).
Parking’s a little trickier, but you can usually find a place further up the street.
The nearest station is Harrow and Wealdstone on the Bakerloo and London Overground lines, and the following buses serve the station 140,182,186,258,340,640,H9,N18.
What a lovely evening I have just had. I am overwhelmed by how sweet my lovely Harrow Knitters are. Big kiss just for you, mwah!
No booze was imbibed in the making of this post, since numpty me forgot my wallet!
Catchloops 
