Adventures in cables...

 I had been wanting to knit more items with cables, however not being particularly proficient with cable needles, and not having quite as many arms as an octopus, I decided to start somewhere simple.  I picked Blue Blanket by LondonLeo for a friend's new arrival.

This pattern has blocks of cable, moss stitch and garter stitch, which together look very impressive, although is actually quite simple to do.  It is a two row repeat, with a cable needle required every tenth row, and you just knit until you are finished (or run out of yarn).  This project also uses a K1B stitch, that is to knit a stitch into the stitch below (essentially dropping a stitch).  This results is quite a prominent line either side of the cable section.

I am quite happy with how this turned out, and this has given me confidence to try some more adventurous cable patterns.  The ravelry details with yarn info are here.  Does anyone have any suggestions of easy cable patterns to try next?

Watering can...

My watering can was made from Robin DK acrylic yarn, with two strands held together.

I started with creating an oval base in double crochet (UK terminology), once it was the size I wanted I did one row of triple crochet, this helped the bend to be flexible.  Then plenty of mindless double crochet until it was the size I required.  I added a handle, a spout and water (or blue yarn) inside.

Originally I wanted there to be teardrops hanging down from the spout, however once in place they just kept tangling.

So I got scissor happy and gave them the chop, so only water threads remain.  It is not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good!

Craftbomb!

If you go down to Glasgow Botanic gardens today you might just have a surprise!

This week is voluntary arts week, and to celebrate this there has been a craft explosion at the botanics.  The Arctic terns have flown in specially.

I even got reunited with my tern briefly!

There are crafted birds, carp, kites, pompoms, flowers, bugs, stars, to mention a few.  And there is my watering can, pouring over everyone who walks in to the Kibble palace!

You can see more pictures of the craftbomb over at Voluntary Arts Week.  And I'll share how I made the watering can soon.

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Doon the watter

On a very sunny Saturday we went, where millions have went before, doon the watter to the Isle of Bute.

I finished my mont-royal/Mint Royale hat the night before, and took it on the trip.  However it must be said that on the first warmish day of Spring, a 100% wool hat is probably unnecessary!

The hat is very cosy and the pattern very well written.  The yarn was some Sirdar Majestic that I had been given, as is probably older than I am.  There were a number of breaks in the yarn, which was rather annoying, but hey, it was free so nevermind.

Bute was fantastic.

We went on a tour of the extremely fancy Mount Stuart.

A wander round Rothesay castle, where we saw some herring gulls who were happy to pose for photographs.

And also a very pretty swan nest by the castle moat.

One other reason to love Bute, is that it has the best name for a local newspaper ever.

It's ok...

Spring is here.

My new hat is on the needles.

It is mont-royal by tshep.  I can't think of this hat, without humming 'Don't falter' by Mint Royale.

I am continuing my yarn destash, and using some Sirdar Majestic that I was given for this hat. 

Also I have a rather bright green crochet project on the go, for a very special Craftbomb - more details coming soon!

My weather apology...

I'm sorry, I think I might have been responsible for the cold weather we have been having recently.

You see, I cast on my ten-stitch blanket just before New Year.  My aim was to use up all the DK stash that I had.  And well, it took three months.

During this time, the knitting gods must have been in discussion with the weather gods, so that the continued chilly nights would encourage me to continue to work on the blanket. After all, you don't want to be working on a blanket in warm weather!

So you will be relieved to know that the blanket is finally finished.

The knitting gods have sent an email to the weather gods, and they will be working on bringing you Spring soon!