Rowanette Jacinta was saying, how after Christmas knitting, January knitting is a bit flat. After the satisfaction of completing things regularly and quickly, ringing in the new year with something new and substantial and requiring more than a few days to finish, takes a bit of adjusting to.
I have made some progress on my teddy bear coat. In the end, I'd decided to modify the Donkey Jacket from Debbie Bliss's Baby Knits Book so all I need to actually rework are the ears.
The donkey jacket uses cashmerino aran, similar tension to the sheland aran that I have, so only a minimal amount of fiddly required.
I know, it's grey and not terribly interesting, unless your name happens to be Amelia. Just 2 sleeves and the ears to go and then, it'll be done. I really ought to have done a bit of blocking before picking up for the edging, but I was too lazy and impatient. I hope blocking will sort out that nasty rolling at the hem.
With the progress so far on Tina, I have no doubt whatsoever that the stream of baby christening shawls from ATU (Gesundheit), isn't going to happen. What was I thinking...! So I thought, this might make a good substitute.
Now, I'm relaibly told that there is an errata page to be found here.
All I need to know, is how does the yarn usage run in the pattern? I've got 10 balls of Jaeger cotton that I wouldn't mind using up and it's got the same meterage of Debbie Bliss's wool cotton, which is no longer available in any sufficient quantities in any yarn shops in London. If I chance it and run out, I suppose I can go for a different colour trim. The problem with using discontinued yarns ... got to be flexible.
Parcels
I got a little parcel from Stéphanie last week, filled with chocolate, I had to fight the husband to get my mitts on a chocolate covered almond. It was superb.
I also go this.
It's gorgeous, in one of my favorite shades of purple and it's 100% cashmere. Am I lucky or what? I'd admit to stroking Stéphanie's cashair ensemble, rather a lot when we met up in Brussels, but never in my dreams did I think that I would get one. It's so decadent! Thank you Stéphanie! I hope that I haven't ruined yours by overstroking it.
When I finally regain my composure, I'll show the state of a parcel that I got last week from the US. It was sent on Dec 2 and arrived Friday in a plastic bin liner with the cardboard box torn and folded inside. It's like they didn't believe that the yarn inside was yarn and had to investigate to make sure it wasn't something like ... plastic explosives.
I'm knitting the alphabet blanket in DB wool cotton, I didn't think of looking up the errata until after I'd found the first mistake and corrected it. The centre panel is almost finished and I'm on the seventh ball so ten may be enough (I'll let you know how much I use when I've done the border).
The cashmere set looks just made for you!
Love, Anne
Very Chic Polly!
Posted by: Carol at January 19, 2005 11:44 PMThe beret really suits you! I always love a matching set, and in cashmere, WELL.....you're a very lucky girl but it's not really luck if you deserve it. xoxo Kay
Posted by: Kay at January 17, 2005 11:34 PMWonderful, you're definitely ready for a trip to Paris. The blanket and coat are lovely too, bear or donkey ears, both are gorgeous.
Sorry to hear about the state of your parcel from the US. I would complain most vociferously if I were you, they practically destroyed it!
Posted by: Louise at January 17, 2005 09:43 PMI have been dying to make both of those patterns from the DB Baby Knits Book! It is my favorite source of baby patterns, and those are two of the cutest. Do be sure to check errata, though, and keep an eye out as you go. Not all problems have been posted for some of the other patterns in the book, but I have found most to be easily fixed by common sense.
Posted by: Molly at January 17, 2005 07:01 PMParis is ready for you and your Beret. I so could not pull it fo, and you do it with grace and flair :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at January 17, 2005 02:58 PMThe cashmere scarf and hat are gorgeous!
Posted by: monica at January 17, 2005 01:09 PMI am glad they fit you so well. And this rabbit ensemble does look interesting. It is closer to the colour of the real rabbits, after all :-)
Posted by: Stéphanie at January 17, 2005 07:32 AMtres jolie! I've never knitted anything 100% cashmere and I'm sure I'm gonna overstroke it if I see something like yours ;)
Posted by: marjorie at January 17, 2005 05:33 AMYou lucky girl ! Purple + cashmere, I wish I could have such a gorgerous set like yours.
Happy knitting !
Eva
Posted by: Eva Shiu at January 17, 2005 01:16 AMGorgeous everything Polly ! I love the scarf and beret - very French - and the baby jacket and baby blanket are both so cute. I'm sure the blanket would be fine with a contrast border if you run out of yarn.
Posted by: Heather at January 16, 2005 10:41 PMC'est tres chic mon petit chou-fleur! Yes I failed my French O'level badly.
Posted by: Tracy at January 16, 2005 08:16 PMYou look terrific in your new gift! What book is the alphabet baby blanket in? I'm collecting baby patterns for future grands.
Posted by: Angi at January 16, 2005 07:27 PMWhat do you mean...not interesting...I love the grays!
You are lucky! What a fabulous gift to get. I love the tam and scarf. Enjoy wearing them both!
Posted by: Eilene at January 16, 2005 06:45 PMI did the baby blanket too, for my daughter. :) It was a nice knit, I loved watching the letters grow row by row and the errors in the pattern were easy to spot and correct even though I didn't think of looking for an errata. I can't say anything about the yarn usage, though, as I substituted with a very different yarn. Pictures of my blanket are here if you want to see:
http://www.iki.fi/kristel/neuleet/neulekuvat/aakkoset1-mid.jpg and aakkoset2-mid.jpg
Posted by: Kristel at January 16, 2005 05:23 PM- or is it "right face".. Anyway, nice that you bother to blog on sundays ... for someone who has so little life that she needs to read on a sunday afternoon .. :-)
IDA
You really are lucky .. that looks great, and such a beautiful colour.
The grey bear will be absolutely charming.. once the real face is inside.
IDA