Rowan International Member

My Rowan International membership came. The next Rowan Magazine isn't out until August, so there is a bit of a wait for that, but with my membership number I can download the free monthly pattern from the Rowan web site. The free gift is 2 balls of Kidsilk Haze with a free pattern for a Froth Scarf. I have no plans to start it just yet, I enough projects to be going on with.

Rowan Membership 

I went to Whitby on Saturday, had a look in Bobbins knitting shop with the intension of getting some Rowan 4 ply Soft, to use this months free sock pattern from Rowan, but they only had it in cold colours and I was hoping for something bit more warmer, but a little bit later I was just about walk past Boyes -a shop that sells a bit of everything- I remembered that they used to sell yarn. So in I went, and found, nothing to make socks with, but yarn to make the patchwork cushion.

Patchwork Cushion Yarn  
I've made 3 patches of the cushion already, though I've only taken a photo of one. I'm liking the fact that because they are small pieces if I do something wrong I can rip it out and not be all that bothered.

first patch 


In other news, while at Whitby my mum & dad bought me a beautiful Whitby Jet ring for my birthday. It's Jet at one side and plan silver at the other and I love it, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Whitby Jet ring 

Problems.

Peppermint Twist was abandoned for a few days at the end of last week. I fell out with it after some confusion over the arm shaping - the shaping on the sleeve was a longer length than the back. I think it's the sleeve that I've done wrong, so I'm probably going to end up ripping that sleeve.


Finshed Peppermint Twist back. 

While peppermint twist was unceremoniously dumped in my knitting box I decided to have a go at some of the lace patterns in my knitter's Bible. I wasn't very successful though, so I didn't bother taking any photos. I seemed to go okay at first, but when it came to repeating the pattern again it just looked a mess.

I got my first Rowan newsletter the other day. There wasn't really that much in it, but it has made me decide to join Rowan International. You get 2 Rowan magazines a year and a free pattern a month.


Rowan newsletter 

New knitty book.

I bought a new knitting book called The Knitter's Bible. It's good, it has the differences between American weights of yarn and British yarn weights, a stitch library with over a 100 different stitches and 25 projects to make. I've taken a few photos.

front cover 


stitch patterns 


more stitch patterns 


might make this 


I might give this a go too 

My Peppermin Twist is coming along nicely. I've finished th first sleeve and I'm now about half way up the back. I'm really liking the stripe's. I like that you can see how much you've knit, sometimes when it's one colour I seem to be getting know where fast.


peppermint twist back  

All finished.

I've finished my Lucky Clover Wrap, well I finished it he other day but I wanted to take a photo of it. The seaming went well, considering I've never done mattress stitch before. The only real problam I had with the seaming was the way the pattern was set out. It tells you to sew together the side seams and the sleeves, then it says on the left side seam sew until 5 1/2ins thn sew in the tie, which I didn't notice until I had sewn the whole side.


Finished Lucky Clover Wrap. 

Due the lack of the GGH yarn I ordered from Get Knitted to make Rebecca's Pale Blue Jacket - I ordered it at the end of March, the colour I ordered isn't kept in stock, so it's having to come from Germany - I've started the Peppermint Twist Jumper. My tension - gauge - is different to the one stated in the pattern, but I like mine more so I've had to calculate the difference between the amount of stitches I need to cast on.


Peppermint Twist sleeve. 

That was painless.

Lucky Clover has been blocked and is now ready to sew together. I was a bit nervous about doing the blocking - I thought I was going to make it a weird shape - but was really easy.


Lucky Clover blocking. 

I have also decided to make myself a coin purse. I've seen lots of beautiful purses around in the shops, but as I am a bit of a cheap skate I thought "I can make one for less than that". So I'm having a go.


Material's for purse. 


Purse so far. 

Not long to go now.

This is my attempt at cable. It's the cable that is used it a Stitch 'n Bitch pattern. I thought I'd ripped it, but I found it at the bottom of my knitting bag. I'm not sure if it should pucker up like that in the middle though. I have no idea what yarn I'm going to use yet though.

cable practise 

I'm onto my final Lucky Clover sleeve, not long to go now, hooray. I made the neck band last weekend, I thought it would take a lot longer to knit than it did. I managed knit about 7" in 40 minutes.

second clover sleeve. 

It's been a while.

As I don't really have much to report on the knitting front - I'm onto my first Lucky Clover sleeve - I thought I'd share my knitting paraphernalia.


knitting paraphernalia.

 

I have elastic bands, I used them when I first started knitting my socks - I was worried that the stitches might fall off.
Cable needles, I haven't used them on a actual project yet, but I have practiced on a random piece of yarn.
A pencil, I keep track of patterns by writing down which number row I'm on.
I have 2 crochet hooks, one 8mm and one 4mm.
Post-it notes, to stick on patterns and keep track of where I'm up to.
2 different sizes of row counters, always handy things to have.
Tape measure, well that's pretty self explanatory.
Pencil sharpener, also self explanatory.
Stitch markers & safety pins, I use safety pins if I have a lot of stitches to cast on.
And finally Yarn needles in few sizes.
Oh, and you can just see a Yankee Lavender candle under my computer screen :)