Waiting to cast on...

I've had my eye on a particular pattern since I finished the Holden Shawlette, and since I've had a few days off knitting, I am ITCHING to start again! This one is called Susette (Ravelry pattern link) and I adore it. The subtle draping, the fair isle motif, and mainly the fact its the first knitted cardigan I've really liked! Here are some scans from The Knitter, which is the magazine I found it in.

I'm not a huge fan of the colours selected for this, mainly because it just isn't "me". I usually wear darker colours, and that beige would wash out my skin tone. I've instead gone for a maroon/dark pink main colour, with the fair isle motif being a mix of teal blue, forget me not blue and black, a little more rock 'n' roll!

I've just ordered 12 balls of Artesano DK, which is the recommended yarn, and I'm excited to recieve it, its 100% alpaca which is the first i've ever bought. I usually stick to wool as the more luxurious yarn scares me! But I'm going to try and make a quality garment for myself to wear with pride. Which I should considering all the yarn cost £59!

I found some pictures of the yarn on the Artesano website, so hopefully you can see what kind of colour scheme I'm trying to achieve.

The main body colour

Fair isle motif

Fair isle motif

Fair isle motif

I have a few days to wait now for it to come through the post, and then I'll be happily casting on! I'll be sure to make a blog post showing all the colours and the first few hours work.

Til next time!

Elleby, FO's and recent Knits.

Elleby - A success with simple lace!

My Elleby lace beanie with my Signature needles.

Elleby (Ravelry Pattern)

I'm about halfway through this gorgeous little slouchy hat, in all honesty when I picked the project I was looking for something to use up the last of my maroon yarn and to knit something with my new Signature needles! But I'm so glad I did, the pattern is well written, I learned how to read lace charts, and I'm able to memorise it quite easily. I haven't spent much time on it, but rather picked it up and knit a few lines here and then when I feel like it. 

I'm still DYING to get started on a proper sweater/cardigan for myself, I bought the latest Knitter magazine and found a beautiful cardigan there which I've decided I'll knit. Just have to finish this little beanie first!

On a quick note on the Signature needles, I love them. I love them so much my heart feels like it'll burst when I use them. At around £29 ($42) a pair they are pricey, but I'm more than willing to pay for a new pair every now and again! I currently have a 3.75mm, 4mm and 6mm, all my recent FO's have been using these. I look back at my Addi Clicks a bit sadly, as I feel like they wont quite match up to my expectations (although I've always DESPISED their rubbish kinky stiff cables) but I WILL still use them until I complete my Signature collection.

Itty bitty baby jumper!

Another excuse to use my 4mm Signatures, plus I wanted to try a top down sweater and thought if I could do a baby version, I could do a full sized one eventually! I used a single ball of James C. Brett Cotton On (very soft and nice to knit with) Ravelry link to my stash here. I cant remember where I found the pattern, it was somewhere on Ravelry so if I find it I'll edit the post with the link.

Bird mittens.... when you see it :|

Bird Mittens (Ravelry pattern)

Yeah.... yeah, this was my ultimate DOH knitting moment. Nearly 80% through the second mitten and I didnt flip the damn chart. I have 2 right handed mittens and I wanted to cry. But all is not lost, I have plenty of yarn left so I'm going to knit it again when I stop being so pissed at myself.