Sunday, January 28, 2007

KADD - 1, Me, - 0

I knew I should have put the mohair away! But no, I had to leave a ball of it on the coffee table to tempt me. But, again, I justified it! I finished both sides of the front of the Sam cardigan, plus half a sleeve yesterday, so I rewarded myself with starting something new. The something new is Grecian Plait. The plait stitch is a lot easier than I expected, and it will knit up in no time. I'm always amazed at how bulky mohair actually is, considering it's so fluffy! So here are some pics of the wee bit of Grecian Plait I've started, and the pieces of Sam. Sam is being knit in cottonlicious.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

KADD Strikes Again!

Knitting Attention Deficit Disorder - I am a victim, albeit a willing one! No sooner do I get a sweater done, then I'm madly pouring over my books and binders, trying to find something new to knit. I still have 3 baby things on the go, plus a sweater and socks for myself. I just can't help myself!
The way I see it, the Cromarty sweater is heavy and complicated with all the Celtic knots and cables, so I won't have it done in time to wear before it warms up, so why bother rushing through that one?
I am very resentful of most of the babies on the way, because my social life will be coming to a standstill, so, quite frankly, there is a large mental block on the baby stuff (except the stuff for my niece, and there are 2 coming before her, so she can wait).
Socks are my fallback 'portable' knit, so I don't tend to do them except in certain situations.
Therefore, something new is needed! See, I can justify anything. You should see me do chocolate and cheesecake justification!
I have a wack of Sublime (SR Kertzer, discontinued) mohair that I had Karen (my personal knitting goddess) order in for me to do the Belle Epoque sweater, but the variegation on the yarn didn't show the pattern of the sweater well, so I changed to Venus for that one (then had to rip the whole thing out because it was huge). The Sublime is aptly named, and I'm trying to find something to do with it. Maybe I'll just start again on the Belle Epoque.
Or maybe I'll do 2 at once. Wouldn't be the first time!

Sunday, January 14, 2007


And, of course, Bronte helped with the seams.

Enfin!



Finally finished! Turns out that I didn't read the pattern closely enough, and I didn't do the arm shaping on the front. So I had to rip out inches and inches of bodice and redo it. But it was worth it! I think I'll do another i-cord, though, and longer. The pattern said 20 inches, but it seems too short to me.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Yargh, finishing!


Why does it always seem that finishing a sweater takes almost as long as knitting the dratted thing? Blocking and seaming, seaming and blocking. Enough already!!!

But I am quite proud of these shoulder seams - and even though they are far, far, far from perfect, if you had seen my previous seams you'd understand. I was never really taught how to do them before (that means you, ma!). But I figured out what the Internet is really for - knitting tips! Between knitty and some German site that fortunately had pictures, I found out how to do them properly! So now all I need is practise.

I had wanted to have this done to wear to school tomorrow, but that ain't happening. Hopefully Tuesday, and of course pics of the finished product!

Saturday, January 6, 2007

Of knitting injuries, politics and IKEA...

Yes, I have a knitting injury. I was afraid I had tennis elbow (except that I don't play tennis!) or some other sort of repetitive strain injury, and the only repetitive activity I do is knit! Turns out that, yes, it is a knitting injury, but just muscle strain. I'm only allowed to knit in 20-minute bursts, then I have to take a 10-minute break. Poopie!

Well, our 'esteemed' Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done a cabinet shuffle. Somebody's expecting an election! At least he moved Rona Ambrose out of the Environment portfolio. Come on, putting her in as Environment Minister when she was one of the people spearheading the Alberta campaign against the Kyoto Accord? So the new minister is John Baird. One of the few Conservatives I have a tiny bit of respect for. He's come out admitting that global warming exists, which, for the Tories, is huge! So baby steps, folks.

IKEA baaaaad! I went down to Barrie yesterday to get new curtains for my living room, because The Idiot had shredded the old ones. I wound up spending almost $200. That place is evil! No matter how resolved I am to buy only what I came for, I can't do it!

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Welcome!


Welcome to my blog - Her Majesty Knits. I am Her Majesty, the Queen. For reference, check out Miranda Richardson in Blackadder. Then you'll understand.

This blog is under construction, and a work in progress. I shall attempt to build it up between knitting frantically for 3 expecting ladies (2 friends and a sister), and 2 sweaters and a pair of socks on the needles
for myself.

This creature above is Bronte, AKA The Idiot. This is what happens when I knit. She either attacks the needles or the yarn. She can chew through Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in no time, the little bugger. I've tried explaining to her that she is allowed to play only with the little ball of Briggs & Little left over from my father's Christmas socks, but she seems to want the forbidden things. Hmmm... where could she get that from?