This is a childrens hat just completed....hurrah I finally made something correctly.

Bamboo Knitting Needles

So I've visited an online knitting store and bought more needles. Another bundle of 15 sets of varying sizes from 2mm upwards, made from bamboo.

I love wooden needles. The more they are used the more polished they become. The best thing about them is their lightness. Bad or weak wrists might find this type of needle easier to hold then a metal or plastic needle. To be honest I hate the feel of metal and plastic needles, and the sound of them clacking drives me up the wall.

As well as the wooden needles, I also ordered the cable needle required for making the hat (see below), and a yarn cutter which doubles as a necklace. I can't remember its name, however, since I am currently carrying my knitting project all over the country the cutter is going to be a wonderful addition to my jewelry kit.....it also looks lovely. I haven't heard of anyone else having one of these and can't wait to try it out.

This is my second visit to the Bamboo Knitting Centre who I find keep the customer well informed on the progress of their order with polite e-mails (one to confirm order and one to confirm dispatch). Delivery is fast, postage currently free in the UK (they also deliver to other countries including USA) and everything is well packaged. Of course I could be a little biased because I like their needles.

At the end of the day everything boils down to personal taste. Buy what you are going to use not what is going to sit on a shelf gathering dust.

I'll let you know how things turn out.

My Brothers Hat

Yea, I am doing well with my knit one, purl one,or what is known to knitters as the stocking stitch.....except that I have read a little more of the pattern.

According to it I need a cable needle for my cable stitch.

The air turned blue when I found out.....AND as I was in work at the time, heads turned, as my fellow slaves wondered what could cause a polite quiet knitter use words better suited for the old docks.

So I'm off to browse the online bamboo store for something called a cable needle.

Brown wool

I've decided to use the brown wool to make my little brother a hat for the winter. Unlike the shawl, where I had to learn to 'make one', the pattern I have found on the internet only requires me to knit one, purl one, in a way that will create (hopefully) a cable effect. Yea, I have my doubts too.

In the meantime the next issue of Let's Knit is coming out this week and I can't wait to see if they have any other items I can make and pass of as gifts to my relatives. I do suggest you buy the magazine as they have patterns for everything from people things to house things.

Whoever would have guessed that knitting could be so much fun.

Narelle Pattern - Lets Knit

During July I bought all the knitting magazines in Tesco to find the one that was easy for a beginner knitter like me. The Lets Knit! magazine was the winner and there are many patterns in it scheduled for future creation.

The shawl above is from Issue 9 and should have been knitted in a silk yarn. As I have a dustbin bag full of dreary red, brown and black unused wool (I am not in a position to buy new yarn just yet), when I discovered this multi-coloured (psychedelic bash your eyeball out) ball of wool at the bottom of the bag I knew it would do just fine....especially if worn with dark colours....a little black dress perhaps? The magazine even provided the needles. At 15 mm they are HUGE but certainly made making the shawl achievable, at my beginner speed of knitting, in three days.

I wonder if my sister in Denver would like it?

yellow scarf

This is the yellow scarf I quickly knitted for my neice. Tension is horrid, but at least it will keep her warm.

The Jumper

I finally finished the jumper and I am proud of reaching the end. Notice anything odd about it? Think its a little large for a 5-6 year old? As wide as it is long?

Mistake number one. When someone tell you that you need size 7 & 9 needles check if they mean UK size 7 & 9,or size 7 & 9 mm.
UK size 7 is a larger needle that UK size 9. 7mm needles are smaller than 9 mm.
Guess which ones I bought.

Mistake number two. Running out of wool. There was enough wool for the size of jumper I was knitting had I used the correct needles. However since I used needles that were double the size I needed more wool. Then there is a lovely yellow panel at the back similar in shade to the banding on the front.

The jumper was a birthday gift for my niece. I did send it to her along with a story about an aunt who cannot knit, a scarf, and some bought clothes.

I have not heard from them so I am guessing I am in the bad books again.

A Fatherly Update

Well after having more tests that completed the hospital tour of dads digestive system, I am glad to say they did not find any blockages or growths.

Unfortunately that still begs the question, What caused the agonising pains and swollen abdominal cavity which had him hospitalised in the first place?

As those in the know recall, even a sip of water caused him pain.