Feeling a Little Sheepish

Can I let you all in on a little secret?

I've been trying my hand at podcasting of late... yes indeedy the obsession with them has grown and morphed into wanting one of my own.

But this road has not been clear of bumps and until I have a meeting of the minds with my other half I simply don't know how to publish podcasts and can't sit back from my cyber world any longer.

And so that is why I have been so unexpectedly absent on here. It's not the end of Stitches, Stews and Stylish Hues but a transition into another medium.

But until our latest medium is up and running I can't last another moment without at least a very quick catch up with you all.

FO's:

Gemini by Jane Richmond knitted in Rowan Purelife DK. After my initial issues with the lacework I have to say I loved this pattern. As a top-down sweater this felt like it flew off the needles and was finished well within the time frame for the Stockinette Zombies KAL. I think the only thing I would change is the bind off, I wish I had used something a little stretchier.

After-Thought Heel Socks by Laura Linneman. This was another knitalong project this time with Knitabulls video podcast using my first ever indie yarn bought from Rosy Retro on Etsy. This was also my first pair of after thought heel socks and they came out so matchy-matchy I couldn't believe it! I was sooo happy!

Hoodsie by Sara Gresbach. This was a lovely, quick knit using up some chunky gray yarn I had floating around in my stash box. I was really chuffed with how it came out (and being asked if my FO pic could be used on the Ravelry pattern page!) and am hoping to be wearing it constantly this Autumn/Winter once I can give it a really rigorous blocking when my new mats turn up.

Weeb the Zombie Dude by Amy Spinler. This was my very first toy and part of yet another Stockinette Zombie KAL. He knit himself up really quickly and the yarn scraps I used to make him created a really thick fabric. His body is made of some Sirdar Click Aran which was donated to my stash by a good friend of mine and the awful snot-green yarn is leftover from the early nineties when my Nan knit my brother a Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtle jumper. Waste not, want not!

Cabobble Mittens by Cailyn Meyer. Just in time for that cold snap, eh? I had second mitt syndrome at first but decided to be strict on myself and worked monogamously until I had a pair of wonderfully warm mittens to call my own. Just one modification; I didn't knit bobbles into the centre of the cable pattern as suggested, I purled instead and, on the cheap DK yarn that I used, I think this helped the cables to stand out a little more.

Hmmm, now that it's all written down it doesn't seem like I have very much to show for two months work... I must be slacking! Don't worry, I have that problem all knitters seem to have at this time of year. I want to knit all the things!

My WIPs:

Dragonfly Socks by Jocelyn Sertich. These are seriously addictive, it's the first time I have worked anything other than stockinette stitch on socks and watching the pattern grow is pushing me forward in knitting round after round of lacy loveliness. I'm using King Cole yarn in an autumnal, self-striping colourway which, given the rich shades, makes the entire project feel just perfect for Socktober.

Aidez by Cirilia Rose. Oh how much have I wanted to knit this since I first found it on Ravelry?? And, oh, how happy was I when I realised it had both charted and written instructions??? It's amazing how not reading something thoroughly can delay a project by years ;0) This is my version of librarian chic and I cannot wait to have it off the needles and ready to wear. I'm knitting it using Sirdar Nova chunky yarn so it's a quick knit although it takes up a lot of my sofa, and attention, to have all of the pattern laid in front of me so it's not quite as quick as I first thought it could be.

February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne. This is a lovely lacework cardie knit from the top-down using some cheap Wendy Aran in my favourite teal colour. Having recovered it from an episode of lapsed brain/bad lacework I am now loving the pattern and feel like I have really found my groove with all those yarn overs... touch wood!

Double Jeu by Katia Pouget. This is a simple, braided cowl using up that sumptuously soft Misti Alpaca which I picked up in Loop back in the summer. There's quite a halo to the yarn and I can't say as the colourway helps the cables to pop but upon taking a pic for my Ravelry page, I didn't frog and decided that understated cables can be just as lovely as big and brash ones.

So I guess that's me all caught up. As I mentioned we're hoping to figure out this podcast thing soon and I hope that many of you will give my alternative to blogging a go.

I will still post on here my WIPs and FOs and my Ravelry page is always up to date where you can find all of my pics, queued projects and growing stash.

I hope you're all happy, healthy and keeping warm and dry as the nights draw in and the rainclouds open.

I will speak to you all again soon,

xxx

P.S. Winter is coming ;0)