Settler | Testing { Knitting}

It feels like I have not been knitting for a while - I was not feeling it for some reason. I have started Nord again whilst on holiday and suddenly I wondered how I could have lost my knitting mojo (the heat maybe?). And now I cannot stop knitting, hopefully that means that some projects will get finished (finally) and also that I will be able to start on baby projects (a little more than 3 months to go, and nothing is ready!)

And of course this is not an old project that needs finishing, nor a baby project. I am again testing for Libby (I tested Skeppe last year) and in the process made a decision regarding this beautiful yarn originally meant to be the Follow your Arrow KAL. I decided to frog and keep the yarn for the right project. And this is it - a shawl that will be worn more like a scarf, more my style. 

Although the patterns calls for a fingering yarn, which this is, my gauge is actually totally off - and there is not a lot I can do about it. I am still carrying on with this yarn, hoping to have a good go at blocking the shawl and make it grow, and end up with the right length. Fingers crossed. 

This project is a destash one, no new yarn bought, although I was tempted.

But I was reading about self-sufficiency in Extracurricular magazine, following Melody's WIP post, and I have now read mine cover to cover - I even made my husband read an article. It is a great start to understand how people interpret sustainability and how they include it in their lives. Totally inspiring. 

I will be linking up to Small Things today. 

Also check out le challenge today for a discount code at Mary Emmens vintage shop and a chance to enter her giveaway - this month's theme is ERA! 

Thrilling Mittens + a Giveaway | Le Challenge {Knitting}

I know I say this every time it comes round, but every time it is a last minute finish, and I am surprised I have an entry for le challenge. To be honest for a while I thought I would only make one mitten - at the end of the day Michael Jackson (Thriller - easy link right) only had one glove - but I always thought that was a bit weird, and not really useful if you intend to wear them. 

Unfortunately this is not a crystal-encrusted glove and it is unlikely to fetch $200,000. I did try to replicate the sparkling effect though thanks to the Anchor Metallic thread. The mittens are a bit fancier with a lace pattern - adding a thrilling element, don't you think? 

Pattern: Cafe au Lait mittens (free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn: 3-ply white yarn that I had in my stash without labelling but probably Sidar (half a ball) and 1 and a bit Anchor Artiste Metallic ball (shade 301)

Needle Size: DPNs 4 mm

Modifications: Made less repeats of the pattern but added some ribbing rounds at the top - similar changes for the thumbs. Ribbing is ktbl1, p1. 

Difficulty Rating: It is an easy pattern although you need to pay attention. It is a quick knit (I finished a mitten in one afternoon). 

Result: I love the lace pattern, I will be using it again - I am not sure where but the result is amazing. My biggest issue is the size. I have small hands, and I know that (I usually take child size glove) and I should have adapted the pattern accordingly. After a lot of Umming and Arring I followed the pattern, and I should not have. So the downside is that I have to make a new pair for my freakishly small hands, on the upside you get a chance to own this pair!

You have 3 chances to enter the giveaway:

1. This giveaway is open to my followers only - old and new. 
Let me know how you follow my blog in the comment box.

2.  Like the MiH Facebook page - and leave me a second comment. 
3.Follow me on twitter, tweet about the giveaway, 

and/or follow me on Instagram (natmadeinhome) – 

and come back to leave me a third comment

The giveaway ends Monday 21 at 10am (UK time). Please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger. I will send internationally. Good luck!

You have until Wednesday 16, 11 am to enter a thriller-inspired project (big or small) for a chance to win a $25 fabric voucher, so get involved! 

Tapenade - The End {Knitting}

*Still time to enter my current giveaway here*

How many posts should a blogger write about one project? I have been asking myself this question a lot lately - and for me it depends - on the size of the project, how difficult it is I suppose, and whether you can still write interesting things about it. But at the same time you want to share your progress - because to be honest without this blog, and you my readers, I would not have finished it. So thank you, because here is Tapenade - knitted and blocked, and guess who is a little bit excited about it. 

After my letter to Jared, I decided that I was not going to post about it. I had nothing more to say, and to be honest, there is not going to be a lot new about it in this post - except for the pictures. 

This one is dedicated to Lucy - with my new Repeat Repeat mug

 Pattern: Quill, by Jared Flood (the one and only)

Yarn: Custom hand-dyed DK merino silk yarn - by SixSkeins. I used up nearly all the 6 skeins I bought.  

Needle size: 5.5mm
Size: the smallest size (can you tell?). It measures 115cm x 101cm blocked
Result: It is amazing, and I am really proud of it, but it was a bit of a struggle. It looks harder than it is. It is a very interesting construction as well.  

 Five things you need to know before knitting Quill:

1. Choose your yarn very careful - it is highly likely that you will knit only one of those, and you want to make it count! 
2. It is the perfect car knitting project at the start - but it gets big.. 
3. It is not a quick project - so little often is better (I managed to finish the edging by making 6 repeats of the final pattern every day). 
4. Get some blocking wires - they are essential! 
5. You will love it.. 

Made in Home earrings - blogged here. 

I knitted it so that Baby MiH would use it as a blanket as well (hence the size) - so I could wash his in the meantime. That was before I started the project. There is no way this is going to be dribbled on and chewed by a teething baby no matter how cute he is. This is mine, mine, mine... 

So this is it, Tapenade The End - or like my Grandma says 'Te and'. It was a great journey, but I am really glad I can enjoy looking at it rather than knitting it ... 

And because I never learn, I have another massive project in mind ...  

The neverending Quill {Knitting}

Dear Jared,

I am a huge fan of yours. I even knitted blankets thanks to you (Umaro and the Shale Baby blanket), but Quill may have been the pattern I cannot handle especially the third part of the knit -i.e. the stage I am at. I started the project after seeing this one, and I knew I would have to knit it. 

I knitted the garter stitch square - which was a great car project but let's face it a bit boring - then I pushed through the second section, the old Shale Lace frame. Fine, I could see the end, but I had clearly not read the pattern well, and did not see what you had in mind. What! you want me to knit the edge on - and through a 12-row repeat pattern only use 6 of my live stitches. 

You do know I currently have 600 stitches live (it is written in the pattern after all)... and therefore I need to repeat the edge pattern a 100 times! You totally killed me - this is a whole garment in itself. 

It would be fine if I had not made the decision to finish this project before starting a new one (my project for Le Challenge does not count in this instance). Even though we are far from getting warmer weather, and therefore I could potentially finish Quill and wear it this year, I was hoping to move to something else.

Why are your projects so beautiful that I feel compelled to knit them - even though this may take forever? I am just weak and cannot resist vintage patterns or an interesting construction despite the obvious timescale issues involved. Could you write a beautiful pattern that would be quick knit - or is there no way around it, a beautiful garment will require some intricate patterns? 

Many thanks for your amazing pattern and making knitting fashionable again, I shall push through the lace edge and finish Quill - and probably fall again for another great pattern of yours, 

Yours sincerely,
Nat @ Made in Home

L+D is finished {Knitting}

The L+D cowl was actually finished a couple of weeks ago, but my personal photographer, Mr MiH, has not had the time to take pictures. To be fair it has been fairly grey over the last week. So an hour of sunshine on Sunday was the perfect excuse for a photoshoot. 

This is the project I started on my way to the maternity ward - pre-Baby MiH (cannot remember what that was like anymore). Of course, I got a chance to make some progress out there helped by the fact that I stayed in hospital 5 days in total (3 days waiting for Baby MiH to finally make an appearance and 2 to recover). And then the project stagnated a bit ... But it is finished, and I am actually really happy with it. I was surprised as the idea was to get me occupied rather than actually get something I would wear for real. 

 Pattern: Adapted from  the Celandine pattern, from Marianne Kinzel, First Book of Modern Lace Knitting

Yarn: Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in True Purple

Needle size: Circular 4.5mm
Modifications: This is a table mat pattern. However the actual modifications to use the pattern for a cowl are minimum. I used the middle section of the pattern. I cast on 208 stitches - and made a few repeats of the main pattern (to use up 3 skeins in the end). And that is it. 

I love the colour! It is called True Purple for a reason. Look at how it pops in the pictures! The colour works well with the pattern too. It is not so dark that you cannot see the lace pattern. 

The yarn is not too chunky so I could really play with the width of the cowl. I wanted the cowl to be quite chunky around my neck but not too long. I think I managed to get the right balance - I had to try it on a couple of times nearing the end to make sure I got the right size. 

The only negative is that I find the yarn quite scratchy. So far it has not stopped me wearing it, but it may stop be knitting a jumper out of it. It is a real shame because the colours of the collection are really amazing. I do have a sensitive skin, so you may not have the same issue. 

On a side note, these are the first pictures of me on this blog not pregnant - and I am not even wearing maternity jeans or T-shirts! Whoohoo!