Leaf Lace Shawl

Name: Leaf Lace Shawl
Designer: The genius who is Evelyn A. Clark at Fibertrends
Pattern:Leaf Lace Shawl
Yarn: 4 x Kid Classic shade Royal #835
Manufacturer:Rowan
Purchased: English Yarns
Needles: Metal 5.5mm circular
Techniques: Never done neck down shawl before. New method of beading the edges.
Stash or Fresh:Stash
For: Self
Started: May 2006
Completed: May 2006
Observations: I loved this pattern from start to finish and learned so much while knitting it. I would definitely use Kid Classic for a substantial shawl again, although now I am trying to branch out into proper laceweight.

Braided Mischief

Name:Braided Mischief
Designer: Teva Durham
Pattern: Braided Mischief Scarf Style
Yarn: Maya
Manufacturer: Debbie Bliss
Purchased: Get Knitted
Needles: 5mm bamboo plus metal cranked cable
Techniques: Cables which add texture and density but don't cross over one another.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: D.H.
Started: February 2006
Completed: May 2006
Observations: In the original pattern you are advised to use two strands of yarn (Rowan Felted Tweed if memory serves) but I decided just to use one strand of this thicker yarn. I love the fact that this doesn't shed too much cf. comments on Biggy Print. I am a member of the Scarf Style Knitalong Blog

Deep

Name:Deep
Designer: Carol Meldrum
Pattern:Rowan Magazine 39
Yarn: Summer Tweed Cape(6) Ghost(1) Powder(1) Blueberry(1) Oddments of tonic colours
Manufacturer:Rowan
Purchased: John Lewis Glasgow
Needles: Bamboo 4mm and 5mm
Techniques: Have never picked up a ribbed border all the way round a bolero before.
Stash or Fresh: Main shade Fresh, Contrasts Stash
For: Self
Started: February 2006
Completed: May 2006
Observations: The main thing about this one was that there was far too much dye loss in my first wash. I contacted Rowan who took it away for a while then offered me a full refund. So, this garment was essentially free, but I haven't dared wash it again since!

Archive five- Biggy Print scarf and hat

This is a scarf and hat I made a few years ago, when Rowan Biggy Print first came out. I was on a tighter yarn budget then, I bought the Biggy Print but sat in John Lewis following the hat pattern in the display copy of the book as I couldn't stretch to the cost of the book, particularly as I only wanted one pattern out of it. Cheap or what? Of course that was the era before Glasgow Knitting Meetup group, where we share our resources.

In those days I couldn't stretch to a whole jumper in decent wool so I chose to make a few nice accessories from quality yarns. Those were the days before I realised that wool comes before bread and milk on the shopping list.

I've enjoyed this set, and had a lot of wear out of it, but the Biggy Print just sheds so many fibres. This will be a recurring theme in Archive Five, as quite a few of my vintage numbers are in this and similar yarns.

Just in case you are wondering, I have rewarded John Lewis with l*o*t*s of loyal business in the yarn department since. They've had their just reward for letting me look at a book buck shee.

Midwest Moonlight

Name:Midwest Moonlight Mat
Designer: Ivy Bigelow
Pattern: Midwest Moonlight Scarf Style
Yarn: 1 1/2 x Cotton Cashmere shade #12
Manufacturer: Debbie Bliss
Purchased: K1 Yarns
Needles: Bamboo 4mm
Techniques: Nothing out of the ordinary. The slanted shapes come about because on R/S you are working with 8 stitch sets and on the W/S it's 7 or 9.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: Self
Started: April 2006
Completed: April 2006
Observations: I started off making the scarf, as you do, but then I decided they yarn and pattern weren't a good combination. Loathe to frog it, I adapted it into a dressing table mat, which is how I still use it. I am a member of the Scarf Style Knitalong Blog

Garter Rib Sweater

Name:Garter Rib Sweater
Designer: Martin Storey
Pattern:Classic Knits for Real Women
Yarn: 16 balls All Seasons Cotton discontinued shade Copper.
Manufacturer:Rowan
Purchased:Get Knitted , reduced price.
Needles: 40cm metal 4.5mm
Techniques: Nothing out of the ordinary, but did both sleeves simultaneously which was less of a psychological barrier for the massive raglan sleeves.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: Self
Started: January 2006
Completed: April 2006
Observations: The first time in many moons I have knitted a pattern in the specified yarn, and I enjoyed having my size included in the pattern book.

Denim hoodie

Name: Denim Jacket
Designer: Unspecified
Pattern: Women's Weekly Knitting and Stitching Spring 2006
Yarn: Sirdar Indigo: shades Dark Denim, Mid Denim, Light Denim, Ivory.
Manufacturer: Sirdar
Purchased: Black Sheep Yarns, Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts, SECC.
Needles: 4mm bamboo
Techniques: Nifty way of encasing ends on zipper placket.
Stash or Fresh: Fairly fresh
For: Great niece
Started: December 2005
Completed: April 2006
Observations: I added some extras rows to the torso length without taking into account how the stipe match between the sleeves and body / body and hood would work, so I ended up doing them self-coloured to avoid a mismatch or tons of mathematics. (Not my strong point.) I actually think it turned out really effective.

Midge

Name: Midge
Designer: urbanDK
Pattern: ask at KEDkrafty@hotmail.co.uk
Yarn: Indigo 1x Dark Denim; few metres Ivory
Manufacturer: Sirdar
Purchased: Black Sheep Yarns, Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts, SECC.
Needles: 4mm circs
Techniques: Hadn't tried that outward picot edging before.
Stash or Fresh: Fairly fresh
For: Self
Started: March 2006
Completed: March 2006
Observations: Knitted this while waiting to be called for Jury Service. Added the buttons (Talisman, SECC fair) and edging later.

Archive Five-Patchwork Apron

I've designated every fifth post for a creation from the archives. (Which counts as any time before January 2006, but preferably before August 2005 when I started blogging. )

This is my patchwork apron. I made it from some Kaffe Fassett fabric (the stripy bit) I got as part of the Tumbling Blocks Rowan membership gift a few years ago, some cotton from John Lewis and some strong ribbon because I couldn't see how I would make the strap otherwise at that time. I hand-stitched it and wasn't following a pattern. It's not quilted but it is filled with squidgy stuff. I still like it and get use of it particularly when I take the time to cook or bake properly.

Jaywalkers

Name: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Pattern:September 05 Magknits
Yarn: Mini Ringels #05211 Blue Sea
Manufacturer: Regia
Purchased:Galloway Gem Shop, King Street, Castle Douglas
Needles: 10 x 2.75mm Clover bamboo dpn
Techniques: Slip stitch heel was new to me.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: Self
Started: January 2006
Completed: March 2006
Observations: Really enjoyed knitting these socks because of the way the yarn brought out the chevron pattern. Didn't think much of these when the issue of Magknits first came out but was converted when I saw them on certain blogs and when I saw Midsummer Night's Knitter's at a knitting meetup. Found knitting both socks in tandem really effective. Consulted Kitchener Stitch Video as usual.

Misty Garden

Name:Misty Garden Scarf
Designer: Jo Sharp
Pattern: Misty Garden Scarf Style
Yarn: 3 skeins Silk Boucle, Foxglove shade
Manufacturer: Fyberspates
Purchased:Get Knitted , reduced price.
Needles: Can't remember. Metal so they didn't catch in boucle loops.
Techniques: Good old Feather and Fan.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: Mother in law's birthday
Started: December 2005
Completed: January 2006
Observations: One of those times when yarn and pattern were in perfect harmony. Would have happily kept it for myself. Ended up buying four skeins of yarn, but traded excess one with Midsummer Night's Knitter . I am a member of the Scarf Style Knitalong Blog

Cable rib socks

Name: Cable socks
Designer: Amalgam of ideas from Lucy Neatby
Pattern: Closest to Marietta Rib socks from Cool Socks Warm Feet
Yarn: Fortissima Colori Socka Color #2416
Manufacturer: Schoeller & Stahl
Purchased:Galloway Gem Shop, King Street, Castle Douglas
Needles: 5 x 2.75mm Clover bamboo dpn
Techniques: Only new thing was reinforcing heel with nylon.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: Self
Started: August 2005
Completed: Jan 2006
Observations: One thing I noticed about these socks was how much my grafting had come on.
Thanks to the Kitchener Stitch Video on Knitting at Knoon. They are of course fraternal twins, not identical.

Multi-directional scarf

Name: Multidirectional Scarf
Designer: Karen Baumer
Pattern:Multidirectional Scarf
Yarn: 3 skeins Royal Silk shade #106
Manufacturer: Art Yarns
Purchased:Get Knitted
Needles: 4.5mm bamboo straights
Techniques: Got a lot of practice in short rows, but didn't have my head round wrap and turn then.
Stash or Fresh: Fresh
For: Self
Started: December 2005
Completed: January 2006
Observations: Loved the lustre when first knitted, but afraid it would not keep its look. Well, several months down the line it still looks great but has become longer and thinner. If ever redoing, I'd make it broader to compensate. Caused quite a stir at Glasgow Knitting Meetup .