Knitting.... waiting for the time to!

Just thought I would do an update on here as have not posted in a while. Ive not really done much knitting lately, mainly because I have started a new job at the NHS and have not really felt like it. Fail not though I am hoping to get something knitted for me soon, possibly a smart cardigan or similar and I quite fancy doing it plain black but with silver buttons.

I have however been doing some more of the cross stitch I started last winter (Maybe it is turning into a cold winter night project?) So I have included a photo of my progress below.

Hope to post again soon.

Phil

Baby garments and Ginny Giraffe!

My sister's best friend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last Friday 31st August, she was named Daisy Eva. I wanted to make something "different" to my usual cardigans and sweaters so I decided to make a toy - I had not intended on making a 1 metre high toy though!

Daisy's mum loves giraffes and I came across this pattern in amongst some patterns Carol Hocknell had given me when I bought my Passap back in June. Ginny as I have named her has knitted up beautifully and she is knitted in Uppinghams 2 ply Lambswool - so rather special! She is SO SOFT!

I also made some baby clothes too... a baby coat knitted in 4 ply acrylic and a fairisle V neck vest knitted in my own hand dyed pure wool. Will put some photos up of these in the next few days.

"Evolution" = Completed!

Iris Bishop "Evolution"

Well, I am pretty excited as Iris Bishop's BRAND NEW pattern "Evolution" is out. I received my copy this morning from Carol at Metropolitan, and I really cannot wait to get knitting one. Its a tuck stitch and knitweave project so should test my skills.

There are 4 options you can knit ... a waistcoat with or without sleeves, and a jacket with or without sleeves. You can also knit them in different lengths - waist and a longer tunic type. I have decided I am going to knit the longer length tunic style waistcoat (above).

I have already ordered my yarn - I have decided on Yeoman's Sari 3 ply. Not saying the colour as it will be a surprise. I have also decided to use J C Brett Marble Chunky as my weaving yarn - again not saying which colour!

All I can say is this is a real WOW garment when you see the pictures and I cant wait to get knitting it!

It's like learning a new language - Passapese!

I'm so excited!!! Look at what I went to pick up from Metropolitan in Cheshire yesterday!!!!!

Yes my new to me Passap Duo 80. I love it! Carol got me knitting on it at Metropolitan but have not tried it at home yet - it has taken me a while to find somewhere for it to go and to set it up. It came with everything - even a Deco, which is great as I can do punchcard patterning too. I was also given a box full of folders containing loads of Passap patterns - for free!!!

Another great thing about this machine is that I think it is much quiter than Japanese machines. My Brother 965i is still set up, it is just opposite the Passap on a worktop.

Lets hope I adjust to knitting with a Passap. It's like learning a new language - Passapese!

Latest sweater on Brother 965i

Hi everyone - sorry for not posting in a while - again you get busy doing other things!

Here is my latest sweater for me knit in Bramwell Savannah 4 ply Cotton. Its an Iris Bishop 2 colour slip pattern - I used 2 colours but the pattern actually calls for 4 colours. The sweater is my own design but the stitch pattern as I mentioned is Iris Bishop.

Thats all for now!

I need help... DOUBLE JACQUARD!!!!

I think I really need some help from someone who has done double jacquard on a Brother machine before - Im trying but its just not working. I need help especially using an electronic Brother. I follow the instructions but it either just makes stripes on the right side, or it drops certain stitches across rows, or it just FALLS OF THE MACHINE!!!!

AAaaaaarrghhhhh!!

Help me someone! Ive looked on YouTube but the only one is Susans video on the Knitmaster 321. The Brothers are obviously a bit different. So anyone who makes videos for you tube - a good idea would be how to do double bed jacquard!!!

I hope I get to try it out soon, it looks great!

Oh Wow!! Think I've fallen in love with knit weaving!!

Was experimenting with my 965i this morning and found an odd ball of cream aran yarn so thought i would have a go at knit weaving. Not really done this before - I did have a go once with my Knitmaster 700 but it never progressed to anything.

I just chose 2 random patterns from the Stitch World book (PS Loving how if I see a pattern I like its just at the touch of a button and I dont have to sit for hours punching out punchcards getting covered in little plastic circles!) Did the above two patterns and now this has stirred some ideas in my head.

Im thinking of doing a jacket with an orange/rust as the 4ply main yarn and a nice fancy mossy/speckly green as the weaving yarn. Need to look around for some potential yarn candidates but think this could be something nice.

Other news I got my knit leader out to have a look more closely - everything there, and Im chuffed as I have heard you can use dress making patterns with this knit leader (You cant with the KR7 - its not big enough to take the pattern!) Looking forward to trying this out as I find dressmaking patterns look a bit more "modern" than some knitting patterns.

Thats all for now

Phil

Another new machine - oooops AGAIN!!!

First of all I have to say sorry for a huge lack of posts - I have been so busy lately with other things and have just not got round to it.

Just posting an update and letting you all know of my recent purchase - a Brother KH 965i complete with 850 ribber, single and double bed colour changers, knit leader, floppy drive and PPD cartridge. I bought it all from an old lady who was giving up machine knitting due to age. All was bought brand new by her and the machine is in brilliant condition. Luckily she only lived up the road so was able to go and see it beforehand and bring it home.

I sold my Knitmaster 155 machine and ribber and decided to put the money from that towards this new machine. I had been thinking for a while about getting rid of the chunky - I never use it and it just sat there under my desk doing nothing. Plus I dont really like knitting with chunky yarns anymore - I think they suit kids more rather than adults. If I do want to knit with chunky I have the LK150 or the Bond. People dont really wear big chunky jumpers anymore as many have central heating these days; whatsmore I prefer the bigger range of finer quality yarns available for standard gauge machines like those from Yeoman, which I am finding I am using lots of these days.

I just tried my garter carriage on the 965i and thank god it works!

Hope to post more soon

Phil

I love my new Garter Carriage!

Ive finally decided to take the plunge and buy a garter carriage for my Brother machine, not only so I can do some nice fancy garter patterns, but also so I can cast off quicker!!!! The other day I had to cast off the whole needle bed width and it took forever! With this monster it will get it done much quicker than me. Im really chuffed with it. It casts on, knits ribs and garter patterns.

Cant wait to get making some garments with it!

Phil

New machine - Brother KH 836!!!!

So, I'm pretty excited at the moment, as I have a new to me machine. It's a Brother KH 836 punchcard machine, and I have never owned a Brother until now, but thought it's about time to broaden my machine knitting skills and get working with other makes of machines. It's a Passap next!!!!

I was originally going to go for a KH 950i electronic machine, but having given it a lot of thought I decided against it, for a number of reasons. Firstly, the only reason I wanted a Brother machine was so I could get a garter carriage and try some garter stitch fabrics - well you can get a garter carriage for the punchcard machines!
Number two - when am I realistically going to use the full capacity of the electronics? I hardly use the punchcard mechanism now with my Knitmasters as I tend to knit plain garments in nicer yarns. Number 3 - I really cant be bothered messing around learning how to use the electronics. And number 4 - I cant justify spending over £400 for a machine that is similar to my other machines. If I am going to spend that amount of money, I may aswell just put it towards getting a Passap E6000 - as I really would like one of those. Then that can be the only electronic machine to learn!

I think I am going to love this machine though. It is in pristine condition and is WHITE all over!!! No yellowing whatsover. The sponge bar was ok but not perfect so I ordered a new one from BSK yesterday and it arrived today - hows that for fast delivery!

So next up I want to get a garter carriage for it, and a ribber. I've already bought it a single bed colour changer, and not so bothered about a knit leader just yet, however this may change.

Here are some photos I took - hope you like.

Speak soon

Phil

Here are some photos of what have been made on my machine this past week. Two childs sweaters, one using stripes and the other using a tuck pattern. I think they turned out really well.

In other news, Ive just become the owner of a Brother 836 and colour changer ... oooops couldnt resist! Its only because I want to make some things with a garter carriage, so first off I'm going to need a Brother machine!!! The machine is pristine white and has a lace carriage. Will upload pics when it arrives.



Speak soon

Phil

"Rebecca"

Hey everyone, thought I would upload my latest design. Its a simple scoop neck ladies cardi in Yeomans Tibet (3 ply Merino/Silk blend)

Finished with olive wood buttons, and knitted i cord fastners.

Ive got some other photos of things that I need to put up, when I get round to it.

Hope everyones well.

Phil

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everbody!

Hope everybody has a great 2012. Ive started the year by having a good tidy up in my knitting room. I can actually see my worktop now!!!!!

Hopefully will be posting some finished things soon.

Have another commission to start - a raglan cardigan in grey DK. Doing it on the 700 though as it's fine enough at TD10, plus I can use the ribber for the ribs.

Bye for now

Phil