knitting... nearly started!

I got my Rialto Aran and made tension squares, one on 5mm one on 5.5mm, do your squares turn out square? Mine is more of a rectangle! Unless i counted half purls as knit stitches? I made a garter stitch border, i.e. a few garter stitch rows to begin and end, and 3 stitches either side, leaving a 4inch stockinette stitch square in the centre, in theory, only mine is more like 4 inches wide and 3.5 inches high... any tips?

I'm going to knit something!

After buying the 'last minute knitted gifts' book in spring and still not having started anything (I was so going to make the hourglass sweater as seen on moonstitches' blog!)

After debating for ages over whether i'd order online I finally went to a wool shop after work yesterday (it's 20 minutes on the dart, in the wrong direction, so i wasn't home till half 8! Why are there no woolshops in the city centre??) with the hourglass pattern and the leaf cardi pattern (off the knitty website). Seeing as it's the first project in ages, the shop assistant and I decided I'll go for the cardi, a little less daunting. I am going to use debbie bliss rialto aran yarn in a lovely warm blue, so seeing as it's not going to be green i might not actually do the leaves!

I was browsing some books, too, and got the Erica Knight Classic Knits book, I like the title jumper, and several of the other designs, plus it has a pattern for gloves that i want to try.

I also really like the brown ribbed V neck jumper from this book but maybe I am getting ahead of myself there, I stopped myself before buying that book as well, some designs are nice but many are a bit off my radar.

Still haven't finished the chair covers... Must do that before my sis arrives next week!
Then i have to finish making another piece for this wavey scarve , i finally decided that it really definitely is too short, and i am going to try and make a separate piece, in the opposite colours, i.e. fuchsia with grey edges, to attach to it. I was so close to unraveling when a fellow stitch and bitcher on tuesday pointed out that i could attach another piece. At first i poo-pooed that, saying that you'll always see where they are attached and it wouldn't do, but now with the attached piece being different colours that won't be so much of a problem any more (i hope).
Then finally I will be allowed to start on the knitting adventure and try and make an actual piece of clothing for myself.

i like to ride my bicycle

a new bicycle!




This week I finally got the bicycle I bought on ebay! I just prefer this dutch style to the sportier bikes, plus they have the coat guard thingies at the back so you can cycle with a long coat or skirt, and the chain is completely hidden so no nasty surprises on the jeans edges, and the back pedalling break without which i feel a bit vulnerable. This particular one is a cheapo version of the good ones, but if i spent 300 plus on a bike i'd only be worrying about it being stolen or vandalised.
P got himself a bike as well, a sportier and I have to say much better quality one, but it also was much more expensive (I'll be worrying about that one being stolen now i bet). We went for a spin today and i kind of think maybe I should have spent more money and gotten more gears? It has three and it's much hillier here in Ireland than where I'm from in Germany... but at least this one shouldn't be stolen, hopefully the thieves will think it's an actual old 'High Nelly' and walk away! We stopped at the pub halfway, where we sat outside and enjoyed a bit of September sun and a beer and a rest.
We used some of the wedding present money for these, a great present because we'll be able to use them in our leisure time, together, and explore the countryside around us.

Sewing's taken a back seat, we finally got some nice weather over here! I have the 5 remaining chair covers cut and assembled, now I just have to finish them, folding under the edges all around! Lots of ironing for that one.

I want to try and get into knitting now though, it's the right time of year, I'd love to make a jumper like this one (by moonstitches) from this book , it's called the hourglass sweater! But it's a big commitment in terms of time and money. i don't want to make it from acrylics because i hate them and don't want to spend hours upon hours working with it, at the same time i'm a bit worried about spending 100€ plus on wool, having no idea if I'd actually see it through or what it would look like being knitted by me! I like the idea of knitting in the round, and of a fitted garment, I rarely wear jumpers though, more cardigans, so maybe i should find a similar pattern for a cardigan? any suggestions? allthough a cardigan wouldn't strictly be 'in the round' - i mean i like the technicque where you don't have any sewing to do at the end of it!
Any recommendations for Dublin or Drogheda wool shops? Ideally Dublin 2 or 1...