It was a cold and windy day in Lancashire yesterday (big surprise there) but Little Stitch didn’t mind because she was wearing the second cardigan recently completed by Ma Stitches:

I’ve fiddled with the colour and whilst this photo still doesn’t accurately reflect the wonderful depth of the purple of the yarn, it’s reasonably near.  The pattern is from the same book as the little yellow cabled number; the yarn is Phildar Oxygene in Prune that I bought in France during out last trip.

As always, Little Stitch looks adorable in it, so thanks again, Ma, for another hit knit.

Ma Stitches has been busy and here’s the first of two beautiful creations she brought up for a very lucky Little Stitch during her visit last week:

The second knit awaits buttons.  I’ll post about it when they are sewn on. Both are knitted from this book:

Image courtesy of sirdar.co.uk

I, on the other hand, am meeting myself coming back and not getting very much done at all.  Most frustrating!

I adore this little cardigan.

Even though I had to undo the whole thing because of the lack of common sense and swatching, I still absolutely adore it.

It’s terribly easy to knit, looks fantastic and is super versatile. The raspberry version is coming along nicely and will be finished this week. Although the original pattern was made up as a stripe, both of my versions are knit in just one yarn and I love them.  It’s a great transition piece and fabulous with jeans and more dressy outfits for Little Stitch.  I love it so much I’m thinking of a red version to go with a little pink and red Mini Boden dress gifted to LS by Julia.

Oooooh…obsessed…moi?

I swear that sometimes I could kick myself for being such a dummy.

I was so excited to get going with the little multicoloured cardigan for Little Stitch that I chose the size, cast on, and knit, knit, knit.

Fool.

I cast off, and tried the resulting garment on her, only to find that, surprise, surprise, it didn’t fit!

I frogged the yarn back onto the ball and today sat down to cast on again.  This time I did the swatch:

As it’s half an inch out on the swatch it’s no wonder the finished result was way too small.

So the moral of this story is always do the swatch.  I know they get in the way of starting your new project but they’re worth it in the long run.  I’m off to work out exactly what size needles I need to use to get the right size this time.

…from the ridiculous to the sublime.  A total change of quality of yarn from the Sirdar Just Soya to this little beauty that was a very generous gift to Little Stitch from Black Purl:The picture doesn’t do the jewel like quality of the colours justice, nor the wonderous softness of the yarn, but I’ve cast on and knit the first couple of rows of Chloe from Never Not Knitting and already its looking like this:Glorious.  Thank you, Black Purl!

We had a little Swine Flu scare Chez Stitches this morning…fortunately it’s turned out to be just a case of Man Flu!  So we’re all on the sofa watching Madagascar and I’ve taken the opportunity whilst Little Stitch (and Mr Stitch for that matter) is sat quietly to finish off the cabled baby sweater.

It’s knitted in Sirdar Just Soya, which is without doubt the splittiest yarn I’ve ever used.  However it creates a soft, drapey fabric which is lovely for the shape of this cardigan.

I quickly snuck it onto Little Stitch for a try on.  As planned it’s big on her.  As it’s going to be a couple of months before she needs woolies on a regular basis, even though she’s growing at the moment there’s plenty of room to make sure this sees her through the winter.Next!!!

Have you ever tried to photograph small children wearing the fruits of your labours?

No?  Neither had I until today.

The old adage about children and animals is starting to ring very true!

As you can imagine, the chapeau didn’t stay in place for very long!

The pattern is from a very old Debbie Bliss book that I’ve had for a gazillion years and just keep returning to.

The jacket is a little on the large size, but I’ll be damned if I’m knitting something, even this simple, that will only get a couple of outings before it’s too small.  The yarn is Patons Eco Cotton.  It’s machine washable and I’m interested to see how it washes and wears.

Oh, and yes, the weather in Lancashire is so appalling at the moment that a hat isn’t a completely insane choice of project!  Saints preserve us, its a wonder we don’t all have webbed feet.  Although…there are a couple of people in the village that walk in a very suspicious manner.

Altogether more successful than the hot pink…which has now been completely undone and is awaiting a new choice of pattern.  Patience was never one of my virtues (stop sniggering, family…I can hear you, you know!) and I’ve no time for misbehaving patterns.  I’d rather give a less troublesome design an opportunity to shine.