Indigo Violet UK

Thank you so much for visiting this blog, it amazes me everyday that people visit my little site and read what I have written.

I haven’t added anything new for the last two years because I have been preoccupied with other things and I haven’t been able to make time to put enough energy into this blog. This has also been the same with my other blog purplekatie.wordpress.com so I have decided to…

I wanted to look at making my own and thought about the possibility of sewing some. Then I came across this pattern and had a go at knitting one instead.

I adjusted the pattern slightly to fit my needs, plus I’m not a great fan of zodiac signs so didn’t want t0 include that part. I like the pattern otherwise and am already planning another design with different yarn!

Various Baby Clothes: Bluebell Cardigan

Knitting baby clothes is a great way to learn how to knit; hone your knitting skills; use up that pesky end of project yarn or just pass the time with a quick project.

I enjoy knitting baby clothes. For me they are satisfying to knit and quickly finished so there is no chance that I’ll get bored half way through!

The only problem is when I get distracted which explains the few that make up my…

You see how easily distracted I get!

I know I’m supposed to be working through my WIPs and only my WIPs but I had yarn left over. As I wound the remaining yarn into a ball I found my mind wondering and I kept thinking about how quick and easy the Cherry Cordial Scarf had been. I decided that I would see how far my remaining yarn would go and I ended up with a nice little scarf.

Give it a try…

6mm needles: Either long needles or a long circular cable to hold the length of the scarf.

Yarn required: Noro Kama yarn – approx 55g

Cast on 150 stitches

Row 1: SSK, knit to end

Row 2: K2tog, knit to end

Row 3: SSK, knit to end

Row 4: K2tog, *K2tog, YO* repeat ** to last 2 stitches, knit to end

Row 5: SSK, knit to end

Row 6: K2tog, purl to end

Row 7: SSK, knit to end

Repeat rows 6 and 7 3 more times (x6 more rows in total) and bind off loosely.

(NB: I changed to a size 7mm needle to help me bind off more loosely.)

As you know I only got as far as knitting one of them so I haven’t yet got to wear the pair out and before you know it, it’ll be too warm to wear them until the end of the year.

One down five to go…

So this is the first WIP I have challenged myself to finish and you’ll be pleased to know that I have!

I adapted a pattern by tante ehm called Camp Out Fingerless Gloves so I could use my Noro Kama yarn.

Gauge required: 15 st x 20 rows I used 5mm needles but use whichever size achieves the gauge above.

Yarn required: 45g of Kama Noro

Provisionally cast on 10 stitches.

Knit 36 rows in stockinette stitch.

Take out provisional cast on and place onto a needle. Cast off using a 3 needle cast off.

Pick up and knit 27 stitches, place marker.

Round 1: Slip marker, cast on 8 stitches, knit to end of round.

Round 2: Knit all.

Round 3: Slip marker, SSK, knit 5, K2tog, knit to end of round.

Round 4: Knit all.

Round 5: Slip marker, SSK, knit 3, K2tog, knit to end of round.

Round 6: Knit all.

Round 7: Slip marker, SSK, knit 1, K2tog, knit to end of round.

Continue to knit until glove measures 9.5”/24cm long. (Approx. 22 rows)

Cast of knit wise.

Repeat for other glove.

I’ve bitten the bullet now to carry on with the challenge. Next up various baby clothes…

My grandparents came to visit the other day. My Grandma reads my blog so is one of the many people now holding me to my challenge of completing my WIPs.

She asked whether I had decided which project to complete first and I said I hadn’t. She then suggested something I felt silly not to have thought of already…

(more…)

When I wrote my previous post about all the WIPs I have lying around I should have mentioned that I had literally just cast on a new project!

Whilst trying to decide which project I was going to tackle next my new wool called out to me and I cast on a quick project.

I used Ravelry to search for a pattern that would be small enough to use the yarn I had: 1 ball of Cherry Cordial 4 ply sock wool. (Hand painted by mymamaknits)

Cherry Cordial 4 ply sock yarn

Pictures courtesy of mymamaknits

  The pattern I liked the look of the most was A Simple Skein by Caitlin Ffrench which was a thin scarf/shawl. I love Caitlin’s patterns and have knit her larger shawls before. The Simple Skein pattern was very easy and involved using garter stitch. I prefer not to just use garter stitch; so I decided to take the basic shape of Caitlin’s shawl and change the stitches used to create my own design.

Cherry Cordial Plaited Scarf Pattern

Guage required: 30 st x 23 rows I used 4mm needles but use whichever size achieves the guage above.

Yarn required: 1 ball of Cherry Cordial 4 ply sock yarn

Cast on 222 stitches

Row 1-3: K2tog, knit to end

Row 4: K2tog, *k2tog, YO* repeat ** to last 2 stitches, knit to end

Row 5-7: K2tog, knit to end

Row 8: K2tog, purl to end

Row 9: K2tog, knit to end

Row 10-44: Repeat rows 8 and 9

Row 45 & 46: K2tog, knit to end

Bind off loosely

(NB: I find that changing to a larger needle can help if you need a loose bind off. I used a 5mm needle here.)

Take the remaining yarn and cut it in half.

Take one half and cut it into approx 30 cm lengths. Collect these lengths together and thread through the last hole at one end of the scarf. Now plait and tie at the end.

Do the same with the other remaining yarn and attach to the other end of the scarf.

WIPs to date:

Blanket

Jumper for son

Slipper

Fingerless Glove

Jumper for me

One of many baby items

Blanket for the bed Started: May 2014 Current Stage: 3/4 completed

A jumper for my son Started: May 2015 Current Stage: Most of the body and one arm completed

Slippers for me Started: December 2015 Current Stage: One slipper completed

Fingerless gloves for me Started: December 2015 Current Stage: One glove completed

Jumper for me Started: February 2016 Current Stage: 1/3 of body completed

Various baby clothes Started: Constantly Current Stage: Various stages of incompletion

  So, what’s my problem?

I either get bored, or I get given/buy new yarn and my fingers get itchy for a new project!

I’d say it’s mainly down to boredom that I haven’t finished the majority of projects listed above. But the fact that I have so many projects on the go is because I get so excited by the yarn I come across that I just have to knit with them.

But it’s becoming a problem and I think it needs confronting. I need to complete the projects I have on the go before I start any more. This isn’t going to be easy, I recently won some new yarn and I am desperate to knit with it!! I think that’s just going to have to be my reward for finally buckling down and completing all those WIPs that are cluttering up the house.

I had to blog about it so that I have someone to answer to. I will post my completed projects and share the patterns. Making the promise in writing means I have to keep it.

So lets see how I do…

…this is going to take a lot of discipline!

Whether you’re spending the day with a loved one or with yourself; I hope you have a lovely day.

So it turns out knitting’s good for you!

It strikes me that those who knit have probably know this already but did you know that knitting is good for you?!

Knit against Dementia

According to a 2011 study from the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences knitting (and other crafts) during middle age decreased the odds of cognitive impairment and memory loss in later life by 30 – 50%.

Knit yourself happy

Knitting not only makes…

Are you getting crafty for Valentines Day?

It’s a week until Valentines Day. Do you have plans?

Valentines Day doesn’t have to be an expensive present giving experience. Don’t let the world fool you, a hand-made gift can mean just as much if not more than something hurriedly bought in a shop.

Whether it be a hand-drawn doodle on a card…

…a unique piece of art…

…hand-made jewellery…

…or a knitted reminder of your affection…

…whatever you…

Easy Knit Bath Mitt

This Christmas I gifted some of the women in my family a hand-made bath mitt and some Suma Handmade Natural Soap.

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Knitted Blanket – A personal project

I have always wanted a hand knitted blanket on my bed in winter. I have considered buying one but really I wanted one that I had created myself.

The problem with large knitted items such as a bed blanket is that you have to plan in advance. The problem with me is that I only ever remember I want a snuggly bed blanket when I need it!!

This year, however, I have been more proactive. I have decided…

It's been a while....sorry about that. Check out my latest blog and re-designed site.

It has been a long time since I last posted and I apologise for that.

I have changed job and 1/2 moved house (it’s a long story!) since my last post and life has been a little busy to concentrate on blogging.

I am hopeful that things are beginning to settle so I am returning to this blog to try and give it another go.

(more…)

It's been a while....sorry about that. Check out my latest blog and re-designed site.

It has been a long time since I last posted and I apologise for that.

I have changed job and 1/2 moved house (it’s a long story!) since my last post and life has been a little busy to concentrate on blogging.

I am hopeful that things are beginning to settle so I am returning to this blog to try and give it another go.

(more…)

I have decided that I will be CLOSING MY ETSY SHOP at the end of the month however I am still more than happy to take custom orders via FB/Twitter/Email etc.

I am contemplating whether to keep this blog going too. It is difficult to know how many people actually read what I post & are genuinely interested.

I do have another blog which is about my life as well as my knitting addiction & makes. If I…