Hand Knitted Things: March 2010

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Baked Raspberry and Ricotta Cheesecake

Baked Raspberry and Ricotta Cheesecake
I know raspberries are not in season yet, but I was determined to make this yesterday during the dismal weather to remind myself that summer will be here some time.....Details of how to make this Rachel Allen recipe - click here.

(Info added later in response to comments - The recipe uses "digestive biscuits" for the base. For those of you reading this from "across the pond" the nearest US equivalent might be Graham Crackers or Vanilla Wafers. I've never really thought about the name "digestive biscuits" before, but now I have, it does sound a strange name! Here's what wikipedia has to say and here's a link to a discussion thread which made me smile - here)

Monday, 29 March 2010

A Black Cat Watches the Birdies

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Saartje's Booties

They're for a friends new baby! The pattern is free to download and it's called Saartje's Booties from the website Saartje Knits. I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. For those of you on Ravelry take a look at all the lovely colour combinations of "finished objects" here. Now I "need" to make a pair my size!

Monday, 22 March 2010

Cast on "Lime" Green

Cast on "Lime" Green
I'll have new name for this colour - if this project turns out okay.......

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Organising Ball Bands

Over time I've collected a large number of yarn samples which are attached to the original ball bands - just so I have a record of the washing instructions, fibre content, gauge, needle size, etc. for future reference. I had accumulated a lot of samples and had no system for retrieving the information, they were all filed in a large plastic bag! This system was in need of some sort of reorganisation.

The large jumble of paper and yarn has been reduced to a card filing system, one card for each range of yarn that I use most often. I've used one ball band (which has all the information needed), stapled it to the card, attached each colour sample I have through a hole, written the colour code or name next to each sample. I can update as needed and record when a colour is discontinued. They are now stored in a small box more like a filing system...

Materials required; pieces of card, a hole punch, a stapler (or glue), pen/pencil.

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Blueberry Liesl

Blueberry Liesl
This is a recently cast on summer cardigan project I'm making for myself. The pattern is called Liesl by Ysoda Teague and can be purchased from her website. It's knitted from the top down and has a lot of variations to the pattern which mean you can personalise the project. The yarn I've chosen is called "Summer Tweed" by Rowan in the shade 525 "Blueberry". It's a 70% silk, 30 % cotton mix. My choice of yarn was influenced by hearing about it in Never Not Knitting's podcast no.16 yarn review segment.

Liesl back view

I've just reached the stitch divide for the sleeves. I'm going to make this with three quarter length sleeves and long in the body - depending on the amount of yarn available - I have five 50g balls for this project. I've modified the cast on row by holding two strands together then changed straight away to a single strand for the first knit row. My reason for doing this was that I tugged a bit too hard on this yarn trying to undo a tangle and it snapped a lot easier than I thought it would. Secondly there is no "ease" in this yarn. This pattern is knitted from the top down and potentially a lot of stress and weight carried on that edge with no "give"other than that in the lace pattern. I don't think the double thickness looks over obvious - the down side is I have more than one loose end to weave away out of sight.

Cast on edge - front view

Rowan Summer Tweed - Blueberry

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Newly Hatched

My most recent knit design in the form of a reversible soft toy. They are Wise Owl, Snowy Owl and Brown Owl. Sometimes these owls are wide awake. Sometimes fast asleep...

Wide Awake Owls