daisy daisy give me an answer do

last night i had fun with photos. i realised that my camera is still at Rich's house after his trip to New York, but undeterred i managed to take some gems using my computer camera! it was fun to do some posing!

So now it is time for show and tell... Emily, what have you got?

This is the scarf i am knitting for my friend Robyn. It was her birthday on Sunday, but i missed the deadline due to bad planning. In my defence though, the scarf is knitted using daisy stitch which is very lovely (see here for some daisy stitch arm warmers http://www.purlbee.com/daisy-stitch-hand-warmers/ - the effect with three colours is really groovy (a bit seventies do you think?)) but very slow and a little like hard work...

Here i am knitting daisy stitch - can you see how hard i'm working! (rolled up my sleeves)

To make a daisy stitch, this is how you do it.

step 1, cast on a number of stitches which is a multiple of 4, plus one extra (for example 13, or 41 or 109)

step 2, knit a row

step 3, knit 1, purl 3together to create a new stitch on the right hand needle, but do not drop the three from the left, instead wrap the wool from front to back, clockwise around the right hand needle (through between the needles) and purl the same three stitches again, this time dropping the stitches when done. This should have made a new set of three on the right hand needle (one from the first purl, one from the wrapping and one from the second purl). the next stitch is a knit and then do the daisy again k1, daisy, k1, daisy, all the way along.

step 4. knit row! (welcome relief) on this row, be sure to keep the threes in the right order for ultimate grandness.

step 5.daisy row, but this time k1, p1,k1 at the start of the row. this will give the daisies a diagonal arrangement, otherwise they will all be lined up.

step 6, just follow steps 2 -5 until you have the right size!

There is a better description on the purlbee site (see link above) complete with pictures which is more helpful than i have been - although it looks like she is doing hers making the daisies on the knit row. Thinking about it now, that might have been easier!!

Here is a close up of my daisy stitches. it is a lovely texture. I would like to do a jacket, but maybe when the memories of this have faded.

It's getting long though. that is giving me the motivation to continue. (ps. i don't normally complain so much about knitting. i love it really!)

Here i am modelling to give you an idea of the finished product. I was worried the lilac border was too wide, but when it's wrapped around the neck, it all works out fine!

but then i got it stuck in my hair. hazards of knitting with long hair (there are some others too)

Anyway, i am nearly there, and it is going to be worth the effort for sure. I am really pleased with it. You can not tell from any of these pictures, but i'm knitting the ends to points and going to add a lilac pom-pom to each end. i was inspired by this lovely squidge of a scarf you can see on this page: http://knittingunderwater.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/fo-yellowberry-scarf/, although that one is quite a different effect. like a polar bear. She has used blueberry stitch on that one - i'm not sure how that's done, but i would like to find out!

Much love,

Daisy Duke. xx

tent dresses for camping trips (and other summer events)

I am striving to make this summer as good as the summer of 2008. That was the year that i was first living in Brighton, and there were so many beach gatherings, and parties, and picnics and events. Last year was a bit quiet, so i am determined this year will be better and that i will live the summer to the full. So I was so delighted this morning to see that there are plans for a bank holiday picnic. yes. They are the best of the summer events in my opinion.

And i invited lots of people to the Stitch and Beach knitting party on the 13th. That coincides with world wide knit in public day... http://www.wwkipday.com/   i hadn't heard of it, or realised at all that i was contributing to the cause until it was pointed out. it must be a higher universal knitting force There is group also meeting to knit in public on the saturday in st Ann's well gardens. I love it when something is worldwide. it makes it all the grander. it's nice to be part of something big (even though we're not really a part of it). I checked their merchandise shop though, and i wasn't all to impressed, i thought it would be things to help with the knitting in public parties, like bunting, and picnic blankets and banners and teacosies. They just have a lot of cotton t-shirts. I like the idea of everyone wearing a uniform though. i don't know what stitch and beach uniform would be. Maybe knitted pirate hats...

I am still yet to start photographing things. i know that is important for making a blog, so i can show and tell. must try harder! However, last night my new dressmaking pattern arrived. it came from ebay, and very speedily. i'm excited that it was in time for the weekend so i have time to make one. It's a tent dress - nice and roomy, and i think it is a shape which suits me. I have scanned it for the world to see...

I am really so pleased to have got this - i think it will see me through the hot days, and looks to be straightforward to put together. I think my first attempt will be version 1 (on the right) but short sleeved. I am yet to purchase material, but there are some great places online for buy vintage fabrics, so i think this is the perfect oppertunity to indulge.

I started another scarf last night using Colinette Skye in colourway Banwy. I only ordered one ball and two balls of Art to knit together for contrast - but when they arrived i didn't think it would work so well so am rethinking my projects. The skye is lovely chunky wool though. (i think aran weight) perfect for scarf knitting-simple and satisfying  (no more daisy stitches!).

I have some black wool to knit a crow. I will leave you with a picture of a pony i knitted:

Knitted Pony.

Salutations,

Emilia. xxx