I seem to have finished quite a few WIP's (Works in Progress for the non-knitters reading this) this month.  First of all I (almost) finished Floriston.  The knitting part is complete, but those of you who know me will know what I'm like when it comes to picking up a sewing needle.  She has just a couple of bits that need sewing up and she'll be done.  However, Strokkur, which I began on the 3rd February is complete!

RC-092155-21022014

I test-walked her yesterday with the dogs.  It was very blustery and cold, but I decided to brave it without a jacket, just to see how warm it would be.  And it passed with flying colours!

RC-145504-22022014

The yarn really is exceptionally cosy.   There is only a small section which is fair isle knitting, and I would say that for beginners to fair isle this is a great pattern to get you started.  The shaping in the pattern is good too, and I think if I had any criticism it would be that for my body, I would like it to be a little bit longer.  But that is purely being picky on my part.

RC-145450-22022014

Project Details are:

Pattern:  Strokkur

Yarn Used:  Ripples Crafts Warm Hearted Aran

Colours:  Teal (MC), Syringa (C1) and Assynt Lochs (C2)

Quantity used:  Teal - 570g, Syringa - 33g, Assynt Lochs - 28g

 

Also complete is a Clapotis which I began before I went to Australia in November.  I had intended to take it on the plane with me as flight knitting, but it was really a bit too big and bulky for that.  Again I've used the Warm Hearted Aran yarn in the colourway The Angel's Share, which is one of the Orkney Collection Colours.

RC-100944-23022014

This is a very easy pattern - very much TV knitting.  It is knitted on the bias, and involves a technique which initially may make you shudder - you have to drop stitches to get the laddering effect in the pattern.

RC-100941-23022014

This is a very old pattern from Knitty magazine, and I'm probably the last knitter to get around to knitting this.   The resulting shawl/scarf is a scrunchable, cosy accessory.

RC-100947-23022014

And finally, something which I didn't knit, but was very kindly knitted for me by Yvonne Davies.  It is a very pretty cowl, and the pattern is The Long and Winding Row (Ravelry link) by Susan Ashcroft.  Yvonne assures me it is another good TV knitting project.  Thank you for this Yvonne!

RC-100950-23022014

Yvonne's version used 2 hanks of Warm Hearted Aran in A Dangerous Shade.  It is wide and long enough to wind both around your neck and over your head:

RC-100952-23022014

Using my glass head gives me the creeps a bit, but the weather outside is so awful at the moment, and certainly not conducive to taking artistic shots.

Finally, for those of you who do not receive the Ripples Crafts newsletter, a bit of shop news.  There will be an increase in most of the yarn prices over the next day or so.  This increase also includes yarn clubs, so if you haven't joined but were thinking of doing so, then now would be a good time.  Prices will be amended for tomorrow morning.  Also, I have Yarn Pals back in stock.  Many of you have been asking about these, and I'm so pleased to have a supply again.