Disclaimer: apologies for the horrid dark pictures toward the end, but England is too dang dreary for any natural light right now, and flash just makes it all look horrible.
But back to the subject of my knitting. It’s been quite a productive past month or so as far as projects are concerned. There was that little rush at the end to get the Christmas knitting projects finished, but the recipients were very pleased with the results:
Here’s TheMightyDrMrNin looking rather strapping in his new sweater (”Nairn” from Rowan Knitting Mag #42).
I knitted it from Rowan Country which produces a nice mottled effect.
And the colourwork was done using Rowan Big Wool.
The colourwork was a little fiddly, but only because I was knitting it in the evenings when I was tired and should have been wearing my glasses, and the lighting in the corner of the room wasn’t that great. Other than that it was easy.
And here’s Barnaby Jonathan feeling very pleased with his new mouse mat.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of showing it to him before adding the nose and whiskers, and he was so pleased with it he sat on it straight away and hasn’t got off it since (except for trips to the loo, and his early morning routine of sitting on my face). He’s very, very pleased with it.
I’ll probably get around to adding the nose and whiskers eventually, but right now he doesn’t seem to mind. This is what it looks like when he’s not on it (I managed to get this the other night when he popped out to spend a penny).
Plus (in case you couldn’t already tell from all the links) I also had my Ravelry account activated which has had the same effect as pouring extra-concentrated industrial strength rocket fuel on the already raging flames of my knitting enthusiasm. Yes, I’m on fire right now, so much so that I’m almost burnt to a crisp. In a good way though. And I’m picking up more and more new projects every day. If you’re not on there yet, I thoroughly recommend it, it’s magical. Thanks ashpags for recommending it to me. It takes a couple of weeks for them to activate your account (it’s THAT popular) but it’s well worth the wait. It’s like a blog, a knitting resource and a forum all rolled into one. I’m in the process of slowly updating my profile over there with all my books, yarns, and projects, and finding more and more things that I want to knit which I’m either favouriting or adding to my ‘knitting queue’. Gosh I could spend hours over there…actually I have 
If anyone’s already on there, feel free to add me as a friend, my username is Nin. Mutti’s account was activated this morning, and she’s been glued to it ever since too.
Here are a couple of other projects that I’m progressing with right now.
The Bressay Hap Shawl from Rowan Knitting Mag #42 (thankyou Father Christmas for the yarn).
And the double cable scarf from OneSkein, which since taking this photo has now doubled in length.
I’m also on the verge of finishing a little crochet beret for one of the girls that I made from Rowan Kid Classic (you can tell I’m a Rowan fan 
). I didn’t have a pattern for this one and made it up as I went along, and I’m rather pleased with how it turned out.
I also have about twenty THOUSAND other projects in the pipeline, with my list growing daily thanks to inspiration from Ravelry 
Happy Sunday to one and all. Now I’ve got some knitting to get back to
Born to wear pretty dresses and Barbour jackets and skip through muddy English fields in a pair of Hunter wellies, Nin is now a 30-something British Ex-Pat living in the urban wilds of the San Francisco Bay Area. She likes cake and chocolate and is on a quest to find the perfect Stateside cream tea. 
18 Responses to “Ravelry and the status of my knitting”
Great projects! The beret is wonderful and the velvet ribbon is an inspired touch! I’d love to make a mouse mat for the boys, but they’d just put so much hair on it that it would get ruined instantly. How lovely to get wool for Christmas too - no-one in my family would have the wherewithal to get me such a present…
Thanks! The beret is all done in dc but I threw in a row of trebles to get the holes to thread the ribbon through. When I’ve got good light I’m going to sew a nice neat little bow rather than tie it which is why it’s only 95% finished right now. I originally thought Eliza would look good in it (with it being green), but Scarlett clapped her eyes on it and now it’s very much hers. Paige has requested a blue tweed one, but floppier which is about halfway there, and Eliza’s still thinking about it. Poor girl, she has a hard time picking colours. She likes the thought of a red one, but it’s just a question of finding a nice flattering red for her.
Woohoo, I’m glad you love Rav so much! It does tend to take away a bit of knitting time (ironically!), but that’s ok because it gives me ideas for great new projects! =)
I’m jealous you live in the Land of Rowan, because it’s hard to find around here! (At least where I live - probably easier in more metropolitan areas.) I love all your projects, but especially that sweater. Gorgeous! =)
holy crap. your husband is cute as hell - but that sweater…OMG. i am way jealous. MUY IMPRESSIVE. Mr. Pitts would look so cute in a sweater like that…only i’ll never knit one. i don’t do garments. i like squares.
i don’t seam. hate SEAMING. and the pattern in that…wow. you rock.
Lack of Rowan is one of the things that is crossing my mind right now, so I’m going to have a good old hunt around next month and then assess the situation. Apparently there’s a wool shop about a 5 minute drive from the apartment which claims to stock it, but as to how much they have I have no idea. And I’m wondering what the price will be. I’m 90% tempted to buy a load of Kid Classic for a crochet project to do when I’m there, but for some reason I’m holding back. I know I’ll instantly regret it as soon as I’m out there, which is entirely stupid. I should just buy it.
Yes, Ravelry is addictive. I was on it until 4am last night and I now have almost 20 things in my knitting queue. I’m going to have to temporarily ban myself I think hee hee!
And Stella, I agree with you, I *hate* sewing up, hate it, HATE it. But knitting garmets isn’t so bad- the front and back are essentially rectangles and so too are the sleeves. You’d be good at it, I’m sure.
And I completely agree with his cuteness, of course
I have heard of Ravelry.
But I don’t really understand it.
And I’m afraid if I go over there….I will get sucked in and then my house would be condemned for sure!
Can I lust after your cat??? The cat I forever think of as Oliver?
Well, I can’t speak to their selection, but I can say that it will probably be expensive! If I were you I’d definitely buy the Kid Classic before you leave the UK. Then, after you use it up while you’re in CA, you can buy more yarn to bring back with you!
I love your mouse mat! And your cat. I must say that you are one of the coolest persons I know! Yes, you are.
Well not “know” exactly but know of.
i looove that mouse it’s way too cute !
Hi. I just discovered your blog - and I love it in a huge way. Your knitting looks so wonderful and cozy. I especially love the little beret (I love berets) and the mouse mat for your cat! I’m a lover of all animals but especially felines. I always say that in another life I was a cat of some sort. My own cat (Oliver) passed away a year ago…but for the time being, I get to kitten-sit for my sister’s kitty, Frida. (I call her Frida Emmanulla. And we all call her Pita, too.) Barnaby Jonathan is very cute. I love the picture of him with his paws right near the top of his new mouse mat. Ahh, cuteness!!
You’re amazing.
I love your blog SO MUCH. how clever you are with knitting and Mr does indeed look quite mighty in the beautiful jumper.
I asked you before about the patterns for the lovely clothes your sister makes. They are just my kind of thing.
Can you possibly write to me???
Hi Lynda, thanks for visiting again! My sister actually has her own etsy shop now
http://www.malphi.etsy.com/
Wow, that sweater is gorgeous! And the mouse mat is just too cute!
okay. update. nin. we have to talk.
would you email me???
when you come to the states - we have to get together. and now husband wants ME to knit him that thang you made your sweetie.
And it makes me shudder. i showed him the pics the other day - and he loves it. and i would LOVE to make it for him. but im very afraid. especially of all that detailing. it makes me nervous. but i want to do it. so. pointers? tips? recommendations…pattenr..exactly the colors you used…etc etc…how bout ILL PAY YOU TO MAKE ANOTHER AND THEN WE’LL PRETEND LIKE I DID IT??
xoxo
stella
Hi Stella, hee hee that made me laugh! DrMrNin LOVES this sweater and apparently wore it proudly to work last Friday. He was thrilled to bits with it when I gave it to him. I actually knitted it from a pattern (it’s “Nairn” from Rowan Knitting Mag #42) and it’s a lot easier than it looks. It was really fast to knit too which made it a happy project to complete- I managed to get the back done in just one weekend…ok I was knitting *all* weekend, but it grew quickly.
All the info you need about it (the book that contained the pattern, the wool I used etc) is all on here
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Nin/nairn
PS there’s practically no shaping involved either, so you more or less get to knit rectangles so I know you’ll enjoy it
That Ravelry site looks awesome! I can’t believe there’s a waiting list for it! Good golly, you must have a thing for waiting, child!
Speaking of which, Congrats on the Greencard status. Let’s cross our fingers for 6 months!! 
Thanks Kalurah…..but I’ll tell you this, Ravelry is SO worth waiting for!!