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the laptop the axiom if you haven t seen wall e run out and see it you won t regret it i posted about this blanket awhile back ok nearly a year ago but here s the pattern for luca find it on ravelry too here named after it s first recipient i have realized that i didn t take down too many details about making this blanket in my notebook so i apologize in advance but it s a simple rectangle so i hope this will suffice luca cabled baby blanket materials used 8 or 9 x 50g balls of debbie bliss cashmerino dk i used colour 9 5 mm needles i knit straight on a long pair of addi circular needles so it was easy to handle cable needle darning needle gauge sadly i didn t take note of this but this pattern can really suit any gauge size of fo approx 24 inches x 36 inches abbreviation c8b sl 4 st to cable needle and hold to back k4 then k4 from the cn stitch pattern this starts as a 13 row pattern with two cable rows in the first sequence and one cable row in every sequence thereafter odd numbered rs rows k10 p3 k2 p2 k8 p2 to last 15 sts k2 p3 k10 even numbered ws rows k13 p2 k2 p8 k2 to last 15 sts p2 k13 pattern co 168 stitches with your preferred cast on method knit in garter st until work is 1 5 inches to start stitch pattern rows 1 and 3 k10 p3 k2 p2 k8 p2 to last 15 sts k2 p3 k10 row 2 and 4 k13 p2 k2 p8 k2 to last 15 sts p2 k13 row 5 k10 p3 k2 p2 c8b p2 to last 15 sts k2 p3 k10 continue and repeat rows 6 13 only until work reaches desired length row 6 12 follow odd and even number row pattern above row 13 k10 p3 k2 p2 c8b p2 to last 15 sts k2 p3 k10 to complete end on row 8 and change to garter st for last 1 5 inches bo when blanket is desired length and weave in ends block if desired arianna posted by arianna at 3 59 pm 38 comments labels knitting thursday july 31 2008 matilda a winter scarf hello all another pattern for you from this year s knitting arsenal matilda is an amazing scarf that i fell in love with it after the first pattern repeat not only did i get amazing compliments every single time i have worn it but it really knits up as the most luxurious yet sturdy fabric this really is a showstopper and by far my favourite project of this past winter i would really recommend it as your next scarf project as it is so interesting to knit and you will love the texture especially if you love cabling and even more so if you are one of these super coordinated people who can whizz up masses of cables without a cable needle i have named it matilda as i was watching the glorious bbc series cranford while i was knitting it a series i really hope continues it is just so so good i chose the wool on impulse early last winter when rowan cocoon came out as it just called to me from across the room it s beautifully spun and with a slight sheen and i really adore it i chose the lightest colour as it really makes the lattice cable pattern pop and i wouldn t recommend the darker shades for this for that reason if you see the archives of this blog you will see that i frogged a striped cabled scarf in cocoon with the dark charcoal shade because it was very stiff and was like night and day in texture to the fluffy lovely scree colourway pattern also on ravelry of course here please note that this pattern has been recently adjusted due an error apologies matilda cabled winter scarf materials used 5 x 100g balls of rowan cocoon in scree for a scarf length of 2 meters or as many to make your preferred length 7mm needles cable needle gauge any will do co 50 stitches or multiples of 6 to suit your yarn gauge 1 edge st on each side with your preferred cast on method knit in the following stitch pattern until the scarf measures 2 meters or your desired length weave in ends stitch pattern 6 st rc sl 3 sts to cn and hold to back k3 k3 from cn 6 st lc sl 3 sts to cn and hold to front k3 k3 from cn row 1 and all rs rows knit rows 2 and all ws rows purl row 3 k1 edge k3 6 st rc rep from end to last 4 stitches k3 k1 edge row 7 k1 edge 6 st lc rep from to end to last stitch k1 edge rep rows 1 8 enjoy arianna posted by arianna at 12 51 pm 22 comments labels knitting thursday july 17 2008 toasty cabled hot water bottle cover pattern i know i am the worst blogger in the world so to make up for it i would like to give you a pattern of mine that i have just now finally written up i am posting this as my very first pattern on ravelry because someone asked me for it you can find it here on rav or below i made this cabled hot water bottle cover for my friend laura last winter and i would really recommend it as a great christmas gift and there is plenty of time to get started without further ado toasty cabled hot water bottle cover materials used 4 x 50g balls of debbie bliss cashmerino chunky i used colours 11 and 23 6 mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge cable needle darning needle standard hot water bottle i used sanger brand gauge 16 stitches 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch pattern row 1 k2 p3 k12 p3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 2 k5 p12 k3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 3 k2 p3 k4 c8f p3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 4 k5 p12 k3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 5 k2 p3 k12 p3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 6 k5 p12 k3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 7 k2 p3 c8b k4 p3 rep to last two stitches k2 row 8 k5 p12 k3 rep to last two stitches k2 pattern for the body co 52 stitches with your preferred cast on method knit in stitch pattern until work measures double the length of the hot water bottle change colours half way through if making a contrasting coloured cover bo when cover is desired length fold and mattress stitch up the sides and the shoulders leaving 24 stitches on each side in the centre to pick up and knit for both edges for the neck for the neck pick up and knit 24 stitches and knit in double rib k2 p2 until neck measures 8 inches repeat this on the other side and mattress stitch the two pieces together on the sides fold over completed neck as shown in photo and insert empty hot water bottle alternatively you could knit all 48 stitches in the round with one or two circular needles if you are familiar with these techniques tip water bottle goes in easier through the neck when bent a bit in half vertically enjoy posted by arianna at 9 49 pm 14 comments labels knitting tuesday november 13 2007 i bake a lot but i am truly rubbish at taking photos of it i recently talked to a friend who happens to be a photo editor for a huge imagery company and she gave me some tips so i am hoping my images will improve that doesn t do much for the fact my greediness well outbalances my need to photograph so usually by the time i get to the camera pooof nothing but crumbs remain perfect case in point i made a free form apple tart this past weekend to take to a dinner party and it was just amazing we served it with caramel ice cream and it really couldn t have felt more in rhythm with the cold crisp weather we are having anyway i had to literally move my friends out of the way to get these photos a before and after shot of the lovely dreamy apple tarts i used rose levy beranbaum s recipe for the amazing flaky cream cheese pie crust which is a god send if you are a pastry novice but still very useful for things like a free form tart when you don t have the pan supporting the weight of the filling the crust was crisp and light but still substantial enough to slice easily and provide a striking balance with the soft aromatic fruit i rolled out the dough and cut out a large circle by tracing around a bowl turned upside down and piled in the apple filling i made an hour earlier for all you eagle eyes out there the photos above aren t of the same tart i ended up making one large one for 4 people to slice on the left and a second single serving on the right with the scraps my recipe apple tart filling 4 bramley apples peeled cored and sliced 1 squeeze of half a lemon 2 tbsp calvados 1 vanilla pod scraped and seeded 1 2 cup of sugar more if the apples are very tart 1 nob of fresh ginger size of thumb tip grated 1 2 tsp cinnamon 1 2 tsp nutmeg stir all ingredients together and let rest covered with plastic wrap for an hour scoop apples from bowl and pile neatly in the centre of rolled out dough fold edges of pastry around in a neat overlapping fashion until secure chop up 1 tbsp of butter and fleck on top of apples egg wash pastry and sprinkle the whole tart with demerara sugar bake at 180c or 350f until golden and bubbly as well at the tart dough looking crisp serves 4 greedy people however as promised an catch up of sorts i have been doing lots cupcaking lately and that has a lot to do with the wedding season that has just passed i did two wedding cakes one large and one not so large for two couples i adore both of whom share my love of simplicity and didn t want the normal fruit cake marzipan nightmares that pass for wedding cakes in this country so i baked them these the big one on the left is chocolate truffle cupcakes one of my best and apple spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing exactly the right sort of flavours for a september wedding the smaller one was made up of lemon and raspberry cupcakes with a lemon mousse icing and guinness and ginger cupcakes with spiced cream cheese icing both times all of the guests fawned over them and of course i was very bashful about it but inside i was so proud to give my friends such a gift i love making things and i would much rather do something like this for people i love than buy them a matching kettle and toaster or whatever trendy people ask for on their wedding lists isn t that why we make things in the first place to give people a unique joy that can t be bought well i do anyway arianna posted by arianna at 10 25 pm 1 comments sunday november 11 2007 latest knitting exploits lots going on barely a minute to catch my breath luckily that hasn t stopped me knitting or baking or i would be going insane i have completed 3 projects in the past couple of weeks and here are the results modelling done by my patient husband however i have been indulging in a bit of web based fun and have of course fallen a bit in love with ravelry i have been bad and been updating my profile and projects on there not here if are already there look for me ahalshaw if not see you there soon i also went to the first uk stitch n bitch this past weekend with a couple of fellow knitting friends and had the best time it was a great atmosphere and much yarn buying ensued yay i will post photos of course the best was attending a workshop talk by jane brocket of yarnstorm fame she was just as charming and lovely in person talking about her crochet flowers as i imagined if you don t have her amazing book get it or hit up santa for christmas i hope my life is as charming as hers one day next weekend paris after which i will update you on all the cake eating done over the last few months hope all is well out there x arianna posted by arianna at 8 37 pm 1 comments monday october 15 2007 oooh ahhh i know i promised a cake update but look at the lovely yarn i bought at the knitting show this weekend mostly the show was appalling so crowded and so much crap who knew they made acrylic yarn in 5 lb balls and i have never been body checked by so many old ladies on their way to a cross stitch demo but there were treasures to be found treasures indeed the top yarn is shimmer 5 velvet olive by colinette ooh and ah i wanted to wrap myself up in all the long flowing hanks at their display so gorgeous i think i am going to make a scarf out of this one because it s so shiny and so touchable pattern tbc the bottom yarn is koigu for socks of course from the lovely socktopus stand so gorgeous but unbelievably expensive really shocking actualy i hope it s as nice as everyone says i think monkey socks for these babies as the colourways should really show off the pattern i started this scarf over the weekend but i think i am going to abandon ship and start on the shiny colinette for a cable scarf instead i am not that thrilled with it it s rowan cocoon but i don t really like how it feels knitted up maybe for a cool stripy hat instead i only bought two balls but still waste not want not also i was finally invited to join ravelry i am really excited about it and have been slowly putting up pics and patterns i think it s going be very fun to geek out over everyone s photos and amazing talent in one cool place yay hope you had a nice weekend arianna posted by arianna at 6 00 pm 1 comments labels knitting sunday october 07 2007 knitting ok see that wasn t so bad at least i broke the seal ripped off the plaster and got back on the horse by posting in a insomniatic fit the other night it s all good i have been staring at the link to this blog on my desktop with fear and trepidation for ages i know it s something i really want to do but really haven t been able to give it the time it deserves also after reading all the amazing blogs out there and see how well everyone is able to communicate like i said loser but i am working on it it s a like a blogging rehab program i will start out this update with what i have been knitting over the past few months as creatively stunted as i felt earlier in the year i have made up for it a million times over i have a knitting up a storm and have a wish list of projects i want to do that is a mile long let s hope my wallet will stretch as far i have developed a serious addiction to luxury yarn i have actually been spending more on yarn than on handbags and cocktails you can see the gravity of the situation i figure if you spend hours days weeks handmaking something you might as well go for the best yarn you can afford also there seem to be so many amazing patterns out there and i intend to do them all but let s back track and show you what i have been doing lately i will work backward so my friend becky gave birth to a lovely little boy and here s the cabled of course i really can t help myself blanket i made in a lovely deep sky blue from debbie bliss cashmerino on 6mm needles it s lovely and soft and long enough to wrap around the little un or put in the pram it was a huge success and the new mommy and daddy loved it again this is a blanket of my own design and i would be happy to share the pattern the next thing i knit was from the new rowan new shapes book which is really great if you are thinking of getting it so many stylish and easy chunky knits for this season that and the new rowan magazine 42 and i am overwhelmed with ideas i knit this pattern named sage but instead of using big wool as directed i used up some wool i impulsively purchased at loop earlier in the year i had one of those reactions to blue sky alpaca yarns that really makes grateful i learned to knit it was so saturated in colour a gorgeous anthracite grey and so soft i literally couldn t put it down so i bought all 5 skeins even though i didn t have a pattern in mind yeah i do that most of the time it works out ha ha when i saw this pattern i knew it was th...