Sometimes I forget where my head is at…
Last night at my knitting circle I started a new WIP, having bought some of Sirdar’s new Big Softie yarn. Now, let me say that I love this yarn already — it really does live up to its name and it’s a joy to work with! I am thrilled — just can’t stop touching it… LOL :)
Anyway, the current WIP is a hat, in shade 335 (”Blancmange”) — which is really a lovely polar-ice blue. Gorgeous. The hat pattern is in four sizes — three child sizes, and one adult. I cast on the appropriate amount of stitches, knit away, and get to my decreases. Part-way along the first row of decreases, I realise that the number of stitches on my needles don’t match the pattern.
It takes a fews seconds to click — and by this point, my heart-sister Jo is laughing at me… Yup, you guessed it — I’d cast on for the smallest child size. Then I’d worked as per the adult decreases.
My reasoning is this: usually, I work the smallest size for a top (as that’s normally around a UK size 10). Because I’d seen the hat pattern as per any other pattern, I just did as normal… Except it’s not a pattern for a top, and so I have to work to the largest size in this case. I realised this and worked accordingly — but only when I reached the decreases. I didn’t realise this before I started. And so I’ve now ripped it all back and started again.
*headdesks*
One of these days, I swear someone will remind me to pick up my head on my way out… LOL
WIP: Wrist Warmers
Last week, I attempted to continue with Andrew’s jumper (a Sirdar pattern I’m knitting in a lovely marbled black/grey shade of Denim Chunky) that’s using 7mm needles. And Gods, did it hurt. My glass-infested hand had major issues with this — no matter what I did, I kept brushing the area where the glass is. And I had to rest after every few rows. In the end, I managed to make some headway — holding the needles in a particular position meant I was no longer catching the area (despite the protective dressing and bandage, it’s still painful and liable to be nudged). However, this change in position meant my fingers were aching after just a few rows. And so I put the knitting away. :(
Yesterday, though, I had a brainwave: I would try smaller needles. Over the weekend I’d obtained a copy of the Freedom Spirit pattern book, and in it is a pattern for some rather nice wristwarmers — knitted up on 4mm needles! Given I have two balls of Freedom Spirit (shade 515, “Destiny”) I could try knitting these up as a mini project, and see if they hurt my hands as much. What’s more, if successful, I could use them to hide the bandage!
And so, I found my 4mm needles and cast on. A few hours later, I was happily knitting along — the thinner needles were definitely easier to handle than the larger ones, and it’s a real Goddess-send! Even more amazing is how well the yarn knits up — I knew it was self-striping, but it is rather beautiful when it all comes together. I find myself itching to complete just one more row, honest, just so that I see how the colours develop next. :)
So far, I’ve done about four hours on these (two last night, and about the same again tonight at my knitting circle), and these are coming along beautifully. And they don’t hurt, either! Victory! Here they are as of the four-hour mark (you can click on the image for a larger one, if you want to see the colour-changing stripes more closely):
Note to self: get better photos/scans in future.
I have a family function on Sunday. It would be really nice if I could get these finished before then, so that I can wear them and hide the ugly dressing… LOL. Here’s hoping! :)
On the needles…
I went to my knitting circle last night, and had a great time. There were a lot there and I thought I would have problems squeezing into the shop but it was okay — there was one last seat! And there was even hot tea in the pot. LOL :)
I spent the evening working on a project which, after some thought, I realised I didn’t want to be doing. It was for a very nice strappy top — but totally unsuitable for the coming months. If I continued working on it, I wouldn’t be able to wear it until next year. :( And so, when I got home I stored it (to continue with in the spring), went through my stash and found some yarn for this lovely jumper, which is what is now on the needles.
I am knitting it in Sirdar Blur, and in a shade called “Down” (number 712), which is a lovely cream colour. I figure it will be something nice and wispy (but hopefully warm) for the winter.
Wish me luck!
And onward!
Knitting circle last night was fantastic. I finished the main bit of the item I’ve been knitting for the past few weeks, and started on knitting the decorations for it (which will be sewn onto the main part once done). Photos to come at some point later down the line! :-) And the forthcoming Knitting In Public Day looks great fun, though I’m unsure how I’ll be taking part as yet!
Learning Curve…
Knitting last night was highly productive and a good learning curve for me. My current project requires knitting with three different yarns concurrently, and actually learning how to ball some of the yarns from a hank prior to starting was hysterically funny. And once I’d gotten my head around the simplicity of knitting with three yarns, I was away and running. It even looks like this may be a quick finish — if I can find the time! ;p
I’m currently alternating between that project and my current cross stitch WIP, which I estimate requires another 35ish hours to finish — said hours that, ideally, I need to find before the end of May. It’s going to be a present (once framed) and I would really like to get it into the framers with enough time to spare, prior to the event at which it’ll be presented. I can’t say any more due to the person in question potentially reading this — but I will post photos after the event!