Tension, tension, tension!
Well, I finished the hat — and it’s too small. Now,part of me is okay with this — after all, the hat was just a quick projet to try while I got to know the yarn; I figured it would be more exciting than knitting a tension square. However, once I got into it, I really began to like its simplicity And once it was done, I found I really did like it.
And yet… It’s too small. I’ve since figured out the reason for this — ideally, the perfect tension for the yarn should be 9 stitches and 12 rows over 4″, whilst using 10mm needles. When I use this needle size, I come out too tight — and so, it would be best for me to up a needle size or two.
I ended up knitting a tension square after the hat. Blah. But it did knit up quickly and I was pleased to find that I can achieve the correct tension using 12mm needles. And so I’m now knitting a jumper — but afterwards, I may just go back and re-knit that hat. It was certainly quick enough. :) For now though, it’ll make a cute fashion accessory for one of the soft toys… Or maybe for one of the cats! LOL …
Here it be in all its glory. I really do love this colour — so frosty! You can click for larger should you wish:
I’ve not had this problem with other stuff, so it just goes to show how important knitting a tension square is before starting a project with a new yarn!
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
Cross Stitcher In Residence [WIP] — #2
Further on the Lizzie*Kate design, “Cross Stitcher In Residence” — actually, this has been sitting around here for a good few days after I reached the point shown in the photo below, but I have had a lot of other stuff going on. The PC died for one thing, and who knew that it would take over a week to get sorted? *sighs* But still, here be the current progress update:
Sadly though, it looks like I will have to take a break from crafts for a little while. :( My right hand has been sore of late, and when I began sobbing with pain on Saturday, AJV whisked me to the hospital pretty darn quick. Several x-rays later and it seems that I have a foreign body in my hand, and so will need an operation to remove it. Currently, the docs think it is the by-product of an encounter my hand had with a glass window back in 2004 (!) and that this sliver of glass has been sitting in my hand ever since, waiting for an opportune moment to wake up… Gah!
Thus, I’m currently wearing a protective bandage which is a little hampering for cross stitch. I haven’t checked to see if I can knit with it yet, but given that I will probably be wearing an even more restrictive bandage post-op, I’m not holding out much hope. :( That said, though, we currently don’t know when the op will be — hopefully, we will be able to find out later on in the day.
Best do what I can while I can then, yea? ;)
Lessons of the Day
Lessons learned so far today:
1) Onions really don’t like me.
2) Graters don’t get on well with my knuckles.
3) Size 28 cross stitch needles snap really easily. :(
Note to Self…
… Accidentally kneeling on your beautiful 6mm Britanny birches = broken knitting needles.
F**k!