So far, so good... I can see why, stranded colourwork is so addictive. Just watching the pattern form as I work along (very slowing I might add).
For the corrugated ribbing, I cheated. I'm not very adept at working the one colour in each hand for knitting and purling stitches, so I knitted with the mauve yarn, slipping all the purl stitch and came back around, purling all the white stitches and slipping all the blue ones.
Now that we are onto the stocking stitches, I'm holding the mauve yarn in the left and the white in the right. It's going a little faster, not much but this is sort of *new* to me.
I opted to strand in the year, just to remind me when I started them.
It's all not as neat as I'd like and I am resisting all my anal retentiveness to rip and start again. Take the year on the band, it's not centered. It's not centered in the pattern either and for some weird reason really bothers me.
Finally, thanks to everyone for directing me as to where I can go to spend more money collecting more patterns that I may never get to knit. I grew up where it was perfectly acceptable to spend money on published matters (i.e. books, papers, etc) and to skimp on things like clothing and fripperies, so I might occasionallyu feel guilty about buying yarn but I rarely feel guilty about buying books.
Thanks to everyone that posted links to their gloves too. It really inspires me to try and get this done if only so that I can be admitted to the 'I've knitted Sanquhar gloves' club? Do you think we should have a secret handshake or something?
Posted by atu at October 9, 2005 10:46 PM | TrackBackLooking for the correct wool to knit Sanquhar Gloves ie. 3 ply pure wool in black and white. Can you help - Charlotte. Scotland
Posted by: Charlotte Whitelaw at March 13, 2008 03:09 PMOh ! I've never made Sanquhar gloves, but I have made Sanquhar socks.
Posted by: Rebecca at October 12, 2005 03:36 PMLovely gloves!
My motto is this (approximate) quote from, I think, Erasmus: "When I get a little money, I buy books. If there is any left, I buy food and clothing."
You pick the most fascinating projects! Look how tiny those stitches are. Amazing.
Posted by: Beth S. at October 11, 2005 05:15 PMI'm in awe at the beautiful work you've done! Gorgeous!
Posted by: eyeleen at October 11, 2005 03:52 AMMistakes? I don't see any mistakes! Just one beautiful glove in the making! I love that you incorporated the year. : D
Posted by: Amanda at October 11, 2005 02:56 AMI love your idea of stranding in the year - like a stonemason carving the date of a building on the foundation stone!
Posted by: Meg at October 11, 2005 12:04 AMOh, Polly, I'm loving this. Those gloves are going to be amazing.
I've just gotten back to my first-ever Fair Isle, and I pretty much forgot to feed the children this weekend because of it. So addicting! I do it two-handed because I love the way the yarns never, ever tangle. So pleasant! As for tension, mine is a mess, but I figure if I do enough of it, it may get a little better.
xoxoxox
Posted by: Mason-Dixon Ann at October 10, 2005 05:33 PMPolly your gloves look wonderful and I am sure I am not the only knitter who has never tackled stranded colourwork, but has knitted for years and is left thinking - what is she talking about? They look beautiful and I think you would have to point out any mistakes to me.
Sarah x
Posted by: Sarah at October 10, 2005 12:05 PMI also grew up feeling it is perfectly reasonable to spend a fortune on books but not anything else. I am beginning to question this as I no longer have any room left to store books (or any money!)
Posted by: tacha at October 10, 2005 12:01 PMBeautiful work! Reminds me that I owe a friend a pair of gloves. But yours will be finished way before I ever start.
Posted by: Thomas at October 9, 2005 11:08 PMI am resisting the urge to unravel down 30 rows for one stitch. Once the garment is together, you will never notice it.
Posted by: Colleen at October 9, 2005 06:59 PMHi Polly! I am myself a one to get up in the middle of the night to rip something that bothers me, but honestly, that's just insane. Keep on resisting! What I can tell you after my first colour swatch for a norvegian sweater, is that a bit of blocking or steam will work WONDERS on the stranded colourwork. You'll get an even and smooth fabric with neat little strands on the back... lovely!
Posted by: Sophie at October 9, 2005 06:42 PMThe purl is a killer with two handed knitting, it seems to take forever. You're doing fine though, you're going to have a wonderful pair of gloves.
Posted by: Tracy at October 9, 2005 06:24 PMyeah! i think it looks absolytely beautiful. there should definitely be a secret handshake for this!
Posted by: kris at October 9, 2005 06:23 PMThe two-handed approach to stranding is completely optional y'know -- I carry both yarns in my left hand. I switched to continental style years ago, my knitting that way is much better, so I never saw the point of holding one of the yarns in the right hand. In addition, I hold the needles so differently for English vs. continental that I just couldn't get comfortable with the two-handed method. GREAT idea on how to handle the corrugated ribbing....
Posted by: Rob at October 9, 2005 05:34 PMThe hand knitted Sanquhar gloves I bought in Sanquhar [!] are far from perfect,but incredibly beautiful,partly bevause of that. I am reminded that another woman made them.
Your's are gorgeous.
Polly, there is such a thing as being too much of a perfectionist, you know! I think they look positively brilliant - will the recipient (if it is not your goodself?) actually count the stitches each side of the date and say ' oh - she hasn't done this properly' - if she does, she doesn't deserve them......
Posted by: Jill at October 9, 2005 05:23 PM