There are good girls and there are bad girls. Good girls focus on getting their sweaters done. Bad girls covet a finished sweater but they get distracted and bored and start playing with other projects. (Like Bronte, who's curently having a dip in the frogpond). I vaguely considered having a short sleeve fruity.. and I got nervous with my tension, thanks to Alpaca Woman, she can have some evil moments:-)... I mean that in a really nice way, of course.
What if I made fruity and it was too small...? I might have to give it away!! Not to alpaca woman and not to Amelia, they are far too slim.
Whenever possible, I always try to do both sleeves simultaneously. Whilst it feels slower, it actually works out faster. No need to count rows or take notes to ensure that the shaping and length are entirely consistent. (And no need to stand at funny angles so no one detects that one sleeve is slightly longer than the other) The only time that I would recommend against this method is when working complicated lace, colourwork or beading (oh what a tangled web we'll weave...). I get both sleeves done together and I can't tell you the advantages.... the number of times that something was left waiting around because I got too bored to do just ... one more sleeve.
The problem, of course. is 4 ply. 4 ply sleeves are notoriously slow to finish. After knitting what would seem an eternity, you have about an inch. However, cashcotton is a dream to knit with and to quote Amelia there is a pleasure in knowing that I would had touched every millimeter of this yarn by the time that I'm done. Although the pleasure is somewhat curtailed by the thought of washing it due to my sticky fingers.
Look what's happened to my red scarf
Remember that?
and I sent that
and you know what? Someone actually bought it ... Want to see? Tori's got it . I feel much relieved, there I was thinking that Lisa was going to have to offer knock down prices to get it off her hands!
Spring Forward
It's Easter Monday Sunday (oops!) and the clocks go forward....springing ahead, the season really has changed! In celebration, what else but a visit to the Greenwich Royal Observatory. Unlike most of London, Greenwich is marked with wide open spaces, so it never feels too crowded. You can even find a seat and have a bit of a knit.
Project Dilemma
Whilst I really want to wear fruity, it's not the most stimulating of things to knit (yawn!). It's better than plain stocking stitch but it's far from challenging, so I started something just a tad bit more engaging.
Now, here's the dilemma... the sides of the scarf is done with a k2tog, yo one side and a yo, k2 tog tbl on the other side. The ends are working really, really loosely and I'm debating as to whether I should rip and re-knit, forgoing the yo and just picking up a stitch on the following row to make it tighter. Do you think that it'll block out? I've been looking around to see if anyone else had this problem, but haven't found many before blocking pictures to see if this was an issue with anyone else. I might be paranoid, but I don't want to finish this and hate the slackness at the edge. Opinions, please....
and before I forget... hope that you've all had a happy easter.
The weather has been so nice recently, that I had to include a picture of my magnolia, to me she's the harbinger of spring.
Which brings to mind, that fruity is flying along smoothly. I love the cashcotton, even if it is what can best be described as a delicate, shedding fiber.
I can't believe how those little purl stitches sometimes just appear to pop out and other times, are so well camouflaged into the angora fuzziness. Isn't it appropriate that I'll be knitting an angora sweater in the run up to Easter?
I noticed that last year, at about this time, I was also knitting a sea green sweater. OK, it was mohair but it was this same tweedy green, which sadly, I appear to be addicted to. Who knows, maybe it's the start of a spring tradition...
In my continuing battle to 'train my postman', it would appear that he is most likely untrain-able. It's true, some people are sadly, untrainable.
He would not hesitate to squash my Rowan Magazines,sometimes tearing the cover or **FOLD** by Interweave to get it through the mail slot, but packets of any size that don't fit, means a weekend or early morning trip down to the post office collection point. My most recent trip there brought me a great surprise. My Sockapalooza socks have arrive and they are simply gorgeous.
Thanks to Jenn for making me such a superb pair of socks. These are Regia in the Paris colourway. OOooo la la, how appropriate... not only one of my favourite places, but one of my favourite colourways.
Many, many thanks to the wonderful Alison for organising this swap. I had so much fun!
Can you stand how beautiful they are ... and mom, I love you dearly, but no you can't have them :-) !
Like knit a Novelty Yarn garter stitch scarf
OK Rowanettes, look away, this isn't going to be pretty. I finished this little garter stitch scarf using Elle Plume for my niece. While the resulting fabric is wonderfully soft (yes, she loves it), it is murder to knit, especially on metal needles. The yarn kept sliding off and it was impossible to find the missing loops.
The yarn was purchased for my niece by her grandmother for Christmas, so that she can learn to knit. Coincidentally, I also bought yarn and needles for this niece (I picked Rowan's Chunky Print and some bamboo needles). It's been 3 months, but very little progress, on this scarf, mostly because the child was having problems with the slipperiness of the yarn. (Her more experienced auntie was also having problems with it too, but wasn't going to disappoint anyone by admitting it).
The effect is great for a beginner project, but the yarn is definitely one that would frustrate all but the most tenacious.
All said and done, though, a quick knit for a more experienced knitter, since there's 60 meters per 50g ball, and all you need is 2 balls for a child's scarf. The colourway is called sun and surf. Now, off to ferret around the stash for some novelty yarn, to make my other niece a scarf. Finishing a scarf and sending it to one niece without sending one to her sister will smack of favoritism... so if you see another scarf on ATU, please don't think I've suddenly developed a taste for novelty yarns.
Added at 22:30 ...
I couldn't bring myself to working on more eyelash yarn, so I cheated and worked a skein of Filaro (mohair, wool, acrylic and nylon blend New Zealand 12 ply). It's a royal blue boucle with a thread of silver sparkly yarn. I bought this from the Cherry Tree Hill Annual Yarn sale in the grab bag and have been wondering what to do with it. (Legwarmers did spring to mind, just needed to find someone that might want legwarmers, a la Jennifer Beales in Flash Dance)
This took about 75 minutes, 100m on 9mm meters. Cast on 20 stitches and garter until you're at the end.
Easy-Peasy for a light loose fabric. Scarf was approx 4 feet long. I would had done another skein if it wasn't late, but I need to get it out in the post tomorrow... and because I'm an auntie that's just a big kid at heart, I'm sending the 2 packages separately to the same address, just so that each child can open their own package.
OK, no more scarves for a few months... I am novelty'ed out.
Suddenly realising that it's nearly the middle March and I haven't even started on the Six Sox Knit-along socks for Feb/Mar, I got cracking. The first problem was the stashbuster sock was supposed to use up stash. Well, my collection of left over sock yarns clashed horribly.
I'm sure that when Knit-along Mom, Susan intended us to make nice socks and use stash not make some concoction that would have the world think that I was either colour blind or devoid of ability to select colours with less skill than a 5 year.
I'm cheating, using only 2 colours for the main part of the sock (sorry, I tried using some of the socka, but I liked it better without ).
The second problem was this sock is toe up. I've done a few toe ups before, but I prefer top down. I find figure of 8 cast on, very fiddly (but works better with circulars than dpns). Anyway, like a trooper, I soldiered along. Got the to heel and did the heel too. Suddenly it dawned on me, something looked wrong. I tried it on, yup something dreadfully wrong.
I sort of forgot the gussets. I'm toying with the idea to go gussetless, but know im my heart it's not going to work, so I guess, there'll be a right old ripping session here shortly. Hard to believe how 2 little triangles are so integral to a pair of socks. If only I could do without them!
Feeling fruity? All thoughts of self-control was pitched out the window on Sunday night. When the only major things finished in 2005, were a few measley pairs of socks and a couple of scarves, a girl's got the right to feel the need to cast on something just a bit more substantial. Meet fruity, with a twist, no beads, just a purl stitch where the bead would have sat.
I'm using the new Rowan CashCotton, an amazing blend of cotton, cashmere, polyamide, viscose and angora... and yes it is delightfully soft and wonderful on the hands. The stitch definition is slightly obscured by the mild fuzziness of the yarn and the angora sheds a tiny bit, tickling my nose as I work it...and I'm going to admit, I really like working it. My fruity will be in sea foam, a heathery light green. Pity that the colour selection is a bit lame. I'm not a big fan of pastels, and there weren't many colours in this range that I would/could wear.
Fruity takes 8 balls in sizes 34 -38. I reckon that this would take about 40 hours to knit and about 4-5 hours to finish. After 2.5 hours on Sunday night, I've managed about half the ball. (I forget how much more you have to knit when you use 4ply). So if I average approx 5 hours a ball... depending on my social calendar, it should take about 3-4 weeks to finish... just in time for spring... because I really, really want this sweater.
So giirls, that's Alpaca woman and Amelia, have you started yet?
Sockapalooza News
I've finally fiinished my New England socks. I hope my pal likes them.
... now it's all wrapped up, and ready to go to the post... and in case you're wondering, no, it's not going to New England.
I've got to say, that I love this pattern and I love this yarn too. It's a pity that 2.00mm needles means a slow knit. The pattern isn't hard to memorise either and all the socks in Knitting on the Road are fabulous. Although I've checked the measurements provided by my pal and from the instructions. I'm not convinced that these socks would give a good fit, especially if my pal has slim ankles... in the future that stocking stitch panel will be ribbed. I tend to avoid socks without ribbing just because of the ankle-fit. (socks bagging at the ankles can be so annoying). You can see why Alison might not have wanted to ask the participants as to whether we had fat ankles.
One other thing, depending on how my pal measured her foot, these might come up a tad big too. You see, if I measure the sole from toe tip to heel, it's spot on. If I measure with the sock on it's side (as in the photos), there's an extra half inch. Please don't ask me why, when I finish a pair of socks on 2mm, I rather not leave things to the cosmic order, but there you go.
Pooling
And to answer Teresa ... pooling is the effect that you get when you work with variegated yarns and the colors collect together into pools. In the Baby Cable socks, you get globs of pink, bunching together, on the leg. The effect is much softer on the foot of those socks.
After nearly 3 months, the baby cables are finally done. Mine you there were 2 unnecessary incidents that delayed the completion. Incident #1 involved skein #2 going missing and incident #2 involved sock #1 being misplaced.
While I really liked this yarn on the skein, knitted up the short runs pooled and didn't have the kind of look that I had hoped that it would had. Variegated yarns are funny, like that. They can be a bit hit and miss and usually I find that I love the yarn knitted up far more than on the skein, so this was an exception for me, but don't get me wrong, I love the colours, I just wished that it didn't pool as much as it did.
Lest you think that ATU has become a sock factory of sort, it hasn't. I've started swatching with my new yarn and if I'm very good there might even be something to show by the end of the week. Now if only I can find my 4.00 mm bamboos so that I can swatch this
Clearly being tidy isn't a gene that I possess. Well, better late than never. Given all the nasty cold days that we've been having, these socks couldn't have been done at a better time.... maybe we'll get some warm days to motivate me to get a move on Jenny.
Firstly, credit where credit's due. The idea for the purl stitch to replace the bead from Fruity was not mine. It was Alpaca Woman's suggestion, since Amelia was a little adverse to beading. Left to my own devices, I would had probably done a plain stocking stitch jumper or added the beads. I am not adversed to beading (just to stringing the beads) and may still do it stocking stitch, depending on my mood. I'm waiting for my needles to arrive, freshly ordered on account of most of my 3.00mm and 3.25 mm being occupied with other projects.
If I'm feeling a bit creative, I'll even go and make a button tonight for the Tutti Fruity Knit-along.
Sockapalooza news
I'm so close to getting this final sock done. Fingers crossed that there will be no more mishaps and ripping sessions
I love this sock, but it's hard to photograph.
I also love working on 2mm needles and I really hope that my Sockapalooza pal likes it too...oh and that it fits too. I've noticed, it's not the kind of stretchy ribby socks that is more forgiving. This sock might not work, if my pal has super slim ankles.
Fingers-crossed, if it doesn't work, I can always make another pair.
If you haven't seem the Rowan Classics Collection, then you really ought to. Some very lovely and wearable things designed for the (ahem) mature knitter. Personally, I find that mature bit somewhat patronising. OK, maybe my belly has seem better days and exposing it might scare small children, but mature to me equals about 90 and in the event that I do reach my 90's, I'm not entirely sure that I want to be known as mature, either.
Nonetheless, the collection is very wearable and despite pictures suggesting slight lunacy, (What woman in her right mind would wear 3 inch sling backs, a long flowing skirt to climb a grubby ladder with hedge clipper to do a big of gardening. OK, apologies to anyone, who regularly garden while dressed to the nines) I covet several designs.
As one Rowanette has suggested, Martin Story must had been told to go easy
on the hearts and bobbles, since there is only one bobbly number and one design with a heart motif. The yarns are also lovely, although a bit of a rip-off on the Debbie Bliss cashmerino and cotton angora/cotton cashmere ranges.
I attended a Rowan Coffee morning at Peter Jones (Sloane Square) on Saturday with some of the die-hard Rowanettes. Visit Dawn to see some pictures, I forgot to bring my camera. The coffee mornings are advertised as an opportunity to see the new designs, try the yarn and eat pastry. Most of the attendees were regulars and thought it a great opportunity to get together and knit a bit.
Of course, I gave some feedback too. Doubtless, no one will do anything about it, so maybe we need a letter writing campaign.
(1) Why can't the designs offer long sleeves and 3/4 length sleeve versions
(2) Don't like the 'mature' label in the classic collection. It's patronising
(3) sizing in Rowan book. Personally, my vanity is offended that I would need to knit an XL to get 40" finished measurement on some of the designs. OK, I admit to being a bit podgy (and will probably have to go on a more strenuous diet shortly, if I want to make any Rowan design without altering the patterns), but I don't think 1 inch ease on cardigans with narrow button bands is feasible. I don't like seeing busoms straining against buttons ready to pop off.
(4) Jaeger designs are gorgeous in their new DK and 4ply brochures, but what they neglected to mention are that these designs are rehash of the old designs. That's right. Each time they showed a new design, several of us also knew the original name that the design was published as. While I think that this is a great idea because these are timeless classic, I also think a bit of honesty on this is a good thing. For example:
New /old
Ray (JB34) /Chevron (JM06)
Rossita(JB35)/Ogee (JB04)
Aspen (JB35)/ (JB06)
Lana (JB35) / Enza (JB04)
I could go, on, but you get the picture.
As for trying on the designs, I made Amelia and Alpaca Woman do that on my behalf. The samples were all made in the 2 smallest sizes and there was NO WAY that I was going to get into any of them without looking like a stuffed sausage. Maybe I should had skipped on the pastries. :-)
Grpiping my 10% off voucher, we ended the day with a trip to the yarn department. Despite an enormous amount of waffling from Amelia and Alpaca Woman, they finally chose their yarn to do this.
Yes, the three of us, are going to make this 4 ply jumper without the beads, subbng with a purl stitch instead.
Rowanette Jacinta was still under the weather from her battle with the lurgi and decided that she had too much to work on, so passed on the Fruity along.
Socks that knit up so fast that if you blink, you'll miss it. I bought these 2 skeins from Seaport Yarns. Valentina helped me pick them out. I love the greens... and amazingly both socks came out looking very similar.
I used Nancy Bush's Whitby pattern. It was the only book that I took along with me and I've done Whitby before so I knew that this was an easy pattern to knit.
Unfortunately, the yarn that I chose doesn't have any nylon it in, so these are not long lasting socks. Just something nice to be enjoyed for a short amount of time, unless you happen to be one of those people that aren't hard wearing on your socks.
I nearly finished the pair on the road trip to Penn/D.C. and I was not allowed to knit in the car, at all.
In case you're wondering if I was still drip feeding the F.O.'s from my trip earlier in the month, I can assure you all the F.O.'s have been photographed and documented. I did get a lot of knitting done but it took some time to block and 'finish' off various bits and pieces that can only be done in a child-free/dog-free environment. Well, the dog is a visitor and very good, but the child has a lot of curiosity than means no pins where he can get to them. These socks needed a good block to show off the cables. (which unforunately you still can't see very well in these photos)