First Knitting in 2008

Bayerische Socks

I cast on to knit Eunny Jang's pattern for
Bayerische Socks on 1st January, but unfortunately set up the pattern with irretrievable errors, so undid it all the next day. Yesterday I cast on again, and it seems to be going right this time around. I'm knitting in Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Sock Wool from Get Knitted in a "solid" (slightly variegated) purply mauvey shade which has been stashed for this purpose for over a year. Hopefully progress will now all be onwards and satisfactory.

Knitting in the Round

I'm very chuffed to have this opportunity to test drive Ysolda's Snow White knitting pattern, and it's growing well. The garment is knit in the round. I've used a circular needle for the body and am now working on a sleeve. I thought I had a set of dpns in the correct size for this project, but I was wrong. My DH very kindly took my car shopping on Saturday so he could fill it with petrol, a most welcome and generous act, but it meant I couldn't dash off to Get Knitted for the correct ones. On his return we hit our local Garden Centre/Department Store and then John Lewis just before closing time, but without success on my mission. The only alternative (apart from waiting until the shops opened on Monday and not knitting for 36 hours or so)was to master the Magic Loop, which I think I've now done. I don't especially like it but it saves buying another set of needles and it has grown on me slightly now it's becoming more automatic....

My Magic Loop

The yarn I'm using, Lana Grossa New Cotton Seta, is proving a joy to use even if the balls are prone to falling apart and tangling in use. The yarn is also tinting my wooden needle points a delicate shade of turquoise but I can live with that as it isn't doing the same thing to my fingers, as far as I can see. I hope it feels as good to wear as it does to work with in this humid weather we're having. I would find wool a trial at the moment.

Four socks - and a woolly hat

Time has sped by. I've been poorly again, and the computer has been having some behaviour issues: it's worse than the children, sometimes...

Anyway, I haven't been too poorly to knit, most of the time. I finally completed my Potamus socks and am delighted with them. They are knitted in Fyberspates Sock wool, shade Ocean.

In socky mood, I then knit a pair of Kew socks (another Knitty pattern), which was another pleasant pattern to work. I used Lana Grossa - Mega Boots Stretch Shade 704 from Get Knitted
For a change, I then made myself a Sloppy Joe Hat, designed by Woolly Wormhead,, aka Ruth, which I adapted a little by making a bit deeper than the pattern. It's a great hat for stuffing all my hair underneath, or my chignon and hair stick, and it keeps my ears very warm, too. I love it! I used Ruth's space-dyed yarn for it, too.

Now I'm making another pair of Jaywalker socks, in a luscious purple Trekking yarn (also from Get Knitted) with which the pattern works really well. However, I will soon need to diversify - just how many pairs of socks does a girl need? Actually, there are some garments that have caught my eye in the soon-to-be-published Interweave Knits Spring 2007 magazine, and there's only 6 more days until it is due in the shops.....

Blogger is refusing to have anything to do with photographs tonight, so I'll post pictures when permitted - hopefully sooner than later, cos I've got loads more lovely shots of Barcelona, too.