Need to knit?

I had to try this pattern just to see how it works. It's very cool. I learned how to graft (again) and I got to play with stitch holders and short rows! Fun, fun, fun!



The yarn I worked with is Gedifra English Tweed in a lovely light pink (70% merino, 20% nylon, 10% angora) and even though the gauge should have been the same it wasn't even close and I had to go up two needle sizes. Strange...I usually knit pretty close to the gauge, but I persisted.



The yarn is wonderful to work with (I think it's the angora) and seeing the glove come together was amazing! I'm not especially happy with the final shape and I think it's still a little too holey but the first try was definitely worthwhile.

I picked up a heavier yarn [Briggs & Little 100% wool in turquoise] to try a second pair (this one for my mom) and I hope the gauge will work better this time. My birch knitting needles came in so I might be able to break them in for this project.


Don't they look like chess pieces?

In the meantime I finished the pin cushion for mom, and started a pair of socks just to practice before I tackle either the pomotamus or hedera patterns. Cookie's patterns are something else - she inspires me!



oh - and I went with the knit.1 subscription - shh!

Need/Want/Could Be Useful

I decided that I need wooden knitting needles. Well, thanks to my tax refund the want became a need. So I went off to my regular yarn shop and bought a pair of rosewood needles. Beautiful. They are slippery like metal needles and light weight & warm like bamboo, and such a wonderful colour! While I was at the shop I fell in love with some birch needles from Brittany too. They had none in any size I would use so I ordered two pair. At $12 a pair I felt I could afford the extra indulgence.

beautiful rosewood needles!

Doesn't this look cool? I'm knitting all five pieces of a pin cushion at the same time!

...and I'm trying to decide whether to get a subscription to Knit 1. I'm considering it only because of a 50% off offer that came with the last issue. Just being practical, really...consider whether I will buy two issues in the next year - probably, and the cost of two issues from the stands equals the cost of four issues delivered to my door. I just wasn't all that taken with the last issue. If the offer was for Vogue Knitting International I wouldn't think twice!

Progress!!

Finally got my tank top knit! Now I just have to assemble it. Good thing I have a friend who's a fashion designer...maybe she can help me out with it.

Then it will look closer to the photo on the right!

uh oh...

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I had a dream about this sock pattern last night.



I think I'm going to have to attempt it.....







crap.
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