novice-knitter’s blog

Practice square for my Harlequin coat (these aren't the colours I'll be using on the final coat).  Still awaiting the arrival of the wool from Angel Yarns and Woollabaloo

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I took these photos when we had the Birmingham meetup in October.

Whilst in London I saw this amazing sculpture in the courtyard outside the Royal Society of Arts

I've started practicing mitred squares in preparation for my next project - having never done mitred squares or striped colourwork before.

After several attempts caused by me mis-counting to the centre stitch the penny dropped - I should only be decreasing 1 stitch per row on either side of the SK2P - and cruising along to about halfway.  But the mitre was looking  lopsided.  The pattern in the book says to knit to 1 stitch before centre stitch then doing the SK2P, but this means the knit stitches on either side of the mitre are uneven.  Finally checked out a book of knitted squares that I have in my (ever growing) knitting library and confirming my misgivings - the centre three stitches should have been isolated - therefore knitting to 2 stitches before the SK2P.  Feel very annoyed that the pattern is incorrect in the book but at least I've made my mistakes on the practice square. 

The next challenge is to pick up the stitches along the edge for the next mitre.  I'll keep these samples for M3.

I'll post a photo as soon as I've finished the first couple of squares.

I've just ordered the wool for this wonderful pattern by Jane Slicer-Smith from her book Swing, Swagger, Drape.  Every pattern in the book has the major drool factor.  The moment I saw the cover of the book in a magazine I knew I had to have it, but even with buying half the wool from a yarn sale it's still a rather luxury buy!  (my guilty secret!)

I've never done mitred squares, but I've spent the last three days studying the pattern, and I think I can pull it off.  I'll do lots of practice first and take it very slowly.

Has anyone clocked this event yet?  Details will be released on the website very soon.  You can sign up to be emailed details when they are available

http://www.knitnation.co.uk

I've been so impressed by all the recent posts that I had a spurt of activity on module one over the last few days.  This was helped by being off from work with a cold - so more time to just get on with it.  It gave me a great sense of progress and achievement. 

I've been hindered somewhat by not being sure about the difference between wool and acrylic yarns - I need some acrylic for my tension swatch.  I'm a bit snobbish about yarn and tend not to buy acrylic!! but I'm sure I have some acrylic oddments in the old yarns I got from my mum's and aunt's collection. I remember Loraine saying something about setting fire to it to test it ..... but I can't remember whether acrylic should burn or smoulder.  All I know is that the small sample I set fire to last night was really smelly!!

Can anyone enlighten me before I end up burning the house down?

This is what I'm doing when I should be doing my C&G cast offs!  Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman - knitted all in one piece.  It took about one week to knit - I'm please with the finished result.  It's for my neighbour who had a baby girl last week.

Photo

Felting process was a bit hit and miss.  The slippers started off in a pillowcase - one stayed, one escaped, so consequently felted to different sizes on the first wash.  Tried to shrink the larger to the same size as the smaller, ended up smaller than the larger, but more comfortable to wear, so tried to shrink new larger to new smaller, and ended up with smaller still!!  A bit of bending and stretching solved the problem, they are now both roughly the same size and probably the most comfortable slippers I've ever worn, but not going to win prizes for the sexiest! 

I've done the splitz a couples of times on our wood floor.  Does anyone know where I can get some Grippies in the UK?

Just got back from the K&S show at Ally Pally.  Can't say I was particularly overwhelmed by the knitting stands - there didn't seem to be that many amongst the other craft stands, and there was a fair amount of dross - what is a nail bar doing at a K&S show, and handbag stands?

Whereas last year I took loads of photos of the Embroiderers Guild regional finalists work, this year I didn't even bother to get my camera out.  Having said that the Embroiderers Guild - The Art of the Stitch - exhibition was very inspiring.

I bought a new knitting project from a collection called Filati (Lana Grossa collection) made with Cinque yarn in a vibrant sunset orange shade - it's a wrap around top.  I'm really excited about knitting it.

Also bought a wonderful book to get inspiration for the C&G course - Contemporary Knitting for Textile Artists - by Ruth Lee.  She knits with anythings that linear and flexible and comes up with some amazing results - very 3D.

I'm not sure I will bother with the show next year.  I preferred the iKnit Weekender in September - much more focussed for the knitter, and not as heavingly busy.

My second felting project is the funniest thing ever - winkle slippers!!!  I hope they look better after felting!

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