Thursday 27 September 2007

Knitting update

I've been busy on the knitting front. I bought some blue and white wool for a little boy who's a Wednesday fan and having chemotherapy at the moment. This wool is going to become a hat to keep him warm in the winter. I had wanted to use Rowan Wool Cotton, which is one of my favourite yarns, but the blue wasn't bright enough and the white wasn't dazzling enough, so I've had to settle for these Sirdar yarns.

















I went to the Baa and bought some undyed sock yarn and Kool Aid. I am desperate to start dyeing but I have to wait until Shona is here because she missed out last time. I have ideas for the sock yarn and am going for striking colour combinations. The difficulty will be convincing Shona that it's what she wants as well.



















I've put the colours together as I think they should go.


Now I know September is supposed to be about Stash-busting and all I've shown so far are purchases, but I have managed to use up existing yarn. The first toe-up is now finished and was scrutinised by Caroline at a meeting last night. She seemed pleased. I cast off as I normally do but loosely but I really missed grafting the toe. It didn't feel as satisfying this time. Nevertheless I think the sock is lovely and I liked having only a small amount of yarn left at the end. The trouble has been the lace pattern. It has slowed me down so I am not going to do the second one until the October holidays when I have more time to concentrate. Ezzie keeps teasing me that I have 'Second Sock Syndrome' but I don't. It will get knit and promptly in October.


















I have started a Christmas sock from the sock stash for my Uncle John. It's Opal Rainforest in Pfau (peacock). I'm a big fan of the German language, but Pfau is such an ugly name for such a stunning creature. Despite the name, I really love the colours and disagree with the saying that "blue and green should never be seen without something in between". Utter rubbish. They work a treat.

















I went out on the town last night - knitting. I had a great night and enjoyed myself loads. Rather inevitably I didn't come home empty-handed, but I didn't buy anything. Caroline taught (ha!) me to spin. I had a go but I don't think I got the hang of it so she has sent me home with a drop spindle and wool. I am going to have a go because I love the idea of spinning yarn and making my own sock yarn one day. I strongly suspect this will be another October Half Term project because I am busy at work at the moment and I can only cope with easy projects. It's amazing to think that a piece of wool and a drop spindle can be turned into usable yarn and then into usable garments.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have a request. You know like you go to a cook book and read the list of ingredients and then the method and then you can cook/bake your whatever? Well, I request that you do this with the foot covering dying process. Thank you. That's all.

Caroline M said...

I don't think you can go far wrong with any combination of those dye colours if you want "striking". If you reskein it around two dining chairs set far apart (ideal child job, lots of walking) then you are less likely to get the colours pooling when you knit because you've got a pattern repeat longer than two rows of knitting.

McKnitty said...

Looks like I'll be dyeing a skein of yarn tomorrow then. I'll take photos at every stage. It is really satisfying, honest...

Anonymous said...

Can you get up early and do it? How long will it take you? Hurry Hurry Eggs and Curry......

Anonymous said...

Have you done it? Mcknit! Have you done it? Can she hear me? Come closer to the telly.........