What's on the needles #2

There's always something on the needles! Since I took up knitting last year, I've been gradually increasing the difficulty level of the patterns. The baby cardigan above (they used to be called 'matinee jackets' at one time, I think) turned out to be quite a challenge and I had to unpick various bits at various times. I managed the buttonholes quite well, which was a new step. It's the first time I've had to pick up stitches for a neckband, which flummoxed me at first. I eventually figured it out and I think I managed quite a neat band. Where I really struggled was sewing it up... I hate that stage anyway, and I find it hard to get a neat and not too bulky seam, despite following the instructions carefully and looking at a few videos. It turned out that, for some reason, the shoulder seams were not quite central so that when I set the sleeves in they sat oddly. I unpicked them and tried again and they looked a bit better but, when I finally thought I'd finished, it turned out that one arm didn't quite match the other! Gah. At that point I gave up. I decided it wasn't going markedly to affect the wear, so a bit of inconsistency would have to stay. This little jacket was offered to the baby bank, a free resource for needy mums. So I'm sure they'd make the right call if it wasn't to their high standards. 

I then set off to knit a baby blanket, which has a lot of stitches on the needles. I haven't graduated to circular needles yet and each row takes ages to knit so it is slow progress. I have nearly finished it but I got bored and decided to take a break on that one. 

I came across a knitting challenge to make a blanket out of squares, aiming for one square a day. I set off to make that a baby blanket too but, as I was knitting along, I realised the colours I was choosing (mostly using left-over yarn) were exactly the right colours to match my sitting room - so it is becoming a lap throw for myself, that will keep me cosy in the winter. It's a much easier project, knitting the squares in strips (though there'll still be a lot of sewing up to do, sigh...) Each square is only 29 stitches so it's growing quickly. The squares either have motifs related to the seaside: boats, shells, fish, sandcastles and so on, or patterns reminiscent of sea, sand and sky. It's the first time I've knitted motifs and the first time I've joined colours. I'm really enjoying it.  The squares are all supposed to be a similar size but time will tell on that one! I'm hoping my tension is consistent but I can imagine there'll be some stretching and a bit of bodging to get it all to line up in the assembly phase.  

I've made a few mistakes but as far as I can tell I have managed successfully to tink back and remedy them. Everything I'm doing is a learning curve and I'm getting much better at 'reading my stitches', which is half the battle. 

 I'm hoping it's making my brain forge new pathways... cognitive reserve, they call it!