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! 

Hoppy Easter

I didn't prepare an 'Easter' photo, as such, so here are the lambs I knitted for my grandgirls. Each contained a small creme egg. The girls both seemed quite pleased with them. The pattern had 'googly eyes' stuck on the faces but I decided I liked the gentler look, without eyes. They were quick to knit up and useful for using up small lengths of yarn. 

So this comes to wish ewe a woolly hoppy Easter, with sheeps of good wishes. 🐑 🐑 🐣 🐥

What's on the needles?

Since I started to learn to knit a couple of months ago, I've never not had something on my needles. I'm trying to be sensible and take things step by step, as I think it might be quite easy to get discouraged by attempting something too complicated. I can, however, see that I'm making progress in reading my stitches, spotting when I've gone wrong (and rectifying it) and generally getting neater, with more even tension. I've been trying different combinations of stitches, with simple patterns that have been mostly straight knitting, though I've started to learn to increase and decrease now. 

Currently on my needles (above) and almost finished is a baby blanket, in acrylic. I'm pretty much making the pattern up as I go along. I've discovered I don't much like using acrylic but, for something that is going to be donated to the baby bank, I can't afford to spend a fortune plus it's washable and practical for a busy young mum. 

I've knitted two little boat-necked sweaters, one in soft lavender cashmerino and the other in a sage green shade, both for the baby bank. 

I used the same lavender yarn for a 'Sophie scarf', which is a long, thin triangular scarf with an I-cord edging, that taught me ways to increase and decrease. I enjoyed that pattern so I also knitted the same scarf in red DK yarn for my daughter for Christmas. 

The rest of the family also got gifts - a regular scarf for my son-in-law, wrist warmers for my older granddaughter and a little blanket/coat for younger granddaughter's favourite toy goat! 

I have not dared to try circular needles yet but I decided I'd make a square baby hat; I quite like the effect when they have two little pointy bits sticking up! My sewing up leaves a bit to be desired... I'm going to have to improve that. Anyway so far, so good. I'm certainly enjoying myself and when the weather is too cold and icy to go far, it's good to have another hobby with which to pass the time. 

 

Knitting

Life in my apartment is much easier and less stressful than caring for my previous Edwardian terraced house. It's smaller, more modern, no stairs (of course) and generally stays much cleaner, with very little dust. Added to that, before I moved, I'd massively decluttered from twenty-five years of accumulated 'stuff', so that everything now has its place and function, and there is just less of it. As a result, I seem to have a bit more time on my hands, especially in the evenings. By then my dry, sore eyes are usually too tired to read, and there's rarely anything that really attracts me to watch on TV. So my tendency was to sit in front of the computer - and I decided I was doing too much of that. I needed a new hobby. 

Now I've never been into 'crafts'; photography is my creative outlet. My mother aways reckoned she couldn't knit or sew and I've been a bit the same. I have in the past done a bit of sewing, even made clothes for me and my daughter when she was little. But knitting was never on the cards. My only foray into it was at primary school, when I got so bored knitting a scarf that I cast off after about nine inches. My teacher got really cross with me and even threw scissors! So that meant I have never since been attracted to try.

I have friends who knit; my daughter's paternal grandma was a competent knitter and I still wear a jumper she knitted for me. There are 'knit and natter' groups locally and the little craft shop just down the road was advertising a beginners' class. It seemed like a good place to start. 

Fast forward six weeks or so and I'm getting on a lot better than I anticipated. So far I've only done 'straight' things, no increasing and decreasing, but I've found a rhythm and the tension of my work is a lot better and neater than I predicted. I've made wrist warmers, a neck warmer and now a long scarf made up of sample panels of different stitches. I'm really enjoying myself, and it's a mindful activity too. I have to concentrate, can't think of anything else, so that's very calming. 

I've also already got a box full of lovely yarn and started accumulating all the necessary paraphernalia. It seems quite an addictive hobby! Whereas once I'd be attracted to stationery stores and book shops, now, all of a sudden, it's yarn shops that emit the siren call. 

Having finished the scarf, I'm wondering what to try next... My church has just started a 'baby bank' market stall, supplying free clothes and other baby items to those who need them. I think there's plenty of scope in that direction, baby things being smaller and quicker to knit up than adult knitwear. Hopefully this new-found hobby will become a real part of my life. 

When I told my daughter I was learning to knit, her response was 'next Gran level unlocked', which amused me a great deal.  💪