one sleeve done

…also the front and back so I reckon I am 3/4 of the way to done with my jumper so it should be ready for the start of winter.

Things were really going quite well until I got a bit confused by the instructions for the very top of the sleeve which, of course, I didn’t realise until I had actually finished.

The pattern is by Erika Knight who gives brilliant instructions for fully fashioned increases and decreases in her sweater patterns. I don’t think I’ve seen any other knitting patterns that specify the paired increases and decreases to use for both knit and purl rows. It’s just that she didn’t quite explain what to do when you start running out of stitches and you aren’t sure which of the patterns to keep going.

Of course it turned out I made the wrong choice, which was obvious when I came to the last line of the pattern and it suddenly all made sense. There’s a lesson there about reading ahead, and it was also helpful to pay close attention to the pictures which in this case are informative as well as decorative. After pausing for a cup of tea, it didn’t take too long to rip back a dozen rows and make good.

For the first time ever I am using the specified yarn for a pattern and I bought the exact amount of yarn called for but it looks like I’m going to have almost two 100 gram skeins left over at the end. What to do? I think Heidi Klum would frown upon the idea of a matching hat.

Pattern: “Cable tweed sweater” by Erika Knight, from her book Men’s knits: a new direction.  Yarn: Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed Chunky, colour “Denim”. 

at the same time

You know those knitting instructions that have you do two different things at the same time? I really should write down notes so I don’t get myself in such a tangle.

I can just about cope with decreasing at the neckline and armholes at the same time, but I was so busy concentrating on the bit about “reversing shaping” that I completely forgot about “while keeping in pattern”. It was only after casting off that I noticed I’d forgotten the cables. Bother.

Daylight saving ended last night so it is finally feeling more like autumn and the evenings are starting to draw in. We even had a sudden rainstorm today. Perfect for knitting with a cup of tea. Having finished the back and front, I  reckon I should have this chunky jumper done by the time the winter weather arrives.

Pattern: “Cable Tweed Sweater” by Erika Knight.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky, colour “Denim”.

A Christmas ball for Easter

The fifth Christmas ball finished for KnittingSarah’s Merry Knitalong.

This is the Greek Cross, number 40 from Arne and Carlos’s 55 Christmas balls to knit, and the first I’ve knit with the design in white against a red background. I really like how this one turned out. The story of how Arne and Carlos came up with the design is quite magical too…

One late night in Athens, when we were looking for something to eat in what appeared to be a doubtful spot, we passed a small church with the door slightly open. We got a little glimpse of a world filled with light, colors, and song, a closed world with the door ajar.

My other knitting time has mostly involved a big project lately, the “Cable Tweed Sweater” from Erika Knight’s Men’s knits, a new direction and I have just this minute finished the back. This is my third project from this book which I guess says something about how much I like the designs. If you’re a man who knits or you’re knitting for a man (or both!) it’s definitely worth checking out.

I’m using Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Chunky, actually the recommended yarn although mine is in “Denim”, a tweedy blue with flecks of white, darker blue and black. It’s really lovely, and sadly discontinued, although that’s the reason I was able to pick up a jumper’s worth at almost half price so I shouldn’t complain. It will certainly be toasty warm so I’m hoping I get it finished before winter arrives.

Off the needles – Dog walking scarf

for day 24 of blogjune

Just finished. A softly cabled scarf in recycled tweedy wool yarn.

This is the Puddles… aka the Dog Walking Scarf, a free pattern by Irish Girlie Knits, and aptly named since I think it will come in handy for chilly morning dog walks with the possibility of puddles.

I used six skeins of Rowan Renew and the scarf ended up about eight feet long! I’ve still got two skeins left so I could end up with a matching hat some day. Loved the pattern and loved the yarn.

It’s still a bit damp from washing and blocking, but I’m looking forward to a cold morning soon so I can wear it.

On the needles: Dog walking scarf

a knitting update for day 10 of blogjune

I went to the Cleg’s sale back in January and picked up three skeins of Rowan Renew yarn. Renew is a wonderful yarn, full of character and made from 93% recycled wool. It’s a fairly chunky yarn and the colour names are kind of rough and chunky too! How about Digger, Diesel, Truck or Tractor? I chose Lorry, a charcoal heathered grey with just a hint of blue.

I had in mind some slippers for winter, the Japanese “Mountain Form” slippers,  which is a Japanese pattern translated by Jun Miyamoto. Unfortunately the Renew yarn was a bit  too heavy for the slippers, so I picked up a couple of extra skeins and started instead on a cable scarf.

The aptly named “Dog Walking Scarf” by Irishgirlieknits is a softly cabled scarf, designed for a slightly thicker yarn than I’m using, but I think it’s working out quite nicely. Certainly should be good for dog walking.

On the needles… stripes and cables

I’ve got a couple of scarves on the go at the moment featuring stripes and cables. Just as well it’s getting cold now, perfect weather for wearing a chunky scarf while walking the dogs or waiting at the tram stop.

The striped scarf was actually almost finished but I duffed up finishing the last stripe and, in trying to fix it, managed to make it a bit worse.  So… I ripped out the last blue stripe and now I’m waiting for another skein of yarn to arrive in the post so I can finish it properly.

This is Erika Knight’s garter stitch striped scarf knitted longways in ever so soft Rowan Baby Alpaca DK yarn. The pattern is from Erika’s book Men’s Knits, the first knitting book I ever bought. It’s a very simple design, but I think the long stripes look very stylish and gentlemanly. This design really is all about the yarn.

The colours appear solid but with a very subtle heathered effect when you look closely. This might be the first pattern I’ve done using the recommended yarn, although my colours are a little different: dark grey Lincoln and palest grey Southdown set up off by a really saturated Electric blue.

Speaking of striped scarves, my 2012 sky scarf project is still going, and as we’re nearing winter there are some lovely soft white and cloudy grey stripes appearing.

While waiting for my skein of Rowan Alpaca to arrive so I can finish the striped scarf, I started on another scarf using Rowan Renew that I bought at the Clegs sale after Christmas. It’s a beautiful chunky textured yarn from Rowan’s natural Purelife line, made from 93% recycled wool.

I’d bought it with another idea in mind that didn’t work out, but I think I’ve found a good match with a chunky soft cabled scarf pattern, the Dog Walking Scarf by Irishgirlieknits.

The pattern was designed for Rowan Plaid, now discontinued, but although the Renew isn’t quite as bulky I think it’s a good substitute. I do like the slate grey colours with just a hint of blue in the colourway Lorry.

And, for a possible future sewing project, Wayne found several metres of this fab retro fabric featuring vintage cars, penny farthing bicycles and Edwardian ladies playing croquet! Curtains or cushion covers?

There was also another retro design but it was a hunting theme and I don’t think we want curtains or cushion covers covered in dead ducks.