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Sunday, November 26, 2006

The best thing about knit blogging? Other bloggers.

I am sorry for the delay in posting - I have just spent four days stranded/gorging in the Oxfordshire countryside without a USB cable for my camera. Four days without work has left plenty of time for consuming vast amounts of Thanksgiving fare as well as clicking my needles together and surfing Bloglines.

But long before I disappeared off for a well earned break, I stumbled across a post by a well-known Canadian chick with sticks. She had horrified a bunch of her faithful followers by declaring she would be knitting a sock each and every day, without neglecting her work or her children. I initially scoffed at that, as I often see lucky stay-at-home moms who can churn out beautiful knits almost daily, while I sneak in a few minutes in the car or before my eyes involuntarily close in front of the TV at night. Besides, I'd had my Jaywalkers sitting in the knitting basket for weeks...

I decided it was about time I kicked my ass. Lo and behold, a couple of nights later:



A pair of completed Jaywalkers.



Pattern: Jaywalkers from Magknits by the ever-talented Grumperina

Yarn: Self dyed Opal avec Kool Aid

Needles: El cheapo 2.5mm metal DPNs, 2 sets so I could work the socks in tandem

Time taken: I refuse to comment

Modifications: They're a little longer in the cuff than many, to keep the recipient's legs toasty in her boots.

This was my third stab at the pattern - my first pair came out wide enough for a tree trunk and the second pair were ruined when I picked them up under the influence of wine... ah well, lesson learnt. These are a Christmas gift but the giftee snatched a glimpse while I was full of port on Thanksgiving night and fortunately approves of my work.

Speaking of gifting, my mother's Widdershins also went to an early home this Thanksgiving.




Pattern: Widdershins from Summer '06 Knitty by Brooke Chenoweth Creel

Yarn: Mystery 4-ply wool from a charity shop. It cost £3 and has already made a clapotis and these socks, with no end in sight :)

Needles: 2.5mm generic metal DPNs - I went us 2 sizes as these claimed to be snug socks and they are still a bit too tight, so bear this in mind if you're making yourself a pair

Time taken: Forgetted.

Modifications: Just bigger needles. I also used the Figure 8 cast on, because it makes sense to me. Those whose crochet does not belong in the seventh circle of hell, please continue to use your provisional casting on methods.

Before I knew it, I was offer. With the wind of Yarn Harlot beneath my wings, I could craft anything. I managed to bang out a quick Nautie in an evening. I will photograph him when he has eyes, promise. I had visions of all my Christmas knitting being completed before December.

Then it all started going t*ts up. I thought I'd make some Fuzzy Feet. I had a couple of balls of Noro Silk Garden looking for a home. I googled a little and found the composition of the yarn:

45% Silk
45% Mohair
10% Wool

Hmm... doesn't sound like a felting dream. But the dry clean only label and encouraging words from a few other bloggers who had tried it made me think it was worth a swatch...




A quick swatch from some leftover Silk Garden.



The same swatch, after a warm and abuse trip through my washing machine AND some vicious hand felting.

So that idea was abandoned. Besides, while it was being abused in the washing machine, I managed to cast on a simple baby hat wrong FOUR TIMES. Sensible people would have given up then, but I was almost in tears, determined to get something on the needles. I managed this...



A solitary Fuzzy Foot in Debbie Bliss Maya, with a hideously twisted cast on.

So I gave up knitting that night.

However, Yarn Harlot's motivation has stayed with me.




A single sock, loosely based on a cable-free Widdershins. Knitted in the deliciously soft Regia Cotton Surf. Completed in a single day, absent-mindedly knitted as I nattered, stirred and scoffed my way though Thanksgiving. The girl was right, it can be done.

Kelly [ 6:35 PM ]
5 comments

5 Comments:

See? They called me mad. I knew you could do it.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:59 PM, November 27, 2006  

Oh my, you have been busy! Well done. I love the jaywalkers...

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