FO, but slow

So this didn't exactly turn into the high-speed Hitchhiker that I had hoped for.

I persevered with the Continental technique, I really did but after about halfway through the shawl there was no discernable increase in speed and I was finding it pretty hard going to be honest. It isn't that I can't knit with the yarn in my left hand. I can and I can keep a fairly even tension too, but it just doesn't seem any quicker.

And yes, I was sad enough to time myself too, before you ask.

In the course of my internet reading though I did come across several links to Lever Knitting, also known as Irish Cottage Knitting. This method is espoused by The Yarn Harlot no less, so I did give it a go and found it to be a little more intuitive and natural-feeling than the Continental style. I guess I am a born thrower, and having the yarn in my right hand just feels 'right'

I did also come across several hints and tips for faster or more ergonminc knitting. Some of them I think I knew already or instinctively use but I thought I would share them with you anyway.

1. Power loading (again, a la The Yarn Harlot)- sounds scary but it just means to scrunch up your left hand stitches up as close to the needle tip as possible.
2. Live on the edge - keep the stitches on both needles as close to the needle tips as possible to minimise exessive movement.
3. Don't re-tension - once you have the yarn tensioned comfortably try to ensure you have enough yarn for your row or round, reducing the need to stop and re-tension your yarn.
4. Practice - any new technique should be practised for at least 20hrs, giving time for your brain to learn all the subtle micro movements needed and develop that muscle memory.
5. Relax - tension in your neck and shoulders can impede muscle movement and slow you down.

More details about the shawl are on my ravelry page in case you are interested.

Shawl Surprise

The surprise being that I seem to be obssessed with shawl knitting, despite the fact that I should be knitting socks.

I just finished my Herbivore by Stephen West and am really pleased with how it turned out. It has just the right amount of drape and long enough 'arms' to wrap properly around my neck. The yarn is perfect too - silky and luscious to knit with bright little pops of colour - pale green and blue amidst the teal.





I enjoyed it so much in fact that I spent a happy hour perusing more shawl patterns on Ravelry, looking for some more instant gratification. In the end though I plumped for a pattern I have knit before - a Hitchhiker - in some yarn from my Deep Stash. I think it may be from the Natural Dye Studios but don't quote me on it.

I don't normally knit the same thing twice, but this time I have a cunning plan. if I am going to Knit All the Things then I need to knit faster...much faster. So on this project I am determined to crack Continental knitting.

I found this great U-Tube clip which was really helpful. I have tried to knit this way before but until now I never grasped the significance of using the thumb/middle finger of the left hand to hold the stitches at the base of the work - providing a stable point to lever the yarn through, rather than just poking the right hand needle through the loop and fishing around for the strand of yarn coming from the left index finger. Sorry for the appalling description - it makes sense to me - but this lady explains it far better.

So wish me luck...I am going Continental.

A bit of fun

With so much of my knitting being for others or on deadlines I have found a little stress creeping into my knitting life this week. Don't get me wrong, I love my sock knitting and will never be parted from it but when all my ongoing projects are sock related I start to feel a little flat and one-dimensional.

So in the interests of fun and variety I have declared today a Non Sock Day and cast on for a shawl instead.

A  chance comment by the lovely Kerry over in the Sheep Shop group on Ravelry lead to the setting up of a summer mini KAL/CAL for folks interested in casting on for a shawl project this summer. Inspired by a shop sample I have decided to cast on a Herbivore shawl in some gorgeous Sparkleduck Galaxy yarn. Perfect as a relaxing summer knit whilst entertaining the boys at home.

Not much progress yet, but I will be working on it after 'Bath & Bed'.

It sounds almost like knitting heresy but despite being a huge admirer of his work, I have not yet made any of the Stephen West shawls. By a strange coincidence I have been trying to play around with different shawl shapes for fun, and came across his Shawlscapes class on the Craftsy website.

So now, I am knitting on my own Herbivore whilst working my way through the online tutorial. I'm not entirely sold on his presentation style, but it's early days  - I'll let you know how I get on.

Gratifying FO

Just realised that in the sudden flurry of FOs I forgot to post finished pictures of my Cranford Mitts - a fabulous p/hop pattern. I took part in the Shinybees Podcast p/hop KAL and a few days of jury service were all I needed to complete these quick and simple mitts. The lace pattern is lovely and soothing to knit, and once you get into the rythmn they fly off the needles.

Beautiful sparkly Sparkleduck yarn, beautiful soothing pattern - a very gratifying finish.

And breathe...

Life seems to have suddenly taken a turn for the frantic, weeks whizzing by with amazing speed. And, as ever at times of stress I turn to my knitting for support.

A simple, mainly garter stitch shawl for a close relative going through some difficult times:

The Mountain Moss Shawl from the most recent edition of Pom Pom quarterly

Some new socks of my own design in a beautiful vibrant yarn from Solstice yarns

The pattern is Seed Pods and features a lovely slipped stitch cable pattern which is fun and easy to work.


My latest creation which should be published soon (no name yet)

And of course, when times get tough, some retail therapy is always in order:

 My latest yarn haul from the wonderful and talented Sparkleduck

Day Four: Colour Review

It doesn't take an infographic to scientifically analyse my stash and determine my colour preferences. A quick rummage through the stash easily visible, or a quick peruse of my projects page shows that I am predominantly a 'cool' colour person.

I have no objection to pinks/oranges/yellows but by preference particularly when making items for myself I am drawn to the soft muted blues, greens and greys with an special fondness for purple.

So, no surprises here - the 0% relates to yellows and oranges of which I have precisely zero in my stash.

Maybe I should be more adventurous with colour - I love to see warm bright colours on other people - just not me.

Day Three: Infographic

This was another example of perfect timing.

We are in the middle of a bit of home re-decorating and I have been forced to unearth my stash (all of it) and rehome it elsewhere. I decided to organise it by weight so that I could easily find what I was looking for and so the subject for todays infographic easily presented itself.

I obviously tend to favour sock weight and dk weight yarn as that accounts for the bulk of my stash. No surprises there then. I do have a few beautiful skeins of laceweight which I'm too scared to use, and bulky yarn tends to hurt my hands after a while.

Whilst I was at it, I grouped it by colour as well - more about that later in the week.