The path of least resistance

When I opened the package from Ripples Crafts containing the April sock yarn I immediately thought of the Fountain Foxglove pattern. So on Saturday I started swatching. Stop making rude noises! I admit, I hate swatching, but I have learned my lesson when it comes to socks. My days of making ill fitting socks are over. I now swatch to make sure I get gauge and the results are worth the effort.

So there I was (un)happily swatching but I could not get gauge unless I went up to a 3.5mm needle. This gave me a very loose fabric and that simply does not wear well in a sock. I like a nice fine stitch for my socks. Of course Bordhi's patterns are made to be customised and I could have sat down, done the calculations and still knitted the pattern but with smaller needles. But I'm just not in the right frame of mind these days for that type of thing so I chose the path of least resistance and opted for a different pattern.

A quick perusal of my Ravelry queue reminded me that I have been meaning to knit Bloomin' Socks for some time. And that is what I've started. So far so good.

FO: Winow Pane Socks

Sometimes when I knit with a yarn that really appeals to me I experience almost a sense of loss when that project comes to an end. This was the case with the Window Pane Socks which I knitted with Ripples Crafts Assynt Winter. I fell in love with the colours and savoured every stitch knitted. Thank you Helen, you did a wonderful dyeing job.

Ain't it sweet?

On Sunday I presented Errol to young Daniel. When they were introduced Daniel immediately decided that the little owl was not called Errol, indeed not, his name is Hedwig. So once renamed, the two retired to the couch for a cuddle and a whispered conversation. A short while later they presented me with this letter.



Cute.

I've cast on Sylvia Harding's Little Leaf scarf using Val's luscious handspun. This yarn is a pleasure to work with. I love the variegation in the yarn. And it smells so nice! What did you wash it in Val?

FO: Errol

This charmed little owlet is for a young Harry Potter fan.



The pattern is from Charmed Knits and took next to no time to whip up. Errol is based on the Weasley's owl I believe. A little bit battered but very lovable.

But wait there's more!

I went to the post office this morning thinking I was picking up my sock club parcel and found two parcels waiting for me!

The unexpected parcel was from the lovely Val. She has sent me some of her gorgeous handspun corriedale. I've already started pouring over scarf patterns because I simply have to cast on as soon as possible. Thank you Val - you've made my heart sing! Oh and Val, the hand is a lovely touch ;)




Next up is the April sock yarn from Helen of Ripple Crafts Hand Dyed Yarns.



This beautiful dyed yarn is called Simply Green. I think I might knit Bordhi's Fountain Foxglove with this.

Oh dear, I feel a bad case of startitis coming on!

FO: Rusted Root

I finally finished my Rusted Root a few days ago. This was an extremely quick knit and would have been finished ages ago had I not run out of yarn. Fortunately I managed to track down the yarn online and great was my pleasure when the yarn arrived and I found that it was the same dye lot!



Yarn: Patons Washed Haze
Needles: 3.75 mm and 3.25 mm circular needles
Modifications: Long sleeves rather than short sleeves and I made the neck smaller.



I realised that when I reached the point where the sleeves are placed on waste yarn and you then continue the rest of the body that I would never wear this sweater if it had short sleeves. The yarn is 10 ply and although its cotton it still makes for a very dense fabric. But with long sleeves its an ideal sweater for autumn and spring.

I'm not mad about the neck - I don't like wide open necklines and that is why I picked up fewer stitches than recommended and I knitted a wider rib then recommended. I'm still not 100% happy with the neck and might yet re-do it. I thought I would wear it a few times first and see how I go.

This was my first attempt at a top-down sweater and I think its a great way to knit a sweater. The best thing of all is that there is no seaming! For a hopeless sewer like me that is a fantastic bonus.

Socks!

I confess. I love knitting socks. When I first started to knit socks I simply did it to see if I could. Then I discovered self-striping yarn and I found it very entertaining knitting. But I finally got hooked when I discovered one could knit socks two at a time. That technique, combined with the many beautiful yarns out there, sealed the deal for me. The only knitting experience that equals (maybe even surpasses) sock knitting is lace knitting.

So, of course, I have recently finished another pair of socks and I've cast on for a new pair.

The finished pair are the Primavera socks for Val. And I've very happy to say she has received them and they fit.



The yarn is Miami Red from the Bendigo Woollen Mills.

I decided to join Sock Knitters Anonymous on Ravelry and I'm participating in the April Sockdown. I've opted to knit an under-appreciated pattern - Window Pane Socks. And the gorgeous yarn I'm using is from Ripples Crafts Hand Dyed Yarns in the colourway Assynt Winter. The pattern is a combination of twisted stitches and cables and is absorbing all my attention at the moment. And as for the colours, well what can I say? Every stitch is a delight.



My blog has been hit by a lot of spam of late so I've decided to turn the comment moderation on to try and counteract it.

Prizes!

Last week a friend talked Bruce and I into providing her with a few of our projects to exhibit in a craft show organised by her daughter - the Ballan Craft show. Much to our surprise we won a few prizes.

Bruce won a first prize for this gorgeous cross stitch. It's definitely the best he has ever done.



He did it on a linen so fine you can barely count the threads as this close-up shows.



A well deserved first wouldn't you say?

I got a third prize for my Mystic Lights shawl.



And a second prize for my secret project which I now have to reveal although I've not gifted it yet.



It's Debbie Bliss' Alphabet Blanket.