False starts and ends
While we've finally finished moving all our stuff into the new house, I couldn't actually say that we've moved yet. There are still boxes everywhere, letting me know that I need to unpack them by getting in my way and making me trip over them several times a day.
In the same vein, I've been doing a bit of knitting, but I wouldn't say that I've actually been productive. I'm mere rows away from having the last sleeve, and last major piece, of Cosmopolitan completed, but I've run out of yarn. Knitted to gauge, purchased the required number of balls, but still, inexplicably run out of yarn. Luckily, it's just a couple of rows at the top of the sleeve and the ribbing that will more than likely be a different dyelot. However, the sad part is that it's going to cost me less to buy the Australian Designer's yarn from the UK than here, so I'll just have to wait for it to be sent over and it's a kind of sad reflection of the 'designer knitting' scene in Australia.
To keep myself amused while I procrastinate about buying the last ball of yarn, I decided to make a scarf. Pretty easy right, just cast on, knit, cast off? Wrong. I've had two false starts so far, and possibly running headlong into another one, if I've miscalculated the yardage.
First I tried Checkered Scarf from Vintage Knits using some variegated handspun from the spinners and weavers guild, and some Bendigo wool, but the more I looked at the pattern, the more I disliked it. The colours I used were a bit lairy as well. It's currently languishing under the bed, still needing to be unraveled.
Unfortunately, I knit such a small amount that my hand was necessary to show the scarf for the second photo. I didn't think my fingers were so pink and chubby sausage-like; I'd like to blame the altitude of the new house (the new house is on a hill, where the old house was in kind of a valley). I might try this scarf again, using the slip stitch pattern in its entirety, instead of just on the ends, and swap the colours around so the brown is the main colour, instead of the variegated.
After that false start, I tried interlocking balloons from Scarf Style, using some alpaca I picked up an eon ago. After half a repeat, I decided that it just wasn't doing it for me like I thought it would.
It's pretty much a case of another time, another place with this pattern. It could look good with the right yarn, just not this yarn.
The alpaca has since been doubled and now makes up a part of an Irish Hiking Scarf. While I consider the pattern to be quite plain, it suits the yarn quite well. The cables pop out nicely, and if it ends up being long enough, it should be a nice warm riding scarf for Matt when it gets cooler.
As soon as the scarf's done, and the remaining Cosmopolitan yarn turns up, I'll start to go over some of the projects that have been sitting around for a while. A prime example of this is Matt's diagonal rib jumper, which only needs the rest of one side seam done, and it's finished, but I just can't be bothered sitting down and doing it. I will have to get bothered soon, so it can take up room in the wardrobe instead of in my knitting basket.
In the same vein, I've been doing a bit of knitting, but I wouldn't say that I've actually been productive. I'm mere rows away from having the last sleeve, and last major piece, of Cosmopolitan completed, but I've run out of yarn. Knitted to gauge, purchased the required number of balls, but still, inexplicably run out of yarn. Luckily, it's just a couple of rows at the top of the sleeve and the ribbing that will more than likely be a different dyelot. However, the sad part is that it's going to cost me less to buy the Australian Designer's yarn from the UK than here, so I'll just have to wait for it to be sent over and it's a kind of sad reflection of the 'designer knitting' scene in Australia.
To keep myself amused while I procrastinate about buying the last ball of yarn, I decided to make a scarf. Pretty easy right, just cast on, knit, cast off? Wrong. I've had two false starts so far, and possibly running headlong into another one, if I've miscalculated the yardage.
First I tried Checkered Scarf from Vintage Knits using some variegated handspun from the spinners and weavers guild, and some Bendigo wool, but the more I looked at the pattern, the more I disliked it. The colours I used were a bit lairy as well. It's currently languishing under the bed, still needing to be unraveled.
Unfortunately, I knit such a small amount that my hand was necessary to show the scarf for the second photo. I didn't think my fingers were so pink and chubby sausage-like; I'd like to blame the altitude of the new house (the new house is on a hill, where the old house was in kind of a valley). I might try this scarf again, using the slip stitch pattern in its entirety, instead of just on the ends, and swap the colours around so the brown is the main colour, instead of the variegated.
After that false start, I tried interlocking balloons from Scarf Style, using some alpaca I picked up an eon ago. After half a repeat, I decided that it just wasn't doing it for me like I thought it would.
It's pretty much a case of another time, another place with this pattern. It could look good with the right yarn, just not this yarn.
The alpaca has since been doubled and now makes up a part of an Irish Hiking Scarf. While I consider the pattern to be quite plain, it suits the yarn quite well. The cables pop out nicely, and if it ends up being long enough, it should be a nice warm riding scarf for Matt when it gets cooler.
As soon as the scarf's done, and the remaining Cosmopolitan yarn turns up, I'll start to go over some of the projects that have been sitting around for a while. A prime example of this is Matt's diagonal rib jumper, which only needs the rest of one side seam done, and it's finished, but I just can't be bothered sitting down and doing it. I will have to get bothered soon, so it can take up room in the wardrobe instead of in my knitting basket.
3 Comments:
Hey there Emma, I've had the same experience with scarves. Start, rip, start, rip etc etc. Sometimes I feels as though because scarves are allegedly such simple garments, I get really pedantic about making them.
I read your email about a Brunswick SnB, and I'm interested! I live in Preston which isn't far away. But I don't know any good Brunswick locations, do you have any in mind? Maybe we should force a start up and see who comes along? anna :)
I'm more than happy to force a start up! I have to say, I'm kind of disappointed that there was no replies on the message board thing - I thought there were heaps of people interested. I haven't actually been a SnB before, so I'm not exactly sure what makes a good location, but I always envisioned couches as being a good starting point. I thought maybe the Comfortable Chair on Lygon St (near Brunswick Road) might be alright, but I'll have to have a better look.
Have you been to the Northcote/North Fitzroy SnB?
As for scarves... I kind of hate the mindset I get into with them. I don't seem to have a problem with just ripping a scarf in progress out, no matter how much time I've spent on it, but I wouldn't do the same on any other garment....
Hi Emma,
I haven't been to any meet ups at all. I think that's why I'm keen for one now. I think Comfortable Chair was tossed up as a possible venue, but someone might have thought it was too dark or something like that.
Maybe we should go to the Northcote/Nth Fitzroy one and start poaching people!
By the way I visited Calico and Chintz in Auburn (90 Auburn Road Hawthorn) and it's lovely! Half for knitters, half for quilters.
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