skein

November knitting and December goals

I've done it!  A post each day for November for NaKniSweMoDo!  It's actually easier than I think, and I always think that I'll blog much more frequently afterwards, but it doesn't happen. I'm a 2-3 posts per week person.

So, how did I do?  I think it's been rather successful! I opted for 11 things this month, as I knew that I'd be knitting smaller things.

November goals

1) Finish grey cables cardigan.  Done!

2) Take photos and blog about the Mystery Blanket.  Done!

3) Finish some dk socks for Chris. Done!

4) Finish a baby beret.  Done!

5) Finish my Multnomah shawl (ravelry link). Done!

6) Woollywormhead's Mystery Hat KAL, version A. Change of plan! Instead I knitted another scarf.

7) Woollywormhead's Mystery Hat KAL, version B. Done!

8) Knit a square for a secret project done!  (no piccies but they are on my blog, and two not one)

9) Knit some more wrister. Done! 

10) More wristers!  Not one but two pairs done!

and

11) Something else, not sure what will grab me - done!  A scarf for Chris' birthday this month. (he's blindfolded so he doesn't see it!)

And ... I've nearly finsihed the Vine Yoke Cardigan - everything is done except a wash and buttons.   

And ... started a cowl!  

I can't surpass that!

December knitting goals.

Not as many!

1) Finish Harmonia's Rings Cowl

2) Knit a pair of plain socks for Chris - this time for his Christmas present.

3) Finish my Lorna's Laces plain socks for me.

4) Buy buttons for Vine Yoke Cardigan and blog about it.

5) Start some lace. I've not done much this year.

6) Knit a baby boy outfit for a friend.

7) (I have to have seven things!)  Not sure what yet, surely not another garment!

I'm having a break for a few days, ah the luxury!

Harmonia's Rings Cowl

I've started a new project!  I keep a big bag of stash under the coffee table, which I rotate quite frequently. It tends to be stash which I may knit up in the coming month, and as I've been knitting wristers and small stuff recently, I'd put some Malabrigo in there. Last winter I knitted several Malabrigo wristers, and I've half a dozen skeins left over.  The red (two skeins and already wound, a big plus when it comes to choosing a new project to start now) was calling to me.  Harmonia's Rings Cowls looked ideal for the yarn, especially after checking out the Malabrigo versions on ravelry!

It's my first time knitting a Moebius strip, and wow!  The cast on is just amazing!  There's a link in the pattern to a Cat Bordhi video, very clear instructions. It took me two goes to get it right but I just love the concept.

With this knitting you need an extra long needle and cast on over the cable and the needle tip, and when you knit you are knitting a coiled needle (hence the very long one), and you're also knitting double the number of stitches, as you're following the edge, up and under.  

 

This is after two pattern repeats, just before increasing.  I know you only have to look at Malabrigo and it bobbles but I just love knitting with it, and it's the yarn of choice for neckwear, so soft and warm.  I cannot wait to be wearing this! I took this photo a few hours ago when we had some light (another gloomy, wet day in London).  I've worked the first lot of increases, and am eagerly wondering how to 'get out of the moebius' and do plain rounds.  I never read a pattern beforehand!

Vine yoke cardigan - the penultimate post

Because the next post on this garment will be the FO post!  It might not be for weeks yet, I need to give it a washing, a good blocking and find buttons.

But the knitting is done!

 

The sleeves are grafted and the two short underarm seams are sewn up.

 

I need to sew in the ends, find buttons (that's the one which will take a few weeks, involves me getting into town to see what there is) and a good washing/blocking.  I haven't been working on this long enough for it to get dirty, but the excess dye keeps coming off on my hands, so a wash might shift a bit more.

Surprisingly, apart from being a bit short, it's so stretchy that it doesn't feel snug.  I remember some wonder tops, which were barbie sized (practically) but could be s t r e t c h e d to fit, and this feels just like those tops.  One size fits all!

A very quick knit.  Can't wait to finish this off.

 

The next problem - what to do now!  I've only socks on the go at this moment!

Back to the Vine Yoke cardigan

I'm still knitting, but it's nearly finished!  I'm more than halfway through the left front - just another 20 rows of pattern and 15 rows of garter stitch for the button band, then the knitting's done.  Graft the sleeves, sew a short underarm seam, give it a wash and find buttons.  I suspect the latter will take weeks!  I think I may hold it up before washing to show how tiny it is. 

Here's the progress, taken last night without flash.  It's TEAL, not blue, but this shows the texture better.

and with flash, a better representation of the colour, though it's more saturated than this of course.

 

Now my tension was nearly spot on, a little bit of difference in stitch count, which might affect length, but I've added 8 stitches so that's not a problem.  Rows were exactly to pattern tension.  So how come when I've measured the width of the garment it's only 36"???  I'm hoping it's just the way I've laid it on the table!   We shall see...

Plain socks

No pictures of the Vine Yoke cardigan today.  I couldn't face bringing it into work (to take a daylight photo).  I have finished the second sleeve though, and couldn't resist knitting two rows on the left front before bed last night.  It's looking good.  How it will look after washing and blocking is anyone's guess.  And buttons.

So I have started the vibrant socks, and this is the progress today.  Very simple knitting, an inch of 2x2 ribbing and then a plain sock.  I usually use 2.25mm needles, but I've gone up to 2.5mm needles as these are for me and if they're a bit loosely knit, I don't care.

I think my love affair with Lorna's Laces may be at an end!  I really don't like these colours, and the way that they're knitting up.

 

Never mind. Leg done, heel flap started. I normally do a short row heel with LL, so as not to disturb the striping, but in this instance it might possibly improve the sock!