Yes, Autumn has officially started, time to put away all thoughts of Summer and start thinking of my Autumn knitting.
I can't believe how I feel about knitting at the moment. This ought to be the best time for me. This is my favourite season. New season books are out. I can start knitting with wool again as the weather cools down. I can start knitting quick knits for Christmas - scarves, hats, mitts, shawlettes. Yet I'm not inspired to knit at all. I have several projects on the needles and practically all of them are set aside.
I'm trying to analyse this. We have our annual knitting show in a few weeks at Ally Pally, and I'm actually a bit anxious about buying more stash when I have so much already.
Last year's plan was fairly effective, though most of the purchases are still in stash. I bought a few packs of yarn (Debbie Bliss and Jamiesons), but most of my purchases were odd skeins of yarn, which meant I could get everything home in a big basket. This year I'll try to stick with this plan again(!) and maybe buy a lot of sock yarn, lace yarn, those delicious variegated yarns which look better in real life than on my monitor. I've just bought my tickets for the show online. Thursday 13th October if anyone else is going on this day.
So... onto Autumnal knitting. Apart from the new stuff I'll want to start after Ally Pally, I have a few new things lined up (sod the old wips!)
Mysteryshawlalong2 is imminent, must dig out some yarn. This starts on 30th September, so if anyone wants to join in, now is the time. Each friday there'll be clues posted, and you have a week to knit that section - for five weeks (of course you don't have to finish this in five weeks; the first mysterhawlalong is still going).
Clapotisknitalong2005. I've finally jumped on the Clapotis bandwagon and have ordered some Karoake.
Sixsocksknitalong will be starting a new sock pattern on 1st October. I'm afraid that I've ditched Amble, the August sock. The stitches weren't popping enough for me. I'd consider this using guernsey yarn rather than regular sock yarn.
A Louisa Harding design in her new yarn. I have to do this. I've yet to see all of the yarns (or indeed the patterns, apart from online), but the yarns I have seen are impressive, beautiful shades and textures.
Let's not forget a Debbie Bliss design. I have some of her new astrakhan cashmerino sitting right next to me here at work! A cardigan, but not sure yet which one.
In anticipation of these new, inspiring projects, I'm trying to finish a few things.
The Aurora shrug is slowly reaching FO status. I've about 30 rows to go, then 76 sts to graft and sleeve seams to sew. I'm holding out on the final seaming, as I can't decide between purl side or knit side as public side. I may need a bit of help! I'll be finishing the knitting on this today.
Another few stripes longer.
The Cherry Tree Hill supersocks in Fall Foliage are finished (I was 5 mins late leaving for work this morning knitting the last few rows and casting off). I need a good photo though, so here's yesterdays: two socks on two circulars.
Wonderful to knit with. I had enough to knit a decent sized pair of socks for me (size UK 6) with leftovers. They are nearly symmetrical, a complete coincidence. They are only nearly and not exactly symmetrical, because of the dreaded pooling on one sock, in two places. It made my day when someone in the office spotted them and told me that they reminded her of Autumn colours!
Amazon very nicely delivered another new book this morning.
At first glance, this looks like a fabulous book. Lots of stitch patterns and examples of knitted socks using these patterns. Great for someone like me, who can't be bothered to root through millions of stitch pattern books for something suitable.
Yarn: yardage, tensions, thicknesses (4ply, sport, dk, worsted)
Sock anatomy (toe up, top down, heel flap, short row heel)
Size charts (US sizes) and a tension/size chart for number of stitches.
Needle techniques for 4 or 5 dpns, 2 circulars.
Miscellaneous stuff: different foot shapes, troubleshooting, casting on & off etc
Class sock
Different stitch patterns :
4 stitch ribbing patterns, 5,6,8,12 stitch patterns, cable patterns, chevron (for self patterning), fairisle, 4 stitch reticulated patterns, mosaic patterns.
Looks like loads of info in this one book.
I think Jill will like this book!