Freeing the needles

ready for the Olympic challenge!

Here's River, modelled by the every eager Natalya. We were trying to do this quickly and quietly in my office, after all, it's a surprise!

Nat doing her usual Russian stuff with a shawl, practising to be a babushka.

Finally, the wingspan. The pattern called for larger needles (8mm I think) but I used 5mm  and knitted it wider and longer. 

I think it's a tad too large, but this is easily remedied on the next blocking. I can't say that I care for the closure; it looks like something the cat sicked up, covered in beads, and won't be included in the gift.

And the Child's shell sock from Knitting Vintage socks were finished in January.  (It's been this long trying to get a daylight photo!)

Olympic challenge thoughts.

There's just over a week left before the challenge begins, and I'm still not certain what I'll be knitting.  Last night, for example, I was mad for a shawl,  one of those large circular or square shawls.  I seriously thought that I could knit a large shawl (over 2000 yards worth of laceweight yarn) in 16 days, and block it.  And fit in 10 days of work.

This morning, common sense prevailed, and I've switched back towards a garment. It needs to be one in pieces (I'm not carting around a whole jumper in the last few days) and one that doesn't involve lots of charts. Chris had suggested that I knit one for him, but he wants a multicoloured, patterned one, and I'm loathe to carry around a bag of yarns on my commute!  (Think of Mick Aston, and his colourful knitwear on the Time Team) .

I'm hoping to have a shortlist before the week is out!  It will double up as my Stashbusters February project as well. I've decided not to log my stash, but to keep a running total each month. The summary table (ahem) is thus:

SUMMARY OF JANUARY STASH

                lace       4ply        sock    dk      aran        chunky
bought        75        405        1000    0       7350         0            8830g
stashed        0        355         900     0       7050         0            8305g
gifted           0        -50        -200     0       0              0          -250g
knitted       -75        0          -100    -350    -700         0          -1225g
sold           -75        0            0       -500    0            -400      -975g
movement  -75        355        700     -820    6650        -400       6380g

Oops.

Comments

[christine]

The River looks great - I like it bigger! I didn't even make the elastic thingy - knew that I wouldn't use it. Good Job!!!!!

[Linda]

I love stripes and fairisle but have finally decided(after multiple mishaps) that they need to be stayhome knitting because of all the balls. I have even allocated a tray as the "multicoloured knitting container." This is a cunning plan to allow me to constantly have one such piece always on the needles! I'm waiting on the yarn for the fairisle slipover in Classic Summer to arrive in the mail.

[francoise]

River is great. Well done Dawn ! A lot of people didn't like the beaded tie after it was finished, so no regret there.
Looking forward to seeing what you finally will decide on for the Olympics...

[erin]

It looks great without that little beaded thing. The size is just right too. Have you seen the new scarf pattern at Magknits? It has a bit of river-like lace going on in the middle and some other lace at the sides, very pretty too.

[Mary]

River looks good and I like the socks too. I think a lot of people didn't bother with the tie thing. As for the stash - maybe February will be better!

[Jill]

River looks good - and the socks. I liked the idea of that scrunchie thing to hold it together, but hve never seen one done or in use.....

[Yvonne]

I love your version of River and think it will go down very well with it's recipient.

That stash list is scary - I don't want to know what mine would look like!

[Carol]

Lovely River and lucky friend. It really suits her. I shope she has a fantastic holiday. Your stash list is very scary - thankfully I am not computer literate enough to make one up for myself - then I would be scared!

[Mandella]

River is really pretty. As far as the jumper goes, if you could knit a Brandon Mably or Kaffe Fasset in 16 days I would take my hat off to you!