A Productive Knitting Month

Dear Reader:

January is drawing to a close. It’s flown by, and when I review my projects page on Ravelry, I feel like it was a productive month. To date, I have five finished objects! It might be my most productive month so far which is very satisfying.

I had hoped to wash and block a couple of these projects this weekend, but that didn’t work out. I’m under the weather with a number of annoying health complaints and spent most of the day yesterday in bed. Maybe next weekend?

I already blogged about three of these projects – two pairs of slipper socks and a scarf.

On January 13th, I bound off the Peaks and Valleys scarf (I hope to have better pictures soon) and cast on for a hat called Stark for my DH’s nephew. I used 4mm bamboo DPNs. It was my first time knitting with Cascade Yarns – 220 Superwash Sport – which was a delight to work with. Soft and so, so, so squishy!

The hat worked up quickly. I had read on one of the projects pages that someone knit 7″ instead of the 7.5″ called for in the pattern. I thought about doing the same, but I was worried that it would be too small. I should have listened to my gut on this one. It fits me well, but that half-inch would have made it fit better. When I was near the finish, I noticed some mistakes way back on the ribbed brim. Too late to go back and fix. When I should have knit, it seems I purled (or vice versa). In two spots! How did I not notice this!?!

Stark

I cast off four days later and put the hat aside, almost in disgust (with myself). I tried to think of ways I could fix it. First I thought I could maybe do something with the yarn tail. That didn’t work out. I thought about working some cross stitch to see if I could cover it up, but I’ve never done any cross stitch so that seemed an unlikely solution. It’s only really visible from the technical “wrong side”, but being on the brim it’s possible the wearer might turn it up and then these would be visible. To my eyes, the hat is reversible – both sides are attractive, aside from my mistakes. Sigh…

On the same day that I finished the hat, I cast on for a pair of socks. I pulled out some yarn from stash and paired it up with the Piece of My Heart Socks pattern. This is the first time I have knit something for a KAL. I’m not a fan of pink, but the combination of pinks and browns speak to me. I cast on using the Estonian cast on over two needles. This was the first time I’d used this cast on and I really like it. It’s just like the long tail cast on with a small variation, and it makes a super nice stretchy, attractive edge.

The first sock seemed to be knitting up larger, so I started making it with my MIL in mind – longer heel flap, smaller foot, but I’m not all that confident that they will fit her either. I used my size 2.25mm steel Addi DPN’s. All my previous socks have been worked with four needles – three for the sock and one working needle. I used three needles for the cast on and ribbing and then switched to four for the rest of the sock. Something new; it took me a bit to get comfortable with this, but in the end I think it worked well. It’s good to have different ways of doing things and to be comfortable with both.

The first sock knit up without issue. The second sock was a little devil. One time I picked up the sock and was just pulling up my sleeve when the sock slid off the needle I was holding and fell to the floor. Luckily, I was able to pick up all the stitches with little incident! When I was knitting the first pattern row after working the heel and picking up the gusset stitches it dawned on me that I forgot to finish the leg on row 6 before working the heel. Ripped back, started to work on the missing rows and realized that I had not reorganized the stitches properly on the DPNs. Finally got everything worked out, worked the heel again, picked up the gusset stitches, started working the decreases and discovered a hole in the stockinette section. Had a couple of stitches pop off the needle – only finding them a row or two later. Little things like this dogged me to the end. But I persevered and finished the socks!

Piece of My Heart

This was the first pattern I’ve knit that didn’t take me step-by-step from cuff to toe. I was able to use my favourite heel and toe construction… okay, I only really only know one for each, but I was able to knit the socks.

Was not thrilled with the yarn. It had no bounce at all and felt a little rough. It twisted up on itself, turning into knots. I think I spent more time untangling than knitting. There was 20 g / 0.70 oz leftover which I added to my collection of leftover sock yarn. Looks like I might have a Beekeeper’s Quilt in my future!

So, now I’m thinking about what to cast on next. If I pick something easy I could possibly bring my total finished objects for January 2013 to six! I better get going if I’m to have a chance!

Thanks for reading my little blog. How did your January knitting go? That cold weather seems to really do something to the knitting mojo.

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