Unpinned

Here it is in all it's glory, the blocking wasn't perfect, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm glad I made it symmetrical, all I did was to use the feathers pattern inside the shape made by the chevron. I followed the chart for the symmetrical border which was posted by a very clever knitter, whose name I don't know. Thank you.

I've never tried 'taking pictures of yourself in the mirror' before! It isn't easy. This is the best I could manage.

It's Blocking Friday

I finally had the time to block my mystery stole. I threaded crochet cotton through the long edges before I washed it, which helped a lot in the absence of blocking wires. I used an old duvet cover over a mattress to pin to. The cover is a stripey pattern, so very good for straight edges. I didn't stretch the lace too much or I would have had multiple scallops along the edges. It measures about 19 x 72 inches.


The sock is coming along well, just a bit more leg to do and then some ribbing. I started with 97g, so the little scales DH bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago will come in useful.

Here is my trial skein of spinning a thicker single. This is the vibrant pink corriedale which came with my drop spindle kit. It is somewhat thick and thin and a little bit overspun. This is a very quick way to use up sliver and to fill a bobbin.

Another bobbin

Three ply here I come! When I got my wheel ( a Louet S10), it came with three bobbins, which is fine if all you want to spin is 2 ply. So I found a source of new ones, placed an order for one, and it arrived yesterday. DH has said he will make a bigger lazy kate to fit where the existing one goes, then I will be all set. Typically, the next spinning experiment I want to try is to spin a thicker single ply yarn which I want to knit and then felt or full. I decided after my last spinning session that I really need a cushion for my spinning chair. The idea is to make a cushion cover. At least DH will have plenty of time to make the kate!

The first merino sock is going well, almost to the start of the heel shaping. The colours look a little washed out in this picture, but there's some interesting striping going on. I'm using a 3mm Addi lace needle, they are brilliant for socks as well as lace. Tension is around 7.5st and 10 rows per inch.

The mystery stole is done and awaiting blocking. I've found a place to stretch it out, now all I need is the time.

Progress

Here we have it - 293m of two ply merino which I plan to knit into socks. I'm quite pleased with it, although there are a few parts which could be better. There are a couple of underplied sections, and I'm not sure why - maybe I lost count of the treadling. Anyway, it's the first handspun which I made with a purpose in mind, which is very satisfying. Since I've only had my wheel a couple of months, I think I'm doing okay. At the moment, it is drying and I should be able to wind it tomorrow. Something to look forward to...

Finally, I am on the home straight with the mystery stole, only about 20 rows to go and they're all getting shorter. I spent some of this afternoon on this, it needed peace and quiet for the necessary concentration, however, I was making more mistakes to start with than I usually do when watching TV at the same time. Why is that I wonder? Maybe I'm better at multitasking than I think!

Current knitting projects

On the needles at the moment, I have a lace scarf from 'Victorian Lace Today', the Mystery Stole3 (link will take you to the designers site), and a top down raglan sweater.









This is the second end of the mystery stole that I am adapting to be symmetrical, using the feathers pattern in a different way. I'm using Addi lace needles, 3.75mm with doubled lace weight cashmere, merino and viscose from Colourmart.

Progress so far!

The scarf from 'Victorian Lace Today' is the one with edging 21 and insertion 25, no actual name!I still have a long way to go with this. It's done with a single ply wool laceweight on 3.5mm Addi lace needles.

Alpaca and silk top down sweater. I'm going to see how much yarn I have left once the body is done, and hopefully extend the sleeves longer than the short ones in the pattern as written. Three quarter ones would be nice. It doesn't look much at the moment! The pattern is a free one from Crystal Palace yarns.