Dichroic Reflections

knitting update

I haven't mentioned knitting in a while. That would be because I just wasn't interested in knitting while I was sick. (Also, more than one cup of tea got me thoroughly wired, chocolate made me cough, and beer tasted awful. It's been an odd illness all around.) However, I did knit quite a bit before I got sick, and started getting back to it this past weekend. While we were still at my in-laws, I finished this top. Only problem is, it's a little shorter than I'd like, since I'd like to be able to wear it to work. I'm going to see if blocking helps. If not, I'll undo the bottom (which will be a pain, since it's stitched down) and make it a bit longer. (First I should check whether I have enough yarn to make much difference.)

I'd also finished all but the last few inches of a second sock in a pair I made for Rudder, so I knocked that off this past weekend. I've decided I really don't like the wrap-and-turn style of short-row heels; I much prefer the versions that involve a yarnover instead. Same thing in the final result, I think, but it's easier to knit and I seem to end up with fewer holes in the ankles.

I'll try to get pictures of both projects soon.

My trellis scarf seems to be running much longer than predicted, so I'm going to skip the middle section and just do one pattern repeat there instead. The very soft yarn I'm using doesn't show the pattern nearly as well as the photo on the pattern, and it's slow for me to knit, but it's a gorgeous color and I suppose knitting the pattern is good experience. I want to do another Clapotis just because it was so much fun to knit and this yarn would have been good for that, but on the other hand a pattern that repetitive would be better in a patterned yarn. (I'm thinking maybe this stuff, in the grays or maybe reds.)

Finally, I've begun knitting a wine cozy that I intend to felt. I don't have a pattern for this; I've started from the bottom and am through that and maybe an inch up the sides. This is from the crimson Cascade 220 yarn I bought from the crazy yarn-store lady at the shop I visited with my mother-in-law. I haven't done a swatch (bad knitter!) so I make try to hand-felt this to make sure it doesn't shrink too small. On the other hand I think I'm going to rip it back all the way, because the bottom part that's supposed to lay flat, isn't. I increased 5 sts on every other row. Apparently that wasn't enough, so I'll try 8 or 10 instead. I've knitted one purl row to give it an edge at the border between the bottom and sides, what I intend to do is to crochet navy yarn on to make that ridge more pronounced, then crochet a spiral up the side. I haven't decided whether to knit or crochet the handles. This should leave a lot of leftover yarn, so if it works well I may make another one in navy with crimson trim. And if it works really well, maybe I'll submit the pattern somewhere.

Besides the cozy and the trellis scarf in work, I have yarn for two pair of socks and gloves for Rudder. I have enough Southwest Trading Company Bamboo yarn for a tank top for me, one skein of Kidsilk Haze I tried actual lace with (that would be when I decided I hate knitting lace because it takes too much attention), about 3 skeins of Manos I'm contemplating another Moebius scarf with (the wavy freeform one at the back of Cat Bordhi's book, and various odds and ends left over from completed projects. That's it. Not much of a stash, compared to what I hear from other knitters.

Posted by dichroic at July 24, 2006 03:12 PM