Works In Progress

It's funny looking back at how I used to knit one project at a time and ensure it was finished before I started something new. These days I have lots of things on the needles at any one time and I really enjoy knitting in this way as it allows me to work on whatever takes my fancy at the time. Sometimes I want to have something to do with my hands whilst I'm watching TV or chatting, it's at times like this that it's good to have some plain knitting which doesn't require any concentration, whereas I like something a little more challenging at other times. Having different projects on the go means that I usually have the perfect project for what I want at the time.

I have a few pairs of socks on the go at the moment. I think I tend to favour a textured sock, I enjoy knitting them and I love the fabric that's created. These are Petty Harbour by Rayna Curtis. It's an easy four row pattern. I'm using The Yarn Tart yarn in the Playground Politics colourway and this has to be one of the softest yarns I've ever used, I can see more purchases from this dyer in my future.

I'm really enjoying knitting the Woodland Walk Socks by This Handmade Life. This pattern is different from any sock pattern I've used before as the pattern is charted but it's very easy to follow. I'm using Tamiwicolors yarn in the Beth colourway, it's so pretty.

Mick's become a convert to handmade socks so I thought I'd get him a new pair knit up ready for the colder weather. I've used the Vanilla Latte Socks pattern by Virginia Rose-Jeanes many times previously, it's my go to pattern when knitting for other people as these socks seem to fit feet so well and owing to the ribbed pattern, are quite forgiving. They tend to grip the feet well but have some stretch too so it's a good pattern if you're not going to be trying the socks on a foot as you knit them. I'm knitting these out of West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4-ply in the Bullfinch colourway. I'm a big fan of this yarn as it holds up well to everyday use. I wash socks knit in this yarn in the washing machine and they're always fine.

This is the Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys. Eleanor's asked me to knit a couple of things for her friend who is expecting her first baby so we chose some yarn together whilst we were on holiday in Cornwall. This is Stylecraft Wondersoft DK in the Humpty Dumpty colourway. The pattern is easy but the directions are not always very clear, you do have to use your own intuition in places. I like the fact that it's knit in one piece, it means there's no sewing up at the end which is a big bonus for me. I've just got the sleeves to knit and then this will be finished.

Eleanor also chose some King Cole Big Value Baby Spot 4 ply in the Nectarine colourway whilst we were on holiday in Cornwall, I'm using it to knit a Flax Light by tincanknits, another little garment for Eleanor's friend's baby. She knows she's having a girl. I'm just at the place where I'll split for the sleeves so it should be straight knitting from here on.

I'm still continuing to knit hats for the homeless. I'm using up yarn from stash and knitting a variety of patterns. I'm hoping that I'll have quite a few ready to donate to a homeless charity ready for the colder weather.

As you can see, I've got a few things on the needles at the moment, and there's the scrappy blanket too, but I have managed to finish the Boxy by Joji Locatelli which I was knitting for Eleanor, I'm quite pleased to have that off the needles and I'll tell you more about it another time.