Friday 3 August 2018

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.

38 comments:

  1. Having so many things on the go would over whelm me, I often stop a project to do another, and then go back. I love to do one thing at a time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to be the same but now I like having an assortment of things to pick up and work on as the whim takes me. Sometimes I work on just one thing for a while before going back to something else.

      Delete
  2. You have a great mix of projects in the making Jo, I think it's good to have a variety of things to pick up as the mood takes you.
    Up until about 4 years ago I would never have had lots of things to work on, knitting or stitching, but then 4 years ago i didn't have all this yarn! lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like having lots of different things to work on, I never get bored of working on just one thing when there's plenty to choose from.

      Delete
  3. You are a busy bee! All your projects are comiing along beautifully, lots of great colours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoy working with, and trying out, different yarn. They all feel different and it's lovely to see how the colours work up.

      Delete
  4. Goodness you have been busy. I've got several blankets on the go and have finished off another little four ply cardigan for the new arrival. It's funny how you just remember how to make something when you've been making them for so long but then writing them or typing them has taxed my poor brain a bit of late but I'm enjoying doing them.

    Mitzi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to knit lots of baby garments when I was much younger but it's years now since there's been a baby to knit for. My mum had lots of lovely knitting patterns but she gave them all to the charity shop when she moved house, she didn't realise I'd have liked to have them.

      Delete
  5. Goodness me, Jo, you are a busy knitter! I was just looking at my stash the other day and realised I should really start knitting some of it up before it starts taking over! :oD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is that. My stash boxes are really quite full now so I need to clear a bit of space.

      Delete
  6. Goodness me what a lot you have going on. It´s nice to be able to pick and choose a project depending on how you feel. xcx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm enjoying having a big choice of projects to work on, it's so different to how I used to knit when I'd work on one project at a time, but I really enjoy this way of working.

      Delete
  7. Phew! That’s a lot on the go at once! Love the colours I the green socks. CNx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The green yarn is beautiful, it was lovely in the skein but even softer as it's knitted up, I'm so impressed by it. I've got another skein of The Yarn Tart in my stash and I'm looking forward to finding a project for that now.

      Delete
  8. I love all of the yarns and your work so far, Jo. That baby sweater with the bright green is looking adorable already! How wonderful to have a new baby to knit for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been waiting for a baby to come along which I could knit for, it's been a long time since we've had any friends or family who've been expecting. It's the next generation now with Eleanor's friend expecting her first baby.

      Delete
  9. Looks like you have loads going on and I love every project. Happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's certainly plenty to keep me busy. I don't think I'll be casting anything new on for a while.

      Delete
  10. I am like you.I have lots of things on the go.I knitted 18 hats for the homeless and refugees last winter.You have reminded me I need to get going again on that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eighteen is a great number to knit up. I don't think I'll get than many knit before winter sets in but I'd like to get a decent amount knit up ready to donate.

      Delete
  11. Wow, you certainly are doing a lot at the moment, but I know we'll see lots of finished articles before long. I love all the socks and keep thinking about attempting, but it's been such a hectic year, that I'll wait till I've more spare time to take it all in. Have a lovely weekend & take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good to be busy. You really must try socks, winter is the perfect time to give them a go when you're not out and about quite as much as in the summertime, and of course, you then end up with something cosy to keep your feet warm.

      Delete
  12. I don't tend to do a lot of knitting but always have several crochet projects on the go. I am always in awe of your sock knitting and sat with my Mum for awhile so she could show me again on my last visit. I think I am ready to have a go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How exciting, I can't wait to see how you get on. Once you wear hand knitted socks you'll never want to buy a pair again.

      Delete
  13. A lovely assortment of projects you have on the go. I've always had several projects on the go, for the very same reasons you stated. I wanted different knits for different situations (I wouldn't want to bring a blanket to knit while I waited at the dentists office!) and sometimes it's also about what you feel like knitting. I may be in a sock mood or a cowl mood or a blanket mood:) Tin Can Knits has some lovely patterns - the first cardigan I ever knit was from them. I was so impressed by how easy it was (esp. as it was a one piece knit!) even though it turned out a couple of sizes too large (but I'm sure that was me & a gauge issue).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love having lots of things on the go these days, there's so many things I want to knit that it's hard to resist casting on more than one thing at a time. The Flax Light is the first tincanknits pattern that I've used but I've got a cardigan earmarked for myself which is one of their patterns too.

      Delete
  14. Visiting you from Margaret's Garden blog. I am over athttp://cozythymecottage.blogspot.com/ You are really a good knitter keeping all those things straight! I have never knitted a pair of sox and my thing is knitting easy dish cloths! I love your Archie! We had a blonde cocker that had heart problems, took med and lived for quite a while after. Wishing the best for Coco. We have a brown cocker now and she is 12. Dread the day we lose her. She loves eating all my veggies in my courtyard garden! Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for visiting and leaving a lovely comment. Socks are my favourite thing to knit but I do knit dishcloths too, I much prefer hand knitted ones to those you buy in the shops. I'm a huge dog lover but I have a big soft spot for spaniels, I think it's their floppy ears which do it for me. I had a springer when I was in my teens. Archie used to sneak tomatoes off the vine before they were ripe when he was a puppy but he grew out of that.

      Delete
  15. Hello
    What lovely projects you are working on-
    The colours in the little cardigan are beautiful.
    Handmade socks are so nice to wear and I always appreciate the work that has gone into them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was unsure about the yarn for the cardigan but I think it's really pretty now that it's knit up. It can be hard sometimes to picture what a particular colourway will look like when it's still in a skein. I love both knitting and wearing hand made socks.

      Delete
  16. I've just caught up with all your posts from the past couple of weeks.
    How lovely that you were able to watch the sunset at the beach and cross another thing of your list which made some happy holiday memories too.
    Wonderful news about Archie, so glad to hear he is doing well.
    I always enjoy seeing the new yarn buys as I love the colour choices you go for and I find some of the names so entertaining too! Love that green cardi you are knitting.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been looking at my holiday photos, it seems a long time ago now but so it's nice to have all the memories recorded. I must admit that I sometimes buy yarn based on its name, these yarn dyers are so inventive when it comes to naming the colourways.

      Delete
  17. You sound so happy having so many things on the go …
    It obviously suits you :)

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love having so many projects to choose from. It makes finishing any one thing slower but it's an enjoyable process anyway.

      Delete
  18. I often have many paintings on the go....so get it. Some lovely projects here, especially the baby knits!xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really enjoying knitting some baby garments for a change, though it's nice to have other things on the go too.

      Delete
  19. All of your knitting is just Stunning,can't wait to see end results.You are very talented.xx Cuddles for Archie.xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It may be a while before I have all these things finished but I shall plough my way through them, it's an enjoyable task.

      Delete