Swing Coat

Finished!! I am really proud of it, and Molly loves it. I am surprised and delighted at how fantastic it is watching one of my creations walking around :) There was a minor hiccup with the buttonhole, which came up too high on the neck, but I just sewed the button on (not my choice, Molly picked it out, but I think it works) and put a popper on the back.

And am going great guns with my Ink Flare Sweater, which I need to finish up before I make a smaller one for Rosie. She is nagging me!!! Oh I just realised I didnt mention that. Its from http://designsbyblackdog.blogspot.com which I am knitting in a kind of bluey grey. Its fast and fun to knit, and I have high hopes that it will look great. Hopes rather than expectations that is, since I have no idea what kind of freaky shape it will turn out to be. Watch this space!

Oh and someone in Texas is making my cupcakes! Whoot!! http://woolwindings.blogspot.com/2008/04/crazy-for-cupcakes.html

So a good day in beeknitland...

A Lesson in Tension

Oh dear. Well, the swing jacket for Molly (Catherine Tough's Easy Knits for Kids) was going really badly. Its all garter stitch and it was so slow and was resulting in knitting related injuries on my forefinger. Grrr. I finished the back and 2/3rds of a front section over Easter weekend, but it was no joy. Then something made me check the tension (I know I know I should have done it before I started *rolls eyes*) and it was way way way off. It might have fitted a 2yr old. If they were very very small. Gah!

So I ripped it, and started again, instead of 3.75mm needles I went way up to 5mm (mainly cos my 4.5mm ones were in use). Oh what a difference! It knit like a dream, like a knife through butter, blah blah you get the picture. No longer tight and nasty, the knitting became loose and lovely. Hurrah! The down side is that it isnt as even, it feels a bit floopy, and it doesnt look as neat. But it feels softer. You can see the difference here. It nearly killed me to rip all that nasty knitting that I sweated over, but it was definitely for the best.

So have been going great guns ever since. Nearly finished the last piece and sewing up is on the agenda for this evening I think. Woot!

So I guess I have discovered I am a tight knitter...who'd have thought it? Its not like I have a tight-arsed personality. Oh. Well, OK then ;) So tension squares for me from now on. Or maybe just bigger needles. A lesson learned anyway.

Something I learned

Dont try and knit with bamboo needles in a swimming pool. Well, not in it, obviously, but while sitting watching your kids have a swimming lesson. I guess the humidity is the problem. Either way it makes the yarn stick to the needles in a horrible way.

Just thought I'd mention it.