Knitting ADD
Eddie’s chunky scarf only took a couple of days.
Since then it’s taken a while to decide what to knit next. There are so many projects I would love to knit, and so much yarn in my stash…… Actually, I seriously think the size of my stash has become a hindrance rather than a help. Like a kid in a sweetshop I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of choices I have. I have nothing in my stash that I don’t really really want to knit – some yarns are still waiting for inspiration in the form of the perfect pattern to arrive, whilst others have been notionally allocated to a project for months.
Added to which, whilst rummaging through the bags (and bags) I can’t quite help feeling slight pangs of guilt about just how much yarn I have. I’ve never felt this way before and can’t explain what’s brought it on now, but I think I must just STOP buying yarn until I use a fair proportion of what I already have.
There, I’ve said it. Now, can I do it??
In the end I, unusually for me, decided to start on two projects. I saw this from a link on the Yarn Harlot’s blog and immediately fell in love. As luck would have it I have a skein of Hand Maiden Sea Silk in my stash. Perfect!
I found the stitch here, but I’m using ktbl as per Clapotis, rather than the method described here to keep the stitches either side of the dropped stitches nice and neat. So far, so good. But knitting a scarf on 2.5mm is sloowwwwww. Also, does anyone else find stitch markers really slow them down? I have 10 in this project and I really do think that without them I’d be zipping along a lot faster. Anyway, 4 repeats done, 43 to go…….
For more instant gratification my second project is a top down raglan cardigan
In Rowan Kid Classic which has been in my stash for nearly a year. This is more like it; I only cast on last night so not bad so far. Of course the increases will soon mean it takes me a good 10 minutes to complete a row (it’s always such a relief on a top down garment to get to the point where the sleeve stitches get put aside).
I’m not entirely sure how working two projects at once will work out – maybe I’ll try knitting each one on alternate days. Or something.
Not much to report on the farm. The goats that hadn’t yet been brought in (this year’s doe kids, the pygmies, the wethers, and the does not being bred from this year) have all now decided they don’t want to go out anymore. It’s so odd how they suddenly decide they’ve had enough. They still have access to the fields now, but haven’t moved outside the barn for the last week. I think once we have a cold snap and the grass stops growing they lose interest in eating it. Unlike the sheep who will only come in if the weather is really bad, and will happily graze all year round. You’d think they’d want to go out, if only for some fresh air and to stretch their legs a bit, but no. Of course, we’ve caved in and they’re getting hay morning and evening now, and the kids are still getting hard feed too, so now that they’re being waited on hand and foot there’s really no need for them to go out!
The breeding does have been taken away from the bucks now and are all in the “Nursery pen”. They are starting to show the first signs of pregnancy, and are all taking life very easy. The bucks are all back together, so that’s their excitement over for another year!
Our fleece is cleaned and ready to go the mill for processing into yarn. I’ve eventually decided to have half of it mixed with silk (70% kid 30% silk), which will be a lace weight yarn and half of it mixed with merino (80% kid 20% merino), to give a smoother yarn that will still be incredibly soft. This should hopefully end up being double knit/sport weight. I think it will be a few months before we get the final product back but I can’t wait to see how it’s going to turn out. Of course between now and then I have to think about how I’m going to sell it……
Since then it’s taken a while to decide what to knit next. There are so many projects I would love to knit, and so much yarn in my stash…… Actually, I seriously think the size of my stash has become a hindrance rather than a help. Like a kid in a sweetshop I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of choices I have. I have nothing in my stash that I don’t really really want to knit – some yarns are still waiting for inspiration in the form of the perfect pattern to arrive, whilst others have been notionally allocated to a project for months.
Added to which, whilst rummaging through the bags (and bags) I can’t quite help feeling slight pangs of guilt about just how much yarn I have. I’ve never felt this way before and can’t explain what’s brought it on now, but I think I must just STOP buying yarn until I use a fair proportion of what I already have.
There, I’ve said it. Now, can I do it??
In the end I, unusually for me, decided to start on two projects. I saw this from a link on the Yarn Harlot’s blog and immediately fell in love. As luck would have it I have a skein of Hand Maiden Sea Silk in my stash. Perfect!
I found the stitch here, but I’m using ktbl as per Clapotis, rather than the method described here to keep the stitches either side of the dropped stitches nice and neat. So far, so good. But knitting a scarf on 2.5mm is sloowwwwww. Also, does anyone else find stitch markers really slow them down? I have 10 in this project and I really do think that without them I’d be zipping along a lot faster. Anyway, 4 repeats done, 43 to go…….
For more instant gratification my second project is a top down raglan cardigan
In Rowan Kid Classic which has been in my stash for nearly a year. This is more like it; I only cast on last night so not bad so far. Of course the increases will soon mean it takes me a good 10 minutes to complete a row (it’s always such a relief on a top down garment to get to the point where the sleeve stitches get put aside).
I’m not entirely sure how working two projects at once will work out – maybe I’ll try knitting each one on alternate days. Or something.
Not much to report on the farm. The goats that hadn’t yet been brought in (this year’s doe kids, the pygmies, the wethers, and the does not being bred from this year) have all now decided they don’t want to go out anymore. It’s so odd how they suddenly decide they’ve had enough. They still have access to the fields now, but haven’t moved outside the barn for the last week. I think once we have a cold snap and the grass stops growing they lose interest in eating it. Unlike the sheep who will only come in if the weather is really bad, and will happily graze all year round. You’d think they’d want to go out, if only for some fresh air and to stretch their legs a bit, but no. Of course, we’ve caved in and they’re getting hay morning and evening now, and the kids are still getting hard feed too, so now that they’re being waited on hand and foot there’s really no need for them to go out!
The breeding does have been taken away from the bucks now and are all in the “Nursery pen”. They are starting to show the first signs of pregnancy, and are all taking life very easy. The bucks are all back together, so that’s their excitement over for another year!
Our fleece is cleaned and ready to go the mill for processing into yarn. I’ve eventually decided to have half of it mixed with silk (70% kid 30% silk), which will be a lace weight yarn and half of it mixed with merino (80% kid 20% merino), to give a smoother yarn that will still be incredibly soft. This should hopefully end up being double knit/sport weight. I think it will be a few months before we get the final product back but I can’t wait to see how it’s going to turn out. Of course between now and then I have to think about how I’m going to sell it……
posted by Carolyn at 2:08 pm
7 Comments:
Wow, Eddie is a hairy boy isn't he? But so darn cute and looks great in his new scarf! ;)
I'm not a big fan of stitch markers either. I feel like they just slow me down and I don't pay as much attention as to how the piece should "look". I saw that pattern on Harlot's blog really pretty. I did something similar using one of my stitch books.
that sea silk looks absolutely amazing!! and those blends when carded should be wonderful!
Cute dog photo. The sea silk looks great. I can't wait to see the finished scarf.
The seasilk scarf is going to be great, as well as those blends!
The yarn plans sound lovely, how nice it will be to finally knit with your own yarn!
And, is your doggie a Bearded Collie? Or an Old English? We grew up with a Beardie, and my parents have a rescue one now. Great dogs, the both!
Nice scarves too!
Thanks for the link to the seasilk scarf - I got a skein of this for my birthday but hadn't been able to think of what to do with it!
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