The wonderful Natalie from The Yarn Yard published a blog post this morning called Making Monday 2013. Looking for a form of procrastination (the snow proved disappointing this morning and I had been relying on this – see piccy below) I thought what better way to start the week and kick start my blogging for 2013 by a Monday blog post about my creative exploits! My aim will be to blog at least every Monday about my previous weeks creative exploits (or lack of as the case may be as dissertation d-day draws nearer).
With some of my Christmas Money I purchased the yarn and pattern for a considerably complex fair isle pattern (I’m going to do a separate post about this so I won’t give anymore away).
However, as I haven’t really done any colourwork since the single mitten knitted back in the Summer of 2011 I wanted a practice project so I could get to grips with tension and really work on being able to knit with a yarn in either hand.
My good friend Martine (of iMake fame) is also getting to grips with Fair Isle and was knitting the Selbu Modern a beautiful free Ravelry pattern by Kate Gagnon Osborn, so (without wanting to be a copycat) I decided that I would knit one too! Excited I popped out and bought some 4ply in white and ice blue from the local yarn store, they pretty much only stock Debbie Bliss Rialto in a 4ply and it’s not usually what i would choose as it’s expensive but it is a nice soft bouncy yarn and I was keen to get started!
However, once again my impatience to start a project meant I didn’t check my needle stash as on getting home from the shops realised that I didn’t have either of the circular needles I needed and the yarn store didn’t have them! So I ordered them of Ebay and cursed my impatience!
This was all about 2 weeks ago, having got back to uni I’ve barely had 5 minutes, until yesterday afternoon when I decided to have a bit of a chill out and knit after a hectic night shift and get started.
After a couple of false starts (like casting on with the wrong colour yarn, and then not reading the pattern, then mucking up the first pattern repeat and knitting a whole round without noticing – it’s only two pages!!) I got going and had a lovely afternoon knitting. I just about started the fair isle section before I went to bed do it’s not really showing the pattern yet but i think i have mastered my own way of knitting with both colours one in either hand and i’m hoping my tension is ok……
It’s a lovely knit and I highly reccomend the pattern for someone who is new to colourwork. I found a few YouTube videos on colourwork knitting but have sort of found my own way – probably a combination of the ones I watched. Martine has done a great blog post about colourwork knitting here with some great links and info on colourwork.
thanks for looking!
I’ll keep you posted and see you next Monday (if not before!!)
Shoe xxx
I really want to make one of these, its such a pretty pattern, must finish WIP’s first!!
Its coming along much faster than i thought it would actually and its lovely to knit xx
Hi Shoe, I am have a little trouble with my tension. But it is so much fun to knit. Now I am getting the hang, I might frog and start again, not sure. Watch this space… Love your colours!
Martine x
Yes I think I’m having the same problem but I’m going to carry on! My yarn is quite stretchy so I’m hoping it will block ok! Look forward to seeing the finished hats!! X
Sent from my iPhone
It’s lovely and now also in my queue. I’ve not done fair Isle for years since i made me a cardiovascular in 4ply cotton and it hurt so much!!! This is small and more do-able. Now to find the right yarn….
It’s a lovely easy pattern, I would definitely recommend! I cant wait to finish it so I can get out and wear it in the snow!! Results went well – an A and a B+ which I’m very very pleased with!! thank you so much for visiting and taking the time to comment
> Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:47:13 +0000 > To: chalestorm@hotmail.com >