Learning new tricks

The thing about a comfort zone is that it's comfortable there. It requires not too much thought and you can just relax and enjoy your knitting. Moving out of your comfort zone - Hmmm - not so much.

Thus it was this weekend when I decided to try a new-to-me heel. The Smooth Operator heel by Susan B Anderson. The pattern is written cuff down and she has you place 3 rows of waste yarn for the heel, working on for 2-3 inches before going back and working an afterthought heel. Unusually for me I decided to follow the pattern completely and herein lies my mistake. I am so used to working an afterthought heel (my way) that I can do it practically in my sleep with all manner of domestic distractions going on around me. 

Trying to follow unfamiliar instructions whilst dealing with Sunday afternoon homework dramas was, inevitably a recipe for disaster. Tears (mine), frustration (again mine) and a burnt dinner later I realised something. a) I really (really) hatred using waste yarn for an afterthought heel and b) when trying to learn new tricks make sure you have the house to yourself.

Still, the benefit of an afterthought heel is that you can just rip it out and redo ithe. I'll just need some coffee first.

A stripy Sunday morning

It really does feel as though Spring is on the way now. The lighter mornings are such a boost after the dark grey days of February and, sitting here with a coffee and my sock before the rest of the house wakes up feels like such a treat.

Self striping yarn really is a miracle - especially when it comes in such happiness inducing colours as this West Yorkshire Spinners yarn. Even a minor mishap such as having to reknit half of the leg (note to self - even if you think you are picking up the 2.5mm needle tips, check with the gauge) can't dent my enthusiasm for this sock.

The observant among you will notice that I'm forgoing my usual toe-up sock method and working cuff down for a change. I've been looking for an excuse to try the Susan B Anderson Smooth Operator heel and this seems as good a time as any. I'm sure there is a way of adapting it for toe-up but for now I'm happy to work through the cuff down directions as written. A few more inches and I should be ready to put the waste yarn in for the heel.

Giddy with excitement

Oh happy day, joyous day. 

The fates have aligned and I have 2 completed deadline knits, I have new yarn to cast on and I have time on my hands - after the usual domestic bliss obviously.

Giddy with excitement I am fully intending to cast on All The Things and drink a lot of coffee.

First up is this fabulous skein from Countess Ablaze via The Classics Society which is destined to be something spectacular and shawl-like.

I also have new stripy sock yarn to cast on for a gift for a friend and I'm also contemplating casting on for a new sweater - I know - someone slap me. But 10 skeins of Blacker Yarns Illustrious DK have recently come into my possession and I'd love to make something spring-like and gorgeous to wear with jeans.

Right, putting the phone away now and settling in with the needles. If anyone want me I'll be right here - just bring fresh coffee in a couple of hours.

Tips for a straight-edged sock yarn blanket

Since sharing photos of my sock yarn blanket I had a few questions asking how I was constructing it. Some patterns have you create a baseline strip of squares to start with. This is a good way to do it but it does mean you have to decide on the width of your blanket right at the very start.

Some patterns also have the squares worked in such a way that the edges of the blanket aren't straight - leaving a zig zag appearance. This can look really lovely but it does leave you the dilemma of whether to leave the edge as it is or work a series of 'infill' shapes to straighten things out.

I decided to work my blanket outwards from a corner, turning the 1st square on the diagonal to pick up stitches along the top right side for square 2 and the top left side for square 3. By continuing in this way you end up with a lovely straight edged blanket and you can keep going until the blanket is as large as you like. Or by continuing to work on one side and not the other you can create more of a rectangle than a square.

However you work your blanket though one thing is for certain. It's nothing if not addictive.

OTHER MITERED SQUARE BLOG POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

Two different mitered square decreases

How much yarn do you need for a mitered square?

How to Knit a Mitered Square Blanket

£8.50

With friends like these

With friends like these - a girl will go far. 

Knitty friends really are the best. Knowing that I would be having a double whammy of missing a fibre festival and having the stress of DH's surgery, they picked out a skein of yarn they knew I would like as a gift. Such a thoughtful and kind thing to do and it really brought a smile to my face. It's from an indie dyer I haven't yet discovered West Green Loft Yarns which is doubly exciting.

At first glance I thought it was a self stripe but the dyer - Vikki - tells me it is a variegated so I'm really excited to get this wound and examine it a little more closely. This might work really well as a long, garter stitch shawl - of which a girl can never have too many - so this might also make it on my weekend agenda to Cast on All The Things.

Watch this space ...

A square a day...

Today, as the 1st March marks the start of our new challenge over on the Everyday Knitter Facebook group and also a bit of a turning over of a new leaf for me too.

The past few weeks have left me pretty knackered and running on empty and so I've decided to carve out 30 minutes for myself every day. I've removed some of the time wasting apps on my phone and now in that weird half an hour between getting dinner started and sitting down as a family I will be lighting a candle and putting my feet up. Conveniently, 30 minutes is also the amount of time it takes to knit a square on my long-term sock yarn blanket.

This neatly fits in with the #modularmarch challenge - so for 30 minutes every day after school,  shall be unavailable for all but the most urgent of domestic crises. We are talking fire and flood here rather than lost school books. 

The great thing about the challenge is that everyone picks their own level of committtment and works towards a goal of their own. Whether it be a stripe per day on a crochet blanket or a full on "how many squares can I knit in a month" we will be cheering each other on and I daresay getting some inspiration for some future projects too.

If you would like to join just pop over to the Facebook group - we'd love to see you there.