Yes, I know I said that I have been trying to stay with one project at a time to get some results, but I decided to start something new. I’ll keep working on Ballerina, but the new project is timely for the spring/summer season. I’m knitting a pattern from ChicKnits (is it Chick Knits or Chic Knits??) called Scoop du Jour — a simple, very cute, summer cardi that I’m doing in Rowan’s Summer Tweed.
I really do not like working with nubby yarns — every st is a struggle. Why do new knitters like making garter st scarves out of novelty yarns? I can’t get a rhythm going. It is much more pleasurable to knit on Ballerina, but………
Speaking of a pleasurable project, I really enjoyed making the Camilla Gloves from Simply Shetland 2. I made 3 pairs this winter: two for me and one for a close friend. The first pair I made was in the yarn called for in the pattern: Jamieson Spindrift:
However, I much prefer the gloves I made with Blue Sky Alpaca and Silk (color Verte).
They are softer than cashmere and the yarn is so forgiving. Alpaca tends to knit up unevenly, like crooked teeth, but the silk smooths it out. I LOVE ALPACA AND SILK — it is beautiful, strong and has that gorgeous silk sheen. These gloves are a challenging project but really, really FUN.
Gloves seem to be my addiction this winter. I made two pairs for a girlfriend for Christmas (she lost the first pair in the Great Christmas Clean-Up of 2005), so I replaced them. They’re out self-patterning yarn that she picked and they turned out great (yes, both times). Made myself a pair, and made a pair for a gal at Church that has MS. I love knitting with the tiny little needles. Who would have guessed that it would be so much fun? They make great dog walking gloves. I think next winter I’ll graduate to some more expensive yarn, with a more complex pattern on the cuff. Yours are absolutely lovely, Susan.
Ladies, you have inspired me, so I’ve started an actual sweater (which I haven’t done in years). The pattern is from Maddy Laine, called Flower Boxes (sorry, I have no idea how to put in a link). I bought Saucy Sport cotton yarn, and am pleased with the results so far.
Sorry to be so chatty this morning.
Comment by Wendy — March 25, 2006 @ 7:41 am