knitwise

So good...

My Mum was an excellent cook  but one thing she never did was follow a recipe,  although she collected hundred of them.  She would look at them to check the main ingredients,  then she would follow "her instinct" and add or withdraw something here or there. 

I am the same with knitting patterns.  I can't remember one that I followed to the letter.  It is not always a wise move and I can count a few disasters,  but I can't help it.  Like my Mum with her cooking,  I add or withdraw things according to my mood...  I can't even knit in the order prescribed...  As I never make a swatch   (yes,  I am one of those who can't be bothered...),  I very often start with a sleeve to check roughly the measurements.  This has the advantage to have one sleeve less to knit at the end,   and  psychologically,  it is a booster.

An exception to the rule is Aelf.  I haven't changed a thing and I am even knitting in the right order! 

I have completed the back, the fronts and one sleeve.  I am so good because I want to leave the best for the last  :  the lace border and the pointed collar  (knitted in several pieces)  which attracted me to the pattern in the first place.

And because I am so pleased with myself with this achievement,  I have started another project which  is an interpretation of a Phildar pattern for a short sleeves bolero...   But mine will be with long sleeves,  with a completely different yarn and knitted in the wrong order!...

Valenciennes

Valenciennes is finally finished after a few hiccups...  I have modified the pattern slightly by crocheting the neck edging and the buttonhole band instead of picking up and knitting stitches (which I don't like doing...) and by reducing the number of repeats in the bottom lace border.  Upon reflection, if I was to make it again, I would also make the sleeves narrower...

Kid Silk Haze was lovely to knit with (on bamboo needles!...)  and I love this colour "Majestic".  From now on, I will certainly consider knitting with this yarn again.  Maybe a modified version of Valenciennes with beads as well (why not?...)

School holidays are starting next week,  so I don't think I'll achieve much knitting....  but I have started my next project:

Aelf,  from the latest Rowan magazine.   The  Kid Classic  (in Cherry Red) is a delight to work with... And on 5mm needles, the knitting grows up quickly!...

Hyrna Herborgar

After my little set back with my cardigan,  I had to use all my will-power not to cast on a new project.  It was hard,  but I thought it was high time I finished this shawl.  Besides,  with something finally off my needles,  I would be able to look at new patterns with a guilt free conscience.

This is Hyrna Herborgar from the book Three-cornered and Long shawls,  knitted in Jamieson's Ultra, colour Frosted Grapes.  I found it quite easy to knit (i.e. I could happily be interrupted without fear of losing concentration).

My cardigan is almost finished too  (the extra ball of KHS   I received was a good match) with just the seams to do and, after a special trip to buy the buttons,  it will be ready for your eyes!...

A little rest...

My Valenciennes cardigan has to take a little rest for a few days...

At 6 rows short of the second sleeve,  I run out of yarn!...  and I have still to do the neck band and the buttonhole bands.  I had to make a quick web order this afternoon for another ball of KSH (I don't think,  at this stage, that  the dye lot number matters...),  folded Valenciennes with a deep sigh and put it away...  Now, we'll have to wait for the postman to come and rescue us.

My shawl is happy with the situation as he got pulled out of the bag where he has been nesting since the holidays and got 2 whole rows done!...