In the last few weeks I have been doing some simple knitting, with quite different yarns.
First up, having seen Anne M at our knitting circle with a ball of Rico Pompon yarn, I just knew that Poppy would love the scarf design. I suggested that the next time Noel and Poppy were in town together, that they have a look in Sewcraft, so that she could choose the colour she liked best.
First up, having seen Anne M at our knitting circle with a ball of Rico Pompon yarn, I just knew that Poppy would love the scarf design. I suggested that the next time Noel and Poppy were in town together, that they have a look in Sewcraft, so that she could choose the colour she liked best.
I cast on as stated, but found it to tight when I had completed a few more rows, so I started again and did one cast on loop per cord/gap, and then the rest of the scarf, I knitted two stitches per cord/gap and cast off, one loop at a time, similar to the cast on.
Poppy loves this scarf and already wears it a lot.
As a treat for me, Noel went to Pack Lane Wool Shop in Basingstoke, very near to his new job, which he started in August. Just before Noel started at his new post, the company needed some urgent paper work, so Poppy and I volunteered to make the journey for him, it takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Slightly different to the 10-15 minute journey he was making. However, for him this is a dream job, he feels he is earning the correct amount for his skills (not many people can say that) and not only the money is right but it is also back in the field of work that he enjoys the most.
I have to say I was very concerned about the amount of travelling he had to do on the M4 however so far the journeys have been uneventful (touch wood). On the plus side, just 5 minutes drive from his office, is Pack Lane Wool Shop*, it is very well stocked with lots of lovely yarn. Picture Poppy, inwardly groaning that she just knew Mum would take a look, but being on the receiving side of this ‘yarny’ habit of Mum’s, she came in with me and gave it a good look around. I just happened to buy some Noro Yarn, but more about that in a minute.
Luckily for me, Noel is very well trained in the art of yarn shopping for his wife ;o) and as he knew, he was getting a scarf** and Poppy had got a new scarf, he wanted me to have one to and so went and choose Sirdar Snowball.
As a treat for me, Noel went to Pack Lane Wool Shop in Basingstoke, very near to his new job, which he started in August. Just before Noel started at his new post, the company needed some urgent paper work, so Poppy and I volunteered to make the journey for him, it takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Slightly different to the 10-15 minute journey he was making. However, for him this is a dream job, he feels he is earning the correct amount for his skills (not many people can say that) and not only the money is right but it is also back in the field of work that he enjoys the most.
I have to say I was very concerned about the amount of travelling he had to do on the M4 however so far the journeys have been uneventful (touch wood). On the plus side, just 5 minutes drive from his office, is Pack Lane Wool Shop*, it is very well stocked with lots of lovely yarn. Picture Poppy, inwardly groaning that she just knew Mum would take a look, but being on the receiving side of this ‘yarny’ habit of Mum’s, she came in with me and gave it a good look around. I just happened to buy some Noro Yarn, but more about that in a minute.
Luckily for me, Noel is very well trained in the art of yarn shopping for his wife ;o) and as he knew, he was getting a scarf** and Poppy had got a new scarf, he wanted me to have one to and so went and choose Sirdar Snowball.
The technique is quite different from the Rico Pompon and for me it took 3 attempts to get the needle size correct. I also tried to get the snugness of the Pompon yarn, but due to the size of each of the Snowballs, it just wouldn’t work, so the finished product is this lose loopy look. On the positive side, I love the colour and the softness of this yarn but for me, I am not that keen on the open effect.
The most expensive scarf of all, as mentioned above* and having bought the Noro Silk Garden, to make a scarf for me, yes that’s right, ME ... I took ages choosing which colours I wanted to put together, I eventually decided on colours; 1 x 8, 1 x 84 and 2 x 236. For me, this was quite an expensive purchase and I was excited about knitting this scarf. You see, I don’t really do trends, but I had seen this scarf by Brooklyn Tweed about on the internet and then I read all about Yarn Harlot’s journey. I decided there and then I would knit this scarf and then it hit me, I hadn’t seen anybody else with this scarf at all, not at all, so even though there are thousands of knitters out there in the big wide world which have knitted this lovely scarf, in my little world, I am the first, the very first.
However while knitting this scarf, (please note that I started with the colours 236 and 84), while sitting on the sofa, my husband, you know that man called Noel** kept touching MY scarf and kept saying how nice the colours were, every time we were sat in the same room and I started knitting My scarf, I would hear the same comments. Eventually like a good wife I am, I said “would you wear this scarf, if I gave it to you”, “yes” was the reply, me; “but it has pink bits in!” “I know” said Noel “but I would still wear it, it is lovely.” I slowly gave in and decided that I would love him to have ‘my’ scarf; he loves and raves about the socks that I have knitted him, so Mr Smith you may have the scarf (that I was knitting for 'me'), with lots of love. (As I see it, it is a good excuse to go back to the shop and buy some more lovely colours for me!) In between the conversation on who’s scarf it was going to be, when I came to change to the 3rd colour, colour number 8, it just didn’t work, I didn’t like it and Noel wasn’t so keen either, so I suggested that he went back to Pack Lane, with the number 84 ball band and see if he could get another ball. He did, and I continued, assured that my husband really did like this scarf.
I finished sewing in the ends last night and Noel promptly tried it on (sorry to dark for modelled photo’s).
However while knitting this scarf, (please note that I started with the colours 236 and 84), while sitting on the sofa, my husband, you know that man called Noel** kept touching MY scarf and kept saying how nice the colours were, every time we were sat in the same room and I started knitting My scarf, I would hear the same comments. Eventually like a good wife I am, I said “would you wear this scarf, if I gave it to you”, “yes” was the reply, me; “but it has pink bits in!” “I know” said Noel “but I would still wear it, it is lovely.” I slowly gave in and decided that I would love him to have ‘my’ scarf; he loves and raves about the socks that I have knitted him, so Mr Smith you may have the scarf (that I was knitting for 'me'), with lots of love. (As I see it, it is a good excuse to go back to the shop and buy some more lovely colours for me!) In between the conversation on who’s scarf it was going to be, when I came to change to the 3rd colour, colour number 8, it just didn’t work, I didn’t like it and Noel wasn’t so keen either, so I suggested that he went back to Pack Lane, with the number 84 ball band and see if he could get another ball. He did, and I continued, assured that my husband really did like this scarf.
I finished sewing in the ends last night and Noel promptly tried it on (sorry to dark for modelled photo’s).
(Flash lighting has made the colours even more pink, true colours are far more red!)
My only issue with my knitting, is; I believe the cast on is a bit lose which means it slightly flares at the beginning, so me being me; I matched the cast off to the cast on!
My next project is a hat for a Christmas present; just need some 5.5mm circular needles ... Noelllll, would you mind just going ? ....
My only issue with my knitting, is; I believe the cast on is a bit lose which means it slightly flares at the beginning, so me being me; I matched the cast off to the cast on!
My next project is a hat for a Christmas present; just need some 5.5mm circular needles ... Noelllll, would you mind just going ? ....
