Knitting Update

Swisser's jumper is beginning to take shape. As always, the knitting journey has its ups and downs. The beginning is fun, colours are to be decided, and expectations are high.

Then the doubts creep in. Was it a mistake to have those two lime greens so close together? Never mind. It's yet another experiment - keep going. At this stage, it wasn't even Swisser's jumper. She was just the person I had in mind.

I spent an evening knitting the sleeve on the right but even Bert could see that it was too wide. I started again with the sleeve on the left, with far fewer stitches to begin with (48) and a graduated increase to 72 stitches. 

Swisser called, I showed her my progress and asked her if she liked it. She did! I said,

That's good because I'm knitting it for you.

I posted a small jumper to Kerry this morning but seem to have overlooked taking a photograph. Hopefully, it will arrive and the child won't be too big for it and perhaps if it fits him I might get a picture of him modelling it - hint, hint.  Anyway, in the absence of a picture of my great-nephew's handknit here is a picture of his mother wearing one of my earlier creations. 

I didn't knit her Dad's jumper although it is very fine. And looking at this photo I am reminded that I promised him a stripey hat more than a year ago.

Anyway, back to Swisser's jumper. I must get it finished soon as she will be needing it for that unheated cottage she's buying in Leitrim.

The Knitting Bug

Q. Why don't I blog more?

A. Because I am currently obsessed with knitting.

I took a notion for it before Christmas and on a day when I was supposed to be shopping for presents, I popped into the Silk Road in Mill Street and bought 10 balls of knitting yarn, all in different colours. I already had the needles even though I’d previously donated all my yarn collection to Aunt Lizzie who was keen on crochet work.

Every now and then during the Christmas and New Year stir, I’d glance at my bright balls of yarn and feel a glow of excitement. Soon. Soon I will cast on and begin my first simple project.

The return to knitting was every bit as enjoyable as I’d hoped. Before long I had enough strips of multi-coloured garter stitched pieces to sew together. I did not enjoy the sewing part but it had to be done. Perhaps next time I will endeavour to make the sewing neater but I was in a big hurry to start my next project – a stripey sweater just like the ones I knitted so many years ago. By this time I had acquired a lot more wool. Unfortunately, I did not have a pattern. Zoe loaned me a book, Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman and it was informative – lots in there about knitting with circular needles. No definite instructions though. Elizabeth talked about knitting gauges. She wrote that it was important to do this accurately and conscientiously. She remarked that (and I quote her) that to ignore this advice might lead to me supping the porridge of regret with the spoon of sorrow. What a phrase! I admired it hugely yet did not pay heed to it. Sure didn’t I knit a dozen or more sweaters back in my heyday? Sweaters ranging from husband-sized to premature baby size. All were in perfect proportion. I’d wing it. It would all come back to me.

But it didn’t. The body and arms were far too wide and the sleeves too short. I decided to call my work a prototype and that I should learn from my mistakes. Even so, the prototype is almost finished. Zoe (a far better knitter than me) said I should keep going and that with the sharp increases in heating fuel it would be a useful addition to my wardrobe as it can be worn over several other jumpers.

I’m already planning the next project. Wish me luck.

 One of my stripey jumpers from when I was younger. Wish I still had it.

Fine Deed Is Nifty

Dede and Zoe

 I was going to blog about knitting, which has, once again, become an obsession.

Dede at a party in Belfast

 
Then I recalled that today is Leitrim Sister's birthday.

Dede at Ballee

Then I remembered that way back in the day when I was a Fairisle and Stripey jumper fanatic, my youngest sister was never shy about wearing one of my creations. In fact, apart from my children and their father (who had no choice) she was my biggest fan. Happy birthday LS, enjoy Spain and I promise you, I'm going to knit you the craziest jumper for your next birthday. It will have sixty different colours.