Change of subject

I decided that in an effort to do something with my fingers that didn't involve drinking wine I would take up knitting again, this coincided nicely with someone in the family announcing that they were expecting a baby in May.

During various house moves I had lost my collection of patterns, needles and accessories, Roy kindly gave me his late wife's needles but I still needed patterns, now I'm not a miserly person but I didn't really want to spend a huge amount of money in case I got fed up or my old fingers couldn't do it any more, so I went on to EBay and found a  collection of over 500 varying patterns on a Buy It Now for about £3.00 incl postage, I loaded the disc on to the computer and started trawling through them.  I decided that as it was my first attempt in many many years I would go for something plain and simple with not too much pattern or shaping. I decided on this one :-

but not in this colour.

One of the first obstacles was  because the patterns I bought were so old a lot of them - including this one - had the needle sizes in imperial, some of the needles I acquired were imperial some were metric so firstly I spent some time matching them all up and separating into those I'd be using and those that I'll be using on later projects. This one used size 3.25mm for the ribbing and 4mm for the main parts which is pretty standard when knitting in double knit wool, I bought 2 balls x 100g in one colour and another 2 balls in different colour. I then commenced the project and realised that the problem I had thought would be my fingers was in fact my eyes - I have to take my specs off to knit the stitches and back on again to read the patter - note to self = admit you are getting old and buy varifocals !  As with most knitting patterns I did the back first and because I had decided on the first size it didn't take too long to finish, then I did the two fronts but forgot what sex I'm knitting for so apologies, on this occasion the buttons are on the wrong side I'm sure the baby won't know but I was annoyed with myself for not realising what I was doing and blindly following the pattern.  Sleeves were next and are knitted without increasing stitches and are set in not raglan so they took a little while longer, then it was all finished except the button hole band and my least favourite part the stitching up.  As I didn't have a sewing needle suitable for wool I put the pieces into my (newly purchased) work bag thus :-

it has 3 compartments at the front for feeding wool through although I don't use it that way, one large compartment at the back and the zip on the top can store needles, scissors etc.

The finished article, I was somewhat concerned that it is very small, but the baby's mum sent me a picture of him wearing it!

Then it was on to the next project :

 

This one (jacket only) I decided to knit in the second size and as it is a coat not cardigan it was a heck of a lot bigger, but again there is not much pattern only knit and purl stitches. The back was finished in a couple of nights and I started on the first front piece, the first 50 rows are in the border patter of 4 rows stocking stitch and then 6 rows knit, then it is all stocking stitch but with the first 3 stitches on the purl row knitted instead making an integrated buttonhole band. I think that the pattern instructions were a bit incorrect because it doesn't mention this after shaping for the shoulders but I did it anyway so any errors are mine not the pattern.  Feeling pleased with myself for finishing one front side in just one and a bit evenings I started the next and was even more impressed when this proved to be taking far less time I must be getting quicker however I was less impressed when I got to the shoulder shaping and had far too many stitches left and realised I'd missed out all bar the first 2 rows of the armhole shaping ! I tried to unpick back to the row concerned but was losing stitches so had no option but to unravel it all and start again - 2nd note to self - read the pattern fully.
Sleeves were easy to do one per night and the first part of the collar only took half an hour being 27 rows knit only.  Now I have to do the border for the collar which involves picking up stitches and knitting across, something I'm not too sure about but TONIGHT's the night.
I managed to do the 'Pick up and Knit' and the end result (minus buttons) is below, the colour is lavender not as light as the picture.

It took me quite some time to work out how to attach the collar but I'm quite pleased with the end result, I think as a first attempt for many years the raglan sleeves look ok. I hope the recipient doesn't think the colour is too girly, it is quite a bit darker than the photo suggests.  I have knitted this one twice the second one being in white and I decided to go back to the first size.

Next project was another jacket:

As you can see the main parts are rib & stocking stitch, I liked the idea of the collar and pockets (what do babies keep in their pockets??!!) doing this I learnt a new stitch pattern, the pattern is double rib for 2 rows then for the 3rd row knit 1 purl 1 then knit 2 together but bring the needle back through the first of the 'knit together' stitches before slipping off the needle - this keeps the number of stitches correct and also 'twists' the second stitch making the cable effect, then purl 2 and repeat the knit together stitch, the 4th row is knit and then repeat rows 1-4.  A couple of rows of knit 1 purl 1 rib finish the pockets.  The collar is made using the same pattern with shaping of casting off 6 stitches for the last 6 rows and no rib, I think the toggle type buttons give a nice effect.  I actually got a 'that looks nice' comment from Ken for this one and a request that I knit one for him too - don't hold your breath ! !

The last one another jacket,

Again I had decided to knit the second size, this is a pastel green colour, knitted in stocking stitch but with a moss rib and integrated buttonhole band again in moss stitch, making the buttonholes was easy enough but I had a mental blockage at how to cast on the stitches on the following row so I consulted my new purchase :

and worked out how to do it, however the holes were bigger than the buttons I had already bought so I tightened them up with a little stitch.  As well as knitting techniques the book shows how to make various lace, cable, intarsia and various other stitch patterns, I shall have a go at working some of them into my next project.

 

 

That's all for now, but I have a little bit more Gambia to report !