Whilst I sort through my photos from the Stylecraft Blogstars weekend (and tweek my over-excited posting about it all), shall we knit/crochet a-while?
I have a couple of finished objects that you might like to see. The nice thing about getting round to finishing long-neglected projects (LNPs) is that, if – and it’s a big if – if you can figure out where you were up to, and why on earth you put that stitch marker there, and why for that matter you thought that fluorescent yellow would look good on you anyway, then you can feel terribly productive as project after project plops off the needles in far less time than it would take if you were knitting everything from scratch. Gosh, that was a long sentence: are you even still there?
So yesterday, I made a pair of socks in an hour. Obviously that’s not actually true, because 98% of the work was done several months ago, before I got distracted and decided to dump the whole thing in a bag behind the twinnage’s dinosaur collection. But now, a mere hour of work, a bit of fudging on the stitch count because I can’t quite remember what I was thinking, and I have socks! Hurrah! These will be absolutely perfect for staving off the cold that we’re patently not having at the moment. The yarn is ‘Head Over Heels’ by Stylecraft. Yum.
And my Trip To Town cardigan? Following a final push, it’s done. And I’m pretty pleased with it. All it’s lacking is the chilly weather to make it even slightly bearable to wear. So for today, I’ll allow my headless friend to do the modelling. The yarn is Drops ‘Nepal’, a wool-alpaca blend.
Oh! And I remember what I’ve been wanting to show you, courtesy of my friend J. Have you heard of temperature scarves? They’re worked on the premise that the colour used to knit each row represents the maximum temperature on a given day. So you can knit a whole year, illustrating the meandering transition from freezing to mild to hot to mild to freezing. Genius, huh? You can even use the idea to illustrate climate change.
Anyway, my friend J. is knitting one for the year of her friend’s birth, to give as a 40th birthday present. How wonderful is that? She was working on it at our pub knit night and she said I could show you. Look!
And look!
Isn’t that the most gorgeous thing ever? She’s a speedy knitter, so she’ll have it done in about five minutes’ time. I’m willing to bet my best yarn that her friend will love it.
And when I’m not knitting, or crocheting, or twin-wrangling, or at work, I’m usually lolloping across the Oxfordshire countryside in my running shoes. This shot was from a ten-mile run on Sunday. It’s satisfying building up the miles, because suddenly you find that you can go anywhere.
But whatever you’re up to this week, enjoy. Especially if it involves finishing LNPs.
Andrea says
July 20, 2017 at 10:22 pmNow, that is such a click-bait headline! 🙂 But I must sort out my LNPs – except I want to cast on a temperature scarf immediately!
Kathee says
July 20, 2017 at 11:16 pmYour Trip to Town cardigan turned out beautiful! Can I also say that I LOVE your house seat cover. Thanks for sharing.
jackallcraft says
July 20, 2017 at 11:47 pmI’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. That cardigan is gorgeous! Love it!
captelaine says
July 21, 2017 at 12:19 amLNP’s I did 2 rows today on a sweater I started and laid aside months ago… felt good to knit a bit, even if only 2 rows…. Love your socks and that blue cardigan is gorgeous, I bet you look good in it too 🙂
Katie Writes Stuff says
July 21, 2017 at 12:21 amNice job on all of your new finished objects! I really like the cardigan with its cosy collar – it would certainly be perfect for the weather we’re having down here in the Antipodes. You’ve inspired me to finish that final sleeve for a project I mostly finished last year. There’s nothing like a quick reward!
Joanne Hortensius says
July 21, 2017 at 1:26 amYour knitting and running are truly inspiring!!
Gill Gant says
July 21, 2017 at 4:20 amI have a sofa. Other people think it’s for sitting on. In reality, it’s a stuffed barrier between me, and my LNPs, where half finished/barely started garments lurk because yarn lust has overtaken me once more & ive bee forced to start a new exciting project. Put me in a yarn shop and what self control I had goes out of the window. It’s a kind of wool-lust……. you might just have inspired me to see if I can dig out a few things to finish. Thanks!
Bobbie H. says
August 2, 2017 at 10:25 pmGill, brilliant idea! That gives me an idea (only, I got the germ of the idea from you)…I sit on a pull out sofa when I knit and watch tv. Cushions are comfy, but the pull out bed underneath has a thinnish but uncomfortable mattress. See where I am going here? I could cut a slit in the side of the mattress when no one (husband) is in the TV room where the mattress dwells (no one sleeps on it…not even uninvited but surprise guests because I wouldn’t do that to them). LNP’s could go there. And secret yarn stash (the evolving overflow). Hmmmm. Thank you, Gill.
Nicola says
July 21, 2017 at 4:48 amI like the idea of the ripply scarf, using temps from a year that’s already happened. You can whizz through it in way less than a year! And of course your projects are marvellous too!
gladeridercrafts says
July 21, 2017 at 5:57 amThat blanket looks amazing *squish squish* And an excellent way to finish socks quickly! If only you didn’t have to abandon them for several months…
quietwatercraft says
July 21, 2017 at 8:26 amOoh I’ve heard of temperature blankets, but not temperature scarves. I’d love to give one of those a go, but I stay in Scotland so it would probably end up entirely cold colours!
Julie Bailey says
July 21, 2017 at 10:39 amLove your new cardi. I am still looking for the perfect pattern for some yarn in my stash. Its amazing when you pull out a WIP and it only takes a short while to finish…I am like “why did I not do this sooner?” However socks and sweaters are really not needed in the 90 (32C) temps we have in NJ right now…Winter is coming though…
katactivity says
July 21, 2017 at 10:54 amHa! “shall we knit/crochet a-while?” I wish. I started a small project because I’m going crazy not being able to knit, crochet or sew after I broke my shoulder.
It’s a free gift toy kit from a magazine and finally I’m managing to knit, for a few minutes at a time and very slowly, and would be able to crochet if I could decide what to do.
I remember you posting about that yarn and starting the socks. I have to point out however, that if you think a few months, only eight for heaven’s sake, is a shameful delay then you are deeply delusional about my life, even if no-one else’s. A really shameful delay is *years*. And no, I’m not going to say what it is because there’s nno point in finishing it, unless for someone else, as it would no longer fit.
Marathons? Oh my goodness!
Sarah, Hampshire, UK says
July 21, 2017 at 1:03 pmWe all love to hear of people finishing things even if, behind our polite applause and our smiling façade, we are actually wanting to be very rude about people who make us feel bad about our own piles of long unfinished projects!!!
Thanks for trying to encourage us to tackle all of our own one hour sock/blanket/jumper projects, perhaps we could form a club 😉
Gillian says
July 21, 2017 at 3:17 pmYour cardigan is stunning! ? Unfortunately that type of neckline doesn’t suit me or I’d be off buying the pattern right now. And I love the idea of a temperature scarf; I may have to start planning one soon. ?
Rainbow Junkie says
July 21, 2017 at 4:01 pmI made a temperature scarf but your friend’s one looks much prettier! The cardigan looks very good too. I made a summer cardigan in Drops ‘Nepal’ but I tried to wear it over my t-shirt today and had to take it off because it was too itchy. Any suggestions? I made another garment in Drops ‘Big Merino’ and that is fine against the skin.
lokaline01 says
July 21, 2017 at 5:14 pmSuch lovely knits, I really want my next project to be a pair of socks, I get through SO many and I’m sure my kids soon will too, so to make a stash would be great… xx
Lou says
July 21, 2017 at 10:15 pmI absolutely just love that cardigan … might have to knit one. My lady cardi was an epic fail – superwash wool and it was supposed to be big and beautiful and classy coat-i-gan like but is mahoosive after a wash and despite my efforts to shrink it is now having to be a dressing gown! Still every next project a new set of errors, perhaps I’ll try something more fitted!
Running 10 miles so impressive… I’m working up to 10k but can’t quite get there. Too slow / only got a couple hours a week…
Debbie says
July 22, 2017 at 1:25 pmHere in the US, the temperature afghans are all the rage. I presently working on one for my mother and father in law. This August will be their 60th wedding anniversary. I’m using the high temperature for their anniversary date as my guide. I’m an avid crocheter but I so long to be a knitter.
helen says
July 22, 2017 at 7:12 pmsitting here knitting socks and blog hopping. There’s some achievement I thought , socks in an hour! love the self stripe in your socks
Born To Organize says
July 23, 2017 at 1:04 amWow! Everything looks wonderful. I’m always amazed at what you accomplish, in addition to raising twins and working full time. That sweater (jumper?) is stunning, as is your friends scarf. What fun to sit together and knit or crochet in a pub.
hannahstitch says
August 2, 2017 at 3:24 pmLove your cardigan. I am getting a urge to knit one for me but my schedule is too too tight, may be i will start it in the mid of September.
anne richards says
August 3, 2017 at 1:47 amStunning cardigan! I’ve thought of a temperature blanket, but love the stitch pattern of that scarf. Haven’t been able to find directions for that lovely garter chevron design.Can you enlighten me?