Occasionally, life flings me a hint that the knitting/crochet thing may be getting out of hand… but I do my best to ignore such clues, and get on with choosing which WIP I can work on whilst giving birth to any future children.*
The other day brought one such hint. I took the twinnage to a children’s theatre group,** and when we arrived, part of the floor was covered by those bright, interlocking, floppy mats that babies and toddlers can play on. They were a bit like these:-
My children’s response? One of them frowned and said, “Mummy, why are there blocking mats on the floor? Will everyone be knitting?”
The poor child. Can you imagine the enormity of the therapy bills he’s going to face when he’s older?
Obviously I’d brought a knit-in-progress to the theatre group. Oh all right, it was two knits-in-progress on this occasion, just so I wouldn’t run out of yarn if this hour-long group over-ran by a week or two.
One of the projects was this cardigan-in-progress:-
Me an’ this cardigan… well let’s just say that our relationship has been turbulent. There’s nothing wrong with the pattern, nothing at all. No, it’s the knitter who’s at fault. I discovered years ago that I can’t knit anything remotely lacy when I’m ill or cross, but that doesn’t stop me trying. (Drunk is fine, but not ill or cross.) Please don’t look too closely at the row of wrongness high-ish up on the lacy panel in the above photo: I had a stinking cold and was fed up, and probably shouldn’t have been left in unsupervised charge of knitting needles. Here’s a nice view that doesn’t feature the mistake:-
I’m trying to apply the If-you-can’t-see-it-from-three-feet-away-then-it-doesn’t-matter rule, but unfortunately I may yet have to apply the Quick!-Cover-up-the-messy-bit-with-a-giant-orange-crocheted-flower rule. Or I might just have to walk VERY FAST ALL THE TIME so that nobody has time to notice the error.
Onwards, my friends, onwards.
Having raved about Kari-Helene Rane the other day, I couldn’t resist buying – and trying – one of her beautiful patterns. This one, in fact:-
There are plenty of things that I should be making, but I couldn’t resist casting on. First panel done! Look:-
In case you’re interested, Kari-Helene is running a sort-of-KAL over in her Ravelry group. I’m sure there’s still plenty of time to join us if you’re interested. The more the merrier.
And do you have time for just one more knit?
I designed a cowl, with highly stylised forget-me-nots, and it’s done. I’m not sure whether I’m OK with it. I have ideas for making changes before I publish. But I am happy with the Stylecraft Tweedy I used for the foliage. Love that yarn!
Anyway, happy knitting. Or hooking.
Phil x
∗ Not that this is going to happen, sadly.
∗∗ So in the wake of the twinnage noping out of appearing in Disney’s remake of Dumbo on the morning that filming began (oops), we’re trying a nice, friendly, theatre group to increase their confidence. Because they love nothing more than pretending to be something else.
I hope you weren’t tempted to liberate the ‘blocking mats’!
I love that cowl!!
re “blocking mats” how young is too young to knit though?? maybe get past the “sticking everything in yiur mouth” stage (the baby, not you!) then start them on some stockinette in a chunky yarn?? ? love your post!
You can never have too many WIPs! It’s just not possible. What if you finished it?! All that time waiting around for more yarn to be delivered so you can start the next project? Nah. Just have as many things on the go at once as possible. Ideally one for every day of the week… or month… or year…
PS Love that comment by whichever one of the twinnage it was – I hope my children will be like that!
My daughter would have said exactly the same thing! I completely understand bringing more than one WIP. I have been known to bring multiple WIPs and a pattern/yarn/needles to cast on something new for an overnight trip.
Forgot to mention – love that cowl design and your yarn choices!
Your talent and skill are amazing. I love the purple sweater,but sorry to hear you were ill and made a mistake that will bug you. I do like the idea of a floral fix, clever you. Perhaps you’ll have a few blossoms on the top, right and a few more on the bottom left (or reverse that if this is a mirror image). I’m glad the twins are trying theater. It’s a wonderful world of make believe.
ohmygosh I love that cowl! I may have to make one for my mum when you do release the pattern!!!
Oh dear, no more knitting whilst cross! I suggest the orange crochet flower, not a bad idea! Maybe one of those lily things, or a giant sunflower,. Hope the twins enjoy their theatre group.
Were you the only knitter at the theatre group?
Yes. But it was a tiny group.
Oh I love the cowl! Forget-me-nots are one of my favourite flowers 🙂
Such a beautiful sweater… perhaps a pin for the error, or just leave it and anyone who mentions it offer them a copy of the pattern and your best wishes 🙂
Carry your bag over your left shoulder and no-one will see your ‘row of wrongness’. Love the cowl.
I do love that forget-me-knot cowl! Can’t wait for the pattern release!
I have knitted that Kari- Helene Range pattern and I loved it. Quick and easy to knit up and you can wear it two ways. I love it up like the cowl but then you can wrap it round your waist if you need to be extra snuggly. Perfect!
I love the cowl— beautiful design – waiting eagerly for the pattern. I did love the remark by one of your children. Love the sweater too.
I LOVE that sweater! I have yarn in my stash waiting for the “perfect pattern” and that might be it!! Off to find it…and put a pin or 2 made by the twinnage over the wrongness and then everyone will be so gobsmacked by their creativity they won’t notice your “oops”
Right…off to correct the ‘easy’ socks I took on vacation and made a mess of…
Hey, I have two sets of children’s play mats I use as blocking mats – either laid out flat and huge (Brother-in-Law reckons they’d cover Norfolk!) or doubled if I really need to pin something securely.
The Really Good thing is that they were less than half the price of ‘proper’ blocking mats – even those without the gridlines, and have a much bigger area.
I think your purple cardi looks lovely – the colour and the style. Maybe some smaller white flowers over that ‘error due to cold’?