Welcome 2016!

Some people make resolutions. Some people try to better themselves. Some people try to get over fears. Me? I just want to knit. And play with animals, but mostly knit. I easily have $400 worth of lovely yarns from all over sitting in my office, and only want to buy more so I can knit more. It's a problem.

In order to help me deal with this issue, I've joined the 2016 Cold Sheep group on Ravelry, and started this blog. This blog will help document my knitting, so if I feel like I'm not making enough progress I can look pretty objectively back at what I've accomplished and adjust as necessary, whether that adjustment is to my work or my goals themselves.

January's theme for Cold Sheep 2016 is "Organization and Selfish Knitting".  Thankfully my yarn is pretty organized, at least the stuff I don't wish to part with. The stuff I'll sell at the garage sale this year is a mess, but that's future me's problem. On to Selfish Knitting then!

Currently I have 3 projects I am working on (WIPs). The oldest being the Asymmetric Tunic by Freya Midgley. I like the construction of it, and since it's constructed of flat garter stitch and stockinette in the round it's an easy project to pick up while watching some Netflix. I'm making it out of acrylic yarn, which normally I don't use, but having a sweater I can just throw in the wash was appealing.

I've also started the Burnside Tunic byKerin Dimeler-Laurence. I'm making it out of Full Circle Bulky yarn by Knit Picks. Full Circle is a wonderfully squishy single ply yarn that's made from all the mill ends of other yarns. The pattern is worked in the round, from the bottom up, and I made it through the ribbing and about 4" of cabling before realizing I completely messed up putting the charts together and had to frog all the cabling out. So now it's on hiatus until I can get the pattern fixed.

Last night I felt like I needed a new project, something to keep my hands busy, and I have this beautiful hank of Done Roving's Frolicking Feet in Apple Blossom. The colors are just beautiful and it is very aptly named. I started a few fingering weight shawls, but hated how they were coming out so I started making Angler's Loop Socks by Andrea Mules. I have some issues with the pattern so far. It says to start with a K2P2 ribbing, and then once the cuff is done:

“Row 1 – P2, PM, work row 1 of chart, PM, P2, K8, (P2, K2)two times, P2, knit to end of round 

Row 2 – P2, slip marker, work row 2 of chart, slip marker, P2, K8,(P2, K2) two times, P2, knit to end of round. 

Now continue working the cable chart between the 2 markers placed in set-up row 1. All other stitches, you knit all knit stitches and purl all purl stitches.”

My issue is if I do a K2P2 rib, my first two stitches are knit stitches and I end up with opposite stitches for the cuff of the sock instead of the seamless cables pictured. The same thing happens in the set up for the offset ribbed pattern in the front. On my first sock I've opted to start the cable chart at the start of the row, with the 2 purl stitches prior actually being the last 2 of the previous round. Because of this I also have shifted the ribbed stitches on the front of the sock to be 14 stitches after the cabling instead of the suggested 10. I've also added some twisted cables I started at round 9 of the cable chart in those front ribs.I plan on doing the second sock in a P2K2 rib to remedy the issue, and shift the front ribbing to the other side of the foot so the socks are mirror image.

In addition to all these patterns, my last yarn order of 2015 shipped today. One ball of Bre-Aly Threads 3-ply fingering yarn in Weather Related. It is a gorgeous color changing yarn that goes from a peacock blue into a rust orange and finishes in a chocolate brown. I will be using it to make my first beaded knit item over the next 2 months. But it is cold out, and my yarn is calling my name. Until next time!