I can’t take anymore!
About 2 weeks ago Bruce and I decided that we can’t listen to one more political ad, read one more grotesque headline, or deal with the mayhem leading up to tomorrow — Election Day! I voted, and then we turned all of it off. It has allowed me more time to focus on knitting, and that’s a good thing. Here are some of the results:
A few months ago Bruce came across some information about using recycled plastic to make yarn. It sounded pretty crunchy to me, but I thought I’d look into it. After all, a recycling technique that would be endlessly renewable (we certainly can’t run out of plastic!) would be a boon for civilization.
It turned out that a company in the UK has been sourcing yarn from Turkey made from recycled plastic bottles. OK, then, let’s give it a try!
This little crochet basket was made from Jolly Good Yarn in Devon. They also recycle cotton cord for macrame, upcycled wool, and recycled cotton textiles (+ about 20% new fiber) for knitting and crochet yarn.
The bottle yarn is very soft and loosely spun (i.e., splits easily). In handling, it gets pretty fuzzy pretty fast. I had to use it doubled for this basket (it’s built out from a wooden bottom for stability), and crochet pretty tightly to get it to stand up without bending over. If I was planning to use it for some kind of storage or display, it would need a stiff lining (like a flower pot for example). I have quite a bit left over (since as usual, I over estimated), so I’ll have to decide if I like it enough to make another one or two in different sizes. The pre-made laser cut wooden bases come in a variety of shapes and sizes for those with adventure in mind. You can also find them with laser cut patterns to use as lids, if so inclined.
Off the needles
One down, one to go. Here is the finished first draft of the bog cotton sock. My friend JulieAnn is now test knitting the pattern for The Book, and the yarn I chose for this is working out so well. I also had her drop the needle size as this version is too large for me. I’m going to take it with me to my Wednesday knitting group for size checks with someone who has slightly bigger feet.
The pattern itself requires 4 repeats if you plan to have the cable at the center front, so the only easy way to resize is to change the needle size. I plan to make the second sock to match this one because this yarn is so heavenly (Uist Wool Canach).
A few more swatches
I’m also back to working on the variations of the Gairloch diagonal sock pattern.
The larger diamond pattern is worked in Jamieson’s of Scotland Double Knitting (colors peat and spice) and a cowl is planned for that. The smaller is likely to become a pair of mitts. I’ve simplified the design from a child’s sock in the Gairloch Museum as a good place to start to understand how to knit the pattern. It is straight-forward stranded color work, but with color changes almost every stitch it gets a bit overwhelming if you don’t pay attention.
I’m trying (again) to work with a Jane Gaugain Victorian pattern for honeycomb stitch. I’ve stitched and ripped multiple times, but I can’t find a gauge that shows the pattern well. It’s basically a knit-two-together-through-the-back-loop pattern, but to me it looks like a ladder when it’s gone out a few rows.
This pattern can be found in other Victorian knitting books, but they all look pretty much the same. This might not be something to spend much more time on, but you know me — I’ve got it clenched between my teeth and can’t let go.
And finally, here is the last of the swatches for the Aran sweater. This will go on the sleeve with the points at the cuff and the loops extending up the sleeve and across the shoulder saddle.
I had considered using the 2 knit stitch rib at each side, but it makes the saddle much too wide. I’m still pondering what to do with the sleeve and hem edges. Garter doesn’t show well with the reverse stockinette, so I’m re-thinking a thin band (3-4 rows) of seed stitch. If that seems to work better, it will also become the dividing line between the skirt and body of the sweater.
The alternative is to finish all of the edges in i-cord. I recently fell for an advert for an i-cord tool. I haven’t had a chance to give it a test run, but that might be a good way to speed up the (endless) process, and I do like that as a finish.
Meanwhile…
We’ve buttoned up all of the outside projects…they are (mostly) complete, and what isn’t done can wait until spring. Now that we’ve had two freezing nights, we are unlikely to have more days warm enough to brave the outside.
And, on a very happy note, my friend Margaret is here in the States on a visit of friends here in Massachusetts and elsewhere. I was thrilled to have her here for a few days. We went on a drive to see if we could find a few remaining fall leaves. Here is the view from Quabbin Reservoir near where we live. Not much color, but a very nice view from the top.
And Finally, the Library raffle project is done and assembled. We added Candy’s crochet star at the top, and have every hope that the tree will bring in a sizable donation to the Friend’s Group.
So until the next time, avoid TV news, stay healthy, keep calm, and craft on. Remember, knitting has been shown to lower blood pressure.