other knitterly stuff

I have also recently had some knitterly validation come my way. After being asked a few questions and showing someone a couple of things, it really got me thinking. You see, in truth, I've always been a bit of a dabbler (...and not just in knitting, it's pretty much a personality flaw if I'm honest), but I had a strong urge to answer these questions. So I did a bit of an internet trawl, to direct this person to good 'how to' sites, free patterns, good blogs and e zines (personally, I LOVE Knitty, I think it is absolutely brilliant - and have recently made my first ever submission to them but that's another, so far incomplete story). Anyway, I came across June Hemmons Hiatt "The Principles of Knitting". It's out of print, and I was shocked by how much you'd have to spend if you really wanted to own a copy. The combination was too much, it must be a neglected work of knitting genius I thought. So, I ordered it from the library. As the copy I have came all the way from the Scottish Museums Service, I am thinking it may be the only copy in the UK!
Here it is, a pretty hefty tome, and not a colour plate to be seen. It is very serious, detailed and wonderfully clear for the most part, except for maybe the use of inside and outside instead of wrong side and right side....

But most exciting is the fact that June herself recommends what she calls 'right hand knitting'. I practically jumped up and down with glee because she described what I had always thought of as my rather dodgy throwing method which actually involves letting go of the right hand needle with your right hand. My Mum uses the 'pencil' method, something I simply never managed, though she makes it look like the easiest and most efficient way, June reckons it is probably the least efficient. For me, I have occasionally tried to alter my method, somehow secretly thinking my way was embarrasingly childish and slow, and not 'proper', but now I feel able to consider myself a real knitter! Thanks June! In truth, my method is actually a complicated little dance that has evolved over the years to best fit my hands and how they work...but I still feel better for seeing it somewhere in serious black and white print, that what I have evolved for myself is the real deal, even if it is just a means to an end and nobody else, probably not even other knitters, really cares.

I do knit stuff, honest....

So. What with the extraordinary record of 1 post in 2009, I don't really qualify as a blogger do I. But, as I am knitting again ( it just keeps on coming back, like an old addiction one never really kicks..), I have been knitting. A la Mason and Dixon too. I've always loved the mitred squares bedspread, and fully intend to make a 'proper' one some day. By that I mean full size, fully planned out and it will be gorgeous. This is a practise run. A stash busting baby blanket for a very dear friend who is having her first baby. I am giving it an i cord edge with loops at the corners. I love it and I think she will too. All babies need a nice bit of knitting in an ill considered colourway made lovingly by an older out of touch but fond hearted aunty figure. I think I've ticked all the boxes!














This is the other latest knitting achievement. Lacy Beret from the pattern by Aida Costa(www.knittingdivine.blogspot.com). Another dear friend gave me some Rowan felted tweed for Christmas. Delicious soft velvety stuff. So I gave this a go, as I needed a hat pronto. It's great, though I have to say that this is not the ideal yarn, the main body of the hat is great, but the ribbed welt is not so good. The yarn lacks 'bounce' or 'springiness', and the welt has stretched and stayed stretched. This is partly because I blundered in an made this with very little if any measuring, and basically, even though I really do know better, I just guessed the finished size. But it also partly the nature of the yarn. I am making another, and am considering things more carefully, possibly even using a nice springy yarn for the ribbing. Oh, by the way, the original pattern doesn't have a ribbed welt either. Maybe there is a good reason for that....? Anyway, it's a great pattern, and version two is coming along beautifully....


....in fact it is better than my first attempt as I have worked out exactly how to do ssp. As you may notice, this is knit flat, but the pattern means the seam is almost invisible, so it really is very easy.