The weather has taken a decidedly autumnal turn lately, and as a result my fingers have been drawn to the warm woolly goodness of the Liquorish Allsorts jumper.
That little bit of pink wool coming out of the top? It’s where the ball ended when I finished the stripe. Don’t you love it when that happens?
I’m not far from the underarms. When I reach them, I will stop and knit the sleeves. Then it all gets knit together. You’ve got to love Elizabeth Zimmerman’s writing style. She warns that measuring must be done accurately and conscientiously. “Otherwise you may sup the porridge of regret with the spoon of sorrow.”
I paused to measure the width of the jumper yesterday. It’s supposed to be 61cm wide. Somehow, though it was correct when I had knit 10cm of it, it has narrowed by at least 5cm. I may be doing a bit of that supping, if this doesn’t fit Dad.
Part of the reason I’m making good progress on this is because I’m proofing a manuscript. I discovered long ago that I can read and knit at the same time… if the material I’m reading will happily sit on my music stand and the knitting is stocking stitch in the round. In fact, I’ll get the proofing done faster if I knit, as I’m less likely to get restless and find domestic chores or website ‘research’ to procrastinate with.
Unfortunately, the cold weather brings in the Heat Seeker (cat), who curls up next to me and makes irresistable little sleeping noises until these subliminal messages had the desired effect, and I fall unconscious. Yesterday, when I woke from yet another cat-induced nap, an even niftier way to make a self-striping yarn measure (SSYM?) popped into my head. The previous one only worked for my gauge and foot size. I have narrow feet (my ex used to call them ice skates) and I knit on 2mm needles, so a row tends to take up less yarn than a row on the average person’s sock. My new idea lets me change the measurement for a row to whatever a knitter’s gauge, or recipient food measurement, requires.
And it’ll be much easier to make, too. It occured to me today that I could even make it out of thick wire, if I had to. But wood would be much prettier.
Hi Trudi,
I was just reading through some of your previous messages (I’ve only just found your site, through Yarnivorous), and was wondering about your stash, well, actually your Dimmey’s stuff. I’ve had a bit of success with some of the yarns I bought from there and if you want to get rid of some of the wool/cashmere blend or plain white balls, let me know. I actually like the mohair too! (I met you at a couple of the snb things a while ago)
Me again,
I meant to add that I’ll be at the snb northern meet next Tuesday at Cafe Stuzzi, if you want to meet up there.
Lyn
Hi Lyn! I remember you – well, I think I do. There seem to be a lot of Lyns who knit!
I’ll sell or swap the mohair, if you’re interested. I have 15 balls of red mohair (two partly used) and 12 balls in a lovely black with subtle coloured threads through it. Make me an offer! (I don’t suppose you have any Jo Sharp dk wool in navy or ruby or plum you want to get rid of? That’d be an impressive coincidence!)
Unfortunately I’m frantically busy with work and can’t make the meet. And my weekends until after Easter are going to be chock-a-block, too. But I’m sure we can arrange something.
I’m afraid I already have some of the red and the (sort-of) black mohair in my stock (wow, that sounds as though I have a lot of yarn here – well actually that’s right!). I made a jumper that was designed for KSH (the pattern was Elizabeth) from the black and it came up very nicely. I wore it last night and got mega compliments, which was nice. But I guess if you’re not keen on mohair, that’s no help to you.
Unfortunately I don’t have any Jo Sharp for you either. I usually spin my own yarn, and my Dimmey’s buys were a bit out of character.
I’m guessing you don’t have any of the wool/cashmere blends or plain white balls left?