Tag: build a better v

A Couple of FO, Yay.

I’m sure the knitting rule is that if you finish 2 projects you are allowed to cast on 5 more. That’s right, isn’t it? I’m quite sure it is.

So here are my two finished objects. I’m feeling the joy of being at the finish line.

My tea cozy is done. I used an aran weight plus a sports weight held together for the top and 3 sports weight yarns held together for the straight body section. As I had mentioned, I am an incredibly tight crocheter so the funny horizontal lines are because I can’t get my crochet hook under the 2 legs of the stitches to make a single crochet, so I just go into the top leg. It works for me and I like how it looks. Have I inadvertently stumbled on a real crochet stitch?

My second FO is my Reversible Ribbon wrap/scarf. Yay. It is easy knitting but an 80″/203cm long wrap is still a large project. I’m all set for winter now. I’ll wrap this around my neck, outside my coat, to hold my hood in place and cover part of my face. I am already warm and toasty just thinking about it.

I added a second contrast colour and am really happy that I did. I’m sending an update for the Reversible Ribbon out with the finished photos in it.

Does a little sweater that still needs to be blocked and the buttons sewn on count as a FO? Sure it does.

This is going to be called the Build A Better V, a baby/child sized garter stitch cardigan. It is a redo of the Build a V without the pointy bit at the bottom. I used left-over DK weight yarn (from the rainbow sweater). The extra bonus is that the different colours show the different parts of the cardigan. Four buttons to sew on and I’m done.

Now I am in a dither. What to cast on?! Maybe that, wait this would be good, wow, look at that. You know how this goes.

I made one decision.

I cast on Winter’s Finery by Romni Hill. I wanted to try some rustic sport weight wool I have from Lichen and Lace. I want to see how it works for a shawl. The pattern is written for fingering weight yarn, so with the sports weight I’m using a 4.5mm needle. What a relief to be using a larger needle. Everything else I’ve been knitting lately has been with 3.25mm needles. I’m really happy to be zipping along with this one.

Now, back to ravelry to contemplate some new projects. See ya, Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the cabinfever crew

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell 435 on youtube

Two Steps Forward … You Know The Rest

Yup, that’s what’s been happening here. I didn’t realize how frustrated I was until …

I was knitting away on my Build a Better V and everything was going well until I ran out of navy yarn. Yes, arggh, right after knitting one sleeve I realized I didn’t have enough to do a second sleeve. OK, normally that doesn’t bother me that much. I can regroup. I found some yellow wool and made the second sleeve.

Great. I’m happy with that. Then … I tried to unravel the first sleeve and couldn’t do it very easily because of the cast off I used. So, I got the scissor out and I cut it off.

I never do this. I would normally have worked on that cast off edge and unraveled the entire sleeve. I’m not even that upset about this particular sweater. My general frustration is compounded by several projects that are not going well.

I am now working on the second sleeve. I’m astonished at myself. I obviously need to take a vigorous walk or something.

If you want to hear the whole sorry story, here is my youtube podcast.

I’ll be back on track really soon. Cheers, Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and our cabinfever crew

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell435 on youtube

Retreating and Knitting

Last weekend I went to a knitting retreat I have been going to since 2008 (I think that date is right?). Except for the missing covid years, I have only miss it two other times. One of the missing years was last year and I can’t tell you how happy I was to go this year and see all my friends. Even though I only see them once a year it is a joy to be back knitting, chatting, laughing and eating like there was no break at all.

That’s not much of a photo but you get the idea. Imagine all the seats taken with women telling funny stories and knitting or crocheting.

We were in a new location. If you’ve been following me over the last summer you know this sort of place makes me very happy. Knitting, water, trees and friends. Perfect.

Have you been to a knitting retreat? Did you love it? If you haven’t I would highly recommend them.

I got quite a bit of knitting done on my Build a Better V, the re-do of the Build A V baby/child pattern. You may notice that it’s a different colour than the last post. I knit the back panel and half the front panel in blue, thinking the whole time that it was a little stiff and thick. It didn’t occur to me for quite a long time that I was working with worsted weight yarn and I meant to be using DK. Ooops. Duh. There was some mix up of yarn weights in my stash I guess. I should know better than depend on my organizational skills.

So here is the new one. The back panel is green and you can see how working the centre increases further and further apart from each other is creating a flat centre section which will make the bottom edge fairly flat when finished.

The two front panels are red, obviously, with the same increase set up, and the sides are navy. These are all left over balls of yarn.

With the navy I picked up stiches along one of the fronts and down the back. Then I knit the side to the width I will need for the finished cardigan. I have started the sleeve too.

Once it’s folded at the shoulder it will look more like this.

The other side should be finished by next week. Oh my, the pleasure of knitting something tiny!!!

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the Cabin Fever crew

Debgemmell 435 on youtube

deb.gemmell on instagram