26 March 2013

frustration and therapy

I was feeling under the weather today, so I called it quits at 1pm and went home.  The only thing I wanted to do was knit, and after a good solid couple of hours, I'm feeling much better.

I've started a baby sophisticate for, surprisingly, a new baby expected soon.  Check out my first ever yoke!  Go me eh!

How big are babies?  Who even knows if this will fit. 
Why the frick do I keep buying this cotton though?  I dunno.  It's really nice and knits up super soft and it's amazing value for money, but it's hand was only - just what every new mum needs!  Dammit Janet!  I reckon it would probably go alight in the washer myself, might give it a go at some stage.

Venus is being a big old pain in the bum right now.  It's super duper challenging and kicking my ass.   I've read lots and lots of notes, and there's all this conflicting advice about whether or not to crochet into the base stitch, how many stitches you should have, where the fans go.  THEN I did this dumb thing and read the dcs in the picots as trs, so I'm going to rip row 8 back to re-do so I don't have big ugly holes at the base of all the lovely fans.  Ugh!


Not only that but I came across a break in the yarn - which is totally cool because when I bought this yarn from Ms Gusset it was sold at a discount due to breakages so don't hate y'all.  So that stumped me a while, until some nice Raveller suggested the braided method.   That worked a treat.  The mended yarn seems really strong and is only just barely thicker than the yarn itself.  It's bit stiffer, but once worked into the piece and washed etc I reckon I'll be hard pressed to find it.  The below shows the yarn as it was, with one ply broken, and the mended (braided) section compared to the yarn itself.  Nifty eh?


One of these days I'll learn how to take better photos in the waning light of evening.

Oh oh oh.. last thing before I go.  I'm going to do a KAL!  Woooo!  It's Sweet Summer Rays.  I've got until April 15th to choose some yarn to go with it.  (I just can't justify $40 right now (including postage, and taking into account the sale) for a skein of the intended yarn.  Trust me, I've tried to).  I'm thinking of trying my hand at hand painting some left over Luxury in a bright orange or yellow.  I don't have anything in bright orange or yellow.

I've not done a KAL before.  How does it usually work?  Do I have to wait for the start date?  I suppose that's the point right?  To all do it together?  But I'm so slow!! Omg 4ply knitting is such a bitch!

*drool*
~Tan


Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life) | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)


14 comments:

  1. Ooooh, Sweet Summer Rays looks so soft and comfy! I need to get my needles out again. I'm currently crocheting with plastic (in case you're thinking WHY WOMAN WHY, I don't quite know either, I'm blaming snotbrain from the Hellcold), while I've got a gorgeous pattern and ditto yarn waiting for me! It's much more fun to work on something when you can squoosh it in between rows ;)

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  2. I think that it depends on the KAL, if it doesn't have set rules listed somewhere it is probably very casual and you can start whenever you want. I'm so excited to hear about the project, I think that you are going to have a blast with it! Sorry to hear about project troubles, you are smart, you'll figure it out and the project will be gorgeous.

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  3. that shawl is super super pretty; good luck with the kal. Sorry you've been feeling a bit down and struggling - sometimes knitting really can be good therapy. Have a knitty wednesday xx

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  4. Ah yes, knitting is such great therapy. Lovely projects.

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  5. Hope you're better soon...I always get something when the seasons are changing..things start to bloom and nose starts running.. Knitting with cotton is my favorite fiber to work with..I am always looking for new to add to my stash, thanks for the link! Venus is frickin beautiful...but the notes and pattern look scary! Nice mend..

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  6. What a beautiful shawl, I've never taken part in a KAL before either so I can't help you there, although seeing the finished product is so very tempting..........in 4ply you say............perhaps not quite tempting enough! Pretty little baby cardigan, and what a fab way to mend a break in your yarn.

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  7. All your WIPs are lovely! The Venus looks so pretty, it's a pity you have to frog some of it ; _ ;

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  8. That's an interesting way of joining / fixing yarn. I'll have to keep that in mind.

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  9. Handwash cotton? how unusual. It does look like it knits nicely, though. :-D

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  10. Everything is wonderful! Knitting really is the best therapy:)

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  11. Gorgeous projects, can't help with your KAL questions I think I would be like you and struggle to keep up!

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  12. I love that purple colour! And I'm guessing the reason you keep knitting that cotton and 4ply is because the result is so spectacular :-) Gorgeous projects!

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  13. I really love the color of you baby sweater.

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  14. I love the color of your Venus!

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