Fair Isle

I've been working a test swatch from the book Sheep to Shawl from Philosopher's Wool, and am happy with the results so far. The method is 2-handed Fair Isle, and was tricky to get the hang of, at least for me.

Unfortunately, I misread the pattern and did a yarn over to increase, when that's not how it was supposed to go. I emailed Philosopher's Wool to find out what I did wrong, and they are wonderful for replying when you have questions. Here is the swatch I'm working on, mainly to get the hang of weaving the colours in on the wrong side of the work. Fair Isle is easy... getting the loose yarn woven in is a bit more tricky. I think it'll be easier once I get it onto the circulars and don't have to purl.

I'm going to be trying out a new swatch with Ann's increase instructions to see how it goes. Once I'm no longer afraid of screwing it up, I'll be purchasing yarn to make my first Fair Isle shawl.

Jeez...

Man, been a while? Sorry for the lack of updates, things have been interesting.

Oh, and those vows? Broken. All of 'em.

I still have only a tabi sock-and-a-half.

Billie's cowl isn't done yet.

I'm currently working on a 6-hour blanket on size 50 needles, and it's going along well. I need to FINISH a project to kickstart me again. After I finish Billie's cowl and my sock, I'll be starting that shawl I've been thinking of.

I've finally learned the 2-handed Fair Isle knitting technique, and am working on how to purl since NO PLACE will show me that. It's not the typical 'drop the yarn' technique, you actually weave the second colour in behind the first. I WILL do this.

New stuff!

New patterns added to the 'current projects'. I'm working on Ice Queen for a friend of mine at work, and am also planning on making the chenille hood at some point.

Hey Aaron?

What's your name on Ravelry? I got my invite, I'm Knitfox on there as well.

I vow....

I vow to finish the pair of tabi socks I'm working on, instead of finishing one sock and going on to the next project, like I normally do.

I vow to remember that if I DO NOT like a project, it doesn't matter how far along on it I am. I still retain the right to stop working on it and try it again in a different yarn/gauge (or pin it to the wall as if to say 'Don't do this again, you fool').

I vow to not buy more yarn until I've worked through the yarn bin I already have.

I vow to ignore the above vow ONLY if I decide to make that hat for my mother before Christmas.

I vow to finish the second sock in the pair for my son.

Before Christmas.

Meh.

Socks were a bit of a failure. Even after washing, they don't fit right. I may make the other one just the same and give them to my son as housefeet while he's here visiting this winter.

I'm working on the Breeze socks again as well, and have finished with the shaping the heel. I'm now working on the body of the sock, and I'm happy with them, even if I'm not happy with the way they have the stitches spread out over the needles. I may shift the bottom stitches onto a fourth needle, just to make it a bit easier.

Will have pics when able.

Stuff to do...

The purple verigated (SP?) tippies are done and on my feet. I finally found the length that I like. From the end of the ribbed rows to the beginning of the decrease is 45 rows. I might be able to get away with 50 if I'm ambitious.

I got blue verigated yarn and am working a plain sock pattern, nothing fancy. I also have ordered two more colours of Fixation yarn from Linda. She says it'll be in within a week.

When I get paid, I'm going and picking up a ball or two of the local spun and dyed alpaca yarn from Yarn Garden. It's fingering weight, so I'm hoping to be able to make a pair of socks and/or wristlets from it. I'm also almost ready to take the plunge and buy some cashmere for the wristlets I want to make. Of course, I'll need to make socks to match. ^_^