Feral Knitting

Well, it seems that I am completing a few more projects, but I still feel quite like I’m not. I think I need to relax and enjoy each project for what it is, instead of trying to hurry through so I can move on to the next thing. There’s just so much I want to knit! And so much to learn.

I feel a bit sheepish about this first project. It’s Kate Gagnon’s Silk Kerchief.  It’s written for Noro Silk Garden sock, but I had two colours of regular Silk Garden in my stash and so used that instead.  I love it! I love it so, so much. Simple, easy, and yet looks sophisticated and makes every outfit look a little special. Now that’s good knitting. Why do I feel sheepish?  Well, um… I have a feeling that I just contributed to a bit of…. um… fad knitting.

It’s not that I’m against popular knitting, it’s just that I’m never doing what others are doing. People in the shop are often going on about this pattern or that, and for  me most of this  doesn’t even register. If something catches my eye, I might knit it, but for me, that could something I found revisiting a three year old VK  or a mash up from my Barbara Walkers… I’m just not really paying attention to what’s new and catchy.  I feel weird knitting something that everyone has knit. Like I have broken a personal rule. Hmmm… crazy. Anyway, who cares? I’ll keep knitting what I want, even if it’s insanely popular. Here she is:

I really, really like it. Did I mention is that? Of course, I can’t wear it too often, as Grabby McGrabbersonn is constantly trying to shove it in his mouth. See the necklace I’m wearing in that picture? My favourite necklace, bought for me by husband on our big road trip to San Francisco when we were sprightly and young? Yep, I’m not wearing it any more. I have no desire to be choked to death by grabby little baby hands. Man, does that kid have amazing hand eye co-ordination. He’ll need it, when he grows up to be the President of the World. (He’s going to rename Australia after me. It will then be known as Crystralia.)

Moving on.

Oooooh, fun project! I’m about 80% done my first giant sock. Yes, I know my completion rate on socks is pretty bad, but I feel good about this pair. It’s toe up, pattern taken from Barbara Walker, short row heel, using Magic Loop. This is my first time for Magic Loop, and my first successful (as in, not mind numbingly confusing) toe up and short row heel. Yay me!  Yarn is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, much villified and defended on Ravelry.  Bah, people and all their opinions!

The plan for these babies is to be at least up to the knee, and I’m past mid-calf now. Fun! Mindless too, as I didn’t carry the lace all the way up the leg. I needed a half an hour uninterrupted for each repeat, and at that rate, I knew I wouldn’t get them done, so I continued up in stockinette, figuring nobody would see anyway. Ha! sneaky.

This final picture is for Sue. Hey look…. it’s

GARTER FACE!

He fell asleep face first on the blanket Sue knit for him. You can actually see how he crumpled it against him by the different directions the imprint is travelling in. Silly baby!