For reasons that will become obvious by the end of this post, there is a sense of urgency about my crafty projects at the moment. I keep jumping from one thing to another and desperately want to make everything now!
Honestly, Jen, who runs my local wool shop (The Wool Stop), must think I am insane. I keep rushing into the shop shouting ‘No time, I need this needle and this wool for this project’, then I proceed to waffle on about this, that and everything, pay, and leave her, I’m sure, wondering what the heck just happened.
I have finished one project though. A while back, I was looking on Ravelry for a more complex looking crochet project. I found the Closing Fans Shawl (paid pattern) and I started it with a 4ply silky yarn but quickly discovered that my diamond shapes were a fraction of the intended size and the shawl would cost me a small fortune if I ever actually finished it. I put the project to the side over the holidays and picked it up again in January, this time with a Stylecraft Alpaca DK in lime, yes, LIME! I guess I was yearning colour and something zingy after all the grey weather we have been having.
The pattern was a bit tricky at the start but I soon got the hang of it and a couple of weeks later we have a shawl. Tahdah!
Like all of the shawls that I have made, I have worn this one like a scarf and it is very soft and snuggly. I would make this shawl again but with a silkier DK yarn possibly but at the moment, I’m just pleased to have finished something.
Ever since I started knitting socks, whenever I am just about to start the heel, I start to think how easy it would be to make a pair of wristwarmers using the same skills. So last week when I saw this lovely post over at The Little Room of Rachell, I remembered that I had admired the same yarn in a different colour at The Wool Stop, so I immediately rushed off and bought some.
To say I rushed into things would be an understatement and not surprisingly, the end result was a single, very sorry wristwarmer.
Where do I start? I used a 3mm long circular needle because a 4mm seemed way too loose and I didn’t have a 3.5mm and to be fair the fit is good until you get to the thumb area. My afterthought thumb was a learning curve but overall it is crying out for a thumb gusset. So instead of ploughing on like I usually do I am going to take my time with these gloves, so long that they probably won’t be ready until next year but they will have a thumb gusset. YouTube, here I come. The yarn is Adriafil Knitcol Trends 58.
So it will come as no surprise that I have cast on a another pair of socks in the meantime.
I am trying A Nice Ribbed Sock in Mondial Ciao 241, this was the first sock yarn I ever bought, before I even attended the sock workshop, so it is a little bit special to me. To avoid Second Sock Syndrome I am casting on two socks onto separate short circulars (I haven’t mastered two at a time yet), I’ll let you know if it makes a difference.
Another project that has seen the light this week is my Flowers in the Snow blanket. I say blanket but it is really a lot of circles still.
I have to admit to going off this project last year but I am determined to finish it. I was going to use a denim blue colour instead of the usual white as a background but have decided white it will be and I have decided not to lay the circles out randomly after I arranged them like this
What do you think? Much more appealing now and that is good as I am far more likely to complete the (much smaller than originally intended) blanket now.
And that brings me to my news.
(Trumpet fanfare)
We are moving.
To Canada.
In April.
This year!!!!!
If I can string the words together I will write a separate post all about how this move has come about and what it means for us. I hope you will wish us luck and stay with us on our travels. One thing I know for sure is that I am going to need to fine tune my knitting skills and get started on some winter woollies as I’m going to need them!
x
You have certainly been busy! Congrats on your impending move, hope all goes well, it will be lovely to follow your journey through the next few months. Take care and have a great weekend. X
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Thank you Sharon. Instead of dealing with all the things that need to be sorted before we go, I am trying to use up some of my wool stash! I have told my husband though that I am taking my sock yarn with me, no matter what!
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It sounds as though you have your priorities right 😉
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Oh my Goodness! My best friend moved to Calgary in September. She has had great things to say about her new neighbours and the Canadian life-style. I wish you the very best of fortune over there.
You’re going to need all the socks and wrist-warmers you can knit!
Love the shawl.
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Thank you! It’s reassuring to know that your friend likes it there. We will try it and if it’s not for us, at least we can say we tried. I am not great with cold weather but on the plus side it rains less where we want to go so I am hoping for fewer grey days.
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I hope you’re moving near some wool shops! Seeing your variegated socks and gloves is really making me want to learn knitting. I even ordered knitting needles!
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I hope so too 🙂 I am definitely taking my sock yarn with me, that should keep me going for a while. then, is all else fails, I’ll be ordering from the UK. I love the variegated yarns too. One day I will be able to do colour work but at the moment I’m happy with all of the hard work being done for me 🙂
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My goodness! You have been busy. I love your new shawl and those gorgeous circles – can’t wait to see that one progress. Such amazing news for you – wishing you all the best with your preparations for the Big Move!!
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Congratulations on your impending move to Canada. That is such a big step and amazingly brilliant for all of you. Good Luck 🙂
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Thank you so much. I’m guessing you have had your fair share of adventures, moving to Scotland 🙂
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[…] I saw so many nice shawls the last month on some blogs. I particularly like this one and this one. […]
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How exciting!
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And a little bit scary but trying to focus on the exciting part!
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