Sunday 3 June 2007

This Weeks Knitterly Stuff!

At long last I have the photo's of the completed cotton bolero. I really don't like the feel of Sirdar Pure cotton, it's too rough, maybe it will soften after a wash?

It's quite hard to get an even tension, or maybe it's my crap knitting, I don't know!

I found some nice looking cotton from an ebayer in Germany. I asked what tension it knits too & as he didn't know he sent me a ball for free. So I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to my first EVER tension square (yes really!) I guess I've been very lucky up to now as I've never bothered with them!


I didn't have the heart to tell him that the details are on the ball-band! It states 20s/24r on 4.5mm, but it feels a bit thin so I tried 4mm & got 22s/26r, that will do for me!! At 1.00 euro per 50g (his best price), my order is in, it's working out to £1.00 per ball delivered.


Right, onto the current knit... my quest for teal yarn has ended (temporarily!). Good old Kemps have Patons Zhivago, ridiculously priced at only 69p a ball, with a recommended price of £3.50 per 50g! I'm knitting a ribbed zippy jacket from the Patons Weekend Knits book. I started this on Friday with the help of the lovely Seahorse, as I'm still awaiting delivery of the book.

I've switched to metal pins as progress was too slow with the Brittany's! Plus, I hate the way the last knit st on a rib section, is a bit baggy on the rs, so to rectify that, I'm purling the first purl stitch in each group by wrapping the yarn anti-clockwise (ie under the needle) on the rs rows & tbl on the ws rows. Making sense, so far? This tightens the knit stitch, slow, but worth the extra effort me thinks!

This knit will take a while, but I'll have some extra knitterly time this week as DD is going into hospital for her BIG hip operation on Wednesday & they think she'll be in for 3 nights. So I'll be the midnight-clicker on the ward!

I love this yarn so much, that I've gone back to get more & am now coveting this book for it, if I can find it in Oz with more sensible postage!!!

ETA- Update, have now found the book on ebay.com/au Patons Zhivago Spring/Summer knits

Pictures available here

6 comments:

dreamcatcher said...

The bolero is lovely and as always a great fit :-) I'll have to investigate this Wolle Hartmuth store, the Twilleys FS - lookalike is amazing value!

Seahorse said...

The Ribby Zip Jacket is looking great. I get that 'baggy stitch' niggle too, so I shall copy you and do the tightening trick!

The bolero looks lovely.

Hope all goes well for your DD. I'm guessing it's all planned and 'routine' but I bet that doesn't stop you worrying.

Linda said...

Best wishes for DD's op, I hope all goes well. that patons yarn is a bargain. I can't see the book link that you are after, what book is it?

belaybunny said...

The bolero is gorgeous, what a lovely colour. I'm staying away from wolle hartmuth after being tempted by the sock wool last time ;)

Jo028 said...

Thanka all. Claire, it's the six weeks in a hip spica that bothers me most. It's a plaster cast from the belly to the ankles on both legs, imagine how heavy she'll be!!

Joy said...

Looking lovely so far.

I will be thinking of you and your DD today. I hope all goes to plan.