YOP: post 7

Term has started again, which means that my flying progress on my cable cardi has somewhat ground to a halt. I Finished the first front on Sunday, so my jumper looked like this after I'd seamed it on Monday morning, before going to school. (I only had to be there at 11.10 AM)












On Friday afternoon, I cast on for the second front. That means I hadn't been able to knit a single stitch of jumper during the whole week. On Friday evening the front looked like this.


Luckily, I don't have too much homework this weekend, which means that I managed to go to the monthly knitting group at my LYS. The weather is nice for the moment, so we sat outside and KIP'ed. Knitting group is usually quite a productive moment for me, so after about two hours of knitting, my front looked like this.

I finished turning the short-row corner and did the increases. I also bought the buttons that will be used to keep the jumper closed, and then remembered -only just in time- that that meant that I had to make buttonholes. I wouldn't be the first time that I forget and have to frog my project back 10 cm or so. But anyway, as it happens, I remembered. I hope to have this cardi finished for next weekend, I think that's an achievable goal if I concentrate on it.

If you read my last YOP post you might remember I wanted to design a lace edging for my stripey shawl. As I had never made a sideways border, I decided I would knit one first, so I had a look around on Ravelry and I found the Rectangular Crow Waltz Shawl. The edging on this looked rather different to what I have I mind for the Stripey Shawl, but I thought it would be a good start. The pattern is an easy to remember 10 row repeat. The points will need blocking out, but I rather like the YO, P2tog band along the top because it reminds me of crochet.



I used some yellow-orange-gold yarn of which I had most of a ball in my stash for the border, so I had to knit both edges first in order to make the most of the yarn I had. Because I knew I'd have way too much of the brown yarn from my jumper (I bought two 400 gr balls and only started the second ball when I started the second front, which is the last piece of the cardi), I started the main body of the scarf/shawl. (This is all last week's work BTW, if I'd have had the time this week I'd have worked on the jumper). I've still got a fair way to go, but I'm quite enjoying the pattern: it's not too simple, but it's not that complicated that you can't do it while catching up with season 8 of HOUSE M.D. , which, in my case, was rather much essential during the last week of the holidays ;)

The one project that has benefited from the start of term are my socks, because they get to come to school with me to occupy my hands during break time. I had already put the left sock on hold until I reached the same point on the right one and I am now, slowly but surely, progressing in that direction. I had to frog this sock back partially because I had forgotten to start the stripes, but now I've finished the increases, so I hope to be able to start turning the heel somewhere next week, as I'll be spending a few hours on the train to Ghent and back. I could have made more progress, because when I went to Sint-Nilkaas last week not only did the train get stuck in Puurs for an hour and a half (on top of the hour it takes to get there from Leuven), but I had also forgotten to transfer my knitting into the bag I was taking, so I had nothing to do! Luckily, I was in good company, so the wait wasn't too boring. I hope it doesn't happen again this week! Anyway, that's all for now.

Mnz

KVLV-event

Yesterday there was a big event in Leuven, the KVLV organised an event to celebrate their 100th 'birthday'. Of course there was an activity involving knitting :) At the Ladeuzeplein they had put some chairs in a circle so people could sit down and knit together. On each chair there was some knitting (scarf-shaped) and there were various yarns to choose from. The principle was 'knitting together', so you could pick something up and knit for a while, and when you'd had enough, you got up and somebody else would carry on where you had stopped. As for the stitches, you could knit whatever you wanted to, as long as you slipped the first stitch and knitted the last one...

 This was the one I picked up. A jumble of different colours and textures, as you can see... I started it after the first row of red loops and then carried on with that yarn for a while, and when I got fed up with it I switched to yellow. Loads of people were intrigued about the red loopy yarn, and I got lots of comments for being so young (I always seem to be the youngest, wherever I am...) and being able to knit without looking at my knitting.! :] After a while, some ladies from Zandhoven came and sat next to me. They said they would like to go the sock knitting workshop at my LYS, but they had no idea where it was, so I showed them the way. While I was there I bought some Katia Ondas for a scarf a someone wants me to knit, and some extra cotton for my crochet. I walked back to the station to get my bus (I was in a walking mood...) because it'll be the exams soon and I had to study some Greek (a text by Herodotus; Gyges and Kandaules). In the end I had a very nice afternoon, even though it was a bit hot to be knitting outside...

Knitting group :)

 People at the knitting group were very interested in my Braided Balls, so I thought I'd post some photos of the two I've completed so far. I discovered there's a KVLV event in town next weekend, and there will be a lot of textile workshops, including knitting :). I will definitely go, as my LYS will also have a promotion on (sock) yarn on! Although only a relatively small number of us were there, it's so enjoyable to sit and knit together!

Mnz