Wednesday 10 October 2012

Not So Grim After All

Knitting
Perhaps because I was expecting it to be a chore, knitting the Doctor Who scarves hasn't been too bad so far. I've put in an inordinate amount of time in what can only be described as farting about, choosing the best needles. I started with a pair  of Boye straights, but they're 14 inches long and I can't get comfortable with them. I bought a KnitPro circ, but the points are awfully pointy and hurt my finger, so for the moment I've gone back to the Boyes. The yarn label says 10 1/2s (US) or 6.5mm , and the Boyes are 10 1/2, but in my needle gauge they definitely measure 8mm and that's the size of the KnitPro.

I should really buy an 8mm Addi metal circ, but I'm sure I must have one somewhere already so I'm reluctant, although I know I'll give up in the end.


The yarn is nice, a looser twist than I expect from a tweedy yarn, but it doesn't fall to bits or split. I'm doing the ends as I go along. There's actually another colour, a grey; that ball in the middle that looks grey is a light blue called Camper.

I bought f-a-r too much wool. I nearly laughed when I opened the door and saw the enormous parcel the postman had for me, so I think other people may be getting hats and cowls for their Christmases - another reason why I should get over myself and buy some needles in the right size.


Once I've got the right needle  I shall pick up speed. No doubt when I finish these I will be yearning to knit on tiny needles with fairy yarn, but someone has whispered to me that she is a tiny bit pregnant so that should fit in nicely. Time to dig out my copy of Zoe Mellor's lovely 50 Baby Bootees To Knit.


I hope that's better, Joan. I've changed the other one too :)

5 comments:

Anita said...

Hi Helen,
I just love that 50 baby bootees to knit, I have had it out from our local library so many times. Lots of great patterns to choose from there!!! Love your Doctor Who scarf and while I'm at it, I would just like to correct you on something.......a girl can never have too much wool!!!!lol. I wouldn't bat an eyelid if the postie bought me the biggest parcel in the world full of wool.
Have fun knitting!!!
Cheers, Anita.

Fiona said...

That scarf is looking good and growing fast too! Just wondering - have you ever tried Denise interchangeables? They are very kind to the hands, I have found.

Mary Lou said...

A Dr. Who scarf for a boyfriend at university got me back to knitting a zillion years ago. Then he lost it. I just used some of the knitpro lucite needles for the first time and quite liked them. I bought a kit on sale because each size is a different color, good for a person who tosses her needles about with abandon. I have the Denise as well, but don't care for them myself.

Joan said...

Thank you so much! You didn't need to change the header on the last post, it was a perfectly good one. Albeit a bit too evocative of Watford High Street on a Saturday evening but that's the way my mind works. It made me snigger every time I cruised by and then I was immediately ashamed because you are so kind to your young relatives and I was being... small.

I love the way the scarf is coming along. The colours play very nicely together, with the red providing extra oomph. Will the next scarf have a different sequence of stripes?

Knitting Linguist said...

Ooh! I love the booties on the front of that book (and I never knit booties, oddly). The scarf is looking good - I think you should bit the needle bullet, though; there's nothing worse than knitting miles of garter stitch on less-than-optimal needles (IMHO).