episode 87 | anti jumper wearing children

Episode 87 and here in the UK we have just gone back into another lockdown, which is not great news for anyone but grateful that this time around the schools are staying open.

EPISODE 87 SHOW NOTES

FINISHED OBJECTS

I finished my Not Car Socks shortly after I uploaded Episode 85 and I talk about them in that podcast an awful lot so will link it here if you want to know how I went about chopping and changing these socks to suit my preferences -basically a shortened leg length so the pink toe section didn’t start half way down my foot.

I used Regia Pairfect Design Line by Arne & Carlos in the Astrup colourway and 2.25mm needles.

Back in the summer I finally gave in to Betsy’s requests for a rainbow jumper. I used the Kid’s Basic Raglan Sweater pattern by Catherine McMillan (free on Ravelry) and some super bright colours from Stylecraft Special DK - Matador, Jaffa, Citron, Spring Green, Sherbert, Magenta and Fiesta. I believe that I worked 13 rows of each colour and extended the final pink colour down into the cuffs. The pattern is worked in the round from the top down and is super simple and quick to knit on 4mm needles. Betsy loves it but has yet to wear it because, well, jumper.

WORK IN PROGRESS

I’m still working on my gorgeous Birds of a Feather shawl and I absolutely do not want it to end. It’s such a relaxing and satisfying knit and I’m so pleased that I’ve finally found the perfect project for my two skeins of Sprinkles from @knitcosmicstrings although I find it bizarre that this was the pattern I had originally purchased the yarn for back in 2017!!

The mohair panels are worked in Rowan Kidsilk Haze in the Grace colourway and I’m using 4mm needles.

Kinross Shawl @rowanyarns — *Kinross Shawl* *@rowanyarns*

I also started on my Kinross shawl from the latest Rowan magazine Rowan 68 and it is SO lovely. I’m glad that I went ahead with it even though I was confused by the stranding element, and I actually quite like the simple few rows of it.

I love the pattern by Georgia Farrell and I especially love the yarn, Rowan Classic Alpaca in the colours Cinnamon, Soft Satin and Willow.

I’ve started a second pair of Swords Socks. This time using the Florence Sock Set from @biffsugaryarns which is just lovely and the perfect colours for autumn. I’m keeping this project in my lovely autumn bag from Gina @rosiebulldesigns - isn’t it pretty? The Swords Socks are currently being tested and will hopefully be launched very soon.

I’ve also just started a pair of Bonfire Night socks using the Bonfire Night Mystery Skein also from @biffsugaryarns - yes, yes I love Alison’s yarns - I was originally going to use the Prairie Socks pattern from Kay Jones but it didn’t look fully pretty enough in this darker coloured yarn so I’m currently knitting the socks using a basic Andalusian seed stitch pattern and I will save the Prairie Socks for a pretty pastel yarn which I think will bring the pattern out better. This project is being kept in my new ‘Barty’ bag from Eva @cocoandflora.

NEW AND NOTABLE

Yes it would seem that I've been going a bit sock yarn mad but I’m not sorry because I do love me some ‘industrial’ sock yarn even if I do treat it badly sometimes (tumble drier felting, welly boot wearing).

I found a great stockist of the Sirdar Heart & Sole yarn, Dianne’s Knitting Yarns, and so I bought another ball of Hello Cheeky 100 for Betsy as well as some lovely bright pink called Skippy 050 for me and blue Aye Aye Sailor 103 for Darren.

Luckily for me a viewer (thank you Donna) found a stockist of the Regia Pairfect striped yarn, The Knitting Squirrel, and she shared that find with me (so nice) and I managed to get the last ball of the Cinnamon striped yarn I love so much, hurrah! Nicolette has a ton of amazing sock yarn in her shop so go and check her out.

I also bought my Christmas yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, this year they’ve added sparkle and so I’ve gone for Fairy Lights Sparkle this year which I’m going to pair up with red cuffs, heels and toes.

Finally I bought a couple of the new sock yarns from Rico Design, Superba Vintage 4ply in the Pink Mix and Salmon Mix colourways, I think they look lovely and are only £7.29, can’t wait to start knitting with it.

Enjoy the podcast folks, and don’t forget to be awesome.