A Plethora of FOs

I forgot to mention last post that I'd started a sock with one of the lovely Lana Grossa Milenweit yarns, which as you can see is now finished, and was using Clover bamboo DPNs with them. I'm pleased to report that they are indeed lovely and smooth and straight away could tell the gauge was fine. Hoorah! I'm back on slick needles with weeny stitches ;) They are a little pointed for my liking, but will no doubt go a bit blunter with use.

If you look carefully at said beautiful sock you can see the gusset decreases seem to go on forever! I followed the Simply Splendid Socks pattern exactly and wow was it an eye opener. I've realised that most of my socks don't have a heel flap quite long enough, well the short trainer socks anyway. Mostly because the heel is knitted in stocking stitch so merges into the cuff so you can't really tell if it fits well or not, or is long enough. The slip stitch heel is so brilliant and I can't get over how well they fit now, especially over the heel. The one thing I would not do again is the heel turning from the pattern, as it left quite a few stitches more than a standard French heel. Add that to the extra stitches picked up from the longer heel flap - well now the extra long gusset decreasing becomes very clear! I honestly thought it would never stop......

Now the only reason I started using Brittany's was because I lost a beloved 15cm Inox bamboo DPN and wasn't keen on the 20cm length ones I ordered. For some reason its hard to get the 15cm Inox bamboo in the UK, but I've seen them at Rikes Wollmaus so thought next time I order from them, I'll get another set.




So when I got a newsletter from Lana Grossa letting me know that Filati Handknitting 25 had just come out, I thought perfect, I can order the magazine and needles at the same time. Then I realised that I could order another ball of sock yarn and still pay the same postage. Well, it would have been rude not to wouldn't it? So I ordered yet another ball of Magico, this time in denim blues. Unbelievably, the order arrived in only 3 days. The colour didn't grab me but DH thought it lovely. No doubt its because it is not in my usual bright colours. No doubt DH will be right and they will look lovely knitted up. Apologies for the blurriness, I didn't notice till I was about to post.



I realised I've been a bit slow in getting the finishing touches done to some FOs and very poor on the photo front. But when its cold weather we go into hibernation over the weekend and thats the time I usually get to wear to new FOs and so get a photo shoot. However, we made a real effort and this is the result. Mostly down to the fact we had to go John Lewis for some of the organic toiletries I buy. I make a lot of stuff myself, but not bath or shower stuff.

I know I've said it before, probably about pretty much most items I make, but Laura really is just gorgeous. The colour is amazing, the design superb and all together she's just fantastic. This is what Rowan is all about for me and I never ever got that feeling with the acrylicy yarns and other makes I used before I discovered Rowan. I don't want to knit an ok garment, I want a stunning one that I'll be proud to wear. So if costs more, thats fine with me. Better that than finishing something you know you wouldn't wear in the cold light of day if someone paid you.....and believe me, in the 80s I used to knit a few of them. And to add insult to injury they used to fit crap as well as look crap. A total waste of money it was. So for me just not worth it.



And last but not definitely not least is the fab Deep. I'm keeping to my sewing up on a Sunday idea, for at least one seam, and its working well. I don't mind doing a bit more in the week then somehow. I did try and use Summer Tweed to sew up and was very gentle and careful and pulled the stitches through after only a couple but it was doomed to fail from the start. It likes to snap. All those bobbly bits on the yarn were never going to be sewn up smoothly. So I swapped to some 4 ply and it was so easy. Summer Tweed is very forgiving when sewing up with 4ply and it took hardly any time at all and the seams are fantastic.

It's not warm enough to wear her yet but I've tried her on several times and am very pleased with the result, as is DH. She is very comfortable and sits just right. I think I will probably wear her with a brooch though, as I do with Iris, otherwise I think she will start to slip down my shoulders. I tried her on with said brooch, and she does look very lovely indeed. Wonder how long it will be till I can wear her?