Knits

As you can see, I’ve put the contrasting colour onto both sleeves of Bad Penny [apologies for showing you my lack of six pack and that I am wearing a black bra, but obviously I didn't go out in this top, but one that required a black bra]. I had to remove the original bind off and re-do it with a larger needle. The Lana Grossa Rotonda has zero give so despite using a 3.75mm needle to bind off stitches created with a 2.5mm needle, the result was too tight. I ended up using a 4.5mm needle and it just fits. Weaving in the ends of Rotonda is difficult too because it’s very slippery - any suggestions so it stays put? It also twists like crazy, but I’m sure much of that is down to my technique (still knitting English style - throwing the yarn - versus Continental). Ooh if I could get one of those things like they put on phone cords so they don’t get all crazy-twisted then I’d be set! Don’t steal my idea.

I’m in the process of putting all the body stitches back on the needles so I can continue knitting the body and see if I need a SIXTH ball of yarn. I know I’m busty, but I’m really surprised at the quantities indicated in the pattern versus what I’m finding thus far. I don’t really expect to gain much length with blocking since it’s a cotton and rayon blend, but maybe I’m wrong? I pretty much have zero experience with blocking.

Earlier today I was really frustrated with these sleeves as I thought I might end up taking off the contrast colour completely, extending the sleeve slightly with the main colour and then adding the cuffs again. I don’t really like cap sleeves ’cause I have flabby arms and I find that they creep up a lot and end up bunching up in my armpit. Maybe it’s because I’m ridiculously fidgety as well… But after fixing the bind off, they seem fine. And should I ever actually get my butt into the pool, my arms will slim down a bit anyway.

I’ve put myself on a yarn diet because I have more yarn than I can do anything with at the moment and the mounting clutter is starting to send me into panic attack mode. Also, it will do my finances good. The only exception is if I have to buy more yarn to finish a project (e.g. the sixth ball for Bad Penny and possibly a fourth for Ms Marigold). I can trade yarn, but I’d prefer to sell it off so I can put the money towards debts - every little bit helps, right? I put an auction up on eBay for some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky and I’ll see if I can’t sell that superwash wool I tried to sell awhile back.

I have also found out that the baby my brother and girlfriend are expecting is a girl and that it’s due in late-June so that gives me more time than I thought. I might knit the dress from the Debbie Bliss Baby Knits for Beginners book. I’m still working on my Falling Leaves socks. I take those to my work Stitch n’ Bitch. (Apparently my co-worker / friend has told her husband that I do a majority of both! I’m so embarassed about the latter.) I’ve got a ways to go on them yet and wish I could just get into a good rhythm. As I expect that I may be at home all weekend (as in not out with The Boy), I may get a lot done. It would be nice to wear them before summer gets here! Like a lot of places, we’ve suddenly snapped back from the definite beginnings of spring right back into winter. There was actually some snow on the ground this morning. Snow! In Oxford!!

And just because I’ve probably managed to traumatise you with the picture above, here’s some tulips from The Boy. He gave me two bunches of flowers in the course of a week.

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