Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Extreme cast-on!

When RoseRed first mentioned her 'Grand Plan', I was immediately swept away with the excitement of it all. Her plan was to cast on one new project every day with the added bonus of them all being knit in Wollmeise, one of my very favourite yarns. It was so exciting! So extreme! So extravagent! Straight away I knew that I would struggle with the idea of having so many projects on the go, but I seriously contemplated challenging myself just to see how I would cope. In the end I decided that I wouldn't commit to anything (typically!) and vaguely decided that I'd cast on a 'couple' or maybe a 'few' new projects just to try to add a bit of spice to my somewhat ailing knitting mojo. I'm pretty confident it worked! I cast on 3 new projects starting with the Bramblewood Vest in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in a bright spring green. This got tossed aside after day 2 due to the lack of an 80cm knitpicks cable, which I know is attached to a hibernating project around here somewhere.....

Secondly I cast on this gorgeous Baby Surprise Jacket. This is the second one I've knit and it really is an enjoyable pattern. I couple of modifcations I made this time were to change the double decrease (sl1, k2tog, psso) to (ssk, k2tog) around a centred marker. I also made it a bit shorter, which I think look better. The yarn was my real inspiration to knit this. After digging it out of the stash for Jack to use to cast off her Ishbel, I decided to keep it out and use it up. Luckily I caught up with a friend I haven't seen for many months who is now 4 weeks away from having a baby, so the fact that I now have this unisex little pressie for her newborn-to-be is definitely kismet!

Lastly I cast on a shawl in one of my most prized sock yarns. It is the first time that I've used Socks That Rock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, and I think it could very easily become my new favourite (shhh... don't tell that to my Wollmeise stash...)The colours in the Raven Clan series are just amazing, I'm currently knitting with 'Korppi' and I will definitely stock up on some more of this once I've knit down the current stash a little. I have visions of a very cool jumper in the Ravenscroft colourway.... next year of course!

5 comments:

Rose Red said...

Weeeeeeeeeeeee! I'm so glad I could be a bad (good?) influence on someone!!! Great selection of patterns.

Nice tip on the Baby Surprise decreases - I've got that on my list (possibly in wollmeise...tee hee) so must remember that!

Mary said...

thanks for the vest pattern link Sam, I've got a thing about vests at the moment and have been itching to cast something else on.

Ann said...

3 great cast-ons. The baby jacket is so gorgeous. I love casting on too but always have to restrain myself!

Alrischa said...

I don't seem to be able to find more needles to cast more things on. I certainly don't put all my WIPs in the Ravelry list. hehe.

Must make a baby surprise jacket, some day. After I finish one or two things... That long, bright color change certainly suits it, hey?

dash robin said...

That is the cutest brightest bubba jacket-I love it! I am nearly through all the glorious wool you gave me, so many flowers made and a few other bits and bobs too-again much much thanks!
Not to fear though have SO much else to be getting on with and went op shopping *again* today(with friend, so not my fault)and came home *again* with loads of vintage fabric lovelyness.