Menokreatikkul; Saturday Stitches

 

Another week of keeping the hands from idling... I had cast on the beret, which ended last week's post, and I had hoped to have the hat done. However, knitting on DPNs definitely slows me down, as I'm still very much in training mode with them. Also, once the increases came, the number of stitches started to frustrate, as they had a nasty habit of jumping off the back end of each pin and several 'pick up' events in, I decided I had to order some stitch stoppers. Being 'remote', even premium delivery still takes time, so it was Wednesday before they arrived. I have now added several more rows with much more confidence, but the full reveal will have to wait another week.

F did question my use of three, rather than four, pins. Truth is, that's what I recall my mother using all the time, so I never thought to look into doing it differently. A few tubular watchings later, and I realise that most knitters will tend to the four-pin method when opting for DPNs over the circular needle.  I'll persevere for now, but am sure there will be further experimentation as time goes on!

To fill the gap of not knitting a beret, it was back to the stash busting, and first off the rank was a recreation of the wrist warmers/cuffs that I had mentioned doing for one of Mac1's pals. I had impressed myself with them and wanted a pair.

As you can see, I worked with two strands of the cotton thread, creating a heavy worsted-weight stitch gauge. 25-chain starter, join in the round; first round in double (UK tr); second round, hd then fpd (UK htr/fptr), alternating, switching those on each succeeding round. I did nine rounds, but they could be any length you desire... or even adapted into mittens.

The other start-and-finish object this week was yet another cowl. My head had been pondering stitching patterns, and this began simply as a tester,,,,,,,,,,,

I hadn't realised there was quite so much of this yarn left on the ball, so I just kept going until there was next to none left, and it turned out to be the perfect size. 

For this, cast on multiples of 10 stitches. Five stitches at either end of each row are always worked in garter stitch. If you want to use it as a scarf, you could garter stitch a few rows at either end, too. If using the pattern for a hat or garment, then start with whatever ribbing you prefer. Every reverse-side row is purled. Then, between the edging garter, the 1st pattern row is k4, *yo k2tog* 3x, repeat to garter margin; the 2nd pattern row is *yo k2tog* 3x, k4, repeat to garter margin.

This creates offset textural interest resembling a low cable-like effect, and where the 'empty' stitches overlap, a channel forms. Here's a close-up of the work:

I was very happy with the flow and feel of this, so I have an idea to use it for a jumper in a better-quality yarn.

If all that wasn't enough, I have also been getting the 'feels' for the season... so this has also been cast on. It's being knit flat, and I initially was thinking scarf... but that notion is changing... where will it end up?