Mixed and Muddled

I did all sorts of things over the weekend.  None of them was spinning.  Oh well.  That can be this weeks goal.  I just have so many other things in my head screaming to get out.

The first thing was the new technique I wanted to try between Christmas and New Years.  Last time, my technique thing was learning to use a Norewgian thimble.  I did that.  Then  wanted to try double knitting, where you knit a two sided fabric.  Lucy Neatby used to have some very good videos on that, but I had taken a class a long time ago and just went forward from what I remembered.

I decided to try a mitten because that was what I needed.  And still need.  

I started with a regular ribbed cuff and then started the double knitting.  Looks decent, right? 

It looks good even from the inside.

If you look carefully you will see that the inside seems to be knit of twisted stitches and yes that is so.  I wasn't worried about twisted stitches so I just did the purls my continental combined sort of way.  The advantage to that would be the tiniest bit smaller mitten for the inner mitt.  I think it worked because the pair is wonderfully smooth.  You will see that there is no thumb nor will there be.  There are so many problems with it there was no point in going on with it.  The decreases at the top of the mitten gaped and the design is not centered.  Plus what I really would prefer over mittens is gloves.  

It was a great technique and it has such a natural rhythm.  Next time I will try a hat in double knitting and I will knit plain gloves for use.

Next thing I did over the weekend was to move forward on knitting my Scandinavian Star Vest.

This way of knitting colourwork is definitely faster than the two handed method I have been doing.  I am hoping to keep the tension more even to boot.  

One thing I have always wondered with these colour choices is do they have the right difference to show up the star design.  I am never very confident in my colour choices and this blue is such a soft blue.  It ought to show up well on a pure white ground.  It does.

The same picture in black and white show clearly that this is a good combination and I have high hopes for the finished vest.

And then, in the between times, I knit socks.  

I am sort of enamoured with this colour of Jawoll.  That pop of orange among the greens makes me happy.  I am going with a 2 x 2 rib for a cuff.  I did think about a pattern but really, those strong colours should be free to do all the talking for themselves.  

So many things to knit on all muddled together. Its sort of nice.