Celebrations

I am marking my progress

and celebrating it.  One inch.  

But more than that.  I am now at five inches from the underarm.  Since my plan is to knit to ten inches from the underarm and then do a bit more of the Socks That Rock yarn, before winding the top all up with more teal, I consider myself half done.

Of course I am not taking into account the neckline and sleeve ribbing.  They appear to be relatively wide on the pattern photos, but everyone's mileage seems to vary, as will mine.  

In other brilliant news, I bought the Piennar top pattern.  I can't wait to swatch.

Markers and Keepers

I am now at the point where the top feels as if it is taking forever.  This was on Tuesday.

This was yesterday.

Looks like not much for 2 days of knitting.  You have to look at the tail of the cat to see that there is any progress at all.

Time for a progress keeper.  I only have a couple standard keepers but I do have several crochet markers that I use.  The crochet markers usually come with earring hoops that open and close.  I find myself using a progress keeper more often.  Maybe it's time to invest in a few more.  

I have also noticed that, with all my on going projects, I run low on the best stitch markers.  I like a stitch markers that are a bit heavier.  The stay put nicer than thin lightweight ones do.  This cat

was sent to me by Wet Coast Wools with my last yarn purchase.  It's lovely but it is very lightweight and thin.  I'm glad to have it but for my perfect stitch marker, it would need to be just a bit heavier.  Most of mine are the ordinary bulb kind or little circles.  The fancy ones are some little bead drops and some very fine silver markers Brian gave me from River City Yarns.   They all have the weightier feel I am looking for.

I've been spending some time looking at stitch markers and progress keepers.  It's sort of fun venturing where I haven't been for a long time.  I have not made a decision yet.  Maybe today. 

There is Geddy Tee knitting to do.  I may yet decide to knit on my blanket.  I might pull out something completely different.  Maybe some socks?  I'm not quite sure what I will work on today.  Whatever it is, it is going to be good.

  

Working at a Larger Gauge

One of the very interesting things I have learned over the last couple of years is about gauge. I did experience some of it with laceweight on the Elton sweater by Joji Locatelli.  The lesson was deeply reinforced by Rebecca Clow..  

Until now, my worsted and Dk weight knits have been pretty much to their standard gauge.  I love doing that, don't get me wrong, but knitting your yarn at a bit larger gauge than is usual, makes a completely magnificent fabric.  

The Tolsta Tee and Lusk are great examples of that.  They have a gauge of 17 stitches per 4 inches for a DK weight yarn.  A standard gauge is 22 stitches per 4 inches.  That larger gauge gives you this extraordinary drape and reveals a completely different character of the yarn.  The tops I have made from these two patterns are wonderful to wear.  They flow and drape and breathe.  

When I made the Plieone tee I knew that I was going to follow that gauge experience.  The Remix yarn I used is a worsted weight and usually is knit to a gauge of 18 to 20 stitches per 4 inches.  I decided to go up and knit the top at a gauge of 15 stitches per 4 inches.  It has made THE most fantastic garment.  I have already worn it a dozen times because it is so comfortable.   This top makes me want to dig into the stash and pull out some other worsted weight cotton I have and knit it up.  It also makes me want to pull out more of the DK weight cottons I have.  Not at the moment though.  I must resist.

I have other great things happening on the needles and I want to focus on that.  I can't wait for the Geddy Tee to be done and I am really looking forward to working on my Hiraeth pullover.  That's the yellow Arcane Fibre Works yarn.  And so many good projects wsiting.  The Piennar top, the Staffin, that lovely Kauni sweater.  So many good things.  

It will all come in good time.  Today it's the Geddy Tee.  On to tea and knitting.