Long Tall Sheep

 

I finished the prototype sheep mitten, and what a disaster!  It measures 12.5 inches long when it ought to be 10.  If I ever (ever) attempt it again it will have to have a  shorter "fence", a row of flowers taken out and probably the first line of sheep.  I squashed the head down a bit, got the ears lopsided, and ended up with two more stitches on one side than the other.  And the mistakes!  Oh, tons.  

The palm pattern need to be sorted so that the mid-point of the black  diamonds fits neatly under the tip, which could affect the stitch count.  I won't be putting the thumb on this, or, of course, making a second mitten.

Back to the drawing board.  (Don't know why I keep saying this, I haven't even got a drawing board) 

New Year lethargy

I got five knitting books for Christmas.  Three are being passed straight on in Ravelry book sales.  One is on the Norwegian way of Entrelac, without turning the work.  The method is not purling backwards really, but taking each stitch to  the other needle and knitting it.  Much easier than I have tried before, but it is slower.  The fifth book, a surprise present rather than self-bought, is a brand new one for a Fair Isle (actually living on Fair Isle) designer.  She does bespoke garments on a machine, (I had heard of her before) and I think this is reflected in her handknit patterns as they are all 24 st repeat.  This makes it ideal for me to put some on punch card.  The patterns sort of dissolve up a jumper, a really nice modern idea.

More experiments on the pretty Cymbal.  With the 72 cylinder, every other needle baby socks on both T9 and T4,  Leaving the tension on 4, also an "either hand" mitten with 2x1 mock rib hemmed cuff.  The new row counter is a treat - slightly different from the original one, it can actually be turned off which must save the battery.  The display is much brighter as well.  This time I have fixed the sensor to the base of the mast, kept the wire short/bundled up and the display is on the table.  The magnet is on the back of the yarn carrier.