Autumn

Too busy to post! have been teaching some sock knitting. Interesting that the chaps of each couple picked it up quicker than the females, even though the latter had flatbed knitting experience.

Also went down for the annual Wigston Sock Ceremony - a continuance of the "peppercorn" rent they used to have to pay the local council for the museum.

Harrison moved on

No sooner had I got the Harrison up and running than I got a nasty shock at the dentists and have regretfully had to sell it to fund the treatment. I do have to confess that I found the Harrison heavier going than my Cymbal. It wa an interesting experience though to have to sort the machine out.

Making a stable table

The Harrison is a machine that is meant to have its own table or be semi-permanently fixed to a work bench with nuts and bolts. Unlike other machines, it can't merely be clamped. If only G-clamps came with a large top arch, instead of a flat top we could do this. SO, in lieu of ruining the table in my workroom, I bought a cast iron bird bath. The base was a bit titchy, so it was then turned upside down. That crown piece was removed, and the piece of chipboard we are using as a temporary table now has even more holes in it.

I still don't think it will be quite stable enough for when I start knitting at speed, plus it is rather short, so I have to find a low chair - I well remember poking myself in the eye the first time I sat down to my Cymbal, so am going to avoid that!

Sanquhar Cushion completed

Harrison Sun Circular Sock Machine

Well, look what I lgot this weekend! Beatutiful working order but SO heavy, as it sits on an extra "crown" although apparently I can take this off. When screwed to a board and clamped on a Black & Decker workmate, it threatened to topple over, so can't really do much with it yet. Plus would only be able to work with it outside in decent weather, the wrokmate is far to big to have anywhere in the house.

Sanquhar cushion front

Wanted to make one of these ever since I saw a sampler thype made by a freind in France. Hers was nine large blocks and fine wool (perhaps even her own handspun). Well, my handspun attempt at Sanquhar some years ago was hilarious and I only made the one glove.

This time, I had a lot of b&w acrylic left over from making a zebra for the twins. I had statred pat & Steve's Curve of Pursuit and abandoned it when, coindientally, it was cuhion size. Decided to make a Sanquahr cushion front the same size.

I meesed around with an Excel spreadsheet to get squares, then drew up some of the patterns. I ended up with four large blocks of 3x3 tiny patterns. These were doen in stocking stich, borders in garter stich (to match the back, but the row count is way off). I realied on row 9 of the pattern that not only would hte contrast yarn be at the wrong side of the work for the next block, but also that I could not do garter stich in black abouve a pattern block! So then I purled above those sections.

Tomorrow I will be knitting applied I-Cord to join the back and front together.

Sheepy Handwarmers

Surrounded by handwarmers - 3x1 ribs done on the circular sock machine, with hand knit thumbs. These are to go into the museum shop at Ruddington. Similar ribs on the Knitmaster with side slit for thumb. Then double thickness Fair Isle with pattern of sheep. The latter are for the Lambing Day at Long Whatton in Aprul. Dunno if many will sell, but can hope!