Assessing the machine

After a full week of playing with it, my conclusions are that it is a little on the delicate side, fine for tubes, too much of a faff for heel turn and thus socks.  The latter is because the needles dip before rising and if the yarn is not under the hook, they drop off.  So every individual held and/or wrapped stitch has to be picked up and re- placed before it enters this area, which starts about 8 needles away from the knitting point.  This does not happen on stationary cylinder machines.   Advised not for the under-14's either, so that is a big disappointment as well for showing in the museum.

"Tubes" - by which I mean scarves, snakes, glove puppets, handwarmers, armwarmers, leggings, Celtic knot cushions, Comfort Dolls, gnomes, owls, bags, mittens ..... there is an endless list of things that CAN be made.

3D printing is probably the way froward, but some alterations need to be made, not least of all the fixing clamps.

Ashcroft 3D printed circular knitting machine

My new machine arrived on 30th June.  Even in the packaging, it weighs less than 3kg.  I am glad I bought it before the price leapt up 33%.

The positive points are that it's light, it doesn't cost much, it runs clean without oil.

The cylinder revolves, rather than the camshell, but that took surprisingly little time to get used to.  The dilemma is trying to make a fair assessment of this machine without comparing it with antique metal machines (specifically, my 84-slot Cymbal).  Also one does need a fair amount of knowledge of the antique machines to be able to try all the capabilities that one ought to expect from a circular.

Time will tell.

Saving ears

First, check what type of facemasks you have bought!  These will only work with the loop behind the ears types  Guess how I found out?

Comfort doll called Pretty Izzy - another check - first check you have flesh coloured yarn for face!  She's a bit grey looking...

Dyed in the Wool

Finished my jumper composed of much of the remaining stuff in the attic. This blog site has changed! I can't find where to post the picture.

Okay, seem to have got it now.

The wool is nearly all Wensleydale, a spot of Shetland thrown in.  Jumper is top down, starting on 80 or 88 sts (forget which now).  Four equally spaced points of double increases or double decreases.  Should have made the increases K1kfb, k1, k1kfb, to better match the decreases which look like a double line.  I was too far into in when I realised - this handspun stuff is a beggar to undo.  The numbers went a bit adrift by the time I decided to split for sleeves.    I was worried that there wouldn't be enough stitches left at  base for the welts for my hips, because of the "length on the hypotenuse", so fudges the pickup row a bit,  I made the split lower than last time (Walnut 'n' Wensleydale), with the results that the sleeves were really too wide.  I also continued the sleeves a bit too far.  On the triangles to finish them, did decreases to take about a quarter of the width out, all on one row, to about 66 sts.  At wrist level, was left with 40 stitches, which was okay.

Some of the thick and thin bit have results in some lines wanting to pleat, but they should flatten out with time I think.

Old memories

I was brought up in Mansfield. The main market was a big feature, so I was pleased when I cam across this black and white sketch, dated 1971, and had it framed. It is from the viewpoint of the balcony outside the town hall, looking down on the merry-go-round. Tucked in the corner of it I have a coloured postcard, date unknown, but not very different from the sketch judging by the clothes and van. This time the photo is from the opposite side of the market. In the middle of the market square is the crumbling Bentinck Memorial, a Gothic eyesore, which probably prevented the market being enclosed. The stalls were packed very close together, and it was usually crowded of a Saturday. I made my first shirtwaister dress, shades of blue with large tipsy white squares, from one of the material stalls (ca. 1963?). Mum's favourite stall was the seconds from the hosiery factories. Dad like the fish stall, with expensive crab's claws, which took so long to prepare and irritated the dermatitis on his hands, but he thought worth it "it's a taste". Fruit and veg were dominated by a double length stall run by the Troop family. I was at school with one of the boys, who went to work on it later on. They were known as the market "leaders" for price setting (i.e. the other stall holders took their cue from them), and must have made a fortune. The front of the stall was always fresh-looking and inviting, with pyramids of items. Of course, they always served from the back! I just did a quick Google and am impressed to see they are still going strong as a business, now the fifth generation of them.

Another hat or two

Remains of the remains! All Drops Flora (wool 65%, alpaca 35%).

Wobbly venture out

Did a shop at the local Co-op, first time since 23rd March. The shop was quiet, but I was still very nervous. Just recording it here for future reading. Tried braided necklaces/hairbands. Original pattern (not mine) goes back at least ten years They employ knitting's natural curl, which is a good point. On Knitmaster, 9 sts, hole in middle every 6 rows. Ends then drawn through the holes. As they stretch, fastening by button and loop is needed, so button can be moved up later. Now trying to calculate the length needed for a belt, over 13 sts which is a much firmer piece of work.