August 2017

Incidentally the first jumper I knitted definitely looks like this. I figured I could still wear and enjoy a jumper that was on the large side so I didn't even try to make it fit.

28/08/2017

Hello Internet

I've been doing a lot of knitting this month, but it doesn't really count unless I write about it so this is going to be a big, all in one, update of what's being worked on.

First up I'm back to knitting ammonite cushions for an art fair in September. I might even get around to putting the spares up on my Etsy page, which I've had for years but never actually stocked up properly.

Next I've been working on some more giant yarn, which I'm slowly but surely knitting into a borrower blanket. I've not spent £20 on materials yet, thanks to some inherited stash items and a bit of savvy shopping. It is taking a lot of knitting time but unlike most things I make I can do it while watching subtitled TV shows.

Finally I've been working on this months pattern, the cowry shell. Boy. I had forgotten just how much of a struggle curved, 3D shapes could be. They're at the point where modelling the shape with maths is more trouble than trial and error, so I've been erroring a LOT.

I did do a bit of working out by sketching the shapes and working out the size ratios of middle curvy bit to edge curvy bit. Then I worked out what number of short rows would theoretically give me that ratio.

Four attempts down and I felt I'd hit a bit of a road block. It was really hard to tell what was working better as none of the curves were holding their shapes.

By the way, if you're wondering how I tell the extremely similar white blobs apart I tie one knot in the tail of version one, two knots in the tail of version two, etc.

Here's a cowry shell (v4) held down in position so you can tell the knitting is sort of making the shape it's supposed to.

It was literally as I was taking this photo and moaning to myself that the knitting kept trying to curve the wrong way that I realised. Turn the knitting inside out Jessica. I did and well...

That worked much better.

Confident now that I was on the right track I tried adding a second layer to the shape to give the shell some colour.

A couple more go-rounds later I think I'm finally getting there. I'm particularly happy with the serrated edges.

I am finding that it's a really hard shape to photograph, but that's a problem for after I've finished the pattern.