August 2017
I finally got to see "The Play That Goes Wrong". I've wanted to see it since this Royal Variety Performance. I can't wait to look intently at my hand and mispronounce some words at people.
![the ply that goes wrong](1708/goeswrong.png)
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.
![ammonite cushion selection](1708/cushions.jpg)
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.
![borrower blanket](1708/blanket.jpg)
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.
![cowry shell notes](1708/cowry0.jpg)
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.
![cowry shell versions 1-4](1708/cowry1.jpg)
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.
![cowry shell version 4](1708/cowry2.jpg)
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...
![cowry shell version 4 inside out](1708/cowry3.jpg)
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.
![cowry shell version 5 with colour](1708/cowry4.jpg)
A couple more go-rounds later I think I'm finally getting there. I'm particularly happy with the serrated edges.
![cowry shell version x with serrated edge](1708/cowry5.jpg)
I am finding that it's a really hard shape to photograph, but that's a problem for after I've finished the pattern.
© 2017 All desgins and images are copyright of ODDknit. If you enjoy the content of this website, please consider buying me a coffee at the link below.