This week I have NOT been “monogamous” with my crafts, let alone my knitting projects! In fact, I’ve had EVERYTHING out in a kind of crafty party for one. My husband was away for a few days, my parents had sent me an entire box of delicious-but-disgusting chocolate treats, I was feeling under the weather, and it was COLD outside, so I’m afraid I took maximum advantage of all these things and had some very indulgent, chocolate-fueled craft time.
So- I learned to crochet. Finally! At the weekend, me and some yarn-loving friends went to the Alt Om Håndarbejde Messe (or the “Everything about Craft” Fair) here in Copenhagen. It was, no exaggeration, like we’d died and gone to yarn heaven. I’ll talk about it more in a separate post, but one of the yarnie offers we couldn’t refuse was a deal on Hoooked Zpagetti yarn. If you havn’t seen this stuff, it’s made out of thick jersey fabric, and it’s mostly used for creating home items like baskets, cushion covers, mats and more.
Despite not knowing how to crochet, I resolved that I would get onto Youtube and find out, because this yarn was just too fabulous not to make a crazy mat with. So that’s exactly what I did- it took a LOT of false starts, but now it’s well on the way :)
I’ve also been working a lot on my Flax sweater by Tin Can Knits- a top down raglan construction with garter stitch detailing. I’m really enjoying working on this- so much so that I made my husband take this happy knitter photo. The yarn holder is included because otherwise it would be rolling after me on the floor as the yarn is still very much attached to the body!
I’ve also started a new project using the Shetland/British wool blend that I finished spinning last week. The yarn is sooo soft and I love the cloudy colours so much, I wanted to find a lace pattern that would do it justice. I came across this “little pinecones” pattern in my stitch dictionary, and now I’m in love. I certainly don’t have enough spun up to make a whole scarf, but perhaps enough for a cowl, we’ll see.
My new spinning project carries on from the Shetland blend handspun quite nicely, as it’s a similar natural colour but a different fiber. This is some carded and scoured Gotland wool, which is one of the natural local fibres that I bought from the wool fair last Christmas. It’s so easy to spin with some of the natural lanolin left in, and though I’m having to pick out the odd burr or bit of vegetation, I’m enjoying that that in itself is part of the process of turning the fibre into a lovely yarn. Gotland wool is a soft and silvery grey, so silvery that it was the perfect choice for creating the otherworldly cloaks worn by the elves in the Lord of the Rings films. I think I’ll settle for elvish mittens though :)
The very last thing I have to show you this week is….a finished sock! This is the first of my Spring Socks- made to my old trusty afterthought heel pattern- and sock no.2 is about halfway to completion. The socks I made last year, which I’ve been wearing on pretty much constant rotation this winter, have kept my toes cosy, but I reckon more socks are always a good idea to have in the project bag.
Happy knitting, wherever your yarn takes you!
Rosie x
All these lovely things you’re making with your nimble knitting-and-now-crocheting fingers! :) ♥ <3