Project Two: Capucine beanie

My latest new project has been a Capucine beanie for my sister. It is the first beanie I have knitted and I really enjoyed knitting it. It's also the first "real" project where I have knitted in the round (I have knitted some small camera/ereader cosies in the round, but nothing major). On top of all this I also made tassels for the first time, which was easier then expected. The icing on the cake it is my first project made with my new Knit Pro cubic interchangeable needles.

This was such a quick and easy knit. I completed the whole thing in about 4-5 hours. I also really enjoyed the yarn I used - Patons Inca. The colours turned out beautifully, though the yarn disappeared very quickly. I used almost 2 balls of the yarn (including tassels) I guess I should have expected that, considering each ball is only about 65m each, but it was still a bit of a surprise for me. The yarn also feels quite nice - smooshy and reasonably soft.

I have a feeling I will be making a few more of these for people I know, just because I loved making it so much. 

My cubic needles are also quite nice to knit with. It seems that my stitches are more uniform and even. I will definitely be considering getting some tips in other sizes as well and trying them with other projects.

In other project news my Dichotomy shawl is on hold for the time being, I am a little unhappy with the way it is turning out so I am planning on taking a break from it and trying a different shawl pattern instead.

Project One: Dichotomy Shawl

My first new project for the year is Dichotomy. I've never attempted a "large" project like this before, and had previously never considered knitting a shawl. To knit this I am using Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply cotton in Sky and Honeydew and my 4mm Knit Pick interchangeable needles.

I am really enjoying this project, it's reasonably simple - though I have had to learn increasing by making stitches to the left and right, as well as short rows, which I have read about, but never attempted. I also had my first attempt at a provisional cast on, the less said about my many attempts at that, the better.

My only concern is that the pattern is a little vague in some places, which makes it a bit harder to follow for a newish knitter. I have already frogged it once to try a different interpretation of it, and while I am still not a hundred percent sure that I am doing it right, I decided to keep going and see how it turns out.

I feel that as long as I am enjoying the process, then that is what matters.

Stripe One is now complete, 3 more to go.

New Year, New Knits.

I started knitting just over 2 years ago. I learnt the basics and essentially left it at that, happy to knit away the hours in squares of knit and purl and other minor variations thereof.

I still consider myself a beginner in the knitting world, and while I have a steadily increasing pile of WIPs waiting patiently for my attention again, I find myself wanting to start new things. However, after getting frustrated at running out of "new" and interesting things to knit within my comfort zone, I've decided that its time to step out and try new, more complicated and detailed projects.
 
It's my aim for this year to attempt new knitting projects, patterns and styles. I plan to undertake this by starting a new type of knit (even if it's only a small one) a month.

Part of this project will be a block-a-month blanket. I hope to create a small blanket made up a squares which are each knitted in a different knitting style/pattern.

The other part of the project will be to start (and hopefully finish) new projects throughout the year, knitting things that I previously hadn't considered knitting, whether because they looked too hard, or wasn't sure if they would get used or because I had just completely overlooked them as a potential project. 


For all I know this could be quite the ambitious project, but I'm looking forward to it. I hope that keeping a record of what I am starting and how I am going will encourage me to stick to it for the entire year.

Wish me luck!