I had an exciting parcel pushed through my letter box yesterday morning. I'd ordered some new knitting needles from a seller on eBay; 9mm bamboo DPNs and 16" circular, for the express purpose of knitting the Free Rapunzel! hat from Tiny Owl Knits, which was added to my YoP list earlier in the year.
I've had the yarn in my stash for a while, having bought four balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky from a friend who was destashing back in August.
I resisted all morning, but as soon as I found myself sitting down on the sofa to watch the Barbarians rugby game yesterday afternoon, I couldn't resist digging the yarn out and getting started!
Lots of firsts for me in this pattern:
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| First time knitting cables - I didn't have a cable needle so I used one of the DPNs instead, which mostly worked ok |
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| First time picking up stitches to knit |
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| First time knitting stockinette in the round |
Switching to the DPNs was tricky, as I had to keep moving the stitches about to get the crown decreases in the right place and prevent my stitch markers from falling off the ends. I did the cable band while watching rugby, and accompanied the lovely stockinette portion (have I mentioned how much I loved knitting stockinette in the round?) with two episodes of The Walking Dead season 2. I would have stayed up all night to knit the braids too, but having arranged to go out for a tromp around the countryside this morning, I decided to leave it till later.
I ran out of yarn from my first ball while in the middle of my decreases, so I used the magic knot tutorial that Evelyn linked to the other day to join my second ball. Genius! It worked like a dream.
I'll be back tomorrow with the photos from my countryside tromp - there were herds of alpacas!
Nice job on the hat. That yarn looks very soft and warm.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.....I think my last comment got eaten. Just wanted to let you know it looks great. Sorry if it's a double post.
ReplyDeleteLove it, what an amazing pattern. Wish I was a better knitter, but I think my skills would seriously be stretched with that! The debbie bliss looks lovely and sheeny......look forward to seeing it done!
ReplyDeleteThe magic knot thing sounds interesting, I will check it out.
I understand the not being able to resist when you have yummy yarn calling out to you. lol It's looking great.
ReplyDeleteWhen I do hats (which is a lot- they're some of my favorites) I either put my k2tog decreases at the beginning of the DPN sts or use magic loop on the circular all the way to the end, which is so much easier. It's not as difficult as it sounds, and it gets rid of all of the struggles you have with the DPN's.
ReplyDeleteLovely yarn and hat. I tend to make my stitch marker placements occur between two dpns and don't bother using stitch markers, the needlke change acts as the marker.
ReplyDeleteGet you with all the new skills ;) The cable looks great (and frankly a DPN is a perfectly effective cable needle - a pencil also works in a pinch!) Love the yarn, I bet it'll be a gorgeously snuggly hat!
ReplyDeleteBrave girl - dpn's give me the willies !! I love the look of that chunky yarn - so squishy looking. Look forward to seeing it finished.
ReplyDeleteI have cable needles but I never use them. I just use a DPN (usually a size larger to keep it from slipping). Hat looks great. Lovely cable band!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is all pretty amazing for first time AND while watching tv!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill to receive shiny, unused needles! That Cash is so deliciously earthy. You're a fine job on that project.
ReplyDeleteAre you using the safety pin like stitch markers?