HRYC
Blocking all the knitted things.
Spring feels much closer after the crazy weather we've had in the past week. A thunder and lightning storm so crazy we lost power, and then a second storm yesterday (although that one restrained itself to just wind and rain).
Our very ambient lighting thanks to stormy weather...complete with Evie Kemp zombie cat.
Today has turned out to be a beautiful Spring day. Perfect for soaking a bunch of items desperate to be blocked.
Aside from this lot, there's another two cardigans, two baby blankets and another shawl to go through the same process. I seem to be a real tutorial buzz at the moment (not that you can tell, as I haven't published any yet), so i'll do my best to whip up a couple quick 'how to block your stuff' posts.
Blocking isn't hard, although it can be a bit annoying. And there's something to do with having to wash woollens separately to everything else that sees my hand knits languish in the laundry basket for months. Doing a whole lot in one go makes the process a bit more enjoyable and whole lot more rewarding...and then I go back to feeling guilty about it in another six months' time when the laundry basket is full of knitted things again.
Do you have any handy blocking tips that I might throw into a tutorial? I'd love to hear them!
Simple Spring Patterns - new knitters ahoy!
The number of people taking up the needles is noticeably increasing - lots of my personal friends have been inspired of late, which fills me with joy. It means i'm on the hunt for patterns that are beautiful finished objects and feature just one or two techniques that are challenging enough to keep a new knitter interested but not so hard that they throw their work in the corner in frustration.
Here's a bunch of easy going projects that are perfect to transition into warmer weather knitting.
Mira's Cowl - a drapey 4 ply cowl that will be lovely to throw over your head on a summer evening
Easy Peasy Newborn Sock Hat - cuteness!
Terribly Simple by Caitlin Ffrench - seriously, awesomely simple but a great shape and you can use any yarn your heart desires.
Carol Feller's Adrift: besides the fact I LOVE this colour, this is a good foray into a simple garment. In fact, I might just make one. Going by the projects on Ravelry it looks like people have used 4ply yarn with no modifications with success.
Do any of my tried and true knitters have any simple pattern suggestions for our newbies?
