I found a pattern that I fancied. It would help lower my yarn mountain.
The item I chose was worked in one piece, using two yarns and two different sizes of double ended needles.
I needed to work out the pattern. My double ended needles are fine and 30 cms long. Remember I am practising this new pattern…
I have my needles, the yarn and the printed pattern with the picture of what I am trying to achieve…. It has no seams, in other words worked in the round.
It begins:
Using double ended needles, cast on six stitches. There is a reminder to keep all the stitches right way up. So that sounds like I should have two stitches on each of three double ended needles, with the fourth waiting to begin working the next row.
Row one: Knit.
Al-right, go ahead and laugh. Long arms. Long needles. Six stitches. I felt like I was back in Primary school learning to knit all over again. I was trying to knit in the round and it was proving ridiculous. The shops were closed, so there was no point in going out to purchase a shorter set.
Feelings of frustration were hovering about, so I decided to down the needles and make a cup of coffee. Having something to nibble on, always helped with the thinking… so I opened the pantry door.
Bingo!
I found an answer, even if only temporary.
A tube of cocktail sticks!
Stop laughing, you will make yourself sick. If my brother taught himself to knit (as I struggled) with two wooden skewers from the butchers, and a ball of twine, then I can do it with cocktail sticks!
I filed down the sharp points when coffee time was over and went back to work. It helped, but as Fagin sang…
I think I’d better thing it out again!
UPDATE 22:50 hrs
Knitting with cocktail sticks. The little red item is a stitch marker, only there to give you an idea of size. At this stage there are 36 stitches in total, spread over three needles
Not perfect, but I know where I am going!
What are you drinking with that coffee… you’re starting to sound like a Knotty Knitter.
Good strong coffee was the order of the day.
Brighid, whatever about being a Knotty Knitter, I was more of a Holey knitter. No need for lacy patterns, I somehow never managed to have the same number of stitches on every row! 🙁 That was back in the day when twenty stitches seemed a H U G E number!
As a member of the Knotty Knitters, in dementia, aah I forgot what I was going to say… Oh, I still don’t have the same number of stitches on every row.
Dear Knotty Knitter,
I have been busy growing stitches, I began with six stitches and now I have thirty six! Check out my update above for pixtures!
Hugs,
Holey Knitter GM.
Can’t wait to see the end result.
I thought you were going to say you used chopsticks.
Nancy, I forgot. I have chopsticks, the genuine article, a gift all the way from Japan. I remember at one stage, using string and pencils (the closest thing at hand), to follow someone on the telly, showing how to do a new stitch. That was yonks ago…. I have been without TV for sixteen years.
Glad you are good at knitting. That’s something I don’t have the patience for.
Gigi, Once I got over my difficulty of dropping stitches, I never looked back.
For most of her life my mother has knitted socks for her family and people she likes. Years ago when she was in the hospital with cancer she tried to teach me how to knit. I failed miserably, I’m sorry I can’t help you.
I have been busy, check out the update above.
My one attempt at knitting socks was back in my school days. My brother wore them inside his wellingtons, where they would not be seen! 🙁
You are braver than I. I never did conquer socks, I’m a dyslexic knitter, but I keep on ;-0. The grandkids are sweeping up my piles of yarn this year, making and selling cute hats.
Celia, one pair of socks does not an empire make. I stopped after the one pair. I have suddenly become interested in scarves, in recent months, I made four. Not I am on a different track.
You inspire me to get going.
Good!
I really, really, really, don’t know what you’re knitting. And I don’t think I want to know. 😀
XO
WWW
WWW, if I manage to finish it, you will be surprised. No time for it yet today, far to busy right now, playing with Buffy.
Gloves, Grannymar? I am very curious, and love the idea of cocktail stick knitting…
Cathy, I have finally finished this mystery item. I have been away from home with little time to blog, I hope to have have photos during the next few days.
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