Hestia's.....knitting projekt is FINISHED

So, it came to pass that I was given Glamour Knits by Erika Knight as a Christmas present.  Given that I never seem to finish ANY craft projects, I suspect that this gift was given in Hope more than Expectation.

My knitting chums are not easily deterred though, and before I knew where I was, wool was selected, the number of balls specified, new knitting needles purchased and I BEGAN to knit!!!!

Sure, there were a couple of false starts - mainly caused by the fact that I need grammatically correct and properly punctuated knitting patterns or else I just interpret it, in the manner of modern dance.

Above is my first picture - dated 15 January - that shows my initial efforts.  Oh yes, I also discovered that I don't actually KNOW how to knit properly.  I was taught to knit as a shiny-faced primary-schooler by Auntie Chrissie who helped me ingest several packets of Capstan Full Strength as she patiently tried to show a left-handed person how to knit.  Clearly I didn't take it all in.



Anyway, the resulting wonky stitches have a pleasing twisted effect to them, so I decided to just knit that way for the whole pattern.

By the time the final episode of Sherlock came on, I was fairly fleeing up and down the needles.

'Can you measure my knitting for me, honey,' I asks Sonshine. 'It's to be 66" long before I start knitting the other bit of rib for the opposite cuff.'

Happy to be included, but equally engrossed in Sherlock, Sonshine measured.  'It's....well, you've got another 6" to go, mum." he said, snapping his tape-measure back into its casing.

That, reader, was my first BIG mistake.

Sherlock finished and Sonshine scarpered up to bed.  I diligently knitted on and on and on.

I stretched it out, surely to God, that MUST be about 66, I mused to myself.  I laid it out on the floor.
SEVENTY SEVEN INCHES!!! Seventy SEVEN!!!  I measured back to where 66 inches was.  You've guessed it.  Exactly where I was before I started watching Sherlock.

Ripping back knitting is soul-destroying, isn't it?

Ripped back and the ribbing started

the amount of wool I had to rip back - there was weeping and profanity, let me assure you

I chided him about it in the morning before he left for school.  'Hey, you told me I had loads to knit last night and when I knat it, it turned out that I had knat WAY too much.  You measured it wrong.'

He pulled on his jacket thoughtfully.  'Actually, it's your fault for making me MEASURE and DO SUMS in that old way of counting.'

Well, I cannot deny that metrification has left me behind.  I have never made the leap from inches and pounds to centimetres and grams.  Perhaps that's why my baking is a bit hit and miss too.

Aaaanyyyyway, I needed to sew up the sleeves - so that necessitated the purchase of darning needles and a sojourn in the kitchen sewing up in my own inimitable fashion.  I suspect that the first time I wash my shrug, it will become a poncho.  Sewing isn't my strong suit either.  Surprised? No, I thought not.

Sleeves sewn up, I needed a circular needle.  Reader - there was not a circular needle to be had - even in the island's charity shops!  Karen at the bookshop offered to pick one up for me when she went up to Glasgow at the weekend.

This meant leaving my knitting alone for approximately 4 days.  This was clearly the Danger zone.  Once in possession of the needle, would I bother to finish it?  Or would it just be relegated to The Craft Drawer?

The following Tuesday, Karen dolefully informed me that a 7mm circ was not to be had in the knitting shop beneath her Glasgow flat.  There was nothing else for it - I would need to order on line.  Which I did.

I didn't realise that not only were there circular needles, but you get to choose the length of plastic that keeps them both attached.  After a frantic consultation with my Knitting Mavens on facebook - we opted for a 70mm length.

I ordered two - the meerkat's mother had been inspired to also take up the knitting cudgels again and joined me in creating a shrug of her own, so I ordered her a set too.  I know.  Thoughtful.

They arrived within a couple of days and I could not WAIT to get started - although I had not knitted on circular needles before.  Viv, one of the knitting mavens, pointed me in the direction of Youtyoob and knitting tutorials.  Who KNEW there were actually instructional videos on there and not just clips of sleepy baby rabbits?

And so I pushed off from shore in my unsteady knitting canoe, nervously picking up stitches, nervously  joining my knitting so that it was a huuuuuuge tube of plain and purl stitches.....and so I paddled my way around the knitting on circular needles.  And, so, dear Reader, it started to come together....to draw towards completion.

Look, I am CASTING OFF!!!!  The finish line is in SIGHT!

I became quite nervous as I slipped off the last stitch and carefully sewed in the loose tails of yarn into the knitting.  Would it fit?  Would it be something that I'd actually wear?

Saturday, 4 February 2012 

I finished my KNITTING PROJEKT!!

And without further ado - here is is, modeled by me because Sonshine couldn't stand the shame.

Giselle Bunchen and you other super models - look to your laurels.  I WILL get out of bed for less than a tenner an hour.

Please ignore the pile of washing on the stairs, David Bailey wasn't available to take the shots this morning.

The sense of achievement is AMAZING!!!  I am so pleased with myself, I'm like a dog with two dicks.

I may yet finish knitting my socks......

Tell me about a project that YOU'VE decided to complete in 2012!