My latest knitting project is from a modern pattern, the first I have purchased for several years. It is Peter Gregory designs for knitting 685 with a link to www.ukhandknitting.com on the cover. There is an interesting blog on this website, which is currently being reconstructed.
I have substituted WonderSoft by Stylecraft baby double knitting as it was the only suitable yarn I could find locally.
Knitting the smallest size of bootees allowed me to practise the lacy pattern. (I find lace knitting is the most difficult. This pattern maintains a constant number of stitches on each row. Some patterns, where the number of stitches increases on one row and decrease on another, are even more difficult.)
Bootees
I am now knitting the coat, which requires 235 stitches for the largest size.
Although I have been a lifelong knitter, I still have difficulty counting stitches. I count the stitches I have just cast on two or three times and arrive at a different total each time! For this project I am using a circular needle and knitting backwards and forwards. I realised that I could reduce the number of stitches I need to count all at once by dividing up the work using safety pins. I used a safety pin after each 100 stitches, but it would be easier to use one every 50 stitches.
I am also checking that each pattern row is correct as I go along. Usually I press on regardless and then having to unpick (frog) inches of knitting!
Bonnet front view
This pattern gives four sizes for a dress and a coat and two sizes for the bonnet and bootees.
Bonnet side view
I managed to reach a straightforward section of the coat, where the pattern is similar to the sides of the bonnet, so that I could knit at craft group without making lots of mistakes.
How often do you think, why ever didn’t I think of that before?
