Tag Archives: tip

From fibre to cowl, and spinning gradient yarn

From fibre to cowl

In the first few episodes of the Give Me A Crown podcast I’ve spoken about the process of spinning this merino fibre and knitting it in to a cowl.  This post will go in to more depth about the steps as I took photos along the way (in various lighting conditions so please forgive the quality of the shots), and I’ll explain the moment of clarity that I had about ways to spin gradient yarn for one-skein projects to maintain the gradient. Continue reading

How to start a sock yarn blanket

How to start a sock yarn blanketAfter watching many knitting podcasters show their sock yarn blankets growing over time, three months ago I decided to cast one on.  It’s still a very small corner of a blanket but each time I use sock-weight yarn I look forward to adding another square (and I might have broken in to a few fresh yarn balls just to be able to work on it).

My intentions are to let it grow with time, no particular rush, perhaps in a year’s time I’ll have a lap blanket and a few years later it will be larger still. I find it a relaxing item to work on in between projects where I can let the needles do their thing while I ponder what I want to cast on next.

For anyone considering casting on a sock yarn blanket, I wanted to provide some tips to think about as you get started. It can be an addictive project to work on, but without planning it may mean the difference between a finished beauty or a project bag hidden in a cupboard with a few lonely squares. Continue reading

My first taller knit socks and the need for calf increase

Tall knit socks and the need for calf increases

I’m working on a slow-knitting top at the moment with a yarn that is a touch on the harsh side (but will soften up after washing) so, to alternate with a softer project, I cast on a pair of plain socks with a ball of Austermann Step self-patterning sock yarn. The yarn is easy on the hands and contains Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil, and while my colour choice was a little odd, it was a dream to knit with. Continue reading