Sahara body

I've mostly been working on Sahara, and have got to the point where the body is knitted in the round. Although it's knitted top down, trying it on is misleading because there's a gaping hole in the front. I had bought some sparkly yarn for the neckline, but it now looks too much combined with the variegated yarn, so I think I will use the main yarn throughout.



The only modification I've made so far is to eliminate one set of waist decreases and to join the front marginally earlier.

Not much progress on seaming Sunrise Circle. I've only managed one raglan seam. The yarn isn't good for seaming, as it keeps breaking under tension, but I haven't got anything else in a similar colour, so I'll probably keep going.



It's heating up again, with a scorcher predicted for this weekend, so I'm quite pleased to have made an early start on the summer knitting.

Starting Sahara

I've made a start on the latest SKC project, Sahara. I'm using some Lana Grossa from stash for it. Not sure about the striping and the yarn tangles dreadfully, but I'm persevering. It also looks very small, but it is stretchy.



I blocked the pieces of sunrise circle, and they definitely are flatter and better behaved. No excuse not to get on with the making up then...

The sunrise circle jacket is moving along well. I've finished the second side, although the novelty of the pattern wore off a bit by then. Nearly finished the back too. The pieces have curled like crazy, so I think I'll have to block them before sewing up.



I've started a summer bag in Sirdar Spree. This is a heavy chunky cotton, which has many plies and is quite splitty. I had thought it would make a summer top, but it's much too heavy. The weight is good for a bag though. I'm pleased with the distribution of the variegated colour.

I bought a flower loom, which is similar to the one I had as a child, but slightly more sophisticated as you can make double sided flowers.

Moss stitch scarf

My mother's scarf is finished, and is ready to post to her. The shawl I gave her last week was taken out for dinner the same day, so obviously went down well. Apologies for the headless mother shot to those of a nervous disposition - I haven't quite worked out how to blur part of a photo in my software.

With two gifts out of the way, I started the Sunrise Circle jacket that has been beckoning to me for months. I'm really intrigued by the circular shaping on this jacket, and like it so much that for once I am happy to knit a garment in flat pieces. I read up on the Sunrise Circle KAL before I started, so knew that I should start by knitting a front rather than the back. I swatched with trepidation, as I had read that some people struggled with the row gauge. To my surprise, mine was spot on. I think the issue could be how the yarn is substituted. I am using Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed which looks like it has a very similar texture and weight to the pattern yarn, Karabella Tweed. I think I would have got a different result with a softer, more lofty yarn. I like working with the Aran Tweed. Although it feels rough on the ball, it's not hard on the hands, and produces a strong, dense fabric.


DH is convinced I am knitting an elephant.