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.

Explaining the geek code

So what does the code mean? I read this Knitty article, which describes how to summarise your knitting preferences in a computer type code. The letters relate to particular knitting attributes such as techniques or materials, and the plus or minus signs indicate a liking or aversion with the number of signs showing the strength of feeling.

Type of knitter

• KCR+++
  I am an obsessive right handed knitter who knits in the continental style. Knitting is taking over my life.


• Exp+
  I've been knitting for just over a year, and consider myself an intermediate knitter


• SPM+
  My stitches per minute speed is respectable, especially on the knit stitch

Needles

• Addi++ Den Steel- Bam+ Brittany++ Rose Cas?
  I love Addi Turbos, and buy them for new projects. I'm amassing a collection, but they're too expensive to buy the whole lot in one go.
  I also like Denise interchangeables for their ability to give you just the size you need, and the fact that you can increase or decrease the length of the needle mid-project.
  I don't get on well with regular steel needles. I find them cold, heavy and hard on the hands.
  I like bamboo needles with slippery yarns, and I love the tiny Brittany birch needles for socks.
  I have a couple of pairs of rosewood needles. I like their beautiful polished surface, but they are a bit heavy and chip easily. I probably won't buy more.
  I've never tried casein needles, but I'm curious. Seems kind of weird, but I'm ready to give it a go.
  

Yarn

• Stash +++
  OK, I have way too much yarn. My stash is overflowing. I don't have a LYS, but make up for it buying masses online. I'm looking to extend my stash into my sister's apartment... Buying yarn is therapy.


• Wool+++
  What's not to like about wool? It's warm, soft, smells good, elastic, easy on the hands, durable, it comes from cute sheep in a million different colours.


• Lux++
  I like a little luxury in my stash, and have camel, alpaca, silk and cashmere. I'd love some yak, musk ox and quiviut, but haven't found it yet.


• Hemp?
  Curious about hemp, but it's quite expensive so haven't dived in yet.


• Cot
  Cotton has it's place. Not my favourite fibre, but good for certain projects.


• Nov--
  Novelty- I really don't like eyelash or chenille yarns. I'm not averse to a little texture or glitter, but all in moderation, and linked to a natural fibre.


• Syn-
  Yes, I am a fibre snob. Again, I can take some polyester or nylon in a blend for durability, but it's got to be a minimum of 50% natural fibre, preferably 100%! Ok, I could live with the odd glitter thread.

Techniques

• Scale+
  I like a mixture of smaller and larger projects. It's satisfying to finish the small ones, but there are some gorgeous sweater patterns I want to make.


• Fin-(-)
  I abhor seaming, and will do almost anything to adapt a pattern to knit it in the round. I'm OK at various cast on/offs, and matched increases and decreases though. I just want the project to be finished when I finish knitting. I'm not here to sew.


• Ent?
  Entrelac left me cold, until I saw a pattern for a lovely cushion in this month's Simply Knitting. It's gone on the wish list, but I haven't tried it yet.


• FI
  Fair isle is ok in moderation if I want a particular effect


• Int-
  I'm scared of intarsia


• Tex+
  Texture is great. Cables are the knitter's best kept secret - so easy, but so impressive.


• Lace
  I like the thought of lace projects, but somehow never seem to follow through. My amazing lace project from last summer is still languishing. Too complicated. Doesn't stop me buying aspirational laceweight wool though.


• Felt+@
  I like felting, and am particularly pleased with my Noro bag. I think this particular interest may ebb and flow, hence the @ sign - not a particularly fixed interest


• Circ+++
  Circular knitting - definitely! Will adapt patterns to do this. Never steeked, but can't be far off.


• Flat-
  Some things have to be done in the flat, but I'm not a purl fan.


• C2N 5DPN ML-
  Small diameter circular knitting - I use two circular needles for sleeves, and 5 DPNs for socks. I tried magic loop but found it awkward.

General

• Swatch-
  A necessary evil



• KIP+
  Knitting in public - on trains, on platforms, in pubs - yes!

Blog +
Well you know about that one!


• SNB++
  I love my SnB group, and they've become good friends



• EZ
  Elizabeth Zimmerman - I like her style and have two of her books. I agree with her about the purl stitch. Haven't really tackled her patterns yet though.



• FO +
  Not bad, list is in the sidebar



• WIP +
  Lots of work in progress. I like to have different projects on the go at the same time.



• UFO +
  Even more of these!



• Gauge W
  I like knitting worsted best, as it grows quickly but the finished objects don't look like speed knits.

Well, that's a pretty comprehensive list of my knitting habits. Hard to believe all that can be compressed into the few lines of code; I think it's quite a fun trick.

Knitter's geek code

----BEGIN KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK---
version 1.1
KCR+++ Exp+ SPM+ Addi++ Den Steel- Bam+ Brittany++ Rose Cas?
Stash +++ Wool+++ Lux++ Hemp? Cot Nov-- Syn-
Scale+ Fin-(-) Ent? FI Int- Tex+ Lace Felt+@ Circ+++ Flat- C2N 5DPN ML-
Swatch- KIP+ Blog + SNB++ EZ FO + WIP + UFO + Gauge W
---END KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK---

Well, what does that mean? All will be revealed.

A mohair shawl

Having started the scarf for my mother, every time I mentioned it she said, "That's nice, how are you getting on with my shawl?" I took the hint, and cast on for the lacy mohair shawl I had promised her. It's made with a Sirdar 50% kid mohair/ 50% polyester blend, and is a simple garter stitch triangle on huge needles. My DH calls them the girders. Although knitting with them for long periods hurts my wrists, I was able to complete the shawl and hand it over today. It was very well received, and is modelled here by the recipient.

The scarf is nearly done too, and I gave it a test fit today. I'm going to make it a little longer than I would normally wear it.

The first simple stocking stitch sock is done, and I've finished the ribbing of the second one.
The Finn wool jumper continues to haunt me.

Stash monitoring

Quick spot check on the stash

New additions:
1000g Rowan Plaid - special offer, discontinued, couldn't resist
125g lace weight mohair
400g Artyarns merino
150g Mum's scarf yarn
800g variegated yarn

Total in: 2475g

Used or sold:
225g variegated alpaca/wool blend for Wicked
800g sold on ebay
100g kid mohair shawl

Total out: 1125g

Net: +1350g
Previous increase was +1800g
Year to date: +3150g
So the stash is still growing, albeit at a slower pace

I sold yarn on ebay for the first time. It wasn't particularly difficult, although more hassle than buying. It didn't raise much cash, but it's liberating to not feel guilty looking at yarns I know I won't use. It also creates more space!