2018 in books (part two)

I've already mentioned my bookshelf here before.  When I first started knitting, I had a few books - which then grew to a few more.  This became a shelf, which then outgrew itself.

Last year I moved everything on to a bookshelf in the spare room.  However, because there was space on the shelf, I felt the need to fill it.  I made a list of all the books I bought in 2017 - and there were around 26; certainly more than one a month.  That doesn't include supplements sent with magazines.

So, this year - I set myself a challenge to curb my book buying habits, which I've totally fallen apart at, before realising how ridiculous I was being.  I've already mentioned the book Icelandic Handknits, bought when I went to Unravel.  It may be years before I knit any of the patterns in the book, but I've had great joy in reading about the history of handknitting in Iceland, and I know it's there when I want to go back to it.  The same is true of Victorian Lace Today  It may well be some time before I knit any of the projects in it, but I'm looking forward to reading about the history of Victorian lace knitting, and expanding my knitting knowledge. 

This morning, I piled up all the books I've bought so far this year - and they nearly reached my knee.  That's nearly-a-knee's worth of patterns, and history and techniques and gorgeous photos.  That's nearly-a-knee's worth of other people's ideas and solutions, which could easily give me inspiration for mine.  

Yes, I have knitting books on my Kindle too - but I'm old fashioned enough to want the paper and glue version to hold on to, and flick through.  At least three of these books have been signed, so not only am I collecting a knitting library, I've got a personal record of creative people that I admire.  Oh, and if you've ever tried reading a cable chart from a Kindle, you may also understand the love of paper! 

Cable Chart from The Knitters Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman

When I was a teenage, my mother forbade me having a clothing allowance, as I'd spend it all on books.  I think this is highly influential in my avoidance of clothes shopping as an adult, and possibly why these four arrived at the end of March....

Books bought from Brityarn - before it all closes down

So, what's in your knitting library ? 

Memories

My late grandmother, at her 90th birthday party

Whilst my grandmother was alive, she knitted me a scarf of scraps of yarn - all long and multicoloured, with tassels at the end.  At the time, I didn't realise what happens with garter stitch when you change colours (ie, you can see where the change happens) and I got rid of it.  I cannot tell you how much I now regret that decision.  (I'd also love to be able to get my hands on the pattern for the sweaters she knit us as kids).

In my time off, I've started knitting a memories blanket/sock yarn scrap blanket.  After doing some swatching, I decided that 50 was too few stitches for each square; 60 was too many.  As a kid, I remember my grandmother drilling into us that 7 x 8 = 56, after she had problems remembering it when she was a kid.  It's about one of the only multiplications I can easily remember, so of course it had to be the number of stitches I cast on for each square!

27th February 2018

I've been ripping along with it, and really happy at how it's going - until today, when I realised just how little I've actually completed, percentage wise.  The whole thing is due to be 280 squares in total; I've done less than a quarter of it so far.  I've also decided that I want each square to be different - although repetition of the same yarn is allowed.

2nd March 2018

There are some minis I have which are too similar to the squares which have already been knitted, so they're wrapped up, waiting to be used in a different part of the blanket.  I have enough full balls of sock yarn to carry me through the next three or four years, the scraps of which will be used in the blanket.  Until I have knitted some more socks, or bought some more minis, I feel that I've slowed down somewhat.  

9th March 2018

I did email somebody via Ravelry to see if she wanted to swap skeins (she didn't, as she has enough) and one of my friends is going to pass on any scraps of sock yarn she has left over, and occasionally lots come up on ebay, so there are ways to get the blanket finished, it's just likely to take longer than I was expecting.  Until then I'm going to carry on being as imaginative as I can in creating as many different mini skeins as possible, with the yarn I currently have. 

Oh, and the leftovers of the leftovers?  They're going to become another randomly striped scarf. 

Once Upon a Sock - March 2018

This morning started like this: 

West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4 ply in colourway 'Bubblegum' from the sweet shop range

Actually, I lie.  The morning started with Mr Knitty asking if I was awake, then doing the 'pinch and a punch' thing that always happens on the first of the month.  The day improved with tea and knitting.  You will notice that this isn't a sock.  They are one of a pair of baby boots, which I'm knitting, so that I can find out how much yarn it weighs.  

I've started a sock yarn/scrap yarn blanket.  It's been on the radar for a while, but I didn't have enough spare yarn to start anything worthwhile.  Now I've got lots of scraps, I'm 13 squares into a 280 square project.  I'm finding it real fun to work out where the squares should go, so there's not too much of one colour at a time, or that all dark colours are kept together.  Add to that the mixture of plain squares, mottled squares and striped squares, and it's a lovely project to keep me occupied.  I'm even weaving my ends in as I go! 

The current socks are going to end up as a short pair, as I've not got that much yarn left.  They accompanied me to the theatre last night (for the journey there and back, not for the show itself) and are probably feeling a bit neglected. 

Red toes = West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4 ply in colourway Cayenne Pepper from the spice rack range
Foot = Regia 4 ply Brazil in colourway 5478

Since I knit my socks concurrently, I have lots of pairs of balls which may be useful for making baby boots.  However, I need to make one boot to find out how much yarn each boot takes, to make sure that I have enough yarn left for the boots and to use for squares for the blanket - hence the knitting in bed this morning.  It seems a pretty easy pattern to follow - but it does have the increases on the purl rows, which is unusual.  Yesterday, Mr Knitty was trying to nudge up to me on the increase rows; today he was helping untangle a massive yarn barf, leaving me to increase without distraction. 

Two other things happened today - Isla from Brit Yarn announced that she was closing her business and the Sock Yarn Shop sent me their March newsletter.  Not that I've been making online purchases from either website - oh no.  Nor have I been working out what colours are missing in my scrap blanket and buying new sock yarn accordingly.  That's not the kind of thing I'd do at all! 

There will be more sock knitting between now and 3rd April, and hopefully I'll remember to join in once upon a sock again!  I'm going to set a reminder, just in case. 

Joining in with: 

Kat at Felinity Knits
Steph at My Making Do Adventure
Kathy B at Compassionknit
Stephanie at Stefanie Crafts with Wool Paper Fabric
Katherine at Fiber and Sustenance
Paula at Spin a Yarn