My hat is growing! (although, as everything in my life there is a story attached to that....) But photos's first!
Excited? Pleased? Proud as Punch? Moi?
or
just amazed that' I-did-that'??
Yeah - that one
(and the others if I am truthful!)
And the story? Well, the pattern said that I needed to start with a 4mm x 40cm circular needle then when the diameter of the hat starts to decrease to change down to 4 x 4mm dpns.
Well in my meagre beginner's kit I have the 4mm circular needle but it is 60 cm long (being a novice - I thought nothing of that 10cm length difference) and no dpns. No worries.
I set off (no - I cast on!) *note to self - must use correct terminology*
I cast on and carefully got on with doing the ribbing then with increasing confidence went onto the stockinette rows, then joy of rather nervous joys - started the basic fairisle - so far so good. The only issue - but not insurmountable - was the excess nylon line on the circular needles getting in the way.Then I started the decreasing, loving the line being created, the diameter of the knitting getting smaller and the loop of the circular needles appearing to get larger.... hmmm.
I battled on, enjoying the challenge and loving the knitting but the circular needles by now were definitely far far too long. Then quite late in the evening,I TAPped a friend (Texted A Friend) to see if she had any 4mm dpns and she almost instantly appeared at my door with her whole collection (without a single dpn in sight never mind a 4mm one [or two,three preferably 4])
Never mind I thought, I rattled around my collection and found an old pair of 4mm and removed the ends, a crochet hook - size 4mm and with the circular needles, got stuck in!
I was like Edward Scissorhands meets Yarn Harlot - the horror movie verson.
Umm...I finished my hat.... stared at it. Himself looked at it. We looked at each other....I ripped it back down several rows.
My beloved sister in law is lending my some 4mm dpns. I will prevail (sigh).
knitting in the round is fun. I don't like seams!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of circular needles, it seems to affect the stitches where it is going from thick needle to thin plastic and back.
Also I lose my place!!
I'm the opposite - I love getting new needles and any excuse ;) The hat's looking great! Lots of new skills! Don't you love learning new stuff? (Even when the cost is a bit of ripping back...) And I'm with gz above - hate seams. Well done!
ReplyDeleteJane x
PS Why am I always ticking "sat with a brew"? :D
ReplyDeleteHat is looking great. I think I have worked out what dpn means - double pointed needle????? When I was in my knitting mode over 25 years ago I never used a dpn. Hope to see the hat in the flesh tonight! It is so cold today that you might even be wearing it, even if it is not quite finished!
ReplyDeleteThe hat is so pretty! You made me giggle while I read this--I like to improvise things too. DPN's are a necessary evil.
ReplyDeleteNow you've mastered or should i say, are mastering the using off dpns, I think you should definitely move on to knitting socks. They're great fun to do!
ReplyDeletenot being a knitter (still on my list of things to learn!) all of the technical terms flew right over my head, but you do have a very yummy hat :)x
ReplyDelete