So, first project plucked from the archives is in honour of the fact that it is my mum's birthday today *waves at mum* This is the scarf I knitted her for Christmas last year:
Now, this was the second thing I ever cast on (and the third thing that I finished - I started on multiple WIPs early!) I would not recommend eyelash yarn on small needles as an early project - I had a terrible time with it *laughs* My tension was all over the place, finding what was a stitch and what was fuzz was a challenge and it seemed to take forever. Having said that, it is a functional scarf.
This picture represents my first attempt at using DPNs. I made these (I did make a pair, I just never photographed both of them together) just before Christmas last year and was pretty damn proud of myself. Took a while to get used to the fact that I felt like I was wrangling an unwieldy game of pick up sticks, but they came out perfectly, if I do say so myself *laughs*
Quick edit to add: a few people have asked for the pattern for these... I actually just made it up as I went along. The yarn is Sirdar Crofter, which self patterned beautifully. I just did some ribbing, stocking stitch, stopped working in the round for the thumb hole, couple of rows of reverse stocking stitch before regular stocking and more ribbing.
And finally, for this week anyway, my very first attempt at a garment. Looks successful, right? Well, it kind of is... I didn't know a whole lot about gauge when I started, so early on it was clear that the sizing was off. Rather than start again, I just added some random (and I do mean random!) increases in the body and then blocked it to within an inch of its life *laughs*
It's not remotely similar to the pattern, but hey, it's pretty cute ;)
Next week (I'm certain I won't have an FO again with a busy weekend coming up!) join me for less successful, never to be finished items ;)
For actual, current finished objects head on over to see Tami. And for other fibrey and creative loveliness it's Natural Suburbia and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.
Oh I love your FO's! But the fingerless gloves are definitely my fav, what pattern did you use.
ReplyDeleteAnother favourite of the fingerless gloves. The colour is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThose fingerless gloves are gorgeous! I'm not at all new to knitting, but DPN's still scare me.
ReplyDeleteLove your fingerless gloves! I agree, DPN's are definitely like unwieldy pick up sticks!
ReplyDeleteHaving only just picked up DPNs for the first time yesterday, I applaud your bravery in trying them out so early on in your knitting career!
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the pick up sticks.. hey, I wonder what size my wooden pick up sticks are! I could knit with those!
Great projects! Yes, one of my earlier projects involved the fun yarn too. Why is it we torture ourselves with it? The sweater/shrug is adorable. I know what you mean about not wanting to tear out.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see how you progressed! I love the fingerless gloves. I really need to make myself a felted pair before it gets much colder here! XXO-
ReplyDeleteI made dozens of fingerless gloves last year learning how to use dpn's! I just finished my socks with dpn's so now I have to clean my home!
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You must have been a knitter in a previous life because everything you knit looks great! My early projects looked as though they had been tortured. There were dropped stitches and irregular stitches.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your mother:)
I agree with the eyelash yarn. It is very difficult as a newbie to knit with it. I did the same thing and will not post a photo because I think I threw the scarf away! Your fingerless gloves are incredible! ! I am thinking you are a natural born knitter?! Congratulations on a job well done!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of going back through FOs to see what you've done. Eyelash yarn is so difficult to stitch with, but the scarf looks like it was worth it! And your garment is very cool - sometimes the best things are the ones we make up ourselves :)
ReplyDeleteGreat FO's..I love the fingerless mitts...
ReplyDeleteOh... no sad face allowed :)
ReplyDeleteI love your history post... those fingerless mitts are fantastic!
One more request for a link to the fingerless gloves pattern - they're lovely!
ReplyDeleteI want to start some mitts but I have so many other projects keeping me from casting on. Love yours :)
ReplyDeleteI love those fingerless gloves! I've been wanting to make myself a pair for a long time, but there just doesn't seem to be enough time for me knitting. I remember my first time with DPN's. I had to re-start my sock several times before I got it right. I thought I'd never get the hang of it and now it's second nature. I agree that eyelash yarn is never a good choice for beginners, but I admit that I made the same mistake when I was first learning. Let's face it, I still shy away from eyelash yarn. I also had the same problems with my first sweater. I could get it on, but I never wore it, especially out in public, because it was too small.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling in unfinished objects, I have been so busy and lots of things happening...can't wait to get back on track with things again
ReplyDeletethe mitts look wonderful, i need a pair too as i've given away the ones i've made...hmmm...maybe this winter. :)
ReplyDeleteLove those mitts - the yarn is beautiful!! I think I've used the same yarn you made your mom's scarf in - very impressive for a new knitter!! Your garment looks lovely - no one know the difficulty it gave you - came out perfect!
ReplyDeleteThe gloves are great. Congrats on the blocking thing, it's always a treat when you can block beyond your mistakes and have a wearable garment. I really enjoy the fact that you're going over older projects that I didn't get to see as we didn't know each other yet. It's so much fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat projects, I really love the fingerless gloves, they turned out really nice! Great recap, it's good that you took pictures of your beginning projects.
ReplyDeleteVery funny! I'm still working my way through dpns. The mittens may be finished by the end of the year. :)
ReplyDeletethey all look wonderful! I think it's awesome that you started doing modifications so soon after you started knitting.
ReplyDeleteYour projects are all super, especially for early tries, my early efforts often got frogged :D
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your first try at a garment. It looks very cute!
ReplyDeleteVery impressive FO friday,(Favourite Objects Friday)Works for me! Retrospectives are always a nice way to look at where you came from.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll post some of those too...
Willow4
I'm impressed with how you improvised the mitts pattern... They are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love the fingerless glove! We'll trust you when you say there are two ;)
ReplyDeleteMy one and only time knitting with eyelash yarn made me want to stab myself in the leg with the needle. I haven't ventured near it since.
Great projects!
ReplyDeleteFingerless gloves are gorgeous. Some yarns like eyelash should come with a warning label! :)
Loving the history of your knitting, it's great! The great thing about eyelash yarn is that it hides all mistakes, but the scarf looks really good. And I definitely cannot see any random increases in the cardigan/shrug, it looks really good
ReplyDeleteLOL I love your history of knitting :)
ReplyDeleteI am still avoiding trying to use DPNs....I just feel that it will end badly. Your mitts are pretty awesome :) I love the self patterning yarn, I need to find some of that and try something.
I love your gloves, I was just using that yarn too, it is so pretty! You make me want to do a history of knitting of my own, how fun that will be!
ReplyDeleteI love the gloves. They're gorgeous! and the scarf looks great. :D
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful...lovely work!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everyone, you MUST have been a knitter in a previous life.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that you are a newbie as you claim, and if you are, then you must be a naturally talented one. Those mittens are glorious.
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