It's the time of the year where we have the State's biggest event - The Royal Show. And this why I have not been posting as I had been busy knitting my entries for the show. I entered a shawl & a pair of socks last year for the 1st time & I won 2nd & 3rd prizes. In addition, this year the organisers have created a socks category for sock knitting addicts like me.
So, I decided to enter a pair of fair isle socks as I have never knitted one before. I started the Norwegian Rose Socks & for a week, I did nothing but knit & frog. I just can't get the tension right & the sock felt so tight & the stitches looked terrible. On top of all these, the 3 charts was driving me crazy as I kept messing it up. I GAVE UP !
But I really wanted to knit a fair isle socks, so pick up the needles again & worked on a simpler pattern, Sanquhar Socks. I had more luck this time as the charts were easier to follow & I managed to master knitting 2 colors on my right hand. There were still a couple of mistakes & I had to frog but it went more smoothly until I came to the corrugated ribbing. Luckily I found this video & it worked well.
Then I had problem with the cast off & this time, my good friend, Roseann came to my rescue & recommended the suspended bind off.
Within a week, I had 1 sock done & I was happy with it. It took me another 4 days to finish the 2nd sock & here they are .....
I think this whole process had been a great learning experience for me & I waiting until the Royal Show to learn a new technique like fair isle. I did not enjoy fair isle knitting & my hands hurt & I had to be very conscious of my tension. I am a very tight knitter & this does not help. Anyway, I had learnt my mistake & I should be more prepared the next time.
The yarn that I used are Opal (turquoise) & Louet Gem (brown). I followed the pattern except for the heel as I do not like the look of short row heels. So I substituted with a slip stitch heel & I had to reworked the gusset increases. But it does look better.......
I don't know if I will be knitting any more fair isle socks after this experience.
For my other entry, I knitted my Cottage Garden Shawl with Mini Maiden, a blend of wool & silk & it turned out great ......
I knitted in beads for the stocking stitch section of the shawl & they really added a great effect on the shawl .....
I have submitted both items to the show & I will be at the show on Sept 30 as I am doing a hand knitting demonstration there.
Now back to my normal knitting .....
