Swatch It!

I've been coming across all kinds of really neat patterns on Ravelry. It's been interesting going through my friends' activities list and seeing what others are knitting, queuing and faving. Two patterns have caught my eye recently. Both are scarves.

One is the "Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf" and the other is the "Cerus Scarf" (you will need a membership to log into Ravelry if you want to see the pictures). Both use the linen stitch, a simple slip knit pattern that makes a linen-look fabric that doesn't curl.

I have no intention of casting on for a scarf right now, but the linen stitch had me intrigued, so I looked it up in one of my stitch dictionaries and played around with it after work today. I cast on 20 stitches on 4.0 mm needles and worked the stitch over 18, with one stitch at each end as a selvedge stitch. Even John likes this. He liked the look of it, he liked how it feels (and it's just sock yarn!). Knitting a scarf in this stitch, lengthwise, could give a very interesting look. Now, I've got ideas floating around my brain.

In the meantime, though, I'm working on the Selbu-Modern hat and very much enjoying the process. I'm taking my time with it because it does aggravate my right wrist, but that doesn't mean I want to put it down. At the start of each round, I put it down, only to pick it up again right away because I want to see how the it will look after THAT round!

Right now, as of just before having to put it down for dinner, I'm one round away from starting the top shaping. I'm not going to try to get it done tonight, but I'll certainly have it done by the end of the weekend.

I find that the contrast yarn (the colourful one) is a little to busy to use on it's own, but in a fairisle-type project like this one, it's just.... happy! It's a cheery little hat and I'm looking forward to seeing it finished, blocked and on my head. I only hope it fits me and suits me. Oh well, if not, I'm sure there's someone it will fit, and I'll just have to make another one for myself!

I got a phone call yesterday from my LYS; the yarn I ordered for the christening dress is in. I changed my mind on the yarn I had planned on using. The yarn I ordered is a little more reasonably priced and is a good quality; I've played with it before. I'll be knitting the christening dress with Skacel Merino lace weight yarn, a very fine yarn. I think it will work just fine, as the pattern calls for the finest yarn you can find. The Skacel Merino is definitely fine! Now, I just need to find my 2.0 mm straight needles.