Not entirely happy, as I seem to have blocked it too wide and not long enough. These were the measurements but the styles have changed from the era of my vintage pattern. We tend to like garments longer now.
And the stitch definition didn't seem to block out - it still looks quite uneven. A friend told me it was just the way alpaca is; that it doesn't have natural elasticity like wool, so stitches don't 'bounce' into place like wool does. Lesson learnt, I guess. Easier lesson than my friend though. She discovered this problem with alpaca after knitting a sweater than ended up stretching nearly to her toes! It just grew like Topsy!
I am starting this little treasure pouch for a 10 year old girl's birthday present, a free pattern from The Sitting Tree. She is a real magpie and I think she would really love this to keep her treasures safe. I will add a few gemstones to it as well. Pink is her favourite colour, so this is the yarn I have chosen.
The pink sock yarn is for the little pouch. With the purple yarn, I am casting on a Primrose by Julia Stanfield. Her patterns are wonderfully detailed; you just can't go wrong.
My book is The Goldfinch, which won the Pulitzer Prize For Fiction in 2014. I haven't started yet as I just picked it up from a friend, who highly recommended it. She is a book loving friend, so I trust her judgement and am looking forward to starting it tonight. Also I love a book that has mixed reviews from the reading public (see the Amazon star ratings) as it generally means it will be worth reading. I would love to hear if anyone else has read it and what you thought.
So it seems most of my Yarn Along post this week is about beginnings - new projects, new book. Maybe I will have some progress to show next week (although that book is 784 pages long, so don't expect too much!)
And just wondering, do you think I am being a prude with this opinion? I am sure everyone has heard about the imminent release of the movie Fifty Shades of Grey. I have no wish to see this movie. But I am bothered by the fact that our local kindergarten is using this film as their fundraising movie night this year. I understand their need to raise funds for the kindergarten (and it worked, as the event was sold out very quickly!) but is it only me that thinks it would be extremely uncomfortable to watch a movie like this with the other parents? Maybe I am just being a stick-in-the-mud, but I would feel extremely uncomfortable watching this movie in any circumstances and do not think it should be promoted by a kindergarten fundraising drive. It bothers me greatly that this movie will probably be the box office hit of the year, possibly encouraging other movies along the same lines to be made. At the risk of sounding like an old fuddy duddy, 'what is the world coming to?!'
Linking with Small Things for Yarn Along.
I read The Goldfinch. I learned a lot about another side of life I've never experienced. I found it difficult to read, but I think it was a good thing to know about, even if its just head knowledge. But it was a one time read.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds interesting, but I really know nothing about the book - going purely on a recommendation. I'm intrigued now!
DeleteACK, yes, I am withyou on the fifty shades of gray - a fundraiser for kindergarten?! That sounds uncomfortable to me too and I have no desire to watch or read anything like it. I'll be a fuddy duddy with you!
ReplyDeleteMy first two sweaters ever were Debbie Bliss patterns and I had the same situation- too short and too wide but I was a new knitter and I didn't know enough to just lengthen them. So disappointing though. I think your sweater turned out pretty sweet anyway.
I am so curious what being a "magpie" means! It is not a word I have ever heard used for anything besides the actual bird and am delighted to hear it used as a colloquialism! And thus ends my long comment. :)
Yes, I am quite happy to be a fuddy duddy! I don't know whether it was the alpaca - I pulled it into shape to block it, but it didn't seem to stay there. I think it will still be fine for a baby.
ReplyDeleteIn Australia, we call someone a magpie if they collect all sort of stray objects, often for no apparent purpose. I think my hubby would call my china teacup collection being a magpie! No apparent purpose that he can think of - how many teacups can you use at one time after all!
Haha! Thats a cute term! I might start using that! My 5 year old is DEFINITELY a magpie. we use the term packrat for that. I'd much rather be compared to a bird than a rat!
ReplyDeleteAll my kids are too! All sorts of things end up in collections.
DeleteAgree on the movie issue. I did not read the books and will not see the movie myself. And if others choose to, that's their decision. But I do not want to hear them justify it or explain away the true nature of the book. It's not reflective of a healthy relationship. And you are right, you know Hollywood will be churning out clones of the premise.
ReplyDeleteYes, it hasn't even come out in Australia yet and I've already had people telling me how it is done very artistically so that makes it OK. Not for me, but each to their own. I just don't know anyone else who feels the same, so it can be a bit hard to be the only prude in the room!!
DeleteI agree with you Jayne and I don't really know much about the book or movie apart from the fact that it is pretty pornographic. I have no interest in seeing or reading it either. I love the little cardigan. My mum used to knit heaps and they were those types of patterns. Thanks for the memory. Blessings Jayne.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to hear from others that aren't keen on the movie either - it can be difficult to be the only one not happy to see it! Most of my patterns are vintage - I just love the old styles.
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