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May 17, 2004
A New Week, A New Project
Although I was sorely tempted by the Cascade 200 yarn in my stash, set aside for Rogue, I decided to go with something a little lighter for a summer knitting project:
It's Ljod, from Lavold's "Viking Collection." I'll be doing it with the Silky Wool yarn in the purpley-eggplant color (inexplicably called "Lava," officially.) I had intended to do "Tordis" from the same book, but I decided last night to take my own advice and do something a bit more fitted, a bit more curved - and this one seemed to fit the bill. I can picture this sweater paired with some black slacks or even a long black skirt. Anyway, it will proabably take most of the summer to complete it.
I decided to start with a front piece, rather than the back, so that if there are any mishaps or gauge problems I won't have to rip out so much. (The celtic/viking cables will be new to me.) The directions are a bit cryptic though - "decrease as for back." I hate that.
I'm also working on a pair of socks while at soccer games - I'm trying the afterthought heel. The big holes at the corners of the heel are very disturbing, but apparently this is what it's supposed to look like, and you fix it at the end with a 'circular suture stitch.'
Since I have an extra pair of size 1 circulars, I decided to do the heel not so much as an afterthought but as a detour. That's the heel forming off to the right, and the foot of the sock going off to the left (and a big tangle of needles and cables!) I thought by doing the heel now, I could get better placement of the toe.
The last pair of socks I knit, I did a garter stitch short-row heel; and now I'm trying the afterthought heel. For some reason, neither of the methods provide the sheer knitting joy of a heel flap and a gusset. I wonder why that is?