Baby ripples and some ripping back

Is it me, or has this past week flown by?

The stitching that I did last Friday has been very well received. My s-i-l phoned me to say how thrilled she was with her new knitting bag :)

This week has been all about hooking and knitting. Last night, I finished the baby ripple blanket for Moogsdad's colleague's new, soon to be born, baby girl.



I'd have liked it to be a bit squarer but I ran out of yarn and as the baby is likely to be here before payday, I made a 'design decision' to have a slightly more rectangular blanket.



Although this is an acrylic yarn - Patons Smoothie - it has great stitch definition and a nice sheen. It's also beautifully soft and, most importantly, easy to wash!

I used Lucy's Neat Ripple pattern and it was just what I was looking for - lovely ripples and really quick!

Something that really pleases me about handicrafts of any sort is the tremendous scope for learning new skills. It seems no time since I thought I'd never be able to knit a sock and here I am 10 months and 11 and a half pairs later. I've taught myself to crochet and, to date, have crocheted 6 blankets, numerous cushions and several toys. I've learned how to insert a zip!

Most importantly of all, I've learned not to be scared. Not to listen to those little voices that say 'oooh no, that looks far too complicated...you'll never be able to do that'.

My greatest help during these moments of self-doubt has been the internet - from all your fabulous blogs, to sites such as Ravelry and YouTube. The endless inspiration and also evidence of 'normal' people just like me who can make these fantastically beautiful, scarily complicated, things gives me the nerve to just give it a go.

Over the past week I've lurked - for far longer than is healthy - on any website with even the tiniest smattering of Fair Isley type knitting. I've scoured every book and knitting magazine I own. I've bombarded my Knitting Guru with endless 'shall I/shan't I' emails.

It would seem I have a need for a new challenge - which is odd, as I always shied well away from anything involving multiple strands of potential knots in the past. It's very scary. There are tension issues. Don't even get me started on trying to follow charts.....

.....but I've dipped my foot in the water.....



.....and now I've plunged right in at the deep end.



With some beautiful Araucania sock wool.

To make the challenge even more 'fun' I'm even going to try knitting my first ever pair of mittens at the very same time - these ones for you Ravellers out there.

This little bit took just over an hour.....



.....and has since been ripped out as I was pulling the yarn far too tight.

I didn't even swear.

I just sighed, ripped and prepared myself for 'First Attempt at Mittens and Fair Isle MKII'

Watch this space!!

xxx