Needles Take 3

Ok, where to begin. Wanting a break from crocheting edges and joining squares to make afghans for Bridge and Beyond, thought I'd start a knitting ghan. Started this Feather and Fan Design on a pair of Addy Turbo's, and even though we all know those to be excellent needles I was having trouble with the k2tog (knit 2 together), with tightness. I never thought I knitted tight and thought perhaps it was the combination of the Caron Wintuk (grey section), and the very blunt needle (the turbo's). And it was curling so badly I was having a hard time getting the yarn to move properly. Switched to my Denise Interchangeable s (a better point to pick up the k2tog'ers, and by connecting 2 nice long cords was able to get it to be less curly..easier to work with). It wasn't good, but it was better. I still have trouble getting the yarn to move, as the acrylic in Caron Wintuk and the Denise seemed to grab at each other........then after multiple long rows (250+ cast on stitches), the Denise's came apart...and naturally the yarn moved nicely off then!

Switched to new needles, got the length I need (60 inches) to spread things out and do less tugging and pushing the stitches along, and low and behold the knitting tension seemed to improve, as did the movement of the yarn/stitches. And using lace needles with a better point, was the combination I needed. The k2tog are a huge improvement.

While not totally stretched out, as it would go off the needles, it's enough you can actually see the pattern, the yarn, and the colors better then previously posted pictures. Solving the color of what comes next as I go. Posted about that problem, see previous post for YOP post on Sunday.
Here's a close up of the 3 colors thus far with the 4th skein at the ready. I'm probably going to have each section a different width, as I have only 6 of the multi-tweedy skeins and you can see it doesn't go far based on what's already showing, which was 1 skein. Probably going to start looking through the blue stash and hope to find something that works. If not, will move onto the brown stash (though the blue is larger).

AND, the new needles. Chiao Goo, notice how much lower in price they are then the Addy Turbo's!

My plan is to finish the current tan-ish section, add the next tweedy section, find something in my stash to make the next section; then move back to crocheting edges and joining some donated squares for Bridge and Beyond. Plan to go back and forth between this ghan and the crocheted ones.

Still contemplating a name for this afghan, sing out if you have thoughts. All I've come up with so far is Earthy Feathers, which I'm not really sold on...not knowing all the colors that will be involved yet.

Work in Progress Wed badges and links in side bar. Have fun and join us.

Moving on to Plan B

Plan A, was to use the 6 donated skeins of tweeds with the medium grey yarn I had in my stash in stripes. Apparently my memory failed me here. I thought I had 5 or 6 skeins of this grey...I don't. I only had 2. Must have used them previously and forgot. Had this yarn a really long time, plus don't believe the Caron Wintuk is even made any longer. Soooooooooo, I have plenty of the light grey, but....it's not really the right shade to pull it off solo...is it? I could use it with stripes and end, as I began with the darker grey? Or I could really go strippy (leaning this direction currently); with other colors that pick up on some of the colors in the tweeds. 2nd problem is.....the Caron Wintuk felt a bit heavier to me then regular WW, even though that's how it's labeled, and the 6 skeins of tweedy yarn is labeled chunky. Soooooooooo, now the yarn I'm thinking of pulling in will be a variety of types/weights and welllllllllllllll, hope it all comes together.

I think I need to go hunting through my 2 large bags of blue stash to see if I have a shade or two that works, lots of blue in the tweeds-- and blue and grey always go together in my book. So this afghan in the works has just gone from a planned out ghan to a let's see what happens as it progresses. I will be adjusting as I go. Each time I knit a section of the feather and fan afghan, I'll decide what comes next based on how it looks. With all the colors in the tweedy yarn I think I'm going to need to see it to decide.

AND, I have officially changed my year of projects list in the tab to take off learn to knit socks, and removed Candy Corn Ghan. I've added 2 afghans to assemble for Bridge and Beyond, and this Feather and Fan...which needs a name. Unsure at this point if this one will be donated to Bridge and Beyond or be an item to be auctioned off where the money would then be donated to a shelter. Will decide when I see how it turns out.

On Friday, I finished another cotton washcloth, that wasn't on the list. You can see it if you scroll back to previous post.

YOP badge and link in sidebar, list above in tab, and am contemplating next years list.

Enjoy your long weekend all, but do take time to give thanks to those brave men and women who serve in our military, past and present.

Just Casted Off

Wow, almost wasn't going to make it today for Finished Object Friday. Late in the day to get this post up, but I literally just cast off this cotton washcloth. Been busy outside mowing, and watering and running errands. Nothing special just basic ribbing 3 x 3 with 4 rows at the start and finish with garter stitch and 4 garter stitches at the beginning and end of each row. It's still pulls in though. Though this was a big enough rib that wouldn't be a problem. Going to wet it down and see if cotton blocks? Love this color.

This is the 2nd cotton cloth from this colorway, and now it's gone. Posted last Friday about the first one. It makes it seem I've not been doing much knitting and crocheting; but I have been...just not getting anything done. Partially because other items are large items, and there's been some dreaded negative knitting going on.

FOF Badges and links in sidebar.

Gray and Tweed Feather and Fan

Not much of a work in progress, I grant you....but a start. Actually there's more on the needles then it appears since it's all curling up. I may need to purchase a longer needle. Think this is a 34? Oophs, just looked it says it's a 40, but I don't think it measured that when I was checking it the other day. Expected things not to be so gathered on the needles. It's a ChiaoGoo lace needle size 9. Knitted worsted weight on the needles with sorta almost a chunky in the various variegated you see. The variegated is Sirdar tweed effect chunky. It's not as chunky as some, and the gray is a Caron Wintuk...heavier then most worsted weight...so they seem almost the same. The Sirdar is a blend, but is machine washable like the gray. These skein only have just over 80 yards, and each one is a different tweed; but they all blend nicely with this shade of gray. The Sirdar Tweeds were donated, so am hopeful this with my gray will make a nice afghan.
Making a Feather and Fan Afghan to donate to ,my charity blog, Bridge and Beyond for The Homeless Families Foundation. The families are given an afghan in their welcome pack when they move from the various shelters to permanent housing. Wanted to show you a close up of my cute little lambs...gifted stitch markers. Aren't they cute!

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