brown paper and orange Marlene

For all my patient friends who have been waiting for promised, but long-overdue knitwear, rest assured. Said knitwear is packed up and ready for the post.

Some are travelling locally, others across shores, but as always, all are sent with a mixture of pride and anticipation! I love knitting for friends, and I can't wait for these dear friends to receive their parcels.

All this finishing flurry (combined with a long weekend and a bout of sickness) led me to cast on a reward project.

I cast on my Marlene's, and I'm loving them to bits. Those twisted stitches really pop and the pattern is so easy to memorise; I had it after the second repeat. Also, a 10-row repeat is just the ticket to spur me on, as I like to work in whole repeats, rather than putting my work down half way through. First sock has just turned it's heel and heading down the foot, which isn't bad going for 2 days work!

Thanks to some timely advice from missfee, I stayed with the recommended 2.75mm needles, which is probably also helping the speed of progress. I usually knit socks on 2 - 2.25mm, particularly with tightly twisted yarn like the Jitterbug. missfee warned that the twisted rib in this pattern was not all that stretchy, and hers (knitted on smaller needles) were a little snug to get over the heel. I was slightly concerned that even with this rib, the combination of jitterbug and 2.75mm would make the fabric too loose, but I'm so glad I stayed with it - they've worked out perfectly.

and as always, I am now dreaming of new projects; of yarns and patterns forming perfect matches, and all the delightful planning that ensues.


It's enough to make a girl giddy!


Here are the main contenders, feel free to leave your vote :)


Ariosa Wrap Cardigan
Wallis (Rav link)
Mrs Darcy
Amelia