Wednesday, May 09, 2007

New Toy, Dishcloths, Something Victorian and Something Blue

Quick update...

Got a new "toy"...a mechanically-restored 1924 Gearhart sock knitting machine which has been keeping me busy with learning its quirks and processes.

Here she is:

So, after knitting what seemed like miles of tubes (don't even ask about figuring out how to get knitting started...the ebook my seller graciously sent me doesn't work on Macs so I had to figure out that what I thought was just a knitted sample from the machine was actually what they call a "knitted starter bonnet", and practicing (and messing up) many heels/toes (they're done exactly the same way...short row toes/heels), I knit...a sock:

Now, my machine doesn't have a ribber...but well-restored machines, especially with 80 slot cylinders, don't come along every day, and I figured that having to hand-knit the ribbing was still oodles less time than hand-knitting entire socks, so it was a concession I was more than willing to make. So yes, I know...this sock doesn't have a cuff yet...but I had to show it off...I didn't screw up the heel or toe...yay!

"Real knitting"...finished a lace scarf...the "Scarf with edging 21 and insertion 25" on page 100 of Victorian Lace Today, in Handmaiden Mini Maiden in Periwinkle (and OMG this yarn is as soft as shaving cream...50/50 wool/silk single ply):

And due to having several other intensive lace projects in the works, my brain needed a break so I got down to basics and whipped up 2 dishcloths:

On the right is the Ballband Dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting and on the left is the Garterlac Dishcloth. Garterlac...fun...whee!