learning to knit Archives - Zeens and Roger

Do you remember when Wool and The Gang asked me to review their new Take Care Mohair and I thought they’d made a mistake? Well, it can’t have been much of a mistake because they got in touch again to ask if I wanted to try out one of their other products! Result! Today I’m here to tell you all about how I made my Foxy Roxy knitted scarf.

I chose the Foxy Roxy scarf from the WATG Hygge LookBook that I was sent to peruse. I could have chosen something to crochet but I was seduced into going a different route. I’ve mentioned in the past that I’d love to knit more (I can do the very basics but that’s all). The sock knitting phenomenon still eludes me but I do see lovely knitted shawls out there. Maybe one day…. Anyway, I thought the Foxy Roxy would be a good introduction to the world of knitting, and the fact that I was being sent the kit would be a good kick up the bum to get something done.

The kit included five balls of Crazy Sexy Wool, some fab knitting needles, the pattern and a little label to pop on the finished project. I just love the packaging it all comes in ( I didn’t take pictures this time because my mohair review has those). It was Christmas again when the box was brought to my door!

I chose Midnight blue but it really was hard to decide (so many colours…). In the end I went with the sensible choice. I knew that I’d wear a shade of navy. And it’s true, I’ve been wearing it non-stop since I downed needles a week ago.

I took it easy at first. My parcel arrived the Saturday before last and I knitted up half a ball that afternoon and the second half the day after. By Monday I’d gotten into the swing of things; I caned through the last four balls in less than three days. For a couple of rows at the beginning I kept stabbing through the yarn with the pointy needles (these are proper vampire slaying needles). After a few rows, that stopped and I got into a good rhythm. It seems I respond well to the noise of needles. It might be the main reason I fancy taking up knitting. The noise of knitting needles is hypnotic and I really enjoyed the woody clacking I made with my chunky stakes. And oh my goodness! No achey hands! I’m used to achey hands when using a giant crochet hook but I must hold needles differently, cos no ache!

Obviously I needed tea and cake to help me along the way but I did get a few crumbs on me stitches [I use the best lemon drizzle recipe there is]. I needed the energy to keep on with all the rows. One ball in and I could see that this was gonna be loooonnng. To be honest, I have no idea if there are more rows than the pattern told me. I didn’t count. I just kept going until I ran out of yarn. I got carried away with this and didn’t have enough to cast off. At that point I had to take an enormously deep breath and frog a few rows. I gathered each stitch slowly and carefully back on a needle and knit back on a couple of rows before trying the cast off again. Here, I have to admit that I don’t actually know what a row looks like. I think it’s both the wiggle chain things per row and not half of one of these. Is that right?! Er, I don’t know. Whatever the weather, I now have a knitting project under my belt and I am proud!

Thank you to my eldest boy for taking some amusing photographs of me. It was very good timing that he was off sick from school. I made him take a squillion pics. To help him I even cracked open the tripod that I bought a year ago. Why haven’t I ever used the tripod before!? It makes life so much easier. Duh. How snuggly and cosy does my new scarf look though!? It is flippin’ gorgeous, I love it. I know it’s wrong but I’m wishing for colder weather so I can enjoy laughing at everyone else in their piddly, little, ineffectual scarves. I will be super warm and happy! Gleefully, manically laughing, I expect.

All I will say is this, when wearing it I will have to learn to be careful. Yesterday, as I casually sauntered home from the school run (probably with a little hint of scarf smugness too) a great big gust of wind took my scarf and threw it in brambles. So embarrassing. I was there for an eternity, carefully and not so casually untangling my precious new, hand knitted scarf.

I’ve only included a picture of the cat, due to the fact that she was watching me whilst I took the photo’s.

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It’s been a bit of a blah kind of week. I think it’s because I started knitting and haven’t been an instant expert. I see knitting everywhere at the moment and thought I should jump on the band wagon. Well, I don’t think I’ll stay on very long. I don’t think I’m enjoying it that much.

I’m tempted to unravel this pappy attempt and crochet my way to a baby blanket instead. It’s messy and has dropped stitches. There is always the fear of it coming off the needles and I have no idea of what real knitters do if they make a mistake. I mean, do you just unravel some rows and then painstakingly reattach all those loops, without unravelling the underneath row by mistake?? What a pain in the arse! It’s happened. Twice. The first time, my nearly three year old grabbed the needles and effortlessly yoinked away the knitting by swishing around his new “light sabers.” I did it the second time because there were too many loose bits after a colour change. Ugh. Stick with it ?… Or not? I’m surprised that I’ve picked up speed when I’m doing it right and I love the click clack of the needles, but, that is about it. Hmm.

In a bid to change the mood, I thought I’d have some fun with pompom making. Turns out this isn’t much fun either. I bought a cheap pompom maker and it keeps popping open at the crucial moment, spilling tiny threads of yarn all over my lap. Also, I think mixing up the colours was a mistake. I’m thinking of trying some mono colour balls. They’ll look better.

This is where I’ve been sitting this week. Surrounded by mess. I’m like some sort of creative tramp at the minute. It’s the rotten weather that does it. Although, yesterday I took the small boy for a long walk around town. I said we could go and look at the swollen, rain filled river but by the time we got there he was asleep. When we returned home, he was angry with me because we hadn’t been to the river. It’s not my fault that he missed it.

Looking out the window at the spring flowers, I had an idea that might cheer me up a bit.

I know I’ve used the snowdrop picture before, it’s the only goodish one I’ve got.

I love the smell of Hyacinths. I love the smell of daffodils too. They’re also among the prettiest flowers of the spring. They are the first signs that the winter is on the out (although they’ve been fooled as it was -1 this morning and there is frost on the grass).

Anyway, I drew some quick sketches and off I went, cutting up bits of fabric and stitching them roughly together.

I’m really pleased with the results. One or two mess ups have occurred but nothing too awful. I asked Husband his opinion and apparently they are twee and granny like. Something you’d find in a charity shop, he said. Maybe that’s the result I’m after but it kind of threw me. Now I’m having doubts.

I think this one looks the most granny like and I’m hoping that will change with the things I’ll do to it. I’d really like them to be displayed in the embroidery hoops but they’re expensive so I only have one. I’ve got another idea but i’m afraid that it’ll transform them into “twee” monstrosities. Oh well, we shall see.

Lastly, I have this Drops recycled cotton. Hearts on the label, must be Valentine’s or something. 80p each! I want to make a doily or two but still on the look out for the right sort of pattern. Fingers crossed I’ll find a pattern soon and get on with it. I’m getting crochet withdrawal.

Tag: learning to knit

Wool And The Gang’s Foxy Roxy Scarf

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