Knitting in Summer

It seems pretty ridiculous, doesn't it, but the thing is that it's a small project and it doesn't sit on your lap to make you hot. I have a good friend living in London who showed me a bubblegum pink, chunky, cable knit cowl that she liked the look of (?), so of course I said "I can knit you a nicer one than that!". Famous last words... So I have finally started it, the pattern is from Joelle Hoverson's book Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

The yarn called for in the pattern is 100% Superfine Cashmere x 2 skeins - yeah right. I suppose being the owner of Purl in NY makes this possible, but sadly not for me. There is only 1 shop in Brisbane that has nice yarn, so I went there to do the 'feel test', ie soft enough to be against the neck while being affordable. I ended up with 2 balls of Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino, which has 55% Merino wool, 33% Microfibre and 12% Cashmere. It feels quite nice, and although being a 5 ply it feels a bit heavier.


I have not used a circular needle before, only the dpns for the socks, but I thought if I could handle them this circular thing should be breeze. So I only had to start it 5 times before I got it... I was super careful about not twisting the stitches when I closed the circle, but somehow this happened, but did not become obvious (to me) until I was about 3 rows along, but in the end I got it going. I quite like the circular needle, the only downer is that you never reach the end of the row so gratification is delayed - I like mine instant, and countable thanks.

Nevertheless I'm powering along now and am getting closer to the end of the 2nd ball. You can't really see it in the photo, except from the back, but the 5th row is a purl row, then back to knit. I think it has something to do with controlling the degree of curl-up of the edges, which I hope will happen after a spray of water and a night pinned to the ironing board when finished. The point I'm trying to make is that I have to do the purl row 5 rows from the end of the 2nd ball. How does one know when this is? I have a recollection of reading somewhere that it takes 4 times the yarn than the length of the row to knit a row, but I won't be quoted on that. Does anybody have some advice? I'd like to make full use of the yarn if I can.

I'm nearly finished so once I find out how to know when to start the last few rows it will be done. It's still pretty cold over in Europe (and the USA and Canada), so it should arrive before spring. I just hope she likes it as it isn't exactly like the one she saw.

PS I have just noticed a link to Corrections for the book. Call me naive, but I sort of think the patterns should be checked enough times so that they are accurate when you go to make them!