Yesterday was another hot day in Sydney town. Too hot to have the Hemlock in my lap, but a perfect day for blocking.
I love the blocking wires. Straight lines are never a problem any more. I used to use the “thread a strand of yarn along the edge to get a straight line” method, but this is easier by far, and more precise. And less pinning!
The first time I ever had to block out something large was my Feather and Fan shawl, I ran out of pins halfway around and had to run down to the supermarket to buy more.
Anyway, I soaked the Stole for about half an hour in warm water, then rolled it up in a towel and squeezed out the excess water gently.
I threaded the wires through the edge stitches, and used 12 T-pins to hold the wires in place. That easy!
I did discover a problem in the blocking.
I dropped a stitch while I was casting off! I’ll have to frog the cast off row and re-do it. Apart from that, it’s looking good!
As I said, it was a little hot to work on the Hemlock, so I cast on for something new.
Chicknits Nicole. I’m using Debbie Bliss’ Cathay. So far, so good.
We’ve been making a few preparations for our upcoming vacation. (The plane takes off in 8 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour and approximately 30 minutes). Excited? Me?
One thing I have prepared is my travel knitting. It arrived this morning from The Loopy Ewe.
ShibuiKnits Sock in Orchid, in a Loopy Ewe Purse Pal Tote. I like to get the important things organised. We have no luggage yet, we haven’t booked the care hire, and we only got our passports last week, but I’ve prepared my travel knitting!
One of the (many) things I like about The Loopy Ewe are the fun little extras that Sheri pops into your package. Look what I got this time around.
A mini sock kit! I was tempted to cast on straight away.
Twinkie was unimpressed.
But then again, it usually takes food to impress her.
Bunny feet and tail!
Those block wires look so effective. I’m definitely going to investigate, as we discussed. What a great job they do!
And I’d be disappointed to hear you’d not given as much though as you have to your travel knitting!
I love how Twinkie manages to look so unimpressed……… almost as good as a teenager 😛
Ah, Twinkie is Tock-tacular! (do you read Cute Overload – you really should submit that photo!!)
Good to see you’ve got your O/S knitting organised – it’s always the first thing I think about when packing for a trip, even if it is overnight!!
Mmmm, blocking wires. And t-pins. Where does one purchase such t-pins??
Your stole is SO beautiful!!! I have bought welding wire for my blocking it works really well (and is cheap)
Perhaps you would like to join my Spring Shawl Surprise group. It’s a secret knit along for those who like a challenge and love lace knitting. You can read about it and find the link on my blog. I don’t think we have any australians yet :-)so it would be fun if you join.
http://www.lulsblog.blogspot.com
oh gosh, I am so sorry! Nothing happended when I hit the post button -or so I thought (blushing)
Blocking like the Americans – how wonderful! Those straight lines look amazing, and sound so easy.
It looks wonderful, Donna. Need to add that to my “list”, just in case I feel the urge to do lace!
I never was a pink person, but both the lace and sock yarn are really gorgeous.
The stole is gorgeous and I am sure it will pick some prizes up along the way if entered.
LOve the socks yarn.
Know exactly what you mean about the heat but help is coming in the next few days. I resorted to taking my shawl to work to finish in the air con there.
And you thought you were finished with the stole! I hope you don’t have to rip the cast off row back too far to get to that dropped stitch.
Beautiful stole!
Oh wow! the stole looks good!! Good luck in fixing the dropped stitch..
And that’s some nice yarn you’ve got there!
Your FO’s always amaze me! And I see that Twinkie is up to her pretty diva acts as usual. 😉
Bunny hugs,
=:8
Wow, those blocking wires sound marvelous. I really have to try them out next time.
The shawl is beautiful & the blocking wires really do the trick. I will have to get some when I block my shawl. Love the look of Nicole – that will be a good summer top.
Nice ‘Tocks Twinkie!
That stole is going to be spectacular. :o) I think I will eventually have to invest in blocking wires if I get into knitting shawls and stoles. I can’t imagine doing it with just pins! The sock yarn is a gorgous colour. Will make a very striking pair of socks!!
Your stole is stunning as are the Twinkie ‘tocks! 🙂
A 14 hour plane flight x2 and THAT’S ALL YOU’RE BRINGING???
The stole is beautiful. I just started using blocking wires too and just love them. They do make it so much easier.
I always plan my take-along knitting for a trip first too. I usually bring way more than I need to too, but I’d rather have more knitting and less clothes.
The stole looks great. I love to block (mostly because it means I’m done) but I always end up with a neck/back ache from bending over pinning it all out.
The new project looks great.
Hi Donna,
What such a superb stole. I am not that adventurous. My son loves Twinkie, reckons his bigger than our cat. But as usuall with animals they are so unimpressed, unless there is food around. Hope the socks aren’t all you are taking on hols. Lorelle http://rellsramblings.blogspot.com/
ooo blocking wires – where did you get them from?
Those blocking wires are really brilliant, aren’t they? The stole looks just beautiful – then again, your work is ALWAYS so beautiful!
Terribly cute bunny bits there!
Lovely stole!! I have that pattern for Nicole as well. It will be a project for next year. Twinkie is so cute. I love seeing photos of him.