#berroco

I had a couple false starts because I'm so out of practice that I had forgotten how to knit 2-circs without creating a YO at the beginning of each needle.

Pattern is Delia's Little Dice Bags by Cordelia Jones.

Yarn is Berroco Vintage in 5190 Aubergine (wool-acrylic worsted).

Needles: 2-circs. Big end: Knitter's Pride Mindful 3.5mm. Small end: Knitter's Pride Basix 3.25mm (bumpy join!). Cables: Knit Picks ~15" purple (no swivel), Knitter's Pride ~15" neon yellow (no swivel, bumpy join).

The Basix tips are a relatively recent purchase, and I am not impressed. The quality is absolutely not up to that of my other Knitter's Pride needles. The yarn got caught every time I loaded up my stitches.

I used such small needles because I don't want small objects to be able to fall out of the bag.

My eventual goal is to make myself a change purse. I made this because I wanted to make a little present for a friend and this seemed like a good way to familiarize myself with pouch patterns. The purchase also includes a pattern for a pouch that flattens completely into a disc when it's open. I'm planning to make that one too, and then probably come up with a hybrid that is somewhere in between. This pouch doesn't open enough, but a flat disc is too open.

Other things I would change:

I don't like the way the ribbons dangle when the bag is closed: they are sure to get caught on things in my bag.

The bag doesn't close all the way when fully cinched: I'm pretty sure a dime could still get out.

The bottom of the bag isn't flat; it either sticks out the bottom or up into the bag.

My moss stitch still leans to the right, but since the whole thing is round, it's not very noticeable.

I’m not crazy about the Berroco Vintage yarn: it’s very grippy, it lacks stretch, and it’s splitty.

Elta Pullover by Berroco; Or If You Don’t Try Something New...

I ordered this sweater kit when several companies invented what they call drop-ship options because of the pandemic. So I contacted a local yarn store and then they sent in the order and it was sent to my house. It was then tucked away because when I have too many projects, some of them are transformed into presents.

It was only when I did get it as a present that I realized this is LACE WEIGHT YARN and I have never done anything with LACE WEIGHT YARN since creating some tremendous snarls out of a mohair lace weight yarn as some of my first knitting projects. (Cue bitter laughter).

But you can see why I got excited about the pattern. Lovely teal color which will work for the spring, top-down yoke construction which I actually can handle, and a pretty little lace pattern that circles the yoke front and back. I was already thinking about what color turtleneck I could wear beneath it for a cold spring day.

So, I am now telling myself that if you don’t try something new, you can’t learn something new. When exactly I will feel brave enough to start this, I don’t know. Currently, a pile of little woolly gift projects are clogging up my chairs and they need finishing.

You can find this kit here: https://www.berroco.com/dropship/elta-kit

A little shame-faced to post this one. The knitting was complete weeks ago and I'm struggling so much with the sewing-up.

I've sewn and ripped out the sleeve twice. I'm thinking I might pick up stitches and do a 3-needle bind off to get the seam I want.

The yarn is a discontinued Cascade Soft Spun. I love it, but it's been very frustrating. Knit half a sweater, frogged it. Then knit this and it's been a challenge. Made big mistakes, can't finish...

Incredibly pleased with how my #guthriesweater is coming along. I’ve never done colour work this complex before and it’s going beautifully.

Pattern is Guthrie Sweater by Caitlin Hunter.