Update: Roseroot shawl knit-a-long

Standfirst and line style:

A couple of problems I’ve encountered while doing my first-ever MKAL

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The Roseroot shawl was my first-ever mystery knit-a-long, or MKAL; you can read about how things started out here. At that point I was on clue 3 and things were going well. Clue 4 had just been released and I was about to start.

While I still love this yarn, I really don't think it's the right weight for the shawl.

It was at this point that things started going wrong. Not because of the pattern or the organisation of the MKAL, I hasten to add. No, it was because of me. I got to row 2 of clue 4. This is the first lace row of the clue as all the odd-numbered rows are wrong side. The pattern is to repeat the lace chart until the last 9 stitches. However, I knitted across but had 10 stitches left.

I was sorely tempted to simply add in a k2tog – keep in mind here that there are 327 stitches to work through at this point – but I wasn’t sure if this would throw the lace pattern out. So I undid the whole row and counted all the stitches to make sure there really were 327. There were. I repeated the row. Same problem. I did it again. Same problem.

The problem with being a perfectionist is that when you’ve decided you don’t like something, well, that’s it

Now lace rows are complicated and it’s very easy to miss out a k2tog or an ssk. But it is unusual for me to make the same mistake several times over, so I really couldn’t work out what I was doing wrong. I even put in stitch markers and knitted very, very slowly.

After trying one more time I logged on to Ravelry to ask the designer if there was any advice he could give me. He mentioned slipping in a cheeky k2tog, too, but advised against doing that, so I’m pleased I didn’t go for that option. He gave such a generous and full response I was actually quite moved. I followed his advice and tried again. This time it worked.

But another, much bigger, issue had now surfaced. I no longer liked the yarn. Well, I still liked the yarn, just not for this project. It was more to the laceweight end of things than 4-ply and the shawl just seemed too small. It would grow with blocking and in many ways the size isn’t hugely important, but the problem with being something of a perfectionist is that when you’ve decided you don’t like something, well, that’s it. So I undid the whole thing.

This merino definitely works better to my mind.

This was just prior to heading off for 10 days in Sardinia, where I would have very little to do other than eat good food, drink good wine, read and knit, so at least I was going to have lots of time to make up what I’d lost. And I have, in fact I’m even further on – I’m now up to clue five and will hopefully be posting pics of the finished thing soon.

Close-up shot of clues 4 and 5.

Trip report: Birding and walking in the Highlands

A Highland break 'da solo' turned out to be huge amounts of fun

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I’d never been on holiday on my own before. Mostly because I couldn’t afford to, but also because holidays have always seemed like social things, to be enjoyed with another person, or lots of people. However, there was no way I was going to get The Chap on a birding and walking break and my mum, who would usually come with me, was in Wales with her sister.

My birding targets aren’t very ambitious when I do these breaks. This time around I wanted to see Capercaillie and Dipper. The latter can be seen up in the Highlands anywhere there’s suitable water, while the former involved an early morning visit to Loch Garten RSPB.

I decided to stay in Grantown-on-Spey as it seemed very well placed for exploring the wider countryside, as well as having plenty of walks, cafes, pubs and a couple of good hotels. This proved a good choice and I’ll definitely be coming back. My first choice of hotel, the Grant Arms, was fully booked, so a bit of research turned up the Craiglynne Hotel. Another good choice: the hotel was really well located, the staff so friendly and helpful and the food great.

The River Spey. 

Once I’d checked in and unpacked my case, I headed out for a walk to the River Spey and then into the town and back to the hotel. It was a nice start to my break and after an evening in the hotel bar and then restaurant, it was time for bed for an early start the next day.

Aside: good eating
I’ve been to Scotland three times now and each time the food has been superlative. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many good restaurants in such a small area as in Edinburgh, while both my trips to the Highlands have offered up some bloody good food. The only disappointing meal I had this time around was that first night in the hotel. It wasn’t bad, just a bit tired seeming, like it had been out too long under those powerful lights they have in restaurants.

Particularly good were the pearl barley risotto and chocolate pudding in the hotel and the pies at the famous ‘pie pub’, the Craig Bar. The bar is worth a visit even if you’re not eating. Massive selection of whiskies and really friendly staff.

Sunday was Capercaille Day. I left early to get to Loch Garten RSPB. When I arrived there were already a number of people in the hide, but no Capers had been spotted. One had been around the previous day so we all had our fingers metaphorically crossed. The female Osprey was on the nest so most of us passed the time by watching her.

Several hours went by and no Capers were seen. Then Caper-watch ended. This was the last one of the season and it was somewhat disappointing not to get my target. I headed back to the hotel for breakfast and a short nap. Then it was time for another, this time much longer, walk. And guess what? Fewer than five minutes into it, I stumbled across my other target: Dipper. An adult and a juvenile were bobbing up and down on stones in a fast-running streamlet. I watched for while, observing the youngster begging for food, which was steadfastly ignored. This was an excellent start to the walk, making up for my failure to see Capers.

The Dipper site. You can't actually see the Dippers in
this photo, but they are there.

The rest of the day was taken up with reading, colouring and checking emails and social media; along with drinking coffee and then later on a cheeky glass of wine, of course. Well I did say my birding trips were rather relaxed affairs.

The next day was designated a walking day. I found a really lovely 5km circular route with views over the town, appropriately enough called the Viewpoints Walk.

Aside 2: ain’t technology grand?
I got to Grantown using Google Maps on my phone. I got to Loch Garten and back the same way. I found the Viewpoints Walk by simply googling ‘walks around Grantown-on-Spey’. I found an excellent website called walkhighlands that had a whole range of walks in – you guessed it – the Highlands. I downloaded the Google Earth app to my phone, downloaded the walk and used this to direct me. A little blue dot showed where I was on the walk so I couldn’t possibly get lost. This is quite important when you’re walking in the Highlands on your own.

This was a very enjoyable, not-too-challenging walk for this lowland-dwelling walker. And the views were indeed spectacular.

The afternoon brought lunch (a cheese scone and bowl of ice cream – all that walking meant totally guilt-free eating!). Then back to the hotel for rest and relaxation.

The next day was my last full day in Grantown, a prospect that was rather sad. I was enjoying myself so much I really didn’t want to leave. I was planning on birding, but the day brought rain and I decided I didn’t fancy the drive to Loch Morlich. So instead I found another walk close to the town. This time an 8km trek through forest. Again it was beautiful. Photos were taken, warblers and tits were spotted and I fully enjoyed myself despite the rain.

I’m not so bothered about not seeing Capercaille; it just means I’ll have to go back next year

Far too quickly it was time to go home. On my final morning, I breakfasted, packed, checked out and left for the airport. I had an excellent solo holiday and would definitely do it again. And you know what? I’m not so bothered about not seeing Capercaille. It just means I’ll have to go back next year …

The first view from the Viewpoints Walk.

Review: King Rat by China Mieville

VERDICT: A beautifully written modern-day urban fairytale

I put off reading this for years because the blurb mentions drum n bass and jungle – two types of music I’m really not interested in. However, Mieville is one of my favourite authors and I plan to read everything he’s published, and that includes this book. And boy was I pleased I did.

I’d describe this as a modern-day urban fairytale. It follows Saul, a young Londoner whose life is turned upside down when he comes home to find his father murdered. All the evidence seems to point to him as the murderer, so when a mysterious stranger, the titular King Rat, comes to bust him out of jail Saul has little choice but to go with him.

What follows is a music-fuelled adventure through a fantastical London underground, complete with characters from myth, such as Anansi the spider. As Saul spends more time with King Rat he learns more about his own true character, and becomes embroiled in a centuries-long and deadly battle between King Rat and the Ratcatcher.

The book is beautifully written. It reads as if written by someone totally in love with language, and I was surprised to find out it was Mieville’s first book – it seems like a much more accomplished novel. Although he was writing essays and articles long before he published his novels.

I wonder if maybe at some point Gaiman and Mieville sat down and riffed on alternative Londons

There are definite shades of Mieville’s own Un Lun Dun and The Kraken, as well as Gaiman’s Neverwhere. This book, however, predates the first two by more than a decade and was published just two years after the Neverwhere TV show aired, so couldn’t have been influenced by any of these titles. I wonder if maybe at some point Gaiman and Mieville sat down and riffed on alternative Londons.

This is one of Mieville’s most accessible books and would work as a great introduction to his work. I read it in just five days. It’s full of action but also quintessentially Mieville’s New Weird.

My first knit-a-long: the great shawl mystery

The Roseroot shawl by Rohn Strong is a shawl pattern that arrives as separate clues; I’m really enjoying this sweet little mystery

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A knit-a-long is when several knitters all follow the same pattern, usually over a set period of time, and then compare the results. It can very local – a knitting group, maybe – or truly international, via Ravelry, for example. All participants can use the same yarn or choose their own, so the finished pieces might look completely different.

Until now I’ve never taken part in a knit-a-long. I’m not really sure why. But when I saw that a designer of lovely shawls that I follow on Twitter (@strongandstone) was running a knit-a-long I decided I would give it a go.

In the beginning: I've just started the first clue here.

This particular KAL has an extra layer in that it’s a mystery. An MKAL. This means that we don’t get to see what the finished object looks like in advance. We know it’s a lace shawl or shawlette, depending on how much of the pattern you decide to follow, but that’s it. It also means we don’t get the full pattern, instead it comes in separate stages, or clues, every Friday.

There’s something quite exciting and rewarding about watching a piece grow when you have no idea what it’s supposed to look like

I’m a bit behind as I’m still on clue three and clue five has already been released. That’s OK, though – I knit pretty quickly so I can catch up if I really want to. The stitch pattern for clue three is somewhat complicated and it’s really fun watching it knit up.

Clue four is where we decide whether to go for the shawl or shawlette. Those choosing the latter simply miss out this clue, taking a week off the knitting, and go straight to clue five. I’ve already decided I want to do the full shawl.

I’m really enjoying the MKAL. The pattern so far is lovely. I didn’t go for the suggested yarn; in fact I don’t think it’s available in this country (Rohn Strong is US based). But I did get one that’s very similar and is very gorgeous. It’s knitting up really well.

The shawl grows: clue 2 is well underway.

There’s something quite exciting and rewarding about watching a piece grow when you have no idea what it’s supposed to look like. Obviously it helps that the pattern is absolutely beautiful. I get the final clue today and hopefully will have the shawl finished by the end of the month. I will of course do a show and tell.

I’m sure this won’t be the last MKAL I take part in.

About halfway through clue 3. You can really see the different stitch patterns now.

The whole piece so far.

Review: Nymphomation by Jeff Noon

VERDICT: This alt-Manchester-set thriller and urban fantasy is exceptionally well written

This is an exceptionally hard book to review. Not because it's bad – it isn't, it's excellent – but because it's almost impossible to define what it's about.

Gambling? Definitely. It nicely sums up our seeming obsession with the National Lottery and Euromillions, the faith of the poor and the desperate that a game of chance will turn their lives around.

But it's about much more than that. Love, friendship, mystery, murder, maths and the idea that information creates more information – it reproduces, hence nymphomation.

It’s 1999 and Manchester is in the grip of a new gambling game based on dominoes – match your domino with the randomly chosen one to win. One side means a smaller win, getting both means winning big. Every Friday night the populace of Manchester hold onto their ‘bones’ and hope to match the winning numbers. A double six garners the best prize, while a double blank (the ‘joker bone’) is the booby prize – no one knows what it is, but everyone knows it’s bad.

A double six garners the best prize, while a double blank (the ‘joker bone’) is the booby prize

But of course there’s much more to it than that, and a small group of Mancunians are brought together to look at what really might be going on. What does the joker bone really represent? Who is the mysterious Mr Millions? What does all this have to do with groundbreaking yet dangerous maths research from the 70s? And what it the true nature of luck?

It’s hard to go into further detail without giving the game – pun intended – away. Suffice to say this is an exceptionally well written thriller crossed with urban fantasy. It’s part of Noon’s Vurt series, but doesn’t require the others to have been read.

On the needles: Rainbow blanket

My latest project is a crocheted blanket in a rainbow of colours

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I wasn’t meant to be starting another project (I still have a dress to knit and a blanket to crochet), but someone on a Facebook group I'm a member of advertised for sale a pack of acrylic in rainbow colours and my brain just went ‘That would make a great blanket!’ So I bought it.

I knew I wanted crochet rather than knitting, and I knew I wanted granny squares: something plain to show off the varigated nature of the yarn combined with something more lacy for interest. I found two suitable – and free! – patterns on Ravelry and started crocheting.

I knew I wanted granny squares – something plain to show off the varigated nature of the yarn combined with something more lacy for interest

I didn’t know how many squares I’d be able to make with a single ball of yarn, so it was really just a case of getting on with it and hoping I’d have enough squares to make a decent-sized blanket. I wanted one colour per row, and I figured I’d need two of the lacy squares and a minimum of four solid so that I could swap the positions of the former around in each row.

It turns out that I can get two lacy squares and five solid ones from each ball. Each square is 18x18cm and there are eight balls of yarn. That gives a blanket of 126x144cm, which is a pretty good size. I’ve done six of the eight balls so far, giving me 42 squares, of which 18 have been pinned out and blocked. I hate blocking, but the squares do look so much better afterwards, so I can’t help but think it’s worth the extra bit of effort.

Nine squares blocking.

What remains is the decision on how to border and join the squares. I see three options. One, no border – just join. The second option is to join the colours in a strip and then put a white border around each of these before joining them. Third would be a border around each square and then joining the squares. With each option I would finish by crocheting a white border around the whole blanket.

The first option would best preserve the rainbow effect and involve the least work, but the colours might not stand out enough and the effect of the lacy squares could be lost. I think the third one would look good, but the rainbow would be lost – it’s also the most amount of work.

Trying to picture the three options in my head, I think maybe the second could be a good compromise between one and three. A thin white border between each strip should make the different colours stand out and show of the lace squares, while preserving those rainbow shades that really were the whole point of the blanket in the first place. I would then add a slightly thicker, possibly even scalloped, white border around the whole thing. Decision made!

I might not enjoy the blocking, but the squares do look better, especially the lacy ones.

All sewn up: The Jane Deep V sweater

My latest finished project is a sweater that I designed to replace a worn-out but favourite item of clothing

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I recently put the final stitches in my Jane Deep V sweater. This is a sweater design based on Jane Norman piece I bought secondhand. The original was starting to fall apart and really needed replacing, so I took some measurements, bought some gorgeous alpaca yarn and started knitting.

I’ve changed a couple of things. The Jane Norman sweater has this thing at the front that I can only describe as an insert. I don’t really know what it’s there for – I guess it’s so that you can wear the sweater without something underneath, but why design a top with a deep V neck and then chicken out and put in that insert? It’s surely much better to keep the V and then use a different range of tops underneath to vary the look?

The Jane Deep V Sweater. It's very pink, and I'm not sure about the shoulder shaping, but overall, I'm
pleased with how it's turned out.

I also wanted more contrast between the collar, cuffs and hem and the main body of the piece, so I went for a pale pink for the latter and much brighter shade for the former.

It’s taken ages to finish this piece. It really has. Knitting the sweater was simple enough; it’s just a 2x2 rib for the edges and stocking stitch for the main body. But working out the maths to get that V right was complicated. Then I made a few mistakes as I went along and had to undo it several times. I forgot how to shape the sleeves at the shoulder, too, and had to redo those three times. I’m still not entirely happy with how they’ve come out. They look a bit puffy to me, but they’re close enough.

Can anything really be too pink?

I’m not sure about the colour either. I never thought I’d say this, but maybe it’s too pink? Can anything really be too pink? I’m not sure. The size and shaping are pretty spot on, though. It fits really well and I love the way I can change the look just by changing what I layer underneath. A plain black polo neck with jeans and I’ve got a work outfit; a lower-cut lace-fringed strappy top and I’m set for going out.

I’d quite like to make this again in different colours. I think white with black trimming would work well and allow for some really bright colours to be worn underneath.

Overall I’m happy with the result. I think it looks better than the Jane Norman sweater it’s based on. What do you think?

My take (left) on the Jane Norman sweater (right). I think I prefer my version, although I might be biased.