- a newer pdf reader, which means I've been able to Dropbox (OK, three apps) some patterns onto the iPad, rather than having to print them out - this being something I had always hoped would be useful. FastPDF failed me miserably, but it turns out the iBooks app has an area that works better. Just better.
- a task manager app, on which I have listed all my outstanding knitting projects. Task manager apps are, however, about as useful as to-do lists, since they waste time being written out and they don't make you use them effectively, or get the tasks done...
Despite all this, the distractions, and my apparent silence, knitting has been happening, just on a much depleted scale to previously. My senior manager has introduced me to podcasts - she's about the only person who has wanted to discuss the iPad with me, without groaning - so I've been watching Carpool while I knit. :)
So here are the updates:
- Having given up on the original plan with fake Noro due to concerns about quantity, I've now used some of it to create the "corset waistband" for Vogue knitting's 'Cinched Waist Top':
It just looks a little bit like a patterned scarf for a wide but tiny necked person at the moment. The problem I have found with the fake Noro is the uniformity of the colour changes, the stripes, which give it too much of a solid, organised look, rather than a creatively chaotic vibe. But never mind. I'm still arguing with myself over whether to use the light purple or blue wool to make up the rest of the pieces. Originally I was going to use the blue to entirely mimic the original pattern. But I thought the purple blended better with the colour mix. I'm now not convinced this is the case, and I'd seen a pattern in Sensual Knits in blue that I fancied giving a go instead. Well, that's yet another story, since I originally thought I'd give the McQueen Sweater a go:
But I've now had a slightly less enthusiastic result with a very similar pattern (*see below), so that freed up the blue. Except that I still quite like the Multiplicity Jumper:
amongst others... Anyway, I've plenty of time to make a decision yet...
- The 'Lacey Neck Pullover', also from Vogue Knitting, which I've previously been calling green summer crop top, is finished! It's actually far better than I expected, although I suspect that was partly because I gave up totally on the whole crochet thing and passed it over to my mother - and even she admitted the crochet instructions were nonsense! She didn't make as many crochet flowers as the original pattern suggested, but I don't think that matters at all:
And, perhaps a little more shockingly, it even fits!
Obviously, there are the usual problems of knitting mistakes, and the fact that it's green and I therefore have very little I can wear with it. But other than that, it's one of my more successful pieces!
- Also finished this weekend is the brown jumper from Phildar, my first Recycle-balls project. Just to reiterate, this is what it should look like:
No, of course it doesn't look like that!! Having readily allowed my dad to take the iPad off my hands for a few hours last weekend, I managed to get all the pieces finally completed, to this stage:
And after much disappointed procrastination, I finally got it all sewn together this weekend.
Here's a long-winded review:
It used two different sized needles, which was an interesting experience and not altogether disastrous.
I used the recycled wool from the old brown jumper, but discovered that unpicking a machine knitted jumper that was, in fact, highly flawed in its original creation was a nightmare. It resulted in a lot of knots combining threads. Initially I'd thought these looked endearing, but after a while they just looked tatty. I've trimmed them down as best I can, but I highly suspect this will be another hand knit that falls apart in the washing machine!
Naturally, being a knit by me, the sizing was all wrong - the wool, amount available for me to use and type, and the needles which were the closest approximation I had at the time, resulted in what I hopefully called a 'cropped' effect. In the end, it's turned out longer than I'd expected, albeit still short.
The neckline was a nightmare to get right - and a nightmare I've awoken from with failure stitched to it! This is the reason I strongly suspect the *above mentioned McQueen Sweater won't fare any better!
Also, I sewed up the back incorrectly, so the wrong pattern is showing, but by the time I'd realised this the collar was already in place and I could not even begin to contemplate unpicking something that's taken me an age to complete!
Any pluses? Well, it does fit... But then it would be hard-pressed not to fit me considering it's baggy and has a very wide neckline!
- Finally, the next Recycle-balls project: I've gone back to Haiku Knits - ironically whilst watching all the tragedy unfolding in Japan yesterday - and am finally going to make a start on Snowflake:
I'm using an old polo neck jumper that I do actually like, but just never wear anymore, as I'm not as fond of high polo necks anymore. 
It's currently taking on a - shall we say, rustic? - look. I think rustic is my new word now; it basically means very roughly made... ;) Much of my knitting is rustic... ;)
Postscript: This morning, in the sunshine, a few more flowers and leaves appeared:
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