Knitting
Jumpers/cardigans
My jumper is progressing well. From the front I’m happy with it, the back looks a bit oversized which I think is how the short rows are lying and I’m hoping when I block it that will sort it out. Its oversized in comparison with the model picture and I could maybe have gone down another size but this is pure wool and may shrink a bit when washed so probably good to be a little bigger to start.
The neckline is a little too wide for my liking and because it is twisted rib I’m not sure I’ll be able to pick up stitches and knit it in the other direction.
I’ll finish the sleeves first and then make a decision. I suspect the fit is going to end up like Turtle Dove (which I’ve made 3 of) so looser than the designer intended but a comfortable fit for wearing.
Spinning
I’ve been a bit hit and miss with my spinning during tour de fleece but when the Guild team have had calls I’ve been joining and spinning for a couple of hours.
I spun and plied some peach coloured baby camel and silk on my Nano. I usually ply on one of my manual wheels and will do that in future as I do find the Nano isn’t great at plying. This is 2 ply Sport weight.
On my Ashford Traveller I spun some other advent colours of the baby camel and silk. One a multi coloured (3 ply Worsted), a turquoise that needs plying and a blue I’ve started spinning. (I’ll share those next week when they are plied.)
Weaving
Rigid heddle loom
2.5 years ago I put some Harris tweed warp on my 10″ loom, it had about 20 rows woven and then sat there doing nothing. So I have removed the warp and wrapped it around some cardboard. I want to sample the WYS Merino/Silk lace weight yarn I have, with the aim to make a diamond stripe pattern scarf/shawl. I’ve only used 8/2 cotton when making the tea towels in this pattern so want to see what size reed I should be using with the thicker yarn.
Other News
I went to see the latest Mission Impossible movie which I really enjoyed. More laugh out loud bits than I remember from the earlier movies.
I start my new job on Tuesday so my nerves are now kicking in.
My husband turns 50 this week so we have a meal out planned for that evening. I keep trying to encourage him to celebrate a bit more, seeing as I totally milked mine last year with trips to Canada, USA, Copenhagen and some UK trips too. 😂🤣
The weather has been a little more typical Highland summer this week with cooler temps and rain. Belladrum Tartan Heart festival is on in a couple of weeks so I’m really looking forward to that and hoping it dries up a bit before then. We have been extremely lucky in previous years to have sunny and warm weekends for it…the long range forecast says rainy…fingers crossed that changes. Could be worse, it could be 40⁰C+ like they are getting in a lot of Europe at the moment. I’d definitely take rain over that heat.
This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group is in its 13th year, but this is my 6th year participating. If you would like to find more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry, as you’d be very welcome to join us. (There are 53 Sundays this YOP year, it happens sometimes!).
HighlandHeffalump 
That sweater is beautiful but I hope you manage to work out the neckline. I have a lovely jumper in a similar style that I never wear because 1) the neckline was ridiculous even though the rest of the pattern worked well and 2) I tried unpicking and picking up the stitches but it’s a bit of a mess so I still don’t wear it even though it’s smaller. I need to just bite the bullet and unravel it all. What don’t you like about plying on the nano? I hope it hasn’t affected your finished yarn too much. I don’t envy Europe next week. We were in the 30s in Belgium last week and that was hot enough! It wasn’t as horrifically humid as Wales though so it didn’t feel too bad in the shade.
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The uptake on the Nano can be tricky even with singles and finding the sweet spot for getting enough twist and it to take up the fibre onto the bobbin is a challenge. It is much easier on the manual wheels. The finished nano plied one is softly twisted so the yarn feels incredibly soft, but took ages. I did wonder if I could unpick the neckline but sounds like that would be a mess. I could pick up the neckline at where the existing one joins the main jumper and just do it over the top of the existing one, then if that works I could then maybe unravel the original. I don’t know, I’ll see how enormous the neckline is once it has the weight of the arms on too!
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I’m sure a better (and more patient!) person could make it work, but it was beyond my skill set. And I love the pattern. I’ll add it to my projects for this year to redo it.
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You have been busy, I do love the blue in your sweater, and the camel/silk spinning looks so luxurious! We have also had a cool and rainy summer, a welcome respite from the last five hot and dry ones. I hope you enjoy your new job and settle in quickly.
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The blue on the sweater is a stunning color. It just looks beautiful. I am a keep going kinda knitter if I think a project is not working out. Usually after blocking and sometimes having the finished object sit in time out I find I do actually like it and wear it with pride.
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Love your jumper. What a shame the size might be off. Ideas for the neck – use the contrast color to pick up stitches. Then the different direction for the ribbing looks like a design element? You could chose to have a few rows of contrast color to the sleeve cuffs and hem is you want them to match the collar. Or knit a collar in the main color and graft it to the current one. Your spun yarns look luscious. Your green/yellow/red one looks a lot like the yarn I bought last week for my Twisted Tee. Hope you have a wonderful birthday dinner with your hubby.
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Oh that sounds like a good plan as I have a lot of the pale left. Thanks
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Wow, your sweater is really coming along, so pretty. Oooohhh love the yarn, looks so soft and lofty!
We’s been in the middle 80’s F which is doesn’t seem to bad but the humidity has been horrendous, I step out of the shower and feel like I need to step right back in!! I shouldn’t complain my grand daughter lives in AZ and they have been round 115 F.
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Oh goodness that sounds way too hot 🥵
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It is but they don’t have any or very little humidity so tho it’s hot it doesn’t feel as hot as with humidity, some shade and a wind blowing and you feel much cooler. I miss out west!!
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I love your sweater! I’ve managed to tighten up necklines slightly by adding an I-cord edge after they were finished. It keeps the ribbing open but doesn’t let it stretch too much so the weight of the sweater doesn’t pull it open. I’m not sure how good it will look with twisted rib, but you can try it out on a sleeve to see if you like it.
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Oh that’s an interesting idea. I may give that a go.
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I’ve had to play around to decide how many stitches to put into the Icord. It depends on how much you want it to be a design element. Even a two stitch Icord works.
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Your jumper is really pretty. I like my clothes a bit looser and maybe that is because it is so darn HOT here most of the year. That way I don’t feel smothered. Your spun fiber looks yummy. The camel colored has a very rich look to it. Maybe I should move to Scotland for the summer months. It is going to be 117F (47C) today. This is the hottest July I can ever remember. June is usually our hot month but it was fairly mild this year. I am melting LOL.
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Oh goodness, stay cool indoors x
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Your sweater is stunning! The blue yarn is so pretty. Your stitches are perfect. I hope it all works out so you love it when you’re done. Your spinning is lovely and different colors for you for a change. I really like that sweater pattern….I am so tempted but I have so many projects on the go at the moment. Wish your husband a happy birthday! What k ind of job did you get? Good luck!
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Thanks Sam. It’s a part time doing the accounts for a small local business.
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Good luck tomorrow! Your spinning looks lovely (of course) and the sweater looks beautiful. I hope you can work out the potential fit issues.
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Thanks Lucy
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The baby camel and silk looks beautiful – is the camel more slippery to work with than wool or are they about the same? I’ve mainly been working with Hampshire Down again this week, but did experiment with Rose fibre and hemp, which are polar opposites of each other in terms of handling, but it was nice to have a challenge! Wishing you the best of luck with your new job.
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Glad you’ve been enjoying the Tour at your own speed. Your jumper is looking great. Good luck with your new job – I hope it’s everything you want it to be!
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Thanks very much, me too 🤞
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Your jumper is beautiful! As is your spinning, of course 🙂 Can’t wait to hear all about your new job and Belladrum! Happy Birthday to your DH 🙂
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Hope the birthday celebrations for your husband are fun! My spouse doesn’t “do” his birthday, so I get him useful stuff for the house. Like a new handheld vacuum, or a new coffee maker.
I love the sweater, even if the neckline isn’t all you hoped for.
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Your jumper is so beautiful, I just love that yoke.
Hope your new job is going well so far.
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