Wednesday WIP: Don't be afraid to rip

This week has been dominated by deadline knitting and changing my mind. As I finished two projects last week, I decided I'd cast on for something new, even though I knew I had some urgent commission knitting coming up.

I had a hard time choosing my yarn. I had decided I wanted to use three colours but in the end I settled on only two as I decided a three skein project (sock yarns) would be too big and take too long. Both yarns are from La Bien Aimee.

Above are the three ideas I started. I didn't get past the swatching stage before I ripped it out and moved on. These are all good ideas and I may go with one of them later for another project but I wasn't feeling it for this design. And if I'm having doubts this early in the project, it's better to rip it out and start again.

I finally decided to do a triangular hap style shawl and I'm making good progress.

On Saturday I spent the morning writing up two patterns for one commission. I'm knitting one myself and the other one is knitted by one of my wonderful sample knitters. I cast on for my project at lunch time on Saturday. It's worked in the round so it's very quick. I knitted on it on and off on Saturday and on Sunday I knitted all afternoon and most of the evening - Simon was ill so I just had a quiet day. I spent a few hours knitting in the sunshine in the garden. On Monday I found out that the deadline wasn't as soon a I'd expected so I put it aside to work on the hap on Monday.

My first day of knitting in the garden this year.

Yesterday I was teaching a Two Socks At A Time class at Spin A Yarn so on Saturday I decided to cast on for a pair of socks. I'm using a cotton blend yarn and these socks will be for Emily as she's requested socks to go with her Doc Martens boots.                                                                                                                                                         

By the way, I'm teaching several workshops this summer at Spin A Yarn in Devon and at Artesano in Berkshire. Why not learn a new skill this summer. Check out my schedule here.    

Today I'll be alternating between the pink deadline project and the hap shawl. I've also got two pairs socks for me on the go. One pair, I've got 1/2 the second sock left to knit so I may have a go at finishing that this week too.

What's on your needles this week? Share in the comments below.

Next week is my 10 year Blogging Anniversary and I'll be having a few special offers next week to celebrate. At the moment, to kick of the celebrations, I'm offering 30% off my patterns in my Ravelry Pattern Shop. Use coupon code: 10 years. Valid until the end of May. 

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