The Back

I've finished knitting the back of my cotton top. I'm only knitting in the evenings, so it's going quite slowly, but that's fine. I used Elizabeth Zimmerman's percentage method to work out how many stitches to cast off for the shoulders - one third for each shoulder and the neck. 

Colours

 I like choosing colours, deciding which colours to put together, be it with beads or yarn or tatting thread. But I know not everyone feels the same. An article I read recently from Interweave Press gave advice to those who are anxious about choosing colours. One suggestion was to look at Nature. Good idea. A look around my garden suggests that, really, in Nature anything goes. 

Learning

 

I'm working on another link necklace, learning as I go. First of all, a circumference of five beads is better than one of six. It just feels less chunky. I started off with a pattern I'd been thinking about, that turned out to be a mistake. Luckily I could turn it into a key ring. The pattern is one that overcomes bias, so that the flowers are all in a line. That results in a 'double pattern', with flowers on one side and zig zags on the other. Not so good for the links. I prefer the spiraling effect. The pattern I'm using is called Flowers by SnowMirna. Here's the key ring:

Linked

 

The links necklace is done. It goes over my head, no problem. I have some ideas for more necklaces like this.....

Pin Attrition

 

I like to use glass headed pins so that if I drop a pin, I can find it again. Nevertheless, my pins always seem to dwindle over time. Eventually I get to the stage where I don't have enough to pin out an entire dress pattern. Time to break out the reserve packet! 

Slowly Adding Links

 

It takes an hour and a half to make each link, so it's a slow process. I worked out how to make a clasp, but I think that a continuous chain that goes over the head is a better option, so I still have a way to go. 

On Track

 

I used one ball of cotton yarn for each sleeve. I have four balls each for the back and the front, which is fine. On I go....