Last week, I wrote about using fake Fair Isle: the knitting looks, vaguely, like Fair Isle, but the patterns are created using slip stitches.
These are some squares I made last year for a throw. You can see that the patterns are not truly like Fair Isle, but they are an easy way to handle colour work without disrupting your tension.
I was pleased that @phoenixwren asked me about this, as I had abandoned these squares, half assembled, and his query prompted me to get them out, take apart and start again.
One silly thing I had done was to block the squares by pressing them. As this yarn is made with a hollow centre, giving maximum insulating properties, that was a bit daft :) I also wasn't happy with the way the seams looked on the connected squares - a bit bulky and clumsy.
It was interesting looking at them again and realising how much my technique and confidence has grown since I knitted these. Anyway, they've been through the cool rinse and spin cycle, and plumped up again, so I can have another go at putting them together.
Meanwhile, my next top-down cardigan is going well:
The neckline is just where I want it and I'm about halfway down the yoke. This cardigan is taking longer than the previous one, with a knit row taking about 20 minutes and a purl row about 30 minutes. I also make lots of mistakes, but the good news is that they are easy to spot and correct on the return row.
I'm really pleased with the texture. Sometimes, I just sit and stroke it (only when I'm on my own, of course, at least I think I haven't done it in public).
You might have seen this project by @steevc to grow more minnows (and eventually, more dolphins). He's come up with lots of ideas about how we can do this, and today
@slobberchops has published an SBI giveaway and votes from @chops.support post where you can nominate people to receive sbi shares. Please do have a look!