Still Reclaiming the Hipness of the Knit

A few of you (very few of you I suspect) may have been around last summer when I started a one woman campaign to 'Reclaim the Hipness of the Knit' which revolved around getting Zane Lowe to say the 'knit' word during his radio programme. (Zane presents a specialist music programme - generally new music - very hip and trendy.)(I think when Zane pictures his audience it's full of old-ish knitters.) Anyway - you'll recall my euphoria at successfully getting him to say 'knit' not once, but TWICE. Fast forward a few months to Zane's annual 'Masterpiece' season and -- I've made it to the website! (scroll down to the 'Your Masterpieces' section) (Tonight is the final night of the Masterpieces season - Guns 'n Roses Appetite for Destruction -- I guess I'll have to whip up a scarf for Axl Rose.)

And just to prove that I was indeed knitting while listening to Zane - here are the socks I completed on Tuesday while listening. (I confess they aren't for the members of Public Enemy, they are for my Mom.)(Who has never to my knowledge, rapped or indeed listened to what I suspect she'd call 'Hippity Hoppity' music.)

They are from Favourite Socks, made with Dream in Colour Smooshy yarn.

I like the pattern, easy to remember but fun to knit. It has a scalloped rib cuff, which is cute but I'm not sure the socks will stay up!!


A few days ago Batty posted pictures of some socks she had just finished and they reminded me how much I love self striping/patterning yarn. So last night while settling into The Apprentice (UK version) I cast these on. (And really, what was Alan Sugar thinking??? That has to be the biggest board room injustice EVER.)

Plain round and round knitting. Lovely.

And finally I present this disappointing scarf.

Last Thursday I went to check out iKnit's new location near Waterloo Station. It is way more convenient for me and I'm soooo pleased they made the move. The new shop is lovely and as welcoming and cosy as ever.

Anyway, while I was there I was tempted by two skeins of really lovely Tilli Thomas silk yarn pre-strung with beads. It looked so gorgeous I had to have some.

Not content with just having it - I wanted to make something that made the most of the sheen of the silk and sparkling beads.

I faffed around with quite a few lace patterns on the weekend and really struggled to find something that worked. (This was made more pleasant by 3 hours of David Tennant as Casanova. It was very funny, and DT was as charming as you'd expect.)

After many aborted attempts I ended up with this simple pattern. I crocheted a ruffle on each end and I'm totally underwhelmed by the finished object.

Blah.

Lesson for the week:
Simple yarn - you have a million ways to make it special.
Special yarn - there is no where to go but down!!