Black on Black

Now, every knitter cherishes the idea that they can learn to knit in their sleep.  Every knitter who has fallen asleep over their knitting has examined it anxiously, to see if there’s been any developments while they were sleeping.  Most of the time there isn’t.

I think I’ve come close to this nirvana though.  I mean: knitting, with black wool, in the dark, on the M25 (one of the more soporific roads that the unwary passenger can travel along).  I may as well have been asleep for all that I could see of what I was doing.

“I must be mad.” I remarked

“Oh, it could be worse,” the driver replied.  “You could be knitting cabled gloves.”

“It’s a cabled headwarmer.”

And with that, I switched the torch which was cunningly clutched between my knees back on, and bent my brain to crossing six stitches at high speed, so as not to reflect on the windscreen too much.  I tell you, this sort of thing is much easier when there’s a conveniently located lorry, with scary-bright headlights tailgating the car.  Less strain on the shoulder muscles, you see.

It is only a matter of time before I do start knitting in my sleep.  In the meantime: these would have made it much easier in the dark…. I must get some for the next time I’m knitting in the pub.

~x~

Meet Trudy

Trudy is a Tetrahymena, knitted by the Bookish Girl, who very kindly agreed that I could post her picture on this site, and link to her blog.

This picture is © The Bookish Girl, 2006

Le tricot parisien

Everyone, but everyone should go for lunch in Paris once in their lives.  And while there, I believe that they should knit.  There are some more photos from the sojourn, but here are my two favourites…

Knitting at l’Union de Cercle Interalliée: to be followed very closely by… the Long Tall Barrister wearing the finished item:

There followed a rather delicious wander round Paris.  I present (and I’m sorry that I was pulling odd faces.  I kept wanting to giggle).  Photos are courtesy of Michael… he’s going to Cross Costa Rica next year, and raise heaps of money for the Prince’s Trust.  And should be sponsored.

Knitting outside le Palais de l’Elysée. 

On the Champs Elysées (this is a much better picture, the Arc de Triomphe is happily visible, and my eyes are open).

And on the Metro… horribly blurry owing to the fact that the train was moving.

The first picture on this post is © James Scott 2006.  The second picture is © Jane Berry 2006, and the final three are © Michael Scott 2006, all used by kind permission of the copyright holders.

The latest in fair isle

Judith, makes these fantastic fair isle decorated undies:  currently she sells them on eBay as jc.designs, but she’s in the process of setting up her own business website.  They are awesome.  I chose my six favourites from the email she sent.  Click to make them full size. All pictures in this post are © jc.designs 2006

               

Extreme Location

Not half an hour after this photograph was taken, it started to hail.  Horizontally.  This is the top of Mam Tor, in the Derbyshire Peak District…. very easy to top as a location I am sure.

Turning the Heel

(Extreme knitting on the 274 bus: I am sure someone else can do better) 

You have no idea how tricky it is to deal with turning a heel on public transport, when the woman sat next to you is so angled that she’s taken over half your seat, meaning that, in order not to elbow her in her ample ribs, you must attempt to squish your left elbow somewhere between your right arm and the side of the bus.  Attempting a purl-three-together-through-back-of-loop under these conditions is asking for trouble.  However, I am brave, I will attempt anything.  And, I appear to have succeeded.  The heel of the first sock was turned, and, in approximately six rows time, will be completely turned.  At which point I shall be able to contemplate the seven inches of leg to be knitted before I get to the ribbing at the top.  The sock is enormous; the recipient’s feet are a full two inches longer than mine.  This  makes modelling them extraordinarily difficulty….The lace pattern looks quite sweet, though, it makes nice wavy lines in the stripes of the sock.  Yum.

An Extreme Item

Knitted Haggis with crocheted hat and hand pleated kilt.

What we are, and what we do

It all began when the Long Tall Barrister sitting on my left remarked that what the world really, really needed was a website full of extreme knitting: Extreme Knitting Dot Com.  The Enthusiastic Rugby Player on my right promptly agreed, and followed up with a story about the knitted fishnet stockings he’d happened upon, quite by accident and he doesn’t know how, while he was surfing the net one day.  Despite the fact that the suggested URL has already been taken (go look), the idea had been firmly planted, so here we are.

I guess, if you’re going to go knitting in the foyer of an International Law firm, this is what you can expect to happen.  Barristers will insist on having ideas at you.  Particularly when the receptionist informs said Long Tall Barrister that you are ‘waiting in reception (knitting).’

So.  This is me.  And you.  And anyone else you can think of.  It’s about Extreme Knitting, whether that’s the heel you turned on the bus with only eight inches of elbow room, or the hat you knitted on the top of a mountain: or maybe it was the tassled thong you created for a departing colleague and the lacey stockings that drive your man wild: perhaps it’s the knitting you did in the foyer of the law firm, or the Carlton Club, or at the Last Night of the Proms.  I am guilt of most of these charges, plus a few more which I’m  yet to admit to.

Once a week, I will post something: and, hopefully, by the time I get to next week, someone else will have a good tale, or a picture, to contribute.  Email extremeknitting@googlemail.com to contribute.  Rejoice in being an Extreme Knitter.  Unlike ‘YouKnitWhat’, we’re celebrating here, not poking fun.

Jane