Time to Knit - Charity Challenge 2018 Part 2

Time to Knit - Charity Challenge 2018 Part 2

As promised in the last blog here is the same Baby Top only in the Green

Green Baby Top

This is the finished item complete with ends woven in and buttons added. I looked for some Green buttons but they didn’t look right so I just added some clear ones.

Green Baby Top Bottom Width

Unlike the one I knitted in the Dollymix this one I knitted using my natural tension. The final Width was 14.5cm. Therefore it is 1 cm wider than the first one.

Green Baby Top Height

The Height of the garment came out at 13.5cm.The Natural coloured one was only 12cms. Therefore it is 1.5cm longer from neck to bottom.

Baby Tops Like for Like

In the photograph above I have placed the Natural one over the top of the Green to show the difference.

Natural Mittens

I had a little yarn left over so I decided to make some mittens. I had great problems trying to get a pattern as they were mostly for new-borns or 0-3 months rather than preemie.

Unfortunately the tape slipped whilst I was trying to photograph the pair. I believe that when the Rib is folded they should be about 6-6.5cm. However I have clearly missed a row here so I thought rather than measure I would count rows for the Green mittens.

The picture below shows what is known as ‘a right pig’s breakfast’. The mitten on the left hand side is the one I knitted first. It looks a bit messy but that is the angle I photographed it at.

Green Mittens

The mitten on the right hand side is what I knitted last. Now I admit it looks tidier but there are two different types of mistakes in it. If you look at the Rib you can clearly see that I have somehow managed to miss a stitch somewhere and the Rib has slid across.

The second mistake was a real blinder. You knit the rib with 3.25 needles. Then on the next part you change to 4.5cm needles. Now I did this but when I came to cast off I found I was back on the 3.25 needles.

How I managed to do this I have no idea. The end result was I ended up with a loose slip pattern and a tight slip pattern. Oh well you live and learn.

Time to Knit - Charity Challenge 2018 Part 1

Time to Knit - Charity Challenge 2018 Part 1

I often take my knitting with me when I go out so I can get some work done without distractions. Whilst I was at a coffee morning having a cup of tea a gentleman spotted me knitting.

He asked if I ever knitted for charity and I responded on occasions. He asked if I he gave me a pattern would I knit some items for premature babies for the local hospital. I said I would and he gave me a pattern.

Natural DK Dollymix

The pattern was for a small premature baby top which was to be knitted from the top down. So I toddled off to my favourite knitting establishment Knit Nottingham for some wool. We decided on Dollymix DK

Cast on 37

Since I do not have a lot of time with my back log of projects I decided that I would time how long it would take me to knit. I therefore started the timing when I cast on.

Incidentally I started this project at 23.25pm. Not the best time to be starting an entirely new project but the temperature was so high I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep.

Row 8

I decided the best way to time would to be to finish one section then write down how long it had taken me. I marked after Row 8 as the next Row was more complicated. This section had taken 23 minutes.

Next Timing

I cannot remember exactly what Row this is because I cannot read my own writing. However at this point I think I should mention although I am timing it may not be 100% accurate.

The pattern states that this garment should take between 22g and 25g of yarn to make. Now the ball of yarn I am using is exactly 25g. In order to make sure I do not run out I am making my tension a little tighter. This means that I am knitting slower than usual.

Cast off 18

I noted another timing here as it was a very distinct section. I had to cast off two lots of 18 stitches to make the arm holes. This was after Row 25 and up to this point I have been knitting for 1 hour and 55 minutes altogether.

I decided that this was more than enough for one night and I would pick it up again on another day.

Small Top Cast Off

As you can see in the photograph above I have now finished the knitting part. This took me approximately 1 hour and 15 mins. This brings the knitting time up to 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Button Addition

I sewed in the loose ends and I found a couple of nice buttons off out local market and sewed them on. So I reckon if I said that the whole thing took 3.5 hrs that would be a good basis.

I am going to make another one only this time in Green. I think Eleanor said it was an Aran but don’t quote me on that.

Baby Top Natural Neck Width

I just wanted to get an idea of how big this top has come out. So I measured the Neck and it was roughly 5cm.

Baby Top Natural Bottom Width

Next I measured the bottom of the item and it came out at 13.5cm

Baby Top Natural Height

The Height from top to bottom was roughly 12cm. I will be able to compare these measurements against the Green Top.