Library days and new tries

The cleaners were here this morning so I wasn't.

I took my pinloom off to the library.

And wove a couple of squares, also put in a couple of puzzle pieces. The current gallery exhibit is more hopeful than exciting, so I didn't spend time on pictures and editing.

I did stop in the bathroom before I left, because I was wearing that eighteenth century adjustable skirt, and the light was good for a selfie.

It's quite floofy, and works nicely. I like it with the black top. It's hard to see the painting on the top, copper acrylic, it's subtle.

At home I looked at the current square collection.

 The yarn size makes a difference to the finished size as you see. The loom is 4x4, but the pins are set in from the edges so the bigger squares are 3.5x3.5. The smaller ones are nearer 3x3.

Yesterday I found out about a different, much simpler, toe up sock idea, and had to try it today. 

Here's how it was described in Modern Daily Knitting 

I dreamed about this last night, figuring out the numbers and rows so that it would develop into a proper sock toe.

I thought I'd need to increase as I went, and found it's much simpler. You knit a garter stitch square, pick up all the stitches round the edges and there you go.

I did the math relating to my favorite toe up sock, sixteen stitches and ridges. Because you have four equal sides, your total stitch requirement is divided by four. Then when you pick up, you already have the right stitch count, wheeee!

So I had to try it 

Here's the knitted square, with one side picked up 

And here's the toe under way, all stitches picked up and knitted, and stockinette stitch is happening now. This is already the right stitch count, no need for increasing.

One needle has twice the stitches of each of the others, because that's where I'll shape the heel when I get there. Probably shortrow unless another idea shows up.

This is so simple. I'm glad I found it. Knitters, do you use this method? I don't mind garter stitch in this soft yarn, but I might not use it with a coarser yarn, less comfortable. 

So there's today's exploits. I skipped the Friday knitting group because I was out all morning, didn't feel like going out all afternoon on a hot day. High eighties. Nice, but not for rushing around.

Happy day everyone, try something new. Or fiercely refuse to. You do you!