Behind the scenes

Another week has flown by and I still have nothing that I can show for it. I've been tinkering away behind the scenes, working on something to raffle for a Red Cross/Japan fundraiser and a new pattern.

But I've nothing to show you, except the bits of knitting machine experimentation I've done in fits, starts, dribs and drabs over the last week or two.

I've made a (seriously flawed) set-your-teeth-on-edge-squeaky acrylic rainbow scarf with a small girl. I've tried cut-and-sew experiments with cotton yarn.
I've tried throwing the cut-and-sew experiment through a clean-it-or-kill-it cycle in my gung-ho front-loader.

Despite a few fluffy ends poking through, it looks like it'll survive. I'm going to try a tighter, wider overlock and give it another go. This area has enormous potential..... (insert little squeal here...).

And then there was a spot of experimentation with food colourings and machine-knitted lengths.

This piece (below) was knitted in cream coloured yarn. I gave it a food-colouring bath and turned it budgie-green (eek!). Another bath (this time with RED in it) resulted in a tweedy, mossy green. Lovely. (Insert more squeals). On Thursday night, the incredibly generous and kind Angela showed me how to clean and service my machine. She loaned me a new sponge bar and showed me how to do some fancy-schmantzy stuff.

I'm a bit excited about the prospect of being able to create shape on the machine, but so far the wee girl and I are trying out pattern cards.... great fun.

Next week, I hope to have more results on the surface of things as well as some bits of yarny fun on the side.

But I'm pretty sure there will be a fair bit of yarny fun on the side.