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You'd be forgiven for thinking it was Winter in these parts, rather than mid Summer, given all the knitting of late. I can't seem to see my way to any other craft. I do believe a part of me is trying to fit in as many stitches as I can before the baby comes.

These wrist warmers made it off the needles yesterday. My first every double pointed needle project and a great way to learn. Definitely one I would encourage others with a fear of dpns to try. They were much simpler than anticipated, quick and satisfying. My next step is more practice, in order to alleviate the 'ladders' formed where the needles meet, which are visible when worn. This article also seems like a great place to start.

The little man has been wearing these around the house and waving his arms around like some sort of woolly action hero, exclaiming 'mine, mine!' Which may explain why he kept asking 'knit for me?' while I was working on them. He seems to have ignored all my "no, they're for Mama" answers.

Free Pattern: Toast

Yarn: Harmony 10 ply, 100% Pure NZ Merino Wool

Ravelry.

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Part of the appeal crafting has for me, apart from the practical outcome and sense of satisfaction at creating with your hands, is the challenge. I find this especially so with knitting, probably because I always considered myself to be someone who couldn't really knit. But the last twelve months I have been changing that. Each new pattern I undertake is a learning curve and each achievement can then be built upon. There's still so much to learn. So many beautiful techniques that all stem from the simple knit and purl stitches. Many of which seem more than a little intimidating.

One such technique is knitting with double pointed needles. It seems like a difficult undertaking with only two hands and all those needles, added to the possibility of twisted stitches. So in order to overcome that fear I've started my first project knit in the round, a pair of wrist warmers, with thanks to Kate, who suggested we undertake this pattern together. After half an hour of fiddling this morning and the 'help' of a toddler, I managed to cast on, divide onto three needles and knit my first rows on double pointed needles. Feeling that sense of satisfaction indeed, and hoping at the same time that I can repeat those steps for the other half of the pair of wrist warmers...

Pattern: Toast

Yarn: Harmony

Ravelry.