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When working ribbing, ever had that loose knit stitch before you change to purl? It’s a common problem. The reason it does it this is because the way a purl stitch is worked, it uses a little bit more yarn than a knit stitch and the excess moves into the last knit stitch and makes it loose. It’s the same reason why rowing out can happen for some – when you’re working stocking stitch and your purl rows look bigger than your knit rows. Rowing out doesn’t always happen, it’s often a combination of yarn fibre, tension and knitting technique. There is a way around this and there are quite a few tutorials out there on how to fix this. I’ll show you how in a minute but the basic idea is that if you combination purl that first purl stitch after your knit stitch, it will tighten things up. A normal purl involves wrapping the yarn anti-clockwise around the needle and a combination is wrapping the yarn clockwise. This uses less yarn though it does mean the stitch sits on the needle backwards, so

While on holiday I made a Wee Envelope by Ysolda Teague . I really, really loved making this pattern. It’s really clever but quite easy. I ended up working it on magic loop, that way I didn’t have to worry about using stitch holders and it made it easy to pick up the stitches again. I used Malabrigo Arroyo and I absolutely loved the yarn too. It was soft and squishy, it’s a semi solid so the colour has great depth too. I definitely want to make myself something in this yarn. I enjoyed it that much I made another one in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino . Malabrigo Wee Envelope Project Page Baby Cashmerino Wee Envelope Project Page

So 2nd instalment…. One day, we had a day trip to the Isle of Skye. The journey there is just so picturesque. We’d heard about a coral beach right at the top of the Isle of Skye. It was so pretty and the sea was turquoise. And it really was made of coral. Those mitts came in handy when we were up a mountain. How about this for extreme knitting? Mr has got some wear out of a vest I made him. I made it quite some time ago but it was one of those projects that went a bit wrong. It recently went under some sweater surgery and it’s now a firm favourite. Pattern: Laredo Ravelry project page . There’s more detail on the surgery on the project page. Mr has a thing about balancing rocks. I think it’s to occupy him while I take numerous photos. Pretty cool though. Oh and another yarn shop trip. On the way down, we went to Stirling Castle and happened to drop into McAree Brothers in Stirling.