I thought I'd update you on the progress of my first knitted toy. It's virtually finished, in under a fortnight! I really am impressed at how quickly Alan's pattern has come together, and how well the whole thing has worked. I didn't think I'd enjoy the making up at all, and while I have to confess to not enjoying making the fingers (mattress stitching something 5sts wide really isn't working for me) the rest has gone like a dream.
Now it's sitting on my desk, and I'm not sure I want to let it go, but it has to be packed up and sent overseas for a swap. I might make another one for myself, and a friend has requested one too!
I've really benefitted from knitting for the two swaps I'm doing – not in terms of things received (I haven't received anything to date, but then I haven't posted anything either!), but in terms of pushing myself to try new skills. My first toy, my first fair isle, all that practice purling into the back of stitches... You should definitely give it a go. It's a lot different from charity knitting, where you want to knit something nice but are largely governed by your own tastes because you know nothing about the recipient apart from that they need what you're making. With a swap, you know the recipient's likes and dislikes and so it's very important to try to get it right, which could mean learning new things.
Monday August 17, 2009 
