Eight weeks ago, I got this book from the library. I enjoyed reading it, and thought the projects looked good. But I've never been one for knitting socks on 4 double pointed needles. Arne and Carlos wrote the book 15 years ago. It was a fun to read, but no way was i going to wrestle with those patterns.. And then last week, I dashed into Dereham Library to return some books and found they have recently written a follow-up.
The guys started designing more patterns for balls during lockdown, and this collection of 65 balls, [plus seven recipes for Norwegian Christmas biscuits] was published in the autumn. Maybe I could have a go, I thought. And then I remembered a "flat gift" Kirsten sent me a while back [along with a pattern and some lovely blue sock wool] These are addyCraSyTrio needles. They are a set of three amazing double pointed, folding needles, designed for knitting small diameter patterns [like socks] I wondered if I could attempt a ball.
I decided to attempt a one colour sphere and get the hang of the structure before I embarked on a two colour design. After 3 evenings, with much unravelling and reknitting, I'd got this...
Now I understand how the four section sphere comes together [the motifs repeats 4 times round the ball] And I can see how to stuff it into a globe. Maybe I will attempt a red and white patterned ball. I think it would take me a week to make one The
Website has lots of links to their YouTube site.
Watch this space
Thank you all for your comments yesterday. Especially those from friends in the USA.
I'm so pleased you've found a use for the needles. I've watched A and C videos for years off and on. Their easiest ever sock pattern really is the easiest (no 'turning a heel ').
ReplyDeleteI must make time to watch a video or two
DeleteKnitting confuses me!!! This would defeat me!
ReplyDeletePlaying the gamelan would defeat me - we all have different gifts!
DeleteMy brain does not compute how to make a ball on those needles, you are a genius for managing it. :-)
ReplyDeleteConfession: the other side of the globe is nothing like as tidily knitted...it took twenty rows to get the hang of it. And I'm still not sure I could manage to incorporate a second colour. It may just be stripes rather than reindeer 🦌 or snowflakes 🌨️
ReplyDeleteThose needles work great for the balls. I have made too many of them and have even knitted two times instead of four for a flat ornament on the needles.
ReplyDeleteThat's a clever technique to get a disc instead of a sphere. Thankyou!!
DeleteIt's lovely but how on earth do those guys manage to make complicated patterns on the balls? True talent. I think plain colored balls stuffed with clean old tights would be wonderful for babies. JanF
ReplyDeleteI remember Princess Di saying that she used old tights to stuff toys when she worked at the kindergarten!!
DeleteWonders never cease! I always thought that to knit a ball you had to make little 5 sided pieces and join them.
ReplyDeleteI've not come across a one piece ball pattern before
DeleteThose knitted balls would make great Christmas ornaments and gifts. Not sure if I'd be able to figure out those knitting needles, though!
ReplyDeleteThey would indeed. But I'd be so slow to knit them ,I would have to start now for Christmas 2027!
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