KNITTING UP DULWICH ROAD

Seems a nice, easy place to start (over-confident already). These images give me a good idea of what I need to attempt. Let’s hope I can work it out.

The large image is the truest colour, although the Lido bricks and mortar visible from Dulwich Road are variable, and the other two images show more of the darker bricks that are included.

Resources

• Rowan Felted Tweed, shades Barn Red (196), Shadow (224) & Rose Quartz (206),
• Rico Essentials Organic Cotton, shade Silver Grey (18)
• 3.25mm knitting needles

What I did

• Cast on 46 stitches using 3.25mm needles
• Stocking-stitch and slip-stitch brick pattern, with 5-stitch x 4-row bricks
• Each row of bricks to strand just two shades
• Freestyle choice on shade pairings and the colour of each brick

I wanted to see if I could use stranded knitting and slip stitch simultaenously to mimic the irregular variegated bricks pattern. I think the result proves that it can work, but it’s not right yet.

What needs to change

• Mortar colour is too white, yellower colour needed
• Mortar yarn is too thick and the cotton strands split badly – I’ll be able to use it for stucco
• Brick pattern isn’t correct
• Colours too stark. I’m not going for absolute realism, but there is too much of the dark brick here, and the red should be eased.

For Test 2 / final

• Find a yellower 4-ply yarn for the mortar, and one that doesn’t split so badly
• Maybe reduce the knitting needles to 3mm, to enable few more bricks in 18x18mm square
• Adjust brick pattern, with alternating rows of long and short bricks
• Perhaps introduce one more reddish shade of Felted Tweed, if there is one; it will all be used

(See Test 2)