During the Tour de France I have been knitting a jumper for my elder daughter. There is only tonight to go and the Tour will be finished. I managed to finish the jumper today but I had to learn a new skill in order to finish the jumper. The skill I have mastered is Italian Bind off.
I have to admit that I became very frustrated when I first attempted it as I had to keep undoing what I had done as I lost the rhythm of the stitch. It took me a while before I eventually mastered what I was doing and I am pleased with the result.
I can’t believe that I have never come across this method of casting off in all the years I have been knitting. This is the finished jumper.
It was knitted on size 10.00mm needles so obviously a big stitch jumper. The pattern advised that I should use alternate skeins to avoid blocks of colour occurring so that added to the complexity as I had to swap skeins at the end of each round.
This is how the bind off looks.
Gippsland Granny 
Beautiful work. I hope you enjoyed Le Tour. What did you think of the amazing Wout Van Art? He really set Le Tour alight. It was great to see another nation winning the Yellow Jersey especially a Dane. Vingegaard a derserving winner. Le Tour had a sad start with the mass shooting in Denmark So I was delighted to see Vingegaard winning.
I think it was one of the more exciting editions of the Tour. I didn’t really enjoy the dominance of Team Sky, now Ineos Grenadiers in previous years.
I loved the excitement of Wout Van Art but also the unpredictability of Pogacar.
Are You watching Tour De France Femmes?
Yes it has been great. Also the women’s Euros, not forgetting the finals of the Irish Football championships and the Camogie and Hurling!!! It has been a wonderful few months of sports.
Absolutely loved the women’s tour. I hope it continues to build momentum. It will have such an impact on young girls to see women succeed in the predominantly man’s world of cycling.