Then, yesterday, while scrolling through youtube, I found a very short 13 second long video showing how to do the continental purl. This video was close up and slow enough for my brain to compute it, so I then taught myself how to do it.
I did a few rows of stocking stitch on some scrap yarn and it is twice as fast, for me, than the Norwegian purl stitch. I am as quick as when I am throwing stitches. I didn't have a good enough tension on the first few rows, but I worked out how to tension the working yarn so I am happy with it. I think I'll be knitting like this in the future.
I have also designed a pair of chunky knitted arm warmer gloves. I'm hoping to have the pattern ready in a few days.
I have also started crocheting a vest. The Tipperary Vest by Bonnie Barker in her Contemporary Celtic Crochet book. I have been looking for a vest/tank top pattern with cables for a while and looked through this book again. It did puzzle me a bit as it is worked up and down rather than bottom up. I don't think I'll have enough yarn for the sleeves to turn it into a cardigan and only just enough for the vest.
I am determined to use up more of my stash!