Knitting Notions

November 21st, 2006

I don’t have a fancy knitting bag with all sorts of handy pockets and sections to travel with me. I have an inherited simple tapestry knitting bag, that has really served me well so far. It feels almost as if I could fit anything in it, like a Mary Poppins endless bag. It’s small enough to fit in my backpack, yet I’ve been able to fit 3-4 small projects at any one time. The only problem I’ve had with this, is keeping track of little things. I like to have a sewing tape measure, tapestry needles, spare row/stitch counter, and other small things with me. Just recently I started a new project that requires lots of stitch markers, so those need to go with me too.

While I was cleaning out the living room the other day, I found a tin from some Christmas chocolates that looked like it would work perfectly to fit these little notions in. It turns out it works great! If I ever get one of those little more-portable-than-scissors yarn cutters, I can fit that in there too. Now if only it would fit index cards, and I could put my abbreviated patterns in there too!

2 Comments | Categories: Knitting, Tips |

Purse-Pouch

November 17th, 2006

I finally got photos taken to put in the purse-pouch pattern, and the pattern is complete after several weeks procrastination. I have some things that I think can improve this item, like clips to allow the strap to slide, but I’m happy with what I have.

You can find the pattern below.

Comments Off | Categories: Knitting |

Afghan Plan

November 15th, 2006

The update so far on the Malabrigo afghan is that I have five squares complete. According to the plan I just recently worked out, I have 31 left to go. It’s all going to be worth it! The final dimensions of the blanket will be roughly 3.75′ x 4.5′, or a little more if I do a border around it. I shouldn’t let myself do this, but I’ve also calculated the final expense of all the yarn. Twelve skeins of Malabrigo comes to about $143 total. Phew! That’s an expensive blanket!

I was thinking that it would be nice to work out some sort of rainbow pattern for the myriad of colors that I’ve chosen at random. I have an orange, blue, green, and purple already, and think that a yellow, and red will fill it in nicely.

Comments Off | Categories: Knitting |

It’s All in the Twist!

November 14th, 2006

You know those pesky little uneven Vs, that look more like this: \| They drive me absolutely and completely insane. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I must mention it again. I much prefer the even, balanced, and symmetrical Vs to the crooked ones I occasionally get in my stockinette stitch. What makes it even more baffling is that I don’t always get these uneven Vs, only sometimes.

I tried to find a solution to the problem online, because I can only ignore it for so long. I found a whole bunch of answers, none of which suited me. The other day I was looking at my yarn, and examining the twist. I decided to see if the twist corresponded to the presence or lack of uneven Vs, and it did! I only examined three pieces, but I’m convinced that this is the cause of my problem. The two plied yarns have an S-twist, and no uneven Vs in the stockinette using those yarns. The single ply (Malabrigo) has a Z-twist, and the resulting stockinette stitch creates Vs uneven enough for me to notice. This will require some further research, but I have a feeling the answer’s all in the twist!

Unfortunately there’s nothing I can do about it to really solve the problem. Unless I was willing to take the spindle to the Malabrigo and attempt to twist it into an S-twist…

Comments Off | Categories: Knitting |

Fiber Heaven

November 9th, 2006

I picked up my new roving order today, and this is my second purchase from Maine Woods Yarn from Etsy. I can’t believe how wonderfully soft this stuff is. The shades of green roving that I bought was the same blend of wool, but it wasn’t nearly this silky and smooth. I spun up a little bit as a tester earlier, and it just glides right through my hands. I bought the natural color because I thought that it would be fun dyeing it later, but I don’t know if I can bring myself to do it. I’m falling in love with the natural color.

I decided to do things a bit differently this time. I’m tearing the wool into roughly 1″ wide strips, of several feet long. I think having little bits that I can wrap around my wrist and do a little bit every day will help me better practice my technique. If I do a little bit here and there, instead of excitedly doing it all at once, may result in a better yarn. We’ll see.

I’m really anxious to spin up another bundle that I prepared, because it’s just so soft.

More good news, I finally finished another pair of socks! I was so excited to put these on once I finished, that I changed socks right in the cafe I was knitting.

1 Comment | Categories: Knitting, Spinning |

Notes on “Vintage Beaded Gloves”

November 7th, 2006

I’ve finished one glove for a pair that I’m knitting as a Christmas gift. I must say I feel a sense of accomplishment, and slightly less worried about having enough time to knit 3 more of these things before Dec. 25.

First, some notes on the pattern for Vintage Beaded Gloves from Handknit Holidays. I’ve you’ve been reading all along, you’ll know my problems with the cuff, and how much pain it was causing. The yarn has little to no stretch, so doing the twisted stitches as a tight knitter was hell. Fortunately for me I’m not averse to changing things up a bit to suit me. Unfortunately for me I thought the twisted stitch pattern used in the original was beautiful. I shall have to save it for a pair of wool gloves if I ever knit any.

The second problem I have with this pattern, is that there is no thumb gusset. I have never knit gloves before, but already I can tell that this is an important piece in the construction of them. I think that even though these gloves were following a “vintage” feel, they still should have had a gusset (even if a small one). I don’t know if I’m feeling adventurous enough to do one on the second pair I make, but I will wait to decide that once I’ve made the second glove.

I will say, to the credit of whoever designed this, that the yarn called for in this pattern is absolutely beautiful. It’s soft, it’s slightly shiny, and it fits with the elegant feel.

I originally wasn’t going to bead the top of the gloves, but I’m feeling more and more like I want to. I’m not going to follow the same beading pattern from the book, because I really don’t like it. I think I want to use small beads rather than the long ones. I’m not sure quite yet what I will embroider on them, but I think I’ll wait for the idea to pop in my head.

1 Comment | Categories: Knitting |

Loose Plying

November 2nd, 2006

I’ve been using the Andean plying method to ply together my green yarn (help on that courtesy of ICanSpin.com), and I thought I’d finish the rest of it today. I’m running out of already plied yarn for the hat I’m making, so I’ll need some more soon.

I realized while plying this last of it that the earlier bits I plied were done way too loosely. I just wasn’t putting enough spin into the two strands of yarn, and the stuff I did today looks a lot cooler plied up. I love the barber-pole effect I get sometimes when two contrasting greens meet.

Another realization I had today was of a better way to ply sections of yarn with one really thick and one really thin strand. I found that allowing the twist to enter the two strands more slowly wraps the thinner one better around the thicker one. I’m sure that if I were to read a spinning book more carefully, or took a class, I’d have already known this. However, sometimes learning from experience imprints the lesson on your mind more effectively.

Can you tell the difference between the previously and recenty plied yarn?

Comments Off | Categories: Knitting, Spinning |