Log Cabin – I Suck at This

February 28th, 2007

Corey and me went out for a little shopping trip in the last few days, and I decided to splurge a little (with his encouragement!) on Mason-Dixon Knitting. A bit more on the book later, because this post is about those log cabins I’ve seen all over the place. While reading the book I was inspired to try it out on some cotton. I decided to whip up a dishcloth, and see how those log cabin blocks work.

Man I suck at doing these. You can see how crappy my knitting is, and how difficult it was for me to do the transitions. I learned a lot, and certainly improved towards the end. Seeing the improvement really helps to keep me from being discouraged, and I still have a desire to knit more and play around with the color arrangements. Perhaps I’ll keep practicing and knit up some more dishcloths; we do need more.

The most difficult part for me was figuring out what to do with the ending tail as I was starting a new end of yarn. If you’re familiar with log cabin blocks you’ll know what I mean. Also, at first I was knitting the second stitch of a new yarn with the tail like I normally do. This keeps the yarn from shifting around in the beginning. Somehow that seems to really mess things up, and I’ve got a few really loose loops in the corners in a few places.

I wouldn’t say that this is a difficult knit, there just seems to be a lot of details you need to get it clean and neat. Since I’m learning from a book (which I generally prefer anyway) I’m learning all of this on the fly.

The upside to this is that a dish cloth doesn’t have to look pretty to clean well!

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The Evil Socks: Done!

February 21st, 2007

I am very glad to announce that my socks are finally all complete. This is good timing as well, because I plan to buy some new shoes on friday, and my second sock will definitely be dry by then. Why do the new shoes matter? I’ve found that I can’t wear handknit socks with my clogs, as the back wears on the heel real quick.

I can’t believe the complete opposite experience it was to knit each of these socks. The first was a trial, a pain in my ass really. I’ve already gone on about how many times I’ve ripped and ripped back, to reknit several parts of the sock. The second sock was heaven in comparison, and took me only several days to complete with no rips back!

For those of you that haven’t used Socks That Rock yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts really should consider giving it a try. I managed to get two long cuffed socks in one skein, so while it may seem expensive it goes a long way. The yarn is so soft, and the colors are dazzling!

Now, about this heel I’ve dubbed “The Anti Short-Row Short-Row Heel”. I’m not so enthusiastic as I was at first. It was enjoyable to knit, and not incredibly difficult to get the hang of it. However, the fit isn’t fantastic. It feels a bit shallow in the heel, and tight on the top of the ankle. I miss the heel-flap-pick-up-your-stitches sort of heel that I’m used to with top down socks. The next time I do toe-up socks I’ll have to try the traditional heel flap.

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The Knit-each-stitch-at-least-twice Sock

February 17th, 2007

I swear I have knit every stitch on this sock at least twice, if not 3 or 4 times. It was smooth sailing until I got to the heel (you already heard about that). I think I tried to get it right a total of four times. Then I thought I was in for the clear up to about the bottom of the calf. I decided to do a lacy increase to account for the sock fitting up my calf. This lacy pattern I made off the top of my head was slanting 1 stitch to the left every other row. Rip-rip back (thank goodness for this Knitty article), knit up some more. Wait a minute, I started the new lace pattern too soon. Rip-rip-rip back.

I’m currently sitting on my computer chair, surfing the internet a bit. I’ve got the sock on with the needles still in (way too lazy to put in the effort to put string through the live stitches) trying to decide if I like the way the foot/heel fits. I don’t want to have to rip back again, but if I have to I’ll pull the whole damn sock out to get it right!

I’m just about ten rows from completing this sock – the first sock of the pair – and I’m actually considering ripping the whole thing out. *Knock on wood* but my only consolation is that the second sock will be waayy easier because I’ll have the pattern mapped out. Well, I guess there’s another consolation: a sock that I love!

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Sock Update

February 13th, 2007

Corey’s socks are complete, except for a bit of finishing on the bind-off, and weaving in all of the ends. They turned out pretty good except for a bit of tightness in the ankle. Although, he says he doesn’t notice anything, so I guess I should just let it be.

For the past few days I’ve been working on my socks, and I have fallen in love with this color of yarn. I’m frustrated because I’m only on the first sock still, because I’ve had to reknit the heel several times. It’s difficult because I’m almost guessing at when to start the gusset, how much to increase, etc.

I was going to do the cuff in a 1×1 ribbing, but I’m rethinking that. Incessant ribbing hurts my hands, and I have a lot of yarn left for the cuff. I think that since these socks will go up my calves, I should just do them stockinette with a 1/2″ ribbed cuff at the top. I’m now in the home strech on this last one!

I’ve been putting off posting about these socks for a few days, as I have been unable to get decent pictures of the way the colorway is knitting up. I love it, and I want to share the coolness that is purple and green stripes. I know it sounds gross, but it looks great! I realized that the reason my photos are sometimes blurry, sometimes really clear is due to the amount of sunlight coming in the window. When it’s the middle of a sunny day, I get much better pictures than otherwise. Looks like I’ve got a few days before I can get some good pictures, what with the impending snow!

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6 Brittany Needles!

February 7th, 2007

A while ago I contacted Brittany (the needle company) requesting a replacement for one of my snapped DPNs. Their needles are all guarunteed for five years, and I’ve only had them for not quite a year so, following the instructions on their website I sent an e-mail. It took a while (a few weeks I think?) for me to get a response, but I did get a note back saying the needle would be sent. No big deal on the wait, and I am glad to say that today my needle(s) arrived. Instead of just one they sent two extra needles in the size and length I have, so now I have a spare for my spare!

I’m really only saying this to compliment Brittany for good customer service. I love the needles, and am very happy to say they have lived up to their stated guaruntee, and it wasn’t a hassle to deal with them.

If you’re in for some new needles (DPNs or straights) and have a few extra dollars to spend on them, I highly recommend trying out a set of these needles. Wooden needles just feel great in your hands, and are great for slippery yarns. Also, a benefit to these needles in particular is that the wood is logged in an environmentally friendly way.

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The Anti Short-Row Short-Row Heel

February 6th, 2007

Or rather, the alternate heel that uses short-row shaping for toe-up socks. This is the heel I used to make Corey’s sock because I hated the short-row heel that I tried. I’m rewriting the instructions because I didn’t find the instructions on the page I found them very easy to follow. If you hate short-rows because you don’t like doing them, this is not the heel for you. If you hate short-row heels because they’re not shaped well, this may be the heel for you.

The instructions are long, so you’ll have to click to see the rest. (more…)

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Sapphire (cobalt?) Handspun

February 5th, 2007

I just finished dying some handspun merino that I recently finished spinning. I mentioned this spinning project in one post and haven’t said much about it since. I’ve been spinning along happily every once in a while, making progress every week or two. It was really enjoyable and much easier to spin than the two previous projects I had started. The fiber was so soft, and I was excited about being able to dye it when completed.

Actually, it was while spinning this fiber that I realized that the simple spindle I bought to start is mightily unbalanced. The difference between that one and the two new ones I bought is incredible. I don’t think I’ll be using that one too much since this project is done.

I must say though, I love the color. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite as light, but it is nice nevertheless. There is a slight variation in color in the yarn, but that’s just due to partially being wet. I imagine it will look most like the lighter shades when it’s dry.

I’m thinking that I’ll make a nice fluffy scarf out of it. I seem to remember a simple one-row handspun scarf pattern from the Yarn Harlot. We’ll see, but I can’t wait until it dries!

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Sock Heel Update

February 4th, 2007

I just feel the need to share my joy; I found a better heel method!

The pattern was found here, and I’m completely done the sock working towards the ribbed cuff. I tried it on my husband’s foot when I was mostly done the heel, and it fit beautifully. No super stretching around the base of the heel, a nice comfy looking fit around the curves, and overal happy-heel-goodness.

The photo is sort of a quick shot that’s kind of crappy and blurry, but I think you can get the idea.

I found the instructions to be a bit difficult to follow, but I eventually figured it out. I plan to re-write them to be a bit more readable, and more easy to figure out what numbers to use for varying stitch counts. The funny thing about the heel I chose is that it actually does use short row shaping, just not exclusively.

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I Hate Short Row Heels!

February 2nd, 2007

I’m almost done with Corey’s first sock of the new pair, just had him try it on, and realized I hate the short row heel. I should have gone with my gut instinct, and tried a different technique that would be new to me. The only reason the short row heel isn’t new to me, is because I’m familiar with the short row toe and they’re nearly identical.

The problems – It is way too tight around the heel and the bottom of the ankle front. There is way too much tension on the sides of his heels to make me happy. It doesn’t look like it will be good for wear, and it just doesn’t seem to fit as well. Corey says it feels fine, but I hate it. I could rip back and start increasing before doing the heel, but that just doesn’t seem like it’ll look right. I’m also not too pleased with the way the finished heel looks in general.

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