Archive for August, 2007
August 30th, 2007
Last night I finished and blocked the Emelia Lace Choker that I’ve been knitting. It was an incredibly quick knit, although you wouldn’t know that for how long it took me! I didn’t knit on it non-stop; it was just a few periods of adding a bunch of rows within a months time. Despite the few mistakes, I really like the choker. It’ll be hard finding things to wear with it, but I need new clothes soon anyways 
This is one of those things that I would never buy in a store, because I wouldn’t think it’d fit my style. My style is pretty plain, and I’m finding more and more lately that I want to knit things that I’m not sure I’ll feel right wearing. It’s not that I think they’ll look bad on me, but I’ve never worn stuff like it before. For example, lacey shawls aren’t things that I’ve ever worn before, but that doesn’t stop me on my Evergreen shawl. I’m equal parts process knitter, and equal parts product knitter. This means that I have to know that I’m knitting something I’ll use. One of my favorite parts about __making__ things is knowing they’ll get used as real objects (socks, dishcloths, etc are some of my favorites!).
There was this discussion on the [Ravelry](http://www.ravelry.com) forums in the lace group I’m in about wearing lace shawls. A lot of people seem to like to knit lace shawls, but don’t really have any in their wardrobe. It’s not really an “in” thing to do, and we were discussing that paradox. Want to/need to knit it but don’t wear stuff like it. The result of the discussion was the many women deciding their style would have to change, and they would _make_ it “in” to wear lace shawls.
I’m all for this style change. I’m proud of my handknits, especially the more complicated lace ones. I’m going to have to make some changes to my wardrobe to suite these things I knit, and that’s kinda cool.
It may seem kinda silly to obsess over what I wear, and if it’s OK for me to wear it. That’s just the way I am; I’m not comfortable putting myself out there and wearing things I’m not used to wearing. It’s not that I have a problem with being unique; I just have this inability to tell if something really looks good on me, so I stick with what I know.
OK enough about vain and silly things, and enough about me. Isn’t that lace just so great? It really came out in the blocking, and drapes beautifully. It’s knit in Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk, which was OK to knit with. It didn’t excite me, but it didn’t hinder me either. If you ever knit with this stuff, just wait until you wash and block the piece. You’ll be amazed.
As you can tell, I couldn’t decide on which color ribbon to buy, so I bought both!
5 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 26th, 2007
Whenever knitting something that requires a line of increases going up the work, I cringe inside. I don’t like the way most increases look. They just don’t line up nicely like an SSK, or a K2TOG. They always have a bit of wierdness on the stitches around them, and it’s just not as fun.
While knitting a toe-up toe recently, after switching between two decreases before I settled on the one I liked, I decided that it was my favorite. It involves the most basic of increases with a twist, _literally_. It’s a yarn over that is knit twisted on the following row, and seems to work just so perfectly with toe-up socks. You don’t have to go to much effort to remember which row you’re on when you’re alternating decrease rows with plain. If you encounter a YO, knit twisted into it. If you don’t encounter a YO at the right place, make one!
This is identical to the increase that involves lifting the bar between two stitches, and knitting twisted into it. It’s just much easier to do, and you start it a row earlier.
2 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 25th, 2007
No knitting here tonight. Ack, are you kidding me?! It’s 90 degress __plus__ humidity! This day feels worse than the previous worse days of this summer were. I hope we get this storm that’s forcasted so it can get rid of this wet blanket in the air and cool down!
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 20th, 2007
I’ve been knitting pretty steadily on my Evergreen shawl lately, and almost at the end of every row I feel the need to stretch out the stitches and mimick blocking. I just love the way they look, and have been anxious to block it. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I blocked it (still on the needle) last night. First, I wanted to make sure this yarn blocks well, and it does. Second, I just had to see the stitches in their blocked state. It’s wonderful!
I’m still working on the pattern bit by bit. Right now it’s mostly formatting, and getting everything to look right. I’m working out how to do the border on the top, which I’ve already tested out a bit. It involves knitting on the bind-off stitches a garter border 3 stitches wide. It matches the garter border on each side. I just need to swatch and make sure that I get exactly how to do it right so it looks good. Anyone have any experience knitting perpendicularly to a bind-off edge?
Corey thinks this won’t be done until it starts snowing (he envisions photos of me in it surrounded by snow). I don’t know, because I have faith in its ability to entrance me over the long term. It’s just the right kind of non-stockinette project for me. It has something different every row, and requires me to pay a little bit of attention. However, it’s so simple I don’t have concentrate to figure it out.
2 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 18th, 2007
Remember this?
Well, I frogged it. I decided that I wasn’t as excited about the stitch pattern anymore, and I wished I’d done the triple increase a little differently. I didn’t like the extraneous holes. On a whim I ripped it all out and started over with a stitch pattern that acts in a very similar way. It’s the very same lace stitch that I used on my Faroese shawl. I fell so much in love with it, I decided to translate it to a point up shawl.
I call it evergreen, as it reminds Corey of pine cones. Although it was pretty easy to figure out, I’m quite proud of my cleverness in getting this to work just right. I’m also in love with the 3 stitch garter edging, which can only look like such a great detail at such a fine gauge. I went down two needle sizes from what I was doing with the candle flames original, and I’m much happier with the resulting fabric. I keep stretching this one out and staring at it, imagining its fully blocked state.
Even though this shawl is pretty easy, and probably pretty easy to figure out if you’re creative enough and take the time to do it, I’m creating a pattern for this shawl. I noticed there doesn’t seem to be any easy to find simple triangular shawl using this stitch pattern. What better way to practice my pattern crafting skills than with this. I’ve actually got most of it up; I just need to do the line by line instructions and clean it up. Although, it won’t __really__ be finished until I have a picture of the finished shawl!
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 16th, 2007
This project has been in hibernation for a very very long time. A few days ago I decided to bring it out again and start another few squares. One would think that being a very simple all stockinette square, I’d be through these by now. I love knitting stockinette, especially when there are pretty colors. I think I’d just had my fill of the Malabrigo colors, and have gotten slightly bored with them. Once I arranged the squares to take a photo of them for this post, I realized how awesome the colors will be when sewn all together!
So far I’ve got 11 out of 36 squares done. I don’t quite have all the yarn for this; actually I probably only have enough yarn for half of the squares. As soon as I have more money I’ll need to get the rest, especially since I’m missing a few colors. It’ll totally be worth it when I’m finished with this, because it’ll be nice and big and warm.
I’ve been pondering a bit how I’m going to seam these rectangles, and I’m not quite sure yet. I don’t know if I want to do an invisible seam, or something crocheted in between. Should I do a contrasting yarn if I crochet it, or something that blends in? Much to think about, much to think about…
2 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 15th, 2007
I’ve woken up to a bright and sunny day with the sun shining in my window. Just the perfect time for up and close photos of the shawlette! I’m really happy with these, as they’ve really done justice to the colors and subtle blending in the yarn. Also, you can see the lace up close in all its beautiful detail.
I know I’ve been obsessing over this shawl, but I swear this’ll be the last one for a long while (I recommend clicking on the images to see the larger versions with more detail).
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 13th, 2007
…so I could wear this all the time.
I am so excited for this to be done. So excited in fact, that isn’t entirely dry on my shoulders in that picture. Oh it’s mostly dry, but still has that slightly cool-to-the-touch feel of something that’s just barely damp. I just couldn’t wait!! Look at that drape, if it was a better photo I’d say look at the colors, and isn’t that lace pattern just wonderful? Ok, so I know it’s a pretty common lace pattern, but I love it. I didn’t get a picture of the back (later I hope to get better, brighter photos taken by my husband), but you can guess what it looks like.
Oh, and it fits so wonderfully on my shoulders!
This project was a labor of love, that’s for sure. It started out with some beautifully blended merino/silk roving that I envisioned spinning up for a shawl. I decided upon this very early this year before I’d really gotten a good solid skill for getting even yarn in my spinning. I decided to wait to spin it before I felt more comfortable with my skills at spinning finer yarns. I bought the grey version of the same roving blend (same dyer/blender) and my ideas became even more ambitious.
I think it was almost a month ago that I started knitting this project in almost a fever. I barely knit a gauge swatch, I didn’t really plan what I was doing, but I needed to finally cast-on for this. I was very surprised at the thickness of the yarn when I knit it up, as I was expecting something more lacey and less fingery. The result of this was disaster of course!
Finally, a bit more planning, questions asked at the Ravelry forum, and I restarted the project using Faroese shawls as my inspiration. I had no clue what I was going to do when I ran out of the coppery color, but ideas came when I needed them. I’d do a simple lace pattern and end with a few garter rows.
All of this is old news to you who read my blog anyways, but I feel like I’ve gone on a journey with this project. It’s so cliche (too lazy to accent it) but it’s so true. I’ve learned a hell of a lot about spinning, shawls, project spinning, and how exciting it is to go from start to finish with something. Like I said, I am so anxious to be able to wear this for real when it starts getting cold. It’s kind of a new style for me, but a style change I’m totally willing to make because I’m proud of what I’ve done.
Whoops, hand’s not steady enough! Let’s just try this again with the timer…
2 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 12th, 2007
I knitted a swatch, decided upon the lace stitch to use, and finally switched to the second color. I did a purl row as the starting row of the gray to create a nice transition between the colors, and started on the lace. Problem #1: I’d forgotten to decide upon and swatch for a lace stitch for the center panel (I wanted it to be different). Problem #2: I botched up my half-assed attempt at working out a quickly chosen lace stitch by eye. Problem #3: I didn’t notice it was botched until 4 rows later.
Soooo, I wasn’t about to frog all of that back. I was feeling brave, and decided to knit up to the center panel, unknit four rows of the center panel stitches only, and re-knit them in the new stitch pattern of choice. It was a bit stressful, she almost didn’t make it, but it was mostly a success. I decided upon a knit/purl stitch rather than a lace stitch. I didn’t want that center panel to be stockinette when I transitioned to the lace, so I figured just a bit of texture would do it. What do you think?
A little closer so you can see my lace…
Can you figure out what the stitch pattern is? It’s a pretty commonly used pattern and has a bunch of different variations. So far I’m really pleased with it, despite the not-so-great stitch definition with this gauge. I’m really anxious to finish this and try it on. Once the lace is done I think I’m going to end with some garter stitch rows to prevent curling, and that’s that!
Lesson learned? If you screw up really bad, for heavens sake rip it out and do it right. You’ll be much happier.
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August 9th, 2007
Lately I hesitate to post just to mention I’ve finished a pair of socks, especially since they’re so common in my house lately and I don’t generally knit patterned socks. I love having a simple basic sock on the needles all the time (when I can afford it) because it’s nice easy knitting when I’m gaming. However, I have a few more things to say in this post other than “I finished a pair of socks…”
I actually finished two pairs of socks recently, including my Trekking socks. I’ve already [said how I feel](http://www.crafty.greenkri.com/new-sock-yarn) about Trekking XXL, and that hasn’t changed much with the completion of the socks. I’d knit with it again, but it’s not my favorite. I do love the completed socks though, and they will keep my feet nice and toasty warm on cold cold days. I have a lot left over, which leads me to believe I’d have plenty to make some nice tall boot socks if I ever buy this stuff again. Perhaps a pair for my snowmobiling sister.
Speaking of socks for my sister: I finished the second sock for her second Christmas pair. Unless I get the urge to knit another pair for her, my handknit for my sister this year is done! I feel so good to get this done early (even though I started it months ago and meant for it to be earlier). Now I’m starting to panic though, as I only have four and a half months to knit Christmas presents for my mom, mother in law, and Grammy. Eep! I’ve already got an idea what I’m going to knit for Mom and my mother in law, and no clue what I’m doing for Grammy. I also have no money right now, so I’ll have to see what I can do with my stash. Anyone else panicking yet about Christmas knits?
I think I’ve already mentioned the weirdness about this sock, but I’ll mention it again. I did a slightly shorter heel than I normally do, and decreased on every row on the gusset rather than every other. I realize now I should have done every other, as it feels a wee bit tight on the top of the ankle but it’s not a terrible fit. I hated doing the ribbing (even though it was only a 3×1) as I’m much happier when doing a knit-knit-knit-knit sock. I do love the fit of the ribbing though. It clings much more tightly to the foot, but is still loose enough to fit the foot.
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
Entry: Quietly Knitting
Author: Hishandmaid
Time: February 27, 2010, 10:57 am
Comment: Very adorable!
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