March 8th, 2009
Two projects I had to frog today, but I feel good about doing it for both of them. Maybe it’s the sun and warm spring weather we’re having, or maybe it’s these projects feel fresh because they’ve spent a lot of time in hibernation. As long as I don’t have to do too much more ripping back on these, I’m happy to do it now.
This is my second piece on the sweater I’ve been working on, and hopefully this isn’t a warning of things to come as in the previous piece. I got over halfway through knitting it before I had to rip anything back, which is a good sign. I was being pretty careful about the pattern, and following my rows cautiously when I realized there was one measely increase that I missed on the outside edge of the garter panel. Whoops! A roughly 10 row frog isn’t so bad compared to the rip-it hell of the first piece.
Compared to my slow progress before, I feel like I’m flying along on this piece despite the small stitches. Just a back piece, and two sleeves to go! Then there’s the grafting, seaming…OK maybe it’s not quite that close to finished.
I realize you haven’t seen much of this guy since before the fall. I didn’t really post anything after the swatch, but you can see it’s coming along. I haven’t touched it since before the holidays, but it was a well deserved break. At that point I had finished one sleeve (which you see above), and started the other when I realized my gauge on the sleeves was off. I probably could have fudged it, but it was just a teeny bit too tight on my husband’s arm. Since it’s been over a month I feel pretty comfortable starting all over on the sleeves.
I must say, this has been super easy and when I actually work on it, it flies off the needles. No waist shaping and a wonderful combination of garter/stockinette stitch. Such a contrast to the sage cardigan! Not only can we women be high maintenance sometimes, but I guess our sweaters are too.
No Comments | Categories: Knitting |
March 1st, 2009
A few months back I bought this cute little book of knitted teddy bears called The Knitted Teddy Bear. I love knitting things that are going to be useful, and I just can’t bring myself to knit all kinds of baby clothes that the little one will grow out of in a few months. However, a teddy bear can be of use for a very long time.
I had some Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight leftover from knitting Mom’s shawl, browsed through the book for the right teddy, and cast-on…again…and again… This is not a cleverly knit-in-one-piece-and-sew-closed teddy bear. Normally I avoid heavily seamed pieces whenever I can because, well frankly if you can then why not? I started losing track of what was what so I had to pin my finished pieces to a piece of paper and label them.
It looks like a mess right now, but just bear with me (pun not intended…I wish I was that clever). Once all the pieces are sewn up and the ends are all hidden away it’ll be a cute little brown bear of a thing. It’s going to be a bit on the small side, but I kind of like that. Toys don’t always need to be huge.
A bit on this particular pattern book. There are quite a few cute little bear patterns in it, and I imagine once you’ve done a few you get the hang of it. It has a nice variety to choose from, but the way the patterns are written can be wierd. It’s not wrong necessarily, but it took me a little bit to decipher some of the wording. For example…
Inc 1 st at each end of row.
When I first looked at that sentence, I thought it was telling me to increase at the end of each row. I began to wonder if this wasn’t written by a native English speaker, because that didn’t make sense based on previous rows. After a few more readings though, I realized that it meant to increase at the beginning and end of that particular row (or “at each end”). Not that this is a wrong way to describe what you’re doing, but in my experience it’s much more common to see that written as something like “m1 at beg. and end of row” replacing m1 with whatever increase is being used of course.
So far this is a very thorough pattern. We’ll see when it comes to construction how the instructions are.
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February 21st, 2009
I have ripped this project out so many times. I am determined to finish it because I am so in love with the design, but I feel as if the pattern and me just don’t mesh. This time I didn’t do my increases in the right place. On the garter stitch panel you’re supposed to decrease at the very edge as it gets closer to the shoulder. Not paying any attention to the line by line instructions (I’m using the very detailed graphed out chart) I didn’t realize I was supposed to decrease 1 stitch in. Of course I should have seen this. I should have known that decreases right on the edge of garter stitch would look like a ladder. It wasn’t until I’d almost finished this piece that I realized I couldn’t live with how crappy it looked. R-R-I-P-P…
Today and yesterday I finally got the energy to pick it back up again and reknit almost to where I ended before ripping. In fact I was even going to try to avoid ripping and do a clever fix. It turns out I like actual knitting more than I like deconstructing and re-working it. This is going to be such a beauty when I block it. You may be able to tell that now the edge of the garter stitch panel has a nice (mostly) smooth curve to it. Totally worth ripping and reknitting.
I have to say one thing about the yarn. I’m using Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk yarn, and this stuff has really held up. Some parts of the yarn have been knit 4 and 5 times, and there’s only a slight bit of fuzz to show the wear. That’s no more than it would get once it had been blocked, and you can’t really tell when it’s knitted up. This is a good thing because I really need this sweater to last, what with how long it’s taking me.
This started out as a somewhat long term sweater due to the detail and the small stitches, which I am always a fan of. However, it has become a monster of a sweater due to a bit of perfectionism and a lot of mistakes. The pattern itself doesn’t seem to have too many errors, but it’s not written in a way that is easy for me to follow. It may seem silly, but there’s just too much information and I get overwhelmed.
Hopefully as I get on in this pattern I’ll have more to say. It feels as if every time I bring this cardigan it’s always the same story. Love the yarn, love the stitches, mistakes, ripping, reknitting, damn it I’m determined to finish this one.
2 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
January 18th, 2009
I seem to be doing a lot of garter stitch lately. I’ve always loved simple knitting, and the projects I’ve been drawn to the past few days prove just how much.
I couldn’t resist starting another bib. I had a lot of this purple-mauve cotton left over from Christmas knits, so I cast on right away. I love picking it up and working on a few rows when I just don’t feel like thinking.
I’ve gone through almost two whole balls of this handspun to get this scarf, and I think I’ll have a bit more than I need for a good length. I wish bits of this yarn were spun better, but overall it’s coming out nicely. I think washing it and blocking it will make a real difference, especially to clean up the edging.
I’ve got what looks like a stitch marker on there to count my rows. It’s a row counter that has 10 rings for 10 rows. My pattern repeats only have 6 rows, so I’ll skip 4 rings to start. I have two different pattern repeats to follow. When I’m following the one that increases for the scalloping I move one ring each row towards the green bead. I do the same for the decreasing towards the white bead. It’s so easy to remember, and I find it much more mindless than having to remember to tick off a row counter every row.
I can’t wait to finish it and try it out in this cold cold winter we’ve been having.
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
January 14th, 2009
I like easy projects, and it’s even better when they’re cute.
Despite being simple, I did learn one little thing. Buttonholes are messy. I should do a study soon and sample some buttonhole techniques. I always end up with this strand on one side that looks loose and messy. I know they’re often hidden behind the button, but when it’s something that won’t always be buttoned they should look crisp and clean.
2 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
January 11th, 2009
I will learn one year how to have an ambitious Christmas knitting list without losing my enthusiasm for the craft a month or two before Christmas. I haven’t done a ton of knitting for the last several months, aside from what I had to finish for Christmas. I haven’t been really excited about it either. Well, no more.
I don’t have great chances for good sunlight to procure wonderfully clear detailed pictures, but you get the idea. I needed something easy to cast on, and have been wanting to replace my winter scarf with something softer. In comes some rainbow handspun and my [Antique Lace](http://www.ravelry.com/dl/kristin-lemoine-designs/4425?filename=Vintage_Lace.pdf) scarf to the rescue. This was some early handspun I made, so the scarf is slightly uneven in width and there are some spots where the yarn gets really thin. However, I really love the slow transition of bright color, especially in this incredibly snow stormy winter.
I was also pleased to use this fun new toy when I started the project. Thank you to my husband for this wonderful Christmas gift.
And thank you to my mom for that beautiful rocker. [Can't be a mom some day without one, eh?](http://www.greenkri.com/905)
1 Comment | Categories: Knitting |
December 2nd, 2008
I’m still here! Been without internet for almost two months now, but everything’s back up and running. I’m still knitting..boy do I need to get back into the swing of things.
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 28th, 2008
I wouldn’t normally be posting tonight, but at 5 minutes until bed time I feel the need to share something I find exciting. I always love making things, especially useful things that I can make easily. This is the epitome of easy craft, although I didn’t really make anything. I just put them together.
I cannot claim credit for this idea, but this is a hair stick (chop sticks work too) with a stone donut bead dropped down it. It makes the perfect bottom whorl spindle. The stone is nicely even and balanced, and the hair stick I just happen to have has spiraling grooves going towards the tip. I love tapered spindle shafts, and who needs a hook when a half-hitch works wonderfully.
It weighs roughly 1oz, which I have decided is about the best weight for most spindles. Don’t ask me what type of stone it is, but it’s a very cool mix of greens. The best part about this spindle (okay maybe not the best, but it’s really cool) is that I can slip the bead off and use the hair stick and bead for something else if I choose.
4 Comments | Categories: Spinning |
August 24th, 2008
So I don’t have a lot to show for this week, because I’ve only been working one one project…
I’m on the home stretch now that I’m just finishing the cuff. I am a bit tired of this sock, but it’s very simple. I just need to keep plugging along so I can get it finished. Generally when making socks I only do an inch or two at the cuff because it’s not the most fun part, but since these aren’t for me I need to make it a bit longer. I’m not so sure how I feel about the toe, but I’ll graft it when I’m done and see if it looks all right. I can just undo it and reknit the toe down if I need to.
You can see it’s a bit awkward taking pictures like this. The sock looks a whole lot better on Corey’s foot since he is closer to my mom in size. I’m always so worried about how socks will fit when I’m making them for someone else. I usually measure by putting my socks on myself as I go, but when it’s a gift I can’t really do that.
3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |
August 19th, 2008
So I’ve got some handspun and commercially spun stuff to write about today. I’ll start with the handspun…
First up, the [ply-as-you-go](http://www.crafty.greenkri.com/ply-as-you-go) yarn. This is the navajo plied yarn I wrote about where I’m spinning up a length then plying it before winding on. It’s a really cool technique, and if you’re a spinner I urge you to play around with it.
I’m aiming for thin sock weight on this yarn, and hoping to get a really sturdy 3-ply. I know it’s merino which I haven’t been impressed with as a sock yarn in the past, but hopefully I can make this fairly strong and hard wearing. I’ve got a ton of this green merino, plus some dark red/purple that goes really well with it. I’m not sure I have the stamina to spin about 6oz of yarn all in the same way, but if so they’ll make some really awesome socks.
I wrote a little about this cashmere yarn I’ve been spinning up, so here’s a small update. I’ve finished both singles that will be plied together, and can’t wait to get that process started today. This has been an incredibly fun spin, and totally fitting my style. A high twist very fine yarn that I can just cruise along easily with. Sometimes it’s nice to have a challenge, but sometimes it’s nice to just do something you know and love. It doesn’t look quite so soft now, but once it’s plied and that active twist is softened up it will be ohhh so luscious.
Oh I wish you could see this yarn in person. The light is just slightly too bright, but this is an amazing hand-dyed job by the [Kangaroo Dyer](http://www.kangaroodyer.com/) Gail from Webs. She dyes some stuff for them, and said the bottom color reminded her of my hair (and her sister’s?). I’ve never worked with yarn like this (I think it’s mohair) but I’m just itching to cast some lacy something with these. I’ve just got too many projects right now, but they will sit quietly until I can really do them justice.
I wish I had taken a picture of this in the skein. It’s an amazing silk yarn by Artyarns that I bought to knit a wedding gift. I wish even more that I had taken a picture of the little silk purse that I made, because I chanced upon the *perfect* cable stitch for this yarn. This yarn is called Silk Pearl, and it’s a very shiny soft somehow chain plied yarn. I don’t think this would ever pill it’s so well made, and the colors are really interesting in semi-solids. I want to knit the rest of this into a little purse for myself, because I loved the first one so much. *Next* time I’ll be sure to take a picture.
2 Comments | Categories: Spinning |
Entry: Quietly Knitting
Author: Hishandmaid
Time: February 27, 2010, 10:57 am
Comment: Very adorable!
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