Now it's starting to look like something!

I've got to weave in the ends and knit the top, and she's ready for felting.

Which leads me to a very important question: how should I felt it? Heather Dixon, who wrote the pattern for Stitch and Bitch Nation, suggests putting it in a pillowcase and throwing it in the washing machine with a couple of pairs of jeans. I wouldn't hesitate except that I know there are vast differences in American and French washing machines - the former lasting a mere thirty to forty minutes, while the later can run on for about two hours. I'm afraid I'll end up with a tiny hard mass of wool in the end. On the other hand, it is pretty big...

What would you do?

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Posted by Vivi at 11:30 AM, April 30, 2007
Comments (4)

One of the first patterns that jumped out at me in Stitch n Bitch Nation was the messenger bag. I LOVE big bags! The perfect bag for me is big enough to put a folder inside - maybe my French residency file or my medical file for going to the doctor - so I can easily carry it with me but keep my hands free (or worse, keep me from putting it down somewhere and forgetting it) if I'm making multiple stops on the town. I bought the wool when I was visiting a friend in Boston in February (Lamb's Pride Bulky) along with a cool brass ring for the strap.

I don't know if you've seen this pattern, but to the knitting debutante like me, it can look pretty daunting. However, I've decided that I'm going to use as much of my stash as I can before I buy any more yarn, and hey, what better way to learn than by jumping in over your head, right? OK, that's not really true, but since I am very much A Knitter Without a Circle (physically, at any rate, for what is Knots if not an online knitting circle?) for the moment, the best way for me to learn is to challenge myself and learn with what tools are available to me - books, online tutorials and patient friends with email. So, I jumped.

But first, I have to show you this:

Since I don't have a decent knitting shop in the town where I live, if I want anything knitting related and I know I won't be heading to the big town for a couple of weeks, I have to order it online. This pattern calls for 10mm needles, which I didn't have, so when I decided to start this pattern, I knew I wouldn't have use of the car for a while so I had to order them. What I got from Phildar were these monsters. These aren't needles, they're TREES! And just in case you think I'm exaggerating, they are shown next to my sensibly-sized Brittany 6mm needles.

So! Let me show you what I've got so far...

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Posted by Vivi at 3:18 PM, April 19, 2007
Comments (1)

Since Aimee has things other than knitting on her mind these days, Wicked has been put on the back burner for a little while. But, I still want to knit something for myself! So, I started the Surplice Lace Top from Nashua Handknits' North American Designer Collection #4. (Thanks Mom for sending it to me in the Easter package!)

I first saw this pattern in the most recent issue of Interweave Knits and it just really appealed to me. I was also intrigued by the original yarn used for the pattern, Ecologie Cotton. But, after receiving the pattern, I wanted to start on it right away and the Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in my stash happened to gauge up perfectly!

My only concern: Does the black work for this pattern? I am worried about it looking...I don't know...a little trashy or something? My husband keeps encouraging me to continue but that worries me a little since trashy might appeal to him. What do you think? I think with a cute, summer skirt it will work...

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Posted by Sarah at 2:22 PM, April 9, 2007
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I ordered my new needles last Tuesday and have been climbing the walls with anticipation ever since. Once I set my mind on something, my hands itch if I can't start on it right away. Patience? Nope, fresh out.

In the meantime, I swatched some more yarn from my stash, but I don't know what to do with it, so I set it aside. I've been wanting to try to cable, but everything in my stash is spoken for (with the exception of that purple yarn - is that mohair? - but I don't know if it's cable-able). I'm really trying to use what yarn I have before I go on a buying spree, but all this enthusiasm for knitting and nothing to knit was reducing me to pacing and stressing. I must knit something!

And then my eyes fell on a bag in the corner behind the door of the office. I'd completely forgotten about the yarn I'd inherited from my mother.

When I was last in the States, I was preparing the house my father had bought at the beginning of the year to be sold, as well as everything inside. A couple of days before our estate sale, we cracked open the last few boxes that had been in storage since my parents moved from Florida in 1997. One of the mirror boxes was stuffed with some very curious packing: enough granny squares to make a throw, halfway sewn up, and eight huge skeins of 100% acrylic yarn. Some of them are in, um, very interesting colors, giving me a good idea when she bought them, but they are all in excellent condition. I can't tell you how old they are, but they are old enough to not have a gauge table on the label!

Vintage yarn?

Oh so happy to have found something I can play with, I grabbed a skein and searched online for a cabled scarf. I found one and set to work.

So I'm learning a new stitch and I'm keeping my hands busy until my prodigal needles arrive. Hooray!

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Posted by Vivi at 6:56 PM, April 1, 2007
Comments (3)

With the move back to the US, the morning sickness, the busted ACL and resulting surgery (and months on the couch), and all I've been through in the last 7 months, you'd think I'd get a lot of knitting done.

You'd be wrong.

I spent a long time sleeping, throwing up, gritting my teeth due to the pain (knee surgery sucks) and with barely enough energy to move the clicker, much less click the sticks.

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Posted by Ronica at 8:34 PM, March 26, 2007
Comments (2)

Leo is my cat. I should have known better than to leave my shawl on the arm rest of the couch. It was late. I was tired and could only think about getting to bed. I left the livingroom door open. A clear invite to my nite kitty to come in a play. And he sure did play. I awoke a couple mornings ago to a pile of what was once my Little Arrowhead Shawl. Leo was long gone before I knew what had happened. I wish I could have caught his little paws in the action. He did a fairly good job of unravelling the shawl, I was able to salvage the skein and half very easily.

I can tell he's been feeling quite guilty. He's been following me around the apt for two days. Even to the bathroom. The photo above is pretty much all he does all day. He lays with his back to me and when I stand up he runs and then santers his way back to me. I talk with my husband about this we think he was revenging himself for a cople days ago when I had forgotten to feed him. Leo is moody like his mamma. I guess I can't fault him for that. One thing is for sure, I'll be putting my knitting away every night. Don't want him to be getting any other catty ideas.

So, I contemplated starting the shawl again but I decided against it, It was to have been worn to a wedding coming very soon and now I won't have time to finish it. So, I've decided on a silk scarf. Something to throw on when I feel a bit chilly or need a bit of color around the neck.

I actually like the lace pattern better here than in the shawl. It's knit on smaller needles and it seems to work better for me. I"m thinking long and skinny to be wrapped around the neck a couple times. Perfect for this fall.

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Posted by Aimee at 9:40 AM, July 31, 2006
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A while ago, I started a scarf for Lauren, my step-sister. I fuddled around, trying various combinations, and had lots of trouble finding the thing that would work with the yarn I had chosen without being too terribly boring to knit.

I finally gave up and went back to a 2x2 rib, but I still wasn't satisfied. So, after browsing the web, I came up with the idea to knit this, modified to fit my yarn.

It's been a little challenging (no row counter), but I've got a start. Right now, as I've said before, it's too hot to knit hot things that sit on your lap and make you hot (speaking of which, this computer is kind of hot), so it's biding its time while I wait for cooler weather.

If you're so inclined, I'd appreciate some good thoughts/karma/waves/prayers for Lauren--she is dealing with a kidney infection and ane coli infection right now, and the 110 degree heat in North Dakota isn't helping. She's out of the hospital, and recovering.

Hm. I better get knitting.

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Posted by Ronica at 5:38 PM, July 17, 2006
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I saw this and really, really wanted to knit it.

Of course, in France, I couldn't get the yarn without some serious leg work, and it's just too hot for that right now. So, while at my LYS (Le Bon Marché), I hunted for something that would work. I loved the colors in her original, and searched high and low for something comparable.

Thought it's totally the wrong gauge, Bouton d'Or's DUNE is a similar colorway when chosen in the color Atalante. It ranges from moss green to pistachio to aqua, and is a finger-cooling blend of 60/40 Cotton/Acrylic. Since this is designed as a head wrap or a belt, I am not being too fussy about the presence of the Anti-Christ Acrylic, and it isn't bothering my hands too much (partly since it's often too hot to knit anyway.) I reduced the pattern repeats from 4 to 3 to make it fit this yarn better, and I love how it's looking.

It's a quick knit, though I haven't gotten very far because I'm busy working on another project for She Who Shall Not Be Named, as well as Lauren's Cable (which is right now turning into Lauren's Waves. More to Come.)

Right now it's too hot to wear anything but the bare minimum, but I'm hoping for a cool-down opportunity to strut my stuff in this new, air-conditioned head wrap thingee.

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Posted by Ronica at 5:23 PM, July 17, 2006
Comments (3)

Thanks to Katia, I caught the bug to knit myself a shawl for the summer weddings that Julien and I will be attending this season most of them early evening weddings with receptions to follow. I've never thought myself to be the shawl type but after knitting Lady Eleanor and wearing her all winter I learned the practicality of a shawl.

Les Soldes are happening in Paris but not at our LYS. They seem to go against the mold and save their big sales time for later in the year though they did have some of the scary tribble yarn from Anny Blatt on sale. Seems like they can't move that stuff even during Les Soldes. But I did get lucky and find myself some pretty vintage pink silk from Phildar. 6 skeins for 19 euros!

I started yesterday and after a false start and one frantic call to Katia to get help on reading the pattern I was off. This is definitely not TV knitting. But it's makes for good meditative knitting after a couple hours last night before bed, I slept like a baby. So, here's one skein in:

The shawl is knit top down and that's where the confusion started but now that I'm two pattern repeats into the shawl I can clearly see what direction I'm going. I can't see the pattern veryt well as the Phildar silk is a bit rough. Not in texture though, it's very soft. I think this will remedy itself once I block it. I also need to figure out how to block silk? The tag for the yarn said that it's hand washable, so I figure I'll just wash it and pin it flat. I have six more repeats to go....

In the meantime, while taking a break to blog about the shawl, clean the apt and work a few row on Green Gable (she's nearly finished!) I did see that Interweave Knits has put up a preview to their fall magazine! Lots of beautiful things for this fall....

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Posted by Aimee at 1:53 PM, July 17, 2006
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I'm knitting a shawl to wear to a wedding on the 22nd July. I'm using a beautiful vintage rose coloured bamboo yarn by punto su punto filati. We are leaving on Friday 21st July. In theory, it needs to be blocking by next Wednesday 19 July in order for it to be ready in time to travel. I started it on Sunday.

In the best of circumstances, this would be a tight squeeze.

Today, like the f*%#nut that I am, I left an uncapped pen in my knitting bag. I then discovered a dark stain on a couple of stitches (and swore several times). In a panic, and with an unbelievable demonstration of stupidity, I tried to smudge it out with a wet cloth. Now I have a general wide stain, as can be seen below.

HOW THE HELL DO I SAVE THIS? Will washing it help? Do I need to rip it out and start again? It's a couple of hours work, at least, I think.

I'm such an idiot.

UPDATE

It's a miracle! On the advice of my father-in-law (who knew?), I attacked the affected portion of the shawl late last night with some soap - the shawl and the soap were dry, so it was basically just a matter of rubbing the soap hard into the fabric. After a good scrub, I washed the soap out of the shawl, scrubbed a little more, rinsed it out, and hung it up to dry. This morning, it's as if the whole stain never existed.

I am FLABBERGASTED. But delighted. And I only lost a few hours of knitting time in all. Much better than if I had ripped it back to before the stain and started knitting again. So - stained bamboo yarn CAN be saved. But it's best not to get yourself into that bind in the first place. What a kerfuffle.

Hoorah for fathers-in-law!!

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Posted by Katia at 5:23 PM, July 11, 2006
Comments (8) | TrackBacks (1)

This is probably one of the easiest projects from the One Skein book, but GOD IT WAS SO BORING! I couldn't knit until the piece measures 28" and stopped at 20". I used Rowan Kidsilk Haze with 6mm needles. I have to knit another one, but don't have the courage to do so right now. I think part of my reluctance is that Kidsilk Haze is so hard to knit with though it feels amazing. And I'm seriously wondering, will I ever wear them? I'm not sure anymore!

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Posted by Irene at 10:36 AM, June 30, 2006
Comments (6)

So far, so good!

I had initially wanted to make the Picovoli sweater from Grumperina. I cast on and knit one skein in and didn't like how the neck line was turning out, so I put it aside for about 15 minutes while I gauged the Debbie Bliss Cathay for Green Gable. Just to see... funny thing is, I gauged on addis and I missed gauged. Then I re-gauged on clovers and hit gauge nearly spot on. So, I decided to take a chance and see how Green Gable would look in DB Cathay. I am drawn to the Green Gable pattern because it has the simple lacing I had used in my mother-in-law's scarf I made about a month ago. I was still high on how fun YOs are. So, while engrossing myself with season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer I was off and running with the Green Gable sweater. Picovoli has been frogged (for now).

Two days in, I'm able to finally try on Green Gable:

And she fits! The Debbie Bliss Cathay is such a fun yarn. A cotton, silk, Viscose blend which is very nice to knit with and because of the viscose and probably the silk, the sweater lays so well. The photo above was taken right after I separated the sleeves. The more I look at the little rolly sleeves, I think that I will leave them like that. I'm hoping to jam on this sweater this week maybe I'll finish it by this weekend!

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Posted by Aimee at 8:05 PM, June 27, 2006
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I was so excited about doing cables. Cabling away with the best of them, and then I realized that my lovely cables were causing horrible curling. I frogged, and restarted, with the fantastic idea of isolated cables, each in a little box of garter.

Yeah, that didn't work either.

So, I decided to listen to the yarn. What was it telling me? I tried a rib, 3x1. Nope, didn't like that either.

Eventually, I just went back to the 2x2 rib that worked before. And it's turning out very, very nice. I think Lauren will be pleased. And I plan on a matching hat.

Although I am still tempted to jazz it up somehow. On va voir.

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Posted by Ronica at 10:33 PM, June 20, 2006
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This is my first official baby garment. It's a wrap around sweater for my friend, Karine's future daughter, Emma. I am really enjoying this baby knit. It could be my KADD project to get me through those projects that just seems to drag on and on. I'm talking to you, Hourglass Sweater. I've just started La Liseuse d'Emma. Hey, Knots girls... help me out here on this translation?

Knit from the sleeve out, This is such a great pattern because it's one huge (baby sized) peice. Just sew under the arms et voila and you're done! The simple garter stitch makes this a speedy knit and in the Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmire it looks really sweet.

Here's another view of the lay out:

I don't how many of you have knit with French patterns and I made the mistake of trying to teach myself using Phildar patterns. They expect that you have a certain level of knowledge in knitting. We're talking beyone knitting and purling. So, I took a break for a few months and then pick up this baby knits book which was marked as facile . Well, let's just say it's a big easier than Phildar patterns but still very confusing. I've decided to just to knit what I think they are trying to say and see what happens. So, far so good! Anyone else run into problems with French patterns?

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Posted by Aimee at 10:06 AM, June 2, 2006
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to my knitting needles. ^^

Something about the warm weather that just kind of made me forget about knitting socks. Sorry, socks... I may not touch you again before this fall. I found my way back to knitting by starting a new project (always exciting) and using a new yarn I've never used before. I remember my mom telling me that she prefered to knit with cotton during the summer months and we'd always have cool hand knit tops and tanks to get us through the hot Kansas summers. Now I understand why she loved to knit with cotton, it's so much cooler than wool! :) Thinking about this I remembered that I had some cotton cashmire sleeping somehwere in my stash. I had initially bought it to make the mini sweater from Glampyre but I was unable to get the right gauge and didn't feel like having a holey stockinette sweater. So, the cotton cashmire went deep into my stash until last week when I thought I'd try to make a spring/summer scarf for my mother-in-law. And here's how it's turning out:

Click here for a detail of the lace.

It's the Midwest Moonlight scarf from Scarf Style. I had passed over this pattern several times thinking it wasn't very pretty. Ok, it's not that pretty to me on paper but in real life it's really, really neat! And it's my first official attempt at lace. I love YOs. So fun! I'm five repeats into the pattern and have 20 more reps to go. I hope to have this finished by the end of this week.

It feels good to find your way back to something that you love so much. But, it's also nice to take a break and get a fresh perspective on things, too.

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Posted by Aimee at 12:54 PM, May 15, 2006
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So Devon is done - am waiting for the purchase of the perfect shirt in order to show it off it's best features (which include, of course, my l33t fa1r-isl3 skillz). I totally love it, but will do the sum-up of how I really feel when I blog about it. The only real problem at the moment is that it's really not the weather for wearing a woollen vest, so I'm going to have to wait until the summer is over to wear it! Bummer!

Anyway, after receiving a very serious sock yarn order (thanks to Knitpicks, Sarah and Sarahs mum), I've embarked on my very own sockapalooza and am socking it away on the train and whilst watching multiple episodes of The OC and Angel. I've been tackling the Pansy colourway, but the yarn didn't want to do what I wanted it to do, so I've decided to put it aside until it tells me what it wants to be. Maybe another pair of Jaywalkers?

Yarnapalooza : finished Devon vest, a couple of WIPs, a lot of knitpicks sock yarn and a glimpse of Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, and a guest appearance by a sleeping Symphony. Check out my flickr page for a breakdown of this photo

So I picked up the truly beautiful Rocky Mountain Dusk colourway and am working on a pair of Madder socks from Knitting Vintage Socks (I admit that I totally and blatantly copied Yahaira when I saw her version on flickr). I started off with 2.5mm, but whilst it fit quite well, the ribbing stretched out too much for my liking, so I cast on again in 3.25. I'm totally in love with it and am really enjoying knitting them.

I started off on 2.5mm

I am much happier on 3.25mm, with Magic Loop, of course. The colour pools differently now the knitting is looser (and certainly looks washed out in the bright Paris sun in this photo!), but I still really like it.

In other knitting news, I'm working on a mystery project that currently looks like a black blob of fluff. I really don't have any idea how it's going to turn out, but I'll just see how it goes.

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Posted by Katia at 1:01 PM, May 14, 2006
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I hadn't knitted for about 3 weeks when I took out my needles yesterday morning. My being on hiatus was not caused by laziness but by a profound lack of inspiration. So yesterday I quietly thumbed through my knitting books and came up with a few projects.

First I'm going to knit an adult size One skein wonder.

Then I'm going to knit a square for the Warming Grace project and some sleeves from the One skein book.

And hopefully, one day soon, I'm going to finish my capelet.

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Posted by Irene at 2:12 PM, April 24, 2006
Comments (5)

Well Ms. Sarah requested that we post our WIP lists, so here's mine!

Not as bad and I thought, it all fits in one basket which surprises me. I must tell you though that I'm hiding one WIP, my Phildar sweater because it just irks me and I'll get back to it another day. French patterns are just weird, lots of 3 x 1 to express how many rows of certain stitch and it just confuses me. So, another day... :) In the basket you'll see my Hourglass Sweater, I'm stuck in sleeve no man's land for the moment but I'm going to work some tonight while watching Buffy which the lovely Kylie Mac has loaned to us. Other goodies in the basket are the big, bad, baby blankie from SnB, the second sock to my first pair of socks (very creative name, I know), my first pair of jaywalkers and some experimental socks using Anny Blatt 100% Merino wool.

Click photo for more explanation.

I feel that the socks in my WIP basket are not too urgent as they are just for me, actually everything currently in my basket is just for me, so what am I talking about here... anyway, the only thing that feels rather urgent to me is my hourglass sweater! And I've found a great summer sweater to knit but have told myself that I can start it when I finish my Hourglass Sweater! So, the motivation has returned to work on my Hourglass!

I'm off, I have a date with a sweater tonight!

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Posted by Aimee at 7:12 PM, April 7, 2006
Comments (7)

Once upon a time I told you about some blue yarn I bought. From time to time, I've been working on it, though never sitting down for more than an hour or so. Since I am rather broad-shouldered, I am making the 19" version, and since this is on my 4 mm Addis (which I love, by the way--they are way better than the Clovers), well, it's taking a while.

I've worked some at work (legal--I babysit) some at home (not much though, honestly) and some on the train returning from Nantes. I have made errors, ripped out, and picked endless amounts of cotton or linen chaff from this (rather cheap) yarn, but I do like the color and it feels like it will be comfy when it is finished. Unbelievably, it matches perfectly with one of my favorite summer skirts. Happy Accident!

The end day appears to be near, though I may be dreaming, and this may be the endless project. I am hoping for the best. I've got 62 right now between the side "seams", and need 76, so by my calculations, that's about 7 more sets of rows. Then I will trim the sleeves (I'll do rib, as Aimee did), seam them (still not quite crystal clear on this--I think it's just seaming the trim), and rib around the whole thing.

I made one mistake I can't figure out or fix (it's in the "seam" so I can't really drop a stitch to get it) but it's on the inside, and doesn't seem to be affecting any other stitches, so I've resigned myself to leave it be. The rest of it looks pretty good, although if I want to be picky/fussy, there are some stitches I pulled a bit too tight, and maybe a twisted yarn or two. Eh--such is life. Back when I was performing a lot as a musician, I used to look forward to my first mistake--it meant the performance wouldn't be perfect, and therefore the pressure was off and I could just enjoy myself for the rest of the piece. The Amish will purposely add a "mistake" to everything they make, because they believe only God can make something perfect.

Fine with me. I'm just looking forward to that day, very soon from the looks of it lately, when I can leave the house in a skirt, tank, little shrug and sandals, and not worry about being too cold. Yippee--Spring is almost here!

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Posted by Ronica at 10:53 PM, April 2, 2006
Comments (2)

Because I'm the sort of lassie that does what she's told, I thought I'd show a little of what I've been doing over the last few weeks.

I learned my lesson at Christmas time - I should only ever have a few projects on the needles at once. I have not got a lot of free time to knit, so I need to make the most of the precious time that I do have. So at the moment, I have one big project on the needles at home, and one little "travel project" that resides permanently in my handbag. I usually manage to dedicate about 45 minutes a day to these little travel projects, because I do it on the train, listening to my ipod and feeling very zen.

My current travel project is the Jaywalkers, which I've been working for a few weeks. It's taking ages because the first of the pair got ripped back about 50 gazillion times as I made a few little errors here and there, but eventually I got it done.

I handed the first jaywalker to our official sock tester last week, and it received the Knotlet seal of approval.

I'm not having any problems with the second of the pair, and it is absolutely zooming along. Hopefully I'll be jaywalking soon :)

My major project is still the Devon vest, which is going well. I am finishing off the back, and then it will just be a matter of blocking, seaming, and adding the neck and arm ribbing around the edges. Not so long to go - and if I don't work too late every day this week, perhaps I'll be able to wear it by next weekend? I do wish I had made it a little longer, but I still really like it, and I have totally fallen in love with the challenge that is Fair Isle.

Hooded Jacket? What Hooded Jacket? If someone magically conjures a good additional 24 hours out of the air for me I might, just might, get it blocked and sewn up.

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Posted by Katia at 5:02 PM, April 2, 2006
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I've been MIA lately because of these massive teaching tests. A month ago I couldn't even envision ever knitting again I was so tired, but thanks to the KNOTS girls for inspiration last week (my first week back in 3!) At Sarah's request, here are my WIP's and potential future projects with their priority. I usually can't have more than 2 projects on the needles at once or I get stressed and know I won't finish them. Already the Colinette disaster scares me because I don't know if I'll even want to return to it next winter! So, here are the two things on the needles right now:

Rowan Cabled Capelet (half done- just need to do the back and sew up, I am eager to finish this after my tests are over next week because it will make an adorable spring addition)

Noro Hat for Etienne (1/8 done! I am such a slow knitter as it is that ribbing takes me twice as long. As much as I'd like to put this away until next fall because I won't get it done anyway before the warm weather comes, I mentally can't start on anything else until I get it done!)

PPP's until Xmas (Potential Projects in order of Priority):

Goa tank for my mom for her b'day (June)
A Gab sweater (for early summer hopefully)
A couple of Sophie bags for Xmas gifts
3 Chenille flower washclothes that I plan to make for each of our nieces and add some fun bath stuff for Xmas
A cardigan to bring new baby home in (for September)

I know that sounds like nothing for all you pros, but due to my slowness, I just can't commit to anymore! However, I will probably add more stuff once I start getting some of these things done.

Now, back to studying. Although I'm not very serious about this next test, I won't allow myself to knit until it's over, if not I feel guilty! Pics to come in a couple weeks...

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Posted by Andie at 1:17 PM, March 29, 2006
Comments (3)

well, one can only be a slacker so long. i thought i'd post a progress report since no one has been able to see my progress!

there are a few little mistakes here and there, but i think it gives the work "character" and "originality". AND i have managed NOT to frog anything for the better part of a week, and that's saying something! overall, i think it's shaping up pretty well, considering too that it's my first foray into the realm of circulars. i've come across stitches and had to ask myself, "hmm. well. how did THAT get there?" but thus far, i've been able to work it all out, even if it's not Perfect. best of all, especially after seeing how nicely flare's turned out, it's something i know i will actually WEAR (even if it isn't black).

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Posted by Kyliemac at 2:58 PM, March 14, 2006
Comments (7)

Wow, so I have finished one sock! (Actually, technically, honestly this is not my first time but it sure does feel good anyhow.)

I am making this pair of socks for the sixsoxalong. I tried the pattern with several other sock yarns in my stash but nothing seemed to work right with the lace pattern. At first, I wasn't a huge fan of this ball of sock yarn but now that I see the finished product I really like it! The sock fits perfectly around the foot area but it is a bit loose at the top. The pattern has you use one size needle for the top then drop down a needle size for heel and foot. I think it would work better for my foot to knit the entire sock with the smaller size, which is exactly what I am doing with the second sock. (I know, I know I shouldn't do this but I am going to anyway.)

It is difficult to match yarn and patterns. I am in love with all of the beautiful sock yarns that are popping up all over the place. I keep buying it and then when I go to use it with a pattern either the texture or the beauty of the dye-job gets lost. How do you decide which sock yarn to use with which pattern? Are you constantly ripping out socks because it just doesn't seem to work? I feel like there is a happy medium that I just haven't learned to recognize yet.

Ok back to #2...

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Posted by Sarah at 5:10 PM, March 13, 2006
Comments (7)

I had been throwing the notion of knitting socks around in my head for a couple months now. I tried to knit them traditionally on DPNs but felt so akward and knit at a snail's pace which totally frustrated me. So, I put the socks aside and decided to learn how to cast on toe up. My tutorial of choice is chez Misocrafty. But in the meantime as well, I started (and finished!) Lady Eleanor. Flying high from my recent accomplishment with Lady E, I felt motivated to work on socks again. Talking with a couple friends, we agreed that socks were the perfect, portable project for us Parisienne girls to tote around with us in our handbags. Metro knitting rocks!

So, here's where I am with my first, OFFICIAL toe up sock!

I'm not doing anything fancy here just a basic 3 x 1 rib and I followed Anna Bell's toe instructions from her Elfine sock pattern. I using Knitpick's self striping sock yarn that was sent to me by my friend,Knit Honey. Please note the flip flops in the picture, I have been wearing these around the house to fill my feet's craving for open toed shoes. Since I'm on a sock kick, I'll have to try out a few of these patterns. Thanks, Katia. One of these patterns might be perfect for 50g of orange/grape yarn that's currently making my stash smell like the koolaid. :)

I'm hoping to turn the heel today. We'll see how that goes... :)

Quick question: Where do you buy your sock yarn? Just wondering what secret goodies are out there...

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Posted by Aimee at 10:34 AM, March 8, 2006
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It's coming along! I am at around 12 inches for the body, and will finish at 14, I've decided. The use of Alpaca silk DK means a few things--it's a bit less floofy, a bit lacy (I am on 4mm needles, suggested for this yarn, but I guess I could have gone down, but I like it, so it's OK), and has a beautiful drape. It is also extremely unforgiving, and I can see spots where it changes slightly (like when I stopped knitting to make a cup of tea--any change really shows in this yarn.) But I do like how it's turning out, and it won't take too much longer to finish.

One thing that it has helped is to reduce my movement while knitting. After working on so many bigger needle projects, it's interesting to use small ones and really focus on something tiny.

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Posted by Ronica at 2:03 PM, March 5, 2006
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The Jo Sharp Hoodie is coming along very well. After a four-day weekend last week, I managed to finish off the sleeves. So now I've done all the pieces, except for the hood, and then I just have to block and sew it. It's the latter part that is actually freaking me out because I don't want to wreck it.

When I rang my mum in a complete panic to ask for help on the decreases a few weeks ago, she gave me some good advice that I've been following to the letter - mapping out the arm shaping on a piece of paper and ticking the rows off as I go. This is a technique that my late grandma, a very crafty woman who knitted for years, used to keep track of her progress. This way I can get a better idea of how the shaping works, where I'm at and where I need to be going - not to mention that I feel a warmth in my heart as I think of my grandma as I'm doing it. I'm sure that as time goes on I'll be able to discard it and keep track of the shaping in my head, but for now it's a technique that I find very useful.

Symphony has, of course, decided that she needs to get involved too.

I'm not really impressed with this whole turn of events, but Symphony thinks that my knitting is the best place on which to sit. I suspect that she is just trying to stop me from knitting and freeing my hands to do what they're supposed to do - give her cuddles and pat her.

So whilst i'm avoiding blocking and sewing the hoodie, I've started on another project : the Devon vest (version 3, at the bottom) by Jo Sharp. It's really exciting, because it's my first venture into Fair Isle knitting. There is a little line of simple Fair Isle right around the base of the vest, and a larger panel across the chest. My first attempt (at the base of the back piece) was a little tight and puckered slightly, and eventually I decided to pull it out and do it again. I am really happy with my second attempt and I am on a total high that I can actually do this! The colour below is a bit brighter than the real thing, which is more burgundy.

I can't wait to really start experimenting more with this - perhaps some Fair Isle socks will be on the horizon for me in the future? But of course, I've got a long way to go and I will tell you what I really think of Fair Isle when I've managed to tackle the panel on the front ;) That might be a different story ;)

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Posted by Katia at 11:33 AM, March 5, 2006
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I need a gift for my Dad's wife's birthday (yes, it was last week, and no, I didn't start this until 4 days later!) I was enamored by the Bowtie Scarf Irène made, and had an extra skein of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK in black. This is a much finer version of Alpaca Silk, and yields more yardage, so after some calculations, Aimee and I thought that it would be enough to make this without any more skeins. I hope we're right!

I started it during the felting expedition, to keep myself busy while I waited for the wool to do its thing. It is turning out much more delicate and lacy than the regular alpaca silk, and I love the feel of it. These are my first YOs, and I think they look really nice, if I do say so myself. (I may have to explore this lace knitting thing!)

I am hoping to make it more like a little neck scarf, like you'd wear a chiffon square, rolled and tied in a double knot at the neck--sort of 1950's Audrey Hepburn-ey. (I can just imagine it with a white button-down shirt, black capris, red lipstick and little ballet slippers. Cute!)

So I have a question. Help please!

How big is your neck?

Mine measures 13.5 inches around the larynx, but this pattern calls for 16" for a woman. Since I want it to fit tighter, I was thinking of going for 14. This yarn does not bounce back at all, so the only stretch would be results of the garter stitch. Since the yarn really has no recoil, I'm afraid that if it's too long, it will get way stretched out and head south.

Please help me! Do I have a non-average neck?

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Posted by Ronica at 12:40 PM, February 28, 2006
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I finished the Marsupial Bag (including Roo and the umbilical cord) last Saturday at Katia's, but was a little nervous about the felting, so I used the leftover yarn to whip up a little test bag. It is the same principal, only smaller, with no handles.

I figured, hey--we've got a front loader machine with a 2 and a half hour wash cycle--this should felt itself!

Wrong.

I pulled it out, and it had barely changed, though the stuff in with it now had a different tint to it. (Aimee and I, during a sink test-felting of a swatch, mistakenly thought the color wouldn't run.)

So, I spent the next few hours alternately cooking, cooling, rubbing (Scotch brite pads helped out with this!), soaping, knitting, and web surfing. This is what happened.

As you can see, the bag itself didn't really shrink very much. It is definitely felted, but the shrinkage I expected didn't exactly happen. The stitches aren't invisible (probably due to the acrylic in the yarn), but are fairly tight and thick, except for a tiny hole or two at the base where I guess I missed picking up a stitch. The colors are more muted now, and I like the look of it. This sample is due for a zipper, and it will be my knitting accessories bag, for stuff like stitch markers, measuring tape, scissors and needles.

I am saving the big bag for the weekend, when I'll have more time on my hands. It's going to take a while, and I may need to borrow a bigger pot!

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Posted by Ronica at 12:17 PM, February 28, 2006
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The Marsupial Bag is done! Well, the Kanga part, anyway. I've still yet to start the little added insert pocket and i-cord (which I think of as "Roo"), but they should be quick. It knit up pretty fast, and was easy to do. The hard part was figuring out how to pick up stitches (the explanation in SNB didn't quite work for me, but I figured it out by doing it as they said, then transferring the picked up stitch to the other needle.) I had a little trouble with the handles, because the pattern doesn't explain that well either, but found that it works fine if you know that after casting on the new stitches with the single cast on, you must knit the short side, cast on the other new stitches, knit the other short side, and then knit around fully, on the newly cast on stitches. Once I did that, it was cake. The handle rolls a bit, being stockinette, but I think that will all come out in the wash. (ha!)

I absolutely love how the colors ended up--the wide tiger stripes at the bottom, and then the thin ones at the top. Totally unplanned, but it looks cool! The original pattern used two different yarns, with orange at the bottom and the top third being red, but this yarn kind of gave me that effect without having to change. Very neato!

I know the pattern says it will all tighten up on felting, and not to worry about wobbly bits, but I also know whom will be using this bag. I am making it for my sister, who works in theater in the Minneapolis area (mostly Theater in the Round and Mixed Blood Players, some others). I figure this will be a good script bag, but since she does props and stage managing, she carries around a lot of extra stuff and tends to overfill her bags. Thus, while sewing in my ends, I decided to reinforce the corners where the handles join, just to make sure it will be strong when it's felted.

Stay tuned for Act III. :)

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Posted by Ronica at 11:37 PM, February 24, 2006
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being the resident «knitting slacker» of the group - i decided that it was high time that promoted myself beyond "scarves" and i jumped into knitting A-REAL-PROJECT.

the chosen subject: the very same shrug that flare has finished. which i shall be copying down to almost the very last detail (same colour et all) due to the fact the rowan yarn selected doesn't come in quite the assortment of colours i'd generally wear. (side note to girls: very funny. yes, they had black but i'm "expanding" my horizons - even beyond charcoal!) of the choices presented, the merlot-esque colour sang to me and i knew-it-would-be-mine. it's actually darker than the photo portrays it to be.

after a morbidly failed attempt at using the circular needles the first time last week (do i even know HOW to knit???) - and despite the valiants attempts of resuscitation from flare - i have managed to realize that i DO indeed remember how to use these needle thingies and have managed to get far enough to give me the reassuring thought my work shall not be in vain! it hints vaguely of a SLEEVE! huzzah.

as i'm the cold-blooded member of our clan - i figure that despite the length of time this project will most likely take me to finish (i hear the sleeves seem to take F.o.r.e.v.e.r.), i think i shall be able to wear it well into june. :D

this is what i'm knitting, irene. :)

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Posted by Kyliemac at 1:04 PM, February 24, 2006
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by Aimee and Ronica!

Woo hoo! We started our own mini-knitalong! Whoopee!

We're both making the Marsupial Bag from Stitch-n-Bitch, though not using the yarns called for at all. We both bought Plassard Rapsodie. Mine is a purple/pink/lilac (intense colors though--no wimpy lavendar in this yarn) and Aimee's is a navy/turquoise/blue. This bag is for my sister, for her birthday, and will be felted. We tried felting a bit of it, and it worked quite well, so we're off like a herd of turtles.

I started last night, casting on 16 for the bag bottom and gartering for 44 or 45 rows, on 7mm circular needles (though the yarn calls for 8mm needles, which I don't have, and I want it tighter to felt well, too, because the original pattern calls for two types of yarn held together.) Today I learned how to pick up stitches, though I'm not quite positive I did it right, as SNB's explanation didn't quite work for me with the circulars, but I did what I thought would work and it seems to be going OK. Then I started going round and round--with some funky little flips on the corners to make it all-structured-like. (They call that "right twist.") I've knit about 3 inches of the sides so far, and have to go to 10 before working on the handles. There have been a few bumps in the road (where did that extra loop come from? And where did that other one go?) but I've recovered, perhaps not perfectly, but I'm counting on the felting to hide that. It's like makeup, but for knitting.

Here's my photos so far. The colors may be a little wonky, but you get the idea. (Note: cool stitch marker courtesy of the ever-so-fabulous Pink Rocket.)

Here you can see the construction. We knit the bottom, pick up the sides, and knit straight up, which results in stockinette because it's in the round. (I love that you can see the camera strap at the bottom of this one. Professional, thy name is not Ronica.)

Here's Aimee's. (Passes the keyboard to Aimee.)

I usually don't do KALs but I couldn't resist this one. After the test swatch of the Plassard Rapsodie, I was intrigued to see how it would look in a felted bag. I casted on tonight and knit up one skein. I absolutely love how the colors are pooling and I think that this is going to look wicked felted!

My progress so far:

Stay tuned for more knitting and felting with Ronica & Aimee! :)

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Posted by Ronica at 9:50 PM, February 21, 2006
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I've decided to keep Lady Eleanor around. I was on the fence while knitting up the first skein, the yellows and the reds were a little weird for me at first especially because the other colors in this colorway are so much more subduded. I did have to cut out a section of yellow because it was just too much. So here she is 5 skeins in:

What do you think? Detail of Lady E here.

It's hard to get an accurate photo of Lady Eleanor, the colors pop more in the photo than they do in real life which is a definately plus otherwise I'd feel very clownish wearing her.

I don't think I'm going to get her finished before the Olympics end but who knows, I have very strange knitting habits so we'll see...

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Posted by Aimee at 2:07 PM, February 21, 2006
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When I'm not teaching, I spend my days studying for the upcoming teaching board and PhD exams. I have a pretty tight study schedule and don't allow myself to do much during the day but study. But, come night fall, I become a different person and the knitter comes out of her shell. Well, I only allow myself the pleasure of knitting if I study well during the day, pretty harsh, but at least it gets me motivated to study! By the looks of the following picture, you can guess that my studying has come along pretty well. About an hour every other night for the past week, and the front of the Rowan Cabled Capelet is done.

I love the look of it already, I'm just a little worried that it might be too small, but the yarn will stretch. Very, very fast and simple pattern. Now, the back just like the front, and then it's done! I'm really a one project at a time kind of knitter, maybe two, but any more than that, and nothing will ever get done and I get anxious, so for now, I'll stick with this and then it's onto a Gab sweater.

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Posted by Andie at 10:36 AM, February 21, 2006
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My current project is my first "real" item - at least, my first knitted garment that requires swatching, shaping, etc. I'm making the Hooded Jacket (to be known from now on as the Hoodie) from Jo Sharp's Family (Book Seven). I adore the loose fit and think that in this cotton blend, it would be perfect for those slightly fresh spring and summer evenings. Not being able to get Jo Sharp yarn here, and being too impatient to wait for an order from ebay, I decided to substitute the yarn with some Rowan All Seasons Cotton. The blend is almost identical, and the swatch knitted up beautifully, albeit with a few flaws (that should have warned me about what was to come...).

I've done the back and one of the front pieces, but unfortunately I cannot post any progress reports as my husband has run off to play with moose, and took the digital camera with him. So you'll have to settle for a photo of the swatch for now (and it's actually a little more purplish than in this photo).

The only problem is that cotton shows every single darn flaw. My trusty Vogue Knitting warned me about this tendency, but I soldiered on and knitted the back. My tension seems to be pretty good, but sometimes the yarn twists in on itself and the stitches look wonky - wonkiness that might not be as obvious with other sorts of yarn, but which is absolutely unforgiving with cotton. I kept going on the back, ripping it out only occasionally, when the loose stitches were really blatant.

On Saturday night, I finished the back and started on one of the sides - I learned my lesson with the cotton and I had to rip it back about 10 times overall in order to smooth out the booboos. I just bound off this evening and the end result is something that I'm really happy with - so much so that I'm considering reknitting the entire back again (even though it took me two weeks to do, in between a crazy work schedule) because I can't help seeing every single little lump and bump. I need to think about it, because even though it's something that I'm only planning on wearing around the house and for runs to the supermarket, I would like it to be relatively presentable.

I'm on such a huge learning curve with this project... I have had a hard time battling with some of the pattern directions, so much so that I rang my mum last weekend for some words of wisdom and decryption advice - she's a true legend. Checking and rechecking my rows and stitches is slowly becoming a habit, and I hope that this reflex will become more automatic as time goes on.

I'm pretty sure that, as usual, I've bitten off more than I can chew with this project. I KNEW it when I read the instructions that it was for an "intermediate" level knitter ;) I'll just have to take it slowly and not be afraid to frog... Of course, I haven't even thought about the sewing part of this yet, which is just going to render me nauseous ahead of time, so for now I'll just pretend that it will magically get put together by little faeries at the end of it all.

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Posted by Katia at 8:15 PM, February 15, 2006
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I had mentioned before that if I'd finished my Turtleneck Shrug on time I'd participate in the Knitting Olympics. I didn't officially cast on Lady Eleanor until last night because Friday night there was a power issue chez ma copine and we decided that pizza and beer was the only way to solve the problem.

So, today while watching the ladies half pipe and women's biathalon I worked on my Lady E. One skein down and only 9 more to go. I am using less skeins then the patters calls for in hopes that it's more of a scarf then a shawl. And I only have 10 skeins of Noro Silk Garden 217, so that's that!

I love the color in the skein but knit up it's kind of strange. A lot more red and yellow than I had anticipated but I'm not going to give up on Lady E for now. I must say that Entrelac is a real pleasure to knit. Once you have the pattern down, it's really fun! I have to admit that reading in the book totally confused me and it took three tries before I got it going the right way but I'm really enjoying Entrelac now. I hope you all have a chance to try it.

So, what do you think?

Another photo here.

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Posted by Aimee at 6:55 PM, February 13, 2006
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...sort of..

Knitting in 2006 represents two things for m