So much to say! First of all, I won yarn!!! Free yarn!!! From the Briar Rose Fibers knitalong. Of course, this motivated me to start swatching for my project. I want to make a tank top - it's a laceweight fiber, so I think anything decent (you know, PG) will have to be knit on small needles. Not exactly the kind of project I was looking to start as an alternative to socks, but oh well. I swatched in the chevron scarf pattern from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" on US 3 needles. It looks nice but the shaping row is such a pain with the thin yarn and small needles. Also, I think the waviness will get lost farther from the edge and may be a waste of effort. The color repeats are too short to stripe and accent the chevron. I may just do the Lotus lace pattern (from Interweave Knits Summer 2006) that I've been planning on knitting, but with a modified top to use less yarn. I'm worried I'll run out - I only bought one hank! Granted, it's a large hank, and I'm a small person, but still.
Also wonderfully, I have finished my Clapotis! It is amazing, but it sheds over everything (50% mohair) but I don't care because it is so beautiful. And the fuzz comes off stuff easily. When I wear it as a scarf with my coat, it is incredibly warm. I love it, but not enough to knit another one. I don't think I really understand those people who knit three or four of the same shawls....there are too many other patterns to do. I guess if you like mindless knitting and know a pattern well, it makes sense because it's relatively automatic, less stressful to start, etc.
I can really appreciate that right now. I think I have some new project anxiety. I have so many projects that I want to do, but none of them are really appropriate right now. Like the Briar Rose top - I would cast on right now if I had a pattern that I liked! But I'm so picky, and really paranoid about running out of yarn. I may try to knit something top down so I can just bind off when I run out!! I came up with a really cool (but insanely difficult) pattern today for a top (on paper only of course) but it's not right for this yarn.
I should also be knitting socks for my mom. Okay, so I did wind the yarn into balls and I have ordered the needles. So I'm not avoiding it. I am excited to try socks on two circulars - hopefully it will help the knitting go faster! I think I'm discouraged because of how my Socks that Rock are going. Well, is going - just one so far. I'm almost to the heel shaping, having started toe-up, and I'm really worried about fit. Not supposed to be a problem with toe up, right? That's only if the DPNs the sock is on don't cut off your circulation when you put the sock on - another reason I'm glad to try circulars. And knitting these socks with US 0 may turn out to be a good thing, but right now it sucks sucks sucks. It's basically the Sock that Sucks. I'm switching to US 1 for the leg - might even do it on circulars too. I've got plenty of sock yarn in sock weight, but I may start buying sport weight and knitting with US 4. At least for gifts.
Hmm okay. Need to end on a good note. Did I mention I won yarn?!!?!?! And the tank top I'm going to make out of the yarn I have is going to be the best ever. Seriously.
Tuesday, February 20
Sunday, January 14
The digital camera is currently being fixed at 3/4 the price of a new camera. On a happier note, I started my next pair of socks! The Socks that Rock was calling to me, already nicely balled and sitting next to the pattern. All I had to do to get started was swatch, and I finally sat down and did so. I'm glad I did, because I decided to knit the STR on 0's (zeros!) instead of 2's (the label recommends US 2-3). My gauge is 9 stitches/inch instead of 8. This is a bit of a pain in the a..neck, but the fabric is so much nicer tightly knit. I'm following the universal toe-up sock formula from Knitty. The toe especially was a pain in the NECK but now it's done and it's smooth sailing from here to the heel. I'd like to have a heel-flap style heel, so I may switch to following the Widdershins pattern (also from Knitty) and hopefully figure something out. I don't know if I'll add any patterning detail. I'm really just enjoying watching the colors come together - the colorway is Rhode Island Red, which is red and brown and an in-between lighter orangey - really earthy and bright at the same time. I may do a fully ribbed leg, or start the seed-stitch rib pattern in Thuja (yes, that's from Knitty too). I've only knit a couple rows in the round so far, so I think I could start a pattern now and it wouldn't look too weird. Mmm socks.
I finished my Danica scarf and blocked it. I wasn't too thrilled about the colors while knitting it, but now that it's done I love it and I'm keeping it. It may be given someday, if I find someone special enough...and know that I can take it back if I have to. I also shipped off a hat to my best friend who just moved to Minnesota. Poor girl. She hates cold. I made it from Lopi Reynolds yarn in pinks. The yarn ended up making a barber-pole stripe, which I think looks pretty cool when the cuff (?) is turned up. I'll make her send me a picture when she gets it. I tested it a few times - it is SO WARM. Mmm Icelandic wool.
I think that's about it. Clapotis is still hiding half-finished in a bag inside another bag. Once the socks get going and become my portable project I'll go back to knitting the shawl. It is gorgeous and I love it, but I think it's the biggest thing I've ever knit. Yup, definitely.
I just finished listening to the latest Knitty D and the City podcast (from mid-December I think) and they did a review of their knitting in 2006. I don't know which project I like the most. I did a lot of new stuff this year - lace and beads for the vest, all the shaping that went into the vest (like armholes!), started a lace shawl, my first socks, entrelac, and of course more hats. Lots of hats. I think I'm proudest of the socks. My fave knitting experience was definitely Rhinebeck. I hope I can go again next year. :) Mmm sheep.
I finished my Danica scarf and blocked it. I wasn't too thrilled about the colors while knitting it, but now that it's done I love it and I'm keeping it. It may be given someday, if I find someone special enough...and know that I can take it back if I have to. I also shipped off a hat to my best friend who just moved to Minnesota. Poor girl. She hates cold. I made it from Lopi Reynolds yarn in pinks. The yarn ended up making a barber-pole stripe, which I think looks pretty cool when the cuff (?) is turned up. I'll make her send me a picture when she gets it. I tested it a few times - it is SO WARM. Mmm Icelandic wool.
I think that's about it. Clapotis is still hiding half-finished in a bag inside another bag. Once the socks get going and become my portable project I'll go back to knitting the shawl. It is gorgeous and I love it, but I think it's the biggest thing I've ever knit. Yup, definitely.
I just finished listening to the latest Knitty D and the City podcast (from mid-December I think) and they did a review of their knitting in 2006. I don't know which project I like the most. I did a lot of new stuff this year - lace and beads for the vest, all the shaping that went into the vest (like armholes!), started a lace shawl, my first socks, entrelac, and of course more hats. Lots of hats. I think I'm proudest of the socks. My fave knitting experience was definitely Rhinebeck. I hope I can go again next year. :) Mmm sheep.
Tuesday, January 2
Thursday, December 28
Woo! I'm back! Sadly, the digital camera is not. But I'm taking it to the city this weekend to get repaired. :) In the meantime, I have finally developed my roll of film (I forgot how nice film pictures look) and got a photo cd. I now present to you...the argyle hat:
I have actually finished the top of the hat as well, but I haven't woven in the ends or added the blue diagonal lines on the argyle part. I am very proud of the construction of this hat, but the end product is not exactly how I envisioned it. I have a lot of other projects on the needles and lined up, so it may be a while before I finish the hat and knit the matching scarf. Also, the Knitter's Companion is awesome.
I made this hat over the summer, here modeled by my youngest brother Michael.
I visited the other yarn store in town and they had the hat on display, so I picked up the yarn (Nashua) and the pattern. The hat is knit a la yarn harlot's "quick hat" - in a rectangle, then sewn together and gathered on one side. I crocheted the top closed instead of gathering the whole thing, because it was too short. I actually described this hat in my first September post, and posted a picture of the orange version shortly after.
What else? I finished my first pair of socks! And I knit a pair of Fetching from some Brooks Farm yarn (from Rhinebeck). Unfortunately, everyone and their mother wants a pair of Fetching, and I have no appropriate stash yarn to make another pair or four. The yarn I originally bought for the pattern (for two pairs) was Noro Silk Garden, but the color repeats were waaaay too long and the yarn wasn't soft enough. The Noro is currently being knit into a Danica scarf and looks fabulous. I also tried the Fetching with some Debbie Bliss Soho but it was too bulky and the colors pooled. Both the Noro and Debbie Bliss were on sale at Rhinebeck. Soho may become a hat, but not now.
Wait, there's more! I am also knitting......CLAPOTIS!!! Yay! Out of the drop-dead gorgeous Brooks Farm yarn I bought, and it looks amazing. Damn you, digital camera! I am about halfway done, which means there is a lot left to do. About two weeks ago I thought I would aim for finishing by New Year's Eve, but then I started the entrelac scarf. I had to! Everyone was talking about entrelac! And since I finished my socks, I needed a new portable project.
Speaking of which, one of my Christmas presents was going to be a knitting bag. My mom and I went shopping for one, but I didn't find one I liked. A friend of mine had just shown me a bag she sewed herself, so I was inspired (stupidly) to make my own knitting bag. Well, it was a great idea, except I am not so hot at the sewing. I spent pretty much all of December 24 on my mom's sewing machine, and everything is done except the handles. But of course that's where I stopped because that's where it stopped working. The handles just don't fit on the bag. So now I have a beautiful bag with no handles or strap. Sigh. The problem will be solved soon enough. I have convinced myself that if I just sit and "think" (i.e. stare blankly at it) I will figure out what to do.
Gee, what else have I knit / am I knitting? Currently I'm just working on Danica and Clapotis. I need to finish these because starting January 1st I'm knitting sock yarn only for the Lime n' Violet Sock Marathon 2007. Which gives me an excuse to go home and fondle my sock yarn again in order to count how many miles I have. (I'm guessing two). But I have already wound the STR yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck and I squish it once and awhile....so pretty. I also want to knit my Spirit Trail sock yarn into a kick-ass lacy springtime hat. (Now how often are kick-ass and lacy in the same sentence?) I can't wait for my camera to get fixed! There will be much photographing of the stash....woo hoo! Hopefully followed by some photographing of finished objects. :)
I have actually finished the top of the hat as well, but I haven't woven in the ends or added the blue diagonal lines on the argyle part. I am very proud of the construction of this hat, but the end product is not exactly how I envisioned it. I have a lot of other projects on the needles and lined up, so it may be a while before I finish the hat and knit the matching scarf. Also, the Knitter's Companion is awesome.
I made this hat over the summer, here modeled by my youngest brother Michael.
I visited the other yarn store in town and they had the hat on display, so I picked up the yarn (Nashua) and the pattern. The hat is knit a la yarn harlot's "quick hat" - in a rectangle, then sewn together and gathered on one side. I crocheted the top closed instead of gathering the whole thing, because it was too short. I actually described this hat in my first September post, and posted a picture of the orange version shortly after.
What else? I finished my first pair of socks! And I knit a pair of Fetching from some Brooks Farm yarn (from Rhinebeck). Unfortunately, everyone and their mother wants a pair of Fetching, and I have no appropriate stash yarn to make another pair or four. The yarn I originally bought for the pattern (for two pairs) was Noro Silk Garden, but the color repeats were waaaay too long and the yarn wasn't soft enough. The Noro is currently being knit into a Danica scarf and looks fabulous. I also tried the Fetching with some Debbie Bliss Soho but it was too bulky and the colors pooled. Both the Noro and Debbie Bliss were on sale at Rhinebeck. Soho may become a hat, but not now.
Wait, there's more! I am also knitting......CLAPOTIS!!! Yay! Out of the drop-dead gorgeous Brooks Farm yarn I bought, and it looks amazing. Damn you, digital camera! I am about halfway done, which means there is a lot left to do. About two weeks ago I thought I would aim for finishing by New Year's Eve, but then I started the entrelac scarf. I had to! Everyone was talking about entrelac! And since I finished my socks, I needed a new portable project.
Speaking of which, one of my Christmas presents was going to be a knitting bag. My mom and I went shopping for one, but I didn't find one I liked. A friend of mine had just shown me a bag she sewed herself, so I was inspired (stupidly) to make my own knitting bag. Well, it was a great idea, except I am not so hot at the sewing. I spent pretty much all of December 24 on my mom's sewing machine, and everything is done except the handles. But of course that's where I stopped because that's where it stopped working. The handles just don't fit on the bag. So now I have a beautiful bag with no handles or strap. Sigh. The problem will be solved soon enough. I have convinced myself that if I just sit and "think" (i.e. stare blankly at it) I will figure out what to do.
Gee, what else have I knit / am I knitting? Currently I'm just working on Danica and Clapotis. I need to finish these because starting January 1st I'm knitting sock yarn only for the Lime n' Violet Sock Marathon 2007. Which gives me an excuse to go home and fondle my sock yarn again in order to count how many miles I have. (I'm guessing two). But I have already wound the STR yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck and I squish it once and awhile....so pretty. I also want to knit my Spirit Trail sock yarn into a kick-ass lacy springtime hat. (Now how often are kick-ass and lacy in the same sentence?) I can't wait for my camera to get fixed! There will be much photographing of the stash....woo hoo! Hopefully followed by some photographing of finished objects. :)
Wednesday, November 8
Well, the wintry beret has officially been frogged. The Noro held up remarkably well and a hat will definitely be knit out of it soon. The beret had several problems, number one being that it wasn't warm enough. What good is a winter hat that doesn't keep me warm? And there was itchiness on the forehead. I don't know if I can modify a beret pattern to accomodate these problems. Berets aren't really supposed to cover your ears, a must for an effective winter hat. I'll have to search for a good hat pattern that will still look fashionable.
In other news, the sock is done!!! I finished it last Friday night and it is amazing. I've started the second one, which I think will go much faster. I am a tad upset though about not using the entire hank of Koigu for the first sock. This means I will have some left over from the second sock as well. What do people do with remnants of sock yarn? I think the next sock pair will have to be toe-up, or even two-at-once toe-up since I'll be knitting from a single large hank for both socks. This way I can just keep knitting the leg until the yarn is gone. On the hunt for a good sock pattern to fit my needs.
The camera is still broken. Got to take it to NYC to get fixed. Maybe this weekend.
In other news, the sock is done!!! I finished it last Friday night and it is amazing. I've started the second one, which I think will go much faster. I am a tad upset though about not using the entire hank of Koigu for the first sock. This means I will have some left over from the second sock as well. What do people do with remnants of sock yarn? I think the next sock pair will have to be toe-up, or even two-at-once toe-up since I'll be knitting from a single large hank for both socks. This way I can just keep knitting the leg until the yarn is gone. On the hunt for a good sock pattern to fit my needs.
The camera is still broken. Got to take it to NYC to get fixed. Maybe this weekend.
Thursday, November 2
Wednesday, November 1
Sock and hat update:
The digital camera is broken. Garr! I'm taking it into an authorized repair shop in NYC sometime soon and hopefully it will be back to me for less than the cost of a new one. This was sooo not in the budget. In the hope of not boring you too much with just text (who am I kidding, nobody reads this), I will bravely sally forth without visual aid. Ooo, that was a fun sentence.
Socktoberfest concluded without a finished sock, but I did get around the heel and past the gusset decreases before Halloween. (I had a long train trip last weekend). I am loving this sock. I have a feeling there will be no second sock syndrome because I want to wear these now!! The sock has been dominating my knitting time, so the Clapotis and Fetching gloves are sitting by the wayside for now. I haven't touched the Maze hat or the Beret since finishing them, except to wear them around a bit and gauge reaction. Everyone loved the Beret (the pattern shows off the yarn so well) but it's itchy and too loose and I have yarn left over. The current plan is to frog it, knit a tighter rib for the brim on smaller needles, and make the top bigger to use up all the yarn. It would be a pity to have some of that yarn wasted. No ideas yet on the itch factor. Maybe I can attach something non-itchy on the inside of the brim? We'll see. Let's just hope that I don't completely ruin the yarn in frogging.
As for the Maze hat, reaction was mixed between "oh, what a cool pattern!" and "I don't think a 12-yr-old boy would wear that." I will block it as soon as I get my head. That is, my ceramic head that has a phrenology map on it. I spotted it in an antiques shop and had to have it. My neuroscience friends and I love to mock it. There may be a phrenology hat pattern there somewhere. Anyway, it's fabulous for blocking hats.
The digital camera is broken. Garr! I'm taking it into an authorized repair shop in NYC sometime soon and hopefully it will be back to me for less than the cost of a new one. This was sooo not in the budget. In the hope of not boring you too much with just text (who am I kidding, nobody reads this), I will bravely sally forth without visual aid. Ooo, that was a fun sentence.
Socktoberfest concluded without a finished sock, but I did get around the heel and past the gusset decreases before Halloween. (I had a long train trip last weekend). I am loving this sock. I have a feeling there will be no second sock syndrome because I want to wear these now!! The sock has been dominating my knitting time, so the Clapotis and Fetching gloves are sitting by the wayside for now. I haven't touched the Maze hat or the Beret since finishing them, except to wear them around a bit and gauge reaction. Everyone loved the Beret (the pattern shows off the yarn so well) but it's itchy and too loose and I have yarn left over. The current plan is to frog it, knit a tighter rib for the brim on smaller needles, and make the top bigger to use up all the yarn. It would be a pity to have some of that yarn wasted. No ideas yet on the itch factor. Maybe I can attach something non-itchy on the inside of the brim? We'll see. Let's just hope that I don't completely ruin the yarn in frogging.
As for the Maze hat, reaction was mixed between "oh, what a cool pattern!" and "I don't think a 12-yr-old boy would wear that." I will block it as soon as I get my head. That is, my ceramic head that has a phrenology map on it. I spotted it in an antiques shop and had to have it. My neuroscience friends and I love to mock it. There may be a phrenology hat pattern there somewhere. Anyway, it's fabulous for blocking hats.
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