knit with me

downsizing

2009-01-07T08:59:00.001-08:00

I've consolidated into one blog...please update your bookmarks and feeds: tongue in beak

happy monday

2008-12-29T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here's some eye candy to help us ease into the start of a new week...

photography by Colin Cooke
via housemartin

happy holidays!

2008-12-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

a recent FO

pattern: reversible cabled brioche stitch scarf (link)

yarn: 5 balls Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk

needles: US 7

prismatic scarf

2008-12-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

front

back

A few days ago I started this Prismatic Scarf but now am not sure how I like it in this colorway of Malabrigo. The front looks good but the back isn't showing off the slipped diagonal rib very well. I do like this pattern a lot, especially the I-cord selvedges which I think I'll use in future projects, too. And doesn't the gorgeous yarn remind you of a vineyard?

latest stash enhancement

2008-12-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

Last night our knitting group had our annual white elephant gift exchange. This year everyone was to bring sock yarn and here's what I ended up with, after having a few items "stolen" from me including a wonderful new book - phooey - but that's the way white elephants go. :) It was a fun time and I'm looking forward to trying out this Noro Kureyon Sock yarn I've heard so much about. After some quick and very unscientific research on Ravelry, I was left to ponder the following...

- extreme opinions about Kureyon Sock; I read a lot of passionate "I love" and "I hate" statements about this yarn

- the yarn is not machine-washable so maybe socks would not be a suitable project

- if the long color changes would look better broken up; here are some lovely examples

skinny stripes

entrelac

not sure what this is, fair isle maybe?

One skein of sock yarn sure has given me lots to think about!

pooling nightmare

2008-12-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

BPT in progress

So I breezed through the body of this sweater and was pleased as punch that the color wasn't pooling too badly - the worst of it was on the sides where it wasn't very noticeable. And then came time for me to knit the sleeves. Waahh! The pooling was atrocious, even when I alternated two balls of yarn (and huge ones at that - 385 yards each). I tried alternating one round at a time, two rounds at a time, random ball changes, cutting and restarting both yarn balls, and nothing worked to prevent the hideous patches of pooling. I've ripped out the sleeve so many times that I could have knit a whole other sweater by now. Any ideas to resolve this problem or will this yarn just not work for a top-down sweater? I have a feeling it's the latter and will just have to rip the whole thing back and use the yarn for something else...[sigh]

playing catch up - part 2

2008-12-16T17:22:00.001-08:00

Last month, a few of us from our weekly knitting group and friends road-tripped up to Torrance for the annual fiber festival put on by the SoCal Handweavers' Guild. I went prepared with this ginormous new fabric bag I made...good thing, too, since I bought a huge hank of yarn which I nicknamed "Big Bertha." The $35 festival price was a siren song I could not resist (retail $78.54). It should be interesting when I try and wind all that yarn!

pattern: Betty Shopper (large) by Amy Butler
fabrics: Bangle Dot and Mocca by Alexander Henry

1.32 pounds of Newton Country Yarns sportweight merino

playing catch up - part 1

2008-12-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

Here's some yarn I purchased on a trip to Portland, OR a few months ago from Twisted. I also bought some beautiful wood sock blockers that are handcrafted by one of the shop owner's parents. It's a lovely store and I highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area.

please vote for me

2008-12-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

I entered a contest creating two spoofs of the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" (a saying used on posters in England during WWII) and both of mine got picked as finalists: "Drink Eggnog and Merry On" and "Squander Money and Ask For A Bailout"

I'd appreciate your votes if you have time to make a few clicks! You are allowed to choose two captions. Please vote here by Thursday.

Thanks and spread the word if you can!

how cool is this?!

2008-11-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

Created with a knitting machine...imagine how long it would take if handknitted!

please remember to

2008-11-03T21:40:00.001-08:00

spring forward

2008-08-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the Spring Forward socks that I started last week. I changed them to toe-up since the pattern looks fine in either direction and you know how I feel about cuff-down socks. The yarn is Nature's Palette fingering weight, and although it's lovely, the dye comes off all over my hands while I'm knitting. The color does wash easily off my skin but it's making me wonder what will happen when I wash the socks!

a good cause (and contest)

2008-08-16T10:48:00.001-07:00

Scout's Swag is giving away sock yarn and a gift certificate to her store for spreading the word about The Red Scarf Project which provides handmade scarves to college-bound foster youth. The Orphan Foundation of America will be taking knitted and crocheted scarf donations between September 1 and October 31 this year - check out the guidelines here which even has links to some free patterns. Send scarves and any monetary donations to help defray shipping costs to this address:

Orphan Foundation of America
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

my clapotis...r.i.p. 6/18/08-6/25/08

2008-06-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

here lies my clapotis...

From the post title and photo, you can guess that things did not end well for my Clapotis. I was so frustrated, I didn't even take a photo before I ripped it. Alarm bells should have gone off the second I bought the yarn which, although beautiful, is probably not the best choice for a pattern with dropped stitches. I'm not sure if the Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb called for behaves the same way as the Artfibers Ming I used even though they share the same 50/50 silk/wool content. The Ming was very grabby and I had to snip the fuzz from almost every space between dropped stitches to get it to unravel properly. But that isn't even the reason I frogged the whole thing. The finished knitting just looked horrible because the slipped stitches in the increase section made the edges of that corner too tight and different from the other edges and also made the whole shawl a weird shape (and no, I don't think blocking would have changed any of that). I'm still not sure why the pattern has slipped stiches in the first two sections and not the others. I guess it's my own fault for not making modifications when I had the chance. Add to that the fact that I ripped the shawl back twice already - once from the first section to change to a smaller needle size and then from almost the very end because I was running out of yarn and had to remove a set of straight rows to compensate.

I'm not sure if I'll start again. Right now, I just need time to grieve.

please forgive...

2008-06-11T23:06:00.000-07:00

the following non-knitting content but I just had to share this story of the mud-phobic piglet. The photo of her was too cute to keep to myself!

Also, I came across this cool widget to make your own virtual mixtapes. It doesn't have access to every song ever created but it's still fun and I like it because someone visiting my blog has a choice of whether or not they want to hear the music. Click on the cassette tape (remember those?) in the sidebar for a listen. Mouse over to control volume, pause, forward, skip, etc.

the latest

2008-06-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous time in San Francisco last weekend - met up with some girlfriends for a fun overnight getaway including dinner, drinks, and watching Sex And The City on opening night. I also dragged a few of them (all non-knitters) into Artfibers where I picked up this cone of Ming with which I plan to make a Clapotis (yes, I know, I'm super late to the party). It was hard to choose a color because they were all gorgeous - the photo doesn't do it justice. I wish I could have hung out at the store longer but my flight into SFO had been delayed and therefore limited my time there. Next time I would love to spend a few hours swatching all their beautiful yarns!

Above is my Central Park Hoodie with one of our dogs wondering what the fuss is about. I'm debating whether to add a zipper. I've been wearing it without one and it's fine but I'll probably put one in eventually. Lastly is a lace scarf I just started - pattern can be found here. The yarn is the one I dyed with Kool-Aid as seen in my last post. It's knitting up a bit stiff and I wonder if it will soften with time and a few washings. I'm also hoping it will block OK even though it is superwash. Anyone have any insight?

on the wagon

2008-05-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

I've been on a yarn diet because next week I plan to visit Artfibers where I will surely fall off the wagon. So I had to pass on the sale going on at Jimmy Beans, but they've got some nice discounts that are testing my willpower. I came across the sale while searching for Rowan RYC Cashcotton 4 ply which is the yarn called for in the Après Surf Hoodie. Cute sweater, don't you think?

Speaking of sweaters, there's been a nice break from the heat here so I finally started the finishing for my Central Park Hoodie. It's been awhile since I completed the knitting, but I tend to procrastinate when it's time to do all the seaming of pieces and weaving in of yarn. Also, I know when I'm done, I won't be able to wear the sweater for six more months, so I haven't been in much of a hurry. So far, I have weaved in 51 yarn ends...see why I hate finishing? Why so many ends, you ask? There were a lot of knots in a few of the skeins and also not much yardage per skein (Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed). Perhaps that's why it was discontinued and in the bargain bin. More reason for me to stay away from yarn sales!

oh yeaaah!

2008-05-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

Knit Picks Bare superwash merino/nylon fingering weight and the
following flavors of Kool Aid: Black Cherry, Tropical Punch, Cherry,
Pink Lemonade, Orange, Grape, Tamarindo, along with a few drops
of blue and red food coloring that I found in our kitchen cabinet!

Our knitting group had a yarn-dyeing party last weekend and it was a blast! When I got home, I dyed my yarn a few more times and here's how it looks after about 30 packets of Kool Aid. Check out more photos of everyone else's gorgeous yarn on Kelie's blog. You can see me in the fourth photo down - second from the right - as I attempt to pour Kool Aid on my yarn hank with a pitcher. Now I know how hand-dyeing yarn can easily become an addiction!

eyelet and flame chevron socks

2008-03-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

If you look closely, you can see that one sock is a little fuzzier than the other because I ripped it back a couple of times until I got the sock just right. But the yarn is so sturdy that it still looks pretty good! If you try this "pattern", please feel free to share your suggestions or errata.

2/11/09 EDIT: corrections on heel turn (please see instructions below)

Eyelet and Flame Chevron Socks

I knit these with the Magic Loop method but you could easily adapt them for knitting on two circulars or on DPNs. Sorry I don't have software to create a chart for the pattern, but it would be easy to write one out.

Size: Woman's 8 (could fit larger sizes by changing length - **see below for additional modifications for larger ankle/calf)
Yarn: Lotus Yarns Buddha
Gauge: 8 sts and 11 rows/1" in stockinette
Needles: Size 1.5 (2.50 mm) circulars; for ribbing and bind-off, I switched to Size 2.5 (3.00 mm), Size 3 (3.25 mm), and Size 6 (4.25 mm)

m1R = make 1 Right
m1L = make 1 Left

Toe:

Working magic loop, cast on 24 (12 on each needle) for each foot - I use Cat Bordhi's version of Judy Becker's Cast-On which you can see here. She doesn't mention it in the video, but I noticed that she wraps one of the needles differently so the stitch mount is the same for all stitches and there's no need to knit into the back of any stitches.

Round 1: knit
Round 2: k1, m1R, k to last st on 1st needle, m1L, k1; repeat on 2nd needle - 28 sts total
Round 3: knit

Repeat Rounds 2 & 3 until 56 sts total

Foot:

Start Eyelet and Flame Chevron pattern (from Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Sock Book) on instep sts only (1st needle); knit all sole sts (2nd needle)

Round 18: *ssk, k5, yo; rep from * to end
Round 19 (and all odd rounds): knit
Round 20: *ssk, k4, yo, k1; rep from * to end
Round 22: *ssk, k3, yo, k2; rep from * to end
Round 24: *ssk, k2, yo, k3; rep from * to end
Round 26: *ssk, k1, yo, k4; rep from * to end
Round 28: *ssk, yo, k5; rep from * to end
Round 30: *yo, k5, k2tog; rep from * to end
Round 32: *k1, yo, k4, k2tog; rep from * to end
Round 34: *k2, yo, k3, k2tog; rep from * to end
Round 36: *k3, yo, k2, k2tog; rep from * to end
Round 38: *k4, yo, k1, k2tog; rep from * to end
Round 40: *k5, yo, k2tog; rep from * to end
Round 41: knit

Repeat Rounds 18-41 until sock length approx 2" less than desired (for me, I stopped when the length was 6 1/2")

Create Gusset:

Round 1: continue in pattern for instep sts; for sole sts, k1, m1R, k to last st, m1L, k1 - 30 sts on sole
Round 2: work even

Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 11 more times until 52 sts on sole

Turn Heel:

Work instep sts, making note of the patt round worked. Then work heel sts back and forth as follows:

Row 1 (RS): k35, m1R, k1, w&t
Row 2: p20, m1R, p1, w&t
Row 3: k18, m1R, k1, w&t
Row 4: p16, m1R, p1, w&t
Row 5: k14, m1R, k1, w&t
Row 6: p12, m1R, p1, w&t
Row 7: k10, m1R, k1, w&t
Row 8: p8, m1R, p1, w&t - 60 sts on heel

Now on RS knit across heel (picking up and knitting wraps); then work instep sts in patt

Heel Flap:

Go back to working back and forth on heel sts only and inc one st as follows: k30 (picking up and knitting wraps), m1R, k14, ssk, turn without wrapping - 61 sts on heel; continue as follows:

Row 1: slip 1, p29, p2tog, turn without wrapping
Row 2: (slip 1, k1) 15 times, ssk, turn without wrapping

Repeat these 2 rows 13 more times - 32 sts on heel

Note: There will be one more st that needs to be worked but it will be done after going around the instep (this is to prevent a hole where the heel flap meets instep sts); at the same time, 3 sts will be decreased on back of leg to accommodate the st patt

Work across instep sts in patt; on heel, (k2tog, k6) 4 times - 28 sts on heel

Leg/Cuff:

Continue in patt on all sts until 5/8" short of desired length. Switch to Size 2.5 needles and k2, p2 rib for 3 rounds, then switch to Size 3 needles for 2 rounds; bind-off loosely (I used a Size 6 needle). Sew in ends and enjoy your new socks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Mods for large ankle/calf:

Toe: Repeat Rounds 2 & 3 until 60 sts total

Foot: Work Eyelet and Flame Chevron pattern but add a knit stitch to the beg and end so instep would be: k, (st patt over 7 sts) 4 times, k; knit all 30 sts on sole

Gusset: Work the same (12 increase rounds); there will be 54 sts on sole

Turn Heel:

Row 1 (RS): k37, m1R, k1, w&t
Rows 2-8: no change except 62 sts on heel when finished

Now on RS knit across heel (picking up and knitting wraps); then work instep sts in patt

Heel Flap:

Go back to working back and forth on heel sts only and inc one st as follows: k31 (picking up and knitting wraps), m1R, k15, ssk, turn without wrapping - 63 sts on heel; continue as follows:

Row 1: slip 1, p31, p2tog, turn without wrapping
Row 2: (slip 1, k1) 16 times, ssk, turn without wrapping

Repeat these 2 rows 13 more times - 34 sts on heel

Note: There will be one more st that needs to be worked but it will be done after going around the instep (this is to prevent a hole where the heel flap meets instep sts).

Work across instep sts in patt; on heel, k2tog, k32 - 33 sts on heel

Leg:

On instep, knit the edge st and transfer it to the heel needle, work in patt across 28 sts, knit edge st and transfer it to the heel needle; there will be 35 sts on heel now which will now be ready to be worked in patt.

yummy yarn

2008-02-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

You might remember the sock yarn I won in a blog contest awhile back (hand-dyed by Melanie of Lotus Yarns). Well, I recently started knitting it up and wanted to share how much I love the yarn! The color is gorgeous and it's easy to knit. Now I can retroactively say that the Brown Sheep Wildfoote I used on my Cloverleaf Eyelet Rib socks was terrible in comparison - very splitty and a bit of a chore to deal with. Who needs that when you can knit with an enjoyable yarn that's beautiful to boot?

On the subject of blog contests...I entered quite a few lately and have actually won several. Not everyone follows through with sending prizes but I can't complain since I feel lucky to even have won any. Here's another great contest from KnittingGal for two knitting books: Good Luck!

it's here, it's here! sundara sock yarn eye candy...

2008-02-13T13:51:00.001-08:00

top to bottom: "Toasted Orange over Pistachio", "Marina over Icicles", "Green Tea"

a valentine for you

2008-02-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

I adore Marie Claire Idées magazine and they recently started a blog. Not knitting-related, but I thought it worthwhile to share this sweet valentine which you can download and print out (click on the link "cliquer ici"). Even though it's in French, it's easy to figure out from the blog photos.

I'm still anxiously awaiting my Sundara order - hopefully it will arrive today. I'll post photos as soon as it gets here!

yarn store review

2008-02-10T22:45:00.000-08:00

Had a great weekend shopping, playing, and eating! But since this is a knit blog, I will just share my LYS reviews. These are just my general first impressions - I spent less than 30 minutes in each store because I didn't want to keep hubby waiting for too long. Sorry it's not a complete set of shop photos either...I didn't even think to take any and found out later that hubby took these storefront pics.

a selection of my fabric purchases

Purl (warehouse)
Because this is their warehouse, the employees are quite busy, but they are friendly and happy to pause and point you toward what you're looking for (i.e. this is not the place to go if you need a lot of attention and want to chat). I suggest going to their website first and making a list of what you want since there isn't really any signage. You can, however, browse the fabric bolts pretty readily which, as you can see, is what I did. Since this was my first stop and I had just ordered some Sundara yarn the day before (more on that later), I completely refrained from making any yarn purchases here. That wasn't easy as I finally got to see and feel some Manos Silk Blend - very nice! The space is a converted office and located in a business park so not much else in the immediate area to visit, but it's within a short driving distance of other attractions in Orange County.

**************

storefront

araucania sock yarn

cool ribbon

Wildfiber
Big, well-lit store, helpful employees, large variety of well-known brands (e.g. Koigu, Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Manos, Noro, Lorna's Laces), as well as less usual brands (e.g. Ozark, Twisted Sisters, Kollage). Good sock yarns (including Noro which I don't remember seeing in any of the other stores I visited) and a nice selection of ribbon, too.

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storefront

pagewood farm sock yarn

Compatto
Their cozy space, friendly owner/employees and customers, and Gracie the greeter (dog) made this shop one of my favorites. If I lived in the area, this would probably be the LYS where you would find me hanging out and knitting. Lots of Malabrigo and Blue Sky, also saw Ozark handspun, Tilli Thomas, Schaefer, Alchemy, and wonderful sock yarn selection including Rio de la Plata and Pagewood Farm. They offer to wind your purchases into yarn cakes, too. Two swifts are set up diagonally from two giant ball-winders - I wish I had the camera with me while I was there as two hanks were being wound with the yarns crossing each other - an impressive sight.

**************

L'Atelier
They had signs up saying they were going to remodel and much of the furniture was labeled for sale so maybe their yarn selection was limited by this. I saw several European brands like Anny Blatt, Lana Grossa, Filatura, Bouton D'Or, some novelty yarns like Trendsetter, also some Noro. I can't remember much else except the store was pretty small. Perhaps a revisit is in order once their remodel is complete. The store is on Montana Street with lots of other shops and restaurants so still worth checking out. And actually the other two Santa Monica stores are also in nice neighborhoods with nearby businesses that you can visit once you've gotten your fill of yarn (what? is that actually possible?).

**************

A Mano
I saw on their website that they carry Socks That Rock so was excited to check that out. Unfortunately, there were only two hanks left of one color - I found out they've been anxiously awaiting a new shipment but wouldn't be getting one until June. They had other good sock yarns including Shibui and a great variety of Cascade-brand yarns. Also saw Malabrigo, Encore, Noro, Trendsetter, Southwest Trading Company among others. I'm not as familiar with Venice so not sure if there are other stores/restaurants nearby to visit. The area was not as chi-chi as Santa Monica but that doesn't mean there might not be hidden gems in the vicinity. We were getting pretty tired so didn't wander around to check.

**************

There are so many yarn stores between San Diego and L.A. that I still want to check out but they will have to wait until the next trip!

finished socks

2008-02-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

Not blocked yet, but here are the socks I was working on. This isn't a pattern so much as a record of what I did since I only have one size, but I'm sure you can figure out the adjustments needed for other sizes.

2/22/08 EDIT: corrections on gusset (repeat the two rounds 11, not 23 more times) and heel flap (M1R instead of M1L)

Toe-up, Two-at-a-time, Magic Loop, modified Cloverleaf Rib Socks

Size: Woman's 8 (could probably fit up to a size 8 1/2 or 9 since they turned out a bit loose)
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote
Gauge: 8 sts and 11 rows/1" in stockinette
Needle: 47" Circular, Size 1 (2.25 mm)

M1R = Make 1 Right
M1L = Make 1 Left

Both Feet:

Working magic loop, cast on 24 (12 on each needle) for each foot - I use Cat Bordhi's version of Judy Becker's Cast-On which you can see here. She doesn't mention it in the video, but I noticed that she wraps one of the needles differently so the stitch mount is the same for all stitches and there's no need to knit into the back of any stitches.

Round 1: Knit
Round 2: K1, M1R, K to last st on 1st needle, M1L, K1; repeat on 2nd needle - 28 sts

Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 until 56 sts total

Left Foot:

Round 17: Knit
Round 18: K1, M1R, K to end of 1st needle; K to last st on 2nd needle, M1L, K1 - 58 sts

Repeat Rounds 17 & 18 two more times

Right Foot:

Round 17: Knit
Round 18: K to last st on 1st needle, M1L, K1; K1, M1R, K to end of 2nd needle - 58 sts

Repeat Rounds 17 & 18 two more times

Both Feet:

Start modified Cloverleaf Eyelet Rib (from Barbara Walker's Treasury) on instep sts only (1st needle); knit all sole sts (2nd needle)

Rounds 23, 25, 27, 28: P1, *K5, P1; repeat from * to end of 1st needle
Round 24: P1, *K1, yo, slip 1 kwise, K2tog, pass slipped st over, yo, K1, P1; repeat from * to end (mod note: if I understand the glossary correctly, BW says to slip the st purlwise, but I found that slipping it knitwise looked better - you be the judge)
Round 26: P1, *K2, yo, ssk, K1, P1; repeat from * to end

Repeat Rounds 23-28 eight times until sock length approx 2 1/2" less than desired (for me, I stopped when the length was 6 1/2")

Create Gusset:

Round 1: continue in pattern for instep sts; for sole sts, K1, M1R, K to last st, M1L, K1 - 33 sts on sole
Round 2: work even

Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 11 more times until 55 sts on sole

Turn Heel:

Work instep sts, make note of the round of eyelet rib patt worked (for me Rd 1); work heel sts back and forth:

Row 1 (RS): K 37, M1R, K1, w&t
Row 2: P22, M1R, P1, w&t
Row 3: K20, M1R, K1, w&t
Row 4: P18, M1R, P1, w&t
Row 5: K16, M1R, K1, w&t
Row 6: P14, M1R, P1, w&t
Row 7: K12, M1R, K1, w&t
Row 8: P10, M1R, P1, w&t - 63 sts on heel

Now on RS work around, knitting across heel, picking up and knitting wraps; then work instep sts in patt

Heel Flap:

Go back to working back and forth on heel sts only: K 47, picking up and knitting wraps, ssk, turn without wrapping; then:

Row 1: Slip 1, P31, P2tog, turn without wrapping
Row 2: (Slip 1, K1) 16 times, ssk, turn without wrapping

Repeat these 2 rows 13 more times - 34 sts on heel

There will be one more st that needs to be worked but it will be done after going around the instep (this is to prevent a hole where the heel flap meets instep sts); at the same time, two sts will be increased on back of leg to accommodate the pattern: work instep sts in patt; K2tog, M1R, K to last st, M1L, K1 - 35 sts on back of leg (formerly the heel), 31 sts on instep

Leg:

Work in patt on both needles but on back of the leg, drop the first and last purl stitches.

Continue until 1/2" short of desired length; switch to K1, P1 rib for 5 rounds; bind-off loosely (I used a Size 3 needle)

happy new year!

2008-02-07T15:22:00.001-08:00

I couldn't find any nice photos in honor of the year of the rat, so here are some fun knitting related ones instead: a cute knitted rat and a rat sweater. Who would have thought?

We're off to visit my brother in L.A. and have an early birthday celebration for hubby this weekend. His birthday is February 14 so we usually avoid the Valentine's Day crowd and pick a different weekend to go out. I plan to visit some yarn stores while we're up there. I wish we had done that when we stayed with my brother for a few days to get away from the wildfires here. I must have been too overwhelmed to even think about yarn or knitting during that period but now regret that I didn't seize the opportunity - I'm sure I will be making up for it!

I'm really getting sick of the socks I have been knitting so will try to bind off and get photos and pattern posted tonight or tomorrow.

finally overcoming my inertia

2008-02-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm sure the few blog readers I had have stopped visiting since I haven't posted in so long, but I'm back again with the holidays over, in-laws gone, and my husband almost fully recovered after a horrible cold, i.e. I'm finally sleeping soundly through the night!

Knitting updates...I finished knitting my CPH and need to sew the sleeves on, knit a cute little purse which still needs blocking and a fabric lining, and started a pair of socks which I'm making up as I go along. Pictures to follow. In the meantime here are some fun knitting-related items I've come across on the web recently: a yarn tattoo and newspaper yarn.

where are the yarnaholics anonymous sponsors when you need one

2007-12-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Shoot! I've been so good and have ignored the siren calls for so long. But today I fell off the wagon and went for a fix at the yarn crackhouse that is Elann. The latest addition is a wool, silk, and bamboo blend called Incense. I did use my $50 credit, so it wasn't too bad (p.s. credits are "earned" from previous purchases, so you can imagine the damage I've done in the past). And I only - oh, the slippery slope that word implies - bought for two specific projects I have in mind.

Do they make a patch for yarn addicts? Cuz you'll need one once you're hooked on Elann.

fun links

2007-12-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

I came across some links while surfing Ravelry that I thought were worth sharing. The first is a blog post of a knitter's mother-in-law's incredible yarn stash: here. Can you imagine having a mini LYS right in your house?! Next is a nice knitting-themed calendar you can print and use: here. She has some other free tutorials you can check out, too.

No new knitting to share. My tendinitis is acting up, so I'm giving my wrist a break for a few days.

cph progress

2007-12-04T14:29:00.001-08:00

I'm up to my armpits in CPH! Stupid pun, I know, but I couldn't resist. Here it is divided and ready for armhole shaping.

I've had to frog a few times...that's what happens when you're overeager and don't read instructions or plan things out thoroughly. I was almost done with armhole shaping on the right front before I re-read and realized I should do the back first since that measurement is what's used to complete the fronts. But it was fine that I had to rip it back since I also forgot that I should have bound off fewer stitches for the armholes (because I started without the seam stitches since I'm knitting the body in one piece). Such is the bane of the impatient knitter.

eye candy

2007-12-04T08:33:00.000-08:00

I won this beautiful yarn from the Lotus Knits blog contest I entered a few weeks ago. The name of the colorway is Prayers for Rain - so appropriate for San Diego.

modified elisa's nest tote

2007-12-03T09:16:00.001-08:00

My modifications to Elisa's Nest Tote - no purling, seams or kitchener stitch!

Yarn:

Lily Sugar 'n Cream (2.5 oz) - I used less than 2 balls

Needles:

DPNs size US 10 1/2
24" circular size US 10 1/2
DPNs size US 8 for straps

Bag:

With two size 10 1/2 DPNs, Eastern/Turkish cast-on 74 sts; yo to make 75 sts; pm and distribute sts to as many DPNs as necessary; start with Round 2 of pattern (the cast-on is Round 1):

Round 1: knit
Round 2: k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
Round 3: knit
Round 4: *ssk, yo, repeat from * to last st, k1

Repeat the four pattern rounds, switching to circular needle as needed, until bag is about 12" long. I ended on Round 4. Bind-off loosely. When I knit in the round, I like to get rid of the gap between the first and last st of the bind-off by using a yarn needle to create another stitch**

I-cord Straps:

With size 8 DPNs, Eastern/Turkish cast-on 12 sts, but put bottom 6 sts on stitch holder (I use a safety pin). Pick up a st on the top border of the bag and begin applied I-cord as described in the pattern. Continue around the top of the bag. My I-cord was 50 rounds but it gathered the top of the bag too much and made the opening of the bag pretty small, so I would recommend picking up more stitches to keep the opening larger. With RS facing, three-needle BO with the 6 sts on holder.

Repeat for other strap. Weave in ends.

**Here's how I close the gap between the first and last BO stitches when knitting in the round:

With yarn needle on the end you just pulled through the last BO stitch, go under the two loops of the first BO stitch:

Then back into the last BO stitch:

Looks like just another stitch between the two BO stiches:

late to the party

2007-11-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

I just cast on the Central Park Hoodie. I picked up the Knitscene issue in a LYS bargain bin and happened to have some Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed in my stash that is similar to the Takhi Donegal Tweed called for. After snooping around the web and Ravelry, I came to learn just how late I am to jump on this bandwagon!

I've made a few modifications already:

went down to a #7 needle for the body because the DB Aran Tweed is pretty thin in some spots, so I'm knitting the sweater one size larger; some other knitters have said the pattern runs small so this should work out
knitting the back and fronts in one piece to avoid some seams
added two more rows between cable rows to elongate the cables a bit
only knit 3" of ribbing instead of 4" since I'm vertically-challenged

a chance to win more yarn

2007-11-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Lotus Knits! asks...

Do you have any "dream" projects that you have trepidations about casting on? Does a new technique keep you from trying a pattern you love? Or do you just try everything, no matter what?

Leave her a comment with your response for a chance to win some of her beautiful yarn.

another contest

2007-11-08T00:31:00.000-08:00

Leave a comment with some of your favorite patterns at
The Bag Lady and The Pro for a chance to win some yarn.

Here are the ones I shared:

My So Called Scarf:

Falling In Love:

time-waster-of-the-day for "the office" fans

2007-11-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Which character are you?

Dunder Mifflin Personality Quiz
created with QuizFarm.com

modified saturday market bag

2007-11-06T12:21:00.001-08:00

I hate seaming so here are my mods for the MagKnits Saturday Market Bag. I also changed it to have two handles. You can use any toe-up sock cast-on - I only used the Eastern/Turkish cast-on because that was the only one I knew when I knit this bag.

Yarn:

Lily Sugar 'n Cream (2.5 oz) - 2 balls (I used only a little of the 2nd ball)

Needles:

DPNs size US 15**
24" or 29"circular size US 15
24" or 29"circular size US 10 (can also use straight or DPNs for the straps)

Pattern:

With two size 15 DPNs, Eastern/Turkish cast-on 80 sts; pm and distribute sts to as many DPNs as necessary; knit two rounds then start lace pattern:

Round 1: *yo, sl 1, k1, yo, psso the knit st and the yo; repeat from * to end of the round
Round 2: *drop yo, k2, repeat from * to end of the round
Round 3: k1; repeat from * of Round 1 to the last st; k1
Round 4: k1; *drop yo, k2, repeat from * to last st; k1

Repeat the four lace pattern rounds 6 times, switching to circular needle as needed.

Switch to size 10 circular; garter st 4 rounds. On the next round, remove m, BO 7, *k6 and place on holder, BO 14, repeat from * two more times; k6 and place on holder, BO 7, break off yarn.

Place one set of 6 sts on smaller needle with WS facing, join yarn, and garter st 19 rows back and forth. Break off yarn and put the 6 sts back onto holder. Repeat with remaining three sets of 6 sts.

With RS facing, three-needle BO a front strap and a back strap together. Repeat for other strap. Weave in ends.

Notes:

**I didn't have size 15 DPNs so I used straight needles to cast on, pointing the two needles in opposite directions. I struggled with the initial rounds on a circular so I would recommend DPNs if you have them.

@#$%&!

2007-11-05T14:38:00.001-08:00

I've frogged this sock so many times, I could have knit it three times over! After all the effort, I'm not even really thrilled with how it looks. I cast-on with size 6 DPNs so the leg wouldn't be too tight and then knit with size 4 DPNs. The pattern calls for size 5 DPNs which I don't have, so I tried not to knit too tightly in the beginning. But as I got further down the leg, I tightened up a bit because it was looking so huge. When I got past the heel flap and tried the sock on, I ended up frogging it back almost to the beginning to make the leg shorter - it just didn't look good on me when it was longer.

Because my row gauge was off from the pattern, I started the decreases for the toe earlier but then the foot was too short so I frogged again. I finally got to the toe and now don't have enough yarn to graft it together - arrghh! I'll have to use a new strand of yarn and have more ends to weave in.

This is my first cuff-down sock and my second pair of socks ever. Conclusion...I prefer toe-up and magic loop. For me, cuff-down is too hard to try on while knitting and to gauge how much yarn you'll need to get to the toe (at least with toe-up, you can adjust the length of the leg easily if you start running out of yarn). Plus the noticeable toe decreases look lumpy. I may never get to the second sock on this one. :(

win more yarn and other goodies

2007-11-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Head over to the blog Shut Up, I'm Counting and leave a comment with three of your favorite knitting related gifts. Here are the ones I shared:

1. Love my red Clover Kacha-Kacha row counter which I got from a knitting secret pal a few years ago - great for matching up the lengths of sweater fronts, sleeves, socks, and for intricate patterns where you need to keep track of rows.

2. Also love my Lantern Moon sheep tape measure (also a gift from a secret pal). So cute, how can you resist?

http://www.lanternmoon.com/STM.asp

3. Fun thing to give to other knitters are The Yarn Harlot (Stephanie Pearl-McPhee) books - great stocking stuffers!

win some yarn!

2007-11-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Enter the contest on Knit with KT's blog by leaving her a comment with ideas for knitted gifts.

fire update

2007-10-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

We hung around our house hoping we wouldn't have to leave but the police ordered us to evacuate around 11 pm on Monday. Since we had already packed up earlier in the day, we just jumped in the car and started driving to Qualcomm Stadium. On our way there, we heard on the radio that another shelter was allowing pets inside so we turned back and stayed there instead. We had planned to sleep in the car at the stadium so this was a nice alternative. It was a restless night on the floor of the community center with one eye on the local news. We also heard some sad stories from other evacuees...one man was distraught that his elderly mother who is battling cancer could possibly lose her home, another watched as his next door neighbor's house burned to the ground on TV.

Yesterday, we decided to get out of the area entirely and head to L.A. to stay with my brother. Although the evacuation order for our neighborhood was lifted, we don't plan to return for a few more days until the heavy smoke and ash dissipates somewhat. We are grateful to be safe and to have a place to wait things out. I know there are others who have not been so fortunate.

foiled again

2007-10-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

My plan yesterday was to spend some time in the backyard and take photos of all my knitting projects, past and present, to post here and on Ravelry. But Mother Nature had other plans and the Santa Ana winds are blowing the fires in east San Diego County westward. So far, we haven't had to evacuate but areas about a mile away have, so we are packed up in case we have to flee. We've been indoors the last two days but unable to escape from the smoke and ash because most of our windows are original from 38 years ago without good seals. There's not much we can do right now but wait things out...

i need help

2007-10-16T16:15:00.001-07:00

I can't seem to tear myself away from Ravelry! Ever since I got my invite last week, I've been addicted to the site. After uploading some of my WIPs and FOs, all I've done is browse, browse, browse. It's a wonderful way to organize all your knitting stuff (projects, queue, stash, needles, books) and to check out how patterns get knitted up by people in different colors, sizes, and yarns. There are links galore between books, patterns, yarns, brands, designers, etc. If you haven't signed up yet, do it now. I love it! You will see what I mean when you get in. If you're already in, come visit - my username is edina.

When not on Ravelry, I've been knitting while watching all 5 seasons of Six Feet Under on DVD (thank goodness for the public library) so I still haven't found the time to take photos of recent projects. I'm hoping to do that soon!

can you imagine?

2007-10-04T11:37:00.001-07:00

I know this one has been going around for awhile but I thought it was funny enough to share again!

reemerging from the abyss

2007-09-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

Still here amidst a mess of unpacked boxes...luckily I set aside a few projects that I kept separate from all the moving boxes, etc, so I have been able to knit throughout all the stress. I also joined a local knitting Meetup group and we are planning to donate knitted and crocheted items to be sold at the Race for the Cure in November. There have been some hints of chilly weather here (will the autumn fairy ever really wave her wand over SD?) which is encouraging since I really do not want to get rid of my lovely wool stash. I just opened all the boxes containing those yarns and my head started to spin thinking about all the projects I wanted to make.

Now if only I could locate the camera so I can post some photos...

i'm back

2007-06-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough couple of months (which you can read about on my art blog if you're interested), but I'm finally back to updating this blog now. While I was gone I finished both my Here and There Cables scarf and felted origami cranes for the knitnotwar project.

I wanted a small project to work on while sitting in hospital waiting rooms, so I picked up this great little purse kit from a wonderful yarn store in San Mateo, CA called Nine Rubies Knitting. The bag was designed by one of their employees who is a either an art or fashion school student, can't remember which. Although I like the decorative design she created (above photo), I think I'm going to change it a bit. I just love the handles - they are what drew me to the project in the first place. I'll post a photo of mine when it's finished.

still here and there

2007-03-20T23:55:00.000-07:00

I'm still working on Here and There Cables and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. The scarf and I are starting to look like the woman in the opening scenes of this video:

here and there cables

2007-03-05T16:58:00.000-08:00

Just started this reversible cable scarf called Here and There Cables from the book Scarf Style. I'm using the yarn called for in the pattern - Reynolds Odyssey - but in a different colorway which I found in a bargain bin a few years back. It's a nice soft merino and easy to work with. The pattern is also pretty easy to memorize once you have knit a few inches. I recommend using a DPN as a cable needle for two reasons: 1) you have to hold stitches from the beginning of rows, and 2) you have to transfer and knit the last stitch being held (from the left end of the cable needle to your working needle) before you knit the rest of the stitches being held (from the right end of the cable needle). That probably was clear as mud to read but makes sense while you're knitting!

hand/wrist warmers

2007-02-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Here's what I made over the weekend - still needs blocking. It took about 8 hours total which is double the time stated in the book, but I knitted these while watching TV and didn't use a row counter so had to correct mistakes occasionally. The pattern is from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts and I used yarn from my stash, about 40 g of Cascade 220. This is an easy and fun project and a great way to use up a small amount of yarn (about 88 yards).

spin class

2007-01-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

I took a fabulous learn-to-spin class last weekend at Lint from John Wise. I really had fun and want to spin some more with all the roving we got but sadly, have had no time. :(

The bottom photo shows more clearly what I made in class: the white is a two-ply Finn wool, the middle two are single plies (fiber from Lisa Souza - I think John said it was Blue Faced Leicester), and the green is a single-ply Shetland wool. As you can see, I've pretty much mastered uneven, thick and thin yarn. But John said to enjoy this phase because as you progress, it gets harder to be inconsistent on purpose. We'll see about that!

round one

2007-01-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

This is how the bag looked after my first attempt at felting it. I say first attempt because, as you can see if you compare it to my last post, it's really not done yet. But it's getting quite fuzzy so I decided to take it out to dry and try to shave the major fuzz coming off it so the colorwork doesn't get too muddied up as it continues to felt. My very old and weak clothing shaver is not cutting it (no pun intended) so I'm going to have to find some other way to de-fuzz it - any suggestions?? Lesson learned: do not use Lopi for felting something with an intricate design!

ready for felting

2007-01-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

I finally finished adding the duplicate stitch on the farmer's market bag. It took a lot more time than I thought it would because I had to keep my needle from catching on all the stranded colorwork and from splitting the single-ply Lopi.

I'm getting nervous about how much the bag might shrink and wondering if I should make the strap longer. The last time I felted a purse, I kept reading that knitted items tend to shrink more lengthwise, but that was not what happened and the strap ended up being way too long. I'm hoping to get the same results this time. Of course with Murphy's Law, this one will probably end up being an itty bitty shoulder strap! Check back for the exciting conclusion of this felting adventure...

olive ya!

2006-12-13T16:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for all your helpful emails and comments regarding my Farmer's Market Bag. The votes were 70-30 in favor of olive - this was the color I was leaning toward originally so it was nice to have some corroboration. I'm going to try and get the duplicate stitches and felting done over the weekend and post a picture of the finished bag next week. Thanks again!

decisions, decisions

2006-12-11T00:44:00.000-08:00

I decided I should really deal with all my UFOs instead of starting something new. So here's the Farmer's Market Bag I knit from Weekend Knitting awhile back. As you can see, I was very close to finishing but abandoned it after being unable to decide which color to use for the duplicate stitches. I substituted some deeply-discounted Lopi I found for the original pattern's Classic Elite Montera (first photo) so the colors are not really the same - the pattern uses sage for the duplicate stitches. When I bought the Lopi, I picked up the olive and orange since they were also in the sale bin and seemed to look good with the other colors.

Olive or orange? Cast your vote by leaving a comment. Thanks - I'm looking forward to finally completing this bag so I can felt it. :)

how cute is this?!

2006-12-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sheldon - I love how his shell is removable (scroll down to the bottom)!

OK, OK, I know it's pathetic how three months ago I said I would start knitting again and I still haven't yet. But I swear I'm working on it. The first step is to find a pattern to inspire me. I'm thinking of this (click on "VIEW INSIDE PAGES" underneath the book cover and it's the lilac sweater on the upper left). The main problem is looking for a less expensive yarn because the one used in the pattern is about $15 per skein and I would need nine skeins. I'm usually good about substituting but I have to say that I'm also usually much happier with what I knit when I use what the pattern calls for. I suppose I could wear it everyday for the next six months to make it worthwhile - that would only be about 75 cents a day!

starting anew

2006-09-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

After an 18-month hiatus from knitting due to a sprained finger, I'm itching to start again. My WIPs and stash await...