« December 2005 | Main | February 2006 »
January 30, 2006
Delicious gifts
I’m so sorry if my tone towards crochet offended anyone, but you completely misunderstood me.
It's actually pretty funny. You see, the official Grumperina stance towards crochet is as follows, “insufficient knowledge to comment.” :) That’s why I insist that we don’t talk about it, or that we talk about it in hushed voices – it’s not that I feel negatively about crochet, it’s more that I have no business owning a crochet hook, let alone telling you about my crocheting adventures. It’s the equivalent of posting details of how I single-handedly changed all the electrical wiring in my apartment – I don’t know anything about that stuff, so I shouldn’t be talking about it, and you’d be wise not to read ;).
Not that I would ever change electrical wiring on my own… I have such a fear of fire… I’m just saying it as an example.
So, the little gift for little Deliciousness is complete!
You’ve seen the hat, and those two other little things are thumb-less mittens! Baby’s first winter accessories set – awww!
Pattern: Shining Star by Kate Gilbert plus little mittens of my own construction.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 55% Merino wool, 33% Microfibre, 12% Cashmere, color #104/orange. As before, only 1 skein! Actually, even less – 36 grams/98 yards.
Needles: Most of the knitting was done on US4 dpns, but I used other sizes as necessary.
Size: The hat is 11.5” in circumference and 5.75” deep, completely unstretched. The mittens are 3.75” in circumference and 2.75” deep (plus 1.5” ribbing). My completely unscientific market research (measuring stuff at baby H&M using my palm as a measuring tape) indicates that this is the right size for baby to wear right now, which is my intention.
Modifications: Using the same exact reasoning as before, I substituted Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, knit the baby size, and actually got a baby-sized hat at the end! Same mods on the crown increases, too.
Off to little Deliciousness!
Posted by Kathy at 03:18 PM | Comments (33)January 29, 2006
Holy crochet, Batman!
Before I start, if you haven't chimed in on the border dilemma yet, I'd really, really appreciate your input.
I crocheted.
Shhh! Not so loud! Come here, yes, here, away from the others. Now, I will speak softly. We will whisper. Calm down!
Okay, all settled?
I'll say it one more time - I crocheted.
Contain yourself, woman!
I will tell you how it happened, just keep it down! I will tell you, and we will not speak of this again.
Are you ready?
It all started with a picture.
Remember my former co-worker S. and her husband E.? I knit the Grumpecue for their soon to be born baby, and I have never, ever in my life met more thankful recipients of a handknit. Their reaction to the Grumpecue was so overwhelming (tears, hugs, yelps, more hugs), that I vowed to knit more for this happy couple, and for their little baby.
A few months went by, and in a rather predictable fashion, the baby has been born. E. sent us all a picture a few days ago and this little angel is delicious. Delicious, I tell you! I am not at liberty to share the picture (or the baby's name, for that matter), but trust me when I say, she had me at 933 kilobytes. Little pink-lipped Deliciousness, with strawberry blond hair, just like her mom.
As soon as the picture hit my Inbox, BAM! The wheels went rolling. Must knit, must have needles, yarn, pass me some yarn, pattern... what's the closest thing to me? Oh, grandma's shawl, no, no, what's below... Shining Star!
I picked up a ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino at Windsor Button in a most luscious colorway, 104/orange. It is the color of the outside of an apricot, or the inside of a cantaloupe, or something like that. Yum.
I knit the baby size of the Shining Star pattern with nothing major to report until the bind-off.
You see, the hat is knit from the top down, so there's always the question of the bind-off. It was fine to use the regular 'pass knit stitch over' bind-off when knitting Ori's hat because I could try it on my head and make sure it wasn't too tight. But when I used this bind-off on Deliciousness' hat, I just wasn't happy - was it too tight? Just right? I don't know! The idea of any tightness around a delicate baby's head was very unsettling.
I could have tried another, more elastic bind-off, like the sewn bind-off, or that funky bind-off I used on mom's shawl, but my first instinct was to leave the stitches live and sew them into place, much like attaching picots at a bind-off. Because I chose to make a folded hat brim, this also secured the brim into place and prevented it from unfolding. At the end, while this method proved to be very stretchy, it wasn't very neat since the loops were attached on the right side of the fabric.
And then... then some crazy Crochet Devil got into my head. There was no rationale! Without any research or idea what I was doing, I just picked up the hook and started looping.
On the first trial, I looped the yarn through the knitted fabric twice... so there were two loops. And then I put the first live stitch on the hook (3 loops), and pulled the live stitch through the two loops (1 loop). Made another loop through the fabric (2 loops), next live stitch on hook (3 loops), and so on. That didn't work so well. Next I tried the same thing, but in two steps - first, pull the new loop through the old loop (1 loop), and then pull the live stitch through the new loop (1 loop). Make another new loop (2 loops) and repeat.
Did that make any sense? I doubt it. That's why I had to rip it out and try again two more times! And then once I got the technique down, two more times because the stitches didn't line up perfectly. Don't look at me like that! You know me better than that - I can't leave a perfectly fixable imperfection ;).
But this will make sense!
And I'm telling you right now, SO stretchy! And SO neat. This is the technique of the day for me; it works great if you need to attach live stitches to the right side in this fashion.
Oh, and the reason we will never speak of this again is because I don't know what I'm talking about. Clearly.
Loops. Heh.
This isn't an FO yet, by the way, as I still have 20 grams of DB Baby Cash to play with :).
Posted by Kathy at 12:18 PM | Comments (32)January 28, 2006
Too dense? Who, me? (edited)
There's a huge "edited to add" portion at the bottom of the entry, in case you didn't see it yet.
I'm feeling much better - thank you all for your 'get well' wishes. I'm happy that all of you liked the Spider Web border, it reassures me that my grandma will like it, too. In my opinion, even though it was murder to knit because every stitch looked like a googly-moogly, it was well worth it - very unique and quite breathtaking.
And now, the next part - the skinny border highlighted in orange. This one is knit perpendicularly to the main triangle of the shawl, and simultaneously attached by knitting a stitch of the border with a stitch of the main triangle every right-side row. Very cool technique, and things are moving along very quickly because the repeat is only 16 stitches and 10 rows big. Yeehaw!
However, as I predicted some time ago, this is proving to be the most challenging part of the shawl. I have changed the shape of the original shawl drastically, and this border takes the bulk of the burden of the redesign.
I need help, and a bit of advice. Where are my expert lace knitters? Emily, Claudia, Carrie, Eunny, June, others? As of right now, I'm knitting 2 rows of border per 1 stitch of main triangle. In addition, the border is knit on US 2s, and the main triangle on US 1s.
Click for a close-up. Shawl completely relaxed/unstretched in the photograph.
My concern is that the border is too dense, that perhaps I should knit 1 row of border per 1 stitch of main triangle. The pattern doesn't offer any insight because in the original, this border is not really attached to the main triangle in this fashion. I want to be able to block the border nicely, in a way that really exposes the pretty mini-spider web pattern, and I'm just not sure what to do.
Thank you in advance!
Edited to add:
The reason I voiced my concern... or better, the reason I know there's a concern to be had is because dry-blocking looks like this:
On the right, above the spider web border, I picked up the stitches with no rhyme or reason, and the density of the border looks "right on" when dry-blocked. However, above the main triangle the stitches are already there, and I was knitting them at a ratio of 2 border rows to 1 body stitch. As you can see, and I say this in my best Zoolander voice while puckering my lips, it's not good-looking.
Resolution: I'm still mulling over the needle size; the spider web border was knit on 2s, the final border is also set to be knit on 2s, and the portion above the spider web border looks fine - any thoughts? But, the stitch density has to change, and according to my calculations, if I want things to look just as they do above the spider web border, I should knit at a density of 1 rows of border per 1 (!) st of body... pretty much exactly!
And no fear or dread of frogging, people - this stuff is a piece of cake to knit, especially after the googly mooglies :) :) :).
Posted by Kathy at 02:43 PM | Comments (18)January 27, 2006
Acrobatics
Post undoubtedly colored by a hearty mix of antibiotics, pain killers, and anti-nausea medication.
Needle acrobatics.
Yarnover and some other googly-moogly stitch, purled together.
Take that, add yarnovers all around, and try, just try, to knit two together on the next row.
The stitches are irregular, some are twisted, some are suffocated at the neck.
Are you kidding me? That thing down there looks like three thousand square knots piled on top of each other!
Back to reality - the googly-mooglies need to be knit two together.
Poke and prod, split and drop, curse. Curse again. One more time, for good measure.
Move them to the right needle, loosening the running thread in the process. Ready to try the maneuver again?
Oh, I see the shiny tip of the dowel poking through!
The delirium prevents me from knitting the stitches in time. Both are dropped.
Curse. Again. This time in Russian - stinky/vile stitches!
Is it hot in here, or is it just my sweaty hands?
Get out the crochet hook. Thank God there's a lifeline two rows below.
Screw this k2tog, I'm just going to SSK, it's much easier!
I do it.
I take it out.
I can't have it - making a mistake is bad enough; knowingly making a mistake is a crime.
This is the part of lace knitting I hate. Maybe I need to get those fancy German needles? Ehh, I hate bamboo and wood, too slow.
Maybe I need to use my teeth.
Toes?
Try again: loosen the stitches, hold them at the base, bend wrist and elbow at the most unnatural angle imaginable, needle tip in, grinding my teeth, yarn picked up, stitches off needle.... Eureka!
Wheww!
What's next? Great - knitting other googly-mooglies together. My hands are starting to look like tree branches - stiff, crooked, angular.
So, are all the acrobatics worth it?
HELL YEAH! Look at those gorgeous googly-mooglies! Does that even look knit to you?
Posted by Kathy at 11:35 AM | Comments (66)
January 26, 2006
Who’s your shining star?
My shining star is this beautiful hat for Ori!
Let it be known that I’m completely disregarding my doctor’s orders to stay indoors (I’m recovering from an ear infection) in order to bring you these photos. And the ear infection? Throwing off my balance, as always, so knitting is a whole different kind of challenge right now :).
Pattern: Shining Star by Kate Gilbert.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 55% Merino wool, 33% Microfibre, 12% Cashmere, color #006/pink. Only 1 skein! Actually, even less – 44 grams/120 yards.
Needles: The majority of this hat was knit on 16” US 4 circs. There were a few dpns and a US 2s thrown in there just for fun ;).
Size: 18” in circumference and 7” in depth completely unstretched. For reference, the model’s (hehe) head is 23” in circumference.
Thoughts: I love this hat! I’m all about clever construction and design, and if this hat doesn’t fall into that category, I don’t know what does! I used Emily Ocker’s circular cast-on to start, which is the third most fiddly knitting technique I’ve ever used. To quote Michelle, “so fiddly, it is virtually an entire string section!” However, the results are worth it to me.
(Also, please don’t let my opinion of this cast-on influence you – I happen to know for a fact that many knitters absolutely love the two techniques I consider most and second-most fiddly ever.)
Click the extended entry link to read about the modifications I made to this pattern, including directions about removing that cone-shaped pucker at the crown of the head.
Modifications:
The biggest modification was knitting this hat using a much thinner yarn than what the pattern calls for – I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and US 4 needles while the pattern calls for worsted weight yarn and US 7 needles.
Despite (and because of) this substitution, knitting the pattern’s Adult L size actually fits my head perfectly! You see, the pattern is written with zero ease – if you want to fit a head that’s 22” around, you knit a hat that’s 22” in circumference. I don’t know about you, but my 23” melon really likes the fit of handknit hats that are 17-18” in circumference. Therefore, knitting the Adult L size with thinner yarn and needles actually resulted in a smaller hat that fits my adult L head!
The second modification was reshaping of the crown (doesn’t that sound like plastic surgery or dentistry or something?). In my extremely brief experience with hats, a nice spherical shape is achieved by increasing every row until about one-third to one-half of the total number of stitches are in place, and then increasing every other row until the rest of them are added. In this hat pattern, the knitter increases every other row from the very beginning, which leads to the conical pucker at the crown of the head.
To fix this: (1) immediately after casting on, I knit every stitch for 1 round. I think starting the yarnovers too quickly results in an unsightly puckered rosette. (2) I omitted all even rounds from 2 through 18, which are basically the “knit even” rounds in the first stage of the petal formation.
I also made some more minor modifications – I added a few yarnovers in key places so that the hat is worked over 115 stitches. This will work well for Ori; for myself, I’d add 5 more stitches somewhere. I changed the recommended 1 x 1 ribbing to a *k4, p2, k3, p2 ribbing (don’t ask… as long as it looks good, right? :)). The 1 x 1 ribbing just didn’t seem to match the large wedges that form the rest of the hat. I worked the ribbing on US 2 needles, bound off using US 4 on the wrong side of the fabric – I think it looks better that way. Last, I changed the eyelet rays radiating from the center so that all ten are worked the same way on any individual round.
Posted by Kathy at 12:23 PM | Comments (51)January 24, 2006
Conehead
As soon as I report that my Shining Star has a weird cone shape at the crown, everyone chimes in, "oh yeah, mine had that, too." Where were you guys before? :)
I'm not entirely innocent, either - I did see this FO photo by Ms. Domesticat way back when, but chose to attribute the funny shape to her use of two colors (or something).
All of us want to see the hat off the needles and on the melon, of course, since the needles give the thing a very artificial shape. Ask, and you shall receive.
For comparison, the lilac number is Sarit's hat which, in my opinion, fits remarkably well.
Dare I say, nipply? Hehe...
My friends, here's the thing:
I have no doubt that blocking will help the cone shape at the crown.
I have no doubt that the cone shape will be lessened when there's more fabric to pull the hat down.
Those two things considered, I probably don't need to change a thing, just keep on knittin' like no one's watching. BUT...
But I'm a peculiar person - if I know there's a better way, a more clever and elegant way, I have to give it a try. At the very least! And here we are talking about a little hat, something that takes a day or two to knit.
Well, I haven't ripped yet, I just put the hattus-in-progress on some scrap yarn and cast on using the skein's other end. A few hours later...
BINGO!
Posted by Kathy at 10:12 PM | Comments (55)January 23, 2006
Half-hat
I appreciate all your comments about the shawl. One day soon when I'm done with this thing (one way or another) I'll tell you out loud what I've been thinking all along. For now, you are my voices, and you often say what I'm feeling.
I have adjusted for the mistake in the pattern, and I have completed 18 rows of the border out of 47. I'll take a picture when I'm up to row #23 because right now it doesn't look like much. But I can already tell that this Spider Web pattern is freaking delicious. Gorgeous! Murder on my hands, though. Having to p2togTBL yarnovers and other funky stitches is mind-blowing, and I think it takes me an hour to do one row. I'm convinced that it's because I'm using the Metal Dowel brand of needles. Anyway, that's later...
For now, there is some hat progress to report!
Ori's hat!
A wise woman once said, "A knitter should know her limitations. For you, it's crochet."
It's true - the crochet hook and I just don't get along. Our relationship is perhaps a bit better than what I have going with the sewing machine, but that's not saying much.
Nonetheless, I braved the weird-looking knitting needle, and managed to use Emily Ocker's circular cast-on to start Ori's hat. Happy as a clam, I knit a good 15 rounds before deciding it was time to pull the hole shut.
I pulled and pulled with all my might, and nothing happened! Two options - one is supposed to pull the hole shut before starting (and this definitely worked for me when I started again for the second time) or I trapped the yarn end in some weird way as I knit.
Anyway, second time was a charm, and I've now completed about a third of Ori's hat:
I have to admit that I'm having some reservations about the size I chose to do. DB Baby Cash, size 4 needles... I'm thinking I want to end up with at least 120 stitches. But this size works up to only 110. I knew the 120 stitch goal before I cast on, so what was I thinking choosing this size? I must have been in a shawl-induced delirium.
Also, the top of the hat has this weird cone shape - do you see it? The reason for this is clear - the increases aren't frequent enough. Two solutions - either have more flower petals and/or increase every row instead of every other row at the crown of the hat. If I end up frogging this cutie, I'll be sure to give those solutions a try.
There has been even more progress on my own Sarit's hat, but I think I'll leave that for another post.
Posted by Kathy at 10:07 PM | Comments (29)January 21, 2006
Bordering on...
Not sure where to start.
From the beginning, I suppose.
Finishing the main triangle of my grandma's shawl made me very happy, but not nearly as happy as the realization that the hard part of this project was done.
Or so I thought.
As soon as I hit "save" on my last shawl post, I started examining the chart for the first border, highlighted in pink here.
I immediately realized that something was wrong with the number of stitches I was instructed to pick up and knit around the triangle because the chart and the text didn't match up. I decided to trust the chart, counted the stitches on either side of the pattern repeat and went with it.
Confusion continued. The border is labeled as "garter stitch" in two places - right next to the chart, and within the instructional text. However, the chart looks unquestionably stockinette. I don't see a single purl in there! The shawl picture didn't provide any additional insight. So, I had to take a guess! The first option - the chart is correct and the pattern is stockinette. The second option - the writing is correct, the chart is entirely wrong, and the pattern is garter stitch.
I went with the first option. Found a small typo right away. Continued. Made little mistakes and fudgings to correct them (it would have been very helpful to tell the knitter if the first row is a wrong-side row or a right-side row. I'm still deciding.). Progressed.
Doubted myself every second, every stitch, every row... sent Sharon an e-mail.
The damned thing is garter stitch. To quote,
"It is garter stitch. With every row worked, I didn't try to change the symbols on the purl rows - it makes the charts too hard to read. I chose, instead, to note it in the directions that every row is to be knit."
All gone!
Picked up 234 stitches again, knit the border as garter stitch. Eleven rows later, more than 2,500 stitches later, the meat and juice of the pattern began, and something just wasn't adding up.
I found it.
What is wrong with this portion of the chart?
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PORTION OF THE CHART?
The ticks for the 14 stitch pattern repeat border off only 12 stitches. I've been working the wrong shit all along.
ANGER
Posted by Kathy at 10:30 PM | Comments (79)January 19, 2006
Ingredients
Hi, sweeties! You're too sweet to leave me all those nice comments about Sarit's hat.
I'm very excited about this! It was one of these design experiences that just worked which, ahem, isn't always the case at all. I'm truly, honestly and completely smitten with the outcome.
So much so, that I absolutely must have one of my own. Besides, it will also allow me to double-check the pattern. A quick stop to the LYS and Beadworks later, I have all the supplies:
(this is my ultra-inconspicuous way of letting you know the ingredients, in case you want to rummage through your stash in anticipation of the pattern release)
1. 1 ball (1 ball!) of Rowan Cashsoft DK, 57% extra fine merino, 33% microfibre, 10% cashmere. The ball band says that it knits to 22 sts/4" in stockinette on US 6. Of course all those stitches traversing the fabric on a diagonal create a different gauge in pattern, just like the Jaywalkers.
This stuff has fantabulous yardage (142 yds/ball), which is why one ball is enough. And it's not a tight squeeze - I had 8 grams (22 yards) left over after knitting Sarit's hat!
Hey, I better tell the gals at the skeinalong about this.
2. Size 6 beads, about 150 (sometimes marked 6/0). Sarit's hat has exactly 110, so be safe and buy a few more. I use a Big Eye needle to thread the beads onto the yarn, but there are alternatives.
Beads are entirely optional! In fact, imagine the hat in forest green sans beads - perfect for your favorite guy! By the same token, you can incorporate more beads, or fewer beads, or arrange them in some kind of interesting sequence. Whatever!
3. Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) 16" circular needle, US 6 (4 mm) 16" circular needle, and US 6 (4 mm) double-pointed needles.
4. Stitch marker and tapestry needle
While I was at the LYS, I also (finally) picked up a second set of US 4 dpns to knit Ori's hat. Now I have a decision to make - which hat to make next? Mine, or Ori's?
Oh, little Ori. You will have to wait for this selfish knitter to be done. She knits pretty quickly, though :).
Posted by Kathy at 11:40 PM | Comments (57)January 18, 2006
Well, then...
Discuss.
YEEHAW!
Corrections for this center triangle of the pattern in the extended entry.
Corrections to Misty Morning Shawl pattern. Stitches in bold are corrected stitches.
Distributed by The Alpaca Yarn Company, designed by Sharon Winsauer of Aurora Alpacas.
Ogee Lace Pattern (the center triangle of the pattern, charts A-1 and A-2)
- Row 47 - outermost k2tog and SSK should be k1 instead.
- Row 78 - on the left side of the pattern chart, the outermost yo should be p1 instead.
- Row 106 - the left side of the pattern chart should be p14, yo, p2tog, p1, k1, p2, yo, p2tog, p8, etc.
- Row 115 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, yo, SSK, k1, SSK, k1, and so on to the last 12 sts, and then: SSK, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, SSK, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1.
- Row 117 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k1, yo, k4, yo, SSK, k1, s1-k2tog-psso, k2, and so on to the last 15 sts, and then: SSK, k1, s1-k2tog-psso, k2, yo, SSK, k3, yo, k1, yo, k1.
- Row 119 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k3, yo, k4, yo, SSK, s1-k2tog-psso, k1, yo, SSK, and so on to the last 15 sts, and then: SSK, s1-k2tog-psso, k1, yo, SSK, k3, yo, k3, yo, k1.
- Row 121 - start the first of the 5 repeats with k1 instead of k2 like the other 4 repeats.
- Row 131 - start the first of the 5 repeats with k2tog instead of s1-k2tog-psso like the other 4 repeats.
- Row 133 - start the first of the 5 repeats with k2tog instead of s1-k2tog-psso like the other 4 repeats.
- Row 134 - in the repeat, the left p2tog should be yo, p2tog.
- Row 135 - last 5 sts should be knit SSK, SSK, yo, k1.
- Row 162 - in the repeat, the left p2tog should be yo, p2tog.
- Row 163 - the row should start, k1, yo, k5, SSK.
- Row 167 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, yo, SSK, k1, SSK, k5 and so on to the last 9 sts, and then, k2tog, k2, yo, SSK, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1.
- Row 169 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k1, yo, k4, yo, SSK, k1, SSK, k3 and so on to the last 11 sts, and then, k2tog, k2, yo, SSK, k3, yo, k1, yo, k1.
- Row 187 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k1, yo, k3, yo SSK, k1, s1-k2tog-psso, k2 and so on to the last 11 sts, and then, s1-k2tog-psso, k2, yo, SSK, k2, yo, k1, yo, k1.
- Row 189 - the pattern should read (from right to left): k1, yo, k1, yo, k5, and so on to the last 6 sts, and then, k4, yo, k1, yo, k1.
- Row 190 - in the repeat, the left p2, p2tog should be p2, yo, p2tog.
- Row 215 - in the repeat, the rightmost k2tog should be s1-k2tog-psso.
- Row 218 - in the repeat, the left p1, yo, p2tog should be p2, yo, p2tog.
- Row 231 - the first yo should be followed by k2tog.
January 17, 2006
Mainly happy things
June noticed. She called it, “a certain level of fetid discontent coursing through the fiber ‘blogosphere lately.” I, too, had the knitting blues last week. BIG time.
June, how about knitting some hats? They seem to have really snapped me out of something vile.
Happiness #1 Sarit’s hat – it’s done! More happy news – it’s scrumptious… delicate, feminine, with every detail accounted for – I’m smitten!
More happy news – in addition to fitting my monster 23” melon, it fits smaller heads, too (and looks great on everyone who’s tried it on so far!). I think little Sarit and her 20.5” head will be very happy.
More happy news – the pattern will be up shortly... a few weeks.
Several of you asked about the beads – are they on securely? How did I even get them on there in the first place? I’m not going to reinvent the wheel here (Googling “knitting with beads” results in 1.8 million hits), but I’ll mention some relevant specifics.
For the particular way the stitches slant in this pattern, I prefer to prestring the beads and actually knit them into the fabric. The bead sits on the right leg of the knit stitch “V.”
(before you say anything, yes, I do know about the non-prestringing crochet method. But I like this way for this pattern).
Happiness #2 Selecting a hat pattern for Ori has been very painless. Sometimes it takes me hours of web surfing and mulling over to decide on stuff like this! But in this case it was simple - Ori’s hat will be Kate Gilbert’s Shining Star. I plan to knit the second-to-largest size using thinner yarn, and I plan to use Emily Ocker’s crochet cast-on.
This is a fancy lil’ technique that’s often mentioned in the context of starting a shawl that’s worked from the center out. It allows one to cast on a very small number of stitches in such a way that when the tail end of the yarn is pulled, whatever hole remains is closed up.
I decided on this even before Kate Gilbert and I started to exchange some e-mails (I had temporary problems downloading the pattern, which is how the exchange began), and that was one of the first things out of her pseudo-mouth – use the E. O. cast-on. Great minds think alike ;).
Happiness #3 I am past HUGE #3. I’m keeping track of the mistakes, as I mentioned. So far, 10% of the rows have mistakes. Some have only one little typo, others are a complete mess, with many stitches incorrect. I just hope the borders go a little better when I get to them.
Speaking of, do you (“you” being experienced lace knitters) recommend that I block the main triangle before knitting on the borders?
Sadness #1 through #460,072 I’m not done grading the lab reports :(.
Posted by Kathy at 02:10 PM | Comments (108)January 14, 2006
Hats: 2-for-1 special!
Grumperina's student writes, "The process of transcription is composed of initiation, elongation, and termination."
Oh my God - so does knitting!!!
Guess who'll been grading lab reports ALL. WEEKEND. LONG?
But, hello? How great were your suggestions to the babbling nonsense otherwise known as my last post? Thank you!
Seeing all the beautiful (and new to me) hat patterns out there gave me a pretty clear idea of what I want to knit for Ori, the older cousin.
From left to right (click on picture to be taken to corresponding pattern): Kate Gilbert's Shining Star, Marnie MacLean's Halley's Comet Hat, and Lacy Bonnet from Knitting for Two
No, I'm not knitting her the bonnet! However, the flower design at the crown of the head is similar in spirit to the other two, more grown-up versions. And I just love that!
Although Marnie's pattern is free, I'm leaning towards Kate's pattern because it offers more coverage and seems more appropriate for the winter.
I haven't made a firm decision yet because the yarn I've chosen for Ori is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (color 006 was perfect for her), which has a different gauge from both Marnie's and Kate's designs. However, I have a feeling that if I use this thinner-than-recommended yarn and knit one of the bigger sizes, I'll be all set. What do you think? Also, do you know of any other patterns with lacey stars/flowers at the crown of the head? Did I mention, I just love that?!?
For Sarit I'm going to try to design something on my own.
I had every intention of using DB Baby Cash for her hat, too, so I even swatched using some leftovers. However, at the yarn shop I fell in love with a particular shade of Rowan Cashsoft DK (#502), and so the plans had to be altered.
This is what I have so far:
I knew I had to add some ribbing because the edge curls otherwise (don't pay attention to the cuff photo - that's knit in the opposite direction so you're seeing a bind-off edge, not a cast-on edge). I admit that I'm feeling quite smug for selecting a ribbing that blends right into the hat pattern - it wasn't a happy accident, maths and swatching were involved.
I am adding pearly white beads, and so far there is no trouble in paradise, although I see two potential areas where trouble might arise: first, I didn't swatch with this yarn. I swatched with DB Baby Cash and then took a guess about this somewhat thicker yarn. How big will this be? I need to knit a few more inches to find out. Second, I'm still a bit clueless about shaping the hat, although hints from readers have certainly given me some direction.
Posted by Kathy at 12:01 PM | Comments (37)January 12, 2006
A change
Following your much-welcomed advice, I have put the shawl aside for the moment. I’m sorry to break the hearts of all those who guessed I’d be finished on Friday the 13th ;). When I pick it up again, I’ll see about fixing HUGE #3.
Many of you have expressed your shock about such a mistake-ridden pattern, and are wondering what the pattern distributor and the designer have to say about this.
I want to let you know that I’m in touch with both, especially Sharon Winsauer, the designer. She writes, “As you are probably beginning to suspect, this shawl was not test knit, hence the number of typos.”
I don’t want to say anything else right now, because it’s sort of the heat of the moment. I have decided that the best course of action is to push this thing to its limit (completion or unquestionable abandonment), and only then reflect on the experience both here on the blog, and in a letter to Sharon and Beth.
Anyway….
Hats!
I've never knit one!
When I started writing this entry, I initially typed that I had never knit a hat before, but then I remembered, there was that one time. Suffice it to say, no memorable impression was left by the experience, it was just sort of 'blah.'
Well, now I have a reason to get into the action!
During the latest visit to my parents, I was fortunate enough to see my great aunt and uncle and their family. It’s clear that my grandma has been bragging to them left and right about my knitting, because they were eager and ready to ask for handknitted gifts :).
I have two little second cousins – Sarit is 3.5 years old, and Ori is 9.5. Those are both girls’ names, by the way (just in case you’re thinking, Ori? Isn’t that the bacterial origin of replication?). Their mom has asked me to knit them hats, and I’m sort of clueless.
I don’t even know where to start. I measured the circumferences of their heads (Sarit – 20.5”, Ori – 21.5”), and I noted their color preferences (Sarit – lilac/lavender, Ori – medium pink), and now???
Is it odd that I feel so completely lost about this, that I don’t even know where to start? I think knitting the shawl has brainwashed me.
Well, okay, I've thought a bit about the yarn, and most likely I will use Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (baby or aran). I've read many not so nice things about this yarn and Debbie Bliss yarns more generally (mainly people cite that it's too pricey), but let me tell you one thing - I can hardly tolerate even the softest wool next to my skin, yet I'm as happy as a clam to wear the scarf Polly knit for me. It's holding up like a champ, too. And that's all the testimony I need.
As for the pattern... I'm a pattern monger, yet I do not crave hat patterns and always skip over them when flipping through magazines and pattern books. As a result, I do not have any hat patterns for my little cousins! I have some Debbie Bliss patterns (you've seen a few, you've seen them all), I have Hats on!, and that's about it.
I do have one idea, though, for little Sarit, who's a girly girl ;).
Remember those beaded cuffs I knit on the Mia Shrug? Many people have contacted me for the pattern, and I have been reluctant to disclose it for a simple reason.
You see, the shrug is knit flat and then seamed, while that cuff pattern is exponentially easier to knit in the round. I just haven’t bothered to explain how to knit the cuff, and then transition into Karen’s pattern.
But a hat… now that’s something you can knit in the round! And wouldn’t a cute beaded hat be just the perfect thing for a cute 3-year old?
I have to think about incorporating decreases before I even suggest that I'll be able to come up with a pattern. Plus I know nothing about hat sizing and shaping... nothing at all... (You hear me? Don't get too excited.)
Speaking of sizing, is it true that I should aim for about 2-3" of negative ease? I base this by comparing the circumferences of my best-fitting hats (20-21") and the circumference of that melon that sits atop my neck (23"). Plus this somewhat confusing webpage.
Crack
First, note the time of posting - well past midnight on a weekday, and you know I've got to be at work bright and early tomorrow morning to take my reactions out of the heating block. Like, gotta be there at 8 a.m.
Reason: grandma's shawl.
It started out innocently enough - I got home a little after 7 p.m., dialed my best friend, and picked up grandma's shawl. We chatted and I merrily knit along, completing a few rows since the last time I posted.
Somewhere around 8 p.m. we finished our conversation. I turned on the TV (Everybody Loves Raymond on TBS), and just like that, I noticed something funny about the pattern.
I will try my best to explain to you what I mean by "something funny about the pattern". It's important to note because this is the stuff that causes the HUGE mistakes, ones which span multiple rows, ones which I've already encountered twice before.
The main triangle of the shawl is composed of a modified Ogee Lace Pattern from Barbara Walker Numero Uno. In this pattern there are delicate leaves surrounded and separated by a zigzag ladder of sorts. In order for the zigzag to be continuous and look correct, the sets of yarnovers and decreases which form it must be right above one another.
This is a triangular shawl, so the width of the overall fabric constantly increases. As it does so, new leaves must be slowly incorporated into each edge, and with new leaves, come new zigzag ladders.
That's the "something funny about the pattern." When new ladders are introduced and all of a sudden the sets of increases/decreases do not line up right on top of each other, I know there's trouble. The stitch number may be correct, and the chart may look right to the naked eye, but it doesn't knit up to give the right thing!
Of course having the chart appear correct at a first glance, and having the stitch number work out does not help to identify and fix the problem! In fact, it's quite counter-productive!
The two times I've already encountered this issue, I was able to find the solution by carefully swatching and shuffling around the location of various increases and decreases to ensure that the ladder stitches lined up.
But today was different.
I tried the usual fixes, but they were not working out.
Aha! I noticed that in those same rows there were also problems with the double decreases, another consistent issue with this pattern. So now I had to figure out both the double decrease problem and the ladder problem for the same rows!!!
By the time Project Runway came on at 10 p.m. I thought I had found the solution.
Yet I was a stitch short.
That's when I cracked.
It happens with projects like this (AV and the Q come to mind).
In utter frustration, I banged my little fists against the clipboard holding my ridiculously marked-up pattern, and pouted. And cried (just a little) - frustration and anger, not sadness.
Damn. This is possibly more frustrating than AV + Q!!!
By the time Project Runway ended, however (I was happy to see that they released Diana - I think she wasn't cut out for that level of competition), I had at least identified the problem - ladders, double decreases, and somewhere, two missing yarnovers. All within 6 rows, or 3 right-side rows. What a mess.
I started to tink back... maybe about 6 rows or so. I was grumpy and frustrated and tired and clumsy, and let's just say that it took me about 10 rows to finally tink back one without dropping stitches or making weird knots or anything. Conan was over, and I had negated all of the evening's progress.
GRRRRRR.
Soon I will see if I can fix HUGE #3. But now, I have to go to sleep.
Posted by Kathy at 02:15 AM | Comments (51)January 10, 2006
Back from the exotic
As much as I enjoy spending time with my family, nothing beats being here in my own surroundings. Aaaah! I welcome the regularity and predictability of the tough weeks ahead, even though I’ll probably be nostalgic for lounging around on the sofa and watching soaps with my grandma in no time at all.
Check out the fam:
Me and grandma! She’s wearing these Nancy Bush socks.
Oh, I really want to show you this picture:
That’s also me and grandma, except like 23 years ago. Look how she’s trying to reason with me about something, and look at all that grumpiness at such an early age!
That’s mom (in her shawl) and dad (in his Sharfik). I must say that seeing my mom in her shawl made me realize that I knit the perfect size. I mean, it’s just right for her, not too skimpy, but not overwhelming. Sigh of relief!
I am often asked to post pictures of my family modeling my handknit goods (which is a sort of odd request, don’t you think?), but I can’t produce results on the spot because I live more than 200 miles away. But, during my tri-annual visits, I try to get everyone on camera, so there you have it!
There has been minimal knitting progress this weekend because I was grading lab reports pretty much every minute that I wasn’t spending with my family, including the 9 hours of travel time.
The socks: turned the heel and knit a little bit past it.
The shawl: found a gazillion more typos (yes, I’m keeping track of them), and another HUGE mistake that included changing several stitches over two right-side rows. It wasn’t the same mistake as last time, but of the same kind, and with a similar solution, so at least it only took me 15 minutes to figure it out this time.
The shawl schematic:
And now, guess what? More grading…
Posted by Kathy at 09:52 PM | Comments (44)January 07, 2006
Cuteness report
Let's make a deal - you tell me when you've had enough of my family, okay? Otherwise, I'll continue bringing you cuteness reports :).
Here I am visiting the folks, and I must tell you, it's quite nice. Yeah, they are that cute.
I've been completely overwhelmed with teaching stuff lately, and I arrived at their house in possibly the pissiest mood ever. Why? Because during the wonderful, soothing, quiet, 4.5-hour train ride to my folks' house, I did not knit a stitch. Instead, I graded lab reports, continuously, without any break. Which of course resulted in getting car-sick by the time I had arrived. Grrrr...
But as I stepped inside the house, my mood lifted. My grandma gave me the hugest hug ever, and would not let go forever. As I was snacking in the kitchen, she daintily took off her slippers and moved her feet around, so I would notice that she was wearing these. We spoke of the shawl, but she didn't immediately ask me to see it. Curiosity eventually got the best of her, though, and she asked for a peek.
She insisted that we move to the living room where the light was better. Because knitted lace looks like crap and a half before it's blocked, I showed her the pattern picture first. She inspected, delightfully smacked her lips and said to my mom, "mine will be prettier than yours!" Then she held one side of the shawl-in-progress as I pulled on the other, finger-blocking to reveal the pattern. I think she really likes it ;).
She and my mom both commented on the thinness of the yarn and needles. My grandma joked that the shawl will be ready in time for next winter. It won't be done any time soon, that's true, but it snows in April around here, so I hope her prediction won't be entirely accurate.
Dad's reception of the sock-in-progress was very lukewarm in comparison. Either he was tired or truly doesn't want another pair, despite what my mom and grandma tell me. No problem - my grandma's feet are the same size as his, and she can have the socks if he doesn't want them.
Mom's shawl is holding up well. Some ends worked their way out (like 1/4") and she freaked out a bit, tying them into all sorts of weird square knots. I assured her that the ends weren't going anywhere, and that the best course of action was to leave the loose ends as they are without trimming, if she could handle that little hint of messiness. She agreed.
Dad's Sharfik is a freaking disaster, however. Hear, ye, hear, ye! I don't consider my dad to be hard on his clothes, especially a scarf, but this is what Karabella Aurora 8 looks like after less than 2 months of wear.
Shameful. The pilling makes me cringe. But my dad still wears it because I knit it - double-edged sword.
Today I'm off to a knitting lesson with the one and only Annie Modesitt. She is my knitting hero, and I feel privileged to visit her house and meet her family.
Ciao for now!
Posted by Kathy at 10:59 AM | Comments (44)January 06, 2006
Parallel universe
Just because I'm knitting a shawl, doesn't mean I've stopped taking the bus.
Let me explain.
I must have a portable project at all times, which gets whipped out on the bus and the train, as well as in line at the post office. I think to myself, what did I do before knitting? Did I have more patience to just sit or stand there without doing anything? Because now, as soon as 45 seconds have gone by without doing something, and it's clear that there will be 10 more minutes just like it, out come the needles.
So, although the shawl is my primary project at the moment, it has not seen the world outside my apartment. This, however, has:
Oh, yes! These puppies were dragged all over New York City last weekend, and have seen a bit of action since then, too. They will also be my companions as I travel this weekend.
I started out knitting them on US 0, 5"-long Brittany birch dpns. Boy, oh, boy, my hands love working with non-metal needles. Not a tinge of pain, just pure comfort.
Then in an unfortunate incident involving trying on the sock-in-progress, I snapped one of the needles. Boo! I substituted a metal INOX needle in its place.
Who was I kidding?!?
Knitting with metal needles is so much faster than knitting with non-metal ones! It was like, I looked forward to using the sole metal needle in each round. As you can guess, it was only a matter of a few rounds before the remaining four Brittany birch needles were ditched in favor of the complete INOX set, although they hurt my hands a bit.
Nancy Bush's pattern instructs us to work these socks over 80 stitches. Knowing that my dad has rather dainty feet (he'd kill me if he knew I was saying this), I decided to work the pattern over 70 stitches. And I did just that for several inches before I stopped the denial and admitted that even 70 stitches were too much! I ripped to the cuff which I left as is (worked over 72 sts), decreased to 60 sts thereafter, and now the sock seems to be the right size.
People, have I entered some parallel universe?
In what country, on what planet, in which dimension, is working a 60-stitch sock out of Lorna's Laces on US 0 needles in (basically) a stockinette pattern result in a sock sized for a human? As opposed to a Chihuahua, of course.
Purly agreed that this was indeed strange, and suggested that it may be my gauge.
Of course - although it's only 60 stitches, the sock is about 7.5" in circumference, which is just the right size for someone whose foot is 9" around (socks require negative ease, too).
Weird, huh?
Shawl update: very little progress. First, a lot of grading has had to be done. Second, since we last spoke, I have found three more typos, two of which needed some mental power to figure out.
Posted by Kathy at 10:20 AM | Comments (30)January 05, 2006
Not so fast, mister!
My friends, you're all so cute :). Nothing like a little contest to make the lurkers and the quiet ones say, "hi!" Well, hi! Thanks for stopping by! And I love how all of you have your own special reasons for choosing one date or another, like a birthday or... Australia day.
So, we'll see when the finishing happens (if it happens). Of course I have some rough idea of when I think it will be, but I won't disenchant for now. And of course I now have closed the comments to the contest post just to make things fair and square.
I bet you're dying to find out what the progress has been in the past few days ;).
What's happened in the past few days is that I came across four typos in this pattern. Two were very obvious, and the other two, not at all. As a result of finding them, I've established contact with both the pattern distributor and the designer. The designer, Sharon Winsauer, has been very receptive to my comments, which I appreciate - it's much better to have a conversation about the pattern than to grumble under my own breath.
Those four typos were little, tiny stumbles, resolved by careful counting and making sure I wasn't imagining extra stitches. With a bit of fiddling, I was able to figure each of them out on my own.
However, as I continued knitting (last night right after I posted the contest), I came across THE BIG ONE. An obvious mistake that spanned 6 rows and about 30 stitches. Obvious in the sense that when I knit it, although the stitch count worked out, the pattern didn't come out looking right. I counted and looked and compared, but I couldn't figure out exactly what needed to be changed in order for things to line up.
Every knitter has her limitations, and although I can whip up instructions for sleeve cap shaping out of thin air (like magic!), designing lace is not even close to being a comfort zone for me.
I sent Sharon an e-mail explaining the problem the best I could at 3:30 a.m., and when I woke up this morning, she had responded that she didn't see anything obvious, but that she'd swatch over the weekend to check.
The weekend?!? That's like three days away, and I'd probably have to wait until Monday for a response! All the time I'll be traveling this weekend will be... sans shawl!
So, this evening, I sharpened my pencil, got out some scrap yarn for swatching, and figured it out.
Yes, I did.
The solution was not at all trivial.
It took 4.5 hours to figure out how to change those three rows (only the right-side rows needed changes).
Shit.
So much for speedy progress!
And I'm not even to the part yet where I make crazy mods, omit the "wings," play around with the border, and so on.
Are you regretting guessing January 9th yet? Hehehe...
Obligatory progress schematic:
Your eyes aren't deceiving you - there's been no noticeable progress.
Obligatory progress photo:
When fooling around, don't be a fool, yo! Protect yourself by using a lifelife! Yo.
Posted by Kathy at 12:36 AM | Comments (28)January 04, 2006
There’s a first for everything
My friends, you know there are some things the Grumperina does not do. Or does in an extremely selective fashion. Memes, for one. Knitalongs. Exchanges. Secret Pals. Stitch marker anything (Susan Bates is my girl, thank you very much).
But there’s a first for everything. And now, the first ever Grumperina contest.
Let me come clean – I started grandma’s shawl on January 1st, but didn’t get around to posting the background of the project until a few days later.
Which means that I already have some progress to show!
I’m enjoying this pattern very much so far. It is challenging – there’s a whole lot of counting, and k2tog with the freaking dowels (aka, Addi Turbos) is a nightmare. But look how pretty! Grandma will really like this, I’m positive.
The question: How long will it take me to finish this? The actual knitting is a challenge, and I will need to learn some new techniques down the road, specifically, knitting a border while simultaneously attaching it to live stitches in a perpendicular fashion. If that makes any sense. Eeek!
The contest: Guess when I will finish knitting this shawl (exclusive of blocking and photography and all that, just the actual knitting).
You are more than welcome (perhaps even advised) to guess, “you will never finish it for no particular reason,” or “you won’t be able to finish it because of technical difficulties.” I won't be offended.
The prize: To be determined. That’s what makes this contest different from many others ;). I really don’t like purposeless stuff (crap) of the knitting variety or otherwise, so I’ll decide what the winner gets once the shawl is completed (or abandoned) and the winner(s) is determined. I will do my best to tailor the prize to the winner and his/her tastes.
The hint: I started the main triangle of the shawl on January 1st in the evening, and completed 64 rows. On January 2nd, I knit another 36 rows. There was no knitting on January 3rd – I was busy with other stuff. Although I don’t think the schematic is to scale, I highlighted the extent of my progress for those three days if it were – red for the first day, and purple for the second. I hope this gives you some idea of how much I am able to knit during a typical day (but not all days are typical… on some, I will be traveling 4 hours, but on others, there will be skiing to do, and papers to grade!).
Oh how I love schematics and marking off my progress. I really, really do. It's the mathematician in me.
Leave me a comment, and let the knitting continue!
Edited to add: I've closed the comments to this entry - thanks for all your submissions :).
Posted by Kathy at 12:15 AM | Comments (179)January 03, 2006
New year, new insanity
What's the first whacked plan of the year? I hope you're nice and comfy and have Valium handy, because this is about to get very hairy.
My grandma has expressed her desire for handknit shawl very directly, and more than once. This means business.
I immediately started looking for a shawl pattern that would suit her. She told me that she wanted a triangular or square shawl, and that she trusted me to choose a design she'd like. On the knitting end, my only requirement was a pattern that is worked in laceweight yarn, since it's a challenge I have yet to conquer.
I came across shawl patterns by the Alpaca Yarn Company (formerly known as America's Alpaca) at a local yarn shop, and a little while later had many of them in my hot little hands. They are gorgeous. I know the Forest Path Stole is quite popular because it was reprinted in Interweave some time ago, but the others, not so much (correct me if I'm mistaken). The Winter Wonderland Shawl is one that I would consider for myself - it is really different!
The shawl you see on the left, Misty Morning Shawl, is the one that immediately jumped out at me as something grandma would like. Maybe it's the scalloped edges? Or the leaves in the main part? I don't know, and although I don't plan to show the picture to grandma, I just know she'll love it.
When I examined the pattern, several concerns surfaced. First, the main part of the shawl is knit on 2.5 mm needles (US 1), and the border is worked on 3.0 mm needles (US 2). Often laceweight yarn is worked on slightly larger needles (oh, US 5-8, let's say), but I know working thin yarn on thin needles can lead to gorgeousness. Is this the easy way out? Hardly. Is Grumperina an easy way out kind of gal? Ha!
Second, the pattern is quite challenging. That whole purl or knit all wrong side rows? Not so much in this one - you've got to keep track of stitches when working both sides.
Third, it's not entirely clear from the picture alone, but this shawl is not triangular. In fact, it looks like this:
I was very concerned about this, since my grandma is as particular as the rest of my family, and also because I have no idea what that would look like from the front. The last thing I want is to knit something that would be deemed as "stupid-looking."
I sent a quick e-mail to two knitbloggers much more experienced in shawl knitting than I am (I'm not revealing who they are because if when this whole shebang fails, I am the only one responsible) and they set me on the right path. One told me that apparently shawls of this shape can look unflattering, and more importantly (I quote), "this shape is decidedly neither triangular or square."
She's right. My 77-yearl-old grandma, my one and only living grandma, deserves exactly what she wants - a non-stupid, triangular or square shawl. Which this is NOT.
You know exactly what's going to happen next:
Yes, I plan to do this. I don't know if I can. I don't know if it will work. I don't know if it will come out perfect.
But I want to try.
I've examined the pattern, specifically the way the borders are worked around the corners of the shawl (I see changing that as my biggest obstacle), and I'm somewhat optimistic. The hardest part will be figuring out how many stitches to pick up for the border highlighted pink here:
I'll get there when I get there...
A quick note on the yarn and needles: both were really easy choices. Only a few companies make 2.5 mm and 3.0 mm needles, since the typical US 1 is 2.25 mm and the typical US 2 is 2.75 mm - metal Addis it is! Yarn: once my grandma told me that she really loved the color of her Lorna's Laces periwinkle socks and would like a shawl that same color, I just ordered a skein of Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace in that very same color. I hope 1250 yards of this yarn will be enough, since the pattern specifies that 1750 yards of laceweight yarn are required. I think since I'm omitting those two front "wings," I should be okay. The yarn is gorgeous, luscious, soft, and delicate. A real treat for me as a knitter, and hopefully for my grandma as a shawl recipient.
Next: I organize a little contest. There may or may not be a prize ;).
Posted by Kathy at 12:30 AM | Comments (41)January 01, 2006
Lucky lady
Woa, I'm back, surprisingly in one piece. Not much knitting was accomplished this weekend, but I have a knitting story to entertain you nonetheless.
I swear the Boston South Station T-stop attracts the weirdest knitting admirers. Remember this lady? Anyway, I'm sitting in the station waiting for the train, knitting away, when this middle-age dude sits down next to me. Nothing happens for a few minutes, and then he takes out dental floss, unrolls a few feet, and proceeds to thoroughly, methodically, carefully floss his entire mouth. Say it with me, ewwwww!!! There were bits of food and saliva flying everywhere! I slid myself a few feet away from him along the bench. Next thing I know, he takes out a toothbrush, and toothpaste, unscrews the cap, puts a bit on the brush bristles, and starts brushing his teeth! GAH! Mama mia, I was so grossed out. Although we were still sitting on the same bench, at this point I moved myself so we were as far apart as possible. Anyway, he finishes the brushing, puts the toothbrush away (without washing it), and doesn't rinse his mouth or anything. His entire face is covered in toothpaste, and his hands, too. Only then he decides it's an appropriate time to slide close to me and ask me to touch my knitting.
My answer (I quote), "No fucking way!" at which point I promptly gathered all my stuff and stood up to wait for the train.
EWWWWW!
Last FO of 2005!
Let me tell you, my grandma is one lucky lady! The color of these puppies is not exactly what she would have chosen herself, but I know she'll enjoy the softness and the fit.
Pattern: (ironically) Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks
I made a few modifications to this pattern: I knit short-row heels and toes because my grandma really liked the way they fit on this pair. I also adjusted the stitch and row counts to account for using sportweight yarn.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in cranberry, 2 skeins.
This is seriously soft yarn. Like freakin' butta. Or better yet, like the center of a freshly baked, hot from the oven, dinner roll. I don't think I would use this yarn again for a pair of socks - I know they'll be annihilated within a few months. However, I would love to use this yarn for winter accessories, hats and scarves in particular. Yes, I would love to wrap my neck in some of this ultra-soft merino Lorna's Laces goodness, yes, I would ;).
I was planning to weave in some reinforcement into the sole, but I only have gray and black (both showed through too much), and well... I just said, fuck it. Whatever. I'd rather knit another pair of socks than go through the trouble of hunting down some matching reinforcement and weaving it in. I mean, I finished these in less than a week, and knitting them was a lot more fun than weaving in reinforcement thread.
Although the skeins were the same dye lot, the two socks came out quite different. Look! The one on the left is much more variegated than the one on the right! (Also, look! No ladders!)
Needles: INOX 2.50 mm (something like a US 1.5, depends who you ask) double-pointed needles, set of five. My stockinette gauge was 7.5 spi with these.
And the calf shaping - fascinating!
Posted by Kathy at 03:22 PM | Comments (39)
