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June 29, 2007
Eye Candy Friday: rustic edition
In the there's always more category, I have never knit with a rustic, twine-like yarn. You know the type - linen or hemp (or a blend), crunchy at first, soft and supple after a few washes and trips to the outside world. Maybe the summer weather is to blame, or my general desire to try new stuffs, but a few weeks ago I became determined to change my naïveté.
And now, at last, I've got my grubby little paws on some fantabulous rustic yarn.
Hempathy by Elsebeth Lavold
41% cotton, 34% hemp, 25% modal
017 Vivid Green and 014 SunflowerDestined to become The Bag from No Sheep for You
Supplied by the incredibly patient and accommodating Cynthia at FuzzyMabel. Seriously, there were 3 exchanges involved, and she didn't bat an eyelash. Free June shipping and Fuzzy Dozen promos were utilized :).
Oh, this is gorgeous stuff, candy for the eyes, the hands, and the needles. Swatches have been knit, and The Bag knitting will commence shortly!
P.S. I received my Norah Gaughan, vol. 1 yesterday (I ordered it the most old-fashioned way possible - mailed 'em a check). GAH! LOVE IT! Let the scheming begin!
Posted by Kathy at 10:00 AM | Comments (30)June 28, 2007
For the record
For the record, this is how far 1 skein of Wick gets you. That's about 9" above the anklebone (of my average US 7 - Euro 38 feet). Not bad! Especially considering each skein is only 120 yards.
I've been asked many questions about these socks - (Q1) are they comfortable? (Q2) Do the bumps created by the decreases hurt when you step on them? (Q3) What's the point of using moisture-wicking yarn when there are so many holes? (Q4) And who knits socks out of worsted-weight yarn anyway?
Did I get them all? :)
I thought about all these points, and my answer is we all have different priorities. Wendy would say, "Your mileage may vary."
I had 2 skeins of Wick in my stash for the longest time, more than a year, and I've been itching to knit it up into something, anything. When a cute and interesting pattern came along and I was able to get a 3rd skein without much effort, it was reason enough for me to cast on.
I didn't consider what it would be like to wear the socks because, first and foremost, I knit for the sake of knitting. You knew that, right?? Your reasons for knitting may be entirely different, and the wearability of the project may be a very important priority. But that's not the case for me. I really didn't think much about it until all the comments. I just think these knee-highs are way cool and therefore I must knit them!
But I know that's not the answer you want to hear. You want me to think about the questions you posed, and give an honest opinion, right?
Certainly these knee-highs are more 'show' than 'function'. If we wanted functional knee-highs, we'd grab some wool and hit up Cookie A for a pattern. (A1) On the other hand, I really dig the fabric formed by the fishnet pattern - it's very stretchy, and I think these will stay up exceptionally well. (A2) I do feel the decrease bumps when I step on them. They don't bother me, but they may bother you, especially if you plan to wear these socks with shoes. (A3) I think the designer chose to use Wick because it's very stretchy, and very soft, and not because it has moisture-wicking abilities. I think Cascade Fixation Bulky would do the trick, too, except it's not as soft, in my opinion. (A4) Using thinner yarn would make very dainty and delicate fishnets for sure. So, go for it! But for instant gratification, worsted weight is awesome. Just a few days, and you've got a finished pair of pretty, lacy, ooh-la-la, make the men drool stockings!
Posted by Kathy at 01:22 PM | Comments (42)June 26, 2007
Edits?
The only thing better than voyaging through the World of Knitting is having fabulous co-pilots - thank you, my friends, for taking this joyride with me.
That looks more like it, don't you think? Following the instructions Joan M-M e-mailed to me, the Fishnet Knee-Highs emerge exactly as promised.
And that wasn't the only exciting discovery, my friends! No! Much like the Odessa hat, the knee-high pattern is a spiral - there's no beginning or end, just one continuous, seamless coil of stitches.
Well, nearly seamless. Since the fishnet pattern is a 2 round repeat, there has to be a seam. A teensy seam that the designer disguised very cleverly, but a seam all the same. Can you spot the stitches which join the 2-round repeat into a spiral?
I took the time to center "the seam" on the bottom of the foot, so it's as invisible as possible. At least for now. Eventually it'll snake its way up the calf and onto the front of the leg, but I have a feeling it will be unnoticeable nonetheless.
Having completed the tricky bits of this pattern, I have a sneaking suspicion that Joan M-M has been "over-edited." Not only did the editor completely revise the stitch pattern (the stitch pattern, people! what's more important than that?!?), the rest of the instructions seem to be missing that Joan M-M touch. Like how to figure out when it's time for the heel, or how to position the heel in relation to the toe, or where to place the beginning of the round after completing the heel so that the eyelets continue to flow.
I'm guessing Joan included all those hints in the original pattern, and they've been edited out. For shame.
Someone who's knit a pair of socks (or two) will be able to figure things out, I'm confident, but not before a hearty amount of headshaking. Good thing Wick is quite resilient!
Posted by Kathy at 11:52 PM | Comments (30)June 25, 2007
There's always more.
Happy knitaversary to me,
Happy knitaversary to me,
Happy knitaversary, dear Grumpy,
Happy knitaversary to me!
And many more!
On this, my third knitaversary, I will bask in the knowledge that there's always more. There is always another sweater, another yarn, another needle, and another technique just waiting around the corner, begging to be explored.
- Just when I think I've mastered stranded knitting, I'm reminded of that gorgeous stag. And who can claim to be a stranding master of any kind if she hasn't yet steeked? Not I! There's always more.
- Just when I think I've got the whole cabling thing figured out, I remember that Aran patterns are sometimes knit in the round, and sometimes need to take a sharp turn. There's always more.
- Just when I think no lace chart is beyond my comprehension, I remember that I've yet to work backwards - to look at a photograph of complex lace and reverse engineer a chart. There's always more.
- Just when I think I'm getting decent at photographing my knits, a little blog surfing swiftly puts me in my place. There's always more.
- Just when I think I've 'mentally fondled' every interesting sweater, I remember the Sunrise Circle Jacket (link to pdf), all the goodies in Knitting Nature
, the two Loop
There's always more. Another day, another challenge. And that keeps me knitting, and taking photos, and blogging. The day I sop up all the knitting goodness would be a sad day indeed, because that would be the day I put down my needles. I'm joyful knowing that this day will never come. There's always more!
In the spirit of pushing my limits, embracing the unknown, and learning something new, I decided to start my Fishnet Knee-Highs from Knitting Lingerie Style
I've never used any of these "magic" cast-ons before! First, I knit most of my socks from the cuff to the toe. Second, the provisional cast-on, short-row method has always worked for me, so I felt no need to try another.
But it's a new year for me, and I want to start it the right way - knitting something clever and different. So I tried Judy's Magic Cast-On, which I first noticed on Wendy's blog.
I'm amazed. It is completely, entirely seamless. Sure, it was a little tricky to cast-on, but once I got the hang of it, it went quickly, effortlessly. There was no wrapping and picking up short-rows (tricky with a thick yarn and small needles!), and there was no provisional cast-on. I can't believe I waited three years to pick up this technique. There's always more - for me, for you, for our craft.
Posted by Kathy at 10:02 PM | Comments (115)June 22, 2007
Eye Candy Friday: Photoshop edition
Remember my uncertainty about The Bag from No Sheep for You
Photoshop to the rescue!
A little contrast, a little color replacement, a little shadow/highlight, and... ah, yes, I see! Makes me want to knit it even more, in two colors, please :).
Posted by Kathy at 11:06 AM | Comments (26)June 21, 2007
Wick me away...
I'm happy to report that progress has been made in the planning of both projects, The Bag and the Fishnet Knee-Highs! But let's talk about them one at a time - knee-highs today, and the hemp bag some time next week.
It seems that I'm not the first person (not by a long shot!) to notice that the pattern as written does not evolve into the photographed knee-high! Several readers left me comments to that effect, and there's even a thread on the Knitty forum about it.
Last night I received a thoughtful note from Joan M-M:
Aha! That's more like it! Knee highs, here I come!
Let's finish by discussing the strangely fascinating Wick and the intriguing toe construction presented in the pattern.
A yarn composed of 53% soy and 47% polypropylene immediately reminds me of skiing clothes. Any skier will tell you that a base layer composed of a moisture-wicking fabric is paramount to a pleasant skiing experience, and polypropylene is one commonly-used synthetic with moisture-wicking properties. I find my polypropylene gear comfortable and well-suited for its purpose, so my first reaction to Wick was, "it's about time someone put that into a sock yarn!"
However, it's not surprising that Wick feels a little... synthetic, acrylic, not natural, if you know what I mean. Soy fiber on its own is already a bit slick and snaky, in my opinion. When it's combined with the synthetic polypropylene, let's just say I have no trouble imagining that Wick is extruded out of one of those pasta machines ("spinneret"), no spinning wheels in sight.
So Wick definitely feels synthetic, but that doesn't mean I don't like knitting with it! In fact, it lacks most properties that drive us away from acrylic yarns! It's not crunchy, it doesn't feel sticky, and the fibers don't cling to one another. Rather, it's incredibly soft, springy, and has the same amount of bounce as wool, I'd say. Knitting with it is effortless (save for when I catch the fiber on something and it distorts a bit too easily), and the resulting fabric seems to have good drape and integrity. How the socks wash, wear, and wick away moisture is a question for the future...
Now, about that toe. Basically, you knit a little trapezoid which goes on top of your toes, then knit an identical trapezoid to cover the bottom of the toes while simultaneously joining the two trapezoids together! Sounds familiar?
I think this method of making the toe is quick and easy, looks good and functions as intended. Is it refined, methodical, or clever? I'd say no. Considering that you start with a provisional cast-on anyway, might as well work short rows, right? In fact, I think I might go with that when I start over...
Posted by Kathy at 11:13 AM | Comments (17)June 19, 2007
Refilling the patience bucket
Cynthia at FuzzyMabel saved the day: not only did she have Wick in a matching dye lot, the shipping was free!
Let's see, Fishnet Knee-Highs: 3 skeins of Wick (check! all the same dye lot, too!), pattern in Knitting Lingerie Style
Ready to go!
I'll tell you about knitting with this very interesting soy/polypropylene blend yarn and the equally-intriguing toe instructions (not short rows! not figure 8! not Turkish cast-on!) another time, because I've got bigger fish to fry right now:
Dude, it doesn't look like the photo! Specifically, it's much less lacy. Even more specifically, I think the photographed sock uses something like *yo, k2tog, while the instructions say, *k1, yo, k2tog. And the ribbing in the photo is 1 X 1, contrary to the written instructions' 2 X 2.
Anyone know where the errata are?
I e-mailed Joan yesterday, waited for a bit, then decided to contain my impatience by considering another project.
Cute, eh? It's Wendy Wonnacott's The Bag from No Sheep for You
I've had an urge to knit with twine-y yarn lately - linen or hemp - and The Bag could be a perfect little experiment, since I haven't used either fiber before. The issue is that the pattern uses two different colors, and I'm wondering if I can get away with using only one. On the one hand, I can't tell where 'cinnamon' ends and 'pumpkin' begins in that photograph, so I bet it will look fine as a solidly-colored fabric. On the other hand, maybe it will look super-fantastic if two highly contrasting colors are used! I have no idea!
Has anyone knit this pattern yet?
I e-mailed Wendy yesterday, waited for a bit, then decided to contain my impatience by considering another project.
The futile chaos that followed is best left unrecorded.
Why this frenzy all of a sudden? Is the current WIP lineup not up to par? Sidewinders, Scala socks, Fir Cone scarf, not to mention a few truly antique goodies at the bottom of the knitting basket. Sigh.
Is it so wrong that I just wanted to cast on something brand new??? But I have to be smart and patient when starting new projects, I've learned (or you know what happens...). So, for now, I've refilled my patience bucket, because what I really want is a hemp The Bag and pretty Fishnet Knee-Highs, nothing else.
Posted by Kathy at 07:43 PM | Comments (42)June 17, 2007
Art Deco beret
Hey, look!
It's my article about knitting with beads in the newest issue (Fall 2007) of Knitscene! Everything that I skim over in my little primer is detailed in the article, so I'm quite proud of it ;).
And to practice your newly-acquired beading skills, I wrote up a cute beret pattern in the same issue:
I've been waiting for this moment for so long because I've been dying to share something hilarious with you! When I first started working on the pattern, I had the brilliant idea to use silver beads. Hey, I thought, purple and silver will look great together! The result: what I affectionately dubbed "the Boca Raton beret," for obvious reasons.
Eventually I came to my senses and switched to burgundy-ish beads, which are much more subtle and much less flashy. You can see where I was trying them out in the second photo.
I'm quite excited about this Knitscene, actually. It may be difficult to see from the project lineup on the web, but there are some very cute designs in this one!
Herringbone Skirt by Elissa Sugishita, Teardrop Scarf by Celeste Culpepper, and Road to Golden by Lisa Shroyer (my favorite from this issue).
Posted by Kathy at 11:29 AM | Comments (61)June 15, 2007
Eye Candy Friday - prize edition
Let us congratulate Jodi on submitting the 750th Jaywalker to be added to the gallery! Congratulations, Jodi! For her prize, Jodi wanted some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in a variegated colorway.
I chose the Devon colorway for her, one of the
Jodi tells me that she's making the beautiful Morning Surf Scarf with her Devon LL. My gosh, it's looking fab!
Is it terribly obnoxious of me to already start planning the 1000th Jaywalker celebration?!? Hehehe. Mwahahaha!!
Posted by Kathy at 09:31 AM | Comments (20)June 14, 2007
Symmetry
Glancing at my gallery of completed projects, it's clear that symmetry is not at the forefront of my mind.
In each of these instances, knitting one sock to be the mirror image of the other would have been a nice touch. In each of these instances, doing so would be relatively simple - no complicated math or crazy calculations. Just reversing the stitch pattern, that's all.
So, why not?
Most often it just didn't occur to me until I was done! Silly me.
The designer of the Scala socks must have had dorks like me in mind when she wrote her pattern. Very casually she mentions, "To achieve an interesting symmetry you may work the cables of your second sock in the other direction: just start the pattern in round 13."
Right! Symmetry! D'oh! Thanks for reminding me!
Not only did I start the second sock at round 13, I reversed the direction of the decorative edging as well. Just a little prompting and I got all symmetried-out :).
No dud photos for you today, but have fun figuring out how I captured the image above (here's a hint :)).
Tomorrow: I reveal the identity of the 750th Jaywalker to grace the gallery, and the prize given to its lucky knitter! It's truly Eye-Candy-Friday-liscious!
Posted by Kathy at 01:44 PM | Comments (26)June 13, 2007
Shock!
I'm absolutely dumbfounded. Shocked. How could this be?!?
Seriously. I'm in a state of panic.
I mean, have you glanced at the Sidewinders directions? Talk about odd, esoteric, bizarre, and all together kooky.
All of that could turn out to be a proper sock?!? Yeah, right!
But it did. It was all a matter of trust. I knew Nona wouldn't lead me astray, no matter how ridiculous the sock-in-progress looked sometimes, no matter how nonsensical the instructions seemed. I trusted every line of that kookiness.
And I must say, it's not just "a sock," it's a decent-fitting sock!
The only thing I'd change is the width. A slightly narrower sock would have been perfect. You see, my feet are borderline wide - the circumference at the ball of the foot is 8.75", I have high arches and instep, and shapely calves - so I worked the wide variation of the sock. That ended up being about 4-6 rows too wide, however. (The medium width wouldn't have worked, in case you're curious: it's 12 rows narrower, so it'd be too snug.)
But now that I know how the socks are constructed, I think I'm capable of modifying the pattern to fit my medium-wide feet. The question is - do I rip this one out and start over, or knit a pair of looser-fitting socks for lounging around the house and such?
Dud photo alert!
Oh, sock photography, why must you be such a pain in my ass?
Posted by Kathy at 01:57 PM | Comments (39)June 12, 2007
No problem
This is my humble collection of Earth shoes:
Why am I showing you my Earth shoes? Besides the fact that they are my favorites, each shoe comes in a very handy drawstring baggie when you buy them (so, two baggies per pair of shoes).
These baggies are perfect for storing and carrying knitting projects, and were the precise "packing mechanism" featured in my last post. They come in two colors - natural for sandals, and black for other shoes. I always put them through the wash before using them - just in case the dye is oversaturated, plus they get softer! (I think they're made out of hemp).
Do you know the best part about owning a pair of Earth boots? (Besides having kickass boots, naturally.) They come in extra-large Earth baggies, big enough for sweaters and other large projects.
The "one project, one baggie" system works very well for me. Before leaving the house, I toss the baggie du jour into my handbag, and off I go!
Actually, I usually also take my notions box (purchased at Walmart, given to me by Betsy):
Contents: various stitch markers, yarn needles, little scissors, small post-its, a small ball of waste yarn, and kitchener stitch crib sheet. Unlike Stephanie, who has finally memorized grafting instructions, I still consult my little guide each and every time I kitchener. I'm serious.
With project and notions nicely organized and always on hand, I'm able to squeeze in moments of knitting almost everywhere I go! Long line at the Post Office? No problem! Whole Foods doesn't open for another 10 minutes? No problem! Ducking under an awning while the rain passes? No problem at all.
Long car rides while visiting my parents? Definitely no problem. In addition to lengthening my Fir Cone scarf several inches, I'm nearly done with my first Sidewinder. All that remains is the long graft. Maybe Nona's instructions will permanently imprint kitchener directions into my head :).
I have to tell you, honestly - this sock is riddled with errors (my knitting, NOT the pattern). I either lost a stitch or gained a stitch in every single part. Oops! If I was able to find the source of the error, I ripped back. However, often I couldn't figure where I went wrong and got "creative," increasing and decreasing at will. I'm going to try extra-hard to make the second one error-free.
Last, a happy picture:
(This dress and these shoes, since we're talking clothes in today's post :))
Posted by Kathy at 10:18 AM | Comments (63)June 08, 2007
Packed!
Sidewinders - check!
Second Scala sock for my pal - check!
Fir Cone scarf - check!
Grumpy Dad's birthday present
(don't worry, the surprise won't be spoiled)
See you next week!
Posted by Kathy at 03:55 PM | Comments (18)June 05, 2007
Teacher's pet
Are you knitting Sidewinders along with Nona?
Yarn: Regia Bamboo color 1066, a generous gift from Joy. The color is gorgeous!
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
Gauge: 30 stitches and 40 rows in back 'n forth stockinette.
Teacher, do I get a little gold star now? ;)
Posted by Kathy at 07:27 PM | Comments (32)June 04, 2007
Out the window!
It happens to the best of us. About a month ago I had convinced myself that none of my works in progress were "right." This one was almost done, and that one needed careful tinking, and the one over there wasn't a flattering color after all.
On top of that, I had amassed a significant amount of sweater yarn. Try as I might, the stupid bags of yarn wouldn't transform themselves into completed sweaters without my intervention. They were occupying my limited space and mentally weighing me down. So, naturally, I cast on for a sweater. Alpaca Twill, to be exact.
My friends, it was a case of rash cast-on-itis. I wasn't thinking! Such different gauge, entirely different drape, so many numbers to work out! Let's not forget - the whole thing is basically 2 X 2 ribbing. The uber-swatch? Yeah, that thing. I'm glad I included it in my plans. It showed me that the fabric changed significantly in both texture and gauge after washing. All the calculations were made even more cumbersome. Despite the delectable color and amazing softness of Classic Elite Princess, this project was destined to be a dud.
The last straw came in a somewhat unexpected format - a new book filled with charming projects cover to cover, projects which spoke to me much louder than the lingering Alpaca Twill. How could I invest even one more minute into knitting something I didn't truly love? Only with a very guilty conscience, that's how.
- On the left: I agree with Betsy - the chosen color should reflect the vintage feel of the delicate Bed Jacket.
- In the center: If you can believe it, I contacted 4 (!) yarn shops tonight in hopes of finding a third skein of Wick to match the two already in my stash, so I can make the Fishnet Knee-Highs (color #120 cream, lot #1029 - maybe one of you can help me out!).
- On the right: A button-down blouse with a nice collar would look fabulous under the Waist-Cincher Top. I think the yarn I was (ahem) using for the Alpaca Twill sweater will work for this.
Just like that, the possibilities of new projects supplant what's already on the needles. And you know what, I don't feel bad about it. Not at all! In fact, I feel guilty about wasting my time, not about abandoning a WIP that's no longer working! How about you?
Posted by Kathy at 09:46 PM | Comments (62)June 01, 2007
Proper model
First, Happy (Eye Candy) Friday, everyone!
One day, when I grow up, I will have a garden with peonies galore! It is one of my most favorite flowers - so frilly, so girly, so sweet, and the beautiful blossoms emerge from the cutest perfectly-spherical buds. And if peonies don't take, dahlias like Sandy's neighbor. Drooooool...
There's an excellent reason you don't see socks "off the foot" on this blog - they looks craptastic! All mangled and lumpy and misshapen, with hardly an indication of their actual form.
Even sock blockers don't do the trick for me. Feet are three dimensional, and are therefore, hands down, the absolute best models for socks!
What a difference! I'm quite pleased with the way the heel turned out. It was my first time doing stranded knitting on both the right and wrong sides of the work. Purling with two hands = not for the faint of heart :).
The acrobatics required to capture a shot like that necessitate a whole lot of duds, like this one:
Contort, and contort again, just to show a properly-modeled sock.
Posted by Kathy at 12:57 PM | Comments (44)
