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December 26, 2007
Bamboo thrums
This must be the softest stuff I have ever touched:
It's like the precious softness of a newborn baby's head.
It's like the softest depths of a kitty's belly.
And, no, I haven't developed an interest in spinning. But when I saw the Midwest-Style Thrummed Mitts in No Sheep for You
Unfortunately, I found the prices of silk roving a little hard to handle on a student's budget. Instead, Lucy at Mind's Eye Yarns hooked me up with some 100% bamboo roving, which I think is even better! Let's see... anti-microbial, moisture-wicking, breathable, and a renewal resource. And based on the vibrant colors I saw in the shop, it holds dye exceptionally well.
I decided to pair this rich turquoise-blue fiber with an orange yarn, a cotton blend called Touché from Berroco. You may remember this yarn from some shadow knitting attempts that didn't result in anything. But I think the thrummed mittens are a perfect use for it!
And the inside of the mitten? Oooo, I wish you could slip your hand into the bamboo-y goodness! The fiber is very smooth and silky, so some strands invariably get stuck between fingers and in jewelry. But the softness is divine!
Posted by Kathy at 08:34 AM | Comments (58)
December 23, 2007
Putting together a sweater
A little write-up from yours truly:
Oh, the irony! A self-proclaimed non-sweater knitter shares her tips for... putting together a sweater! If you'll allow me, I'll cite my long-ago-finished sweaters in my list of qualifications, even though it's been many months since I've actually knit a sweater.
The article (four pages!) describes the process of putting together a sweater - how to get something wearable from a front, a back, and two sleeves. Although the techniques are certainly mentioned - like mattress stitch and fake grafting - the focus of the article is broader in its scope. For example, if you've ever wondered about selvedges and how they can impact your seaming, this article may be of interest to you :).
And of course the issue is chock full of interesting and fun patterns - see for yourself! Some of my favorites:
New Wyoming by Lisa Shroyer, Quicksilver Bag by Norah Gaughan, and American Safari Hoodie by Amy King
Posted by Kathy at 04:12 PM | Comments (22)December 20, 2007
Pink cousin, blue cousin
I have a theory: any time it gets a little nasty outside, I finish another snugly project! It's now been the case three times in a row!
Pattern: Foxglove Master Pattern from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume dpns, US 2. I have two sets of these (8 needles total), so I'm able to knit in the round using 5 needles.
Yarn: Mirasol Hacho #302, 2 skeins (137 yards per 50 gram skein). My gauge on this project was 6 spi and 9 rpi.
I really (really) like this yarn. When I examined the yarn beyond the color (because that's a very individualized preference), I found a fiber that was soft, resilient, sturdy, and well-balanced. An immense pleasure to knit; two enthusiastic thumbs up!
I saw a discussion on Ravelry the other day: hand-dyed yarn, same dye lot, but noticeable differences between the two skeins - what gives?
Yup, it happens! Look at the photo above: the sock on the left is the pink cousin, and the one on the right is the blue cousin! There are so many more examples... the two skeins used in making the two brioche stitch neck warmers were the same dye lot, but looked different when knit up, and here's a pair of Lorna's Laces socks where one striped more than the other. And check out Domesticat's Malabrigo sweater!
If this is a concern for you, I think there are two potential solutions: first, when purchasing the yarn examine the skeins carefully. When I bought the Marisol Hacho, I picked the two skeins that looked the most alike. There were others which had less of the light blue, or more of the bright pink... I passed them over. Second, if the two skeins are going to be used one after the other (in a sweater, for instance), and you want to avoid huge block of color, you must alternate the skeins!
Anyway, for my grandma's socks this wasn't a huge concern, so one is a little more blue, and the other, a little more pink. And now that the socks are done, I think the bright colors appear more subdued than when they were in the skein, so maybe my grandma will like them after all?!?
Here you see the Foxglove trickery: those increases along the instep create roomy space for the ankles. Surprisingly, knitting the second sock wasn't too much easier than knitting the first. I sailed through the toe and arch expansion, but had to follow the heel instructions with as much diligence as the first time around.
I don't know... the language just isn't sticking with me. If you have the book, glance at page 121, "Step 1." I must have read those paragraphs sixteen gazillion times, and the instructions still makes zero sense to me. I understand that what I'm asked to do is to separate out the sole stitches, and make sure I'm poised in the beginning of those stitches, ready to work them. But... seriously... isn't there an easier way to say that than what you see in the book?
Posted by Kathy at 12:56 PM | Comments (29)December 18, 2007
Turning around
Well, I didn't run out of yarn.
And though the bursts of color were sometimes "patchy," I wouldn't say the yarn pooled hideously.
I am very impressed with the roomy instep created by the Foxglove Master Pattern. It will be a blessing for grandma's ankles. I wonder if she'll like the fit of these socks any more than the others I've knit for her (remember: grandma claims every pair is her favorite).
And while I still have trouble following Ms. Bordhi's "grammar," if you will, I'm starting to feel more positive about the book
I know you can't see anything from that picture - I'm sorry! It's the colorful yarn and the fact that some of those stitches are slipped. I can't wait to use Cat's technique the next time I have to make short rows, and I'll show you more clearly then.
Also noteworthy: the way the heel flap is formed is pretty amazing. It doesn't leave even a hint of a hole anywhere... there just isn't an opportunity to make holes even if you wanted to do so!
Posted by Kathy at 05:41 PM | Comments (26)December 16, 2007
Another blustery day
Another blustery day, another Malabrigo winter accessory.
Just like the neck warmers, this hat was a no-brainer. Brioche stitch in the round using the luscious worsted weight merino Malabrigo. The color is burgundy (#41), and I used a bit more than half a skein to make the hat.
I think that 2 skeins will be perfect for making a hat and neck warmer combo, with enough extra yarn to add a brim or a few more inches to the neck warmer. A gift that's wonderful, seriously quick, and not too harsh on the wallet (I'm just saying).
In some ways, I followed the pattern in Weekend Knitting
Posted by Kathy at 02:23 PM | Comments (40)
December 13, 2007
I just can't stop!
My timing could not have been more perfect. Outside Mother Nature is creating a Winter Wonderland, and inside I've finished a lusciously warm brioche stitch neck warmer.
Not much science to this one: brioche stitch in the round, worked over 64 sts on US 8 needles. If some guidance is necessary, this very pattern is in Weekend Knitting
It's the yarn that makes this project noteworthy - the wonderfully soft and plush Malabrigo worsted merino. This 6.25" high neck warmer used up a bit more than half a skein of the Black Forest colorway (#179).
This is my first time knitting with Malabrigo - can you believe it?!? I've worked with the laceweight merino Malabrigo in the past (not too successfully, I'll add), and at last the worsted weight has found its way onto my needles.
Ahh, it is divine. It will pill like a mofo and become a felted fuzz ball in about 2 days, but for now, it is divine, and feels wonderful against the neck.
Knitting with Malabrigo was entirely pleasurable. In fact, this is the second brioche/Malabrigo neck warmer I've knit - the first is already with my dad - and my third brioche/Malabrigo project is on its way. I just can't stop!
Posted by Kathy at 04:36 PM | Comments (34)
December 10, 2007
About Trinity stitch
Texture dominates Trinity stitch.
In the First Treasury
Trinity, Cluster or Bramble Stitch: This famous pattern is also (erroneously) called Bobble Pattern, and it probably has a few other names as well. It is one of the best of the "knobbly" texture patterns and is often used in panels to help embellish fancy-knit garments like fisherman sweaters.
I've flipped past this particular stitch pattern a dozen times, I'm sure. But never once did I look at it and think, hmm, this would be great for lace. Because... well, look at it! Does it look like lace to you?!? Good thing someone in the 19th century stretched it out, and, voilà! Observe the magic!
As I mentioned, there isn't a single yarnover to be had here.
This shawl is constructed like no other I've knit, or even seen. I found it easier to understand the schematic if I flipped it on its side, such that the cast-on edge was at the bottom.
The triangle is constructed by working upward from the cast-on edge, making the decreases along the hypotenuse (purple), and forming a right angle between the two shorter sides (blue) (I can hear the number of commenters plummeting, hehe).
Now, the garter stitch issue I mentioned earlier. As written, the pattern advises you to make a garter stitch edging along the side of the triangle highlighted in orange. No slipping stitches or anything like that. And when I tried that, I could see that side of the triangle compressing and becoming extremely inflexible. Knowing that this shawl will need to be blocked severely, I decided that I could not have one entire side restricting the stretching of the lace. So after a few inches, I started over and now I slip (pwise, wyif) every first stitch of odd-numbered rows. This is creating a lovely chain of slipped stitches along the working edge, and I think it will be a-okay when time comes to stretch it out ;).
Posted by Kathy at 11:26 PM | Comments (36)
December 05, 2007
Knitters' logic...
... or nonexistence thereof
For such an artistic, creative, hard-working bunch, our "logic" is sometimes baffling.
Let's take a look at a real life example.
A little while ago I got Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters
Logically speaking, I should have set the book aside until I could devote myself entirely to the study of Cat's principles. I know I can understand what she's talking about if I just spend a quiet Saturday afternoon reading through the whole thing, cover to cover. Did I do that? Nope. I continued to leaf through it, oohing and aahing, cursing my lack of time and discipline.
Okay, I know! I'll take the easy way out - just follow one of the pre-calculated patterns! I'm talking about the actual sock patterns, not the sock architectures. After several attempts to read through the book, I came to the conclusion that the patterns are heavily geared towards handpainted and variegated yarns. Great! Well, not really. I don't have any suitable yarn! Pooling bugs me in the "this is out of my control" way, so I simply don't buy variegated yarn! (I know I've said it before: the best way to avoid pooling is to use solid-colored yarn)
Logically speaking, I should have raided my sock yarn stash and swiped something solid or nearly-solid (plenty of that, believe me!), and knit the socks using that. Because, you know, I'm already having a tricky time following the pattern and grandma doesn't care what yarn I use, and wouldn't a Spiraling Coriolis like on page 53, knit out of purple Lorna's Laces (the gauge matches!), be the cutest thing ever? Uhm, no. That would be silly!!!
Actually, seeing the purple Lorna's should have immediately propelled me to my Nancy Bush library, logically speaking. Because those patterns always look so nice in the Lorna's, and I know the nomenclature of Nancy's sock patterns like the back of my hand. But that didn't exactly happen. Nope.
Setting all logic aside, I marched into Woolcott, and bought two skeins of Mirasol Hacho, which is a new-to-me brand. Very lovely yarn: sturdy and squishy at the same time.
This shade I'm using, #302, is juicy, lively, and gorgeous. One thing it's not - my grandma's colors. Basically, it will be okay, but that bright turquoise and hot pink are definitely pushing her boundaries. Not to mention there's more than a small chance of hideous pooling, in which case I hope there won't be an outright rejection.
Hacho is a sportweight yarn with 137 yards in every skein. Logically speaking, I should have gone for a fingering weight yarn. Then the probability of knitting two full-sized socks out of two skeins of yarn would be a near certainty. But with sportweight yarn, it's always a bit of a gamble. Will two skeins of Hacho make two long-ish toe covers, or two actual socks, albeit anklets? Probability of running out of yarn: eh, likely. Woolcott has more, but my "logic" prevented me from buying a third skein at the time of purchase.
In summary, instead of knitting a Nancy Bush pattern using tried and true Lorna's Laces, I'm knitting a pair of socks for my grandma with the following characteristics:
- they are from a pattern I have difficulty following
- stash yarn is as plentiful as ever, but that's not what I'm using
- I'm using variegated yarn, which will probably pool hideously
- in a colorway that will be a stretch (at best) for my grandma
- which is okay, since the yardage probably won't be sufficient for a pair of socks anyway
- all while I have a gazillion of other WIPs
That's knitter's logic for you. I will knit what I want, no matter the likelihood of failure (dammit).
And don't even try to tell me I'm alone in my "logical" thinking and planning!!!
Posted by Kathy at 02:57 PM | Comments (51)December 03, 2007
Moo.
This weekend, instead of working on an ever-growing number of WIPs, I knit a little moo happiness.
Kit: "Born in a Barn" Holstein Cow by Crafty Alien.
Needles: Clover bamboo straights, US 10. The knitting needles and a regular sewing needle were the only things I needed besides the kit.
Finished size: about 4" tall.
Not much of a back story to this one! Saw it on the Woolcott blog, had to have the one with the udder (of course), bought it the next day, and set everything aside to make a little moo cow! Bonus: the thing is small enough to warrant hand-felting, which I enjoy because you get to participate in every stage of the process.
It's adorable! Enjoy its intactness before The Beast gets to it!
Posted by Kathy at 10:04 PM | Comments (62)
