« April 2008 | Main | June 2008 »
May 30, 2008
Gentle intrusion into my knitting
1. A little while ago I saw a post on the Ravelry forums which suggested we share videos of ourselves knitting. I liked this idea right away - I love to observe the different ways in which we knit, to the point of gentle intrusion as I inquire about the way you tension your yarn or balance your needles.
2. At the same time, I've recently received a few e-mails inquiring about tensioning yarns across dpn joins, as it specifically applies to knitting the helical socks. Describing what I do in words has been... frustrating ("You know, I take the top yarn, not the working yarn, pull it to the back of my work, then swing it over the dpn to the front and hold it down with my thumb." Ugh.).
3. We already discussed inserting a heel into the helical tube (short-row and flap), and I already mentioned what to do at the very end when the toe is reached (though I feel this should be second nature if you've followed the helical sock series). So, the only question that remains is that pesky yarn tension across dpns joins.
4. Putting the three thoughts together...
5. Enjoy the weekend!
Posted by Kathy at 05:36 AM | Comments (43)May 27, 2008
Black on black
This is, by far, my favorite shot. Something about the setting sun tinting my hair and the blouse's fabric a soft orange. And finally seeing that black-on-black jacquard woven fabric that's typically impossible to capture. Wouldn't you agree?
Here are a few more:
This Neue Mode blouse pattern (J23071) has awesome bones, as they say. Any blouse with full-fashioned princess seams allows a ton of refinement, even if it doesn't work right "out of the box," so that was the first step to success.
In my case, the majority of refinement came in the form of merging size 38 shoulders and a size 46 bust. Can you see that? (Labeled for clarity, I'm hoping?) You can also see where I took a bust dart, and rotated the fullness it would produce into the princess seam. Fewer darts to sew - always a plus!
One thing I didn't have to modify from the original - the sleeves. Which is a worthwhile thing to mention... Though I think all of you must know this already. Nonetheless, it was a fascinating discovery for me!
As knitters, we are able to get away with all kinds of shortcuts, because knit fabrics are very forgiving. So, when we make a top, we probably realize that the back of our shoulder socket really should get more fabric than the front. (Swing your arm back and forth, and then lift it up and down - where do you think an extra bit of fabric to allow the movement should go - front of shoulder cap, or back?) But as knitters, we just say, "eh, screw it!" and knit the sleeve cap symmetrical across the midline (the infamous "decrease left side of sleeve cap same as right").
Anyway, once we move to sewing and woven cottons, the story is very different. Little swaths of fabric matter, and the better-drafted patterns will have the sleeve caps all kinds of non-symmetrical. Take a look at the blouse you're currently sewing and the sweater you're currently knitting - how do the sleeve cap patterns compare?
May 25, 2008
Black, white, taupe
My ongoing sewing project - a full-fashioned Neue Mode blouse - has the sort of black-on-black patterning that makes me want to gouge out my eyes. But, oh, it's so close! (and after a gazillion pattern mods, it fits so well!)
Black-on-black cotton jacquard fabric, black-on-black mother of pearl buttons.
Steady hands? Hahaha! Did I mention I pipet for a living?!?
Cute blouse and the issue seemed totally fixable - just a little tear that needed to be shoved back into the seam. The damage was not as bad as I expected - I thought it had actually ripped, but instead the gauze had been teased out of the seam.
After I stabilized the frayed edge with a little zigzag, the fabric had no issues being tucked inside.
I had an issue with these summer pants from the very beginning: the drawstring was sewn into place somewhere inside the waistband and the two ends have always been uneven.
I finally opened up the back seam and let loose the string. Then I decided this was only halfway to a real fix, since I don't like drawstrings in the first place and this one in particular did diddly-squat. So I yanked it out and replaced it with elastic. Ah, so much better! Now that I've got elastic in my waistband (and I like it, and there's more to come) I will take my mom's favorite brands/stores much more seriously ;).
Posted by Kathy at 10:33 PM | Comments (17)May 23, 2008
Eye Candy Friday: it's been a while
While riding on the commuter rail, I placed my coat next to me, and the ball of yarn and working needles in the coat's pocket - for ease of knitting. I could not help but notice how well the yellow scarf matched my blue raincoat. And how the whole ensemble could be tied together with my no longer geeky tote.
Scarf: Linked Rib from Knitting New Scarves
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Aran Silky Merino in Sunshine.
Raincoat: Jheri Richards Sueded Polyester Raincoat - short in length, gorgeous blue in color.
Posted by Kathy at 07:44 AM | Comments (16)May 20, 2008
Evening project
Here's a little puzzle for you, if you decide to play along. I will tell you the details of a little project, revealing most of them in documentary-pictorial format, and you tell me at what point you figure out what I'm making!
General
- It took me about 1-2 hours to complete this project.
- It was much more "Home Depot" than "local yarn shop."
- Even though I didn't use any yarn, I could have done so. Contenders: Euroflax linen and Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy. I could have also substituted canvas or burlap.
Ingredients
- Fredrix stretcher strips: 8" and 12" long, 2 of each
- Elmer's wood glue: smallest bottle
- linen-cotton dishtowel from Crate & Barrel: just one
- wire nails with flat heads: 18 gauge, ½" long, 1 oz. package
- simple utility hammer
- small, self-leveling picture hanger
- macro lens
Here's what I did
Behind the fold, please!
So, at what point did you guess what I was making? I bet some of those look familiar... The red ones all the way on the left? (out of focus in these shots, I know) The purple ones in the top row and the black ones all the way at the bottom?
Posted by Kathy at 01:28 AM | Comments (53)May 15, 2008
The one in which turds are beautiful
The New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival was a great place to sample new-to-me indy-dyed yarns. It's unfortunate (but totally understandable) that brick and mortar yarn shops can't possibly carry all the smaller yarn lines. And if they do stock some, the number of available weights and colorways is often limited.
At NH S&W, however, I got to touch and see many new goodies, and speak with the artists firsthand! One booth in particular caught my fancy, so much so that before leaving the festival, I went back and made sure I didn't miss anything! I'm talking about Spirit Trail Fiberworks. The gorgeous colorways, the many different types of yarn, the owner, Jennifer - eager to tell me all about the yarns, but giving me space as I browsed the display - all wonderful. I was very happy.
That particular day the sun was out in full force, the trees were blooming, I was dressed in cheery periwinkle and apple green... but I was itching for something very gloomy and sophisticated as far as yarn was concerned, I don't know why. I bought some totally gloomy-licious wool for my mom (I'll elaborate later), and followed that with a skein of silk for myself.
This skein of Atropos silk in the "special" colorway (yup, that's what it's really called) was all by itself, hanging on a display hook - the last of that batch. I suppose it's mainly chestnut in color, though when I put it against my hair, I can definitely see purple and gray undertones (isn't that a sign of a true artist? when the colorway refuses to be categorized as any one thing?). Wonderfully gloomy. As I saw it there, I could not ignore the resemblance to a little turd. A gorgeous turd of silky goodness, but a turd nonetheless. Maybe this photo is more convincing:
I was a little sad to find out that it was indeed a lone skein, and that if I chose to buy it, I would have to find a creative way to knit up only 500 yards. But then I reminded myself that I actually prefer small scarf-sized scarves, and that I've recently whipped up a few of those using less than 500 yards of yarn each.
Left: Melon scarf from Victorian Lace Today
Middle: Dolphin lace scarf from Victorian Lace Today
Right: Ene's Scarf from Scarf Style
I'm thinking another gorgeous beauty from Victorian Lace Today
May 13, 2008
Understanding sheep
1. While not as endearing as alpaca, and certainly much louder, sheep do possess some charm. For starters, they have very expressive eyes:
Let's have a close-up of those gorgeous eyelashes:
Maybelline, watch out!
2. They sport a variety of coats. This dude is going for a Bob Marley look:
(Note: this photo is a testament to the wonders of Photoshop. Here's the untouched original).
3. And this sheep is aiming for a medium puff afro, à la Jackson 5, 1970s.
Except, well, look at the marbled coloration of the fleece! Hours at the hair salon today, gorgeous handspun tomorrow!
Posted by Kathy at 11:50 AM | Comments (13)May 12, 2008
Understanding alpaca
1. Alpaca have the most delectable schnozzles.
2. Alpacas like to look their very best and spend hours on their elaborate hairdos.
3. Sometimes they insist on heavy-duty fans in their enclosures, to keep their fleeces perfectly fluffed.
4. And like any group of stylish teenage girls, alpaca enjoy crowding together to have their picture taken.
Such camera hams!
5. Naturally, being called a "giraffe-neck" after its haircut never makes an alpaca very happy.
Posted by Kathy at 10:45 AM | Comments (53)
May 09, 2008
The right tools make all the difference
The right tools make all the difference. Yes? I know I've mentioned this before - in my opinion, knitting needles can make or break a project in an instant. Grabby wood needles with a sticky synthetic yarn? Ugh, I'm ready to give up before I even begin! Fine lace knit with implements closer to chopsticks than knitting needles? Not now, not ever!
Many of the projects in Knitting New Scarves
I can't say enough good things about Bryspun dpns for this particular task. They are the perfect combination of smooth and grippy - they'll hold two slippery stitches without budging an inch. They are lightweight - so when you've got five of them balanced in mid-air, you don't feel like you're working out muscles you never knew you had. They are very pleasant to grip, bending ever so slightly to the curve of your hand, and the plastic doesn't make any irritating noises as you (don't) click away.
And saving the best for last, the tips are genius.
Clever little tapers to tackle every tricky situation. Clever, indeed.
Interestingly, the pattern for the Linked Rib scarf calls for six dpns. Try as I might, I've never been able to use more than five at any given time. (Which is good, since Bryspun dpns come in sets of five.) And actually, 80% of the time only 3 or 4 needles are being used. But here's what a 5-needle situation looks like, for curiosity's sake:
This is an actual portion of the pattern, not just something I made up (where the ribbing is established, if you're knitting along). Crazy-looking, eh? But only a few stitches later, I'm down to three needles - two holding the stitches, and one working.
Ah! Much simpler to manipulate.
Posted by Kathy at 03:39 PM | Comments (26)May 08, 2008
At it, again
Working with other scientists has its pluses and minuses, naturally. One of the pluses: scientists' little babies are as cute as anyone else's, AND you can totally geek-ify them!
Yes, I'm at it again! A colleague had a baby girl a few weeks ago, and I could not pass up the opportunity to make her some cute onesies. All the particulars remain the same (Craftster tutorial, Reynolds
Though the older brother of the babe in question did get one recycled design:
The neuron is always a hit, maybe because it's so easily identified.
There are other parents of toddlers in my collective, and I didn't want to leave them out:
The elevator buttons for the little guy who's always pushing them, the pansy for the girly girl, and the last one for the girl who's always fishing with her dad on the weekends.
Posted by Kathy at 05:17 PM | Comments (33)May 05, 2008
With near certainty
In my knitting life, I can say some things with near certainty.
One day I will knit another adult sweater.
One day I will knit another Oat Couture Prairie Blanket, because I didn't at all appreciate the genius of the pattern as a beginner knitter.
One day I will come across another pattern that's more error than instruction.
One day I will use another yarn with improperly set dye. (Want to see something truly, ridiculously scary? Don't tell me I didn't warn you! I photographed that on myself just so you know I didn't "invent" the color in Photoshop :))
One day I will attend my first sheep and wool festival. Scratch that - it's about to happen!
One day I will knit another scarf from Knitting New Scarves
I cast on for the New Wave scarf using Schaefer Yarn's Patty (no longer in production, I believe). I wanted to know if a slinky silk boucle could hold that stiff wavy shape! Answer: yes, it can. Certainly with much less enthusiasm than the recommended Harrisville wool, but the waves were there. My timing was poor, as it ends up, so the scarf never got a proper start (or middle, or finish).
But with near certainty I knew that one day I would return to the book, and knit up another brilliant design contained within.
Today I happily share with you the Linked Rib scarf in progress, which I fully intend to finish, unlike its cousin above. Finishing brought to you by: Sundara Yarn Aran Silky Merino in Sunshine - "Just like chocolate, one bite won't do."
I keep playing with the facets of the fabric. It's like a simple link chain, but not really. It's like a prism, but only in certain cross sections. I know how it's made... I better! I cast on four separate times! Mind you, I frogged the first three attempts not because I had made a mistake, but because I needed to start over in hopes of some day wrapping my mind around the design. I suppose I'm still getting there. Until then, touchy, touchy, touchy!
Posted by Kathy at 08:54 PM | Comments (35)May 03, 2008
Connections
During February and March three project morsels moved across your computer screens - just little bits with no beginning, middle, or end.
Do these look familiar? The purple lace shawl which prompted me to reveal my matchy-matchy tendencies? The Crystal Palace Panda Wool with amazing stitch definition? The playful Classic Elite Alpaca Sox yarn which pooled in the skein, but not in the knit fabric?
I'm very excited to place those knitting morsels into context:
(I did not ask Chrissy for permission to use those photos. I'm very bad. Do not follow my example. Chrissy, please don't kill me!)
Three new Gardiner Yarn Works designs, debuting at TNNA very shortly!
Knitting these samples was absolutely delightful! Let me sing one praise in particular - I am 100% certain that the purple shawl will be the next Swallowtail, Flower Basket, Shetland Triangle, Icarus, Leaf Lace... what have you! The IT triangle shawl worked from the nape of the neck down. (Toe The Line was the pattern's working title, not sure if it's staying...) It's a brilliant one, Chrissy ;).
Posted by Kathy at 07:27 PM | Comments (10)
