July 19, 2007
so freaking excited!
Yesterday I received an invite to ravelry. I have been looking forward to the moment I could join since I heard about this site. Now if you haven't heard of ravelry, let me tell you a little bit. It is a knitting-centric social networking site, but also, so much more. In one place you can keep track of your stash (even marking each ball by location--some of mine read "next to the couch" or "in that one bin under the window"), show off your needle-weilding prowess, share subs and mods to patterns, and keep track of all those other projects you want to make someday. Plus, you can see everybody else's pattern notes, which I think is fantastic. Lets say you, like me, would like to make the Sahara top someday, but also like me you aren't thrilled about the $122 price tag for the prescribed yarn. On ravelry, you can look up the pattern and link directly to the other knitter's who have made it and see what kind of yarn they used (speaking of this pattern, it seems like I saw a silk blend on discount yarn sale the other day that might fit the bill for the body--just grab a skein of the beaded/be-sequined/be-stoned tilli thomas for the edging!). Anyway, I'm thrilled to be included. Hello, knitting + organization = my twin obsessions! If you'd like to socially network with me and you're a raveller too, my username is aimzilla.
In the world of current projects, I should be crocheting ruffles or seaming kid mohair, but since both of these tasks sound AWFUL because I don't crochet and it is over 100 degrees (mohair? heat? bad combo) I've cast on some recycled black ribbon for a picovoli for myself. I'll keep you posted, but only about 7 rows in I think this one might be a loser. Keep your fingers crossed!
Posted by amy at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: knitting, maggie, not so shrunken cardigan, picovoli, ravelry, social networking
May 4, 2007
amy's toe-up sock tutorial
My darling Sarah requested a primer after I mentioned that I had triumphed over the Toe-Up sock. While starting from the toe is BRILLIANT when dealing with possibly Not Enough Yarn, I do have to say that I prefer the cuff-down method. If the fit is off, it is necessary to rip back a LONG way (3+ inches) to fix the situation. Also, I am not familiar with a good elastic bind-off, so the cuff isn't really stretchy enough. I am assuming a familiarity with sock-making, especially with the 2-circs method, and working short rows. In an attempt to give credit, a great deal of this "pattern" is lifted directly from Cookie A.'s Baudelaire toe-up sock. Anyway, here it is:
I used 2 US size 2 circs and some leftover KnitPicks Essential.
Cast on (CO) 16 stitches, divide and join, careful not to twist. Work the following 2 rows until you have 60 stitches (or however many you tend to like for your foot circumference):
Toe:
R1: *M1 (K in front and back of stitch), knit across to last 2 stitches on needle, M1 (K in front and back of stitch), K1*, repeat * * on second needle (1 round)
R2: K all stitches
Instep:
Needle 1 is the top of your foot, Needle 2 is the bottom of your foot. Work pattern on Needle 1 (I did a 2x2 rib), K all stitches on Needle 2. Knit around until the sock measures about 3.5-4.5 inches less than the length of your foot (this is where you have to rip back to if the length is off and you won't know until you have worked the heel turn). I needed to work to about 4.2" less than my foot, but the sock is REALLY stretchy (and I wanted it to be that way).
Gusset:
Continue Needle 1 in pattern as established. Every other row, increase 2 at each end of Needle 2--M1 (K in front and back), K across to last 2 stitches, M1, K1--until there are 30 stitches on Needle 1 and 54 stitches on Needle 2.
Heel Turn:
Needle 1 is now dead to you. You will be knitting short rows back and forth on Needle 2 for the turn:
R1: K48, w&t
R2: P28, w&t
Alternately knit and purl back and forth, working each row 1 stitch shorter (working each w&t next to the previous w&t) until you are on a right side row and you knit 11 stitches between wraps. Make sure to not work the wrapped stitch AGAIN after turning. (On my first sock, somehow I kept ending up with the wrapped stitch on the wrong needle and the stitch count would get horribly off. Irritating!)
Heel Flap:
Still only working on Needle 2, you will be working some decreasing short-rows to get back to 30 stitches. I have to say, I am very impressed with Cookie A. for figuring out this math. I see how it works, but still, the mechanics give me a headache. Anyhoot.
R1: P11, P8 picking up wraps and P2tog stitch and wrap to bulk up holes, on the last wrapped stitch P3tog (the wrap, the wrapped stitch and the first not-wrapped stitch). Turn, but don't wrap!
R2: Sl1, K19, K9 picking up wraps and K2tog stich and wrap to bulk up holes, and on the next stitch (the last wrapped stitch) K3tog (wrap, last wrapped stitch, and first not-wrapped stitch). Turn, but don't wrap!
Work back and forth in stockinette* slipping the first stitch of each row and either P2tog or K2tog the last stitch before the previous turn and the first stitch after the previous turn. Is that clear? Probably not. There will be a gap where you turned the last time you were at that end of the needle. If you are knitting, K2tog across the gap and turn, or if you are purling, P2tog across the gap and turn. Keep working back and forth until there are no more stitches past the gaps (which, obviously, won't be "gaps" anymore, but rather the end of the row) and you have 30 stitches on Needle 2.
*If you like a slip-stitch heel flap, on the knit rows alternately *Sl1, K1* across.
Leg:
Go back to working in the round on both needles, working pattern all the way around the leg, until you nearly run out of yarn. The last inch-ish you can work a cuff if you want. Bind off. (If someone has a good stretchy bind off method, please share!)
Tadum! Toe-up socks!
I am happy to answer questions if any of that is not clear. And if my readers are REALLY lucky, I might insert some pictures someday. I'll have to make another pair of socks using this method and next up for me are a baby blanket for the impending Brawny Swan D. and finally the Maggie sweater from Rowan 31.
Posted by amy at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: Cookie A., knitting, socks, toe-up, tutorial
April 2, 2007
needle wielder, extraordinaire
One week after casting on, my mother's birthday present is finished! Picovili is a super easy pattern that knits up like lightening. I used the picot edging, knitting the hem into the neckline and stitching it down around the bottom and sleeves. I added a few extra waist increases to give a little drape around the midriff and also added about an inch and a half at the bottom. My middle aged Mommy doesn't need to be sporting any crack, yanno? My major modification, however, was to add some little cap sleeves. These did work out just as I suspected, but it took a few attempts before I discerned how many straight stitches to leave across the top of the shoulder to give it a nice rounded shape (answer: twenty). Also, when working short rows and watching Borat on the television, it is a good idea to pay more attention to the short rows than Mr. Cohen. I, um, maybe had to rip back a number of times because I worked the turns at the wrong points. Perhaps. Anyway, the top is cast off and all the ends are woven in. Now I just need to do some blocking magic to try to reduce the dread stockinette roll before wrapping it up for ma mere. I hope she likes it!
(And then before bed last night I stitched up the neck and button bands on Marilyn's Not So Shrunken Sweater. All that is left is teaching myself to crochet so I can apply the ruffles. Obviously this means the next item to make my list of finished projects is the Monkey socks--I've made it about halfway through the instep of sock number one.)
Posted by amy at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: knitting, picovoli, short rows
March 26, 2007
is it really this easy?
I cast on another knitting project this weekend, the Picovoli tee-shirt in Knitpicks Shine. I am super impressed with the yarn--it isn't just passable, it is honestly nice. It is soft and smooth and shows some nice stitch definition, but also creates a nice drapey fabric--just what you want out of a sport weight cotton! The sweater is knitting up very nicely and I think it is going to look lovely on the intended recipient (my mom). However, some gals would rather have a little sleeve, and my mom is one of those gals. As I knit my way through the waist shaping (and I think I'm going to LOVE how the darts end up looking--much nicer than if the shaping was done on the side, methinks) I am scheming how I will attach a little cap sleeve.
Work with me here people, and tell me if you think there is something here that is going to lead to mass distruction, or at least a great deal of ripping. I put the sleeve stitches on some waste yarn, and once I'm done I plan on re-needling them, NOT picking up stitches under the armpit, doing some short-rows for the shoulder, and creating a little flutter cap, not a full sleeve. It will give the impression of sleeve, but it won't end up tight in the armpit nor will it add the warmth commonly found in the armpittal area of the knitted tee. This is important as I am hoping this will be some sporty summer garb for La Mommy. This scheme of mine, however, seems like it is too easy. What am I missing? What disaster is about to befall? I am planning on keeping my waste yarn threaded even after I re-needle the live stitches in case all goes horrifically awry, so I guess even if I have to work it a couple of times it won't be that bad. We're talking about a span of about 50 stitches, or just a couple of hours even if I have to work them two or three times.
Plus, the more I think about it, the more I think they are just going to work out like magic, with the faint hint of a shoulder seam at the short-row turns, and a nice little cup around the upper arm. In case I have never mentioned it, I love short-rows!
Posted by amy at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: knitpicks, knitting, picovoli, short rows
March 22, 2007
putting it all together
I've had a week of emotional upheaval (and also knitted half a sock). I've been sorely disappointed in the character of a friend, tried to help support another friend who is going through a rough time, and been reminded why I am so sad that people of quality keep moving away following a quick visit from an ex-roommate. At least there is the knitting. Each stitch is thoughtful, careful, and full of beauty. Each stitch matters. Each stitch fits with the next making a fabric, strong and true.
I've finished the body of Marilyn's Not So Shrunken Cardigan. It fits perfectly and I love the drape of the yarn. I am feeling unmotivated, however, to knit up the facings and teach myself to crochet ruffles. Instead, I cast on a Monkey sock with some of the Colinette Jitterbug. This is my first pair of socks with truly fancypants yarn, and I have to say it does make a difference. The yarn is soft and smooth and shows each stitch in sharp relief. My fingers are flying and the pattern is easy to memorize, but much more interesting than basic stockinette. While it will probably be awhile before this pair gets finished (I have a birthday present I need to knit up on a deadline), I think this is my favorite project in awhile. Of course, I think I always say that about whatever I'm working on at the current moment.
Posted by amy at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: knitting, knitty, socks, yarn
March 14, 2007
things i learned--the avastish pullover
I recently finished my father's birthday present--a pullover based on the Avast cardigan pattern available in the Fall 2006 issue of Knitty. Before Christmas, I followed the same pattern pretty closely, making the cardigan for my brother (the only major change I made was working the sleeves in the round). While I thought Pop would love having a matching sweater to his son's (even though my brother would not be super hip on the idea, he lives a few states away and can deal), he's not much of a cardigan guy. In fact, I think the only sweaters my father has ever willingly worn have been crew neck, stockinette pullovers--usually in red. Fortunately, the one he's worn the most in recent years is starting to look worn, so knitting him up a replacement wasn't totally insane. I found myself a couple cones of Brown Sheep Company's Lamb's Pride Worsted in the color Spice and cast on.
I stitched up the cable band for the bottom of the sweater, but instead of binding it off as a strip, I picked up stitches on the CO side and worked some Kirchiner grafting magic, creating a loop. From there, I picked up stitches along the side as instructed in the pattern, joined in the round, and knat in circles for ages and miles. At one point I thought about inserting some sort of cable detail on the chest, but after making a few attempts, I decided this was tomfoolery of the sort Pop would never willingly wear, and left it simple, easy peasy stockinette.
The sleeves I made exactly as I did for the first Avast--in the round. For about 10 seconds I thought about creating cable bands like at the waist for the wrist, but decided a) they wouldn't be stretchy enough, and b) the repeats wouldn't work out right for the correct circumference. When the math got too convoluted, I decided to stick with the prescribed cuff (though I didn't sew in the hem--the stockinette roll actually looked pretty awesome). I did something slightly smarter in the sleeve join, but I hope I mentioned that earlier when writing about this sweater because I can't remember what it was anymore.
As I worked my way up, each step seemed obvious--body of sweater equals a big tube. Sleeves equal two smaller tubes attached evenly spaced around the circumference. The shoulder decreases fit my brother just fine and he and Pop are very similarly shaped in the shoulderish area--but I was worried about the neckline from pretty early on. While I assumed that I was not the first person to ever create a bottom-up sweater in the round, I had not done so before. For that matter, I had never made a sweater with any sort of shaped neckline before (Tempting? no neck shaping, and a cardigan is totally different). I wrote a little about this after my first attempt, and by following my own directions, I knocked out the perfect neck on only the third or fourth try! To keep my short-row turns bulked up, I did include some crazy version of M1, K2tog/SSK, wrapping, whatnot. No lacework spotted anywhere by the time it was finished. I also spaced the turns by 3 stitches, I think. 
The neck was finished off with a purl row on the RS and then 5 rows of stockinette on smaller needles--just like the arm cuffs. I didn't sew this hem down either, and honestly it wasn't laziness. I liked the more casual look of the rolled hem. When I was all finished, the thing did require quite a lot of blocking--the spirals of stockinette really wanted to lay sideways and I really had to tug the side-seams into hanging the way they should. I'm not sure if this is typical of all-in-one-piece pullover construction, but I thought I would note. After a dunk in the sink and a day or two pinned to a towel on the floor with a fan softly blowing over the top, it was ready for wear.
Overall I am in love with this pattern. I'm almost tempted to make another one (again a cardigan, with A LOT of additional shaping) for myself. The cabled band gives a very simple sweater a lot of interest and charm, and I love the simple method of construction with the band turned on its side and the body of the sweater picked up along the edge. To a novice knitter, it appears that you have done something incredibly difficult (and I thrive on the ohhing and ahhing of my fans). Now if only I had some pictures of my Pop in his sweater to add to this post, all would be perfect. In the meantime, you'll have to look at his blurry back behind my SIL at lunch in San Francisco.
Posted by amy at 6:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: avast, knitting, knitty, pattern review, shaping
March 7, 2007
i didn't write this in the shower
While I was in the shower this morning I wrote an entire weblog post inside my head. Of course, I can't remember a word of it, or even the theme which I thought I might highlight. Let us assume that shower-induced weblog post was witty, pithy, and wise.
Instead I will write something else to put an end to the slogging around here. Spring has decided to, well, spring on us here in the Treasure Valley, and I am love-love-lovin' it. I rode my bike to work this morning wearing short pants and a jacket and didn't freeze (instead of the long-johns, coat, hat, gloves, etc. I've had to wear on other recent bike-to-work jaunts). Hooray! Good weather always makes me feel like getting off the sofa, and I've been skiing, putting in the hours at the YMCA and planning early-spring backpacking trips. Yes my friends, the Knee of Doom is no longer holding me back. I'm off to have fun, and it better come along with me--kicking and all.
If'n you are local(ish) and would enjoy doing some activities in the outdoors (as varied as an evening stroll through the Liberal Containment Zone to a weekend camping trip), gimme a holla (my new phone works in the house!* or shoot me an email).
And just in case you thought I'd forgotten, I have photos of completed knits to share. These two (my brother and sister-in-law) are sporting their Christmas presents before heading out to dinner with the 'rents in SF a few weeks ago. She's got on Intolerable Cruelty in Knitpicks Merino Style color Storm, and he's showcasing Avast in Brown Sheep Co. Lamb's Pride Worsted color Olive. These are the first clothing knits I'd ever actually completed (Tempting still doesn't have a ribbon), and I'm very proud of myself. Hello, they fit! I'm hoping to someday get those two crazy kids to do an actual photoshoot for me, but until then this will have to suffice. (Also, in the background, Afghan of Love.)
Now if only I would take some other finish projects outside into the sunshine, I could show you that my hours of Not Blogging and sitting on the sofa actually do lead to more than me knowing way too much about pop culture. Yeah, whatever, camera.
*Trust me, you don't want to hear the story about how my REPLACEMENT phone went kaflooey and I had an aneurism and hit up ebay and now all is well in the world.
Posted by amy at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Tags: avast, backpacking, intolerable cruelty, knitting, move your booty, peppermint patty, spring
February 13, 2007
needle news
So. Double knitting. Double knitting is so entirely a huge pain in the ass, mostly because my fingers don't keep track of both strands the way they should, and apparently my knit tension is tighter than my purl. DK in the round? One layer is all knit. One layer is all purl. All whining aside, though, the double knit fabric is a freaking miracle. I am loving the Pirate Queen's Booty Bag pattern--those skulls are standing out in bright pink relief. Though I did up to size 10 needles (instead of 8's), firstly because my gauge on the 8's was pretty tight and I wanted a lofty fabric so it would felt up firm. But mostly it was because I have a set of Addis in a 10 and only the Denise interchangables in an 8. The join on the Denise's is just not quite what it should be. Even with my complaining, I am enjoying the pattern enough to not really be working on any secondary projects.
Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not PLANNING secondary projects. Soon I think I'm going to cast on for a slightly altered Maggie from Rowan 31. I'm thinking I may make it out of a non-fluffy cotton, and a little longer over the torso. I do have to say that buying a pattern from Knit Rowan is a little trickier than you might think. I'm buying a pattern. That will be emailed to me. Via email. First, they tried to get me to pay carriage fees (I think not), and now my order is hanging in some sort of internet limbo. It's a good thing I plan ahead, otherwise this sort of stuff might make my brain explode. Maybe the Brits just hate me. I wonder if their anger could be quelled by someone signing me up for a Rowan membership? I'm just saying, I wouldn't mind.
Posted by amy at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: double-knitting, knitting, maggie, pirate queen's booty bag, rowan
February 5, 2007
picture perfect not pictured
Knitting projects finished recently:
Knitting projects pictured recently:
None.
How boring is a weblog that ends up being a lot about handmade stuff without the pictures? Quite. I'll be up at my cousin's well-lit house towards the end of the week. I'll try to take some decent pictures there. And the 'rents are going to be in SF with the two Avast(ish) sweater's I've made and have dinner with Intolerable Cruelty. I hope they return with some nice shots for me to share.
Posted by amy at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: avast, bobbles & brambles, cross-country chullo, intolerable cruelty, knitting
January 18, 2007
neckline woes
Necklines are tricky. I'm guessing this is old news to most sweater-knitters, but it is just beginning to hit home as I work towards the end of sweater #2--my first non-cardigan. I figured, correctly, that I am not the only person to ever try to do a one-piece in-the-round no-seaming-necessary pullover. The man (my Pops) that I am making this sweater for has a giant noggin, so I need a large top hole and I want a little shaping. So yesterday I did a little googling about and discovered that one great way to create neck shaping in the round is with short rows.
Let me tell you a little something about short rows. Short rows are BRILLIANT and I love them in every possible way. The shapes you can make with a flat fabric are genius. Having some experience with short rows and the brilliance they entail, I sat down last night with yarn and needles to shape myself a neckline. By bedtime it was done, but my plan for tonight? Ripping it out and trying again.
Let me enumerate the ways this neckline went wrong. First, I placed my short-rows one stitch apart which made for a very steep curve. The sweater now has a very fetching scoop neck, but I'm guessing that's way to girly for Pops. Second, I discovered (belatedly) that while the front was too scoopy, the back of the neck was much too high. Because of this I created the third problem, some shorter short rows just over the shoulders. Tacking these on at the last minute messed up my decrease math--leading to somehow unmatched shoulders. I'm really not sure how that happened. Black magic? The most unforgivable problem is the last--a lot of this other stuff could be masked by the neckline finish and some blocking. However, I was doing that fancy wrapping a slipped stitch to supposedly hide a hole created by the short row turn. Let me tell you right now that this was a HORRIBLE mistake. The giant gaps are AWFUL. It looks like I was attempting to create some neckline eyelets. Wrong-o. Lace and tough guy pullovers do not go together. Le duh. On my next attempt, I think I'm going to twist the stitches to attempt to bulk them up a bit to mask those holes, or maybe even M1 at the turn, and K2tog when I get back there in the round. And tug really really tight. Wish me luck.
Here's the plan:
And most importantly:
This better work because the only thing I hate more than seaming is ripping out inches and inches (or HOURS and HOURS) and not dropping any of the stitches. Does anyone have any helpful tips for simplifying the frogging process? Something tells me that with my make-it-up-as-I-go approach to patterning I better get used to ripping stuff out.
(Note to self: Before you rip the thing out, insert a picture of the current neck with the woes pointed out.)
Posted by amy at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: avast, frogging, knitting, shaping, short rows
January 15, 2007
i think i'm so smart
Before I begin, if you are someone that I call Pop and you have decided for the first time ever to actually look at my webpage, please close your eyes and don't read any more of this entry until after February 9. Thank you.
For Christmas I knitted up the Avast sweater for my brother with minimal alterations to the pattern. I made the pieces a little longer than indicated, and I did the sleeves in the round. It turned out very nice and fits really well. As this was the first sweater I've ever completed, I feel pretty much like a knitting rock star. I did discover that my method of joining the sleeves in the round, with a 4-stitch bind off in the armpit was not as clever as one might have hoped. The first few rounds after the join were very persnickity, and finishing the armpit was tricky and ended up looking a little, well, homemade.
I mention these "what I learned" thoughts because I am making a second Avast-ish sweater, a pullover, for my father's birthday. He is definitely not a cardigan guy (even a cool cardigan like this one), and I didn't think my brother would enjoy having totally matching sweaters even if he does live 500 miles away. So I'm going with a pullover in a different color. It'll be great. This weekend I joined the arms (again, stitched in the round) to the body (which I am also doing in the round). Planning for this event, instead of a 4-stitch bind off, I bound off 6 stitches--because 2 stitches makes a huge difference! Let's be realistic. In the grand scheme of a sweater, 2 stitches don't mean squat. For about an inch after the join, things were very tight, but I perservered and started to get a bit worried about neck shaping. Having never actually shaped a neck, especially in the round with raglan shoulders, I've got no idea what I'm doing. I, very belatedly, turned to my trusty Vogue Knitting and discovered all sorts of helpful tips--including the brilliant idea to put armpit stitches on some waste yarn to work at the end, maybe with some sneaky Kirchiner action.
All those super tight rows making me crazy crazy crazy were unnecessary! If only I'd looked up how to do this intelligently I could have refrained from turning the air in my apartment blue! Of course, since I spent a lot of the weekend watching The Sopranos while I was knitting, the air was pretty blue already. I have a question about this, though. If I put a bunch of stitches aside on some waste yarn, would my raglan decreases still work out right? Or would the shoulder-to-armpit length shrink, and a sag be created in the armpital area? I guess this is something I'll have to discover through trial and error, the next time I sort-of make up my own pattern on the fly. Is it wrong that I am seriously considering, out of fear, little-to-no neck shaping? Sometimes sweaters have identical fronts and backs, right?
Just to let y'all know I didn't spend ALL weekend with my hiney ensconced on the sofa, I applied myself to some geekery work I've taken on and had some fun times with my Mammacita yesterday eating the glart, going to the movies, and having the children teach me the wonders of the Wii! I took my Mii bowling*, and kicked those children's asses (even if my two highest scoring frames were actually bowled by the youngest child in residence). Oh! And I was very pleased with my penchant for having multiple project going at once as I could feign pure dedication to my Bobbles & Brambles project when Pop stopped my to work some wizardry on my new washing machine cover counter top!
*Now if only I could erase the Camper Van on repeat in my cranium ...
Posted by amy at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: avast, design, knitting, movies, pattern review, vogue
January 5, 2007
thanks bunches, job o' mine
Every year around the holidays the place I work at gives each of the employees a gift card to the Downtown Boise Association. Although I may be remembering this incorrectly, in the decade I have worked here I have always used this gift card to supplement my meager "Buy Things for Others" holiday budget. This year, by planning ahead, I was able to save my DBA gift card to spend all on myself! With card in hand, I've been looking foward to my next trip to Drop a Stitch.
Yesterday evening I popped in yearning for some Cascade 220 for Bobbles & Brambles, knowing I'd have enough credit left for some fancypants sock yarn. My intention was to discover the magic of the Koigu KPPPM, a favorite of the lovely Ms. Pink and Ms. Tonic (two of my favorite internet celebrities). While kneeling on the floor trying to choose a colorway and listening to my favorite Yarn Pusher discuss a felting project with another visiting fiber addict, my eye kept flickering to a non-Koigu shelf. After lots of fingering and thinking and fingering some more I ended up with some Fire to get a sock Monkey off my back!
Even more exciting? With my semi-planned purchases waiting on the counter I knew I still had a few dollars to spend. I wandered the store high and low, looking for one more hank. I thought about finding something to pair with my Boxing Day mohair for the Mrs. Beeton's, or maybe a bit of angora for Fetching, and I looked wistfully at a hank of ($50!!!) Pashmina, but nothing begged to come home with me (well, except the Pashmina that I can't afford). When I was nearly ready to just head out and come back later, I happened to glance at the gorgeous Manos del Uruguay right across from the counter. See the colorway I chose? I'm thinking I'll turn it into another Calorimetry with a matching scarf of some sort. Though at only 132 yards it might be a really short scarf!
I've been having way too much fun planning new projects but I promise I'll start writing some entries about finished projects, or even (the horror!) non-knitting topics, in the nearish future.
Posted by amy at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: bobbles & brambles, calorimetry, knitting, socks, yarn
January 3, 2007
k2, p2, turn, sl1, p1, k2, pm, p2 ...
I am having too much fun with needles these days. Last night I stayed up well past my senior citizenish bedtime to work on Calorimetry, a project I cast on for yesterday around 7 pm. Just what I needed--another project! For reasons outside my control I had to pause on my primary project, and found a verigated worsted weight wool (blend?) in my coffee table. Obviously I had to turn it into a heat-keeping headband. This was especially necessary since I finished another new hat just a weekish ago. Geez.
I arrived about 15 minutes early to work, and instead of turning on the computers and getting down to it, I worked a couple of rows until an early patron interrupted me. Oh! While I was knitting I FINALLY remembered to make an 8-5 EST phone call to cancel an extraneous expense that is automatically charged to my debit card each quarter. Go me! Bashing budget busters and knocking out projects like they're going out of style! Wait. None of this stuff I am making is going out of style for reals, right?
Anyway, back to the pattern. Since I am almost finished, I will share my review:
To attain gauge I had to drop a couple needle sizes, and I also added a couple repeats of the short rows to make it a little wider. It is possible that the apparent narrowness was a result of my needle substitution. This is a fun and adaptable pattern that any skill-level knitter could whip up in a flash, and an easy way to learn the magic of the short row. I'll definitely be making more of these!
Posted by amy at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: calorimetry, knitting, knitty
December 28, 2006
adding to the list
Before I really get going here, I need to mention something important: I'm real sorry I have lost my camera cord, as there are tons of pictures I want to share with you all regarding The Knitting that has already been completed. Until I find the cord (or borrow my mom's since she has the same camera), too bad for you.
Okay, moving on from that very important update. Last night while running a load of laundry (!) I cooked up two excellent ideas. One, I solved the problem of what emblem I should place in the upper center of my newest Top Secret Knitting Project (details to follow after the thing has been gifted). And two, for Boxing Day my darling Mammacita bestowed on me a couple skeins of sexy hot pink mohair. While she intended it (quite perfectly) for the Mrs. Beeton's I've been talking about making, I think I might use it for something entirely different.
Here is the thing. My bedroom? Is very blah. My bedding is all white. The walls are white. The curtains covering the closet are white. The icky rental-apartment shades are off-white. The lampshades on my bedside lamps are white (with a tiny pale pink trim). The only bit of color comes from the INCREDIBLY AWESOME quilt my mother made for me which hangs on the wall. While it is colorful and busy, it isn't enough to balance out all that white. At the same time, it is busy enough that adding any other pattern is too much. What to add? How to do it in a colorful, but complimentary way? Well, how about some lacy, let-the-light-in-but-block-the-view, hot pink, mohair curtains? I don't see why not!
I haven't done much lace knitting, so I am asking for some input. I want the lace to have LOTS of holes. Should I do this with pretty large needles, or should I stick to the yarn recommendation of US size 6-8? I do not want the fabric to be at all dense--I'm thinking light and airy. If I ever need to totally block the view, I can pull the ugly blinds behind the lace. Obviously I will be consulting Barbara Walker for a pattern (I spotted a couple I liked last night, especially paired with one of those beautiful edges). If anyone has taken on a similar project, what words of wisdom do you have to share? I am talking mohair here, so I hope to not have to repeatedly rip it out and lose the halo!
(Can you tell I am also fishing to find out if anyone outside my immediate circle reads this here weblog? Hee.)
Posted by amy at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: comment whoring, curtains, knitting, krafty, yarn
December 22, 2006
my name is amy, and i'm a yarnaholic.
Seriously people, I think I have a problem. I currently have three (or is it four?) knitting projects going right now. I have a gift certificate to use at Drop a Stitch, which I will probably use to purchase wool for Bobbles & Brambles and maybe a new set of Addis or a couple of skeins for Mrs. Beeton! Plenty to work on, plenty of new fibers to finger and dream about. Yet I am noticing that Webs has the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed on sale. I'm not sure if you know this or not, but Knit and Tonic has a sweater pattern I am very interested in making written for this yarn. Three days before Christmas do I really need to spend the cash? No. But who knows how long the sale will last! And what about the yarn for poor Maggie?
My name is Amy, and I'm a yarnaholic. I must be stopped!
Posted by amy at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)
Tags: felting, knitting, not so shrunken cardigan, yarn
December 20, 2006
may i just mention
May I just mention one more thing about yarn? To fill in some gift-gaps, I whipped up a bunch of those ball-band washrags that have taken over the universe. In this process I learned there is a huge difference in kitchen cotton quality! I had some from each of the following: creame 'n' sugar, peaches 'n' creame, lion brand, and rowan. The lion brand? Skip it. It is very rough and scratchy. I guess if you were making dishclothes for someone who tends to burn, this would be a good choice, but overall? Ick. The creame 'n' sugar was fine, but not nearly as soft as the peaches 'n' creame. If only p'n'c was easily available locally--for someone who shops as much as I do on the internet, I really hate paying shipping. And then there is the Rowan. I almost feel guilty for making it into something that will be used as much and as roughly as these washclothes. Man alive, that stuff is ni-ice, and not even just because I know I spent at least 2x as much for each ball. With one touch it is obvious it isn't really meant for the kitchen.
Posted by amy at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: christmas, gifts, kitchen cotton, knitting, mason-dixon, yarn
oops.
Has it really been a month (or more!) since I posted anything here? Apparently so. This type of not realizing just how long it has been since I did something has been happening a lot. So here are my excuses:
1. My job has been busy with end-of-the-year stuff that must get done by, well, the end of the year so the datestamps on stuff in my databases don't mess up my statistics. This precludes me from engaging in a great deal of at-work internetting.
2. Outside of work, my brain is about 98% taken over by knitting projects--remembering knitting projects, planning new knitting projects, thinking about details regarding current knitting projects--I am obsessed with fiber. While I want nothing more than to post about all of the wonderful knitting I've been up to, most of it is holiday related and you'll just have to wait until after Christmas. Hopefully by then I find the cord to my camera so I can share pictures along with my thoughts. For now, the camera won't give up it's pixels!
Finally, the Christmas knitting is now completed. I wove in the last sneaky little ends last night. What did I do to celebrate? Give myself a manicure to soothe those wool-chapped hands? Never. I started on a Flowers on the Grave cloche (I made it to the top decreases--hopefully I'll get to the fulling part tonight!) and daydreamed about skeins and skeins of Kid Silk Haze for the Maggie I'd like to make myself. Of course, I can't think about spending nearly $100 in yarn for a wee sweater until I am a) rich, and b) done with a special birthday sweater and my red scarf.
Posted by amy at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: avast, christmas, gifts, intolerable cruelty, knitting
October 6, 2006
katsup
I've obviously been much to busy to keep the internetosphere updated on the life of me, so here goes. Obviously, the most important is the knitting. I am currently engaged in a number of Top Secret projects that I am bursting all over the place to talk about. But alas, that discussion is not going to happen on this weblog until after the holidays. Don't fret! I am photodocumenting my progress.
In knitting news that I can talk about, last night I attended the Boise Bitch and Stitch downtown at Thomas Hammer. The group is full of fun and welcoming people, and of many skill levels. Enough of them can be totally awed by my knitting prowess to make me feel, well, full of prow (whatever that means). However, I bet if I get stuck in a knitting crisis I can't find my way out of someone there might be able to point my needles in the right direction. While I think they are mostly quite a bit younger than me, that's never been a deterrent before. I'm planning on going back next week.
In the world of geekery, earlier in the week, I upgraded my MT to the new fancypants 3.33. Not everything is working quite exactly right just yet, but give me time. I will triumph. (Though getting Media Manager installed again is giving me FITS. My consumption pages are totally broken for the time being. Harumpf.) I primarily embarked on this endeavor because the librarian in me loves TAGGING, and the tags don't work. Dork much?
And lastly, but definitely not leastly, I am very much looking forward to a real vacation! At the end of the month I'm headed to The Grand Canyon for a week. Lots of time for knee-busting hiking balanced by knit-knit-knitting my way down highway 89 (we're going the longer but prettier way), and a couplea Dam Tours with my Pops. Who doesn't love a good Dam Tour? Other than my Mom? While I do realize that most 30-somethings don't vacation with their parents, I have a couple things to say. Firstly, I really like my parents. Second, a vacation that is free (or close to it), frees up my cash for MORE vacations. And third and lastly, even though I took that little mini-break a couple weeks ago, I'm still wound pretty tight. A big break AWAY is going to be nice. Plus one of the Wonders of the World? Good for putting things in perspective.
Posted by amy at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Tags: 'rents, dam tours, geekery, grand canyon, hiking, knitting, krafty, mt, s'n'b, travel
May 31, 2006
afghan of love
For the last six months I have been working on a massive knitting project. See, my little brother is getting married on Saturday and he and his future wife (!) are big on personalized gifts. Plus, I'm me. I didn't want to shop off no stinking registry. Instead I made them a highly personalized wool afghan that should last as long as their marriage (and I'm betting on that whole "till death do us part thing" so I mean forever). Not only did I want to give them something that would remember as really super special, I wanted to make something that was really super special to me. I started with the idea of a blanket my Grammy Jane made for my parents (and my aunt and uncle, and her sister, and her best friends) many years ago. I have loved this blanket since childhood, and I know my brother has too. I didn't want to make something identical, but definitely something inspired by Grammy's beautiful afghans. I started by using a different color and weight of yarn. Grammy's are cream colored, and I think made out of a worsted weight wool. Mine is a rusty orange--the newlyweds are big fans of all things orange--and a bulky weight yarn. Not only did this knit up superfast (larger needles=less stitches) but it gave the afghan a more rustic and earthy feel, which is totally right for it's intended recipients.
The blanket is constructed in seven panels, each of which has an equal number of rows, and a two-stich garter boarder. 
The boarders make for matching up the panels for seaming a fairly easy task, which is a good thing. There is nothing I despise more than finish work on a knitting project that is knitted but essentially not done. [Aside: my first ever knitting project, a sampler afghan, has never been pieced together and just takes up space in a storage box.] Four of the panels are identical--the garter boarder and a horsehoe cable running up the center on a reverse stockinette background.
The other three panels are similar, but not identical (though I made a mistake on one of them--don't tell Jon & Alicia!). They all have the garter boarder and an additional border of bobbles spaced every six rows running up each side. The middle section of each panel are seed stitch diamonds atop a stockinette backdrop. Two of them have offset half diamonds, creating a stockinette zig-zag up the center. These two panels should be mirror images with the offset pieces reversed on the two panels so the zig-zag points toward the center (the panels are placed one on each side). I made them identical, but I don't think anyone will mind. The center panel has a full seed-stich diamond running up the center and half-diamonds on either side, with zig-zags running in-between. Basically, it is the other two similar panels squeezed together without the borders (duh).
I started work on this on Christmas day (as soon as the holiday knitting was completed), and finished the knitting portion of the process in late March or early April. 
Next up was to block all of the pieces to size and get them stitched together. At the time, I was living in a TINY apartment and had no space for blocking. I had also been asked by my landlord to leave because she wanted to sell my house. Amidst trying to find a place to live and packing up my life, I did the blocking at my parents house. For about a month I took up some rarely used floor space in their guest room. With the aid of a giant t-square I masking-taped out a 6' x 6" rectangle on the narrow strip of floor between the bed and the wall. One at a time I wetted and pinned out the four identical strips. Each of them rested for a week on the floor, in part because the process took about an hour I was able to eek out only on weekends, and in part because that's how long they took to completely dry. I moved into my new (much larger) apartment at the beginning of May, and as soon as I found the floor in my office/sewing/craft/guest room, I taped out three more boxes, two 6' x 1' and one 6' x about 21" and got the last three pieces pinned down. Even with a fan blowing on them (gently, my friends, gently) they took a little over a week to completely dry. Finally I had all the sections ready to piece together! On May 21st. The afghan's ride to California (the newlyweds live in San Francisco) was leaving early on the morning of May 28th.
I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but seaming always takes much longer than you expect it to. I spent every extra moment I could find (and many I wish I had spent sleeping) of last week seaming what I took to calling "the damn blanket" together. Now that I have had a nap, I'm happy with it again. Last week? I wanted it to die. 
Saturday morning I wove in the last yarn-end and wrote some care instructions on the back of one of the skein's label. Last night it was delivered to Jon & Alicia's home. Hopefully my Pop got a picture of their faces when they opened up the wrapping. It makes me really happy to know that our family's tradition of beautiful handknits will carry on to a new generation of young marrieds, and I'm also happy to know that Jonathan and Alicia will have a little piece of me to keep them warm.
(Click here for more photos on my flickr.)
