04.29.07
Posted in Crochet, Knitting, Lace Knitting, Music, Photos, Techniques, fashion at 4:04 pm by delipics
I changed my mind about my project for The Knitting for Pleasure class because I was concerned about what I could actually complete within the time frame. I’m aiming for a lacy vest/tank combo - empire waist, ribbon laced at the bustline, good for layering. Bit vague sounding but it’s still in the developmental stage.
I decided on the Chain Stitch from the Mon Tricot Knitting Dictionary. Yes, the same yarn as for my Lace Shawl. I thought about buying more yarn but common sense prevailed and I decided to go with what is already in the stash.
I want to use this pattern for the body and a rib pattern for the bust area. The first time I did the rib, it didn’t line up with the chain stitch. See how it is all the way to the right at the top?
I frogged and and re-knit the rib pattern to line up with the eyelets. I did a practice decrease on one edge so I could envision what a v-neck may look like. Learning how to do all those ssk and K2tog tbl from the Lace Shawl was good practice for figuring this part out. (Does anyone else find this kind of stuff exciting? I figured out which way to do the decrease - on my own - and I was just so pleased!)
I also did that picot bind-off as a possible edging. Not sure if I like it, maybe if I space it out more? The wrong-side of the swatch - hmm, maybe I should do the rib for the body and the chain stitch for the bust area?
I’m also going to sent this off (finally!) to my sis - another Santa Cruz Hat. I really enjoy knitting this pattern. I used up the free Patons SWS soy/wool yarn from The Yarn Harlot event at FIT. It looks a little blobbish here on the ground . . .
. . . so I took a quick pic (actually, not so much quick as acrobatic arm-wise so you don’t see the camera in the mirror) of me wearing it so you can see the pattern stretched out over my head.
End Note:
Bjork wearing this incredible crochet costume designed by the Icelandic Love Corporation, and Bjork wearing a crochet mask here (click on photo on the right to see a larger pdf version).
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04.22.07
Posted in Knitting, Photos, Techniques at 5:29 pm by delipics
The first homework assignment for the Knitting for Pleasure class was two color knitting.
My first design -
Not a bad design, but the translation from graph paper to yarn -
Not quite what I expected - the back is even more disastrous -
I started to lose track of which yarn went where - which row, which section - it’s all over the place.
I realized what went wrong for my first attempt. I was using two yarns of different weights, and the design was too hard for my beginner skills to learn the techniques of weaving, stranding and intarsia. My second attempt went much better -
I took center motif in the first design, expanded it and simplified it, and used yarn of the same weight. This wool has texture to it, which made it easier to handle when crossing the yarns to switch colors and when stranding the yarns in the back.
Completely different.
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04.15.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:39 pm by delipics
I haven’t been able to do much knitting in the past week because my wrist has been really bothering me. I have been wearing an Ace wrist brace and it helps, mostly, but I’m going to see a doctor about it. I know I didn’t hurt it from knitting - that’s the good thing - it became aggravated because of working on the computer (surprise, surprise).
I cast on for a new lace project but I am only on row 15. I knit about two to four rows a night and stop - I don’t want to push it. It’s amazingly frustrating but I try to keep in mind that taking it easy for a couple of weeks in order to keep knitting without future problems is worth it. I have to tell you though - I don’t know what to do with myself in the evenings since I’m not knitting. The first two nights that I couldn’t knit I went to bed early because what else could I do?
I have been leafing through the pages of this. A KB@W brought in her copy to show us the begonia stitch and my knitting group all loved it that we immediately all bought our own copies. (The fastest internet shopping I’ve ever seen!) It has stitch patterns I haven’t seen before and I know it’s going to be an excellent addition to my resource library.
Hrrmph- this wrist has got to be better by Thursday. I’m starting my Knitting for Pleasure class.
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04.09.07
Posted in Lace Knitting, Photos at 2:41 pm by delipics
I finished the lace shawl just in time for Easter. Luckily, I tossed the shawl into my luggage at the last minute - I realized blocking this shawl at my parents’ house was ideal - large carpeted area and no pets. I did a no-fuss block process - fifteen minutes in Soak, spread out on two towels, no pinning at all.
I am so pleased with the final results!
Specs:
- Pattern: From Vogue Knitting Fall 2005 by Deborah Newton
- Yarn: Mystery heather yarn content from J.C. Rennie & Co.
- Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos
- Notes: I knit the main body of the shawl to only 60 inches, intending to knit the border for extra length, but I became extremely frustrated trying to follow the border pattern. I decided on the picot bind-off after much searching for a suitable edging. Even without the border I found the shawl to be long enough for me. The lace pattern for the main body of the shawl is easy to follow, and when I was in the zone, I felt I flew through this section quickly.
Detail photos:
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04.03.07
Posted in Knitting, Lace Knitting, Socks, Sweater(s), Yarn, shopping at 5:24 pm by delipics
I am project-less and it’s a weird, weird feeling. I had devoted myself exclusively to the lace shawl, no other small project waiting in the wings, because I was determined to finish the darn thing it.
This transitional area between projects is an exciting space to be in - looking through knitting and crochet magazines and books, surfing the internet for knitting or crochet patterns, staring at the yarn stash. I have a couple things in mind:
- I am taking a knitting class with a friend and I think I have decided on the project - the cozy v-neck pullover with deep ribbing from Stefanie Japel’s Fitted Knits. I like the classic look, the body-forgiving ribbing, and if I start it now, I will probably have actually finished it in time for sweater weather.
- I want to make another lace project - a shawl? a scarf? a bag? Not sure yet, but I am fascinated by the lace knitting so I want to keep on going.
Here’s the thing - I wanted to stick to the yarn stash. No, really! I think I can find something in the stash for the as-yet-to-be-decided second lace project and even possibly for the socks. But I am going to have to buy yarn for the cozy v-neck. Tomorrow I am going to School Products for a looksie.
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04.02.07
Posted in Lace Knitting, Photos, Yarn, shopping at 3:19 pm by delipics
How to welcome spring on a Saturday afternoon . . .
Freshly baked rhubarb strawberry pudding cake and catching up on the blogs, currently displaying the Yarn Harlot. (You know you have too much yarn when you arrange it artistically to display on your dining table.)
Next, admire your new spring shoes . . .
Yes, I had to buy both!
Then gaze happily at the wonderful gift of Peruvian alpaca yarn from a good friend . . .
Thank you Roxie for finding alpaca yarn even though you only had 15 minutes at the best market in Peru. Mmm, the possibilities of new yarn.
And finally find the right edging for the lace shawl . . .
This is a picot bind-off. I happened to be flipping through my copy of Vintage Knits and the edging on the silk ribbed camisole jumped out at me. I still have to block it but it’s going to be ready to wear just in time for spring.
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