October 30, 2006
The Mystery Of Socks
::Pretend there is a charming picture of the beginning of Erin’s Cuff down blue, orange, and pink striped socks here::
I never really look forward to casting on for a pair of socks, but after the initial annoying cast on, division of stitches and akward first row I’m hooked. Watching stripes, colors, or patterns emerge is exciting and keeps me knitting stitch after stitch, more for the process than the actual finished project. What is that all about anyway?
After 3 failed attempts at doing Erin’s socks toe up I’ve cast on for them cuff down. I’m quite bummed about the toe up situation. Does anyone know a good tutorial for short rows or how to actually wrap a stitch correctly? Because that’s all I can figure I’m doing wrong. The correct side of my knitting/ short rows always look nice. My purl sides? Not so much.
Advice anyone?
October 28, 2006
Well, I’ve gotten POed at blogger one too many times now. The final straw was this morning when it was telling me there were errors uploading a post. I asked for more details and it gave me yet another generic response, “Connection refused.” WELL NO SHIT BLOGGER. Thanks so much for the insight. So here we are. Update your bookmarks.
October 22, 2006
Finished Object Grey Cardigan
It is done. I will get a better picture and add it to this post this week sometime. Until then… here is the same picture from right below. 
Here are the stats. What: Grey Raglan Cardigan from Ann Bud’s Book of Sweater Patterns. I thoroughly enjoy this book. And am certain I’ll use it again. It has EVERY size you can imagine in it. I do wish it had shaping included in the patterns, but I’ll just have to get brave and try my own shaping on the next one. Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Finished: Saturday, October 21, 2006 Yarn: Cascade 220- a little more than 5 skeins. I really like this yarn and can’t wait to use it again. It is VERY VERY warm. Slightly scratchy next to the skin, but not intolerable. Needles: size 7 addis- 24″ & size 7 bamboo DPNs for sleeves. Lesson: It is my first completed garmet. I see that my finishing skills need practice, but am quite satisfied being as it’s my first one. I even wore the sweater all day yesterday and I’m certain that I will wear it often. That, to me, is considered a success. The amount of satisfaction I had when I held it up after it’s full completion was absolutely overwhelming. I think I have turned into a garmet knitter. Recipient: Me. Knitting Time: 23 hours 5 minutes Pattern Changes: I changed the sleeves. There is no increasing, as I like my sleeves to either be belled or straight. My shoulders are not very big so I didn’t want it pooching. Well, what do you think?
October 21, 2006
Rinebeck & Sleeves
The sleeves for the hourglass sweater are coming right along. I am just above the elbows. I can’t wait to see what this yarn looks like after a good blocking. It’s a bit wrinkled (for lack of a better word) right now.
I have been completely ignoring my 2nd October goal of starting on Erin’s Knee High socks. I’ve certainly been thinking about them though. I’d love to knit them both at the same time on two circs, but am thinking that with the amount of yarn I need vs what I have that I should really knit them toe up. I’ve never done that either. So we’re looking at two new methods. That’s a little intimidating to me. So I picked up two sets of size 2 DPNs and I think I’ll use MJ’s method of knitting them at the same time. Toe up. I need to start those this weekend while the little guy is at his dad’s. So hopefully I’ll have progress to show you later besides the same pink sweater! 🙂
Everyone going to Rhinebeck: Have SOOO much fun. Buy lots of yarn, take lots of pictures. Even though I’ve never gone I have such a great time reading about everyone elses adventures there. It’s some of my favorite blog reading.
I need to find a local knitter who will travel with me next year! 🙂 Maybe I should start going to knit at nights at the lys. At least until school begins next semester and my time is not my own.
Have a great weekend everyone.
October 19, 2006
Hourglass & Roxy
Progress on Hourglass:
Sleeves are coming right along. Trying to do both of them at the same time so that when they’re done, they’re done.
The raglan cardi has two new botton bands and a collar. All that’s left to do is attach the bottons and sew the arm pits. I hope to debut it Monday at work. 🙂
Does this look comfortable to you?
October 18, 2006
Home Sweet Home Shawl
The shawl has been blocked and the ends have been woven in.
Here is the completed shawl before blocking:
And after blocking:
It still amazes me what blocking does for knitting. Especially lace. This home sweet home shawl is especially meaningful to me. It’s sitting in my new home. The home I had waited a long time for. The home that is truly mine.
Anyway, here are the stats:
What: Home Sweet Home Shawl
Started: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Finished: Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Yarn: Sock Memories in fly fishing. 5.5 skeins; I really like this yarn and can’t wait to use it again.
Needles: size 5 clover bamboo
Lesson: First sucessful lace project. YAY!!! I’m ready to try lace weight yarn again. I really got a lot of fundementals down with knitting this lace project.
Recipient: Mine. All Mine.
Knitting Time: 35 Hours and 54 minutes. So roughly 36 hours.
Pattern Changes. I did 28 repeates instead of 35 as written. I’m tiny. It didn’t need to be as long as it was written for.
October 14, 2006
I Love Being Wrong
How beautiful is this?
It sewed up beautifully. I made it up to the yoke, so before I couldstart the sleeves I needed to find out what I was doing. turning the hem seemed like an impossibility but I tried it anyway. It hangs beautifully.
Also some news on my raglan cardi.
I managed to finish both of the button bands.
Then to my absolute horror I realized I had miscounted and the 2nd and 3rd button were 3 stitches too close together! RIIPPPP…
The side with the button holes took me 1 hour to knit. The plain side took me 45 minutes. I have only ripped out the side with the button holes, but I think I’m going to redo both sides. I think I needed to pick up two more stitches than I did. One at the top and one at the bottom.
I also started Jenny’s Baby’s blanket.
October 3, 2006
Secret Pal Questionaire
It’s secret pal 9 time. I’ve signed up and am PSYCHED about finding out who I’ll be spoiling! 🙂 Here are my answers. Please let me know, dear secret pal, if you’d like to know anything else.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I LOVE WOOL! wool/cotton blends are also nice. I don’t do red heart acrylic. Ever.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My DPNs are stored in a pencil box. My circulars are stored here:
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit in childhood. Young childhood. I put it down. Pick it up for a while when I was 16. Put it back down again. Picked it up December of 2004. Unfortunately life got away from me for a bit this summer… but I’m back 🙂
I’d consider myself an intermediate knitter.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
If I want a book I buy it.
5. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I don’t do vanilla and I don’t do food flavored stuff. I like fresh scents like peppermint, melon, linens, etc.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Chocolate. I like English toffee and chocolate, shortbread.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Cross Stitch. I’ve tried my hand at spinning. I have tons of unspun fiber though… I doubt I need anymore.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have an Ipod. I love almost all kinds of music.
9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
Blues and Browns. I don’t like red much. I love neutral colors and I feel like I need some pink in my stash.
10. What is your family situation?
My son, dog and I live together in a little, homy 2 bedroom apartment complete with a beautiful fireplace.
Do you have any pets?
Dog. Roxy.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Scarves, hats, mittens, Yup! Ponchos, no. I’m dieing for a pair of fair isle mittens.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don’t have a favorite. Whatever I feel like knitting. 🙂
13. What are you knitting right now?
Right now I have socks, a shawl, 2 cardigans, and clapotis on the needles.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course. I’ve always wanted a hand knit gift, because I’d know how much time and effort and love went into making it. Especially a lace shawl or something fair isled. It’d be well loved.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circulars. Addis or Clover Bamboo are my favorite/preferred needles.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Clapotis. March 2005.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
CHRISTMAS!!!
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn. My son collects hotwheels… I find myself checking them out for cool ones that he might not have.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any subscriptions. I don’t really cheat myself when it comes to knitting. If I have the money I spend it. I do want to expand my selection of addi needles. And I’m kind of interested in trying the knit pick needles.
21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
Fair isle.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
YES! from heel to toe= 9.5″; around the ankle= 8″– I’m quite picky about the toes on socks. I’ve made several pair with the “decrease every other row” toes. But they’re too pointy and they annoy the crap out of me. I like to decrease my toes ever single row so that they’re flatter across the front.
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
May 26.
**As a side note… I love love love Knitpicks. I think their yarns are beautiful for such a fantastic price.
***As a 2nd side note… I am dieing to one day make the Irish Diamond Shawl from Folk Shawls. Seen here. and here. (In this link it’s the green one… first shawl shown. and oh yeah, here. It takes A LOT of yarn. 2,200 yards at a gauge of 16 stitches and 24 rows= 4″. Of course, I am a VERY petite person, so getting gauge wouldn’t be essential… I could certainly use a SMALLER one and be just fine.
Melanie Knits 