Cute Knitting: July 2008

catching up

After a week of vacation, it seems to take me at least that long to get fully caught up on laundry. Thankfully my clothesline trellis is looking particularly pretty right now and made hanging out the laundry a pleasant task.

With that chore under control, I spent some time with my sewing machine the other day and made a few more simple totes from the flea market Mexican tablecloth and some denim...

In the background is a patchwork market sack I mentioned long ago but never photographed. The Mexican totes will be in the shop, but the patchwork market sack I have greedily claimed as my own :)

This week I have been mostly?

Ingredients
1)Old fabric
2)Sharp scissors
3)Space

Rug making!
Cutting up old duvet covers to make a rug for Monet's room. Free material as they where really fit for the charity shop/bin as they where so old.
But a good use of a pink and white fabric, perfect for a little girls room.
To boobly for the bed, but cut up......... who would know? My 25mm crochet hook will make short work on the rug making front.

vacation album

This was my much-looked-forward-to week at the lake::

...great scenery

...time to read

...lovely shade

...mountain biking

...nature study

...leisurely hikes

...campfires and s'mores

...much too short.

Thanks for all your well-wishes!!!

Block stitch up close

Prudence Mapstones (Karin/Alison version) Block stitch up close and personal!
It takes a lot of yarn, but is a really fun stitch once you get started.
Think that this will possibly be my new favourite edging;-)

Project rags to riches

Rags (This is where I'm at now, part two I scrapped the 1st idea)

To riches (up close huge stitches)

(Above is where I began, part one)
Rags is the part where.......
I am using all my odd, given and charity shop yarns
Riches is the part where........
I'm going to use my Danielle's expensive birthday yarn, the orange fabric yarn that you can see on the joins(edges).
So far so good.

Blankie Mania Workshop

Blankie mania is Sweeping Raverly, well the parts that I have looked, So a Knit lab work shop was needed.

My first square, I can make elaborate dresses but a regular knit and decrease sqauer and I was in need of a helping hand;-0 (Karin)

On 3.5 needles using left over sock yarn if your in the Shelly (Ravelry group)

But I just want to make one using any yarns, always having odds and ends. What I really like is like the juxtaposition of colours that just meet, not thought out. Unlike Mr kaffe fassett, whom I'm not so keen.

To begin
Cast on odd number 31(your choice of size)

Knit 1^st row
2^nd row count 14 slip 2 then knit the next and pull the sliped yarn over this stitch (decreae) that gets the up the middle.

And so on......

Knit next row
Then knit 13, slip two, knit one, yarn over

Repeat
Until 3 stitches remain ,then slip two yarn over tie off

Watch this space, next week I get to join them like patch work. I just need to work on a few squares;-)

Slowly but Surely.....

Guess who came out of its gallon size ziploc bag?

Giselle!

I started this top back in April! And I am just now working on it again. I lost interest for awhile there but the guilt of knowing it's sitting there unfinished drove me into a Giselle-knitting frenzy. So I pulled it out and started working on it again.

I've decided to forgo the long sleeves and leave it cap sleeved the way it is. It will be a better summer top that way and less knitting for me, yay!

To tell the honest truth, I'm not really enjoying this project but I am looking forward to wearing it.

So I must press on.

This week I been mostly (Busy!:-0)

New stitches, this week I have learnt two the first form Ravelry I discovered a new stitch by Prudence Mapstone never seen the stitch before, that was titled Block stitch crochet.
But un-be known to me I thought that there would just be a step by step guide on Ravelry. But unfortunately not, you had to pay.
So next stop google, whist at the same time using the Ravely friend contact to ask Knit lab Karin, did she know?. Google was a no go/show just forums etc etc
Then a visit to knit lab and my attempt from copying the picture that was ok but no where near combined with Karin's book search and expertise and we had it!(well she did;-0)
Next stop Broom stick crochet the picture above, so very pleased as thats been on my list since Christmas to learn......
Two stitches in one week, productive.

Banded, new art/knit project, I began this too, this week.
Progress so far, slow as heavy and hard work tying all the bands but at the same time fun to be crocheting out side the box as they say.
Watch this space for the progress.

Monet and I making Pom Poms for knit labs flags as It pride this weekend. Took me back to my younger years, I had forgotten just how therapeutic it was rolling up little balls of yarn and just mindlessly treading around and around.

Excellent stress buster, especially when you had the kids home for 5 weeks of summer holidays. And with only one week family holiday in that time:-(
All good fun

Rejection

Well... back in May I designed what I thought was a beautiful sock. I submitted it to Knitty.com, and well.... I think you can figure out what happens next....

This is the third time this year that I have had a pattern rejected and frankly I'm starting to think that I should just stick to knitting other peoples patterns than trying to come up with my own.

It is such a pretty sock, I was sure that this was "the one" that was going to make it.

Ahhh.. well....

Amelie

Introducing my new sock pattern... Amelie.

Amelie is a fun, easy to memorize sock pattern that you’ll be sure to enjoy knitting. The ribbed yet lacy stitch creates a nice stretchy fabric that clings nicely to your leg. The lace look is created by simply dropping stitches, which all of us knitters have a little experience with. The pattern is sophisticated and can be dressed up or down depending on which yarn you choose to knit them with.

The awesome thing about this pattern is that it has been written to accommodate three different methods of sock knitting. You can knit up your Amelie socks using double pointed needles, 2 circular needles, or one circular needle (magic loop). This pattern offers a great opportunity to not only try out a new sock knitting technique, but also to understand more how to convert patterns from one technique to the other. Each technique is color coded so it's easy to keep track while you are knitting up this pattern.

Thankyou again to Audrey for taking the beautiful photos for me.

Here is the pattern information for those of you interested in knitting up this pattern:

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Cuff Circumference: 11 inches stretched.

Foot Circumference: 7 inches unstretched

Leg Length: 6 inches (shorter version) 8 inches (longer version)

Foot Length: adjust to fit

MATERIALS

Version A (Burgundy Version): Regia Silk [55% Merino wool, 20% Silk, 25% Polyamide; 219yd/200m per 50g skein]; color: #032, 2 skeins
Version B (Blue Version); color: #053, 2 skeins
Version C (Green Version); color: #070, 2 skeins

DPN Method: #1 set of 5 US #1/2.25mm double pointed needles

2 Circulars Method: #2 24-inch US #1/2.25mm circular needles

Magic Loop method: #1 32-inch US #1/2.25mm circular needle

Regular closed ring stitch markers (2 circular or magic loop method only)

Safety pin or split ring stitch marker

Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

34 sts/52 rows = 4" in Stockinette stitch

I hope you enjoy knitting up your very own pair of Amelie socks!

(This pattern has been updated into a beautiful new pattern layout and format August 2010.)

This week I have been mostly recycling

Base

Thick brown handle, added ribbon the top has now become a bag!

Hurtigs Tuesday knit cafe

Just me tonight!.......alone;-(
It seems every one is away in Stockholm, I put my time to good use and completed my bag. I will need to line it and again I think I will recycle one of my canvas free-bee magazine bags for this, i'll Just cut of the rope handles and stitch it inside.

NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 1 : Introductions

Shownotes:

Me on Ravelry

Pomatomus Pattern

My disaster "on-the-go" socks

Evening Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush

Panda Silk sock yarn

Man's Zip-up Jacket by Rowan

Scarlet Skeiners Group

Subscribe with iTunes or RSS

If you liked Episode one, please be sure to leave a comment!

Thankyou!

knit lab pimms sunday!

I brought some back from England to try..........
As we where chatting one Sunday the regulars members about being such an international knit cafe, many languages spoken and different words for food and drinks from around the world.

As we talked, we joked about theme Sundays.

I thought a Pimms 'O' clock knit Sunday would be fun.
(A Well known strap line form a TV advert in the UK)

I was visiting home and members had heard of the drink, but not tasted.
One Pimms and many stitches may have been dropped, hopefully not:-)

Look out for tequila Sunday, finger knitting/ yarn winding only on that day for sure.

Basque top goes bag!

This was a top I made last year(I think? my memory!) Any way I never really got around to finish it. And if it was finished then sometime I add and other times I take away, that's free form I guess.

I really like the random colour scheme it looks cool!
But as a top I think that the sparkly may be a little scratchy to wear.

My 1st thought was to recycle it and make a lap top bag, but seeing I don't have a lap top....... a little pointless you may say.

So I think that maybe I could recycle and make the existing structure in to a bag, for yet another one of my knit projects;-)

Watch this space.

Twisted German Cast On Variation Video

Please let me know if you can view this video of the cast on I use for two-color/corrugated ribbing. I think I'll call it Twisted German Cast On - Thumb Variation. Sorry it is so dark - I'll do the videos outside in the future.

Twisted German Cast On Variation

I love two-color/corrugated ribbing but it has a tendency to curl and the floats from the second color can peek out below the cast on edge. The Twisted German Cast On is a little thicker than other cast ons which helps with floats showing and best of all it doesn't curl at all. The Twisted German Cast On also is very loose which is handy if you need a really stretchy cast on for socks for wider calves or ankles.

HERE are the great photos I used to learn the Twisted German Cast On.

As you can see from these photos I do it slightly differently using my thumb and left index finger to open up the loop and my right hand for wrapping the yarn around the needle. I recently read on Ravelry that my method is actually called the Maine Cast On but I've analyzed both cast on methods and the results seem the same to me and my method makes a cast on edge that doesn't curl for ribbing. (I also do the long tail cast on with this method using my left thumb for the loop and my right hand to wrap the yarn.)

This cast on is very similar to the long tail cast on. I start with a slip knot on the right needle with a long tail for the first cast on stitch. I wrap the tail end of the yarn around my left thumb, front to back. I use my ring finger and little finger to help tension the yarn.

I insert my left index finger over the outside yarn farthest from me and under the inside yarn closest to me to end up with a large loop as seen below.

I insert the right needle tip under the loop section on the far side of my thumb. This is opposite how I do the long tail cast on - for that I insert the right needle tip under the loop section on the near side of my thumb. I am careful NOT to grab the section of the yarn on the near side of my thumb with the needle.

With my right hand I wrap the yarn from the ball around the needle knitwise and knit one stitch being careful not to let the loop wrap around the needle twice. Then I tighten the loop by pulling the yarn in my left hand (the yarn tail) until the cast on loop is tight enough.

Here's what this cast on looks like up close. It looks like a regular cast on with a row of purl bumps on top.

I'm having trouble uploading my video of this cast on to Blogger but I'll keep trying this week.

taking a breather...

I'll be away from my computer for a bit...

...hope you have a wonderful week, and I'll see you next weekend.

~Deb

Knit news

My Knit Lab exhibition is now ended, watch this space for a new event maybe in Sept. Big thanks to Lenah Wiren at Knit lab and everyone who came too see my work. I feel very lucky.
Thanks again;-)

My good friend Gem was visiting from England and on her tour of Stockholm, an afternoon excursion to knit lab and she was inspired to learn to crochet. That evening with Monet my daughter as a teacher and she was hooked.
Then she was off, one practice sample and straight to a project in Pink Alpaca. Next stop Ravelry;-)

Pretty Pomatomus

Done!!!

These have been off the needles for a day or two now. I really raced through that second sock because I have a few other sock patterns that I desperately want to start.

I'm on a "knee-high sock kick" right now.

This pattern is the most complicated sock that I have knit to date. It isn't HARD, just one of the patterns where you have to pay attention every row. On the second sock, though I had chart A pretty much memorized and only had to look down occasionally to make sure that I was still on track.

My sister-in-law is making these same socks and when she finished her first, we both noticed how funny lookin the toe was. The pattern is written to include this ugly, pointy, squared off toe that really takes away from the beauty of the sock. I worked a standard rounded toe on my pair, and I think that it looks alot better.

This is what I did:

TOE:
Work decreases at stated in pattern until you have 64 stitches total.

Round 1: k all sts.
Round 2: Needle 1- k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts , k2tog, k1
Needle 2- k1, ssk, k to end
Needle 3- k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
(4 sts decreased)

Repeat these last 2 rounds until 32 sts remain. Then work just Round 2 until 12 sts remain. Slip sts from needle 2 onto needle 3, and graft the stitches together using kitchener stitch.

I really am obsessed with how cute handknit socks look with a good pair of Mary Janes. I want to extend my sock wardrobe to have a different color sock for every outfit.