Something on the needles . . .
Tag: Knitting
F.O.
I’ve been knitting in between playing with three different – no, four different – cameras. I’ve got some mitts I’m working on for Josh, a shawl out of Noro, and I just finished the Flip Flop Socks in Paton’s Socks in the City booklet.
These toe socks were not really hard to do, but I think that the instructions were rather peculiar. The yarn colors are also odd, making me think of the colors of rayon dresses of the 30s and 40s, but these odd colors I find quite appealing. Out of all the stripes that Paton’s has in this series of sock yarn, I really like this one the best. It is called “Summer Moss Jacquard” and about 2/3 of two balls are used altogether.
One of the criticisms I have about the pattern is that they measure the foot length from where the heel is turned, and where the gusset joins. I just measured my usual 7.5 inches before beginning the toe. Another criticism is that the little toes are only an inch long – if I were to have followed those instructions, I would not be happy. They should say something to the effect of “knit until 1/4 inch shy of length of second toe, then begin decreases.” Something like that. And the big toe needs to be custom fit as well. There are other oddities in the pattern as well, which I ignored, and met with success anyhow.
This yarn seems to want to pill a bit, but it could just be that I need to wash them so that any little fuzzies can go bye-bye. I’ve never had any complaints about Kroy sock yarn – it is a workhorse of a yarn and very reasonably priced. These days it seems that solid colors are hard to come by, whereas about ten years ago, patterned yarn was far more of a challenge. Obviously, fads come and go.
Self-striping yarn is always fun to work with – it keeps me visually entertained during plain knitting. What will the next round bring? However, self-striping yarn is not something to use with cables or lace, unless you want to get specific effects. For instance, Mini Mochi is a self-striping yarn, but the stripes are miles apart, so lace or cables can be seen, and not lost in the pattern of the color. If you use narrower striped yarn, patterns which create ripples can be fun, as then the lines of color undulate.
These socks, despite pattern issues, were really a lot of fun, and an easy, quick knit. Below are my own socks! Not as elegantly photographed, but still pretty good . . .
Lampshades and Buttonholes
What do these have in common? Both are useful, both are usually ugly.
Given this, these past few days I have been on the quest for a good buttonhole. I’ve found that the classic eyelet buttonhole is by far the easiest, and attractive. Unfortunately it is not going to gracefully accommodate a large button if you are using fine yarn.
I have tried a number of them, and none have pleased me, though some have intrigued me. The best one, beyond the eyelet, is the “Two Lip” or “Tulip” buttonhole by TechKnitter, a genius in the ranks of the knitting world. It is a bit of work, but I think I can get it. It was featured in the Summer 2010 issue of Interweave Knits, and it is presented here by Eunny Jang.
In trying out a number of buttonholes, it becomes pretty obvious what their major failing is: to complete the buttonhole, you turn your work, creating one extra row of new stitches, over which you then work another row. The result is lumps and holes, and uneven stitches. Very, very ugly.
This does not occur with the eyelet, nor the Tulips buttonhole. The eyelet is straightforward – k2tog, yo – and continue on your merry way. The Tulips buttonhole requires some wraps, unwraps, fiddling with a crochet hook and a double-pointed needle, but it works. The upper part of the buttonhole is continued in the same direction as you are originally knitting, adding the stitches by doing a yarn over and making a loop with the crochet hook. Kind of messy to do initially, but it will get graceful later on.
In sewing, I hated buttonholes so much I would make loops for everything. I have only made eyelets for sweaters because everything else was so dreadful. As I am designing a sweater for Josh, an eyelet buttonhole will not accommodate a button an inch in diameter. Necessity forced me into the search – I’ve ripped the sweater out twice now! – and I hope that I will get it down. Meanwhile, I plan to practice, practice, practice!
Out Looking Around
Being in vacation mode means – being in vacation mode! But as my last week begins, the organizational part of me returns. This means a return to patterns of daily living, such as coffee set up the night before, getting up at 5:30-6:00, and following the morning routines of reading the news, blogs I enjoy, and perusing the patterns on Ravelry, and what everyone is knitting. And this brought me to the current issue of Twist Collective, for which I had considered sending in a pattern or two. Well, I never got around to that! However, this morning I sat down and went through the current edition, and was really impressed by a lot of what was on it.
Latvian cast-on? That possibility caught my eye on this hat with knit-purl-cable patterns that are very pretty in all their combinations. This is the Crown of Leaves hat by Faina Goberstein.
A lot of sweaters caught my eye, too. Mostly they are traditional patterns – I don’t do innovative well – that are on the tailored side. Wellfleet by Cecily Glowik MacDonald presents with a tidy appearance in a very unconservative and cheery color.
Continuing on a traditional note with innovative design is Hallett’s Ledge by Elinor Brown. It is easy to see why this is a popular sweater on Ravelry – design and construction! And the name – where did that come from?
Finally, there is Acorns by Carol Sunday. The entire design of the sweater is very attractive. It is knit from the top down, in one piece. The name of the sweater got my initial attention – I really love oak trees – but then the sweater itself showed its appeal.
A part of me wants to order these patterns and get to work! Self-control must step in, but this post certainly will remind me what got my eye! (I still have other projects to work on . . . ) And this is not to say there are not a lot of other wonderful patterns on Twist Collective – there are far too many. This season’s issue is, in my opinion, one of the best. But then, I say that about most of their issues.
Knitting Projects, a Video, and a Read
Admittedly, most of this past week I have not picked up my knitting. It’s been rather a busy week with both of us on vacation. There are also relatives in town, friends to visit, and calligraphy to do and novels to read. And exercise, and planning meals, and trying to have a life for a bit! However, I barricaded myself in what was / is my studio (my brother is sleeping in it for now), and closed the door. No one in the same room, but I do hear the clatter of dishes or whatever. It’s so nice to just be alone! Or, a lawn, in the words of Ms. Garbo.
The major projects at present are sweaters for a friend’s twin grandsons, born about 2 weeks ago. These sweaters are for 6-12 month olds in size, so a bit of a wait won’t harm them any.
This sweater is a kimono sweater. The design is not original. I’m not too sure I like it – I think the ribbing is a bit funky, but the yarn is a nice color combo, and it is wash-n-wear. (In other words, acrylic!)
Now this sweater is one of my own design, the pattern which I hope to publish once done. I liked doing this one much more than the kimono, but will admit I am getting tired of it. That long blue blob under the needles is a hood, which, if my neat side plays out, will be grafted – something I really, really hate!
Finally, the SO has another hat. This is the Xenocryst hat, by Linda Shelhamer, in the Fall 2010 issue of Knitscene.
I misread the pattern and put only one purl stitch between the patterns, but it worked out just fine. The cast on was perfect, too, as it really is stretchy. You can find out how to do it by watching this video with Nancy Bush.
In fact, I liked this cast on so much, I started a hat using it and cables and bobbles.
Finally, I am reading another book about Chinese calligraphy. This one is a bit different from many as it goes into some interesting details and makes interesting comparisons to Western art. I’m up to page 70 with a lot more to read.
Nadja van Ghelue has it on her recommended list of books about calligraphy. Just by happenstance I found it at our local library, before knowing of her recommendation. It is quite fascinating because of the way in which Chinese calligraphy is presented, and admittedly, it is holding my interest even though I often find books like this to be more than I can handle – I just look at the pictures! – as I am not especially scholarly in my preferred reading! (I like spy novels, to tell the truth.)
Ink, Yarn & Beer 