I've spent the day sick in bed, but this card from my aunt made me smile.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Scary Maneuvers
I decided to say the heck with it and start knitting a sweater. I have often come back to the Acer cardigan on Ravelry, so when the gauge looked good I cast on and started knitting.
And I was moving along at a pretty good clip when I noticed something... I'd missed a cable crossing about 15 rows down.
See that? That hurts. I considered... could I live with it? No. Was I willing to rip out over 3000 stitches and inches of work? Absolutely not! So. Drastic measures. Fix the cable.
Step 1. Using a stitch holder, capture the five stitches that will need to be crossed.
Step 2. Put two end stitches on holder.
Step 2.5. Breathe deeply. Don't panic. This is no time to panic.
Step 3. Drop the five stitches down 15 rows. That's the scary part. It looks like this:
Step 3.5. Continue to not panic. Stay calm.
Step 4. Get the 5 stitches on the needle and cross them in the right direction.
Step 5. Start laddering your stitches up, not forgetting to do the yo, ssk every other row. I did this step row by row. I suppose you could do the three straight stitches all the way up, then the yo ssk, but I don't think it makes sense. Easier to keep track this way.
Step 6.
Step 7. Profit!
And no one will ever know that I forgot! Except you all. But you won't tell.
The Yarn Harlot has a much nicer tutorial on how to execute this tricky, but very useful maneuver.
I'm knitting on this cardigan like crazy. I'm very nearly ready to divide for front and back!
And I was moving along at a pretty good clip when I noticed something... I'd missed a cable crossing about 15 rows down.
See that? That hurts. I considered... could I live with it? No. Was I willing to rip out over 3000 stitches and inches of work? Absolutely not! So. Drastic measures. Fix the cable.
Step 1. Using a stitch holder, capture the five stitches that will need to be crossed.
Step 2. Put two end stitches on holder.
Step 2.5. Breathe deeply. Don't panic. This is no time to panic.
Step 3. Drop the five stitches down 15 rows. That's the scary part. It looks like this:
Step 3.5. Continue to not panic. Stay calm.
Step 4. Get the 5 stitches on the needle and cross them in the right direction.
Step 5. Start laddering your stitches up, not forgetting to do the yo, ssk every other row. I did this step row by row. I suppose you could do the three straight stitches all the way up, then the yo ssk, but I don't think it makes sense. Easier to keep track this way.
Step 6.
Step 7. Profit!
And no one will ever know that I forgot! Except you all. But you won't tell.
The Yarn Harlot has a much nicer tutorial on how to execute this tricky, but very useful maneuver.
I'm knitting on this cardigan like crazy. I'm very nearly ready to divide for front and back!
Friday, December 24, 2010
A tale of two cowls!
Merry Christmas Eve! It's a quiet one around here - the husband and I are sticking around here since air fare is redonkulous. A couple of weeks ago I made a few kinds of Christmas cookies. We ate all of those. So I whipped up a second batch of cookies yesterday morning - snickerdoodles and meringue surprises. This is the first time my meringue cookies approximated success!
And the surprise? Chocolate chips.
The subject of this post is not COOKIES! It's a tale of two cowls. For that is what I have knit lately. I needed something quick to knit up and I found the Birthday Cowl. Exactly the thing I needed. And the yarn? Some of my much hoarded Jade Sapphire Cashmere. The thing is like butter.
I increased a bit at one end to create a flare. It's soft and warm to wear, but isn't very fashion forward.
Cowl #2 has been in the works for a while. But it's been a slow knit. Churchmouse's Bias Loop Cowl. It's knit in lace weight yarn and is a simple simple pattern. But beautiful. I knit it a few needle sizes down (Size 9!) with Malabrigo lace. My neck is sensitive and can't take mohair, or even alpaca, but Malabrigo lace gives that sort of halo with amazing softness.
Instead of a kitchener graft, I did a three needle bind off. It's not invisible, but it saved me a lot of grief. And I have been and will be wearing this cowl all the time. I might be making these for gifts one year.
And those are the cowls. Both soft and warm, but one will be worn a lot more than the other.
And the surprise? Chocolate chips.
The subject of this post is not COOKIES! It's a tale of two cowls. For that is what I have knit lately. I needed something quick to knit up and I found the Birthday Cowl. Exactly the thing I needed. And the yarn? Some of my much hoarded Jade Sapphire Cashmere. The thing is like butter.
I increased a bit at one end to create a flare. It's soft and warm to wear, but isn't very fashion forward.
Cowl #2 has been in the works for a while. But it's been a slow knit. Churchmouse's Bias Loop Cowl. It's knit in lace weight yarn and is a simple simple pattern. But beautiful. I knit it a few needle sizes down (Size 9!) with Malabrigo lace. My neck is sensitive and can't take mohair, or even alpaca, but Malabrigo lace gives that sort of halo with amazing softness.
Instead of a kitchener graft, I did a three needle bind off. It's not invisible, but it saved me a lot of grief. And I have been and will be wearing this cowl all the time. I might be making these for gifts one year.
And those are the cowls. Both soft and warm, but one will be worn a lot more than the other.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A sad hat
There's been no Christmas knitting this year. No one is getting a knitted gift from me. Instead I've been huddled under my blanket, too cold to knit most nights. There has been a bit of knitting, here and there.
Like the sad hat. I call it sad because it was a failed experiment. I thought, I'll use this ball of Cascade 220 to make a cabled hat. And I won't follow a pattern! I'll just make it up as I go along! What can go wrong?
A lot.
I'm not sure the picture conveys the full sorrow of the hat. First off, it pulls in on an especially cable heavy row. Second, the lack of planning contributes to an unfortunately organic look. If the thing were dyed pink it would look like my brain was sitting out.
It fit, I give it that much. But that's all it gets. Except for frogged.
I frogged it this evening. No more sad hat.
Like the sad hat. I call it sad because it was a failed experiment. I thought, I'll use this ball of Cascade 220 to make a cabled hat. And I won't follow a pattern! I'll just make it up as I go along! What can go wrong?
A lot.
I'm not sure the picture conveys the full sorrow of the hat. First off, it pulls in on an especially cable heavy row. Second, the lack of planning contributes to an unfortunately organic look. If the thing were dyed pink it would look like my brain was sitting out.
It fit, I give it that much. But that's all it gets. Except for frogged.
I frogged it this evening. No more sad hat.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
FO: Haruni Shawl
Phew. Been awhile? I'm an on-again/off-again blogger. I've got no excuses. Okay, I've got a ton of excuses, but I'll not go into them.
During my hiatus there has been knitting. I have always loved the Haruni Shawl, so I finally knit one. I finished the main leaf portion during my August vacation, but stalled out a bit on the edging motif, mostly because I found my initial read through of the instructions confusing and put it aside to do something more straightforward. But it is done now.
I knit it from Naturally Dawn, a wool/silk blend which I quite like. In fact, I have enough of it in white for another project yet. Needles were Addi Turbo Lace, size 5. I followed the pattern except for the crocheted loops/bind off where I just did what I knew and not precisely what the pattern said.
Unblocked with hank of Lorna's Laces sock for scale:
Blocking with same scale (and cat):
And finished:
Details - I love the leafy edging:
And now I'm feeling a bit mad, so I thought maybe I would commit myself to a large scale lace piece with all the bits that drive me batty - patterned on both sides, knit on edging, needles below a size 5...
I haven't cast on. But I will.
During my hiatus there has been knitting. I have always loved the Haruni Shawl, so I finally knit one. I finished the main leaf portion during my August vacation, but stalled out a bit on the edging motif, mostly because I found my initial read through of the instructions confusing and put it aside to do something more straightforward. But it is done now.
I knit it from Naturally Dawn, a wool/silk blend which I quite like. In fact, I have enough of it in white for another project yet. Needles were Addi Turbo Lace, size 5. I followed the pattern except for the crocheted loops/bind off where I just did what I knew and not precisely what the pattern said.
Unblocked with hank of Lorna's Laces sock for scale:
Blocking with same scale (and cat):
And finished:
Details - I love the leafy edging:
And now I'm feeling a bit mad, so I thought maybe I would commit myself to a large scale lace piece with all the bits that drive me batty - patterned on both sides, knit on edging, needles below a size 5...
I haven't cast on. But I will.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
No Money Miracle
That's the latest Knittyboard swap I'm a part of. And yesterday, I got a package in the mail! A shoebox full of goodness.
Oh, what can it be? The anticipation...
So much wonderful goodness!
From left to right: A hank of lovely Thirteen Mile yarn in one of my favorite colors, a tape measure, a pair of wrist warmers in a deliciously soft and squishy fabric, a ball of Jojoland Harmony in the perfect summery beach colorway, a cute little book, sock patterns, and a super project bag. And to whom do I owe my thanks? The fabulous Verablue. Thank you, Jeanne! I love it.
Oh, what can it be? The anticipation...
So much wonderful goodness!
From left to right: A hank of lovely Thirteen Mile yarn in one of my favorite colors, a tape measure, a pair of wrist warmers in a deliciously soft and squishy fabric, a ball of Jojoland Harmony in the perfect summery beach colorway, a cute little book, sock patterns, and a super project bag. And to whom do I owe my thanks? The fabulous Verablue. Thank you, Jeanne! I love it.
Friday, July 30, 2010
FO: Felted flower bowl
The final edition of a four day FO dump. Now I have only unfinished things to show you.
I'm currently involved in a swap, one in which you spend no money (except for postage) to spoil your partner. I dived into my stash and pulled out some yarn for gifting, but wanted to include something I made. As my sewing skillz are crap, I went to my strength. Knitting. I wanted to make something useful, but not a washcloth (especially as I have no cotton yarn), so I started searching Ravelry for a felted bowl that I liked.
And I found the felted flower bowl. It's cute, it's useful, it's great for odds and ends. And, I think, it makes a nice gift. This example is knit from bits of Lamb's Pride Bulky.
I seem to be in a bit of a felting phase. I love how quickly it uses up the odds and ends that had reached critical mass, combined with how quickly these things knit up. And the fact that stuff tends to look pretty awesome when it comes out of the washer - what's not to love?
I'm currently involved in a swap, one in which you spend no money (except for postage) to spoil your partner. I dived into my stash and pulled out some yarn for gifting, but wanted to include something I made. As my sewing skillz are crap, I went to my strength. Knitting. I wanted to make something useful, but not a washcloth (especially as I have no cotton yarn), so I started searching Ravelry for a felted bowl that I liked.
And I found the felted flower bowl. It's cute, it's useful, it's great for odds and ends. And, I think, it makes a nice gift. This example is knit from bits of Lamb's Pride Bulky.
I seem to be in a bit of a felting phase. I love how quickly it uses up the odds and ends that had reached critical mass, combined with how quickly these things knit up. And the fact that stuff tends to look pretty awesome when it comes out of the washer - what's not to love?
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