Updates...

It's been a week. My Mom came to visit, and I didn't get much done, but here are some updates.

I have finished the Yellow/Black Hufflepuff scarf.
I have started Slytherin. I'm using much finer yarn (worsted instead of chunky), so it's going much slower...
I have started the Little Red cape. So far it's going pretty well. I have been unable to achieve different cables in specific sections. It was just too much to keep track of. I have been doing (I think) a nice job of increasing and putting in the cables. So far it is a nonagon (9 sides), with a flower in the center and cables coming out. Hopefully it will end up looking something like a flower growing out of twisting and interlocking vines, or at least I can pretend it does. At the moment I am working on 9 4-stitch cables that travel around the shawl. We'll see how it works, it's only about 30 rows so far, but I am really loving the Hometown USA, and the Tampa Spice is looking gorgeous.

I have run into a crucial road block with the Tapiz mittens. I am conflicted about whether or not I should finish them as mittens or just wrist warmers. As one of the ladies in my knitting group noted, it's not really the time of year for mittens anymore, and I could always use more items to help keep me warm while reading, knitting, or basically anytime in Spring or Fall. It seems like a no brainer right?  Just make them wrist warmers... But I am really liking the look of them and have been doing what I think is a very nice job with the color work, and I was thinking of entering them into a fiber festival in the summer/fall. I was going to enter them as a color work piece not specifically mittens, but I've never done something like that before, and I don't know if there will be an issue if I don't follow the pattern exactly (I hope not since they are already the wrong gauge as I used size 1 needles instead of size 2s...). If anyone out there has any thoughts or experience with festivals, I'd love your input on this one!

Little Red...

Well, I have yarn. I went out to our new Lion Brand Store and got some great Hometown USA in Tampa Spice to make A a Little Red Hood. Of course when I got home she told me she wanted a blue hood...

Here's the plan. I think it should work. The plan is to make an 8 pronged circle and use a button or drawstring or something to pull in the sides at the bottom of the hood. I think I'm going to work in cables as I go, deciding the pattern as I go. That should totally work, right? Suuuure.  Hopefully, it's end up being something that is at the very least a nice table topper if the hood aspect doesn't work out.

"First project" of 2014

Here is a picture of the first project I finished in 2014.  It looks like a scarf or something, but it's actually a sweater I made for my daughter to wear to dance class, hopefully I can get an action shot of it at her class this weekend.

Details
Yarn: 3 skeins of Plymouth Yarn Royal Llama Silk in three colors
Needles: Size 5 dpns for the sleeves and 6's of the back
Time: About 3 weeks between other projects

This is the second shrug I've made with this concept. I modified it from a free pattern that was on a yarn label. Maybe, after a bit more math, I can figure out how to write the pattern for multiple sizes, and then I can post it.

Prelude and other Goings on

My wheel arrived on Friday afternoon, and now I am in the process of finishing it. I am using tung oil to finish it. Last night I spent about 2 hours doing the first coat, but this morning it only about 45 minutes to do the second coat. Maybe tomorrow I can put it together.

I was a bit amused by the packing methods of Kromski. There was absolutely nothing wrong with how they packed it, but I was amused that sheets from a Polish grocery add were used as filler.

Paradise Fibers, the company I ordered the wheel from, has a great policy that buyers get $40 of free fiber when they purchase a wheel (other companies have similar policies that include How-To books or DVDs or assembly if you can get to the store and pick up the wheel). Anyway, I got 8 ounces of White Norwegian Top, Grey Jacob Top, and Light Grey Alpaca. Alpaca...wow. I had never felt unspun alpaca. The Norwegian and Jacob had an end available in the bag, but the alpaca end is hidden somewhere, and frankly, I'm a bit scared to try to find it. I have the feeling that if I try to apply any force to it, it will just fall apart. I'm a bit intimidated by the thought of spinning it, but if I can manage it, it should turn out great!

In other news, I was working on a shapeless mess of a sweater that was intended to be worn while I read, knit, work on the computer, or do some other sedentary task that keeps my arms mostly in front of my body. Frankly, other than the fact that the body it about 5 sizes too big, it worked out fine. Not something I would share with people, but it'll certainly keep my warm. Well, I am mostly done with it, all I have to do are the sleeves, and after all that time of watching me work on it, now my daughter wants a sweater out of the same yarn. I have plenty of it left, but I need to be more careful with my gauge and sizing, so there will be a children's sweater with buttons coming sometime before Christmas.

I've been doing quite a bit of knitting lately and will update you on the things I have finished/am working on sometime next week. Hopefully that will help me get back on schedule, though I imagine one my wheel is up and spinning, I'll have plenty to talk about. Until then...get crafty, and have some fun!

I assume it's Polish anyway...

Pattern Issues

Lately, I've been trying to design various patterns. I have many ideas in my head, but getting them on paper seems a bit difficult.

I guess the problem comes from not having knit many things from patterns. I've been knitting for 8 years, but until about 18 months ago I only knit variations of rectangles. Since then I have made a kid's cardigan, a pair of gloves, and some socks.

While these have given me a bit more experience with patterns and garment construction, I don't think I'm ready for sleeve or neckline shaping.

Anyway, I was able to knit a friend a pair of socks of my own design. I took a chance on pattern writing. They aren't complicated socks, just knee-length cable socks, but it's a start.

Feel free to try the pattern and let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!

Materials:

Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice 2 Balls

Size 5 Double Pointed Needles

Stitch Markers

Toe Shaping

• Use a Figure 8 cast-on to CO 10 stitches.
• Knit once around all stitches dividing evenly between four needles, leaving 5 stitches on each. Place markers after the first stitch on your first  and third needles and before the last stitch on your second and fourth needles.
• *Knit 1, kfb, knit rest of needle. Knit to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, knit 1. Knit 1, kfb, knit rest of needle. Knit to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, knit 1.
• Knit 1 round.*
• Repeat * to * until there are ten stitches on each needle.

Foot Pattern

• #Purl 2, cable 3 left, p 4, cable 3 left, p2, k 20
• P2, K 6, P 4, K 6, P 2, K 20-- seven rounds#
• Repeat # to # until foot measures 1 inch smaller than length of your longest toe to heel

Heel Shaping

• Begin on your sole (or the K 20 stitches) and K 19, W&T
• P 18, W&T
• K 17, W&T
• P 16, W&T
• K 15, W&T
• P 14, W&T
• K 13, W&T
• P 12, W&T
• K 11, W&T
• P 10, W&T

Here you will begin to make increases in the heel again. You will be creating double wraps, and have two strands of yarn to knit when you pick up your short rows. Just make sure you get both of them and it will work as a normal short row pick up.

• K 11, W&T
• P 12, W&T
• K 13, W&T
• P 14, W&T
• P 15, W&T
• K 16, W&T
• P 17, W&T
• K 18, W&T
• P 19, W&T

Begin the leg pattern. You will still have one W&T to deal with on your next round, but just knit or purl it into the next stitch and it will end up fine.

Leg Shaping and Pattern

The leg pattern is basically the same as the foot pattern, but around the entire leg. I also chose to make the increases on the same row as the cables so I would have one row to really focus on, also it helps to counter the suction of the cabling. I have only one increase per cable so the increases will be a bit asymmetrical, but this is not noticeable.

It also helped me to keep each cable on one needle, though I got fewer ladders if I had two cables on a needle leaving me with three dpns total (or this would also be the effect of a magic loop). If you prefer to use dpns, I colored the directions to correspond to each needle, it does involve splitting some of the purling.

• Purl 1, make 1, p 1, cable 3 left, P4, C3L, P1, M1, P3, cable 3 left, P4, C3L, P2
• P3, K6, P4, K6, P5, K6, P4, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P3, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P3, C3L, P4, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P3, C3L, P2
• P3, K6, P5, K6, P5, K6, P5, K6, P2- seven rounds

This is the basic pattern, increasing on each cable row. Repeat until there are 10 stitches between cables, then repeat without increases until you’ve reached desired length, about 13 inches.

• Purl 1, make 1, P2, cable 3 left, P5, C3L, P1, M1, P4, cable 3 left, P5, C3L, P2
• P4, K6, P5, K6, P6, K6, P5, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P4, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P4, C3L, P6, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P4, C3L, P2
• P4, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P3, cable 3 left, P6, C3L, P1, M1, P5, cable 3 left, P6, C3L, P2
• P5, K6, P6, K6, P7, K6, P6, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P5, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P5, C3L, P7, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P5, C3L, P2
• P5, K6, P7, K6, P7, K6, P7, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P4, cable 3 left, P7, C3L, P1, M1, P6, cable 3 left, P7, C3L, P2
• P6, K6, P7, K6, P8, K6, P7, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P6, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P6, C3L, P8, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P6, C3L, P2
• P6, K6, P8, K6, P8, K6, P8, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P5, cable 3 left, P8, C3L, P1, M1, P7, cable 3 left, P8, C3L, P2
• P7, K6, P8, K6, P9, K6, P8, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P7, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P7, C3L, P9, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P7, C3L, P2
• P7, K6, P9, K6, P9, K6, P9, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P6, cable 3 left, P9, C3L, P1, M1, P8, cable 3 left, P9, C3L, P2
• P8, K6, P9, K6, P10, K6, P9, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P8, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P8, C3L, P10, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P8, C3L, P2
• P8, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P2- seven rounds

This is the end of the increases.

• P8, C3L, P10, C3L, P10, C3L, P10, C3L, P2
• P8, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P2- seven rounds

Repeat these eight rounds until you have reached about 13 inches, or two inches short of your desired length ending after the seven rounds or ribbing.

Cuff

• K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2
• K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2- seven rounds

Repeat these eight rounds for about two inches ending after the first round of the repeat. Bind off with any stretchy bind-off; I used the knit 2 together through the back.

Cool Idea That I'm Sure Won't Work...

I've been trying to get into design as I would like to open an Etsy store and not violate Copyright regulations- I'm not exactly and expert, but I did have basically an entire graduate school class on Copyright and Fair Use Policy in Education...super fun.

The problem is that I am not great at new stitch patterns. I don't have a problem with garment construction, at least I don't think I do since I have only really done a couple pairs of toe-up socks on my own, but I want to be able to try some completely new stitch patterns themselves.

This experiment is kind of a half-way mark to that goal. I highly doubt that I will get anything useable out of it, but I figure it's an amusing idea and maybe it will end up looking cool.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick some decently sized chunk of text, maybe about 10-25 words that you really love. It can be a quote from a book, movie, love letter, anything you want to dissect and repeat to yourself over and over again while knitting.
2. Cast on say 25 stitches- I really have no idea and am totally making this up so feel free to deviate.
3. Knit your quote. That sounds crazy, and you're right it is, but this is what I mean. Whenever you come to a consonant knit a stitch, for the vowels - purl, spaces get yarn overs, periods get knit 2 together, and any other punctuation gets a ssk (or slip two stitches as if to purl and then knit them together).
4. Turn your work when needed.
5. I haven't decided if the wrong side should continue the "pattern" or be some kind of rest row. I'll have to try it a both ways.

 So again in pseudo pattern speak

• Cast-on 25 stitches
• K1 for every consonant
• P1 for every vowel
• YO for every space
• K2tog for periods
• SSK for other punctuation

I've decided to start with  "'That's right,' shouted Vroomfondel, 'we demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!'" from chapter 25 of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I love this quote as it is so blatantly contradictory, yet still hold up as the ground work for philosophy and other areas, politics come to mind specifically.

I probably should have picked something else as I am going to have alot of left slants with all those ssk's, but that could end up being really fun, who knows. The interesting thing is that this could be amazing or complete rubbish depending on how many stitches I start with, how the subsequent stitches line up and how I end up dealing with the wrong sides. I am going to be counting this out in just a second, but it also be interesting to see if I am going to have more decreases than increases with this particular quote. Nope, just looked and while this does have quite a bit of punctuation for a standard quote, it still has far more spaces as any quote will. Lace here we come.

So here we go with that quote I am going to start with

• SSK, K2, P1, K1, SSK, K1, YO, K1, P1, K3, SSK, SSK, YO, K2, P2, K1, P1, K1, YO, K2, P2, K2, P1, K2, P1, K1, SSK, YO, SSK, K1, P1, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, P1, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, YO, P1, K1, P2, K1, YO, P1, K1, YO, K1, P2, K2, YO, P1, K2, YO, P1, K2, P1, K2, P2, K2, P1, SSK, SSK
• And I guess I will start with 92 stitches (not the 25 I said above, told you I was making it up) so that I can at least get through this first set of the pattern without turning in the middle of my quote. I didn't count the yarn overs in my cast-on since those are increases, but I did count two stitches for my ssk's since that is taking two stitches and making 1. And just double checking... 8 decreases and only 12 increases per pattern. So it's going to start at 92 and get bigger, but slowly, it'll be interesting.

I have some nice smooth yarn picked out for this so I can see what is going on.Given that there are 12 increases per repeat, I think I am going to do a rest row for the wrong side, meaning you knit the stitches that appear to be knit and you purl the stitches that appear to be purl. I am a bit concerned that it is just going to turn into a lace rib, but then maybe I'll try again working the pattern through both sides. I am not holding my breath for something beautiful and wearable. It's just an experiment.

I would love to get some more people involved in this to see what we can come up with. It probably won't make anything, but it will be interesting and might give us all a bit more insight on how to create different looks in knitting! Please post pictures -or links to pictures- of anything you try, or feel free to put up quotes for my to work with. We'll see if we can come up with something new!