Helper videos I’ve found on youtube

How to count rows in knitting!

(Don’t even ask why I had to look this up. Horror show, let me tell you. Ok fine, I’ll tell you. I was working on a project and I had to frog back about 15 rows because stitches had slipped off the needle, then I wanted to make sure I wasn’t dropping yarnovers and stuff. Dang. It’s back to where I can pick it up and start knitting…just not sure what row I’m on. I had it in time out for a while.)

Jewelry making: How to Viking Knit

This is awesome!!! I don’t know if I have any jewelry wire, but I want to try this yesterday. And the running it through smaller and smaller holes (to harden it I guess) is the awesomesauce. I’d use a specially purchased knitting needle gauge for that though. So not using a drill and wooden board. I am not handy that way. Not at all!

The Beaded Viking Knit bracelet

Love this!

The Egyptian Coil bracelet

I really need to stay off Youtube.  I did find an old movie on there though, A Room With a View. It’s the Merchant Ivory version, one of my favorites with Maggie Smith as the chaperone, Julian Sands (George Emerson) and Helena Bonham-Carter (Lucy Honeychurch) as the young people in love. A little of Judi Dench as well. Nice to knit to, and I love Lucy’s hair!

Knitting status

Finished a total of 3 fish and working on a sea star for the shop windows. May make one more sea star in orange. It’s a fast little amigurumi project, only taking a few hours over a couple of days.

Worked on the bathroom lid some more. Maybe 1/3 of the way done with the tufts. Didn’t mind working on it much at knit night, since it’s not fighting me every step of the way.

What I’ve been doing

Working on a stealth project, making fish for a yarn store, working on the UFO that shall not be named until it is crossed off the list forever.

Put down the E meets W bag (might just be a year after all), worked on the gail some more as well.

Photos of stuff:

Gail edging, Wollmeise in Merlot. Lighter color is Joslyn Fiber Farms something.

The project that shall not be named:

Fish yarn pics:

I made two more small ones I will put in here later, but these are the colors I’m currently working with. The orange is so bright it’s almost unphotographable. I love it enough that I am on the verge of asking the yarn store to order me a skein when they send for another batch. It is awesome! I don’t even like orange yarn usually.

I feel like I finished something else since I posted here last, but I have no idea what. Maybe it’s been so long I just feel like there was another one.

Project status updates

East Meets West Bag

I’m three rows into the strap insertion chart on the east meets west bag. I am wondering how everybody else knits so fast that their insert charts are done. lol. Maybe they’re better at paying attention than I am. This is an at home project for me right now. I really can’t pay attention to much else when I’m doing it.

Tree of Life socks

A backburner project of mine is the Tree of Life sock pattern by Janel Laidman. I chose two Juliespins yarns and got this far on them:

Here’s the yarns in a pic that really doesn’t do  them justice. The gold has a strand of glitter throughout it. The blackish one is a skein of Euro fingering. I think it’s called Scottish Nights.

I think between the fair isle purse kit and the fair isle sweater I kind of lost interest in working on this. I had issues with increasing too, where I was going to start the striping for the foot at the toes, but maybe I will just hold two strands of the dark yarn together until I finish the toe increases, then start the striping. It feels like a copout to me though.

Hat for me

Since I obviously have so few things to work on (and it has been real cold the past few days), I started a double-stranded hat for myself in the yarn Cheryl gave me from her SAFF trip. It’s nice to work with, but I might start it over. It’s not fun working ribbing increases.

Henry the Eighth

I don’t have any current pics of this project, but so far so good. I am on the 5th or 6th row from the edging. I knitted 5 or 6 rows of plain knittingto give the “in the round” knitting some stabilization before I began the chart, since I’m not knitting it exactly to pattern. I don’t think the 2×2 multicolor ribbing is the way I want my bottom edge to go, and I hate the issues I’ve had with provisional cast ons being maintained as you knit the first half of it.

 

 

 

Feels like forever since I wrote in here

It’s only been a couple of months, but a lot has been happening since Jan. 12 knitwise.

East Meets West

I started the Knitpicks East Meets West bag after mentioning it in the Stash and Burn group on Ravelry. Another Raveler named toe said when I got ready to knit mine she’d like to do a KAL, which kind of got me excited to do it.

Then I came across a post by bogiebogie (one of my knit heroes…I don’t keep up with her enough since I never knitted the Juliet sweaterI fell in love with) where she discussed how she changed colors in her East Meets West to colors she liked, with help from a friend of hers who knew color substitution in knitting.

The technique involves taking black and white pictures of the colors you want to use to figure out color values and how it would affect the pattern.

Here’s the pattern’s original set of colors:

After a fun couple of hours playing with yarn and taking photos and rearranging, I decided to swap out the strap insert colors for colors I like better. For instance, the bright pink is a cute background in the bag, but I am not a bright pink kind of girl. I decided to replace it with the fuschia Palette yarn…not as bright, but it should contrast with the majestic (purple) about as well in the strap insertion.

Fuschia versus the original pink, ladyslipper (far right). The medium colors are richer than they appear in the photo. The two strands across the top are to decide what color I’d use for the flowers that cut across the stripes of fuchsia, french lavender, and aster in the bottom strap. I decided to use the majestic (looks blurple in photo) instead of the darker clematis heather original to the pattern. It is such a gorgeous purple I couldn’t put it down. Here the same pic is in black and white to see how the colors would play against each other.

So in February, we started. We have both had failures and successes. We both had to frog everything at least once. Toe finally casted hers back on using a bigger (and less sharp) needle.

When I first cast on this project, way back in 2010, I did the first 2 rows on a size one, sharp lace needle that was a little too short to handle so many stitches. I loved the bright yellow, called custard, with the navy blue yarn (jay), but something about the large sections of yellow on that sad needle didn’t work for me. It sat in  timeout for a while, and then I finally figured it wasn’t going to work so I frogged it.

This time, I started with a size 2. This is one of the few times in history I thought a size 3 needle would make too loose a fabric. lol.

Two other knitters joined us, and then we have a few people who volunteered to cheerlead us, which I LOVE!!! They have been doing a fabulous job!

Every now and then I get to a point where I’m not sure how to proceed, so I put it down for a while.

Here’s the most recent picture of it, just before I started the insert strap. I will ahve to take an update pic of that later. It doesn’t look like much, but it is 18 repeats around!

 

I will keep updating the blog with bits and pieces of what else I’ve been working on over the next couple of days.

 

 

 

Cleaning off my desk….again….

I actually made a plan so maybe it will stay decluttered. If it wasn’t so  close to the window, I would totally have the stash in the clear shoeboxes on the top of it for decoration. I really need to work on this area and make it a nice, neat knitting corner that I would use more often.

I already have a nice knitting chair to work from, thanks to the generosity of people I don’t even know. My roommate’s coworker and her husband were trying to give away a chair and I needed a chair, problem solved!

Pictures of yarn sounds redundant, but I’m not sure what else could go here. Maybe move some future project cards over here and put a clock where they were taped to the wall. Feel free to make a suggestion.

Here’s hardheaded old me, banging my head against the same stubborn brick wall. I am on the verge of doing something drastic with the felted nightstand mat. I tried more felting to see if the cut ruffles would refelt and they virtually laughed in my face. Now they sit around saying Nah nah nah nah nah in their disappointing way.

Ideas: Cut it into coasters and embroider Nah Nah Nahs on them. Heifers. That’ll show ‘em. Cut and form it to make an Oh Fransson charging/storage basket for phones and nightstand stuff. Give it to Cheryl, who makes felted vases. That doesn’t sound right, though…that’s like giving away a problem to make more problem, but if the charging basket/coasters don’t work, maybe.

had a lot of fun last weekend

Me and a Raveler named toe are getting ready to have an E. Meets W. purse KAL in February. I found a boss tutorial about changing colors in the kit to something you like better, and I spent about two and half hours working on that thing for mine. And guess who I learned it from? Bogiebogie, who made the Juliet sweater I was so in love with I ordered a copy of the pattern from Interweave and tracked down some yarn. And bought some beads. And bought some more beads because when I went the cheap route, I bought beads that were so misshapen I wouldn’t wear them to a dog fight. Not fitting for a dress sweater for sure.

But I digress. Here’s bogiebogie’s east meets west project link.

Here’s her link to her blog post about the changing colors.

As for the colors I will use, I am changing the pinks used in the front and the lid to either fuschia or bluebell, which would be more to my liking. The insert that goes on the bottom will have a dark purple fair isle pattern across stripes of light purple and fuchsia. If I could have worked the mulberry in I would have, but there isn’t enough light colors for it to stand out in the kit. It is much darker than fuschia when it comes to color values.

Majestic and mulberry color test.

majestic (bottom left) was the color I decided on for the flowers in the bottom of the bag strap. The three colors in the middle were lighter colors to replace the ones used originally in the pattern. Hopefully these three will blend a little better than the originals. The one in the middle is actually a light purple.

black and white version to test color values

It looks like the mulberry is a bit darker, but I didn’t like its flatness compared to the other colors.

Here’s the pictures I started with of the whole kit.

Crochet bathroom set, final post 1 of 3

Here’s hoping this is one the last three posts ever about working on this project, versus completed, “for all time” posts. I want to have it done before the end of January. It can suck all it wants, but I intend to be victorious, with a finished set to show for all my aggro.

Current status:

• on the last fourth of the tank cover. Had to redo the top of it because it was in a different dye lot. I believe there’s enough of the old yarn to make the color match all the way through the big piece. The tank lid is in the new dyelot color, but the ivory yarn should make enough of a break between the two that the color change doesn’t matter.
• took measurements for the sink rugs, which should be about 33×19 overall. I intend to add ribbon edging on 3 sides. I don’t think having edging on the sink side makes any sense.
• need to do the shower curtain ties and towel edging.

[photo]

I had to frog about two rows of “shell stitch” edging on the lid so that I can make it fit better. Plan to do a couple of extra single crochet rows with increases at the corners so it will relax the fit. Then I will add some shell stitch edging and do the ivory lace part.

I am aggravated about the reworking. I don’t really like working on it at knit night either. I think I have spoiled myself with making it along to tv shows, because it feels like I’ve had giant blocks of uninterrupted crocheting time and that I am making enormous progress. However, I am still not done. That’s the irritating part. Being sick for a week or so didn’t help my attitude either.

This project has made me think even more about big projects for myself. I want to make myself an afghan, and three or four sweaters. I constantly think about what I could be making if I wasn’t working on this, and what I could be making when I take a break from it.

I also think about how much stuff I am going to make for me from my stash. I don’t think with the stash I have, I would want it all to be for me. Where would I put it all? Jenn was the first person I heard say this, and I think she has a point. I have used shawls occasionally at home, and worn one in public two or three times. I have used mitts two or three times in the car, and the same amount at work. I think I would do better to knit myself some warm cardigans, sweaters, jackets and socks than smaller or lacier items. Lace is beautiful, but it really doesn’t work well for me from warmth aspect. Maybe if it was doubleknit, or backed with felt.

I am working on laundry today since I haven’t been home for almost a week. In between that I am soaking yarn that I finished navajo plying (Jenn’s blue machine knitting yarn) and  planning for other projects. I intend to recheck the yarn stash for the East Meets West purse so I can start knitting it soon. I have also been looking at the knitpicks basketeweave vest, a slipstitched design.

Not socks, a hat!

Decided to make a hat instead of socks out of the nebula yarn Cheryl gave me. It’s a beautiful yarn: the Nebula colorway by KnittyandColor.

I have crocheting fail on bathroom set side, but I am going to keep working on it anyway. I want this to be done by January. I looked at the most recent part I finished, and the dye lot changed, so the top half is darker.

That is so aggravating. I have enough of the older yarn where I was working on the toilet lid, but I think I am going to cut off the old part at the beginning, redo the old rows in the newer yarn and then graft it onto the top part so they’ll match. Because I keep looking at it, and if I can see it in dim light, I know anyone else would whenever the lid is down.

I am having a really hard time not casting on anything else. I’m working on another three-hour cowl and then the bathroom set for the rest of the night. I will probably work steadily on it Friday as well, if I feel well enough. May have to skip Friday knit night.

New Year’s resolution entry for Stash and Burn podcast

Nicole of Stash and Burn started a contest thread on Ravelry. She was asking knitters to list one knitting-related New Year’s resolution in the thread to qualify.

I apparently don’t think like that, because I couldn’t come up with just one. A bunch of “want to” projects, “should have been started ages ago,” and potential projects crowded up, and I had to make a list to sort my thoughts.

Here’s what I came up with:

1. Finish my WIPS (6 main ones), both large and small (including a sweater and tops for my fingerless mitts).
2. Knit the East Meets West purse.
3. Knit for fun after the first two goals are completed.
4. Reorganize my stash (yarns and magazines) and sell items I’m no longer attached to.
5. This will take a while, but knit enough yarn to clear out one of my giant fiber totes/shopping bags. I have 3, and my goal is never to buy another unless one is broken and needs to be replaced.

I am trying to get at least two big projects done so my stash numbers on Ravelry will go down. I figure finishing the bathroom project and my Henry VIII sweater are good starting points. I have made pretty good headway on the bathroom set. I am thinking I will start the small rugs this weekend, and save the toilet lid cover for last since that has given me the most problems. I am thinking about canceling the floral design on the lid since I had so much trouble making it work, and using the same pattern as the rest of the toilet tank. It works up so fast and the fabric it makes is more substantial looking.

[photo of pattern]

I am on what I consider row 3 of the sweater. Yes, it is going to be a long time until it has a section worth taking a photo of, but at least I started the thing, and will keep going on it. It’s one of the projects covered in No. 1 of my resolutions. Hopefully I will have finished it by the end of the summer.

finished object: 3 hour cowl

Took me about 6 hours, I guess. I love this pattern! it’s only a 3 row repeat that even I have been able to memorize. Way cool!

 

 

Tops for the musica mitts

Making tops for the mitts and I keep thinking how fast this would go if my fingers were shorter. Of course, if they were, I’d complain about that too.

Started making the Henry the VIII sweater after my friend Melissa “harassed” me into starting one. It’s a good thing she did. The longer I waited the more chicken I got.

I had also started the gauge swatch a couple of times and just could not get into it. I just casted on for the largest size and started the whole thing. If it’s too small, I will steek the sides and knit panels to fit. I am only about 3 pattern rows in.

I meant before I started in earnest to make a blog post discussing where I’d got my 2-color idea with pictures from the people who knitted them. I guess that will come later. lol

I am nearly finished with the gail shawl. I will use black wherever the burgundy leaves off on the edging. I checked with my aunt to make sure she doesn’t mind it being two colors.

Today I plan to clean up a little (just enough to kill the “crafting when you should be cleaning” guilt), do some background reading on the crochet project, and spin.

I’m going to clear some space today, clear some space tomorrow, and keep working on it until I can sit down in here in peace. I do not want to have to look at the same old clutter in the new year.

Ancient history

Looking for some piece of paper somewhere (as usual), I came across a knitting project list I’d used to narrow down my priorities at the time. Here’s a list of the things  (with Rav links) I was previously in love with:

Creatures of the Reef Shawl by Fiddlesticks Knitting: Still holds up. I think it’s the starfish, seahorses, and me living in Florida. Still willing to pay $12.

Canterbury Bells by Laura Patterson: Not so much any more. But I love her In the Woods pattern about 3 or 5 times more. Just not ready to knit it yet. It looks complicated, but when you break it down, it’s just sections of repeats. I love the feathered leaves. Worth the $8.50 for sure.

Magic Carpet Ride (small), and  Morrocan Days/Nights shawls by Susan Pandorf: YES!!! Magic Carpet is the smaller version. Bought it to get my feet wet, haven’t knitted it yet. Morrocan in Arabian Nights is still a dream (Yes, that purple exactly! Day version, also gorgeous). I really should have bought the kit during that knitalong. Or something. Still on the to do list.

I don’t think I’d have the nerves of steel needed to find coordinating colorways for this, my absolute favorite version. I keep looking at it going, “Damn, why didn’t I think of that?” It’s not the same when you don’t come up with the idea yourself.

I tried coordinating colors online once for another project and it was a nightmare. The only way it works is if you’re already familiar with all the colorways in person, or have a side-by-side comparison pic. Or it’s all one yarn, in many colorways. That’s like work, right there.

South Seas Stole, another Laura Patterson fave. Still holds up too. Don’t own it. lol

Oh, yeah, added In the Woods to the list already.

Something Red sweater by Wendy Bernard. It looks so easy, right?  It had been on the list for years already. Bought it, never knit it. I worry that the waist will hit me in the wrong place, so I already know I’m going to try to mod it, and I already know jack about modding and having things turn out well. That said, still on the list, with long sleeves. Maybe I can just knit it in the round and steek it. Wouldn’t be the same, but whatever.

Audrey Coat by Cheryl Nelson. A girl can dream, can’t she? Bought the pattern. Working on the dream part. Curious about where I’m going to get that much yarn in a color I absolutely love and would be willing to wear. Would be knitting in wool instead of cotton.

Apparently that same day I was having a Susan Pandorf moment, where I went to her blog and wrote down all the patterns (about 16)  that interested me. None of the Lord of the Rings stuff was on her blog back then.

Of the 8 or so Pandorf patterns actually in my library, I’ve started one, which was frogged and will be resurrected sometime in 2014, probably. It depends on how 2013 goes. The easiest of them seems to be the Stonehenge neckwarmer, with the hardest looking one being Galadriel’s Mirror.

The day I made this list, there were 90 projects in my to do list. Now, there’s hundreds.
CURRENT KNITTING

I am on what will be the last repeat of the Gail shawl, which I will be giving to my Aunt Nell, since she saw me working on it and asked if she could have it. Hell yeah! It will be a relief not having to look at that yarn in my stash again. I don’t care about seeing someone else wear it – I am just still aggravated that I lost the first half of the yarn just when I was getting going on a project.

Here’s a nice wavy picture of how the felted nightstand mat turned out. I am still laughing. I may be repeating myself here, but I have a plan to cut the ruffles, felt it again and see if it gets any flatter. I doubt it, because the felting is already extremely firm. I think it has done all the drawing up it’s going to do.