The socks are too pointy :( Too bad because I would really like Kamilla to be able to use them. It´s getting cold and the houses here don't hold heat very well. She tried them on and they fit ok, except the front of them stands out. They look like those pointy shoes that have been so fashionable. But that extra fabric makes it so the shoes wouldn't fit well. So I have to knit them over again. Children's socks are very quick, but unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to knit. Work is crazy busy right now.
I've been working on Clint's vintage cardigan. I really like the pattern. Everything just adds up and it goes very smoothly. I've finished the main body and am almost done with one of the sleeves. The best part is that when I'm done with the second sleeve, all I have left is to weave in the end and sew on buttons and the cardigan is ready !
Not pictures. Ever since I came back from Vegas I haven't found the camera. Besides, my camera is 3 and 1/2 years old and has seen it's share of trouble (dropped for instance) and now it's started to be very picky. Indoor pictures are usually overexposed etc. So I guess I have to start looking around for a camera. Sitting at home and waiting (which has been my M.O. lately) doesn't seem to work.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Back from Vegas
Last week I was attending a conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. No yarn shops on the Strip (not that I was expecting them there). I didn't have internet connection while I was there. Turns out that everything costs in Vegas. No free internet, no free breakfast and not even coffee in the hotel room (and no refrigerator)*.
On the way there, I knit a sock for Kamilla from a Sisu yarn, which we had dyed with strawberry Kool-aid. It turned out perfectly. I almost finished the second sock on the way home (I just love kids socks, they are so fast). I didn't get home until 2 AM Saturday and the next day, when I finally came to life (after being insanely tired from a long day of travelling, coming home in the middle of the night and 3 hour time difference) I wanted to try on the sock, but it was nowhere to be found. Only the sock-in-progress was in my bag, but not the completed one.
Since the airport is about an hour and a half away from Athens (in Columbus) and there was a group of us going we rented a van from OU (where we work/study) to get us there and they (two vans) came to pick us up from the airport as well. Today, Sunday, I stopped by work and the student that drove us home was there. He told me where I could find the van, and I went and looked and what do you know. The sock is there!!!! I´m glad it's not lost completely. Now I just have to go to the Transportation services early tomorrow and retrieve it. It was on the seats behind me (there are 3 rows of seats) since I handed it to someone to look at. I guess they never handed it back and I was too tired to notice.
The color is great. It is red-orange with random white specks. Only trouble is I made a mistake with the toe. I didn't realize what the mistake was until I was almost done with the toe on the second sock. I couldn't figure out why the toe was so pointy and it warped as well. I made the sock toe-up on 2 circs, but only increased on one side of the toe instead of both sides, only on the right side of each needle. I still don't know if it will actually fit. If it fits ok I will keep them as they are, but otherwise I will start them over. I hope that will not happen (crossing fingers).
*Our hotel was the Flamingo, I don't know how things are at other hotels.
On the way there, I knit a sock for Kamilla from a Sisu yarn, which we had dyed with strawberry Kool-aid. It turned out perfectly. I almost finished the second sock on the way home (I just love kids socks, they are so fast). I didn't get home until 2 AM Saturday and the next day, when I finally came to life (after being insanely tired from a long day of travelling, coming home in the middle of the night and 3 hour time difference) I wanted to try on the sock, but it was nowhere to be found. Only the sock-in-progress was in my bag, but not the completed one.
Since the airport is about an hour and a half away from Athens (in Columbus) and there was a group of us going we rented a van from OU (where we work/study) to get us there and they (two vans) came to pick us up from the airport as well. Today, Sunday, I stopped by work and the student that drove us home was there. He told me where I could find the van, and I went and looked and what do you know. The sock is there!!!! I´m glad it's not lost completely. Now I just have to go to the Transportation services early tomorrow and retrieve it. It was on the seats behind me (there are 3 rows of seats) since I handed it to someone to look at. I guess they never handed it back and I was too tired to notice.
The color is great. It is red-orange with random white specks. Only trouble is I made a mistake with the toe. I didn't realize what the mistake was until I was almost done with the toe on the second sock. I couldn't figure out why the toe was so pointy and it warped as well. I made the sock toe-up on 2 circs, but only increased on one side of the toe instead of both sides, only on the right side of each needle. I still don't know if it will actually fit. If it fits ok I will keep them as they are, but otherwise I will start them over. I hope that will not happen (crossing fingers).
*Our hotel was the Flamingo, I don't know how things are at other hotels.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Garter stitch - Garðaprjón
I didn't used to like garter stitch. I thought it was the most boring thing to knit, that and scarfs. I wonder if my compulsory garter stitch scarf school project had something to do with it, ha ha. Seriously, my youngest brother got to knit cool toys in school but I had to make boring scarfs.
Then I discovered Mason-Dixon and the joys of the garter stitch. Sometimes you just want to knit and knit and knit and go with the flow. You don't have to stop to figure something out (well, depending on the pattern) or keep your place.
The garter stitch blends the colors somewhat, not as well as moss stitch, but when you have a jaquard type yarn. The garter stitch 'takes the bite' out of the color changes, makes them more subtle.
Another nice thing about garter stitch is that it stretches, so it is ideal for baby clothes, like Elizabeth Zimmermann, the knitting genius, knew. I'm knitting a Baby Surprise Jacket and to come up with this construction is the most clever one there is. The tomten jacket is tempting as well. I've been looking through some of them on Ravelry. I'm picturing a jacket for the girls, knit with Álafoss Lopi on 5 mm needles. I guess I'll have some wool to buy when I'm in Iceland for Christmas :)j
Then I discovered Mason-Dixon and the joys of the garter stitch. Sometimes you just want to knit and knit and knit and go with the flow. You don't have to stop to figure something out (well, depending on the pattern) or keep your place.
The garter stitch blends the colors somewhat, not as well as moss stitch, but when you have a jaquard type yarn. The garter stitch 'takes the bite' out of the color changes, makes them more subtle.
Another nice thing about garter stitch is that it stretches, so it is ideal for baby clothes, like Elizabeth Zimmermann, the knitting genius, knew. I'm knitting a Baby Surprise Jacket and to come up with this construction is the most clever one there is. The tomten jacket is tempting as well. I've been looking through some of them on Ravelry. I'm picturing a jacket for the girls, knit with Álafoss Lopi on 5 mm needles. I guess I'll have some wool to buy when I'm in Iceland for Christmas :)j
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Weekend projects
I often have weekend projects. Something I am obsessed with, but only over a weekend.
Couple of weekends ago I decided I wanted to make a hat. I had been reading Knitting Workshop by Elizabet Zimmermann, and in it she has a hat in the beginning to teach the basics of knitting. I thought I'd pick up a point or two, which I did, although I don't remember at the moment. It called for thick yarn and I grabbed bulky weight yarn on 6mm needles. Actually it was supposed to be worsted on 4.5 (or thereabouts). So the hat was too big.
I did the rational thing and threw it in the wash. The color bled of course, it's red, red almost always bleeds. Plus it's a Knitpicks yarn (wool of the andes bulky) and they have a reputation for bleeding. I can't believe how well it felted though (Knitpick yarns also have a reputation for felting well, even if they are superwash!).
It fits quite good now. A little short, but not too much.
This weekend, however, I was obessed with Hyperbolic planes. Normal Euclidean plan is flat but a hyperbolic plane curves.
The first one I made was too big. I used too big of a hook (5.5 mm instead of 4.5), but it is perfect as a washcloth.
The second one looks great. I was hoping it would turn out to be more of a bath puff, but it is rather a decoration (hang it up in the kid's room?) or a playtoy. They like playing with it K. put it on a stick like she had caught it in the sea ;)
K. also requested one out of variegated yarn white/purple/pink. It ended up as a barbie hat ;)
This was fun. Now I have some laundry to take care of :o
Couple of weekends ago I decided I wanted to make a hat. I had been reading Knitting Workshop by Elizabet Zimmermann, and in it she has a hat in the beginning to teach the basics of knitting. I thought I'd pick up a point or two, which I did, although I don't remember at the moment. It called for thick yarn and I grabbed bulky weight yarn on 6mm needles. Actually it was supposed to be worsted on 4.5 (or thereabouts). So the hat was too big.
I did the rational thing and threw it in the wash. The color bled of course, it's red, red almost always bleeds. Plus it's a Knitpicks yarn (wool of the andes bulky) and they have a reputation for bleeding. I can't believe how well it felted though (Knitpick yarns also have a reputation for felting well, even if they are superwash!).
It fits quite good now. A little short, but not too much.
This weekend, however, I was obessed with Hyperbolic planes. Normal Euclidean plan is flat but a hyperbolic plane curves.
The first one I made was too big. I used too big of a hook (5.5 mm instead of 4.5), but it is perfect as a washcloth.
The second one looks great. I was hoping it would turn out to be more of a bath puff, but it is rather a decoration (hang it up in the kid's room?) or a playtoy. They like playing with it K. put it on a stick like she had caught it in the sea ;)
K. also requested one out of variegated yarn white/purple/pink. It ended up as a barbie hat ;)
This was fun. Now I have some laundry to take care of :o
Sunday, August 03, 2008
The one with everyone dyeing*
So this weekend was the big weekend. We all (meaning the majority of the knitting group) went to Nancy B's house and ate and dyed :) It was a lot of fun and I got really into it. The scientist in me got out and I was experimenting what would happen if I did this or that, ha ha.
I brought only one skein. It was a white skein of lace weight Icelandic wook (eingirni), but Nancy had a tub load of yarn. She buys it, dyes it and then sells it at Shows with her Mother-in-law. They also sell knitted items and felted item (made into purses and all sort of stuff). So we practiced on Nancy's yarn before we did our precious yarn and Nancy got all of her yarn dyed ;) I commented that we would also end up buying the yarn that we dyed back from her at a show ;) he he
We also had some good food and Nancy taught me how to fry zuccini ;). We knitted into the night. I was actually the first one to go to bed. I'm so used to waking up early with the kids.
While I was there I manage (finally) to separate Clint's jacket at the sleeves. Now it's just knitting the body down to the waist. I say just because although I have 366 stitches on the needle, it is a vast improvement from having 466!
Curious on how my skein came out. Here are couple of photos.
I wanted it to be variegated so I put the kool-aid mix in the bowl first and then layed the yarn on top. I pushed on the top of the yarn so it would all soak, but the bottom was submerged in the dye while the top was in air. It was heated in the microwave for 2x2min with a 2 min break in between. Super easy. You don't even have to use vinegar!
I made 2 skeins with food dye (one neon green and one regular green) and then I needed the vinegar. The vinegar makes the solution acidic enough for the chemical reaction between the fibre and the pigments to take place. Kool-aid has added ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which makes it acidic enough so we don't need vinegar.
On Flickr you can see more photos. I had a great time (thanks Nancy) and the weather was good (for drying the wool after the dyeing part). The food was awesome.
*No, this is not a Friends episode altough it does involve a lot of friends.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Hedera finished
I've only been knitting these since April! They've never been a focus project. I've carried them around in my purse and knit on them during knitting group or waiting at the post office.
This brings my WIPs down to 10! I want to start finishing stuff. Lately all I wanted is to start stuff. But finishing makes for a better blog material, right?
I've been focusing on Clint's vintage jacket. It's knit from top down and I'm done with the raglan increases, which means I have 466 stitches on my 3 mm, 40" needle (that would be 100 cm). The fabric is heavy and the stitches are small and the inevitable happened. The cable broke.
While I'm waiting for new needles, I've revisited my projects. It's great to have Ravely because then I have a good overview of what I have on the needles and what I want to work on. Last January I posted a list of WIPs hoping it would inspire me to finish them. The list had 7 WIPs on it. Out of those I finished 4 (the slippers, the pillow and the market bag) and frogged 1 (the linen towel). That leaves 2. Those two are the bath mat which I ran out of yarn on but have since made another one in different colors. This really is a quick and easy project (if you pay attention. I had to frog the finished piece half way back because I had accidentally increased) and I'm thinking about finishing the old WIP up in a different color. It'll look weird but if it's only for us, who cares (Mental Note: Hide it before guests arrive). I'm not a big fan of asymmetry.
The other old WIP is my leftover bag. It's all knit up. I just have to sew on the strap and throw it in the washer. Very complicated :o Well. I better go and take a look. Chiao
This brings my WIPs down to 10! I want to start finishing stuff. Lately all I wanted is to start stuff. But finishing makes for a better blog material, right?
I've been focusing on Clint's vintage jacket. It's knit from top down and I'm done with the raglan increases, which means I have 466 stitches on my 3 mm, 40" needle (that would be 100 cm). The fabric is heavy and the stitches are small and the inevitable happened. The cable broke.
While I'm waiting for new needles, I've revisited my projects. It's great to have Ravely because then I have a good overview of what I have on the needles and what I want to work on. Last January I posted a list of WIPs hoping it would inspire me to finish them. The list had 7 WIPs on it. Out of those I finished 4 (the slippers, the pillow and the market bag) and frogged 1 (the linen towel). That leaves 2. Those two are the bath mat which I ran out of yarn on but have since made another one in different colors. This really is a quick and easy project (if you pay attention. I had to frog the finished piece half way back because I had accidentally increased) and I'm thinking about finishing the old WIP up in a different color. It'll look weird but if it's only for us, who cares (Mental Note: Hide it before guests arrive). I'm not a big fan of asymmetry.
The other old WIP is my leftover bag. It's all knit up. I just have to sew on the strap and throw it in the washer. Very complicated :o Well. I better go and take a look. Chiao
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Knitty surprise
I'm breaking my blog silence because I can't keep quiet about the Knitty Surprise. There are 3 new patterns, one of which is so fantastic I can't not blog about it. I'm talking about Sea Tangles. First of all it looks great. Second of all it is knit with stainless steel (the engineer in me wonders if it is 316). Third of all it is a random pattern. Each time you open the excel file with the pattern it changes. I'm impressed. The pattern has random cables so you have no idea how it is going to turn out. How exciting.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Photo Meme
See what I did during my lunch break.
1. Sonja Binzuru Sonja at Todai-ji, 2. Lamb united we stand, 3. Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Nosferatu, 4. Red Gizmo, 5. Michael C. HallDEXTER (Season 2), 6. Water water droplets in the shower - o.k. bokeh, 7. Australia 'So what are you doing this Australia Day ?', 8. Ice cream Good News Ice Cream!, 9. Expert expert, 10. Knitting Momma, 11. Friendly Happy Girls Under a Rainbow12. rajnos - Not available
Rules of the Meme
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.
Do you wanna play too?
1. Sonja Binzuru Sonja at Todai-ji, 2. Lamb united we stand, 3. Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Nosferatu, 4. Red Gizmo, 5. Michael C. HallDEXTER (Season 2), 6. Water water droplets in the shower - o.k. bokeh, 7. Australia 'So what are you doing this Australia Day ?', 8. Ice cream Good News Ice Cream!, 9. Expert expert, 10. Knitting Momma, 11. Friendly Happy Girls Under a Rainbow12. rajnos - Not available
Rules of the Meme
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.
Do you wanna play too?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Illusion knitting
Your encouragements to this post motivated me to take a better look at the slightly felted top. It still fits. Maybe I can knit edging on it and use it as a capelet?
I'm throwing in some dishcloth photos.
This one is done by playing with the varigation in the yarn. The yarn is two-colored and one color is knitted on front and purled on back and the other is purled on front and knitted in back. Super easy pattern but unique results. The pattern depends on how many stitches you cast on and of course I forgot how many I cast on. My best guess is 39 sts on 4.5 mm (size7) needles.
I stopped doing the Monthly Dishcloth KAL a while back but am back on the wagon. The mid-March cloth was based on illusion knitting technique, where you alternate knitting and purling with two colors to come up with a pattern which appears at a certain angle. Look.
I made that cloth with Knitpick's CotLin which is a super soft cotton (tanquis), linen blend. I want to make a top out of this yarn. It's really nice. Those two colors go very well together.
I'm throwing in some dishcloth photos.
This one is done by playing with the varigation in the yarn. The yarn is two-colored and one color is knitted on front and purled on back and the other is purled on front and knitted in back. Super easy pattern but unique results. The pattern depends on how many stitches you cast on and of course I forgot how many I cast on. My best guess is 39 sts on 4.5 mm (size7) needles.
I stopped doing the Monthly Dishcloth KAL a while back but am back on the wagon. The mid-March cloth was based on illusion knitting technique, where you alternate knitting and purling with two colors to come up with a pattern which appears at a certain angle. Look.
I made that cloth with Knitpick's CotLin which is a super soft cotton (tanquis), linen blend. I want to make a top out of this yarn. It's really nice. Those two colors go very well together.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Crochet all day (and it rhymes too!)
What a great day for crafts today. First of all I had to take it easy because I had mosquito bites on my feet, some of which were close to my knees and they have a tendency to swell up and I could hardly walk yesterday. I was much better today (Sunday) but still decided to take it easy. For instance I sat outside while my daughters were playing in the back from noon until 6:30! It was very comfortable in the shade and there I sat and crochet. I finished this bathmat, which is a part of a gift set I'm working on. And I finished a square for a Crochet-a-long on Ravelry, where you make one square a month. I have been making them with 8 mm hook, but consistantly ran out of yarn before I was done. I planned to purchace an extra skein to fix that later or have it one row smaller but then had the brilliant idea of using a smaller hook. Problem is that in the US there is no hook awailable between 6.5 and 8 mm. I thought 6.5 would be too small and had my mom send me a 7 mm crochet hook. It did the trick. I made the March square and I even had a little bit of yarn to spare. It work out perfectly (except that now I have to remake January and February and get caught up with the other months).
I took some photos of finished objects. For instance this cool illusion dishcloth, made out of Knitpicks CotLin (which is part cotton and part linen and for some reason super soft). The pattern is not obvious (although it is in the photo I took straight on) until you tilt it and then it pops out.
Let's not forget the german crochet bag I made out of Sugar'n Cream stripes.
I love it. I loved making it (although putting it together was a little tricky unless you had the diagram in front of you). And I am considering to line it although at the moment it sound like a good idea to use it only for things that wouldn't fall out of the holes! In the background you can see my shade, where I sat all day and crochet.
I also finally took a photo of my womb I made from knitty.com. I finished it a while ago but never took a photo. Now I just have to send it to my midwife, who delivered both of my daughters, at home. Maybe she can have it decorate her office.
I took some photos of finished objects. For instance this cool illusion dishcloth, made out of Knitpicks CotLin (which is part cotton and part linen and for some reason super soft). The pattern is not obvious (although it is in the photo I took straight on) until you tilt it and then it pops out.
Let's not forget the german crochet bag I made out of Sugar'n Cream stripes.
I love it. I loved making it (although putting it together was a little tricky unless you had the diagram in front of you). And I am considering to line it although at the moment it sound like a good idea to use it only for things that wouldn't fall out of the holes! In the background you can see my shade, where I sat all day and crochet.
I also finally took a photo of my womb I made from knitty.com. I finished it a while ago but never took a photo. Now I just have to send it to my midwife, who delivered both of my daughters, at home. Maybe she can have it decorate her office.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Hedera by Cookie A and crochet mania continues
I'm knitting Hedera. The pattern is well written and the first socks fits perfectly. Here is a picture of it unblocked.
Like all lace it blossoms when blocked (in this case worn)
I'm just knitting it when I'm away, at S'n'B or waiting rooms and such, so the progress is slow. BTW the color on the lower photo is more correct.
The blanket in the forground is a blanket I'm crocheting out of crappy yarn. What can I say. It came in a huge skein and beautiful colors and I needed a mindless project. I believe I talked about it few days ago.
I'm taking next week off. I don't know if that will mean good quality craft time, but I hope so. We are all (me, hubby and kids) going to Washington D.C. Unfortunately, the 6 hour car ride will not result in much knitting, since I'm going to be driving.
I hope to have the bag I was crocheting ready soon (provided I do the dreaded sewing ;) ). I can't wait to have it done, so I am very motivated, but not motivated enough to not work on other projects. My bathmat is coming along very well. I love the pattern. It's a crochet V-pattern.
Anyways, tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month, which means the library knitting club will be meeting. This month we are going to have a yarn swap. I have some yarn I can part with (I think) ha ha.
Adieu mes chers amis, a bientot.
Like all lace it blossoms when blocked (in this case worn)
I'm just knitting it when I'm away, at S'n'B or waiting rooms and such, so the progress is slow. BTW the color on the lower photo is more correct.
The blanket in the forground is a blanket I'm crocheting out of crappy yarn. What can I say. It came in a huge skein and beautiful colors and I needed a mindless project. I believe I talked about it few days ago.
I'm taking next week off. I don't know if that will mean good quality craft time, but I hope so. We are all (me, hubby and kids) going to Washington D.C. Unfortunately, the 6 hour car ride will not result in much knitting, since I'm going to be driving.
I hope to have the bag I was crocheting ready soon (provided I do the dreaded sewing ;) ). I can't wait to have it done, so I am very motivated, but not motivated enough to not work on other projects. My bathmat is coming along very well. I love the pattern. It's a crochet V-pattern.
Anyways, tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month, which means the library knitting club will be meeting. This month we are going to have a yarn swap. I have some yarn I can part with (I think) ha ha.
Adieu mes chers amis, a bientot.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A little accident
I don't know how it happened, but one of my projects got in the washer and felted! It was on the needles and everything! It was the tshirt I was making out of eingirni (Icelandic laceweight yarn). Yeah, it's sad. I was at the point where you separate for the sleeves. The fabric is surprisingly soft after felting and probably 'geðveikt' warm.
Here is a preview of the crochet bag I'm working on. I love the colors. I can't wait to get more of this yarn. I have to make 16 squares. That is not going to be a problem since they are quite addicting to make, and none of them looks the same. Only thing is that I'm using a tiny little hook (3.5 mm) so it is a little hard, but I wanted a tight fabric so I think it's worth it (to use such a small hook). Normally they recommend 5 mm hook.
Here is a preview of the crochet bag I'm working on. I love the colors. I can't wait to get more of this yarn. I have to make 16 squares. That is not going to be a problem since they are quite addicting to make, and none of them looks the same. Only thing is that I'm using a tiny little hook (3.5 mm) so it is a little hard, but I wanted a tight fabric so I think it's worth it (to use such a small hook). Normally they recommend 5 mm hook.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Crochet crazy
I'm crazy for crocheting at the moment. There are at least 3 projects I want to do all at once, two of which I've started. I think a part of the reason for this craze is that all the things I have on the knitting needles are complicated. Not difficult, just complicated enough so I have to look at a pattern every once in a while (or figure something out if I'm not using a pattern).
What I've been working on all weekend (and it's a long one) is a impulse buy I made in Joann's on Saturday. I've been looking for 7 and 7.5 mm crochet hooks (which apparently don't exist here) when I saw this hugh ball of crap yarn in nice enough colors. With that and 10 mm hook I'm making a blanket, or a throw, or an afghan (there are too many words for teppi in English). I'm making the ripple blanket. I remember this pattern from my childhood and now it's become popular again. I can see why. It is very addicting. The colorway I have doesn't show of the pattern very well but it looks nice enough regardless. I will have to make this pattern again in nicer solid color yarn. I love making blankets, but I don't have the budget to make them in gorgeous yarn yet.
I'm also finally starting a crochet bag (link to a pdf file), which seems to come out quite nicely in the new Sugar'n'cream stripes yarn according to Ravelry projects. I'm using the green varigation. I'm using a 3.5 mm hook, which is borderline impossible. But it will make the fabric tighter and the bag better (this yarn is normally knit with 4.5 mm needles).
The third project is a bathmat. I finally got some yarn for it. I started one a while ago, when we moved here but ran out of yarn. I finally got some more yarn for it and I can't wait to start it. Maybe tomorrow. The pattern is from the book 'One Skein'.
I haven't been feeling like blogging lately. One reason is that I was sick a week ago. I was in bed for 3 days and didn't knit at all or do any other crafts. I've also just been busy with work and stuff and at night, when the kids go to sleep, I use the laptop to watch movies or TV shows through Netflix.com. I was going to take some picture of the little I've been upto lately (mostly Hedera), but the card in the camera wanted to be re-formated. That was too depressing. I had some photos from yesterday when we build a patio with bricks (or 12"x12" stepping stones). We got a table too and now we can sit outside and chill :)
What I've been working on all weekend (and it's a long one) is a impulse buy I made in Joann's on Saturday. I've been looking for 7 and 7.5 mm crochet hooks (which apparently don't exist here) when I saw this hugh ball of crap yarn in nice enough colors. With that and 10 mm hook I'm making a blanket, or a throw, or an afghan (there are too many words for teppi in English). I'm making the ripple blanket. I remember this pattern from my childhood and now it's become popular again. I can see why. It is very addicting. The colorway I have doesn't show of the pattern very well but it looks nice enough regardless. I will have to make this pattern again in nicer solid color yarn. I love making blankets, but I don't have the budget to make them in gorgeous yarn yet.
I'm also finally starting a crochet bag (link to a pdf file), which seems to come out quite nicely in the new Sugar'n'cream stripes yarn according to Ravelry projects. I'm using the green varigation. I'm using a 3.5 mm hook, which is borderline impossible. But it will make the fabric tighter and the bag better (this yarn is normally knit with 4.5 mm needles).
The third project is a bathmat. I finally got some yarn for it. I started one a while ago, when we moved here but ran out of yarn. I finally got some more yarn for it and I can't wait to start it. Maybe tomorrow. The pattern is from the book 'One Skein'.
I haven't been feeling like blogging lately. One reason is that I was sick a week ago. I was in bed for 3 days and didn't knit at all or do any other crafts. I've also just been busy with work and stuff and at night, when the kids go to sleep, I use the laptop to watch movies or TV shows through Netflix.com. I was going to take some picture of the little I've been upto lately (mostly Hedera), but the card in the camera wanted to be re-formated. That was too depressing. I had some photos from yesterday when we build a patio with bricks (or 12"x12" stepping stones). We got a table too and now we can sit outside and chill :)
Friday, April 25, 2008
Slacker
In stead of knitting my socks, I´m watching sock knitting on the Internet.
Kinda makes you want to have a knitting machine doesn't it?
Kinda makes you want to have a knitting machine doesn't it?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Green sweater
I finished the green sweater I was making for Ása. It is a little big, but not too big. It will be perfect next winter :) I already have an idea for a sweater for Kamilla and can't wait to get the yarn and get started on it.
Here are some pictures, mostly modeled by Kamilla, who asked me what kind of smile I wanted and then supplied me with great many. I couldn't choose so you'll get most of them. If you click on the pictures you will get the full size version.
There is one of Ása Sóley modeling it. She likes it.
There are even more photos on flickr. You can see those by choosing one of the photos above and look around a little.
Here are some pictures, mostly modeled by Kamilla, who asked me what kind of smile I wanted and then supplied me with great many. I couldn't choose so you'll get most of them. If you click on the pictures you will get the full size version.
There is one of Ása Sóley modeling it. She likes it.
There are even more photos on flickr. You can see those by choosing one of the photos above and look around a little.
EZ´s April blanket
One skein of this:
With a dab of this:
Produces 2 of these:
Oh man, I'm hooked. I love the yarn and I love the pattern. The yarn is Lamb's pride Bulky in colorways: Prairie Goldenrod (the variegated) and Lemon Drop (the solid). The variegated knits up beautifully and the colors are lovely. Too bad I don't have more of the variegated. Originally I planned to have the blanket in two tones but once I got started I changed my mind. I have couple of green skeins I hope to exchange for the yellow and that will give me 4 more squares. I'm planning on making 24 a little at a time.
The pattern is from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac and is the April project (the book has a project for every month). It's construction is interesting a la EZ. The squares are not sewn together, but crafted. That's why the stitches are kept live.
With a dab of this:
Produces 2 of these:
Oh man, I'm hooked. I love the yarn and I love the pattern. The yarn is Lamb's pride Bulky in colorways: Prairie Goldenrod (the variegated) and Lemon Drop (the solid). The variegated knits up beautifully and the colors are lovely. Too bad I don't have more of the variegated. Originally I planned to have the blanket in two tones but once I got started I changed my mind. I have couple of green skeins I hope to exchange for the yellow and that will give me 4 more squares. I'm planning on making 24 a little at a time.
The pattern is from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac and is the April project (the book has a project for every month). It's construction is interesting a la EZ. The squares are not sewn together, but crafted. That's why the stitches are kept live.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
And the answer is ...
... a swatch!
Yebb, that little cylindrical thing is a swatch!
Thing is. I was swatching my plötulopi knit double on 4.5 mm needles and got 15 sts per 4 inches (10 cm). I need to get 18.5. But the thing is I was knitting the purl stitches too loosly because I was afraid to break the yarn and it showed on the swatch. So I want to see what my gauge is if I knit in the round and lo and behold that little cylindrical thing appeared. I cast on 20 sts and knit around with the magic loop. It worked just fine and I got 18 (or maybe even 18 and a quarter) stitches per 10 cm/4".
I was really happy to have outsmarted the old swatch until I realized that the jacket I had in mind for the yarn was knit back and fro.
Back to the drawing board, maybe I´ll swatch again and this time be less lenient on the purl stitches.
Yebb, that little cylindrical thing is a swatch!
Thing is. I was swatching my plötulopi knit double on 4.5 mm needles and got 15 sts per 4 inches (10 cm). I need to get 18.5. But the thing is I was knitting the purl stitches too loosly because I was afraid to break the yarn and it showed on the swatch. So I want to see what my gauge is if I knit in the round and lo and behold that little cylindrical thing appeared. I cast on 20 sts and knit around with the magic loop. It worked just fine and I got 18 (or maybe even 18 and a quarter) stitches per 10 cm/4".
I was really happy to have outsmarted the old swatch until I realized that the jacket I had in mind for the yarn was knit back and fro.
Back to the drawing board, maybe I´ll swatch again and this time be less lenient on the purl stitches.
Monday, April 07, 2008
The jury is still out on this!
I wouldn't actually ask you a question you could answer, would I? Nope, that would be too trivial.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)