The blue hat was finished last week. I know it's bragging, but it's really cute. :) A friend of mine is test knitting it for me. Some other friends will model it for me on our NYC trip. I have awesome friends!
I'm working on yet another hat. I think I'm obsessed! I love cloche and bucket style hats, they just don't look good on me. I have the wrong face or head or hair... But I think I've managed to actually write a proper pattern, even though it's only one size. I don't really know if I should work the patterns in more than one size or just figure it's a cloche hat, and generalise.
I also found out that I don't really like SSK. Even when I do it as slip one knitwise, slip one purlwise. It just doesn't lay right. For Nom-Nom's blankie I tried TechKnitter's SYTK method and quite liked the results, at least in chunky yarn on big needles. But I didn't care for it on this hat. Which is smaller needles, tighter stitches and the yarn held double. And so I'm trying K2togtbl. I like how it looks, although it's fiddly to maneuver.
I want it to slant off to the left, even though the angle is wrong. And my SSK stitches are just sloppy looking.
So. Yet another hat! And I have some more design ideas lurking in my head. Not sure if any of them are worthwhile, but I'll try to knit them. :)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Design decisions
I sometimes wish I didn't get these design ideas. It always loos so good in my head, but I can't quite make it come out my fingers. I got up to the the pleats and realised that I had done the math wrong. And so I hadn't cast on enough stitches. And because I kinda wanted this to be a proper pattern I need to factor in those stitches, I can't just wing it and add some or because there's a decrease round, just not decrease a few over the pleats part.
Also, why am I so hyped up about doing this on a smaller needle? Just because that's the gauge I needed for that other hat? The yarn I settled on is very different. So since I had to start over anyway I'm knitting a gauge swatch on a size 6.
Things that shold be done by now if I wasn't so obsessed with this stoopid hat idea: The purple and green kimono. The other sock. The baby blanket.
Also, why am I so hyped up about doing this on a smaller needle? Just because that's the gauge I needed for that other hat? The yarn I settled on is very different. So since I had to start over anyway I'm knitting a gauge swatch on a size 6.
Things that shold be done by now if I wasn't so obsessed with this stoopid hat idea: The purple and green kimono. The other sock. The baby blanket.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Finally a pattern for the Scalloped Pearls Kimono
This jacket was inspired by many things. I've always loved the pattern since I saw it in one of Barbara Walker's Treasury books that I got out of the library nearly twenty years ago. But I never knew quite what to do with it, except that it would make a lovely little jacket. I bought the Jawoll Magic sock yarn intending to use it for a pullover, then changed my mind and tried it out in a cardigan, using the yarn doubled, but it didn't stop the yarn from striping and I dislike horizontal stripes on me. Then my yarn shop owner, Glenda was wearing a sideways-made cardigan and she got a book of kimono patterns and the design just popped into my head.
Pearl Barred Scallop pattern:
Multiple of 14 stitches plus 1
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: (wrong side) Purl
Rows 2,4,6,8,10: K1,*YO, K3, SSK, YO, slip1, K2tog, psso, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1*Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Notes: In pattern, slip the stitches knitwise. For the I-cord/tubular edge, slip the stitches purlwise. The I-cord/tubular edge stitches are worked by either slipping last 2 stitches on the purl side/and then the knitting those 2 stitches on the next knit row (on the Back Right and Left Front pieces) or slipping the last 2 stitches on the knit side and then purling them on the next purl row (Back Left and Right Front pieces) It is also done at the neck edges for one pattern repeat of rows 1-12, then the neck stitches are decreased to create one selvedge stitch, which is used to sew the shoulder seams.
I made this to fit me and it's a kimono style jacket, so it's meant to be large and boxy. It has not been test knit in any other size, but the basic idea would be to add or subtract sections of pattern repeats of rows 1-12, which measure 2.25 inches.
Gauge: 17 sts/24 rows = 4 inches on a size 9US
Finished measurements: 27 inches wide across the back, 22.5 inches long.
Brown sweater/long version: 27 inches across the back,26.25 inches long
The brown sweater was done using Jawoll Magic, held double throughout.
Back Right: Cast on 89 stitches for short version (103 stitches for long version)
Row 1: Purl
Row 2: (pattern row 1)begin pattern, slip the last 2 stitches purlwise
next row: Knit those slipped stitches, continue in pattern, slip the last 2 stitches purlwise. Continue those Icord edge stitches on both sides for one pattern repeat (rows 1-12) then decrease the neck side to one selvedge stitch.
Work 6 pattern row repeats, on last repeat work to Row 12, bind off purlwise 50(64) sts. 38 stitches remaining for sleeve section, finish remaining stitches in pattern row 12.
Pattern alters to:
Rows 1,3,5,7,9: (wrong side) Purl
Rows 2,4,6,8,10: K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, (YO, K3, SSK, YO, slip1, K2tog, psso, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1)2x, end K1
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Work three pattern row repeats and bind off purlwise on Row 12.
Back Left piece: Cast on 89 (103) stitches,
Row 1: purl
Row 2: (pattern row 1) begin pattern, slip the last 2 stitches purlwise
next row: Knit those slipped stitches, continue in pattern, slip the last 2 stitches purlwise. Continue those Icord edge stitches on both sides for one pattern repeat (rows 1-12) then decrease the neck side to one selvedge stitch.
Work 6 pattern row repeats, on Row 11, bind off 50(64) stitches knitwise, 38 stitches remaining for sleeve section, continue Row 11 and 12.
Pattern alters to:
Rows 1,3,5,7,9: (wrong side) Purl
Rows 2,4,6,8,10: K2 (YO, K3, SSK, YO, slip 1, K2tog, psso, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1)x2 end YO, K3, SSK, YO, K2tog, K1
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Work three pattern row repeats and bind off purlwise on Row 12.
Front Right piece: Cast on 88(102) (Icord edging will be at the end knit/beginning purl side, which will become the bottom edge. shoulder edge has 1 added selvedge stitch.)
Row 1: purl
Row 2: (pattern row 1) slip first 2 stitches purlwise, purl the remaining stitches. Continue in pattern, slipping the Icord edge stitches on the end of the knit row and purling them on the purl row and working the shoulder selvedge stitch for 5 pattern row repeats(4 for long version), on Row 11, bind off 50(64) stitches knitwise, 38 stitches remaining for sleeve section, continue Row 11 and 12.
Pattern alters to:
Rows 1,3,5,7,9: (wrong side) Purl
Rows 2,4,6,8,10: K2 (YO, K3, SSK, YO, slip 1, K2tog, psso, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1)x2 end YO, K3, SSK, YO, K2tog, K1
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Work three pattern row repeats and bind off purlwise on Row 12.
Front Left piece: Cast on 88(102) stitches(Icord edging will be at the end purl/beginning knit side, which will become the bottom edge. shoulder edge has 1 added selvedge stitch.)
Row 1: purl
Row 2: (pattern row 1) begin pattern, purl to last 2 stitches, slip them purlwise. Continue in pattern, slipping the last 2 stitches on the purl side and then knitting them on the knit row, and working the selvedge stitch for 5 pattern row repeats(4 for long version) on last repeat work to Row 12, bind off purlwise 50(64) sts. 38 stitches remaining for sleeve section, finish remaining stitches in pattern row 12.
Pattern alters to:
Rows 1,3,5,7,9: (wrong side) Purl
Rows 2,4,6,8,10: K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, (YO, K3, SSK, YO, slip1, K2tog, psso, YO, K2tog, K3, YO, K1)2x, end K1
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Work three pattern row repeats and bind off purlwise on Row 12.
Sew the back left and front left pieces together at the shoulder seam, sew the sleeve and side seams, repeat for back right and front right pieces, sew center back seam, weave in all the ends.
Optional: Icord fastener for the front pieces. Length is optional, but should be long enough to weave through the holes made by the yarnovers and tie a knot.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
Oh my! There was just far too much to really look at yesterday. I wish that I had had a sweater in mind for some of the lovely worsted or DK weight yarns that I saw, I'm sure I could have gotten a great deal on it, but I didn't have a clue of what I could do with some of those yarn. Or if I do have a clue (like the kimono thingy I'm working on) I can only guess that I would buy enough to make it. And what if I didn't? And so projects like that I feel much more comfortable shopping for yarn at my local yarn shop (plus, Glenda is all kinds of awesome!)
So mostly I just wandered around and gawked. And there was so much to look at! And for the most part the vendors were very nice, asking how you were and chuckling when I said 'Overwhelmed!' And the tents and stalls were very crowded, but generally we all managed to look at the stuff we wanted to see by all being polite and saying 'excuse me, can I get through?' to anyone in our way of the pretty yarn. Except for one tent. I assumed the line was for people buying stuff from that tent and so tried to walk into the only open flap of the dark little tent only to be stopped by a woman with a clipboard (she was tiny, but physically moved to block me coming into the tent) saying 'In an effort to keep the crowding controlled you MUST go stand in line!' And she was just so very rude about it that I didn't even bother waiting in line to see what treasures she must have been hiding, because my brief glimpse inside that dark tent didn't seem interesting enough to wait in line to see.
I was very tempted by some Handmaiden Sea Sock. And some yarn by Dragonfly Yarns. But it was so difficult to decide on colours and so I will likely peruse those on the net at my leisure. I squished some skeins though.
I ended up buying some yarn from Sanguine Gryphon - in part because of the pageantry of the whole setup. :) I love their website and the Renn Faire ambiance of it all. I also bought a skein from Silver Spring Looms, it's purple and green and shiny. I don't know what to do with either skein, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.
It was a long and tiring day, but we had gorgeous weather! Sun and blue sky with a few clouds, warm enough to be nice, but not so hot that I felt uncomfortable in my sweater (although the bus was too hot for it) And I hope we go again next year!
I forgot the camera, so no pics of my new jacket thingy, but a great many people saw it and liked it and that made me feel really good. I am working on a pattern. Well, I'm writing down what I'm doing, which I hope will become a pattern of sorts. I'm basically OK at making something for myself, it's making size changes that daunts me. But I think I keep jumping the gun on that and not just finishing the directions for a size that fits me, putting out those directions, and only then working on pattern sizing.
Anyway, I have two patterns to work on and I'm going to apply that method: Just writing down what I'm doing and not fretting about how it doesn't look like a pattern.
So mostly I just wandered around and gawked. And there was so much to look at! And for the most part the vendors were very nice, asking how you were and chuckling when I said 'Overwhelmed!' And the tents and stalls were very crowded, but generally we all managed to look at the stuff we wanted to see by all being polite and saying 'excuse me, can I get through?' to anyone in our way of the pretty yarn. Except for one tent. I assumed the line was for people buying stuff from that tent and so tried to walk into the only open flap of the dark little tent only to be stopped by a woman with a clipboard (she was tiny, but physically moved to block me coming into the tent) saying 'In an effort to keep the crowding controlled you MUST go stand in line!' And she was just so very rude about it that I didn't even bother waiting in line to see what treasures she must have been hiding, because my brief glimpse inside that dark tent didn't seem interesting enough to wait in line to see.
I was very tempted by some Handmaiden Sea Sock. And some yarn by Dragonfly Yarns. But it was so difficult to decide on colours and so I will likely peruse those on the net at my leisure. I squished some skeins though.
I ended up buying some yarn from Sanguine Gryphon - in part because of the pageantry of the whole setup. :) I love their website and the Renn Faire ambiance of it all. I also bought a skein from Silver Spring Looms, it's purple and green and shiny. I don't know what to do with either skein, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.
It was a long and tiring day, but we had gorgeous weather! Sun and blue sky with a few clouds, warm enough to be nice, but not so hot that I felt uncomfortable in my sweater (although the bus was too hot for it) And I hope we go again next year!
I forgot the camera, so no pics of my new jacket thingy, but a great many people saw it and liked it and that made me feel really good. I am working on a pattern. Well, I'm writing down what I'm doing, which I hope will become a pattern of sorts. I'm basically OK at making something for myself, it's making size changes that daunts me. But I think I keep jumping the gun on that and not just finishing the directions for a size that fits me, putting out those directions, and only then working on pattern sizing.
Anyway, I have two patterns to work on and I'm going to apply that method: Just writing down what I'm doing and not fretting about how it doesn't look like a pattern.
Friday, May 6, 2011
links
This site actually printed out graph paper to my gauge and sized properly! whoo!
http://www.knitonthenet.com/designchart/
I'm going to go look at all the other stuff that's there now, but I'm just happy this version worked. And so I'm linking it here in the hopes that I won't forget it.
http://www.knitonthenet.com/designchart/
I'm going to go look at all the other stuff that's there now, but I'm just happy this version worked. And so I'm linking it here in the hopes that I won't forget it.
Designs, again
The kimono was fixed, somewhat, by adding an icord strap that I just wove in some of the yarnover holes created by the pattern, to keep it closed across the bust. I added an old key that I used to wear as a necklace with the icord threaded through it.
Also working the sleeves for the starflower shrug. I wore it yesterday and once again everyone said they loved it and asked how to do it. When I originally did it I had a vague idea, knitted it up, it didn't quite turn out how I wanted, but it got cobbled together and I figured I'd be the only one wearing it, so it didn't matter.
I think I should find that knitting graph paper where you can type in your stitch gauge and it prints out squares to fit that gauge - print out lots of them and tape it all together, then I can do the math and draw it on the graph paper. Because the shape I want is really weird.
Tomorrow is the MD Sheep and Wool Festival!
Also working the sleeves for the starflower shrug. I wore it yesterday and once again everyone said they loved it and asked how to do it. When I originally did it I had a vague idea, knitted it up, it didn't quite turn out how I wanted, but it got cobbled together and I figured I'd be the only one wearing it, so it didn't matter.
I think I should find that knitting graph paper where you can type in your stitch gauge and it prints out squares to fit that gauge - print out lots of them and tape it all together, then I can do the math and draw it on the graph paper. Because the shape I want is really weird.
Tomorrow is the MD Sheep and Wool Festival!
Monday, May 2, 2011
It's done...
...but I'm not entirely thrilled with it.
The neck line is a bit too wide. I think it's because the front pieces aren't quite wide enough. The back pieces fit pretty good except I don't like the extra garter stitch rows I did, they look a bit odd in the centre because they are too thick and not wavy like the rest of the pattern.
I quite like the sleeves and they could be made longer if there's enough yarn left.
Possible fixes: Do one less pattern repeat in width (which would actually make it shorter) and do one extra pattern row section on the front pieces. Which would mean doing only one I-cord pattern row section on each back piece at the neckline.
Also, it's possible I didn't really have to double the yarn - I may have gotten just as nice an effect by using a single strand and used a size 7 needle. hmmm.
I think it's a pattern worth tweaking, but maybe do it in cotton. It's be quite nice in the Haze yarn, but that's set aside for the Starflower shrug thingy.
Notes on that: I toyed with the idea of front pieces, but have decided that I really prefer it as a large shrug thing. But the sleeves need modifications, definitely, as does the neckline. And I don't really think I need flappy bits all the way around. So, that project may be next! But unfinished projects are mocking me! The green BHM yarn is sitting there, petulant and unloved. I may just rip it out and start in on a clapotis. Or possibly the Seafoam pattern, only wider. I do think my stitch is interesting, but I'm not convinced it'd be good in a wide shawl. Maybe the coin lace clapotis? Also, that second Sausalito sock is just lurking there. I did do a few rows whilst watching Doctor Who. Maybe I'll take it on the bus trip. Also also, the star blanket! I really liked the radiating star pattern, this one, not so much. probably because of colour changes and there really isn't much of a pattern to keep me entertained. I'll get back to it soon! I think because I know there isn't an immediate deadline I know I can put it on hold while these other patterns obsess me. :)
Pictures soonish.
The neck line is a bit too wide. I think it's because the front pieces aren't quite wide enough. The back pieces fit pretty good except I don't like the extra garter stitch rows I did, they look a bit odd in the centre because they are too thick and not wavy like the rest of the pattern.
I quite like the sleeves and they could be made longer if there's enough yarn left.
Possible fixes: Do one less pattern repeat in width (which would actually make it shorter) and do one extra pattern row section on the front pieces. Which would mean doing only one I-cord pattern row section on each back piece at the neckline.
Also, it's possible I didn't really have to double the yarn - I may have gotten just as nice an effect by using a single strand and used a size 7 needle. hmmm.
I think it's a pattern worth tweaking, but maybe do it in cotton. It's be quite nice in the Haze yarn, but that's set aside for the Starflower shrug thingy.
Notes on that: I toyed with the idea of front pieces, but have decided that I really prefer it as a large shrug thing. But the sleeves need modifications, definitely, as does the neckline. And I don't really think I need flappy bits all the way around. So, that project may be next! But unfinished projects are mocking me! The green BHM yarn is sitting there, petulant and unloved. I may just rip it out and start in on a clapotis. Or possibly the Seafoam pattern, only wider. I do think my stitch is interesting, but I'm not convinced it'd be good in a wide shawl. Maybe the coin lace clapotis? Also, that second Sausalito sock is just lurking there. I did do a few rows whilst watching Doctor Who. Maybe I'll take it on the bus trip. Also also, the star blanket! I really liked the radiating star pattern, this one, not so much. probably because of colour changes and there really isn't much of a pattern to keep me entertained. I'll get back to it soon! I think because I know there isn't an immediate deadline I know I can put it on hold while these other patterns obsess me. :)
Pictures soonish.
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