Latest Knitting Project
Thanks to some fairly long musical rehearsals in January, I was able to revisit my
September Sweater project. (You know how it goes: "Okay, tenors, let's take a look at page 12. Everyone else just sit tight." Good thing I had a project to keep my hands busy!) After starting the project in April 2009, it was a real joy to finally get it finished. I have worn it a lot and it is very comfortable.
If you click on the above link, you'll notice that mine is a bit different than the original. I made the button bands a little narrower, and only used three buttons. They are more for decoration than anything else.
This sweater has side-to-side construction, which I really like. That makes it more customize-able for tall people like me who have long arms. I made them significantly longer than the original, which is my preference. I love that cable pattern running across my back. It's so easy once you get the hang of the cabling, but it looks very hard. Those are my favorite kind of knitting patterns!
You'll have to excuse the bad photos. The only photography/blogging time I have is during my lunch break and I snuck into a vacant office to snap these. Good thing there's an empty bookcase and a self-timer on my camera! :)
Anyway, this bottom photo is probably the most accurate color depiction of the sweater. I am in love with all the cables, and the fact that it turned out a little like a kimono sweater, with long bell sleeves and a more fitted torso. That was kind of an unplanned modification to the pattern, but I was running low on yarn and needed to make a few changes.
All in all I'd call this project a success! I managed to use up some yarn I had living in a box for over two years, so that was an accomplishment! Now I'm making a new sweater with some other "stashed" yarn, and hopefully that one will come together a little faster than this last one.
Labels: Knitting
Knitting highs and lows
Although I love knitting things for babies and children, it can be impractical at times because I don't normally have a baby or child sitting around to use as a model for sizing. I knit a
Viking Hat for the cutest baby in the world's first birthday a few months ago and loved how it turned out. So, after being asked to knit a pair of caps for twin two-year-olds, I thought I would just adjust the number of stitches and be on my merry knitting way.
After about four (or five...) hours of knitting, I looked down and realized that the cap was knitting up WAY bigger than I expected. After digging out a measuring tape to check, I realized that the circumference of this cap is 24 inches:
How in the world would this fit a two-year-old?!? Well, in my brain it seemed logical to add 16 stitches to a hat pattern for a one-year-old. But, it turns out kids don't have heads that expand about four inches between ages one and two. So it looks like this hat is headed to the frog pond (ribbit/rip it) for a do-over. If my online research is correct, the average circumference of a toddler is only about 1-2 inches more than a baby, meaning that with a little stretching, the original Viking Hat pattern should work for the twins. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.
On a lighter note, I finished half of the yoke portion of my
September Sweater today! Ooh, look at all of those pretty, twisty cables. Mmmm.
Actually, if you want to visualize where I'm going with this project, you need to look at it from this perspective. Just imagine looking down at a person with their arms out to the side. See, half of that will be wrapped around one side, and then more knitting will be knitted down to make the body of the sweater later. Fun, no?
Those slips of paper were to denote the front and back of the sweater, since I kept losing my perspective while knitting and got confused about how to decrease for the neck. But now that it has been successfully sorted, the rest of this sweater should knit up like a breeze!
What I think is funny is that every time I get going on this sweater, the weather gets really warm and I lose my knitting mojo. Then, a storm blows in (wow, like yesterday and today!!) and all of a sudden I crave a knitting project. I just wonder if I will get this sweater done before summer comes along for real and douses my urge to knit...
Labels: Knitting
...AND I have a life!
Not too long ago, the speedy progress on a sweater project symbolized an accomplishment, but also a bit of isolation and lonliness. After rehearsals or performances at the theater in Germany, I was pretty much left alone. That meant many (MANY) hours of knitting time on my couch in my cozy little apartment, usually with a cup of tea, a few cookies, and NPR playing on my computer in the background.
But nowadays it symbolizes balance. I knit during my lunch break at work, and during odd moments at home or at my boyfriend's house. It is an in-between activity that falls on either side of a visit, an audition, an appointment, or something else that people with a *real life* are up to.
Yes, I did just end that sentance with a preposition. Sorry. 
After just over a week on the needles, I am surprised to be as far along on the
September Sweater as I am. I think it's a good sign. A sign of happiness and balance. :)
Labels: Knitting
New Project!
After finishing the Lellow Blankie for my friend Beth, I was eager to start a project that was more challenging. Although I loved being able to knit anytime and anywhere with such an easy project as the blankie, by the end I was REALLY bored with the pattern and couldn't stand looking at yellow yarn.
So, after determining what yarn in my under-the-bed stash I wanted to work with next, I started poking around on Ravelry and found a great sweater pattern called
the September Sweater. The author of the pattern posted notes on her blog about stitches and construction, but not a complete pattern, which turned out to be even more fun, since it forced me to figure out the knitting maths of the pattern.
Knitting maths? Teresa seriously, you are the biggest nerd in the world.Okay, yes, it's nerdy. But also very satisfying when it's figured out. Take a look at this picture. What I did is I color-coded the main stitch patterns given for the sweater. Then I used graph paper and made cut-outs of each stitch pattern. I layed them out on a grid of the total number of cast-on stitches given by the author to determine where the different pattern stitches should go in accordance with the number of stitches, including casting on additional stitches.
Wow, I didn't even understand that last part! Okay, long story short, I figured out where to put all the pretty swirly pattern thingies so they would always look swirly and pretty. And it looks like it's working!
This is a great little cable stitch. It looks way harder than it actually is, which is what I like best. And, as crazy as it sounds, this sweater will practically knit itself because the patterns are hard enough to keep my interest, but easy enough that I can still talk and watch TV while working on it.
Whew! Was that too much knitting talk? Okay, here's a gratuitous shot of a pug looking like an alien to clear your brain. :)
Labels: Knitting
The new lellow blankie
I am going to a baby shower on Saturday afternoon. My friend is having a baby girl at the beginning of June, and the timing is perfect for my most recent knitting project.
Here is a close-up shot of my lellow blankie clone.
Using my childhood blanket as a template, I figured out the pattern and knit myself a replica. I love how the simple stitch pattern still has so much depth and texture. Don't you dig those zig-zags?
And here it is, the finished product. My lellow blankie has been reborn, and is ready to be gifted to a Mommy for her bouncing baby girl.
Bye bye blankie!
Labels: Knitting
Nearly
Spring is nearly here. After almost a week of bitterly cold days on my balcony, my pansies are enjoying a mild evening and look very perky.
I am nearly someone's employee. The construction company where I have been temping for the last five weeks is getting me set up with computer credentials, including an employee e-mail address, with no end to my assignment in sight. And with my flexible part-time schedule there, I will still have plenty of time left each week to sing my little heart out.
Lellow Blankie reborn is nearly finished. I am so happy with how it's turning out that the thing practically knits itself!
When it's done and has been washed and blocked I will post the pattern for all of you who want to knit one for yourself!
The seatback to one of my deck chairs is nearly woven. I decided not to give up on the original weaving I had done and I think it is turning out just right. It is fairly back-breaking work because of the awkward angle I have to hold my arms while weaving, but totally worth it.
In some other indescribable way I feel like I'm nearly there. The last six months have been a real challenge and I have been patiently pushing ahead for a long time now. But I am realizing that I don't have to push as hard anymore, and things are all sort of coming into place. I have a fully-decorated home, steady employment, singing opportunities, and a full social life. Heck, that feels nearly perfect!
Labels: Home sweet home...improvement, Knitting
Lellow Blankie Reborn
Those adorable yellow braids from the Viking Hat on the cutest baby in the world reminded me of something. My yellow (pronounced "lellow") blankie from childhood. I
blogged about it last fall in a sorry attempt to get someone to figure out the pattern for me, because I've been hankering to knit a new one. Well, after not getting any responses, I randomly came across a pattern that looked exactly like it in a knitting book given to my by my Mom! Eureka!
I was so excited that I cast on (all 179 stitches) for the blanket and started knitting!!
There is a lesson in this anecdote. It is called
swatching, and all knitters should do it. All knitters should test out a new pattern on a small scale to make sure it is knitting up the way it should. I normally don't swatch, because I think it is a "waste of time." Ha.
In this case of this project, the pattern that I thought was *exactly* like my lellow blankie turned out to be different. Not dramatically different, but different enough that it bothered me. And it most definitely did not look just like my beloved lellow blankie. So I ripped out approximately 10 hours of knitting (SWATCH, people, I'm
telling you!!!) and went back to the drawing board.
I decided to take a good look at the lellow blankie and figure things out for myself. It is a simple enough pattern, made up of some regular increases and decreases to create a gentle undulation in the stitch design.
I put on my thinking cap and started counting stitches and taking notes. I broke down the pattern into an estimate of how many stitches I would need for the increases and decreases in one wave, or one pattern repeat.
Then I cast on the estimated number of stitches (plus a few extra for good measure in case my estimate was wrong) and started
swatching. Turns out swatching is a great idea. Not only did I figure out that my guestimate was correct and the pattern was knitting up just like the lellow blankie, I didn't waste hours and hours on almost 200 stitches per row to figure it out (haha, oh wait, I already did that...).
Then I did some simple maths to calculate how many pattern repeats I needed to duplicate my old blankie, and then I double-checked my estimate by counting the number of stitches per row on the lellow blankie to make sure my count was correct (I was correct).
Then I went down one needle size to make sure the pattern knit up at a gauge identical to the lellow blankie, because my swatch was knitting up a bit loose compared to the original.
And NOW!!!
I'd like to introduce you to the Lellow Blankie Reborn.
I know the photo is kind of dark, but it's getting late in the evening and that is some BRIGHT yarn and I didn't want to hurt your eyes. But seriously, I am beside myself. Who would have thought that the poor blankie that I so carelessly destroyed as a child is now re-emerging on my needles some 20+ years later??
Knitting is cool, folks. Just don't forget to SWATCH, for heaven's sake!! :)
Labels: Knitting
Cutest. Baby. Ever.
How ironic is this? I spent one year working on the sweater I am wearing in this picture. But do you notice it at all? Heck no! Because who can take their eyes off the cutest baby in the world wearing her birthday present from me that only took two days to knit???
Yes my friends, this is a custom-made viking hat. I got the pattern
here, but modified it quite a bit. More about that in a second.
Here she is with her lovely Mommy. Aren't they a beautiful pair?
Okay, knitting jargon time. To make the hat I used machine-washable yarn. After the rivet section at the brim, I added ribbing to make it look more like metal panels and to give the hat more stretch in case it was a little big on her. Also, instead of knitting the horns separately and then sewing them onto the hat, I just picked up stitches right on the hat and knit in the round, decreasing after a few rows to make the points. Also, I added braids to make it a girly hat. :)
She actually doesn't mind wearing it, which is great. She wasn't such a fan of the other two hats I made her, so it is encouraging, and also makes me want to knit her more hats now, so she will always have adorable headwear at her disposal.
"Okay foks, that's enough. Show's over!" :)
Labels: Knitting
DONE!!!
After spending an alarming amount of time this weekend knitting on my couch in my pajamas, I am happy to announce that the longest
knitting project of my life is finally DONE!!!!
Whew, thank goodness.
I just wanted to get it finished, so I didn't allow myself to actually try the sweater on until it was not only knit, but sewn together and all of the loose ends were woven in. It was totally worth the wait!
I haven't taken the sweater off since I put it on a few hours ago. It's awesome. I love how it came out!
And even though I thought it would be a real distraction if I didn't fix it, the neckline of my sweater looks great even with a flaw.
I almost don't want to block this project because then it would mean not being able to wear it for several days until it dries.
Okay, on to the next project!
Labels: Knitting
To tink, or not to tink.
This is why women spend $100 on a knit sweater. This is why *I* have spent $100 on a high-quality, well-made sweater. Because when you decide to knit it yourself and become emotionally invested in the sweater, it can make. you. completely. insane.
I am insane. This sweater is making me crazy. Do you want to see why??
Here is how much I have left on the front piece. After I bind off all I need to do is sew the front and back together and set in a neckline and cap sleeves. Piece of cake, right? Nope. There is a problem lurking in the pattern of this sweater. Can you see it? Because I can.
Do you see this tube of knitting where my finger is? Does it look right to you? No seriously, this is a real question, because when I look at the sweater this is all I can see. Is it all you can see, too?
Because apparently I managed to mess up the pattern when I was decreasing stitches for the neckline. I missed a cable twist and just knit straight instead. See? That arrow is pointing to the part where there should be another one of those little twisty rope things. Sigh.
That means ripping.
Tinking back. Taking out all of those rows and re-knitting several inches of the panel. Not a big deal, you say? Well, take a look at the knitting instructions.
There are two cable patterns happening simultaneously, which have different row counts. One cable pattern has 28 rows in it and the other has 12. And then there are the decreases that happen every fourth row. Are you confused? Yeah, I am, too. And if I were to rip out the 30+ rows of the sweater to go and fix that cable twist, I might not be able to find my place again and have to rip back all the way to where the v-neck starts.
I can't believe I just wrote that. I feel faint.
Maybe this is why I haven't had the urge to knit lately. Going to the gym and having my tail kicked in spin class sounds much more fun than figuring this out.
Sigh.
So, what's your vote? Should I just move forward and ignore the lack of cable twist and hope that the neckline I will inset later will distract from it? Or should I
tink back and fix it? I can't decide what I want to do, which means the project is hibernating for the moment.
Labels: Knitting
Check!
I feel like an errand girl. This entire week has been about checking little things off my to-do list. And all of these "tying up loose ends" blog posts also reflect my desire to clean up, organize, and check off all the pesky projects that have been cluttering my life. So in addition to getting new watch batteries, cleaning out the closet, returning borrowed books and catching up on laundry, I managed to finish knitting a cap.
Remember the fun hat I knit in November out of my own handspun alpaca?
Well, I really loved the look of the pattern and decided it would be fun to make another cap. So, using my notes I knit up another hat with a store-bought wool. And it was small. SO small. So I ripped it out. Here is the beginning of attempt number three from a few days ago. Ripping back is the pits.
But, it is usually worth it in the end! Here is the new twisted cables watchcap!
I had to add 12 more stitches to the round in order to make it fit on my head, and I used smaller needles for the ribbing at the brim so it would stay on better.
All in all I think it turned out really well. So now that my cap is done, I'm delving back into the unfinished project bag to check something else off my list. It is going to feel so great to have these projects done!
Labels: Knitting
Loose ends, literally
Thanks for the concern some of you voiced about my impending credit doom after closing down so many credit accounts. I did, in fact, know the credit risks associated with cancelling all of those unused cards (thank you Suze Orman!), but decided to do it anyway. :)
So I have other kinds of loose ends besides too much plastic in my purse. In the last several months my collection of yarn and unfinished knitting projects has really exploded. I think when I started packing boxes way back in July and yarn got put out of sight, I forgot what I owned and started buying more yarn. And then when I got back to the States I found a stash of yarn in my parents' house. And then I went to a couple yarn stores and realized how inexpensive yarn here is compared to Germany and went a little crazy. And then I started knitting projects with my new yarn and my Germany projects and Germany yarn were ignored. Until now! I want to start off 2009 with some destashing projects so that I don't feel so darn guilty going into my new favorite yarn store in Bellevue. Here's what I have on my plate:
This is the third attempt at
my own hat design. I successfully knit a hat out of my handspun, but this squishy wool is much different than the alpaca and I needed to add on way more stitches to make my pattern work with this yarn. But when the hat is done I will have used up the rest of my magenta Germany yarn that I had bought to make a
cardigan back in June.
Oh Lord. I don't even know what to say about this project anymore. The pattern isn't that bad, it's just a bit fiddly, but for some reason it is the easiest project in the world to abandon. However, I know it will be cute once it's finished, so I'm determined to get this top done. Yes, it's going to be a top, if you couldn't tell from the picture. :)
These socks were the result of an impulse yarn purchase approximately four seconds before I moved away from Coburg. And approximately four seconds after I moved away from Coburg I lost interest in finishing them. But they will be so comfy when they are done and I'd rather have wool socks in the winter than in the summer. Have you heard more snow is coming?
This purse is so close to being done I can actually feel it. Actually, it is completely knit, it just needs a lining, zipper, and handles. I'm not totally on fire about the way the yarn knit up, though, which is probably why it's not done yet. Well, in any case I want it finished and out of my life.
Once these projects are done I plan on systematically going through the stash of yarn I now have organized and stored under my bed and knitting fabulous garments out of all of it. But the amount of yarn I bought just may ensure that I will be tying up these loose ends until 2010. Gulp.
Labels: Knitting
Year of the fearless knitter
If you aren't a knitter, the term "fearless knitter" may sound a bit (okay, a lot) wacky. Why in the world would someone be fearful of knitting? Well, in my case I used knitting as a meditative and relaxing activity for many years, meaning I didn't want to knit anything too difficult that could potentially cause me stress or anxiety. Trust me folks, deciphering certain knitting patterns can really make you sweat at times. So I mainly stuck to basic patterns and rarely ventured into the realm of knitwear or knit design.
Anyway, I think I will remember 2008 most for being the year I became a fearless knitter. Living alone in Germany I had a lot of time on my hands. Since I didn't need to practice (that was my everday routine at the theater) or study (no more school--yaay!) I found myself craving some kind of challenging activity for my free time, and knitting fit the bill. Here is a year-in-review look at most of my knitting projects from the last twelve months:
My first lace cardigan
"Forecast," learned my first bobbles
"Esther," one of my first attempts at modifying patterns
My own handspun and my own hat pattern
My first baby clothing
A t-shirt rug, my own design
A half a pair of socks, still unfinished...
My first sweater with expensive yarn
My favorite lace shawl with cheap yarn
A random mitten
My first attempt at two-color socks
A sampling of my baby hat obsession
An almost-finished purse
A "frogged" manicure sock design (first beading project)
My own baby hat pattern
My first lace shawl project
My most popular sweater modification
My first cotton washcloth
Fingerless gloves
And way more fingerless gloves
And more fingerless gloves, with a squishy reversible scarf
My first pair of socks
My second pair of socks
Whew! And that doesn't even count my Christmas gift knitting! I didn't get pictures of everything I made this year, but it's safe to say that my fearful knitting days are over!
Labels: Knitting
