K3tog: ILx Knitting 3

I might practice on a test bit first if it's that bad!

Sarah, I am a buffoon when it comes to these things. So you might be luckier in doing it. I strongly recommend it tho!

I've printed that page off but I think I'll have to read through it a couple of times!!

Do y'all prefer toe-up or toe-down socks?

My kitchener stitch grafting yesterday started off fine, and then OH NOES, dropped stitches, which resulted in my toe poking through.

The new Interweave Knit has an article and pattern (for any size foot and weight of yarn!) on toe-up socks.

I am mainly used to toe-down, but I think toe-up is good for when you only have a certain amount of yarn.

Also, I love Kitchener stitch. Am I insane?

also not knitting related: Molly, are you going to the library conference in DC that's coming up? (I don't read librarian threads)

The Kitchener stitch seemed awesome and beautiful until I dropped a bunch of my stitches, turning it into a disaster.

Unfortunately, I had to cancel this year's ALA in DC, as B-diddy and I are moving to a new place July 1st. Are you going? I'll be going to both of next year's, however!

I have documented my love for toe-up socks here plenty of times! The ones I'm about to finish have been a revelation - I've actually enjoyed every single bit of the process doing them - the only parts where you really need to concentrate at the start (and then it's only increasing, I find decreasing to knit v small tubes INCREDIBLY annoying), and make sure you're wrapping your heel properly and so on...

Kitchener stitch IS quite satisfying!! My problem is I generally do it when exhausted and you really need to be alert :)

I hear Knit 1 is now out!!!

molly, no, but my knitting, library school-attending best friend is going.

I went to get the new Knit1, and found the new IK, too!!! I had to get them at Michael's though, and not the yarn store, though.

OMG CRAZY PET FUR YARN

http://vipfibers.com/store/images/Cat-domestic-mix.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/510011007_8419289110.jpg%3Fv%3D0

LE FRIGGING SIGH.

Almost finished.

Am I happy?

Uh... sort of. *frowns*

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/510011007_8ba0e481bd_o.jpg

Yes, I know it's short. :-( But hopefully not too short (for my mom). Need to *erase* some mistakes. It's half past midnight. LE SIGH

nath, it's LOVELY! Be proud! It's gorgeous!

Yeah, but I picked up some sts that I shouldn't have and I didn't pull tight enough. I can sort of fix that. Also, it's a bit short (for me). But I can block it, right? Right? I should be proud, I know. My husband's reaction: "It's nice, but is it meant to go up in the back?" Freakout, run to the mirror... It didn't. :-)

Blocking is your friend!

I finished my sock, sucessfully, this time! Mind you, it's small enough to fit a midget (as per the "Class Sock" instructions), but I rocked the Kitchener stitch like nobody's bidness. I'm starting a pair of socks for B-diddy, but I'm taking my time and making a swatch which I shall wash and air dry. The first sock debacle was so traumatic, that I'm ready to take all the necessary steps to avoid crushing heartbreak.

I love you, Sensational Knitted Socks!

I bought a cheap second hand sewing machine. It's relevant to knitting as I'll mainly use it to sew BABY TROUSERS. :-)

Gutenborg project has this online!

I, erm, finished the socks....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/511187881_6c09538422_m.jpg

THINGS FOR NEXT TIME
1. Remember where you place the heel
2. Place the heel in the same place on each sock
3. Remember what type of ribbing you finish with
4. The stretchy cast-off should be done loosey-goosey, and then it is perfect
5. Do the M1s *properly* (as hopefully documented above cos I HAVE ALREADY FORGOTTEN WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS)
6. And back to heel again, make a note of the length of the foot before you turn the heel so the feet are the same length - it worked this time but next time you may not be so careful!!

Not sure if I can face undoing one and making them even. I think I might cope with odd socks. I don't know.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/511164740_8d67771d97_m.jpg

Another view

And yesterday I started a scarf using the below stitch pattern - sorry for the murky picture, took it at night and the yarn is just like a very cloudy day so it's a bit unclear.

P4tog = super pain. Super easy to remember pattern though!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/511339543_8e332fdf22_m.jpg

Yarn is Sirdar Blur. I wanted to make a shawl but didn't know if I'd have enough (lots of yardage though) so scarf it is. It would also work nicely on some gloves so I'll see how much is used up on scarf. I could either make a set for me or set for someone else. Or try this 'etsy' thing of wot I ave 'eard speke.

5. Do the M1s *properly*

Did you forget to twist the picked up stitch? Most do.

I bought a really nice Marie Clair/Phildar baby pattern book. Noticed some cute shorts in'em. Now I want to do'em as well.

Still on the needles: TROUSERS. I'll probably starts the kimono after that.

No - in the first sock I'd misunderstood what they were asking me to do - in the second sock I figured it out. I've forgotten again now tho. Am sure it's upthread.

So, I finished my first wearable sock (the 1st was a disaster and the 2nd was a mini practice sock). I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Also, sock knitting is TEH BEST and I think I'm addicted.

Oh wow congrats!!!

Showed the cardigan to my mum. She tried it on and she LOVES it. ONly need to *tuck* in some threads. :-)

Thank you thank you thank you!

Oh, hurray that she loved it!

Nath, I think I am ready to knit a sweater. Mind you, I've never knit a HUGE garment like that before, but I think it's time I do. Are cardigans (what I really want to knit) significantly harder than pullovers? Should I just suck it up and knit this:

http://www.zephyrstyle.com/catalog/item.cfm/2367447/3289215#image_1

lolz @ yarn named Blur

I am making some toe-up socks with this:

http://www.threadbearfiberarts.com/images2/yarn/col-jtb-146.jpg

cardigans seem to be harder, but fuck if i know as i have trouble with both. ;-)

my next pair of socks is some lorna's lace:

http://www.lornaslaces.net/images/color/113_Tuscany_SMALL.jpg

I think I'm going to attempt that Rusted Root top, as it will be warm here until November, and hopefully I'l get some use out of it. That being said, I probably *should* start a sweater, as I'll probably be done with it by the time cold weather rolls around.

There's some kind of trick for the K3tog and P3tog (or larger numbers too)--you knit/purl the first stitch and then move the remaining stitches to the right hand needle and use the first stitch to cast them all off at once. Easier than fighting with 4 pieces of yarn!

Sorry if this isn't clear! I'm at work and using pens to figure out how to describe it.

I think I'm becoming an Elizabeth Zimmerman disciple.

Also, I'd like to make and adult version of this.

Ladies, the new knitty is up!

I am lusting after this skirt.

So I made half of the back panel of a jacket for the new baby. HURRAH!

I skipped my knitting class when I returned due to jetlag and migraine. Harumph!

But BUT I did return with some YARN and loads of BOOKS (one on crochet) from Tokyo. HURRAH times TWO a million! Two other pattern books but also one on technique. As it contained the stretchy bind off and lots of other GREBT techniques in very clearn drawings, I figured I *had* to have it. I also bought some bits and bobs (needles, a needle tube, more cable needles,...) Very <S>takai</S> expensive but ah hell it's just <S>okane</S> money, rite? RIGHT? :-)

I'm not in the mood to go to my (last) class next week but my husband said I had to. He's right. I'll also enroll in next year's. Hopefully I can get all my tuition back. They claimed I could so hurrah for that as well.

I am in a knitting mood but there's so much I wanna do and so little I *can* do. hah!

Oh yes, where's that needle thread (hah!) I wanna know how to start working on my second hand sewing machine. I really don't know how to start. :-( I'm extremely utterly devastatingly CLUELESS. I don't even know how to put the fabric in nor the thread or needles! Yes, I'm a MORON! :-)

Hellow:

I want to make all of these:
http://getknitted.com/acatalog/The_New_Spring_Summer_2007_Collection.html

New Noni bags. £6 each for just a pattern though!! I mean it's hardly like the yarn is cheap itself :(

am i the only person who's not enamoured with felted things? :-(

Sarah, that's uber cute!

Nath, I've never felted before because the mood hasn't struck me. I've never found something I've wanted to make. However, that pattern Sarah found is SUPER.

I've decided to give away the socks to my friend in SanFran. She knit be a BEEYOUTIFUL scarf, and well, she needs these socks. It's the right thing to do. Also, we have the same size feet.

I've been looking through that Japanese technique book I bought. I think I'll do some of the excercises in the summer. They have some grebt cast on techniques (with double thread, with crochet hook,...) and bind off techniques.

My EZ books came in the mail. I'm reading Knitting Workshop at the moment, and I like how she just throws you right into Fair Isle (which is something that's intimidated me for a while now). "Here, knit this hat. Try out some Isle. Okay, now knit this Nordic Ski sweater."

OH my GOD! I don't think I'll ever venture into Isle territory. No way! It seems far too hard!

I bought some knitting kit (some plasticky thing that lets you knit). YAY

It's actually quite fun! I enjoyed working the few samples I've done - and you're only ever using two colours at one time. It gets quite absorbing but you really can't do anything else whilst you're doing it! I go pretty super slow as well but I think you'd definitely get into a riddim quite easily.

incidetally, I found the new Knit 1 in Borders - for £5.75! Erm, perhaps NOT. They're stocking it at celticove, but their website is down! Getknitted doesn't appear to have it, or I can't find it anyway. Sorry dudes, I pay £3.50 for Knit 1 and that's the end of.

(unless eg David Tennants starts modelling knitting patterns in there and then I wd pay eg my immortal soul)

I am making this dressing gown for the new baby. Again I managed to f#ck it up. It's about 5 cm longer (50 instead of 46 cm or something). ARGH! I knew this was gonna happen as the pattern doesn't specify any lenght, instead Debbie Stoller only gives the amount of rows you need to do. My husband of course had the *best* remark: you should have calculated beforehand every time so you knew if you were doing it right. I could of course frog a bit underneath but I don't think I will. It's longer, but as she tends to make wide clothes, it'll be for when the baby's older. I hope.

I have the trousers I need to seam (and put elastic in) and also a sort of knitted sleeveless shirt I need to finish (collar and sleeve bands and seam). Also still waiting is a blanket. I'm beginning to think finishing isn't my forte either. ;-)

How do I shot learn knitting?

stick needle in eye

srsly i have a big ph34 r of doing just that. thank god i wear glasses

I just joined a knitting group on the facebook site. :-D

I finished (well almost) this debbie bliss sleeveless sweater.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/671591048_59936df49a_o.jpg

Some minor faults (which are probably only visible to critical me): collar drops a bit. Apart from that I am relatively pleased with it. :-)

I need to enroll in the knitting course before it's filled up. Secondly I need (hah!) new Phildar yarn. Yes, yes, need. I still have lots of Bliss yarn. But hey I am "gauging" for a new cardigan. :-)

I'm really getting the hang of *blind* knitting. That said, a few times I missed an important scene in The Wire. I think I'll also start dowbloading audiobooks and/or listen to my ipod again. :-)