K3tog: ILx Knitting 3

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. :-)

Don't tell me everyone has stopped knitting?!? I am going to start a new baby blanket tonight (as Ophelia uses the one I made for the new baby). It's going to be in purple. I dunno if I should do moss-stitch or just plain st.stitch. Hm.

Also started a garter stitch cardigan that's advancing quite lovely. It's in one piece.

I haven't stopped knitting, Nath! I've been moving house, and now I'm back at work with internets connexion. I'm working on a lacey-sort of curtain for my kitchen, and am still plodding away on socks.

Also, I've been in contact with a SPINNING teacher. That's right. I shall spin my own wool!

I have about six different socks going.

My knitting is mostly buried in a box post move, but I got a gift certificate to the LYS and they're having an additional sale today. So tempting!

Yay! :-)

I need multiple needles: I just realized that my garter st cardigan has the 10 bamboo needles which are needed to finish the sleeves on the robe. BOO! :-)

I don't feel like knitting because it's summer (even though the thermometer hasn't hit 20 for a fortnight).

I'm still confused - even after reading the facebook knitting group post - what the right side on a garter stitch is. Is the cast on tail on the right or left when beginning a new row? HELP.

Madchen, try small things, in cotton! I'm knitting the bubbly curtain from Mason-Dixon right now, and it's out of linen yarn. It doesn't get too hot, having it on my lap, which is a plus, seeing as how it's 93F out.

Nath, I'm under the impression that garter stich has no RS or WS (I'm pretty sure I read this in an Elizabeth Zimmermann book). I usuallly go with where the cast-on tail is though, as if it were stockinette. I could be completely wrong, though.

Spinning lesson set up for next weekend. I'm taking this whole thing to entirely geeky new level, I'm afraid. Bye bye social life.

(obv., once a pattern is started, and you've committed to a RS in garter stitch, then it exists, but when you're just starting out, i am pretty sure it doesn't matter when you begin)

I have not come on this thread in so long as I've not knit in weeks. I'm a bad knitter. (but more sewing/writing)

Nath, I believe the left unless my knitting skills have left me altogether.

Well, I posted on the Addicted to KNitting board (on FB) and they said it was the left but is that after you knitted a row or not? I guess so, no? I don't think it's very strict but I WANT TO KNOW. :-)

I put all my finished (but unseamed) projects on the table. Oops! I have

baby trousers
sleeveless sweater
lacy shawl
almost finished bath gown

that hello kitty embroidery thing I made last year (needs to be framed)

I'm pretty sure I forgot something but I can't recall it at all. :-(

Hmm, I'll have to wait till autumn for this thread to revive (without my help), AMIRITE? Anyway I went and ordered some more Debbie Bliss books. And some yarn. But I do need to seam my 'finished' pieces so IC an show'em off. I'm currently also making a lacy dress. In purple. I'm also going to try (and fail, I just know) making a Phildar cap in a DIFFERENT yarn. I really have to make the plunge and substitute yarns. I'm a little scared as my prev attempts have failed and I'm crap at measuring gauge. Hmmmmm Wish me luck!

Good luck, Nath!

Gauge is such a bitch, sometimes!

Anyone have any good ideas for a knit shawl that would look good with a wedding dress?

Nope, but I did see a pattern for a wedding dress somewhere?!? Sorry.

I'm thinking Elizabeth Zimmermann's shawl, from "A Knitter's Almanac", but that might be HUEG and not great for summertime.

Okay it's not knitting but embroidery. Still I thought you ladies would appreciate.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1010/872637736_95ad9b1498.jpg

Also, Vicki Howell from Knitty Gritty was checking the shirt out when I was wearing it in line for the movie. rar.

I saw taht on your flickrpage! VERY VERY pretty!!!

I'm trying to be more (ahem) ladylike and this means LONGER nails. Anyone have any tips. Just practice? It's a bit weird knitting with longer nails.

I started a BAG!!!! I'm so excited even though I know I won't have enough yarn. EEEP! :-) But it looked GREBT in the mag and it's more fun than another lace blanket.

http://www.simplyknitting.co.uk//resources/simplyknitting/magazine.jpg

You can see the off-white bag on the cover. But I'll be doing it in purple (and no felting probably).

YAY!

Hmm, I couldn't see the image.

I would say felting is good for bags as it gives them some stiffness. If not, be sure you use a nice lining. Bags are awesome.

My nails are getting quite long but I've only been sewing/stitching for the past few weeks. They've made typing interesting.

Ugh, I still haven't done a thing since the move. This pattern for knit grass is strangely inspiring though!

I'm freeforming a baby cardigan to try and use up some of my acrylics - I am forbidding myself to buy any more yarn until the stash is seriously reduced. I get cross each time I look at it!

Lots of amigurumi planned too :)

Boo! I seamed that sleeveless sweater and noticed that the "armholes" are different in tension. I must have cast off harder on one side. It's really noticeable (if you're a knitter). :-(((( I feel like I'm back at square ZERO or something. Bah bah bah. I will never get it right, will I? :-(((
Even the dress I'm knitting will be "interesting" because the armsleeves have to be adapted (don't correspond enough to the pattern). Might do a "sleeveless" dress as well and just make a border.
HARUMPH. :-(

I did finish that lacey shawl (and sleeveless sweater).

Also realized I can't felt the bag I am knitting which means I will have to use another finish.

Bah double bah.

I am going to order a few knitting related books (two on soxors). I just have to persevere and just DO IT. :-)

http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/completelist.htm

-> Might be some interesting books there. All in PDF format!

The 25th Anniversary edition of Vogue Knitting as a pattern for a kimono jacket and pants made from FIFTY-FIVE skein of Koigu.

WHY???????????

Who designed the pattern?

Maie Landra.

This is not the first time I have seen Koigu pants, either.

I calculated the price. Would be about 650 euros or something?!? WTFreakingF.

My husband says it's time to do something else than plain stockinette/garter stitch.
This is after I saw this on Crafster:

http://nashira.ca/Members/drooly_ooly/photos/craftster-images/blanket-01.jpg/image

Eek. Looks very hard. :-( But I will attempt to make it. :-)

Also, how should I make a bag have a 'floor' (oh god, so tired I can't use the proper word, I want something which... uh straightens the bottom of the bag...).

Nath, when sewing bags I use plastic mesh canvas (for plastic cross stitch crap) in between the bag and the lining for strength and shape. You could do this if you lined your bag. Also, blocking is your friend, Put the bag over a box of some kind and spritz with water. This should help define a bottom though not as well as felting or reinforcement/lining would.

Have y'all signed up for Ravelry.com? It's pretty great! I got my invitation (it's still in the beta-testing phase) a few weeks back. It's pretty addictive, yet really wonderful. You can catalog your stash!

Today, I hope to finish the Mason Dixon Bubbly curtain which will go in my kitchen. Once I find my digital camera, I'll have photos of it soon.

also, re: ravelry:

If you're looking up a pattern, to see other people's finished items, there are LINKS to ERRATA on the pattern page. GENIUS.

Ok, this is fucked up. Last night I figured I better make a new gauge because, even though I had used the same yarn, it'll be in a different colour. it seems that the row count is completely fucked up!!!! How can that be if the amount of stitches sort of matched the gauge?!? (I'm using a replacement yarn that is similar to the one recommended.)

Also I made some booties for the new baby. I hope she won't fit into'em when she's born cause they are massive. hahahah Well, looks that way but I haven't seamed'em (what else is new!).

I need to finish seaming a stackload of projects. The first andmost important one is a HANDBAG. I knitted it in about ten days. It's quite cute. :-)

"sort of" helps to explain why the row gauge was off.

I just got "Charmed Knits" a book of Harry Potter patterns *squee*. There are about three things I want to make including two sweaters but I must not start too much at once or I won't finish. Also, I'm trying to use what's in my stash instead of buying some new stuff. Which right now means trying to swatch a bulky yarn for a cable sweater that calls for worsted weight. Hmm, I predict this will not work.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1360/1204744987_7ab33b0777.jpg

Wee! My first knitted handbag (not counting the totally crap one I made).

I'm ph34ring the rest I have to seam. :-(

That looks awesome! I love the cable pattern.

I picked up the needles to do a simple kitchen towel for a bit. Mostly I just want to get my chops back so I can tackle some of the larger projects in my stash.

A couple of my UFOs have reached the stage of "uh, where was I?" Especially the fingerless gloves that have cable going up the gusseted thumb, where you're adding stitches in the middle of cabling. There was math involved, and it made my brain hurt!

maybe back up a bit and restart?

Yeah my Malcolm X bag probably needs to be frogged as I've totally lost my place on the chart. I blame 1. the dogs for chewing my original chart up 2. myself for letting the shards get wet to the point where I couldn't transfer my progress to a new one. :(

nath, the bag looks great!

I have a spinning lesson on Saturday. I've been perusing the internets for wheels.

Bye-bye social life.

I ordered some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock online ($8.65/skein!!) and am patiently waiting for it, so I can start the Monkey socks for my sister.

I started knitting a handtowel with my leftover Euroflax linen, and it's coming out really nicely!

Why is yarn so high? I haven't bought any for awhile b/c I just can stomach the expense. (esp. considering how long it takes for me to finish projects compared with sewing.)

That's extremely cheap for LL, actually. In my LYS it goes for about $14/skein. It's totally worth it, though, as it's beautiful, hand-dyed wool.

I spent, uh, $22/skein on the Euroflax linen. But, it was totally worth it once again as I have a bitchin' bubbly lace curtain in my kitchen now.

I now have UFOs that I have to look up where I stopped exactly. Also, almost finished a dress but I am so much in fear that the collar is too small. I actually measured the circumference to check if my baby's head will go through it. :-( Hopefully once I will get it all right. :-(((((

Nath, when are you due?