Knitting Pretty

Moss Stitch Scarf

2009-02-04T22:59:00.003-08:00

Needle size: US 8
Yarn: about 40 g of handspun, hand-dyed from Saltspring Island, BC
Cast on 10 stitches
Pattern: Moss stitch

Final dimensions: 6 cm wide, 90 cm long

Reversible Cable Scarf

2009-02-04T22:49:00.004-08:00

Needle size - can't find the stupid needles! (mental note to self: thrift store silver needles with balls on end, no numbers)

Yarn: one ball of Noro Silk Garden Lite (my new favourite yarn...) in 2027 B.

Pattern
Reversible Cable Scarf

Final dimensions (unblocked) 6 cm wide, 120 cm long

Things Which I Have Made Over The Last Several Weeks

2006-09-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

1. Cammo soaker pants: still in progress...learning Kitchener graft, and need to do the legs.
2. Jayne Cobb hat from Firefly for myself: still in progress, need to do earflaps and pom pom
3. Very cute variegated purple and blue coin purse for Drew, my friend's daughter: in progress, need to sew a button on so it closes...assuming Drew lets me at it long enough to do it.
4. Sample: learning how to knit a snowflake pattern from a stitch book...turning out well, I think.

I also bought some cable needles so I can play with cabling again.

I've otten so much back into the knitting...I love it. My brain has been soothed from too much stress. :P

Suck it.

2005-12-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

Stupid comment spam...now comments have to be confirmed it's a real person. Idiots.

Sheesh.

2005-11-26T23:23:00.000-08:00

This blog's getting more comment action than my main one!!

So, I've been knitting very little, although I've got a couple gift-y things planned. I've learned how to crochet (kinda sorta) and I'm tatting like crazy. That's my craft stuff.

I guess I should be thankful for the spammer...it made me pay attention to here again.

I've been doing teacher training, so there's been less time for most stuff. I'm thinking of changing this to a less knitting-based blog and more craft based, since I'm doing a lot of other fibre art now.

Meh.

2005-04-18T23:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, so now there are two directions for my poncho. Whatever. :P Currently I'm working on a black ribbed tank top in fluffy soft yarn. It's very forgiving of mistakes.

Net Poncho

2005-04-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

Needle size: 35mm
Yarn: Red Heart Misty in light purple
Cast on: 40
Pattern: knit one row, purl one row until it's long enough to wrap around self. Sew one end to the side of the other end without twisting it.

Photos to come.

Purple Poncho Madness

2005-03-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

Needle size-35 mm
Yarn-purple Red Heart "Misty"
Cast on-40
Pattern-knit one row, purl one row (hehe...I typed "purple" instead of purl) until it's really freaking long, then do a weird twisty thing to sew one end perpendicular to the other end without actually twisting the cloth over

Final dimensions-poncho size

Pictures will be forthcoming.

New toy.

2005-01-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

I got something called the "Knifty Knitter", which is a set of four round knitting looms. I got it the other day and tried it out tonight making the hat described below. As soon as I get my camera working again, I'll get a picture of it, or else get a picture of the intended receiver wearing it. :) Either way.

The Knifty Knitter is really cool and REALLY easy to figure out, especially if one already knows how to knit. I finished the hat in less than two hours after opening the package.

Knifty Knitter Baby Hat

2005-01-27T23:39:00.000-08:00

Needle size-Second smallest ring
Yarn-light green bulky yarn
Pattern-knit around for about six or seven inches, bind off and draw the top tight. Add a poofy pom pom if you want.

Final dimensions-big enough for a toddler, I think. I didn't have a toddler to measure it on. I'll give better ones later...when I get a child to model it.

Ooh, actual content...

2005-01-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

Question for all ya stash-a-holics out there. What's a good way to store the stash? Currently I've got mine either stacked in shelves (a la knitting stores) or in plastic drawers (not airtight) or in a big giant Tupperware-esque container. They can breathe in all these places, nothing is airtight and I don't have any yarn that is composed of wool, so moths aren't a worry. Damp DEFINITELY is a worry, as those of youse who have been following my other blog know, so I don't want it stored in a way that mold will grow. Also, I don't have pets, nor does anyone smoke.

Update for Update's sake

2005-01-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

Still not knitting. Battling evil flood waters of ultimate DOOOOOOOOOOM. Yuck. Did some stuff on the side bar, but it's not showing up yet. I'm lame-HTML person. Yup. That's about it.

Not Much With the Knitting

2005-01-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't been knitting much lately. I've been carrying my knitting around with me, but I've been doing other stuff whenever I get where I'm going. I haven't been watching TV solo either, or waiting for buses. These are my gold knitting times.

So, yeah. :p

KIP

2004-12-01T01:12:00.000-08:00

Now that I've suddenly got loads more free time, I've signed up for knitting circle get togethers. Go me! I can't make Wednesdays this month, and I've got finals until the 8th, but hopefully I'll make one in December!!!!

And it looks like I'll have my own place in Feb, *squee*, so I can host stuff in my home as well. :)

I'm going to add a "Works in Progress" section to the sidebar, as well as a "Completed Projects" section...but not now. Tonight I sleep.

From Justy's Site

2004-11-27T22:48:00.000-08:00

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Knitting Circle

2004-11-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

I would like to start a knitting circle, and I've been thinking about names. A couple I've thought of are "Stitching Bitches", "Naked Knitting", "Chicks with Sticks" (Chicks and Dicks with Sticks, if we get a member [hee hee] of the male persuasion). Anyone else got any ideas?

I know that I can totally host the knitting thing starting in March or so (Burnaby), but Kate and D would probably like it right where they live... so I open the floor. I figure if there isn't a knitting group in the next three months, I'll be organizing it. Besides, I'll be right out by Peechie and pretty close to no name yet. :) (Neither of whom have expressed interest in a knitting group, but hey, I'm just like Florida...counting votes 'creatively' ;) )

Don't Hate Me!

2004-11-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Look what I've got.

A bunch of it got really tangled at work today, and since they were going to throw it away, I got to take it home with me. I don't know how much I have, but there's at least four or five different colours, and probably eight or ten balls.

::GLEE::

Purchasing Online

2004-11-18T14:16:00.000-08:00

I wonder if I'd ever be able to buy yarn from online? I suppose if it was something I knew already...like Boa, or Fun Fur, or something like that. But so much of yarn shopping for me is tactile. First, the colour catches my eye, but then I have a need to pet it. I've been known to surreptitously (and not so much) pet the yarn that comes through my till.

Would you ever buy yarn online?

Worthwhile investment.

2004-11-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

The five bucks or so that I spent on the yarn to make my stripy toque and scarf are probably the best $5 I have spent in ages. Not only did they keep me busy during various times (bus rides, hospital stays) but they look fabulous and I wear them ALL THE TIME.

2004-10-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

Boa Keyhole Scarf

2004-10-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

Here's how it looks draped a little

2004-10-21T00:09:00.000-07:00

Red Haired Striped Yarn Ninja!

Kate: Read this before you start that hat!

2004-10-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Now that I've got your attention... ;)

Check your yarn! If you're using worsted weight yarn, you'll need to add 22 stitches onto your initial cast-on, then follow the same directions. I used bulky, but adapted it so that it fit. Gauge isn't stupidly important for hats, but you might wind up with one that will only fit your sister if you follow the directions I gave.

Stripy Ribbed Scarf

2004-10-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

Needle size-10
Yarn-Bulky weight Red Heart "Misty". I used whatever was left of the ball I used to make my stripy toque (AKA my jaunty new chapeau) plus another 4 oz ball.
Cast on 24 (EDIT: Sorry...mine has 36) stitches, or however wide you want it (multiple of six)
Knit 3, purl 3 all the way across the row. Repeat until it's as long as you want.

Final dimensions-mine wound up being about five and a half feet long and about six inches wide. And wow, is it ever soft and comfy!!!

Christmas Presents

2004-10-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

I've started making Christmas presents now. I'm planning on giving two people "knitting related" stuff and at least five people knitted goods. This will severely cut down on the amount of money I'm spending, since I have all the yarn and needles I need for everything, but it will eat up time like mad. I hope my boyfriend doesn't mind me knitting instead of cuddling while we watch TV some nights. :/

Better detail (I hope) on the keyhole

2004-10-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

You should first have a bunch of rows knitted. That's the easy bit. Next you knit half of the rows, turn the knitting, then knit them again. Knit those rows again, then turn the knitting and knit back to the beginning of the row. Do this a bunch of times, until the strip of knitting is as long as you want. There should be a poor, neglected set of stitches on one of the needles.

OH! I think I remember the step I forgot to include in the original keyhole instructions. (sorry...I didn't have the scarf in front of me...) Cut the yarn when you've got the Right (as in "correct") Side facing you. This would be either side, since we're doing garter stitch (knit each row).

Join the yarn to the end of the poor neglected stitches and knit as many rows as you had, then knit across.

Knit until you run out of yarn or until you've gotten to the right length.

Better directions found here.

Boa Keyhole Scarf

2004-09-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

US size 10 needles (note: don't make my mistake. Don't use purple needles with purple Boa. You'll NEVER find that stitch you dropped. EVER. I had to frog (rip it...rip it...) out the first three rows about eight times)

Cast on 22 stitches
Knit about ten rows, then create the keyhole.

Keyhole: knit 11 stitches, turn the scarf then knit them again. Do this for about ten or fifteen rows, then do the same for the 11 stitches on the other side. Knit that side until you have the same amount of stitches, then knit across both sections.

Knit until you run out of boa.

Final dimensions: varies. It's a really stretchy sideways and lengthways.

Public Knitting

2004-09-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

I have discovered the truth of knitting in public. When someone is sitting there knitting, people will come up and ask questions. It's kind of neat. I was up at university on Monday working on the matching scarf to my jaunty striped chapeau and a girl asked me if it was hard, how I did it, what I was making, etc. Kind of neat! (plus, she was cute, so that was nice too. ;) )

2004-09-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Stripy toque...finished it last night. The pattern is under the pictures.

2004-09-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

The top of the stripy hat. See the spiral?

Stripy Toque

2004-09-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

-adapted from "Hip to Knit"
About 3 oz of bulky yarn (I used Red Heart Misty varigated)

I love using varigated yarn. Two reasons...it makes me look way more experienced than I am, and it makes it easier to see where my mistakes are. "Ah, it's in the red section...oh wait...the whole piece is red. Crap."

US size 8 needles

Make sure you use long ones...you'll need them. I started out with short ones and I kept dropping stitches off the end when the needles were in my knitting bag...very frustrating... If you're not used to long needles (I wasn't when I started, but I sure am now...) it'll just take a bit of practice to keep the yarn from tangling around the end of the right hand needle.

This is adapted because the original pattern called for worsted weight yarn, and I REALLY wanted to use this stuff...it's bulky, but it's so soft. And it's a pretty colour.

Cast on 77 stitches.

Knit one row

Purl one row

(this is also called the stockinette stitch...if it's the first time you've done it...it is supposed to curl. And yes, it's really freaking annoying for the first little while. *grumble* But it makes the lovely roll at the bottom of the hat.)

Repeat until you get about 6" or so of fabric, unrolled. For me that happened to be about sixty rows (30 of each. Or maybe it's 30 rows...15 of each, but that seems awfully short. Anyway...about 6")

End on a "wrong side row"...which means stop after you've just done a purl row.

Knit six, then knit two together. Do that until the end of the row. You'll end up with 66 stitches.
Knit five, then knit two together. Do that until the end of the row. You'll end up with 55 stitches.
Knit four, then knit two together. Do that until the end of the row. You'll end up with 44 stitches.
Knit three, then knit two together. Do that until the end of the row. You'll end up with 33 stitches.
Knit two, then knit two together. Do that until the end of the row. You'll end up with 22 stitches.
Knit two together across the row. You'll end up with 11 stitches.

Leave the stitches on the needle and cut a tail of about 18". Bring the tail through the stitches from the other side of them so that you form a circle. Sew up the back seam, and you've got yourself a hat.

Final dimensions: not sure. It fit me like you see...as well as my dad and mom. My mom's got a fairly small head, I've got a medium one and my dad has a large one. The curled brim makes it pretty easy to fit anyone and the yarn stretches like crazy.

Yadda yadda yadda-new blog

2004-09-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

So, in November, I started knitting. So far, I've completed two scarves, a baby afghan, a toque, a weird little "cylinder cap" and various rectangles and squares with the leftover scraps of yarn. This is mostly for myself so that I remember how I did these things, but feel free to use the patterns if you want. Most of them I've adapted from books or magazines.

I decided I wanted to learn how to knit after seeing balls of Bernat "Boa" coming through my till at the craft store I worked at. The thought process went something like this... "I NEED a scarf made out of this stuff. I can't knit. I don't know anyone who knits. Ok...time to learn how to knit."

My favourite way to knit is while watching DVD's of TV shows. I knitted almost my entire striped toque during about eight episodes of Queer as Folk, season 1.