K1 P1 - ILX Knitting Two

advice please:

I bought two balls of worsted weight to make a scarf for my grandmother but I don't think it will be enough. I have a couple of skeins of a darker, matching shade in bulky lamb's pride. how can I combine the two for one scarf? I was thinking of doing something lengthwise with a few rows in the lighter weight then a few rows in the bulky weight. Is this possible? will I have to knit separately and then graft together? (hope not.)

I would like to see a picture if possible. how did you join yarns of different weight/gauges?

Use the bulky for a crocheted border ala http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/PATTfizz.html ?

This scarf combines thick and thin with fun loops: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/PATTloopy.html

this pattern specifically calls for lots of different yarn gauges and textures:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_4956504,00.html

i'm just worried about switching yarns when the gauges will be so different. dunno, guess I'm just going to have to give it a try.

http://static.flickr.com/117/293964377_29cf2272c2.jpg?v=0

You can see where the gauge varies here:

http://static.flickr.com/109/293964376_6da51e81bc.jpg?v=0

Drop-stitch in full effect:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauldahl/293964379/in/photostream/

http://static.flickr.com/101/293964379_3d015314c3.jpg?v=0

I'll probably try swatching the drop stitch thing and see what I think. I don't trust my design skills yet. . .

I have started another project. Easy, I hope and so it seemed: a *simple hat* (from that Debbie Bliss book I have). It SEEMED easy, like I said, but then I realized that it wasn't so much. I took another type of yarn so I had to recalculate how many stitches I would need and then I had to calculate how I would do the decreases. God, I thought I wouldn't need maths and logic after finishing high school and dropping out of uni. :-) Anyway, I already knitted 11 rows. Another... hmm... 50 rows to go. Instead of that strange umbilical type of thing on top I'm gonna do a pompom. Why? Because that's what I got the other day: a frigging POMPOM maker. :-)

After that I'm gonna do that cardigan, so Lady Starry I'll need your help! :-)

I made a gauge in 5 CM STUPIDLY and of course I discovered that I should've done the traditional TEN CM because I had way too many stitches (10 sts too much for 124 sts or something). So I have cast on 114 sts instead of 124 now. Question all (I'll email you when I have specific problems/qs): do I just follow the size larger (which is for 114 sts) or will I have to make larger armholes?

http://www.nexstitch.com/v_crochet_videos.html

Er well if you're following the larger size for making the body then yeah follow the larger size for the sleeves unless I'm misunderstanding you!

When I get home I'll take a picture of the progress so far on ULTRA-SCARF!

If I ever head over to London - which I will god damn it and not too far off - I ask you (yes YOU) where I can find the bestest yarn. :-)

Knitter's Almanac: Projects for Each Month of the Year - Elizabeth Zimmermann; Paperback
In The Miso Soup - Ryu Murakami; Paperback
450 Knitting Stitches: Vol. 1 (Harmony Guides) - Harmony Guide; Paperback
Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and "Jane's Addiction" - Brendan Mullen;
Finishing Techniques for Handknitters - Jane Crowfoot; Paperback

Keep in mind, some of these books are NOT knit related. Seriously, any of you girls have any of these books?

ok this threw me.

Charity shops? Wot r they? Seriously, I hardly have time to shop so I just order it from Amazon. I know it's stupid as my knitting teacher said charity shops sell lots of needles (and books maybe?) ULTRA cheap.

Ok, off to knit some more on that cardigan and also order that ReadersDigestGuide. :-)

http://cache.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&faqKey=286

I have abandoned the hippy scarf I was going to make for my mother and shall attempt a scarf out of this.

It looks fun!

I have little patience for scarves, but I can bust out hats like mad.

I like that stitch but yeah for a scarf I have to have some change up. I think I'm going to try and do a simple lace for my grandmother's instead of trying to mix up the two different yarns.

I finsihed the first sock fro my grandpa's xmas present

I am staying in to knit tonight, because I am broke. See ALL NIGHTS FOR REST OF MONTH arrghh :(

SARAH. I am going to go shopping for your yarn this weekend!

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15147

There!

Molly - YO is definitely for making holey increases, there baint no two ways about it, but sometimes I suppose it is more noticable than others! Kfb or doing the pick up the 'ladder' increasey things will do you if you are bothered about holes.

Also HOORAY FOR THE YARN! *beam* I have your book to post as well! But I probably can't send it til next week now - but it is... in hand!

Thanks for setting me straight, ladies.

Yes! Yarn! I'll email in a bit about it.

get this book! it is small and full of how to do different increases and decreases.

(the index isn't that helpful tho)

http://static.flickr.com/122/302670100_2780edf8fd_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/115/302670099_252daae873_m.jpg

I showed the dress to the teacher and she said it was good. At least the collar. The seaming she (thankfully!) didn't look at. Next week we're gonna learn how to seam. HURRAH!

This week we learned to that ribbony type of scarf. I can't find a pic of it online. It's knitted ribbons and you have to knit through the back of the stitch (which is basically just a needle gone through the fabric) and knit it. Anyone know this? Two women came up to me at the end of the lesson gasping how quickly I knitted my scarf. I haven't finished it but I did do 3/4 of it. Quicker than the teacher told us it would take. Guess I'm not as crap as I thought I was.

Starry, I'll probably be emailing you this week for directions in re to the matinee cardigan. :-D

I'm knitting the sleeves of the sweater for class. And do the collar. And then seam it.

I'm doing a couple of scarves right now, one is looking really nice. will try to do pics today.

Still working up the nerve to tackle a big project like a sweater, though there have been a few in Interweave Knits that have made my teeth sweat.

Just got back from the shop to buy more yarn. I'll be doing that ribbony type scarf for my mom and mother in law. 36 euros in total! FUCK. :-)

Knitting needles haven't been banned again on planes, have they?

I have one of those yarn cutters that you can wear on a necklace. I may bust that out for the flight.

They have a proper name, which I can't remember right now. My friend loves the antique ones which are really pretty. Mine, not so much.

really ugly, but its blade is really sharp.

http://www.yarnmarket.com/yarn/Accessories-Yarn_Cutter_Pendant-1178.html

sewing today, not good.

I'm taking a half day of vacation tomorrow because I need to sew like the devil. I have the fabric for an apron for my dad (he doesn't usually use aprons, but he's just being a cute dad that will happily receive anything I make for him -- plus, he's swedish and it's Hagar the Terrible cartoon fabric!), but I can't find the pattern pieces! My craft / computer room is a total mess. But, I think I can easily whip out an apron in a few hours.

Oh! And I have to finish the I-cord for my sister's plastic bag purse that was supposed to be done AGES AGO.

CRAFTING STRESS.

I've got half a baby blanket and a whole one left to do, and I'm already trying to figure out how to make the next one take less time. Whee!

we must knit-fap soon so you can fill me in on the job details (re: baby blanket, crochet)

yes sam, must knit fap soon! our plans to go away for thanksgiving are now cancelled, so I'm available :)

Starting to get scared that the cardigan will be too small. But I will persevere. Want to have that done in (max) two weeks time. Which means a lot of knitting. :-) The moss/seed stitch looks AWESOME.

Must resist ordering a gazillion knitting books from Amazon. :-)

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall03/PATTbanshee.html

I started Fetching last night (for a friend, not sure if I'll like it myself). Can I just say how much I hate knitting in the round with dpns?

As I said in zee Sandbox: Bought my Lana Grossa yarn (for my sweatah). Still need to finish that charcoal greyish cardigan for Ophelia and scarf for Thom. Also busy making a lacy shawl and that chinese charm bag.

Now I will find a box to send yarn. :-)

I have yarn waiting for you too.

There's this new partworks magazine on knitting which is out this week in the UK, so I bought that for 99p (with free needles! and yarn! and video! and magaziney bits!) and have become instantly obsessed with my new hobby. Although I am only knitting a big bobbly scarf to start with, until I feel brave enough to tackle a proper pattern.

I found a good site which I find useful because it shows video clips of someone showing you various knitting techniques : http://www.knittinghelp.com/ I find it easier to watch someone actually doing it for real, rather than try and puzzle it out from a still picture (I am prob a bit thick though).

I will keep looking in on this thread to seek encouragement!

get familiar with knitty.com if you arent. my favorite site for sure.

I would recommend doing a purse for your first non-scarf. They're a good way to pick up new skills (knitting in the round, decreasing/increasing, different stitches, cables etc.) without having to worry about something fitting someone. Also felted purses are extra beginner friendly as felting hides all your boo-boos!

welcome to yarn madness CJ!

Off to find a pattern ........

and yes a big welcome to the knit wits. :-)

i started in july. i've done about three sweaters so far? and a dress. all for my baby girl.

here are a couple of the first bag patterns I did:

http://www.magknits.com/warm04/patterns/sophie.htm
http://www.blacksheepbags.com/booga_bag.html

I want to try this Ruffles and Ridges one first, so I hope it's not too difficult for a newbie knitter like me:

http://www.knitnstyle.com/projects/lionbrandpurses.shtml

I thought that I'd do it in a sparkly black/gold instead of red, if I can find the yarn. I've got some gold coloured satin material I could line it with.

Ophelia wearing the cardigan! I'm mad proud really. :-)

I'll be sending the box on monday,PROMISE! :-)

Still cranking out xmas presents (shameful with tomorrow being Epiphany and all), but hats are fairly mindless right now.

I'd recommend a hat as the thing to try after a purse. It's a good step in trying to fit something that's not very complicated, and they finish quickly enough to be rewarding. I've used odds and ends from other yarn to make crazy hats that were a hit for the holidays. Plus, you can make little ears for them and amaze your friends and family ;)

don't worry about the mail. I've yet to mail two scarves despite finishing them before xmas!

I have yarn for 2 sweaters still neatly on cones, le sigh! Nath, you are inspiring!

hah! I think he's done with all major utility systems now. *crosses fingers*

yes I think meeting out is good, make the rounds of coffeshops/dives.

I should probably take the sock class.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/346971639_8c88b3ce42.jpg?v=0

(it's not that green, IRL)

I will totally be a sock class buddy. Dive bar knitting would rock.

I have much sock yarn coming my way from http://www.smileysyarns.com/

This place will ship internationally, for those non-US yarn lovers: http://www.discontinuedbrandnameyarn.com/dbny/dbny_index.html

The yarn has been chosen and put inside the box. :-) I did a mix of things. I made sure you have multiple balls of several yarns, so you're not stucking trying to find a pattern that requires just one skein (or whatever). :-)

molly, that scarf looks lovely.

patita, should we try for tues or thurs this week? (to avoid future lost conflicts.) when does sock class start?

we have a new kitty! http://www.flickr.com/photos/misery/sets/72157594465068614/

(she's watching me type now and kneading, thankfully with declawed paws, the vintage dress I'm deconstructing.)

They are v.g needles by the way! Purple acrylics with really pointy ends - essential for all the ssks, k48473tog etc etc :)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/349270025_d6bd1010df_m.jpg

Anyway tomorrow I'll take it with me to class, as well as the TWO cardigans I knitted. Showing off, moi, NEVAH! ;-)

That coat is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nice. ME LIKEY! No way you can SCAN it and send it to me? Or tell me in which magazine you found this? I'm SO TEMPTED to knit it. Then again, I'm an idiot. Looks difficult for me. :-(

NEW KITTY! I saw on yr flickr page!

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/1931499438.02._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

anyone have this book? Or any recommendations on what pattern book I could buy? I want something that... well, like that book above.

The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges (Hardcover)

Wheezy is indeed a tortie, very pretty! She's still cautious towards and actually bit G. earlier! :(

Sarah, I LOVE that coat! It's high time I take on a large knitting project.

Tonight, after cleaning the apartment, I shall finish the mom's scarf and watch PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (the BBC version) as it was given to me by Ben as a PMS-This-will-make-you-feel-better present.

Sue: I can't meet this week--Congrats on handsome new kitty! I'm out of town for work until Wednesday and the rest of the week is crammed :( The HCW website doesn't have the class listed and the sheet I picked up has vanished (along with everything else I've been looking for, ugh). I want to say it was on the 21st? I'll have to call them.

I just got a book on sweater design, I'll see if I can find it and post the name. It gave all kinds of information on different body types and styles to really get it right.

But for now I'm really enjoying doing Branching Out, which reminds me *prints off the chart*

I want to do one similar to the one I just did for my grandma. I used KnitPicks Andean Silk and it was sooo nice to work with. cheap too.

Molly, is the ripple pattern you're using on-line?

Yarn link! Mine must be in "soft caramel" flavourcolour. It's 100% wool so not all fuzzy as eg kidsilk haze, rips back fine without much splitting apart, which is v good for first lacey project!

I find the second purl row is where I keep going wrong so I have to pay more attention to rows 1-3 and then it's not so bad. I've had to rewrite the chart by hand though, so it's VISIBLE!

BUT SEE!

I'm using a rowan green wool that's 50% merino, 50% cotton which was half price in Fraser's sale, so the whole scarf is going to cost me a fiver. Then I'll go back to the one I started in kidsilk, with a new set of pointier needles, when I've bought them. Why aren't all needles pointy?

I don't know about... bamboo?

Neither do I know about... rosewood!

What colour kidsilk do you have! I'm still a bit intimidated at knitting with such a fuzzy thing. Just imagine ripping that back! Sccrehehch.

http://cache.lionbrand.com/stitchFinder.html

Eh, the teacher calculated my gauge for my sweatah and apparently I was 4 sts off! WTF. :-( I didn't realize I needed to stretch it (cause it was on the needle). Everyone was amazed at my 12 mm needles. Uh, these women have knitted for quite some time! A lot didn't realize such a thing existed?!? ANYHOO I already started and figured out how to read the pattern. I'm such a dimwit. That said, how do I decrease? It doesn't state how to. It's a rib effect (1 K - 3 P) so should I knit together? Is there some rule? I also have to do it a few sts AWAY from the edge, no? Like 3?

At the rate you knit a jumper on 12mms should be done by tomorrow :)

Oooo knitting shopping in Japan. I love Clover accessories!

I like bamboos for DPNs, they don't slide everywhere as much as metal ones.

And I like bamboo yarn, but it does split a bit.

Last night I finished the left hand of Fetching. I had read others experience with the pattern yet still did it straight. everyone else is right. It's too short (I think) and the picot bind off is not good. I mean it's a cute little trim but for the top edge of a glove-thing, not good. Too much curling. I'm going to do the right one longer and with a plain bind-off to see if I like it better. I'm making them for a friend in NYC. Soon here in TX we shall have no use for such cold weather whimsy.

On the bus this morning I had dropped stitch making a run and picked it up with a bent bobby pin since I didn't have a crochet needle in my bag. felt so bright. ;)

Your package is waiting but I can't seem to escape the shop. Promise that I'll do it this week. Sorry. :-((((

does anyone here have a ball winder and/or swift? If not how do you deal with winding? I've thought about investing in one b/c I'm crap at winding without tangling but they are high. I tried googling for ways to make one but really only found a girl who's boy had mind one from legos. err, can't do the legos.

That sounded lewd.

swift:
http://www.yarn-store.com/images/winders-and-swifts/swift-gag.jpg

my boy will not assist with the yarn. :(

If it doesn't make sense I can show you :)

I'm up to 7 or 8 repeats now - won't have time to do anymore until the weekend - then again I am skint and have already eaten out once this week so may miss going out on Friday in favour of knitting... depends on how thirsty I am :)

what i'd like to know: if the pattern states

every 6th needle decrease 2 X 1 st at every side

(that's sort of how it's in my pattern, crappy translation)

do they mean i'll have to decrease TWICE (so have 12 rows)

(xpost I started okay but the hand part was really hard. then I took a class and learned I had taught myself wrong.)

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTviadiagonale.html

Originally I was thinking cables as they're fun, but I love how this one looks. I hope it doesn't get boring. Do you think it's large enough for an avg. woman's purse activity? (I don't really carry purses)

row 1: decrease (ssk, k2tog, whatever) knit to last two stitches, decrease
rows 2-6: knit or purl as normal
row 7: as for row 1

etc, etc

is it hard to learn knitting by yourself?

no, esp now with online tutorials (and this thread!). but for idiots like me, a class is GREBT. PROOF:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/352975038_763f680ed1.jpg?v=0

my knitting class!

close-up of lacey shawl i'm knitting:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/352975122_6d48378f39.jpg?v=0

it'll take ages to finish this.

I may be interested in some stash swapping, as I seem to have a large number of skeins I acquired and now have no idea why I got them. Some alpaca, some nice wool, etc. I'll get pictures up this week and see who is interested!

I already ordered the yarn for that bag b/c it was cheap (off elann.com) my projects to do pile is growing!

My friend (whom I've known since I was four) is expecting and due in June (Flag day, to be precise). Her baby shower is in April, so I reckon this gives me PLENTY of time to crank out something really nice.

What should I make? She and her mother are quilters (and amazing ones at that), so maybe I should shy away from blankets? Bibs? Maybe, Nath, you can help me sort out a baby sweater!

What usually comes in a layette set? hat, booties, bib, blanket or something. Maybe just something like that (perhaps minus the blanket). Or something useful like a bunch of nice washclothes. Or just cutesy like a hooded jumper with bunny ears or something. ;)

I also have that D3BBI3 BLI$$ book and could send you a scan of some patterns?

There's also TONS of patterns online.
http://www.craftown.com/knit/baby.htm

I wouldn't really go for patterns for newborns. She'll get enough tiny clothes as it is and it's a joy to get bigger items. :-) Well, for me it was anyway. I still remember holding up pants (for a year old) and thinking "NO WAY will she ever fit in THIS!" She does.

Ok, I'm rambling. There's also *diaper pants*. So I've seen on other flickr pages. But I have never come across patterns for'em. :-(

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTblu.html

Baby jeans! OMG. Those can't get any cuter!

Thus far, they're not sure if it's a boy or girl yet, but they are going to find out soon. She'll probably end up getting enough baby blankets from her crafty family, so something different might just be what I'm looking for.

She sort of got talking to me but I didn't really took the bait. Should have, cause she seemed pretty coolio!

My own sweater: Backpanel is finished, front one almost halfway done. Then the sleeves and collar and I can wear my own frigging sweater. HURRAH. I can't wait. BUt I need to be *unsick*. Shit, this is dragging on andon. Might skip class tonight if I still feel like shit. :-(

Stlll on the needles: malcolm x bag (bus project), fetching (almost done, finish today probably)

Today is a holiday so I plan on sewing most of the day. But we're due ice and snow so I might get a whole 'nother day of work!

So Nath, you were checking out that lady's sweater. . .does anyone else find themselves constantly deconstructing stranger's garments with their eyes?

I'm making fingerless gloves today in honor of the SNOW DAY!

I've seen a handful of episodes and on one hand I'm "Austin Craft Mafia, represent!" and then on the other I'm "eh, shouldn't this be on Sat. morning E/I programming?"

thoughts on knitting shows?

I hope (no, desperately HOPE) someone here has the magazine and can
help me out with the sleeves. I have knitted the front and back panel
and even started on the sleeves. But I can't seem to get my head
around'em (so to speak). The gauge says: 9 sts - 12 rows for 10 cm on
10 cm (which I think, in inches amounts to 4 or something?). Anyway
they recommend me to cast on 47 stitches! That can't be right, now can
it? On the pic (http://www.lanagrossa.com/journale/filati_32/15.jpg)
the sleeves aren't wide at all, so how come they recommend to cast on
47 sts?!? In the pattern it says it should be about 13 cm wide (which
seems a bit tight,even for my slender wrists) so maybe they mean it's
13 cm *half* (and 26 cm in total). I'm extremely confused here. :-( Is
anyone out here able to help me? :-(

I'm getting there... slowly but surely. I have noticed that, much like jewellery, I see knitting (sweaters and the like) differently. I expected this (as I had experienced the same with jewellery once I started working in my parents' shop). I didn't like that woman's sweater that much cause it was bit... formless. :-(

In knitting news I finished the Fetching glovelets for my friend and am now attempting to adapt the pattern to make some convertible mitten things for myself.

Got new less-cheap yarn and am re-casting on Via Diagnole for my mother. So far still not liking the pattern.

I renounce horrible metal needles forever! Bamboo is the only way to go.

Nath: Can you check the magazine's website to see if they published corrections to that pattern?

wed at epoch? that's the place we went to before right? cool.

sweaters stump me. I must try one again soon. Ribbed Cardi after Malcolm X bag!

And I bought a pattern for knitting hedgehogs! I will make some in normal colors and some, er, not so natural.

I'll try ordering it again when I get paid.

One big annoyance of the book, is that it just gives the sizes as s, m, l or size 6, 8, 10 whatever which is not very helpful! Inches is much better.

Sam, that's the place. Z will be there with another friend too.

Anything?

I've used software before for making a sweater pattern (although I wasn't too pleased with the result) and there is a free site which will convert a gif to a chart (for a design): http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/

No. Lana Grossa UK mailed me saying they were aware it was wrong. hah! I knew that. But they didn't tell me how many sts I need to cast on. The teacher was obsessed with the fact I first measured my arm before we started. ARGH Just TELL ME HOW MANY STS! :-( I think I'll mail the Belgian lady who's also on the KnitList.

I bought some yarn (Lana Grossa) for a new cardigan but YET AGAIN I didn't read the pattern properly so the teacher helped me out in the amount of sts I need to cast on. *sigh* Next time I will order my Lana Grossa yarn online so I have the EXACT SAME type. :-)

Also started on a new cardigan for Ophelia. It's sort of metallic blue. I love *odd* (read: non pastel) colours for her. :-)

Shit, just remembered I stillneed to send the package. God, I'm a slackah. :-(

I keep buying yarn for new projects before I finish others. I just bought some for this:

http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer05/PATTbaseball.html

for my bf for V-Day. But I seriously doubt I'll finish it in time. :/

I have too many projects on the needles as it is to start mucking about with glove-mitten-things for myself. Besides it probably won't be cold anymore by the time I finish them. :( Still, buying something I could knit, the shame!

What ideas have you abandoned? Come on, give me knitting talk!

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/the-mitts.html

I should be able to do that in a night or two, huh? Hmm, maybe I should look through some of those stacks of books I have.

I'm too knitty-dependant.

I'm totally game for a knit along. We could make...
http://acunningplan.typepad.com/andsheknitstoo/files/skull_scarf.html
http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/11/endpaper_mitts.html
or anything. Dare we try a sweater?!

I'd be down for a sweater, maybe something simple, in the round.

I'd really like to try something I've yet to complete.

How about we knit OWL WARSH-RAGS?? (via wayback machine)

I am totally going to cast on like... NOW!

maybe we could all knit so many squares of different pattern/design whatever, send one to everyone and then we could have a collective, uh, dishtowel. . .

I've not done colorwork before, and those mitts look simply awesome.

we could do a knit gift thing, where we all pick a project and someone else makes it for us :)

I'd be happy to send you yarn, starry! we could swap for something that's cheaper for you locally or something.

Oh Patita that is a nice offer! But I think that starts getting a bit complicated and postage taking forever and so on. I think at least for the first one a smaller thing would be better, prob in DK-ish weight not requiring much fitting so yarn substitions if not in a 'global' yarn wouldn't be a massive headache or a pain to obtain and so on. But I dunno! I am enthused about a super knitalong now!

I'm sure we can come up with something. I'll look through bookmarked patterns for ideas.

hedgehogs! http://www.twoswansyarns.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=FiberTrends-228x

some day maybe we could try this one:
http://ahknits.typepad.com/knititude/2006/09/chinese_lace_pu.html (in dk)

I guess we'll get a tally of who's in for this and get cranking!

I'm in a race to finish my current project and get working on some mitts so that I'm ready for the "record cold temperatures" next week!

What ideas have you abandoned?

Oh boy! Where do I start!

I wanted to make myself a shawl but the yarn - that I was going to use in the project I will mention below - and stitch was too stiff.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/367383895_19908bf9b0_m.jpg

This will now turn into a handbag. I already have the round bamboo handles.

I wanted to use this yarn for the edging of a Lana Grossa cardigan but... well, it won't work I ph34R. I had misread the pattern and figured that a multicolored yarn (in the same range) would work but then I noticed that I had to use a *double thread* (probably to make the cardigan a bit stiffer) so I ditched that. Next time it will not only have to be the same range but the same colour. *sigh* Support your LYS? Hell no! They can never supply me with the correct yarn. :-(((((

It appears that sweater I'm knitting is completely WRONG. I mean, the pattern! Not only the amount of sts for the sleeves, also the amount of yarn I needed AND the sttich!

one of mittens down, one to go! Going to visit the inlaws tomorrow, hour and half drive, done.

I am trying to finish a rainbow balaclava before I have to go out in the freezing wather tonight.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/373807407_3885708535_m.jpg

hoot hoot

ok, I will make the owl as my next project. maybe by the time Nath is back we can have an idea?

I've started collecting this weekly part-work magazine (the Art of Knitting) which has just been published in the UK, and I've made the bag pictured here :

http://www.artofknitting.co.uk/patterns.html

Except I didn't make it in orange and yellow stripes, I knitted it in a sparkly black eyelash yarn, which turned out to be easier to knit with than I had feared (once I had got the hang of it). It's done in size 5.5 needles which are reasonably chunky, so it knitted up really quickly. I had some yarn left over, so I knitted an ipod cozie for my daughter's ipod video (just a simple rectangle folded in half and stitched together at the sides, with a neck cord made from a length of knitting 3 stitches wide). I'll post pictures when I figure out where I've put the camera :)

Good luck with your scarf, Trayce. A couple of weeks ago I couldn't knit to save my life (I found the video clips on the knitting.com site a really big help - it just seemed easier to watch someone actually knitting rather than try and follow pictures in a book)

Congrats CJ! Send pix!

Leaving in about a day and a half and I am undecided what UFOs I should carry along. I really do need to make the sleeves for that sweater. Then I can maybe wear it in Japan? Hmm. Will also probably take both the shawl and handbag project. And O's new cardigan.

Yesterday I was revealed as a complete knitwit: I was the last in everything. We're learning to make a V-collar and one with a... that looks envelope like or whatever you'd call it in English.

Oh I also had a nice hot cream chocolate drink. heh.

CJ, yes, online videos are a great help. The pics in books only start to make sense once you have some experience.

Trayce, we will not larff/laff or laugh. We all started purling and doing simple scarves! (In Japan they call a scarf, a muffler. VERY confusing. heh)

I was slammed and exhausted yesterday I just couldn't muster the energy.

yay ears!

Those mittens were so easy I'm making anotehr pair for my therapist. and trying to finish the sweater before vday.

I've given up on a valentine;s sweater. Not only is working with cotton far more a pain in the ass than I imagined but the two patterns I've tried have been THE WORST PATTERNS EVER WRITTEN. urgh. Instead I've decided to make a stuffed version of the Adult Swim bird flip robot to accompny the oh-so-sexy car mats for V-Day. I'm going to recreate the lite brite with beads. (or maybe lite brites if I can just buy a pack of pegs. that'd be awesome.)

Other projects I've got in the queue:
-At the top, long overdue birthday presents for my aunt: stuffed bear made of coke print flannel, curtains made out of coke tapestry.
-Harry Potter Griffndoyr(sp?) quidditch sweater for myself in time for the book/movie release. Since that's in July though, it's going to have to be short-sleeved and cotton.
-one of these days, socks
-that via diagnole purse for my mom, in cotton.

ARGH COTTON. direct me to some decent cotton yarns pls.

K, will you hate me if I skip knitting again b/c Lost is starting? could we possibly move our night to Thurs or is the bad for other people?

Nath, if you are reading in Japan, you were in my dream last night. We were at some sewing retreat, learning to sew darts together.

sorry for the heavy sewing content.

So far for my mom I've been using Berroco's Cotton twist (cotton and rayon). It's a decent yarn but I wasn't prepard for how slippery it was. (could be the slip stitch pattern that's tripping me up.)

I was looking at this for sweaters too. But for my HP sweater color is an issue. I need that deep scarlet and bright gold colors. argh, I might have to join an HP knitting list or something.

Rowan All Seasons cotton comes in lots of nice shades but I remember when Katie was crocheting something from it it had a lot of knots in it - this was years ago though and let's face it quite a LOT of wools have knots in them...

I'm not worried about being sensitive to the wool, just it being hot in 90+ degree weather!

FTR, what I was using to try and do a sweater for the boy was KnitPicks Shine worsted. Not feeling it. KnitPicks seems touch and go. I like Wool of the Andes for basic stuff and LOVE LOVE Andean silk (good replacement for DB Cashmerino Aran). Oh well at least it's cheap enough that if it doesn't work it's not that big of a blow.

I am totally going to get some of this sock yarn, not that I've even finished socks from LAST time, but DUDE! I need some bright colours in my life!

http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/SassyStripes-707.jpg

haha, right? well I think G.'s sweater will definitely wait until next year b/c we probably have only one more chilly turn this season.

But the HP sweater. . .I want it to wear in anticipation of all the HP goodness to come. I'm thinking a knitted cotton shell wouldn't be too bad for work wear and midnight lines at the book store.

i like that sock yarn. I have at least three pairs worth of sock yarn at the moment and no socks to show.

Knocking out yet another ear hat and trying to figure out which cable pattern to use for a scarf. I've got yarn coming for sweaters (I can always use cardigans for work).

Socks. We will have to conquer socks soon.

I'm free Mon, Thurs and Fri. happy hours might not be bad. in general though after work stuff is always hard. if I get into a regular routine maybe it would be better. . .

http://www.yarndex.com/images/cotton.glace.jpg

blood orange or poppy and sunny for this?

colors like this

I *soo* want to order it now but have sworn to myself I will not buy anymore yarn until I finish at least one current project. Also our mortgage has just gone up $200. That really cuts into my free-spending yarn money. :(

I've wanted to ask everyone about their needle inventory but don't know mine without looking.

I do know that I don't have any 9s or anything above a 13. I also have fewer DPNs than other types and more circs than straights. Hmm, I could have written that as a logic puzzle. . .

I would tell you you should keep your extra 3s if they were circs since you can do socks with two circs. but if they are straight, I will take them. :)

If you are lacking in circs I can pass some your way.

needle inventory ladies!

50 dollars for baby cardigan! which to me sounds a bit expensive. i prefer acryl: cheap and easy to use.

maybe it will get better the more I work with it.

I'm going to make myself a public enemy wristband tonight. although i'm worried about getting a gauge small enough to fit their logo. . .

going home to knit now!

So anyone here still knit? I'm making a few things. Yes, I have a tendency to start more than I finish. I am making a REALLY HARD aran cap for Elisabeth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2844684965_1712d655e7_m.jpg

I'm still knitting! Although also hard-pressed to finish more things than I start. I'm doing an Obama bag which I've screwed up and I want to do an entrelac scarf.

My knitting club is back in full effect since last month. I can finally knit in the round.

Susan, what is your ravelry name?

Am trying to clean, and have made room in my closer to put all the bags of unfinished projects YIKES. There are also bags of finished projects, too.

I am going to the Mets Stitch N Pitch with my favorite Mets fan in two weeks, although I am still waiting to hear from the yarn shop about when the goodie bags and the tickets have come in.