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June 17, 2007
I have an proclamation to make!
In a few months, when everyone in the knitting community is saying what I'm about to say now, remember that you heard it here first!
MITTENS ARE THE NEW SOCKS!
Can you tell I'm getting really into this mitten knitting (again)? They are just so much fun! I spent all day yesterday working on Kirstie's mitten as I've been sick pretty much all week. It was a bit slow going since I stopped to weave in ends along the way. If I hadn't done that, I would have ended up making Kirstie weave 'em in herself when I gave them to her. So how does the mitten look? Let's check it out.
The palm side.
Back side.
Yes, the first mitten was ready just in time for today's chilly 95 degree weather.
Once I'm finished with the pair, I'm going to write up the pattern and make a PDF available for download. I'm already picking out designs for the gloves I'm going to make with the leftovers.
Oh! And I'm excited to say, I've ordered the Stitch and Motif Designer software from Knitpicks to help with my designing.
Posted by Holly at 10:14 PM | Comments (6)
June 14, 2007
Do I really need more fleece?
As I said in my last post, I bought a 3.75 lb. Shetland fleece. What I didn't say was that while I was buying I was waiting for a 7.7 lb Border Leicester ram fleece from eBay to arrive. Yep, about 11 pounds in total. Hi, my name is Holly, and I'm addicted to fiber. Sigh, but it's so wonderful. The Border Leicester is on the coarse side, but that's the nature of it, and why I bought it. My main plan for it is to spin it in to a sturdy yarn for making coiled baskets. I used to make them as a kid, and I've wanted to do it again ever since a Spin Off from a few years ago. Now I finally will!
Here's my Shetland
And the Border Leicester
In actual knitting news, I've started to knit Kirstie's Latvian Inspired Mittens. I call them "Inspired" because generally the thumb is knit in pattern. That's a pain in the ass. so to put it bluntly (avert your eyes, sensitive readers)"fuck that!" I'm just doing a plain solid black thumb. I'm cool with it, Kirstie's cool with it, so who cares what anyone else thinks. You'll notice the long cuff. It had to be to fit the cuff design we worked out. It also serves a practical purpose. There's nothing worse than being out in the snow, reaching out, only for your arm to get cold the you mitten cuff and coat cuff don't quite meet.
I had planned on treating myself tomorrow since it was pay day to an Alice Starmore book that was approximately $125. I'm going to be good and not get it, but I'm planning on ordering the Stitch and Motif maker from KnitPicks. I downloaded the demo and it's really cool.
Posted by Holly at 10:19 PM | Comments (3)
June 03, 2007
The Mystique of Steeks.
First off, I'm a horrible blogger as I missed my second 'blogiversary' on the 31st. Oh well, so I'm a bit late, what else is new. Thanks to everyone for your concern over my tooth, though it turns out to not be a tooth issue. Thursday, I went to the specialist my dentist referred me to for the root canal, and it ended up being a muscular issue, with the TMJ. This was good news and bad news. One: I didn't have to have a root canal (good). Two: The pain didn't stop (bad). Saturday, I went back to my dentist to cast a bite guard for sleeping. My mom massaged my face yesterday and I have to say I haven't had a single shooting pain today. Definite plus.
In knitting news though, I've become obsessed with the idea of fair isle sweaters and steeking. I broke out my black and white JaggerSpun Maine Line to knit a steeking swatch. I knit circular on size 2 needles (10 stitches to the inch). I'm actually trying to make accurate gauge swatches since a sweater will be coming up in my future.
On the back side you will see the extra rows I've added. Had this been a real garment, I'd have added more rows.
Then, I reinforced the stitches to be steeked by crocheting half the white stitch with half the black stitch all the way up both halves of the white stitch.
I warn you right now, if you scroll any farther down the page, I will cut this swatch! I'll do it! I'm crazy! I got nothin' to lose!
You didn't listen to me, I told you I was going to do it...
The steeked swatch.
and the back side.
All in all? Not so scary. Fun in a daredevil sort of way actually! I'm loving the steek right now. As I said, I want to make a Fair Isle Sweater. So much so I bought a 3.75 pound Shetland fleece at the Hoosier Hills Fiber Fest yesterday. It's really lovely, but my batteries died before I could should you a picture of the gorgeous 5-6 inch staple length. To make up for it, go HERE if you want to see some yarn prøn. I'm drooling over her work. In fact, I have ordered one of her books, but some of her out of print books are selling for $165. Crazy.
Posted by Holly at 10:35 PM | Comments (8)