New Year, New Knitting

I have noted that my knitting has really slowed down the last several months. I notice this because I also notice that I miss it. Quiet evenings with my records or a podcast, knitting away, used to be common. Those solitary peaceful evenings are much more seldom these days for several reasons. I work mostly evening shifts at my current job and when I am home, it's rarely quiet. Not to be complainey (well a little complainey), the fact is I share a teeny living space with a person who likes to watch a lot of loud TV. He finds it relaxing. I find it jangly. In warm weather I sit on the balcony and pretend I am not dangling in the sky by keeping my eyes locked on my project. In winter, it's more difficult.

There is a solution. We have a few common spaces in our condo that people rarely use. I have sometimes packed up my tea, mp3 player and knitting and taken myself off to one of them for an hour or so.  It's a bit of trouble but I think I need to do it more often in the new year to preserve my sanity.

I finally started the sleeves on my Bombus!

Knitting can always be a learning experience. That's one of the best things about it. Notice the awesome tidy edge on the ribbing? It's because I learned a new cast-off. It's not a fancy or difficult technique. You just do a yarn over before the purl stitch, then pass over both that yarn over and the previous knit stitch. It creates more stretch and that beautiful straight edge. Even as I was doing it, I was excited about the result. It's so great when it all feels fresh again, isn't it?

Laundered my socks yesterday. See?
Continuous knitting results in warm knitwear.

Just A Dish Cloth

I found that I was captivated by swatching the Bi-Colour Brick stitch and I wanted to revisit it. Not being able to think of a way to incorporate it into any projects, I grabbed some cotton and made a dish cloth. This 8 x 8 square intended for the cleaning of dishes, is just a large swatch after all, albeit a useful one, and I honed a new skill to boot!. This quickly completed project was a nice break from knitting a large garment. I feel re-energized. 

The cardigan goes well and I'm returning to it now. 

Sunday Swatching

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon at home after a late and silly night. While my lover napped I, having a little more energy than he, decided to take advantage of the peace by practicing my knitting technique. I got out my old stitch dictionary and cast-on to learn two colour Jacquard.

HOLY MOLY!! Who knew it could be this easy? This is honestly one of the simplest things I have ever done. Look at how amazing and complicated it appears. Just look at it!!

The bottom inch is Bicolour Half Linen Stitch and the top half is Bicolour Brick.

Now, how to incorporate such magic into my actual knitting?

All these effects are achieved by knitting with a single colour in a row
using various combos of knits, purls and slipped stitches.

I picked up this 1978 French publication at a second hand shop for 50 cents.
What a find.

Poor Swift

My swift had a run in with a basket in the closet and in the resulting tussle, not one, but two of its rungs snapped. 
After freaking out (just a little) I got to work. First aid was administered with epoxy, stiff cardboard and medical tape. I hope it holds.

This break was right on the rivet join.

The second break was cleaner and easier to repair.

Repairs

My Misti Alpaca scarf popped a wee hole in the edge. It looks like it may have gotten caught on something and two strands of yarn broke. To pull on the strands so I could tie them off, I used my Lantern Moon repair tool. Yes, one could use a crochet hook but why would you when you can use this pretty little dark-wood hook that comes in its own adorable cloth sleeve? Priced under 10 dollars, this is one of those delightful fibre tools that makes knitting even more of a pleasure.

It Turns Out That...

...casting off in twisted rib produces a delightfully angular edge.

They are done!
The Flemish Lace Socks by Naomi Herzfeld from Lace One Skein Wonders.

...and getting your bike tuned up can be an aesthetically pleasing experience.

The bike shop in my new hood.
Nice staff and a beautiful brick wall next to a large window.
Mark one on the positive side for this place.

Who Else Knew About This??

New Book!!! New Book!!!

So, it appears I may have purchased a book. I do love my ever growing knitting library. Browsing through it inspires me when I need a creative kick, even though I know that much of it contains patterns I will never get around to knitting. 

Not so the case with Lace One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects Celebrating the Possibilities of Lace. Immediately I knew there are at least a dozen projects I want to knit and wear. Right now! As a knitter with a large single skein collection, this is a great book for me. For my first project, I cast on the Flemish Lace Socks using my new Zen Yarn Garden sparkly hand dyed. 

 

And then this happened. Who else knew about this and why did you never tell me?!  This is my first toe-up sock. The pattern instructs you, quite clearly & with great pictures, to use Judy's Magic Cast-On. So I grasped my yarn and needles tightly and blindly followed the steps. On just the second try I got this! A beautiful closed toe that puts all my grafting to shame. I am gobsmacked. It has been a while since I picked up a new skill. This is very exciting.

Slow Fashion October

I have been following with interest, all the blog post about Slow Fashion October. Initially, I believed I was just a spectator. I couldn't possibly have anything to contribute among all these talented makers and bloggers! Then I shook myself. Come on girl! Get in there! I'm not the first to observe that sometimes social media can be aspiration focused to the point of intimidation. The sheer beauty of the work being produced and the photography can make one's own fashion and lifestyle choices seem small and unimportant. Yet, I have not survived a half century on this planet without forming some opinions on the subject and they are worth sharing.

I am a lover of all things slow. I cycle, take transit, shop local, avoid big box stores and I do-it-myself whenever possible. When it comes to clothing, I am particularly small. Now, I don't "sew" in the traditional sense and that's not for lack of trying. Twice I've tried to learn - in high school and then again in theatre school - but sewing machines and I do not get along. They instantly malfunction when they see me coming to avoid my clumsy fingers and foul language. So, no cute McCall's dresses for me. Yes, I knit and happily so. My knitwear is the sum total of items made completely by me.

But October 19-25 of the project is mine!

WORN is the theme and it is described as: second-hand / mending / caring for things / laundering for longevity / design for longevity and bucking trends.

I learned long ago what looks good on me and shop accordingly. I also shop primarily second hand for major items and outerwear (underwear is excepted). At first this was out of economic necessity. Then I began to appreciate the plus side of browsing a store that has only one of everything (So much choice! No cookie cutter fits!) along with the joy of finding that perfect thing that only you can love properly. I also feel pretty good about not contributing directly to sweat shop abuses nor being part of the never ending demand for new.

When I find that perfect thing, a rare occasion indeed, I care for it fastidiously. I hand wash and hand mend. If a dress is beautiful now, it will always be beautiful if you care for it. "To hell with trends!", I say. Recently someone glowingly complimented me on a dress that I've owned for over 20 years!

Now when I say I don't sew, I mean I don't sew properly. For a long time I thought this meant I was faking it but now I am comfortable knowing that alterations I make by instinct work and they are no less valid than those made by expert tailors. I turn up hems on 80"s dresses using iron-on tape, cut off ugly fabric belts and wear beautiful leather ones instead, change buttons and fold up sleeves. Once I put darts in the waist band of a pair of pants then sewed on big decorative buttons over the badly sewn darts. It looked great.

A few people have told me that I have a unique sense of style and I'm always proud to hear it. I'm not rich but I manage, without damaging the environment, to feel good about the way I look when I leave the house.

My birthday outfit. The dress cost $10 second hand.
The sleeves were too tight so I notched them at the armpits and then I wore a great belt to give it shape. The shoes I bought at my neighbour's yard sale for 50 cents.

Is It Blue/Green or Green/Blue?

The Lonely Tree Shawl may have been the fastest knit in my personal knitting history - just 10 days from cast-on to final blocking. It virtually flew off the needles.  Good thing too. Despite it being mid-June, it is still quite cool and a wrap is often needed. Just this morning I threw my Orchid Thief over my shoulders to take a walk in the park.

I am generally happy with the way Lonely Tree turned out except for one thing. The picot bind off is not entirely a success. Each "picot" bump has a little whole in the middle and looks wobbly. I've done this bind off before so am not sure where I went wrong here. Now, I am well acquainted with the "It's a design feature!" adage.  However, in this case, I really wanted it to look like the edge in  pattern photos so I am a little disappointed. Otherwise, it's just lovely. The colour makes me happy.

Short Rows

I've started the sleeve cap of the cardigan three times and have ripped back as many times,  The pattern technique is to pick up from the armhole edge of the body, then knit in the round shaping with short rows.  While I understand the possible advantages of such a technique, I'm obviously struggling with the execution.  I've always found knitting sleeves in the round to be cumbersome with all that turning of the whole project in your lap.  Also, the wrap and turns on reverse stocking stitch has me completely stymied!  I keep getting this odd ridge that looks like a diagonal stocking stitch row.
I think the basic problem is that I don't understand the mechanics of knitting stitches well enough to make adjustments when they don't do what I want them to do.  My w & t technique is as it's always been - bring ytf, slip purlwise, wrap, pass stitch back, turn.  However, when the result is not as desired, I don't have the knowledge, or mojo, or mad skills or whatever, needed to fix it.  Frustrating.  Perhaps I should meditate on it?  Consult a guru?

One Rainy Weekend, I Blocked A Shawl

Diamond Fantasy Shawl - Sivia Harding Knit Design

Jojoland Melody %100 wool 50g(200m), 3 skeins

Pony 60 cm, 3.75mm circulars

I wish I could take credit for the fabulous blocking idea but I can't. I read about it one night when blog surfing. Some amazingly clever knitter came up with the idea of blocking on these foam interlocking baby mat squares. Her logic was that one can create the approximate size and shape required for each project and they come apart for easy storage. I discovered an added benefit. The squares create a grid making the pinning easy peasy. The shawl above is pinned out in a perfect triangle. How cool is that?

I purchased the foam squares in the toy section of Dollarama. I love these things with a passionate love.

This shawl is the most intricate thing I have ever knit and I'm so damn proud of it! Sadly, the yarn is a bit itchy so wearing it with bare shoulders is pretty much out of the question. However, I do adore the colours. This morning, I took advantage of some meager sunlight to shoot this baby in the garden.

Hangin on the front porch with the baby tree.

Draped attractively over the cherry tomatoes.

Beneath the grapes.

Admiring the tomatoes - Jet Stars.

ARRRRGH!!

My Diamaond Fantasy shawl is this close to being finished. Eight repeats of teeny tiny lacy stitch pattern done with painstaking detail. We're talking fixing every single mistake here. Now I can't cast the damn thing off! I've been trying, on and off, all afternoon! I started with the recommended i-cord cast off. Looked roly and too chunky in the yarn. Then I tried three kinds of sewn bind off and am now taking a break from picking out the last one. I will not let that much work be ruined by an ugly edge. I am ready to SCREAM! Does anyone know a nice flat looking cast off that gives an attractive edge?

So, it's in the bag for a day or two.
Here are the promised photos from last Friday's gathering.

Our newest member, Melinda tries to pretend she's not being photographed. The fellow peering over her shoulder is my "admirer."

Lori, Sandy and Jackie love their work a little too much.

Kelly's attempt at an arty still life.

Now that's a shawl edge. Alas, it is Stephanie's, not mine.

The Magic Loop

My Secret Pal 7 sent me this booklet about knitting in the round on one needle as well as a pair of Addis to practice the technique. She knew about my DPN hopelessness and promised that she would turn me into a sock knitter. Over the last couple of days, I have had time to sit down and try out the magic loop and, By Jove! I think I've got it!
The knitting of socks was never something that particularly appealed to me. I know it is a passion for some, but I've always considered socks to be something that come in black, white or blue and are purchased in 3-packs at Zellers. I did buy this Scheepjes Invicta sock yarn a while back for another project (that went horribly wrong), so I figured what the heck? I don't know yet if I'm a sock convert, but I am really enjoying this new way of round knitting. I will definitely use the loop for future projects like necklines and - joy of joys - wrist warmers at last!



I leave you with a photo, finally, of the red top I completed a while back. Some of you have seen it on me at pub night. Well, now that my photography assistant is out of school, we've had time for an outdoor shoot.


Ok. I wasn't going to do this, but I can't resist. Above mentioned assistant, aka; The Daughter was the winner of her school's Principal's Award for Student Leadership at her Grade 6 graduation. The award is given for enthusiasm, work ethic, role model qualities and general good eggedness. We are so proud of this lovely young person.

Ah, Spit

While knitting my shawl, I decided to try the oft referred to method of joining balls that amounts to spitting on your project. I've come across the method in several sources - Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation being one of them.
Basically, it goes like this: When you come to to the end of a ball, fray the ends of the old and the new balls. Lick them and twist them together. Then rub them fast between your palms for a while. The wool (it only works with wool), felts and the strands are knotlessly joined.
Whaddya know? It actually works.

Re: Yarn Diet

I am bummed that I can't go to the TTC Knit-a-long because of my afore sworn yarn diet. I just can't justify passing on a shift at work and going on a shopping spree. I'll be sad to miss the fun but I must be strong.

I am going to attend the DKC's Knitter's Frolic. I have planned on this for months and it will be my first Saturday off since December. I shall mingle and make new friends and knit and not spend outrageously. Also, I am desperate to take Wanietta's buttonhole and picking up for neckline workshop. These are two of my weakest skills and the class is inexpensive. I hope it's not too late to register?

5 Songs Yvette Currently Plays Over and Over:

(I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May - Suzanne Vega
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
Highway One - Murray McLaughlin
I'll Cover You (Reprise) - Rent Soundtrack
Tired of Sleeping - Suzanne Vega

Back Is Done

So far so good. The transition from circs to straights to affect the pattern switch went very smoothly. I believe it will fit too. The front has just been started, and I will continue with it this evening at Team Canada pub night. You're all coming right?

Hey! Look at what I made! I never thought I'd be able to bead but I found the instructions in a book and gave it a whirl. Pleased am I...yes... with my pretty new stitch markers. They are super easy to make and it's so much cheaper than buying the fancy ones.

Now, speaking of knitting costs...I am actually putting this down in writing...I am going on a yarn diet! For the next while, no more yarn, accessory, magazine, or book purchases. I mean it. I've done a rough estimate of how much I've spent in the last few weeks and it's rather shocking. Mind you, I've gotten some great deals, but the total is still up there. Let's see...all that Romni yarn (on sale) of the last post, a new book at Indigo (on sale due to ripped cover), and the latest Vogue Knitting (so lovely).

Two days ago I bought 10 skeins of the fingering yarn pictured on the left on ebay. I wanted it specifically to try the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. All those gorgeous Olympic Knitting shawls inspired me to buy (that word again) an intricate lace pattern.

I've decided to rely less on fibre therapy and more on real therapy. Regular readers of my blog may have read between the lines and seen that I am not the happiest camper lately. So, some money has been put aside and I've found a good therapist to help me work out some of my issues. Too much information, you say? I only write it down to make it seem more concrete. I am actually a little excited. It's been many years since I've been in therapy and it was a positive force in my life then. However, it ain't cheap, so a strict yarn diet will help pay for an extra session or two. I, of course, will continue to knit many of my troubles away with my current stash. Wish me luck.