Look! finished object!

Yes, a finished item of knitting, finished, and worn almost every day since I cast off and stitched buttons on. Finish objects mean that there is new blog content, or in this case the next project surfaces for needle time.

So here is my new favorite cardigan, I want another one, and then a third. Sock weight cardigans are my new favorite thing. I finished last Wednesday night, a week ago and have worn this most days since, I live the weight, the colour, the lace and the length. I've had several favorable comments, even one expressing surprise I could both knit and crochet! This is my favorite feature, the way the deep single rib hem pulls the waist in just a little and hugs the body creating a subtle waist effect.

There is no ease, negative or positive. The cardigan is the same measurement as I am so it sits nicely unbuttoned, and buttons up neatly with no weird pulling or bulging. I had an on again and off again relationship with the neck, planning it, testing it, worrying it was to low, to deep, too loose, hoping the ribbing would tighten it up .... and in the end the neck is perfect, sits just where I want it to. Not to low, not to high. I will have to revisit my notes and see if I have enough to recreate this shape in y next cardigan. Oh yes there will be another one ... And not to far way.

Which brings me to the next project, I dug the sanquhar mitts out of the work basket and knit. So far I am up to the end of the thumb gusset but ...

Yes there is a but, I was all confused about how to make this one a right, or was that a left? What confused me was how to are this one the opposite of the first mitt. The pattern is written with a symmetrical thumb gusset, but there is a date or initials box which is to sit on the inside wrist. On the first mitt the year fits just in the right place, on this mitt, the initials sit off past the wrist bone. Tonight I will frog and fix ....because if I don't the placement will always bug me.

And lastly buttons, knitters study group meet last Saturday to make Dorset buttons. I had more fun than I thought I would, these are a mix of sewn and crotcheted buttons. I can see more of these being made ... Dorset buttons might just be perfect for the next sock yarn cardigan. I always thought that hand sewn buttons had to be large and clumsy, but no,not always, these are less than 2cm across and delicate.

Take care, hope you have dry weather, we have had four or more days of heavy rain and I am ready for some sunshine, or at least some dry.

Na Stella

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One thing at a time

This week there are two finished objects, and one new project. I'm pacing myself, working away one at a time at the projects in the unfinished pile, the Work in Progress's that have slipped to the bottom of the queue. Doing so has resulted in one finished project, the linen lace edge that was started at Knit Camp way back in May. I cast off Friday, woven in ends yesterday and blocked today. The next project in the queue is the Hope-he-never-needs-this hat, which is finished, but not blocked. And within a month there is a secret swap project needed ... so I'd best queue that one up next. I have the pattern, and the yarn, and all I have to do is knit it ... and such things don't knit themsleves.

 So here is the lace edge all done. At knit camp 2012 we were presented with two options, to knit the lace and then stitch it to a hemmed circle of linen or to hem a circle of linen using blanket or buttonhole stitch and then crotchet an edge that could be picked up and knitted on on to. I liked the idea of when something is done it is done, with no seaming or sewing - so I went with knitting on my lace as I went.

 Once knit I the lace needed blocking, although there is something charming about the deep relief of the leaves - especially when viewed from the wrong side. Mid way through working the edge I had steam ironed it, as it is linen, just to see the effect.

 First I drew a circle in chalk on my blocking board that I thought would be the right size to block to, but I underestimated and had to draw a slightly larger circle. Then I pinned the quarter points, the eight points, then all the points in between.

 
One of my favorite subjects at high school was one called 'Technical Drawing'. I loved it, we spent our time learning how to draw with great accuracy and detail all sorts of things. Plans, elevations, perspective views, unfolded or 'developmental' explanations, exploded views. I loved the large sheets of heavy white paper, the use of special pencils, and scale rulers, and the sort of planning and understanding that had to happen before one started drawing. I liked that the final drawing was a graphic representation of something. Most of all I liked the tools, the specialist little boxes of drawing equipment like this extending compass, or circle maker. I've kept all of that, in its little rounded wooden box, and love any excuse to drag it out and use it. Yes I could have used a plate ... but why when I have tools like this?

At this stage it looked pretty good .. until smallest cub said "what is this?" and pointed at a few teeny tiny loose loops. She was helping me pin out the points, Little cub has a keen interest in blocking, I think it may be her favorite process. I must admit that I am always slightly in awe at how simple washing and stretching can open out the lace pattern so cleanly and clearly. Whomever discovered that technique deserves some sort of knitting honor.

Argh, there was a dropped stitch, three loose loops, which I've secured with a few pins, and once the lace is try I'll secure them by weaving a thread through them and secure it neatly. No one will ever no, expect, me, little cub and all of you.

Take care, we have a fantastic frost outside this morning, the kind that leaves the road white and sparkly, so I'll be staying safe in side and warm most of the day, but the sky is blue and the sun is shining so it will warm up slightly.
na Stella

Busy

Oh there has been knitting and yarn related activity since the last post, but surprisingly not a lot of knitting to show for it. I do have yarn, and yarn making, and public knitting, and new projects, so here it all is.
Saturday was Knitters Study Group - and usually I have something new to report. I arrived at 11ish, in time for class set up --- and by 11:30 we had the local fire service mopping the hall and supervising a large fan to evacuate the smoke filled air. Some were between 11 and 11:30 a heater set a temporary curtain on fire, the fire dept was called, the fire extinguisher was emptied, smoldering bits were knocked down and a jug of water and broom used to put out the remaining flames. We were advised to leave the evidence for the fire service to evaluate rather than clean up - so we did. The fire service arrived promptly, said we did all the right things, suggested any one with breathing problems stay outside, set up their fan, opened all the doors and windows, worryingly uncovered the fire exit that was hidden under a table (stored on its end), and helped themselves to mops and brooms and cleaned up. I was impressed ..... but not up for a few hours of knitting in a hall opened up to the elements with no heaters so headed home for a cuppa-tea, so I have nothing to show. And people think knitting can be boring?

The follow up was our Dunedin WWKiP event, 1-4 at the Settlers Museum. Now the museum is a public place .. but it isn't cool to publish photos of people without their permission. The lovely J - taught knitting and took some lovely action photos of the action - and action there was. Hands were flying, people were moving and chatting and knitting ....the best bit was when J noticed the two nine year olds were completely relaxed knitting lying down and had to take a photo - look .....


I made a teaching handout with diagrams and links to cast-ons, knitting, bind off and finishing/weaving in simply because J and I couldn't teach everything a beginner knitter needs to know in 3 hours. Most people could already knit, or had knit at some point in their past but there were some newbies who as far as I could tell went away happy with the beginnings of a new skill.
I have been knitting - but shhh, it is a complete secret, my project for my secret swap partner. This is probably as much as I can show you - any more and you know the story, I'll have to frog your project and tangle your yarn (seems more of a knitters threat than killing). I am about 'here' on the chart, so only this many repeats to go before I work the ..... and the .....s

This is the wee project I worked on the bus today, I knit 40 minutes there and 40 minutes back ... more later. Another beginners wrister for the office lady who sorted all the yarn and the transport for my students and who admired the wristers I was wearing. She wanted Autumn colours - this is some of my early hand spun silk and merino and feels autumnal to me.

hh

Last night at spinning I plied my sock yarn, the Vintage Purls one, 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon delivered in a hand dyed pencil roving (hidden under Hand-dyed fibre on her shop). Wow .. this is probably the most even I have ever spun, I wanted a three ply .. but after sampling went for a two ply, from a center pull ball. This puffs up quite a bit ... and now looks like soft proper sock yarn ... I love it. 100g and 420ish meters ... now to find the perfect sock to knit ....
Today the Hand knitting Studio students and I trekked(by bus) to the mill, and had a wonderful tour of their processing, including dying, and blending and the woolen and worsted lines and the carding and ... well everything from when the fibre arrives to the dispatch room. The students were keen and asked lots of questions ... before heading out the mill shop to buy supplies for their knitting projects. As I went around the mill again, I couldn't help but be reminded of the magic by which fibre is turned into light warm yarn ..... so much fibre .....

Now this week I do have home work, I am teaching a wee-chap to knit, and have to find a way he can knit with only one hand. I've sorted him some smooth thick yarn in bright red, and long thick wooden needles with good points, and so far we have been working on a Scottish style with one needle tucked under one arm. I'm practicing myself so I am useful when I next teach him. Belatedly I Googled and found this blog which shows knitting this way with the use of a support. I was thinking if this wee chap kept up with his knitting I would show him my knitting belt and matching pins, and he is welcome to borrow them .... but for now I want to keep it simple, without to much extra drama and 'stuff'. The technique shown in the video is what he and I came up with on Sunday, but I think it can be more fluid with practice ... so I'm thinking we might have it sussed. Of course I'm not an on this expert so if any one has any hints or clues ... please share.

Take care - update this weekend, where maybe a new sock will be started,
Stella