Knitting and Strangers

I think knitting has been wonderful in making it easy for me to talk with strangers. I share a bit about my recent experience when I took my knitting with me to the endocrinologist appointment.



Really, I want to know what type of knitting you take with you. Please add a comment.

(do I need to make a contest out of this for some sock yarn or something?)

EPS and the Kitchener Stitch

I've referenced the EPS multiple times on my blog. It's a great way to knit a sweater based on percentages from a Key measurement. This was created by Elizabeth Zimmermann.



The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmermann is a great book. The Spun Out #46 "The Weekend Sweater" is from Schoolhouse Press.

The Kitchener Stitch can be found here for those who don't knit. It's also known as grafting.

Carry a-long projects: Vest Idea

I've got an idea for a sweater vest that will be knit in strips.



The yarns I'm considering are:
Noro Kureyon in Color 32 (discontinued)
Noro Kureyon in Color 53
Noro Kujaku in Color 2

I have completed a sample in color 32 and like the colors but need to change the needle size. Recommended needle size is 8 and I swatched on a 4. It's too tight. So I'll go up to a 6 or 7. I'm thinking the stitch pattern needs to be relaxed a bit. Test swatching can be fun.

I've been wondering about your carry-a-long projects. I've been knitting a lot of cotton washcloths. What do you like to take with you and knit?

Medusa Update

It's time for an update on the Medusa Hat that I'm knitting for #1. It's been much easier to knit the second of four parts to the hat. I find this true for most things that require you to make multiple pieces. The first is the longest because I'm learning the pattern. I expect the last one will be pretty quick to knit.



I do like the pattern, once I sat down and just tried the pattern. If I knit it again, I would knit it in the round so the "nop" bubbles show up better. I do like the bubbles for me but not the i-cords so much.

Notice the difference in the tails (or is that tales ;) n-cubed?) I hope that it will make enough difference on the 2 st i-cord.


Hi YarnaholicBeth (wavewavewave)

knitSB's Side-to-side Sweater Yarn

I took a class teaching me how to knit a sweater side-to-side. I'm really enjoying the design and the knitting is quite rewarding and the color play is enjoyable.



You can tell from the videoblog that we've been inspired to knit another one for knitSB. Actually, I have two other side-to-side sweaters that I would like to knit.

The Citrus Malabrigo wasn't the right color as you can see here.


The dyed color is much better, isn't it?
The process of dyeing with icing dyes was actually straight-forward but I got a little scared with I found out that vinegar sometimes fractures the icing dyes into the separate colors. For instance, purple fractures into blue and red, an unexpected twist. The contrasting color yarn is neatly displayed in a basket we had around the house.














I have two pair of glasses that I swap out. Just in case you're wondering.

Medusa Hat

I completed and delivered the shawl for #1 and realize that she needs a hat. I recently shaved her head for her after her third round of chemo. It just made it easier for her to care for her hair. She laughs that her hair continues to grow during the chemo. She wasn't expecting that to happen. I wanted to make her a hat that has been in my queue for a number of years.

You can see my progress in my vlog post.



Handpaint Country is one of the books that KayInNewMexico suggested I look at as a new knitter.
I'm hoping to be finished with the first of four pieces Tuesday at knitting. Just three more to knit and lots and lots of small i-cords to knit. (Did you see all those ends!?)

I'll give you updates.

I really enjoy posting these video blogs. Are you enjoying the videoblogs?

Looking forward while remembering the past

HPIM3708.JPG
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow

I took this photo this weekend and really like the image.

Pattern Sheets

I have this attraction for wanting to find knitting patterns for men. There. I said it. Everyone happy?

I've gone to thrift stores searching for the pattern books and pattern sheets from long ago. I like looking through these finds because some of the patterns are really quite nice. The designs are classic (and sometimes very funny). I find them fun and inspiring.

Man's Patterns in Books!

Maybe the tide has turned. There are a few pattern books out there with patterns for men! One rather nice one from Queensland Yarns.

Man's Pattern Search Update

A few posts ago, I went on a rant about magazines not having patterns for men in the magazines.