Nuts Again socks to be frogged

My Rav Link.

Previous blogposts

Lessons learned: gauge swatch, read a pattern carefully and notice the size, trust my instinct and stop knitting sooner rather than later, a good design is a good design regardless of my knitting mistakes, and it's acceptable to frog a project.

A Fanboy Prepares

I'm taking two classes with Brenda Dayne this weekend and I'm looking forward to it. I've blogged about Brenda before. With any luck, I'll vlog some over my classes.

Cheers!

Lavender Shawl Completed!

All done.



I learned a few things knitting this shawl.

Here is a picture of the completed shawl.

And a picture of the center stitch.

Backstage Lavender Shawl Update

I'm backstage before the first performance Saturday with an update on the lavender shawl. I made a mistake by not keeping the center back stitch plain. I involved it in the YO, k2tog lace pattern. 

Here's a close-up of the error. I'm trying to fix this while I have time duringyoday's performances. I'm not sure it will work but I'm going to try.


Update:
I tried and I didn't work. It looks like extra stitches will be added. I'm going to pull out the fishnet lace pattern and start this section over with a bit more attention on what the lace should be doing.

Lavender Shawl

A friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with cancer and I'm knitting her a shawl.
It's based on the Boneyard Shawl (rav link) by Stephen West but I'll be adding a fishnet lace as one of the last sections.

She wanted lavender. Here are the color options I gave her:


She has very good taste and selected #3 (going from the left). It's cashmere.

This is the first cast-on attempt. I was not happy so I pulled it out.


Here's the progress by Sunday's second show at the theatre.  I made good progress.


I don't think I'll get it finished by Friday. I don't want to shorten the shawl simply because I'm out of time. I know I'll have it finished by Monday.

Tahoe Vest Completed!

Hooray!  It's finished!

I used a handspun yarn I purchased at Lofty Lou's in Placerville, California and a purple yarn that reminds me of Silky Wool (held two strands together).

I blogged about this vest previously here and here and maybe here where I reference this item as the Placerville Vest.

Thanks for the great video on the bind-off from KNITFreedom.

Here's a picture of some of the ends I had to run in.

And the finished object!

Tahoe Vest Steeks

Hooray! I completed the crochet part of the crocheted steek last night. It went well once I added the light yellow yarn to guide me. It took two incorrect attempts before if put in the guide yarn. I may be a slower learner but I'm happy with the result. Steek cutting will happen this afternoon in full sunlight so I can see and I'm not tired. Steek cutting when tired is not recommended. Let's not talk about that.

Sweaters from Camp published by Schoolhouse Press is out of print. 
Jared Flood's Alberta vest pattern is available on the BrooklynTweed.nethttp://www.brooklyntweed.net/ website. Here's the ravelry link.
TECHknitting blog post and 2X2 version by Revknits

And I invite you to watch me cut the neckline steek, if you're so inclined.  What I want to know is if you cringed when I cut into the knitting.  Did you?

I don't have US size 8 16" circular needles to use!  Looks like I'll have to use the magic loop method. Ack!

Tahoe Vest Update

This is a vest I've been working on for 4 years.  I've lost the pattern notes and I'm using the Elizabeth Percentage System as the pattern basics. But I've lost my pattern notes and years have past so I'm taking stock of my progress and moving forward. I think all that's left is joining the sleeves and accomplishing the steeks. To finish, I need to put the edging on the armholes and the v-neck. Progress report later. I am using the Alberta pattern by Jared Flood as my help.

I shared my knitting with Cat on knitrific.

I submitted

My scholarship application to the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat.  (fingers crossed)

I thought I would post a video with some of the things I was thinking as I wrote up my nomination.  I hope I get it. 

Did you like the bit about having all the guys show me theirs?

Roman Rib Socks Completed and Vlogged

Roman Rib Socks from the Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch & Beth Parrot.
Blogged previously here.
Knit using Knit Picks Sock Garden Memories in color 23470 (Pansy). My Rav Project Link.

Gigi from the Knitmore Girls Podcast talked about the Little Box of Socks.  I think she has knit at least one pair of every sock in the box. Quite impressive to knit all of the patterns. Thanks Gigi!

Yarmando thinks the "strong heel" might also be the feegle heel if done toe-up.

Monks need hats too!

Jason Knits and his tweet
KnitPicks Swish Bulky in a superwash
used size 11 and 10.5 dpn
Pattern suggested by the Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by (St.) Ann Budd

Monticello Knitting

knitSB and I went on vacation last week to Williamsburg, Virginia. My sister, EveryoneDeservesAQuiltJoanne and my BIL, Jack joined us. It was a delightful trip, filled with unexpected joys, great conversation and relaxation. We started with a trip to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home.  Have you ever been there? We went on a tour of the house and the gardens. I took this video while on the grounds and knitting the Rustic Jack Socks.



The gardens were wonderful to see.  The effects of the rather warm and dry summer could be seen throughout the garden. Did you know that Jefferson loved peas? He had fifteen varieties at Monticello. We picked up both flower and vegetable heirloom seeds from the gift shop. Perhaps I will be more successful at gardening next summer.

I snapped this photo of Monticello while resting in front of the fish pond. His "staff" would catch fish and bring them to this pond to wait until cooking time so they would be fresh.

Here's a picture testing the Rustic Sock length.

More about the Rustic Socks later. They were finished on the trip but not exactly as intended.

Rustic Socks Update

More about those Rustic Socks I mentioned yesterday.



More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Uneven Ribbing is a 4 stitch repeat.
Using Rustic Wool from the Queensland collection. I blogged about these socks here and here and here.
I don't like the short row heel. Ick. I'll have to use some more research. Perhaps another resource would help with my toe-up socks. I move to top-down on a size 4 needle. I'm using the (St) Ann Budd Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns as my guide.
knitSB footies on a size 2 using Twisted Sisters Jazz. I'm using the sock cal app for the iPhone mentioned in this blog post.  I'll keep you updated on how it goes.

While at Monticello, I snapped this photo of the life size Thomas Jefferson statue. Can you spot the knitting?

Jazz Vanillia Socks Update

Knitter's Handy Book of Knitting Patterns by (St.) Ann Budd. I wonder what Ann would think about my referring to her as a "saint." I mean it in good humor. If you see her, please let her know.

I'm using Twisted Sisters "Jazz" on size 3.0 mm dpns.
Next time I need to decrease a needle size for the cuff. It says I should do that in the directions. I just didn't read that correctly.
On this pair of socks, I've dropped to size 2.25 mm for the heel flap, heel turn and toes to help give them some strength. That is a drop of 3 needle sizes.
Argh. I ran out of yarn for my socks.  These skeins have (about) 163 yards per skein. I could have made the leg length shorter, but I like the length, so I'll have to keep some extra yarn.

(You'll notice the hacking sound in the background.  That's Hugo chewing on some grass.)

Jazz Slip-Stitch Rib Sock Redo

Well, the best laid plans don't always work out. I've been working on the Slip-Stitch Rib Socks from the Little Box of Socks. The knitting has been going well, but the size of the sock isn't working out. What to do? What to do?

 
Ripping=Frogging details in a knitty post here.

Right after I shot this video on Saturday, I did a gauge swatch in the round to find out exactly how many stitches per inch I actually get with this yarn/needle combination.  I'm happy with the 7 sts per inch and have started a pair of Jazz Vanilla Socks using the Knitters Handy Book of Patterns by (St.) Ann Budd. I believe a simple pattern will highlight the yarn. Afterall, I fell in love with the colors of this yarn in the hank.  I wish I had taken a photo of this yarn in the hank. It was really beautiful.

I snapped a photo of the sock progress.  I knit on Saturday evening while watching The Women at Songferret's how with DH. Wow. The film was made in 1939. I think I've heard people act like this backstage, but I try to ignore all that. ;) We also watch a bit of The Best of 'So Graham Norton.'  That's not for the faint of heart but funny.
I'm please with how they are turning out.  What do you think?


This photo shows the right colors. I just keep wanting to knit on these socks to see what happens next with the yarn. I expect the heel flap and turning the heel with change the way the colors are knitting up. I'll post a picture to let you see

The 2010 Burn Pile

Yep, it's an annual thing.

Just the burn pile from the 2010 Boys Fishing Trip. Always a food sign when you have to start a burn pile using a roman candle. Oh, an sorry abt that second roman candle. I thought it misfired. No one was harmed in the making of this video and everyone was sober.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and Sock Knitting :)

I eat Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Sweet Corn & Black Raspberries
with the sample spoon to make the fun last a bit longer. 
Yarmando's Evil Sock Genius Socks
Noro Kureyon Sock

Knitting Q&A for July 2010

AsKatKnits on plurk asked me
"When did you start knitting?? What do you like to knit, what is a challenge..."
Rowan asked me
"Do you ever get "knitters block" where you don't want to knit or can't find a project or UFO you want to do?"

CCAD and Knitting

KnitBeth asked me almost a year ago about my experiences at Columbus College of Art and Design. Her email came after my Albums I gave to knitSB.



I did go back to CCAD about 10 years ago and took some Fashion Design classes. These were really enjoyable for me and taught me how to make flat patterns from 36 measurements taken from the body. I also learned how to construct garments from those flat patterns.

Take any class from Carol Griffith. Her gallery of art. She's a great teacher.

Sorry it's taken so long to get to this. I hope Brock has a great freshman year.

Tink Knit and Purl

I asked on Plurk what people would like me to vlog about today. 
Msesheta asked "how to tink back in both knit and purl."
Rowan said she "has problems when she tinks finding where to put the needle. Its not always evident to me where it goes to tink back."

Thanks for the topic ladies!  Please let me know if you find this helpful.

"Tink" is unknitting (not knitting backwards like I say in the video). Tink is actually knit spelled backwards. Cool, huh?



I'll work on the focus for the next instructional video post. I'm using a flip camera with a 1" screen. It's kinda difficult to make sure I'm actually in focus.

There are a couple of good videos available that shows you how to Tink. This one is from Jimmy Beans Wool. Here are two from The Knit Witch one about tinking the knit and purl sts.