Goals!

I had very good intentions about blogging again at the start of January especially because I wanted to jot down my knitting goals for 2016. Clearly, those intentions stayed intentions, but I suddenly realized that Lunar New Year is just around the corner so I'll mark this much-loved holiday with notes about my aspirations with yarn and needles.  More than anything, I'm going to keep my goals super simple this year ~ I'm often way too ambitious with my wish list and end up feeling more disappointed than proud.  

So, here they are ~ three simple but still challenging goals I want to achieve:  

(1) I plan to choose my projects much more carefully.  What this means is that I'm going take my time assessing a pattern before it jumps onto my needles.  I don't know about you but I sometimes get I caught up in the frenzy of a popular project that inundates my IG feed and cast on with abandon.  Granted, they often are truly gorgeous, but they aren't always my style or something I would easily (or happily) add to my wardrobe.  So, I'm going to enjoy seeing everyone's beautiful pics, but I'll do some research on the whole project before I decide if it's worth my time, effort, and money.

One such project is the Wolf River pullover which I've been wanting to knit for a while.  I love the stitch pattern that covers the entire body of the sweater and I've been wanting to add a chunky, oversized pullover to my wardrobe for a while.  I've already finished the front, back, and side seaming so I should be able to wear this beauty really soon.

(2) I plan to push myself to try new techniques.  I will definitely spend time perfecting things I already know but what I really want to achieve this year are new-to-me methods like intarsia and set-in sleeves and steeking(!).

(3)  I plan to explore new-to-me yarns.  I don't usually knit in the suggested yarn for a project either because I'm too inpatient (and run to my stash first) or I get cold feet about spending money on yarns that I've never tried before.  In my quest to choose projects carefully, I know that knitting with the suggested yarns will make the whole experience that much more wonderful.  So, I hope I'll be sharing some thoughts soon on yarns that I've only seen you knit with or read about and will now experience first-hand.

An unofficial fourth goal is to create a capsule wardrobe which will mainly consist of hand-knit and hand-sewn garments.  This would be a huge goal if I accomplish it so I hope you'll cheer me on as I would love to do a recap in December of what I made.  

Now onto knitting those sleeves....

An Ode to the Stitch

There are times when I can't wait ... Typically, I'm a patient person and if given the chance to have two marshmallows if I can wait ten minutes rather than one marshmallow right this very second, I'll opt for the two marshmallows.  But earlier today, when this gorgeous scarf jumped on my screen while tootling around Ravelry, I literally had to put everything down and pick up my needles. 

Within minutes, I had this and I was in love.  This beautiful stitch pattern got me thinking about how certain types of stitches get me excited ... every time.  So, what is it about this design that I love so much?  Well, basically, it's a pretty simple drop stitch and whenever I come across a drop stitch pattern, I'm smitten. I love the openness of it, the architecture of it, and let's be honest, I also love the slightly daring aspect of dropping a stitch.  C'mon, we knitters know that dropping stitches is a huge no no and one of our biggest fears but when you are required to do it on purpose ... it's kind of fun!

I've been thinking about this scarf now for the past hour, and I think my other projects are going to be put aside while I rummage around for some fluffy yarn to cast this one on.  So much for the two marshmallows ... 

An Education

When my sock bug began, I knew that there would be a wide range of methods and techniques to explore, but I really didn't have any clue that my knitting education would expand the way it has.  At this moment, my focus has been on toe-up socks and my favorite method of casting on is this one which is also how one casts on for a hexipuff:

As you may remember, I recently taught myself how to knit Cat Bodhi's sweet tomato heel and have now made another sock with this adorable heel.  There's something really sweet about the way it looks but most importantly, it fits great!

Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label in Truffle

One thing that I've learned (the hard way) is that a regular bind-off on a sock cuff simply doesn't work.  For a while, I have been wanting to try Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off and decided that now was the time to attempt it.  It worked like a charm and when I went to try on this sock, the comfort & fit was perfect. 

I'm working on the second sock of this pair of Pure Vanilla socks but I'm already dreaming about the new methods I want to try on my next pair.  I'd love to know what your favorite sock knitting techniques are for any part of the sock.  Please share!

Looking Forward

I've been enjoying everyone's end-of-year posts, looking back at what's been learned in 2012. I started to collect my thoughts in a similar way, and while it was fun to do, I realized that I'd much prefer to look forward and so here I am with what I hope to learn in 2013.

Over the past year, I've been honing my skills at knitting sweaters, so I'm excited at the prospect of working with new techniques.  I've only knit raglan, seamless designs and while there's so much more to learn and perfect with this method, I want to try my hand at a few other styles such as set-in sleeves, contiguous, and saddle shoulders, to name just a few.  What any new technique will require though is mindfulness and if I were to apply a theme for my knitting in the new year, it will be that: being mindful as I work a project.

A case in point:  when I cast on the Derry Raglan and Cowl last week, I made a few mistakes.  They were minor, and I easily fudged the corrections by increasing a stitch here, decreasing a stitch there. It nagged at me that hidden in my stitches were these mistakes and despite my hours of knitting, I knew that I had to start the sweater over.

Patons Classic Wool

It was the right thing to do. I thought about my initial attempt as a practice run where I had a chance to become familiar with the pattern and to see how the sweater was constructed.  

An especially positive aspect of knitting a practice run was becoming more comfortable with a new way of increasing at the raglan markers, one which I had never done before.  The pattern calls for a LLI (left leaning lifted increase) and a RLI (right leaning lifted increase) both of which had me stumped at first.  Once learned and practiced, I love increasing this way and can see why a designer would prefer it:  the increases are subtle and almost invisible.

I don't know if I'll make it a habit to knit practice runs first but with the result that I'm getting now with my new pullover, I just might.

Do I Dare? - 3KCBWDAY6

We knitters love a challenge. We start and/or join KALs (knitalongs).  We cast on lace shawls when we've never knit a lace pattern before in our lives. We intrepidly buy yarn and patterns for sweaters and cardigans with set-in sleeves that then go on to elude our skill set.  Okay, I'm talking about myself here! Through it all, we remain optimists, failure or not, and move on to that exciting next challenge.


I have been dreaming of knitting an intarsia or color-work project for over a year. There are so many of you who knit these projects, blog about them, post them on Ravelry, as though you're knitting a plain old garter stitch scarf. There's Pumpkin who is working on a beautiful color-work cardigan by Julia Crawford and then there's SoKnitPicky's gorgeous shawl which is being done, like so many others, as part of a KAL.

I'm determined to add to my skill set and begin a color-work project after I get my three WIPs off the needles, something I'm planning to do this weekend. I was so proud when I finished my Missoni-Inspired Afghan but that's not the same as a proper intarsia project.

So, stay tuned ... oh my, pod casting? Intarsia? 49 is going to be an amazing year!!  Happy weekend knitting, everyone.

The Cardigan Chronicles: Day 107

I hope you'll indulge me as I post about my cardigan again today.  It's day 107, and I'm inching ever closer to my target date for completion (it's this Friday, if you remember).  Thanks to all of you who commented yesterday, and offered both words of wisdom and empathy.  I was feeling so dashed but knowing you're with me here really helps.


Privately, I had two very special people send me incredible notes on how to salvage what I had already done.  My KAL partner reminded me about the notes she made when knitting the sleeves, but I had already taken those into account.  I suppose somehow I still managed to knit more than I needed to in the sleeve cap.  She also suggested blocking the cardigan before setting in the sleeves which is an interesting idea.

Gail sent me incredible notes on the construction of sleeve caps to help me better understand how they should fit into an arm opening and was a true cheerleader in trying to convince me that perhaps all was not lost.


I thought a lot about both what Wei Siew and Gail shared with me and I sat with my cardigan for a good long while last night before I decided to do something completely radical.  Okay, maybe not radical but definitely different than what the pattern calls for.  I searched the Web and found a great tutorial on how to knit sleeves from the top down.

So, I threw caution to the wind, told everyone in my family that I was to be undisturbed, and followed along.

I had to frog back once as I messed up the short rows the first time -- they were not evenly spaced -- but the second time worked like a charm.

There are a few spots that pucker just a tiny bit, but I think that might happen even if I set in sleeves so I'm hoping that once I block the cardigan, the piece will smooth out including the front rib which is pulling up a good inch or so.

I'm feeling so much better this morning and re-energized about this project. Thanks again to  all my blogger friends -- I hope you know how much it means to me that you visit me here and offer me so much support. And to Wei Siew, fingers crossed that we'll soon be able to wear our cardigans at the same time!  

Do I Dare?

I bet I'm not alone when I say that I have a favorite knitting needle size.  Whenever I cast on a new project, I do my best to follow the gauge instructions and use the right needle with the right yarn weight.  But sometimes, I find myself pulling out those beloved US7s and knitting away.  The results haven't always been beautiful ... how could they be, right?  But I sometimes forget can't help myself and those US7s just appear in the project!


The other day I went through my inventory of needles -- yes, I have them all organized in one place, separated into DPNs, circulars, and straights -- and I happily discovered that over the years, I've developed a healthy collection from size 3 to 13.  Why I don't have US1 or US2 is likely because I haven't really done much lace knitting.  I was so impressed with myself, even patting myself on the back for having a size 13.  And then I saw this:

from Loopy Mango, NYC

I haven't made it down to Loopy Mango yet, but I think I really have to now.  The shop specializes in oversized projects, and every time I check out their latest news, I'm always amazed at what they're working on.


These are US50 (uh huh, you read that right!), and I can hardly imagine what they're like to knit with.  Somehow the knitter doesn't look like it's too difficult, but I'm not even sure I'd have the room in my house for the yarn, let alone where I would store those needles.


So do I dare try these?  Would you?

WIP: Beanies for Boys - Update

I'm having a lovely time knitting this beanie and already know that I'll be knitting several for gifts this holiday season.  The design is really clever, and I love making something that is reversible and warm and great looking.  If I had my way, all knits would be designed like this.

I'm also really pleased with the yarn and the colors I chose.  Sometimes I get really doubtful ... too bulky?  too drab?  too incompatible?  But the camel and cabernet work beautifully together.

I finished knitting the solid hat -- Cascade 220 has a weight that I really enjoy and the fabric that knits up from it is even and very warm.

And then I began adding the cabernet color and started striping. I quickly realized that I've never learned properly how to make jogless stripes.  The place where I was adding the new color started looking like a real mess, and I couldn't live with it and frogged it back to the beginning.


I didn't have time to run over to my mom's so searched the Web and found a great method for knitting jogless stripes  which is so incredibly simple, I don't know why I hadn't thought of doing this myself.  

I'm happy to report that all is well and I'm back on track.

The Cardigan Chronicles -- Day 19

A couple of blog posts ago, I wrote about a new method to join new yarn that helps to avoid weaving in ends.  It's a method that I've begun to use regularly, but I'm always happy to be shown a new method which is exactly what Justyna recently did for me.  This method is called the Russian Join, and I saw it as I was about to join yet another new cake to my cardigan.  It worked like a dream!  Try it (and thanks, Justyna).

The Cardigan Chronicles -- Day 14

Tomorrow marks two weeks since I cast on the Autumnal cardigan and I'm really happy with my progress.  My KAL partner has given me ample support and while she claims that I don't really need it, her insight and words of encouragement have helped me get this lovely project humming along.

As you might remember, I ordered 12 skeins of Berocco Ultra Alpaca Light in Mahogany Mix for this cardigan.  Yes, 12 skeins, all of which I've turned into the sweetest little cakes

12 cakes also means that I need to join new yarn to old yarn throughout this project. My mother uses a method that I've yet to perfect.  She separates the end of the old yarn, adds a little spit to the end of the new yarn, and with the heat and friction of her palms, basically felts the two ends together.  In her hands, the result is like magic.  In my hands, what I get is a sticky, lumpy mess.

Fortunately, I came across a new method for joining yarn via Jane Richmond's tutorial on the magic knot.  It works like a charm and I'm relieved to know that I have yet another method to see me through the rest of the 10 cakes I'll be knitting with.  Here are some snaps of my work but see below for the tutorial (thanks, Jane).

 

Toe-Up

There was one winter, maybe even last winter, when I spent a lot of time knitting socks.  I'm fond of light-weight yarns and thin needles which create a delicate fabric that is a pleasure to knit (for me, at least).  Amongst you are stellar sock knitters include Fridica, My Sister's Knitter, and GerryART. When I see the socks that these folks are working on, I'm always so impressed and, yes, in awel.

I haven't knit socks in quite a while.  Not for any specific reason other than the fact that my attention has been drawn to non-sock projects.  And then recently, my boss had a serious foot injury that has required multiple surgeries and long stints in a cast.  With the colder weather upon us, he has been in dire need of a large sock to cover his exposed toes that are not covered by the cast.  Knowing what an avid knitter I am, he asked if I would design a toe cover for him, one that was wide enough to go over his cast and thick enough to keep his toes warm. And yes, I knit this in 100% wool.

As I have always knit socks from the top down to the heel and then to the toe, I was a little stumped at first.   And then I came across this video for toe-up socks and I now have another great method for my repertoire.

Cascade 220 Wool

I measured the span of his cast and created this toe sock which fits perfectly.  To stay snug on the cast, I knit a 2x rib but I also think it adds a nice little design element to an otherwise plain knit.  He's thrilled with this and I've since knit him another one in black and am thinking I may get back to knitting socks again.  I'll have to keep an eye on what all you sock knitters are working on and get started on some holiday gifts

Square Needles?

I'm always open to new methods and tools for knitting and was intrigued when I saw these on WEBS' blog the other day.

I've knitted with circulars, DPNs, long and short straights, and detachable needles, but I've never had the chance to knit with square ones.  

The other day, Miranda asked me about what's on my holiday wish list this year, and I drew a blank ... at first ... and then I remembered these needles.  Yes, I would love to try these out (hint, hint if Miranda is reading) and am so intrigued by how they will feel in my hands.  Oh, and did I also mention how much I love knitting with wood versus metal?

What do you think?  Worth a try or just a fad?

Finishing Touches

When I first began knitting, I was taught various ways to cast-on.  As knitters, we know how important the cast-on is -- it sets us up for the rest of the project.  Kiwiyarns blogged about learning the tubular cast-on recently and I gushed about the magical Moebius cowl cast-on not too long ago.  What I barely have paid attention to over the years is the bind-off.  Perhaps I was always just so relieved pleased to be finishing my project that I didn't have the energy or mental stamina to think too much about how I would end my masterpiece (in those early days, I was lucky if my garter stitch scarf wasn't wonky!)

There are many, many excellent tutorials out there on the Web and, as knitters who are spread around the world, I know how much we've come to rely on these videos to help us through a project.  I really like this I-Cord bind-off and plan to use it to finish a project soon.  I can't say which project yet but now that I've learned this type of bind-off, I'm storing it away in my methods file.  Let me know if you have any suggestions for a pattern that would finish nicely with an I-Cord.  

P.S.  For those of you who made very observant guesses yesterday as to what was odd about my fingerless mitts, both underground crafter and peppermint mocha mama had the right answer: I ran out of yarn for the final rounds on the right-hand thumb and had to use a slightly lighter shade of green.  And, Kepanie, you are right that the Halloween costume will be a black cat (with hot pink paw pads).  

Awestruck!

I'm fortunate in that I work with two terrific women who love to knit as much as I do.  Our work environment is pretty relaxed (it's a college campus), and we get to knit together here and there.  We often share patterns, yarn ideas, and tips, and the other day, Polly showed me a Moebius cowl that she was knitting. It was love at first sight (so Polly, this post is for you!).

She knitted hers in Malabrigo Worsted, one of my favorite yarns. Wanting a similar weight and look, I riffled through my stash and happily came across a skein of Mal in Purple Mystery (isn't it gorgeous?). For those of you who've knitted a Moebius before, you know that the cast-on is unlike any other cast on. Like a magic trick, the Cat Bordhi method is incredibly clever and unique. Just how do these designers come up with methods like this? Here's her tutorial:

On Sunday, I sneaked in a couple of hours to knit -- it's the one day when I can take some quiet time and work on a WIP, turn a WIP into an FO, or cast on something new.  I cast-on a Moebius cowl and I'm awestruck. It's fabulous, and I've now got another method in my repertoire.  So, thanks Polly!

Put Your Mitts On

When the weather cools, I love to go through my knitted accessories and remind myself of all those terrific little patterns that I've enjoyed knitting over the years.  One of my favorites is fingerless mitts. I love the way they look whether knitted up in stripes or solids.  Somehow, fingerless mitts add a little special something to an outfit  -- they're warm, cozy, and super stylish.  I've seen some knit up long so they act as extra sleeves, and I've seen others knit up short and chunky. Regardless, the most important aspect (to me, at least) is that they be knitted up in a soft, luxurious yarn.

Adele

At my LYS, Jane, the owner, introduced me to the house yarn and I fell in love instantly.  This yarn comes in a few different weights and the one I bought is a DK called Adele.  It's incredibly soft and the colorways are so pretty and I've been told that the yarn becomes softer and loftier every time it's washed.  I'm calling this one cornflower and once I got it home, I went in search of a fingerless mitt pattern for Miranda.

There are so many wonderful mitt patterns on Ravelry but the more I looked, the more I wanted to challenge myself by knitting a pair that had actual fingers.  But I didn't want proper full-finger gloves and so settled on this one which includes partial fingers.
I've posted before about how knitting sometimes makes me feel like a magician's assistant and this pattern stirred similar feelings.  The thumb gusset is one of the best I've knitted and as I worked on each finger, it was so fun to watch the individual digits develop.

I've already noted the mods I will make the next time I knit this for myself but for my first try at digits, I'm really happy with the way these turned out. I have slim hands so I don't need to increase above the wrist and while I like the thumb gusset, I also won't need to increase to 16 stitches between the markers as my fingers are very slim (including my thumb). And next time, I'd like to try a different type of cuff, but other than those few mods, this is a great pattern and I'm looking forward to chillier days when I will want to put my mitts on.

Indulgence?

I've been contemplating a swift and yarn winder for quite some time and have spent hours reading other knitters' comments about whether owning these tools are worth the money and space.  My wonderful LYS is always willing and happy to wind a hank or two of newly bought yarn, but I often go with a project in mind which means that I buy several hanks in one visit.


Still not having made up my mind, I saw a terrific sale for a made in Italy swift and promptly put it into my virtual shopping cart.  But then, as is my habit, I left the item in my cart to brood over the purchase a little longer.  At some point I took the swift out of the cart and kept on thinking.  Should I or shouldn't I?  M, who is my trusty hank holder while I wind yarn into balls, reminded me how much we like doing this task together.  But then again, as she said, "it does take a long time to wind just one hank of wool."  And then my blogger friend, Indigocraft, posted a great piece about her new swift and I knew my answer!

Back into the cart the swift went along with a much-desired yarn winder! The package arrived a few days ago, but I only just found time to set the swift and winder up and test it out.  Call it love, call it need -- the swift and winder are tools that will enhance every knitter's experience and while I'm sure I'll wind hanks of wool into balls with M on occasion, I also know that these tools will be a huge help when working on a large project with lots of skeins to wind. Hint, hint -- I'll be posting about a new (and somewhat big) project that I'll be starting later this week. Not only am I thrilled to be able to wind up hanks in only a few minutes, I really LOVE how they turn into these scrumptious little cakes!

If It's Friday, it must be...

Swatch: Stash Day

K1 P1 Cast On

Okay, this isn't my typical Swatch: Stash Day Friday, but I do have something new to share (well, new to me at least).  We all have old habits and, in knitting, I know that I resort to methods that work for me. Why change, right? It's comforting to stay with what we know. When I first learned how to knit, my mother taught me how to start a project with the single cast-on method.  I used this cast-on for years and then about five years ago, I learned the long-tail cast-on and have been using that method every since. 

(one ribbed cuff)

A few days before I cast-on the shirred shrug, I came across a great video from Berroco for the k1 p1 cast-on.  This type of cast-on allows for a nice stretchy rib which is important especially when making arm cuffs.  Once I tried it, I wondered why I had never started a k1 p1 rib in this way before.  It makes complete sense to begin a k1 p1 right from the beginning.

(another photo of the shrug, just for fun!)

What cast-on methods do you especially love?  Please share.