Continental and the Norwegian Purl

So remember my comments in my last post about wanting to switch to Continental knitting? Well, I realized that I do actually have a project on the needles amenable to a switch partway through. A very basic shawl. Gauge is not so crucial on this shawl, so I figured why not and I changed it up partway through. I quickly learned, though, that purling in the Continental style is a finicky endevour at best.

Enter the Norwegian Purl. In researching the best ways to purl with the yarn in my left hand, I came across this nifty little way of purling that may have just changed my whole knitting world. Purling with the yarn held in back instead of the front? Yes, please. The Norwegian Purl is easier to do and less tricky than a traditional Continental purl. I am already having visions of all the seed stitch projects I am going to do now that I don't have to bring the yarn back and forth between my needles each stitch.

Here is a video from Knitting Traditions demonstrating.

My knitting mind is blown! How has it taken me so long to discover this method?

You can also see my abacus stitch marker and row counter in the photo. Picked this nifty and pretty little tool at Etsy. I actually found many unique stitch markers on Etsy and am enjoying using them much more than the generic ones you can get anywhere. Jewelry for my knitting. And who doesn't love a little jewelry?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Variegation on a Shawl

This week, I started a project that satisfies my need to have an easy project on my needles that allows me to read or watch TV while knitting (I think the break in the middle of the last season of Mad Men will nearly kill me). As an added bonus, the large amounts of stockinette stitch in this shawl happens to show off hand painted or variegated yarns beautifully.

I love to buy beautiful yarns that have lots of interesting color variation, but struggle to find patterns that show off the beauty of the yarn, and don't have so much patterning in them that either the color or the pattern get lost.

This is the Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief, and it is a free pattern on Ravelry. The yarn is Schaefer Yarn Company's Anne, which has been discontinued, in a color way called Mr. Green jeans.

 

I can see already that this pattern will be a quick knit, and the pattern can easily be modified to do more or less repeats to make a bigger or smaller shawl to utilize maximize yardage. It's amazing how addicting plain old stockinette can be.

 

Posted with Blogsy

A little February in May

I posted about this finished project a long time ago, but had to show you some pictures of M actually wearing it. The Elizabeth Zimmerman February Baby Sweater:

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

To Knit or Not to Knit

The last year has been busy. I had twins. And life with twins is crazy. And if you think trying knit with one baby is hard, try having both hands full at all times. I took a one year hiatus from knitting. The twins are now 15 months old and a little ray of sunshine has emerged. I am running more. I lost all my baby weight. And I am knitting. Mostly after bedtime, but I am back. Little pieces of the things I enjoy are back in my life and it's wonderful.

These are the socks that I picked up to get me back in the swing of things.

Herringbone Rib Socks in St. Elias from Pagewood Farms

It's amazing how quickly obsession returns once you pick it back up again. I am loving the subtle color changes of the Pagewood Farms yarn.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Double Trouble

These have actually been done for awhile but waiting on buttons. The original ones I ordered were too small and I had to order new ones.

I picked this pattern out before I knew the twins' genders so the colors are very gender neutral. 

The project traveled with me to Ireland and all over before I stopped traveling. 

Pattern : Small Things Sweater by Carina Spencer

Yarn: Rowan RYC Cotton Jeans

Needles: Size 8 for body and Size 6 for cuffs

Made for: Baby Girl and Baby Boy H

Size: Newborn

Started: July 1, 2012 and September 1, 2012

Completed: December 30, 2012

I chose to do the Grow With Me cuffs that can be folded over to adjust as they grow.

Overall, I was very happy with this pattern, and I like how the heathered yarn fits the project. It won't be long now before they will be here and wearing some of these knitted items!

You can also glimpse the beautiful cradle my cousin made me in some of these pictures!  We have many talented crafty people in the family.

In the Zone and Even Seasoned Knitters Make Mistakes

I am officially in baby knitting zone. Here is a new project I started. The pattern is Pembroke and it is a vest I am knitting in Knit Picks Comfy. I love the deep blue color and Comfy is so soft!

I think little boys in vests have an irresistible preppy adorable look and therefore it is only fitting that I should make a vest for my son.

I cast on this project after I realized I couldn't begin a Fruit Cap I was planning to match one I already knit for baby girl. I ordered the color yarn I wanted from Webs, but when it arrived I realized instead of Tahki Cotton Classic, I ordered Tahki Cotton Classic Lite which is actually a sport weight and not the DK weight of the contrasting yarn I already had in my stash. Doh! Rookie mistake, but new yarn is now ordered and while I await its arrival I needed a new project, and cast on the vest.

Here is the infamous yarn.  It will go in my stash for another project down the road.

Swaddle Cocoon

A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of this pattern, and it just may become my go-to gift for new babies.  It is quick, easy and beautiful.  And once I have two infants at home, quick and easy is a must if I am to get any gift knitting done at all!

Pattern: Laurel Love Cocoon by Melissa Riley
Needles: Size 13 Circular 40" Needles (I used the Magic Loop Method)
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande
Made for: The Twins (Baby Boy and Baby Girl H)

First Cocoon Started: December 14, 2012
Completed: December 16, 2012

Second Cocoon Started: December 16, 2012
Completed: December 18, 2012

I learned the Magic Loop Method for this project, and while I found the method easy enough, I think I prefer the Two Circular Method of knitting for in the round to Magic Loop.  I did have a little bit of difficulty with laddering/loose stitches at the sides, but I found if I paid close attention I could eliminate this as I was switching sides. I do prefer Magic Loop to the more fiddly double points for small circular projects.

If you are interested in learning Magic Loop, here are two tutorials I found helpful:

1. Knitting Daily
2. Commuter Knitter

I will have to take pictures of the cocoons with babies in them.  I think the effect it lost without proper models to show them off. 

February Baby Sweater

Until recently, I have not blogged in a very long time, mostly because I had not been knitting much at all.  But now that I have twins on the way very soon, I have been on a mission to finish old projects and get some items done for them.  This will be for Baby Girl (We are having a boy and girl).

Pattern: Baby Sweater on Two Needles from Elizabeth Zimmerman's
Knitter's Almanac
Needles: I wrote down US 2.5, but I think I actually used closer to a US 5 but I can't remember for sure.
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport colorway Grass

Started: December 18, 2010  
Completed: December 16, 2012

 I used modifications made by PAKnitWit as described here. Namely:
-Widening the neck hole by Casting on 62 stitches.
-Work 8 rows in garter stitch. 
-Work the first increase round as follows: K7, (M1, K6) 8 times, M1, K7 (71 sts)
-I also Slipped the first stitch of each row for a neater edge and only worked 3 buttonholes, as many other have.

Blocking really gave some shape to this sweater and I am pleased with the results.  And as always I love working with Shine Sport.  It is just so soft and has such a nice drape!

Blue Bonnet

I have knit this pattern many times before, but it is always more fun to make something for your own, soon to arrive, child.

Pattern: Baby Bonnet by Joelle Hoverson from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Made for: Baby Girl
Yarn: Rowan Calmer
Needles: US size 10.5 for cast on, 9 for body and 10 for I-cord
Started:  July 19, 2012
Completed: December 14, 2012

As I was linking the yarn to a Ravelry link, I noticed that Rowan Calmer may have been discontinued which is a shame.  I have used this yarn several times and I love its softness and drape.  I have found it the perfect yarn for this bonnet and also used it for my February Lady Sweater.  I think I may have enough in my stash for one or two more of these bonnets.

There is lots of other blocking and finishing happening this week, so be on the lookout for more posts to come.

Cozy Movie Knits

On Friday, I started a new project.  The pattern is Laurel Love Cocoon and I am using a yummy Alpaca that has been in my stash for awhile.  And who says you can't teach an old knitter new tricks?  I am using Magic Loop, a technique I have never tried before for this project.

This is quick and easy, which is good, as I will be knitting two of them!  These would also make great gifts for friends having babies, without investing a lot of time to an involved project.

Sidetracked

Just a quick one today. Those of you who are EZ fans should recognize this one.

And yes, this means the baby Mary Janes are on hold for a bit. I just couldn't get excited about them with those Size 0 needles and K1 P1 ribbing. This new project was a welcome diversion and I have already made quite a bit of progress in just one day.

Getting closer.....

I am dangerously close to having no projects on my needles, except for the long-term Never-ending Sock Garden Blanket, that I expect will be a project for years to come.

Today I show you my completed Electric Fruit Loop Socks, which are now dry after blocking.

Pattern: Fruit Loop by Kristi Geraci from Knitty, Spring 2008
Needles: US 1 Circular
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Superwash Merino/Nylon Fingering Weight - hand-dyed with Kool-Aid (for details on how to dye your own see my tutorial)
Started: October 24, 2009
Completed: December 3, 2010

 

The yarn is delightfully squishy and soft knitted up and I think the hand-dyed yarn worked well for this pattern.  And just in time for some very cold weather, I will definitely be getting some use out of these socks sooner rather than later. 

Another One Bites the Dust

I have been frantically working on Lotus Blossom Tank over the last several weeks. I am not sure if it is the weather (I love the brisk fall days) but I have really been on a knitting kick over the last month.

I am not sure why I liked this pattern, as like many others, I found the pictures in the original pattern to be ill-fitting in a boxy sort of way.

I have worked the modifications that Lickety Knit describes on her blog. These modifications make the tank longer and give it a much more feminine fit.



The only additional modification that I made was to make the armholes a full inch smaller than the pattern called for (versus the 0.5 inch modification that Lickety Knit made), to make the armholes 7 inches instead of 8 on the 39 inch size. In keeping with the smaller armholes I picked up slightly less stitches for the armhole edging (86 stitches per armholes) and 32 stitches for each side of the neck. I solved the disconnected flap that is formed by the picked up neck edging by knitting it together at the junction with stitches from the top of the knitted on front edging.


Although this pattern took me awhile to complete, it is actually a very quick knit, and once my summer knitting hiatus was complete (reading a book was just more appealing to me when sitting by the pool), it knit up rather rapidly.


Pattern: Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji
Size: 39 inches
Made for: Me
Yarn: Artful Yarns Cliche, 7 skeins
Needles: US Size 4 for body, US Size 3 for front neck bind-off, and US Size 5 for first 9 rows of the pattern.
Started: April 29, 2010
Completed: November 19, 2010

The yarn is a linen/cotton/acrylic mix, and I love the color and thought the fiber content perfect for a summer tank, but it was prone to splitting. I got a great deal on this yarn at Slip Knot in Newtown Square, when the yarn was discontinued.

I worried that the 39 inch size might be a bit big for me, based on comments from some other knitters, but it ended up being a pretty good fit. I could have tried to modify it the be a custom size, but going down a full size would have likely been way too small.

Sorry for the indoor photos, but I couldn't stomach an outdoor photo in a tank top with the recent cold weather.

All I have left on my needles right now are two pairs of socks, so it will be time soon to pick my next big project. I am thinking of doing an easy Elizabeth Zimmerman sweater that would provide hours of stockinette which although boring, does allow me to give my attention to other things at the same time (namely reading a book). I have a perfect yarn whose beauty lies in the variations of thick and thin, but could not easily be used for say lace or cables for the same reason.

I also have enough yarn for two other sweaters that could be more patterned. Plus some shawl options! I need to think about what I want to do next.

In the meantime, I may be starting some baby knitting for friends soon. I love starting new projects!

Kool Socks

A quick one today. My fruit loop socks have been in hibernation for a bit but were pulled back out and I completed the first sock and cast on for the second sock today.

I am actively trying complete all my UFOs.

Bell Sleeves Waiting for a Zipper

Par for the course, Bell Sleeved Jacket has been finished for awhile now and waiting for a zipper. I have even worn it a few times. But alas no pictures were taken until the zipper was in it's place (and that place is not on my bookshelf collecting dust where the zipper has sat for months)!

Well, the final task is done and here are the photos to prove it.

The yarn was something I picked up on sale at knit picks and I love the color and stitch definition, but it is a little itchy. Not such a problem as this is a jacket, and will almost always be worn with a long-sleeved shirt underneath. It should see a lot of use this fall and winter.






This was my first attempt at a Vogue Knitting Pattern, and I do have to express my dissatisfaction with the many pattern errors that were not even listed in the Errata. I also was shocked that the pattern's largest size was only a medium!?!? I added stitches on each side to make what I call a medium plus size. I kept all other sizing the same (I am petite, but a needed a bit more room through the bust).








Pattern: Bell Sleeved Jacket, Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006
Size: Medium Plus (modified medium)
Needles: US Size 7
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes - Color Hush 15 skeins
Started: January 2008
Completed: November 6, 2010

I Dream in Green

After a relatively unproductive summer of knitting, the cool weather has me in a fiber-friendly mood. I have been working on Lotus Blossom Tank over the last few weeks.

Too bad this is a summer top. I always seem to be a season off when finishing projects!

I am hoping to have this completed by the end of the weekend.

The Neverending Story

I have had my eye on a pattern for awhile that is perfect for sock yarn scraps. I cast on for it last night, although I forsee this being a long-haul type of project that is pieced together a little at a time as I acquire more sock yarn scraps.

The pattern is Bobby's Garden, which is available for sale on Ravelry. I changed to size 2 needles due the lighter weight of the yarn.

Likely will be a baby blanket size, as I think any larger in fingering weight yarn might be maddening, or I might still be working on it when I am old and gray!

In preparation for summer....

I have started Lotus Blossom Tank, a pattern from The Best of Interweave Knits: Our Favorite Designs from the First Ten Years .

I am using yarn I bought from my LYS, Slip Knot that I got on sale and couldn't pass up. It is Cliche by Artful Yarns.

I only have 7 skeins of the yarn, and after completing almost 1 repeat, I am a little worried it may not be enough. A Ravelry search for yardage used by other knitters put me at ease a bit, but I am also planning to do the modifications described by Licketyknit, which includes adding lace repeats and length to the stockinette portion.

We will see. I am hoping the switch after Row 9 to smaller needles will eat up less yarn.