Knitting!

[meme527]

hey francesca:

thanks for the info.

it's called a yarn over! so if you were to write it out you might say:

*k1, yo, repeat from *.

heh. i've been reading!

i just finished my first project from a pattern - fingerless gloves, in purple worsted weight yarn, ending mid-forearm and edged in golden yellow.

about to start a project fro "knitty.com" - the shimmer shrug.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTshimmer.html


isn't it lovely?

meme

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

fingerless gloves

and the shrug looks lovely

 

[.francesca]

i can't see the image of the gloves?

and i love the shrug, it's a beaut!

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

i cant see an image of the gloves either...

but fingerless gloves
think i may makes some in a shade of grey i've got to go and find some nice wool! and get started knitting again......its been too long and winter is just around the corner!

 

[meme527]

oh - i mislead y'all. accidentally. i don't have a digital camera, so no pic of the gloves. i apologize!

if you want some pics from other patterns, though.....
http://www.knittingatknoon.com/funkypatt.html

http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/mikado-gloves.html

i'm going to try the cabled version soon - apparently cables aren't that hard.



meme

 

[Amy Louise]

Reply to Meme Re Cables

Hi, Meme:
Amy here. Cables aren't hard at all once you get the hang of working with a third needle. I don't use the rounded cable needles--I've never used these. I much prefer short, straight double pointed needles (dpn).

The theory behind cables is that you are simply transferring some stitches into a different position in order to make them cross other stitches. The way you do this is to put some of the stitches on your dpn and hold them either in front or in back of your work while you work with the next set of stitches. You then go back to the dpn and work those stitches you've put on hold. Voila--crossed stitches resulting in a lovely cable.

The pattern instructions will tell you exactly how many stitches will make up the complete cable, how many you take on your dpns and hold either in front or back of your regular needle and how often you do this. You will need to count rows as you work to keep track of on which row you are working the cable.

There are usually some basic knit or purl stitches just before and right after the cable to set off the pattern of the cable so that it shows up more distinctly. I urge you put stitch markers on either side of each cable.

This might be a good weekend to give it a try.
HTH.
Amy

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

I LOVE fingerless gloves meme! I knitted some last year...but they're more arm-warmers.

Great info Amy-Louise, thanks!

 

[Amy Louise]

It feels really good to be able to pass on some trial-and-error knowledge--I've had many trials and loads of errors along the way, believe me. However, let me stress my theory developed over years of knitting/design: "There are no mistakes, only design elements."

I thought of something else you might want to include when you go shopping for cable needles and stitch markers. There are 2 size row counters that fit on your needles to help you keep track of what row you're on in the pattern. The blue ones are for smaller width needles/red for larger. You have to manually turn them each time you start a new row. I have a whole slew of them--they're inexpensive. There's also a fun gadget called a Kacha Kacha which is a larger size row counter which you can click to move the counter forward one row (this one adds a little "kaching" since it's about $8.00).

I'm working on a new lace top I designed. It's burgundy and silver and, last night, I finished the front. Lace requires concentration and blocks fo time, so it's slow-going. When I think I've got to do it all over again for the front and then for the sleeves--it seems kind of daunting. However, as you knit along and see the pattern develop, it's exciting, and then you gain momentum wanting the damn thing to be done so you can see the finished product. I work several projects at once at all levels of complexity so that I can work on my mindless knitting, mid-range and complicated depending on my mood and what's on TV--PBS or some dumb sitcom that's just background noise. If I get restless, I switch to a different craft--jewelry, crochet or whatever for a break. I think once you tap into your creativity, you'll find it starts to express itself in many different facets and phases.
Amy
Amy

 

[meme527]

amy, what great information - and encouragement! i had written cables off as too hard, without knowing how they were done, but when i say a video on www.knittinghelp.com the mystery was solved. and your detailed and clear explanation reinforces that for me.

since you suggested i start this weekend, well, you know, i feel i must give it a try! i'm going to use some karabella aurora 8 wool that i have and try to make a cabled scarf - that seems like a safe first project, as it is flat, the yarn is solid, well put together (won't unravel on me or cause other technical difficulties) and i will be able to see what i am doing easily so i can correct mistakes.

i saw a wonderful scarf in the yarn store, made of a cable pattern that moved diagonally across the scarf. each cable was about 6 rows high, i am guessing, and it just rippled across the scarf - it was gorgeous and gave me such ideas....

and i must agree with you about creativity - having several different things going at once, with different levels of intensity, makes so much sense. lately i have one pattern i am following closely, one pattern i have knitted before and am modifying on ym own, and one improvised, free flowing thing (in this case a bag that grew out of the "Loopy Velez" cowl pattern in "Stitch n b*tch"). plus i am always knitting those dreaded swatches...

thanks!

meme

 

[meme527]

inspiration for knitters

fashionistas and knitters of tFS:

this woman is amazing. her name is Teva Durham, and her book Loop D Loop has some of the greatest designs and patterns.

here is a link to the gallery on her website:http://www.loop-d-loop.com/gallery/maingallery.html

these patterns are also for sale on her site, so you can make these pieces!

 

[Amy Louise]

Hi, Meme:
A cabled scarf sounds like an excellent first project. I think it's also good you're going to try it on good quality yarn and not wimp out with some cheap stuff. The reason I say that is because I think it will motivate you to try hard and not give up because you're eager to have a finished product. Of course, you might want to try just one sample cable on a test swatch--just to make sure you've got the technique down.

I've seen the Loop D Loop book, and I agree that the designer is very forward-thinking and creative. That's the style I enjoy. I'm definitely NOT a traditional-style knitter. As soon as I learned some basics, I immediately had to start breaking the rules.
Amy

 

[meme527]

Amy, are you posting pics of your work? I'd love to see it.

Meme

 

[Amy Louise]

Amy, are you posting pics of your work? I'd love to see it.

Meme

If you missed them, I posted a few photos of my work back on page 10 of this thread. Also, I'm not allowed to name my website or post the address here, but if you go to my profile page, you will see my url address, and I'd be honored if you'd check out my one-of-a-kind, art-to-wear knits, jewelry, fun fashion accessories, art objects, etc. I have a whole slew of my original knit designs showing there. To see the knit stitches and designs up close, be sure to click on the thumbnails, then click on the thumbnails again on the full-size page for the photos to switch out to larger images.

It looks like that red shrug above is being worn by one of the stars of the WB's show "Everwood." Does anyone know if that's who it is or is it just an amazing lookalike?

Did anyone start new projects and tackle some cables over this weekend?
Amy

 

[meme527]

inspiration for knitters

all ralph lauren fall/winter '05. (firstview.com)

i saw the advertisement in vogue and realized it ws just up my alley...

 

[Amy Louise]

Meme--we must have passed each other in the alley. What were you wearing??

I see you took my advice and joined the Knitlist. How are your projects coming along? I'm participating in a craft fair on Oct. 8th, and I've been frantically trying to get everything organized. The biggest problem is weeding out what I not to bring--either for security reasons (can't risk having anything stolen), or space because I've got so many different products, and so many of each type... The first impulse is to bring all the jewelry because that's always popular, but I also want to bring my knits and accessories because they have a better chance of being sold if people can touch them and try them on than if they try to figure out, "Will I look good in this?" from a website. It's so hard to know...

So I'm working on a million things but still trying to keep up with the burgundy and silver lace top I had mentioned earlier to keep the momentum going on that. When knitting lace, it's so much easier if you keep it going so you don't have to remember what the stitch pattern is all about if you neglect it for too long a period of time.

Wondering if everyone started their cables and how they're progressing--if my info helped at all??
Amy

 

[lamb]

I love knits! I so would like to learn to knit. My mother knits quite a lot, it is so nice to wear homemade knits, they got this vintage feeling and look. (that of course all depends how do you knit).
I think knit sweater and gardigan are the must-have for fall!
I'm wearing now my grandmothers old knit gardigan and I get lot's of compliments from people.

 

[meme527]

Meme--we must have passed each other in the alley. What were you wearing??

i'm wearing the black over-the-knee argyle socks, riding boots, black dress, and purple fingerless gloves!!

you sound wonderfully busy, with the kind of work i like to be busy doing - the creative kind. good luck with the crafts fair! i did visit your site and liked your work.

i haven't tried lace yet, for the very reason you mentioned - my attention deficit! it's SO crucial that you follow a pattern exactly, and lace requires a lot of concentration. i have a book of stitch patterns, and some simple lace patterns from knitty.com and the lion brand site, so i am sure i will take it on...soon.

i did try some cables and they were so much easier than i expected. i didn't have enough of the aurora 8 to commit to the size scarf i wanted to do in cable - i made a short one in K2P1 rib, with a small buttonhole and a seed stitch flower! - with a little over one skein, and i think i will make a smaller version with the 9/10 of a skein i have left.

so my next purchase of nice superwash wool will likely be for the cabled scarf. thanks for the encouragement.

on the needles at present - sleeves for sweaters! i restarted the shimmer shrug because the sleeve did not show off my dainty wrist properly. and i am using some mystery yarn i found in self-striping blues to knit some sleeves for a sweater that i am determined to knit pattern free.

also i am knitting a wrap in an acrylic/wool blend that is chunky and kind of mohair-like. found a use for my lionbrand homespun with a wrap as well - i used a blue striped acryilic worsted weight yarn with it and clternated from dark blue to sky blue homespun. it's been kid tested for itchiness, and so far no one has complained, so i may make some more wraps to give as gifts.

have socks and scarves and hats in the works...(giftsp

(sleep is overrated).

meme

 

[Amy Louise]

It's nice that a new person chimed in on this conversation. (We also haven't heard from Francesca in a while.) Anyway, can't your mom teach you to knit or doesn't she live nearby?? My grandma lived with us when I was growing up, and she was an EXPERT, heirloom-quality crocheter. She also sewed and I found out later she knitted. Wish I'd known that instead of me trying to teach myself to knit later in life.

My grandma only taught me to do the most basic straight crocheting, so I'm now trying to learn that on my own and have gotten into freeform. Completed my first knit/freeform crochet project and need to post it to the website ASAP. I'll take it to the fair--maybe it will sell. Wouldn't that be great?

Meme--glad to hear cables weren't too much challenge. As far as ripping for the cuff size, on the Knitlist everyone's always talking about ripping...and don't get me wrong, I rip plenty as a requisite of designing, however, I think there are other options available at times.

Now remember my philosophy: There are no mistakes, only design elements so you could have worked with what you had and simply sewn in some matching elastic around the base of the cuff. You might also have picked up at the cuff and added a rolling border after the sleeve is completed and sewn elastic in there to tighten it up. It would make the sleeve a tad puffy from the base of the cuff due to a tiny bit of added length.

Another tip: I ALWAYS work both sleeves and fronts of cardigans or jackets at the same time so you can immediately reverse all the shaping easily and be certain you aren't losing row count or anything so that one sleeve or side is slightly off from the other. <Puhleeeese, take advantage of the voice of experience on this and save yourself grief!!>
Amy

 

[lamb]

Anyway, can't your mom teach you to knit or doesn't she live nearby??

She lives in Finland and I'm in London, but I'm hoping that she will give me a quick lesson during Christmas, after that I could jsut knit and knit on and on

 

[.francesca]

for guys who are interested in knitting...

http://www.menknit.net