Tuesday, 17. June 2008
Summer knits, as I have come to find, should be quick, easy, and mind-numbing. As much as I try to coordinate my yarns with the seasons, I find that so-called summer yarns (the cottons, the hemps, the linens) do not tempt me as much as their woolen cousins. This is the primary reason why the Cherry Cardigan and the linen Perfect Fit Skirt have slowed down to a snail’s crawl, because quite frankly, I just love knitting with wool. As the temperature rises to the 70s and 80s, it is easier for me to turn to miniature wool projects, like socks and hats.
Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks, in Interweave Knits Winter 2005
Materials: Sz 1 DPNs, 2 skeins of Koigu KPM 1205
Notes: No modifications to the pattern. I love this shade of yellow almost-solid Koigu, and the pattern is easy to execute. I’m not too crazy about the star-toe, although I admit it was exciting to try something new. The socks are a little loose on my sz 7 feet, but I think it’d make a pair of comfy house socks this winter. Koigu on your feet is luxury. This FO brings a bounce in my steps!
Pattern: Felicity (PDF Pattern Link) by Wanett Clyde
Materials: Leftover Cascade 220 wool in shade 7814 from my Biker jacket, Sz 8 DPNs
Notes: Truth be told, I did not follow this pattern at all. I loved its simplicity, and just CO 84 sts and increased to 100 sts at random and knit straight for 5.5 inches. At the time of knitting, I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted the slouchy look that the original pattern provided, so I just did a CCD decrease (slip 2 as if to knit, k1, psso) in every round until I bound off the hat. I still like the FO, but I think I’m going to make a real Felicity hat in the future. This shortened and heavily modified version produces horns. Ha ha. This is what I get for butchering a perfectly executed pattern.
Next we have a striped beanie made from one of my secret favorite yarn. Secret in the sense that I love it, I hoard it, and yet, I haven’t made an entire sweater out of it. Learning my lesson from Felicity Shortie above, this time I wanted:
- Non-curling edges (and yet, no garter, and no knit hems)
- Stripes
- A little texture
- Easy memorizable pattern
- Not slouchy, and yet not constrict-your-circulation-tight hat
We shall discuss this Stripey Tweedy hat recipe in the next post. Until then, happy summer knitting.
Posted in FOs, Hats, Patterns, Socks by winnie -
Friday, 30. May 2008
Ha, I know, that weekend has come and gone. I spent some time doing this…
Yes, having cold beer (good!) outdoors on an uncharacteristically cold day (bad!)….and finished a pair of Child’s First Socks.
Pattern: Child’s First Socks in Knitting Vintage Socks
Material: Sz 1 needles, and a big honking ball of Regia Jubilee India.
Notes: No mods, yea and the yarn is a little too busy for this pattern. But sometimes, you don’t listen to your inner smart-ass. It happens. Fits well though. And those leftovers? Perfect for iPhone cozies.
Waste not, want not. *Whack!* Who am I kidding… there are two hanks of new sock yarn staring back at me as I type this. Now let’s go back to this……
(Unknown beer at Father’s Office, Culver City, CA. Best sweet potato fries.)
Posted in FOs, Socks, When I'm not knitting by winnie -
Sunday, 20. April 2008
Sometimes, it sucks when work usurps all your energy and leaves you way too brain dead to work on the more interesting things in life, like, your knitting. Such was the case this week. But let’s get on with the progress of my imitation biker jacket.
It’s still missing a pair of epaulets, the remaining sleeves (I’ve decided to go full length – only because I realized that I do have enough yarn), and the two front borders. Knitting without a pattern is liberating, but scary all at once. I based the measurements off one of my cropped cardigans, knit the pockets, and then decided that I did not want a cropped jacket. As a result, the pockets now sit right below my breasts, and there is no way I am ripping out all the sewing again. I am hoping, that with the magic of blocking (Shh. Don’t convince me otherwise), I can somewhat increase the distance between the pocket and my under boob a little. Other than the pocket mishap, things have been pretty smooth-sailing. Top down knitting is the bomb! No more worrying whether or not you can fit all your sleeve stitches into that armhole.
I’m playing with two ideas for a front band right now. Currently, I have plans to sew hidden snaps with decorative buttons on the front band, and reinforce the band with a ribbon facing to minimize wear-n-tear. But after studying Grumperina’s zipper installation tutorial, my absolutely-no-zipper resolution is wavering. I kept thinking to myself: “Hey, how hard can it be, right?”
We’ll sit on this for a few days while the rest of the sleeves are completed. Incidentally, I just realized that the color-combo seems very child-like. It must be my inner Peter-Pan.
In the mean time, two pairs of socks have been completed.
Do not be fooled by the aesthetics of this image. This pair of Koigu Aquaphobia Socks, made for Bobby G (he who feeds my Koigu fetish), was made without modifications to fit his ultra-wide feet. We must have taken over 20 photos to find the right one. He has requested that I be kind while describing his feet, so with much restraint on my part, let’s just say that his feet make him a good swimmer. (How am I doing with the kindness so far?)
Continuing with the blue-green kick that I’ve been on for a while, I also finished a pair of knee highs with Online Supersocke Yarn that I purchased in StitchDC last year. Nothing spectacular, just simple stockinette on Sz 0 and 1 needles.
(I like this shot better. Makes me legs look leaner)
Posted in FOs, Socks, Techniques, WIPs by winnie -
Saturday, 21. April 2007
A few months ago, news broke about the new Addi Turbo lace knitting needles, you know, the ones with the really sharp tips. My friend Bobby G and I (more like I dragged Bobby G) went to the LYS to gets me a pair of them sharp sharp needles. So, new needle in hand, but nothing to cast on.Enter sock yarn section.”Bobby G, would you like a pair of handknit socks?” said I.
Bobby G: “My feet are too wide to knit socks for.”
Winnie S: “Oh yes but that is the wonder of handknit socks. You knit to fit.”
Ta da! Bobby G, for the first time in his life, has a pair of socks that does not cut off his blood circulation. He is pleased.
And we took the opportunity to showcase our lovely feet together on this fine Saturday afternoon.
Project Specs: Bobby G’s Wide Manly Socks
Materials: Sz 1 Addi Turbo Lace needles, Meilenweit Colortweed #1008 (80% virign wool, 20% polyamide)
Sizing: Sz 9 foot, 64 sts.
Posted in FOs, Socks by winnie -
Friday, 2. February 2007
It’s been, hm, over a year. While I haven’t stopped knitting, it’s safe to say that I’ve slowed down significantly. Why? Life. It gets in the way of knitting sometimes. One day I may eventually write about the things that have transpired, but suffice to say that for now, I’m getting the knitting mojo back again and that I hope to have more FO’s for the year ahead.
This blog is meant to document the projects that I have made over the last year – pitifully few, but nonetheless let’s get to it. (Let’s face it, it’s more for me now anyways. I probably lost all my readers a long long time ago).
Ah yes, the Pomatomus socks. I knew from the get-go that the perfect st count for socks for my feet would be way less than the 72 sts that the pattern states to CO. So modifications galore and voila. Perfect fit.
Needles used: Sz 1 addi’s (2.5mm), magic loop, 60 sts leg to 64 sts foot
Materials: Koigu KPPPM (p219), 2 skeins
Next, the ball-band dish cloth that everyone and their mothers have made. I’ve made a few, and this is just one of many. I think we have seen enough of them around the blogland to get into the details.
And last, my Swiss Cheese Scarf. Appropriate name, non? This is probably the easiest scarf that one can make and I chose to knit from stash. I wanted a light and airy scarf that has enough texture to stand out, yet be simple enough that I can just sit down and knit without having to worry about patterns. Light and airy? Check. I will use laceweight merino. Simple? Check. Nothing complicating about binding off certain number of stitches and casting back on. Results? Mighty long to make, but mighty pleased.
Materials: School Products Lace-weight Merino. Color 7. Gifted by Joy.
Needles: Sz 3.
And there you have it. I’m in the process of knitting a Komi Hat right now too.. so expect an FO soon. The next time I blog won’t be a year from now, that’s for sure.
And oh, happy new year. It’s been so long.
Posted in FOs, Household, Scarves/Shawls, Socks, WIPs by winnie -
