A friend of mine has been reading my blog (Hi, Liz!) and asked me to make a chemo cap for a friend of hers. We are working on choosing a pattern and yarn for a really nice hat, but in the mean time, I whipped this up from yarn in stash (using up stash - woo hoo!) in a night, more or less, while watching the new Bill Moyers documentary.
Specs:
Yarn: Berrocco Plush, yellow with a little bit of blue (the blue was donated from my friend Ali's leftovers)
Needles: Size 9 dpns, probably Clover/Takumi.
Pattern: Basically the No-Hair Day Chemo Cap pattern meant for fun fur (CO 60, knit for a while, and decrease). I added 2 rounds of blue, 1 round of alternating yellow and blue, and 2 rounds of blue in the middle. It's a bit tight (now I understand about that Fair Isle tension of floats issue) but not overmuch.
Instant gratification, instant FO.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
FO: Daisy sweater - Knitting Olympics 2006
After nearly a year, I'm finally getting around to showing my Knitting Olympics project. "What's that?" you say?
In early 2006, I had just discovered blogs. I started reading them, heard about the bloggy awards and therefore found the Yarn Harlot. I started reading (back then I was still hitting reload in my browser - are you still doing that? That's so 2006....) and the timing was just right for me to join the Knitting Olympics. (Go read. I'll wait.) We had more Knitting Olympics participants than the real Olympics did.
So I decided on the Yarn Harlot's own pattern, a baby sweater. Why a baby sweater? Because it has all the parts of a sweater, but it's smaller. This way I could finally practice my finishing techniques and have a real pieced-together finished thing.
I stopped by my local sewing shop that had yarn, got some Tahki Cotton Classic, and began. I knitted during meetings at work (I explained the challenge). I knitted during my lunch breaks. I took it with me everywhere. I rediscovered that I like knitting - a lot! And my hands didn't hurt! Yay!
So here, after all this time, I finally took a photo. When I finished (just barely in time; I think I had it done except for the buttons being sewed on) I used some leftovers to make a hat (my first "self-designed" hat) and some socks/booties.
Specs:
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic, aqua, I think I ended up buying 3 skeins
Pattern: Daisy Sweater (from Knitty), by the Yarn Harlot, without any embellishment, in the smallest size.
Needles: I have no idea. I probably used size 7 circular, Susan Bates.
And finally, I have a blog so I can put up my medal.
A close-up of the fish buttons:
Thank you, Elise of Simply Recipes, for getting nominated for a Bloggy, so that I could discover the Yarn Harlot, so that I would join the Knitting Olympics, so that I picked up knitting again, so that I could start this blog, and meet all of you!
In early 2006, I had just discovered blogs. I started reading them, heard about the bloggy awards and therefore found the Yarn Harlot. I started reading (back then I was still hitting reload in my browser - are you still doing that? That's so 2006....) and the timing was just right for me to join the Knitting Olympics. (Go read. I'll wait.) We had more Knitting Olympics participants than the real Olympics did.
So I decided on the Yarn Harlot's own pattern, a baby sweater. Why a baby sweater? Because it has all the parts of a sweater, but it's smaller. This way I could finally practice my finishing techniques and have a real pieced-together finished thing.
I stopped by my local sewing shop that had yarn, got some Tahki Cotton Classic, and began. I knitted during meetings at work (I explained the challenge). I knitted during my lunch breaks. I took it with me everywhere. I rediscovered that I like knitting - a lot! And my hands didn't hurt! Yay!
So here, after all this time, I finally took a photo. When I finished (just barely in time; I think I had it done except for the buttons being sewed on) I used some leftovers to make a hat (my first "self-designed" hat) and some socks/booties.
Specs:
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic, aqua, I think I ended up buying 3 skeins
Pattern: Daisy Sweater (from Knitty), by the Yarn Harlot, without any embellishment, in the smallest size.
Needles: I have no idea. I probably used size 7 circular, Susan Bates.
And finally, I have a blog so I can put up my medal.
A close-up of the fish buttons:
Thank you, Elise of Simply Recipes, for getting nominated for a Bloggy, so that I could discover the Yarn Harlot, so that I would join the Knitting Olympics, so that I picked up knitting again, so that I could start this blog, and meet all of you!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Old FO: Berry hat
Thanks so much for all the comments on the Faroese yarn. I think from the resounding response, it is destined for a Feather & Fan shawl! Should I use the one from Folk Shawls, or one of the many other patterns out there?
I finished this at least a year ago, possibly two. It's a really fun pattern - you start by knitting the leaves, casting on and binding off to make the points. Then you pick up stitches and make the rest of the hat. The bumpy berry pattern is easy to memorize, too.
Yarn: Heirloom superwash wool, I think it was 8ply. I think this is it. I haven't seen it in shops very much, but I really liked working with it.
Needles: Um...probably size 7 circulars Susan Bates. I'm guessing here.
Pattern: Berry Cute Hat from Fiber Trends
Also: more opportunities to give, with yarny prizes:
Gretchen is walking for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, and strangelittlemama is walking for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (wow, that's a mouthful. But I didn't think you'd understand if I said ACSMSABC.). Give if you can.
I finished this at least a year ago, possibly two. It's a really fun pattern - you start by knitting the leaves, casting on and binding off to make the points. Then you pick up stitches and make the rest of the hat. The bumpy berry pattern is easy to memorize, too.
Yarn: Heirloom superwash wool, I think it was 8ply. I think this is it. I haven't seen it in shops very much, but I really liked working with it.
Needles: Um...probably size 7 circulars Susan Bates. I'm guessing here.
Pattern: Berry Cute Hat from Fiber Trends
Also: more opportunities to give, with yarny prizes:
Gretchen is walking for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, and strangelittlemama is walking for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (wow, that's a mouthful. But I didn't think you'd understand if I said ACSMSABC.). Give if you can.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Stash enhancement: Faroese yarn
My friend Eric is a great yarn friend. Why? He has been giving me yarn ever since I took up knitting. And even though we hadn't communicated in about 6 years, when he found out I was bringing him his scarf, he acquired a gift of yarn for me.
This is Faroese yarn that I believe his mother acquired many moons ago in the Faroe Islands. It looks like it is natural colored, in dark brown, grey, and cream, and could be handspun. I think most if it is 2 plies, making a rather bulky-weight yarn. There is lots of VM in it. It probably also has natural lanolin in it.
This is very special yarn, which Eric bought from his mother (I'm guessing after a bit of begging for her to part with it) and I love it. I think I want to re-skein it and wash it, and try and pick the VM out of it. Any opinions out there, about the best way to prepare it for use? Should I not wash it because of the lanolin?
What to make? I was considering a traditional sweater, but it really is too thick - I'd never get a chance to wear it. So I'm thinking of a folk shawl instead. Any suggestions? I'd like to try for Faroese style (not lace, although a lacy pattern might work with this) or anything that captures the rustic, ruggedness of the yarn and its islands.
Thank you, Eric, for such a wonderful yarny gift.
This is Faroese yarn that I believe his mother acquired many moons ago in the Faroe Islands. It looks like it is natural colored, in dark brown, grey, and cream, and could be handspun. I think most if it is 2 plies, making a rather bulky-weight yarn. There is lots of VM in it. It probably also has natural lanolin in it.
This is very special yarn, which Eric bought from his mother (I'm guessing after a bit of begging for her to part with it) and I love it. I think I want to re-skein it and wash it, and try and pick the VM out of it. Any opinions out there, about the best way to prepare it for use? Should I not wash it because of the lanolin?
What to make? I was considering a traditional sweater, but it really is too thick - I'd never get a chance to wear it. So I'm thinking of a folk shawl instead. Any suggestions? I'd like to try for Faroese style (not lace, although a lacy pattern might work with this) or anything that captures the rustic, ruggedness of the yarn and its islands.
Thank you, Eric, for such a wonderful yarny gift.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Charity always pays
I knitted 3 beanies for preemies and mailed them to Julie, and she picked me to win the STR!
This colorway (Fairgrounds) is so pretty- lots of purples with green/blue and orange. It just joyfully cries "spring". Julie also included a cool notepad which has a cover which closes, like a matchbook, and a beautiful card. And I included the envelope in the photo, because she taped pictures of flowers on it and used lots of Hershey's Kiss love stamps. It greeted me when I got home from a long day of work followed by a long choir practice. I literally jumped up and down!
Thank you so much, Julie! But really - doing charitable works always gives to the giver, whether or not it results in stash enhancement!
This colorway (Fairgrounds) is so pretty- lots of purples with green/blue and orange. It just joyfully cries "spring". Julie also included a cool notepad which has a cover which closes, like a matchbook, and a beautiful card. And I included the envelope in the photo, because she taped pictures of flowers on it and used lots of Hershey's Kiss love stamps. It greeted me when I got home from a long day of work followed by a long choir practice. I literally jumped up and down!
Thank you so much, Julie! But really - doing charitable works always gives to the giver, whether or not it results in stash enhancement!
Monday, April 23, 2007
FO: Eric's Sampler Scarf
Eric's Sampler ScarfOriginally uploaded by knitswithasilentk.
This scarf was commissioned by my friend Eric. He provided the yarn (vintage grey worsted wool, with little strands of purple in it) and he wanted a scarf. I picked out Ann Norling's Stitch Sampler Scarf pattern, on his approval. It features 8 different stitches, although instead of hearts I did a single panel in the center with an "H" on it (Eric's last initial).
I finished it back in 2000, just after I'd moved away from Davis. It was the second project I attempted, after two children's hats. But I managed to get in touch with Eric, who still lives in Davis, to give him this scarf last weekend.
Specs:
Yarn: vintage grey worsted, with lines of purple in it, 100% wool (don't wash it, Eric!)
Needles: I think I used size 9 aluminum straight needles. I love the swoosh, swoosh sound they make when they rub together.
Pattern: Stitch Sampler Scarf, by Ann Norling. Substitute a perl "H" instead of the hearts.
Modifications: Just the aforementioned perl stitch "H". I didn't have much experience, and I didn't know the vertical perl sections would go in and the horizontal perl stitches would stick out. If I did it again, I'd do it in seed stitch. I also didn't block it, as I didn't know when I finished it that blocking would be usual, and when I took it out of its bag it was mostly straight. I chose to leave it unblocked, as it would have been had I delivered it right away. Eric loved it. He even reported that his mother (who was once a knitter but now quilts instead) was very impressed.
Here he is, wearing it proudly.
Eric's Sampler ScarfOriginally uploaded by knitswithasilentk.
Friday, April 20, 2007
ECF: The no new photos edition
I lost my camera last weekend when we went to Davis for Picnic Day. Luckily, a friend of mine works in the building where I lost it, and she located it and is mailing it back to me. So no new photos until it arrives.
But this photo was just waiting to appear on the blog.
A tale of two socks
Last night, I determined that my socks were 1.5" shorter than a pair of (machine-knitted) socks that fit me perfectly, so I started the short row heel. I was humming along, until I realized that I'd reached the point where the heel was a stitch shorter than Wendy's pattern/recipe said to stop decreasing. No problem, because my feet are small. Then I held them up to my feet.
[Imagine a photo of a sock with a big foot in it]
My sock is way too small. It fits my toe perfectly, although it is possible the stitches are more stretched than they "should" be - I'm not sure how stretched out they should look. My foot where the toes begin is 8 1/4" around, but just where the instep is is 9". This, at 7 sts/inch - 10% ease puts my stitch count at 50-58 stitches.
But here is my puzzlement - it seems that over the course of the toe, I should increase 8 stitches, but in all sock patterns I've seen, the stitch count remains the same throughout the foot. Are my feet weird, or do I need to have a loose toe? (Remember, I previously frogged the foot because it was too big - I think the stitch count was 60.)
Have a good weekend! I think mine will involve frogging some socks. But I want to get these right, so I can use it as a template for all of my future socks.
But this photo was just waiting to appear on the blog.
A tale of two socks
Last night, I determined that my socks were 1.5" shorter than a pair of (machine-knitted) socks that fit me perfectly, so I started the short row heel. I was humming along, until I realized that I'd reached the point where the heel was a stitch shorter than Wendy's pattern/recipe said to stop decreasing. No problem, because my feet are small. Then I held them up to my feet.
[Imagine a photo of a sock with a big foot in it]
My sock is way too small. It fits my toe perfectly, although it is possible the stitches are more stretched than they "should" be - I'm not sure how stretched out they should look. My foot where the toes begin is 8 1/4" around, but just where the instep is is 9". This, at 7 sts/inch - 10% ease puts my stitch count at 50-58 stitches.
But here is my puzzlement - it seems that over the course of the toe, I should increase 8 stitches, but in all sock patterns I've seen, the stitch count remains the same throughout the foot. Are my feet weird, or do I need to have a loose toe? (Remember, I previously frogged the foot because it was too big - I think the stitch count was 60.)
Have a good weekend! I think mine will involve frogging some socks. But I want to get these right, so I can use it as a template for all of my future socks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
