Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Screen Printing with Stencils
Yesterday afternoon, Vigo organized a craft party and got some kids to come over. We did a little screen printing with stencils. Great cheap thrills!
Another Cozy
This one has a slightly more complicated cable and it's made from a more washable wool. Vigo has taken a liking to this one, so I'm letting him keep it.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Stale Projects
As I came near to finishing my little hot water bottle series yesterday morning, I had a brief moment of panic about what project to pick up next. I'd love to start something new, but in the back of my mind, I had a guilty nagging thought for all of my unfinished projects that need to be picked back up again. I went to my to-do list on the chalkboard and wrote:
Whew. That made me feel a lot better. I thought about quickly making some kind of knitting organizational device, but it was time for me to go to work, so I would have to wait until the evening to follow through on my plan to get organized.
When I did pull out and examine my unfinished projects, I was surprised to discover that there are only three of them, really. Interestingly, projects I have had ideas about but not begun felt as concrete and pressing as the ones I'd begun and set aside. A bag containing three yarns I think would go well together for something doesn't really make a project until I figure out what that something is. Balls of sock yarn in a basket are not really socks in progress.
Or are they?
Anyhow, here are the three projects I have on my needles right now, and an explanation of why each of them ended up on hold. I'll start with the most recent one first.
Date begun
October 2007
Yarn
The yarn for this is really special. I got it at a yarn shop in Vermont whose name I can't remember now. (I'll find out.) It's Trekking pro natura, 75% New Wool and 25% bamboo. Made in Germany. I didn't realize how expensive it was when I picked it up. Oops!
Needles
Size 0 US addi turbo circular needles. The pattern calls for size 1 needles, but I had to go down to a 0 to get the gauge.
Pattern
The pattern is the first one I am knitting from the old baby knitting book I wrote about a while back in this post.
Why it's on hold
I just got a little bored with it and needed a break. I wanted to do some cables, and design something of my own. Do a little math. And I wanted to make some presents for the in-laws, who we're visiting this weekend. So I set this aside to make those hot water bottle cozies.
Once I get the back knit, the rest will probably be more interesting. The baby who will be wearing this won't be born for several more months, so I can take my time. I'm going to pick this back up now and work on it over the weekend.
Date begun
Ummm.... a long time ago...
Yarn
Rowan brand rowanspun 4-ply in red, purple, and green. 100% New Wool. I got this yarn at Knit Knot in Portland. It was on sale, and a great deal. I bought a lot of it. It's very light and makes a pretty small ball. For this sweater, I am doubling the strands
Needles
Size 0 US straight needles
Pattern
Raglan sweater from The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd. I can't recommend this book enough. It has recipes for all the basic types of sweaters. Charts, not patterns. Great for people who like to design their own projects.
Why it's on hold
This project got derailed because I got sick of rolling balls of yarn to keep it going. I now have a new ball of green yarn to continue with, but my heart isn't in it.
Complicating matters more, I had to do some math to figure out how to make the cardigan and I didn't take proper notes so I know that I am going to have to look at my pathetic scratching on the post-it-notes on the page of the book and try to figure out where to begin again.
Another factor going against this piece is that I don't like the finishing I did for the waistline. I think I can live with it, but every time I pick this piece up, I am tempted to completely unravel the whole thing and start over.
Luckily, I made the sweater a bit big, knowing that it might take me a while to finish it. Also, the wool is so fine that it will make a great sweater for any season, even if i finish it in August (fat chance).
Date begun
April 2006
Yarn
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. 55% Merino Wool 33% Microfibre 12% Cashmere. Verrrrry nice. I got the yarn at Knit Purl in Portland, OR.
Needles
Size 2 and 3 US
Pattern
"Roman Holiday," number 6 in the Spring/Summer 2006 issue of Vogue Knitting
Why it's on hold
Damn you Vogue Knitting! This pattern is so hard to follow I almost can't believe it. The chart for the seed stitch and cables makes no sense. I got as far as I did basically by looking at the picture in the magazine. I put this aside because I can't for the life of me figure out how to continue. I've tried to pick it up again a couple of times, but so far haven't had the energy to figure it out.
Whew. That made me feel a lot better. I thought about quickly making some kind of knitting organizational device, but it was time for me to go to work, so I would have to wait until the evening to follow through on my plan to get organized.
When I did pull out and examine my unfinished projects, I was surprised to discover that there are only three of them, really. Interestingly, projects I have had ideas about but not begun felt as concrete and pressing as the ones I'd begun and set aside. A bag containing three yarns I think would go well together for something doesn't really make a project until I figure out what that something is. Balls of sock yarn in a basket are not really socks in progress.
Or are they?
Anyhow, here are the three projects I have on my needles right now, and an explanation of why each of them ended up on hold. I'll start with the most recent one first.
Little Red Baby Sweater
Date begun
October 2007
Yarn
The yarn for this is really special. I got it at a yarn shop in Vermont whose name I can't remember now. (I'll find out.) It's Trekking pro natura, 75% New Wool and 25% bamboo. Made in Germany. I didn't realize how expensive it was when I picked it up. Oops!
Needles
Size 0 US addi turbo circular needles. The pattern calls for size 1 needles, but I had to go down to a 0 to get the gauge.
Pattern
The pattern is the first one I am knitting from the old baby knitting book I wrote about a while back in this post.
Why it's on hold
I just got a little bored with it and needed a break. I wanted to do some cables, and design something of my own. Do a little math. And I wanted to make some presents for the in-laws, who we're visiting this weekend. So I set this aside to make those hot water bottle cozies.
Once I get the back knit, the rest will probably be more interesting. The baby who will be wearing this won't be born for several more months, so I can take my time. I'm going to pick this back up now and work on it over the weekend.
Raglan Cardigan for Vigo
Date begun
Ummm.... a long time ago...
Yarn
Rowan brand rowanspun 4-ply in red, purple, and green. 100% New Wool. I got this yarn at Knit Knot in Portland. It was on sale, and a great deal. I bought a lot of it. It's very light and makes a pretty small ball. For this sweater, I am doubling the strands
Needles
Size 0 US straight needles
Pattern
Raglan sweater from The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd. I can't recommend this book enough. It has recipes for all the basic types of sweaters. Charts, not patterns. Great for people who like to design their own projects.
Why it's on hold
This project got derailed because I got sick of rolling balls of yarn to keep it going. I now have a new ball of green yarn to continue with, but my heart isn't in it.
Complicating matters more, I had to do some math to figure out how to make the cardigan and I didn't take proper notes so I know that I am going to have to look at my pathetic scratching on the post-it-notes on the page of the book and try to figure out where to begin again.
Another factor going against this piece is that I don't like the finishing I did for the waistline. I think I can live with it, but every time I pick this piece up, I am tempted to completely unravel the whole thing and start over.
Luckily, I made the sweater a bit big, knowing that it might take me a while to finish it. Also, the wool is so fine that it will make a great sweater for any season, even if i finish it in August (fat chance).
Red Sweater
Date begun
April 2006
Yarn
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. 55% Merino Wool 33% Microfibre 12% Cashmere. Verrrrry nice. I got the yarn at Knit Purl in Portland, OR.
Needles
Size 2 and 3 US
Pattern
"Roman Holiday," number 6 in the Spring/Summer 2006 issue of Vogue Knitting
Why it's on hold
Damn you Vogue Knitting! This pattern is so hard to follow I almost can't believe it. The chart for the seed stitch and cables makes no sense. I got as far as I did basically by looking at the picture in the magazine. I put this aside because I can't for the life of me figure out how to continue. I've tried to pick it up again a couple of times, but so far haven't had the energy to figure it out.
More Cozies
I just finished two more hot water bottle cozies. I wanted to get these done in a hurry, so I used extra fat yarn on size 10.5 US needles. I knit in a strand of mohair on each of these, making them extremely cuddly. The green one is the color of asparagus. Again, I got the cables from the Vogue Stitionary 2.
I wish the photos were better, but it's a dark day.
I wish the photos were better, but it's a dark day.
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