Resolution Review

Way back on my January 8th post  I listed some resolutions here on the blog.  They were primarily knitting goals and resolutions, although I l did add some non-knitting resolutions at another time. 

 How did I actually do with them?  Only so-so.

Number 1was to finish my most active WIPs (Works In Progress).  I then listed the ones I hoped to finish:  

 

• Navy Tweed Vest, is for me, and still languishing in a project basket beneath another project.  Not accomplished.
• Stonehenge Hickhiker, was also for me.  That was finished back on January 18, plus another later in the year.  Accomplished .
• Sandy's Traveling Woman Shawl was finished in May, in plenty of time for her cruise.  Accomplished.
• Rustic Blue Silk Triangle.  This was from stash yarn purchased for my birthday a couple years ago and shown above.  Accomplished.
• Lilac Cardigan, for the Purple Princess.  I almos frogged it but I was successfully completed January 30.  Accomplished.
• Baby Hap Shawl, also for the Purple Princess.  This is hiding the tweed vest.  It just needs the last bit of lace edging to be completed.  It would have been done but this fall was too hot to have a pile of fluffy wool on my lap.  Not accomplished.

 

So, I did complete four out of six that I listed then.  And, added several more, including some for my own Little Peanut.

Number 2 resolution was to knit one or two cardigans for me.  I even listed the yarn from my stash that was to be used.  And while I did cast one a new cardigan, using new, not stash, yarn, my Freyja is still sitting, although close to the arm divide.  This resolution is a total failure.

Resolution 3--more socks.  Hmmm. I started one with a Craftsy Class, that's past the heel on sock one.  I took a class at the local yarn shop, learning the Fleegle Heel and have 1 1/3 sock done.  And a started a plain vanilla sock, using the Fleegle Heel.  It is half done.  And the previously started Broken Seed Sock still sits as well.  No usable pairs of socks...not accomplished.

Number 4 was to finish more of my Craftsy classes.  I did finish a couple.  But bought a few more.  Oops.  Not accomplished.

 

Not very good returns, but at least I had goals.  I may rethink the WIP resolution again.  It kept me motivated.

I mentioned additional goals as well.  I had hoped to blog more often.  Since this post has me tied with the second most posts per year, I think I did all right.  Even if I didn't come close to posting daily.

One goal for the year was to explore my options in changing my church home.  I took the plunge the end of January and am very pleased with my new situation.   My soul is being fed again.

On the goal of handing out random compliments, I could have done better, but did do some.  I may need to resolve to review my goals monthly, to help on that one.

Lastly, I added the goal of crocheting a sampler scarf and mitts, after taking a crochet class.  My heart still belongs to knitting, but this goal was also accomplished.

 

Since Advent is the start of the church year, I have started thinking of ideas for resolutions, or at least goals, for 2017.  Maybe I can do better next time.

I Give Up

The heat got to me.

Sorry little Purple Princess, but your Baby Hap will need to wait until the weather moderates some. And perhaps until my little new granddaughter arrives early next month.

As the blanket on my lap was really not conducive to enjoying my knitting, I found some rose gardeny looking sock yarn. Swatching soon started.

This is going to be a simple pinafore type dress, sleeveless, and suitable for wearing over a onesie.

All one piece, with seed stitch around the hem. Easy knitting, and going quickly. I started swatching only around 2:00 this afternoon and had this much of the dress by the end of Knit Nite.

If the weather's heat and humidity won't break, this will keep me knitting merrily along.

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The Math Part of Knitting

I must say that knitting has improved my math skills. I did need to do some pattern modifications to my Freyja.

I swatched, washed and let the swatches dry overnight. Surprising, they did bloom more after drying. And on size 6 needles I was still at too large a gauge. I didn't want to go to size 5's. This was supposed to be a quick and easy sweater to dash off. As it is, my gauge was supposed to be 19 stitches over 4 inches. I am still, on my closest swatch, at 18 stitches for 4 inches.

So, time to dig out the calculator. Which I misplaced, so I had to stop and pick up another one today.

First I calculated my stitches per inch rate, and count needed to fit my bust size. I picked the size I needed to use and started highlighting the pattern. Then I discovered the cast-on number is not the same after waist shaping and bust area. So I recalculated everything again, this time using the right stitches and converted to my gauge to get the same size. Yup, I needed to go up a size. I also calculated the dimensions for waist and hip using the new size, just to be on the safe side.

While reviewing the pattern, I also noticed that the sleeves seem very loose. With the aid of the calculator, I found they would work out to 13 inches. Way to big for me. I will be modifying it to 9 inches and then needing to increase twice as many times to get to the correct stitch count.

And as another pattern modification, I am moving the side markers back 5 stitches on each side. I need more room on the front than on than the back. Being a yoke style sweater, it won't change the top at all.

I think I am ready to cast on....277 stitches.

 

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My "Unyarn!"

This morning, as I headed out to do an errand, I noticed this rather tightly stuffed bag in the garage. From Reykejavic Iceland!

Doing a little happy dance, I grabbed it, put it in the car and went on my way. When I got home, I opened it.

One plate of White and eight plates of Winter Blue Heather Plotulopi, aka unspun Icelandic wool, or as I like to call it unyarn.

As you can see at the top of my stack of wool plates, there was a bit of mess to get through to start knitting. Actually I managed, after several false starts, to find a promising end. I had several shorter bits, but being a grabby wool, they were easily joined, almost like spit splicing. You can see several of the wound up ends as I untangled the mess.

You see above and below just how wispy this unyarn is. Definitely no spinning done. But, surprisingly, once I conquered the mess shown above (which mostly was pulled thru the middle from the next plate down), the knitting went very well.

I knit up two swatches that have been soaking for an hour or so. I am ready drain, squeeze in a towel and lay out to dry overnight.

Maybe I can start tomorrow to Bang Out my Freyja.

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Aftermath

Well, I am in withdrawal from my Christmas movies.  Even the two Hallmark channels have ended them as of today.  I managed to see just about all my favorites at least once.  Several I saw several times.
As I was zoning out on Christmas movies, I managed to get a lot of knitting done.  I swatched some yarn that I inherited from a friend's stash after she passed away.

 It is an oatmeal colored bulky weight that I am going to make into a vest.  After the swatch was throughly washed and dried, I was able to measure and weigh it.  I should have plenty of yarn according to the Custom Fit pattern I just generated.  I figure, it will be a good backup project for when I need a break from green.

I also sewed all the pieces to the Blue Blood Red Cardi.  It is all finished but the buttons.  I hope to sew them on later today and then get a picture of me wearing it.

I also cast on for the front of the Green Flowy Cardigan.  More on that later.

Another End in Sight

I finished the back of the Green Flowy sweater today.

I now can wash it tomorrow early and set it aside to dry. And then I can double check the gauge once more before beginning the more difficult pieces...the fronts. And the sleeves will take some care too. I need to plot the positioning of the thumb slot. I need to have it on the side, not in the seam. So I will need a left and right sleeve. I wonder if I could manage to sew it in if I knit it in the round? Or maybe it would still be easier to knit flat. At least I have a while to consider that since I will do the fronts first.

And with the back of the green sweater done, I can start the sewing up of the Blue Blood Cardigan. Maybe I can still get the front bands and neck finished this year yet!

Hmmmm. Looks like I have a bit of sewing ahead of me.

And I don't think I mentioned it before, but I did start a new swatch. For an oatmeal colored bulky yarn vest. And I am considering a zipper. Maybe.

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And We Are Good to Go

After sketching, measuring, calculating, and designing, I think I am finally ready to take on the Green Flowy Cardigan.

This isn't a regular sweater knitting adventure. For one thing there is no pattern for me to tweak. I am using the basic outline for my gauge from the book shown above right. But I am adding wide front overlaps that will hang open. That is the "flowy" part. My rough sketches and schematic measurements for the sweater are on left.

I found a cable in another book. The chart was pretty tiny so I had to enlarge it. Actually I used some charting software to chart the knit and purl stitches. However the software didn't have the size cable icons I needed. So I printed off the basic chart and sketched in the cables myself. That is shown pictured above in the middle, with my swatching information below on a sticky note.

Then came calculating stitch counts. And that is where the rubber meets the road. Luckily I checked the gauge of my swatch before and after washing because there was quite a big difference. After washing the stitches per inch were less, but the rows per inch were more. Hmmm? Maybe that is why people (including me sometimes) think gauge lies. So I am basing my stitch and row counts on the "after washing" gauge. I'll finish the back and wash that and see if it is the right size then. Hopefully, gauge and the good Lord willing, it will be fine.

And here I am, ten rows of seed stitch so far for the back. Wish me luck!

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Waiting and Waiting

While I have nor shortages of items to knit on hand, I am anxiously waiting for my swatch to dry for the Green Flowy Cardigan.  The swatch was finished, washed, and spread out.  I am waiting for it to dry to take final measurments of the gauge.  It will probably be tomorrow before that happens.

Granted, not as long as the swatch I made for my Blue Blood Red Cardi.  But I was able to get several "before" readings of stitch gauge and row gauge.  Let's see how much it varies when it is dry.
Once that stage is reached, I can actually figure out how many stitches I need for front, back, and the overlap which is extra long and when unfastened, becomes the "flowy" part of the sweater.
I also need to draw the cables on the chart I made.  The software was able to chart the knits and purls, but the icons for the cables didn't work. I guess I will need to draw in the cables. I hope to finish that this evening. Then tomorrow, actually pattern recipe writing will begin.
I say recipe because mostly I knit by guess and by gosh.  I have guidelines to follow, but almost all my knitting, especially for me, ends up an adaptation of gauge and size.  I have to calculate the dimensions needed, and figure out the number of stitches involved.  Ann Budd's book, The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns is a great guideline for a basic sweater.  The cable, hood, and overlap are all up to me to add.
Math.  It's what's for knitters.

Oh, and after yesterday's post, I was told the yarn specifics.  The yarn used is Brown Sheep Lanaloft, in worsted weight.  The color is called Scottish Hillside.  Great name, and great yarn.  I love wool. Did you know that?

Off the Needles and Back on Again

I cast off the Green and White Jacket this afternoon. I love how it changes from this:

to this with just a couple folds. That Elizabeth Zimmermann was an amazing knitter and designer.

Of course I need to sew the shoulder seams and there are a bunch of loose ends that have to be woven in. But I am pretty happy with it.

Which leaves me with the Gray Spiral Blankie to knit, and my Blue Blood Cardigan to sew up and work the collar and front bands. And, my next project.

The former so-called commissioned project, henceforth to be known as Green Flowy Cardigan is almost ready to begin. I am not sure of the yarn as it was delivered in two one-pound cakes. But it is a medium shade of yellowish green in a single ply. I love it. It was pictured a couple days (with fat small dog for scale). I have sketched out the schematic. All I need now is the swatch, knit, washed and dried.

Swatching, of course, has commenced. I love working with wool.

 

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Starts and Finishes, Almost.

The red sweater pieces managed to dry before bedtime, thank goodness. The pieces blocked out great, with the pieces just falling into the right dimensions.

For now the pieces are folded and back in their baggy as I rush to finish the Green and White Jacket. I hope to at least cast off that this weekend. Then I will need to sort through the button bin to see if I need to get some for the jacket or if I have some that will work.

I have finished the back flap extension and started the last series of stripes. I must admit I am eager to finish this so I can get back to knitting with wool again. The acrylic tires my fingers, it's less resilient than wool.

I also spent some time working on my commissioned piece. I finally have the basic design down and have the measurements on paper. Picked the pattern/recipe I will be using as starting point, as well as the cable I will be using. I do need to type up the chart for that, so it is a more reasonable size. And I have plotted the basic modifications I will be making to the pattern. Once I have swatched and decided on needle size and gauge, I can calculate the stitch counts for cast on.

And then the new sweater adventure can begin.

 

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My Knitting Adventure

Such fun.  The Farm All Jacket is completely off the needles.  It still needs the ends woven in and the seams stitched.  But even so, the transformation from a red and black blob

 to a precious sweater is pretty amazing.

The knitting continues on the Sweet Pea cardigan for my grandbaby, Lil' Farmer, as well.  I finally started the garter stitch edging and after that it will be sleeves and button bands.

But my big knitting news is that I finally purchased my first Custom Fit pattern from Amy Herzog Designs and will be starting a new cardigan for me.  The link above is to the Custom Fit website.  It is a intriguing notion.  You measure yourself very thoroughly and enter into the website.  Then knit a substantial swatch, and calculate the number of inches over a number of stitches you mark off.

That swatch, using Brown Sheep Yarn's Lamb's Pride wool/mohair blend is about 12 inches long.  And after counting the number of stitches and rows in that area, you measure the length and depth of the marked off area.  Then Custom Fit will generate a pattern to fit your gauge.  And you get to pick the type of pattern you want,  Pullover, cardigan, vest, short sleeve, vee-neck, scoop neck, etc.  The pattern wizard generates your pattern, to your gauge, and your measurements.  After paying the fee ($9.99) you can get your pdf and start knitting.

That is nearly 9 skeins of Blue Blood Red waiting for my needles.  So, if you will excuse me.  I will be starting a new project now.

Knitting Again

One of my plans for my knitting this year was to re-assess my Works in Progress and decide if they were worth continuing or ready for the frog pond.
This project was the front and a few inches of the back of The Shapely Tee.  The project was so old that I hadn't even started Ravelry when this was cast on.  At a guess I would say I began around 2008 or so.

The yarn is South West Trading Company's Pure, 100% Soysilk and those balls on the foot stool represent all the frogging.  The yarn is much less purple and more fuchsia in real life.
The yarn is soft, and I really like it.  It drapes well and has a nice sheen.
I even swatched it last night.

So now I am trying to decide on a pattern.  The gauge is different than what I had mind.  So....do I punt and use math to adapt the pattern?  Even the book with different gauges and sizes will need math.  My gauge is between sizes.  It was fine before I washed it, but it grew in its bath.  I am learning that swatches need to be washed before measuring.
And why all the fussing about what to do with all this found yarn?
This is done, all but the blocking.

My SWestie Shawl.  Finished project 13 for 2014.  The shaping shows best in this picture of Gertrude from the side.You can see the deep point in the back.  You can also see that there is another corner coming from over the shoulders.  Not quite so deep but still a point.  It is pretty much how I imagined it as I was winging my way with it.  Don't you like when a pattern works out as pictured in your head?   I think it will block out with the points almost meeting in front, almost square.  I really like it. Now I just need to finish making my blocking frame.

And see what I am holding? That is all the yarn I had left over after my stretchy cast off.

That's what I call cutting it close. 

This Swatch's For You

Yeah, Evelyn, I'm talking to you.
In exchange for the marvelous handspun I am using for the Jeweled Sporto, I had agreed to two projects for Evelyn.  One was a purple mohair boucle triangle I posted about last summer or so.  And now she has come up with the second pattern.
A fun swingy cardigan by DROPS Design and Garn Studio called (I think) Medieval.
The swatch though is what I wanted to share.  While I always swatch, I don't always make very generous swatches.  And I don't always wash and dry them.
Ok, I only did that once.
But this is a typical swatch.  I started with the suggested size needle.  That is the bottom section shown below.  Then, the reverse stockinette section is down to size 7.  Finally on the top we have a winner with size 6.
So, as soon as I sort out the tax papers to keep Hubby happy, I will be casting on.

Oops!

Now how did that happen?
I was swatching along for my handspun Sporto, hereby christened Jeweled Sporto, due to the rich jewel tones in the handspun.  Then all of a sudden I found myself working on the back of the hood.
Oops. I wasn't going to start it until after the end of the year.
I must have gotten confused after going to see the movie New Year's Eve yesterday.  Yeah, that's it.  Seeing the 2012 ball drop in the movie  messed with my mind.
Entirely understandable, right?
Oh, no turning back now.
I hereby return to my previously unscheduled knittting.
Happy New Year everyone!

Channeling Carly Simon

As that 70s song sung by Carly Simon goes, anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting.  Anticipation of a new project that is.
I have wound 4 skeins, checked my last swatch, and decided it has a good body to it.  I want to get started knitting Sporty. 
Ahhh, anticipation.
Maybe I'll get a needle out and reknit the swatch.

Another Finished Project!

The news my friend Evelyn has been waiting for! My red roses triangle shawl is finished.

I cast off yesterday, put in in to soak while I set up my cutting board and blocking squares on my bed. As it turned out, I needed more squares and it barely fit on the bed.

I did notice the wonky center seam and straightened after taking this picture. Now off and folded and waiting for a cooler day so I can show off and get some glamour shots. It will probably make an appearance next week at spin guild. Due to the Columbus Day holiday, no spinning this week because the building we meet at will be closed.

Vital statistics on the shawl. Made with my lipstick red cormo silk purchased from Jenny Setzer's both at Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool a couple years ago, about 8 ounces total, and I have only one smallish ball left. It is a 2 ply that varied from fingering to worsted weight, but I think looks lovely. The pattern is the flower lace from Evelyn Clarks lace triangle book. It measured about 8 feet across the top when blocked, and about 40 inches down the center to point. So pretty!

And Evelyn, there was some swatching going on, in alpaca. But I must confess.....

my poor little Lizzie was awfully cold the last cold snap, and a friend just had a baby girl, so I may have accidentally started a couple other new projects too.

Swatching Delights

The sun is out.  Or it least I think that bright thing up there in the sky is the sun.  Its been so long, I'm not quite certain.  I have the finally finished the back and about half of Bettys green jacket, the alpaca silk one.  The weather has been cool enough that I could work on it.

I also worked out a knitting for yarn deal with someone else.  She tossed me a ball of handspun marl yarn, in a wonderful varigated color.  I swatched it up and this is what I ended up with.

I am going to score about 3 lbs of this, to probably make into a shawl color cardigan I think, in exchange for a couple shawls.  Lace and garter and luckily both patterns I had eyed myself.  I find myself slipping into a knitting black hole.  
But oh, what fun I will have getting in there.

Spin and Spin Again

The Tour de Fleece is on and running.
I believe this is my third running of this challenge. The first two times I spun and plied pile of shetland. THis year I will be plying already spun fiber, as well as finishing 2 bobbins of some Spunky Clup shetland, and some icelanding. I have the first bobbin of each that have been done for at least a year, and have finished the second bobbin of the shetland over my Saturday and Sunday sprints.
Luckily, today Spin Guild is having a holiday session--4 hours instead of just 2, and hopefully some of our members who can't usually come will be able to make it. I am considering bringing my Louet wheel for a change and all the full bobbins and plying up a storm.
I also need to consider what I start next for my home spinning, for the rest of the Tour.
I do have several bags that would go well with the shetland for when I start the sweater with that. I have great plans for an entirely handspun sweater. So far I have very light grey, medium gray and a couple skeins of black shetland.

Six Does Not Equal Six

Huh?
Let me explain.
I was diligently working on my Marl Yoke Raglan last week at Knit Nite. I was SOOOOO close to the end of the body and place to join the sleeves that I kept knitting so I could say I had the sweater that far.
Since the shawl I am making for Evelyn is a bit too complicated to take to Knit Nite (I tend to talk a lot there.), I wanted to have the sleeves ready to work on. I dug out a pencil and my copies of EZ's Opinionated Knitter, and Knitting in the Old Way and started calculating. I figured out how many stitches I needed to cast on, how many rows it would take, how often I would have to increase if I did it this way or that way. And so on.
I was so thorough.
Finally I cast on with a set of Plymouth bamboo double point needles and knit about 6 rounds or so.
Then something made me pause. The ghost of Elizabeth Zimmermann perhaps?
Anyway, something made me stop and put away the size 7 needles tips that I had out. And while I was at it, I checked the tips I had used for the sweater body. The needle gauge I was using showed the size 7 slot loose and sloppy.
But wait! So was the size 6. I had supposedly been using Size 6 in my Harmony Options. I dug out another needle gauge and the size 6 fit perfectly.
Hmmmmm.
Then I looked at both gauges. One size 6 was a 4.25mm. the other was 4.00mm. I checked the double points I was using for the sleeve. Size 6 all right. but 4.25 not 4.00
Sigh.
I just knew if I continued with the the sleeves with size 4.25, the gauge wouldn't match when I joined the sleeves to the body. So I ended up logging on to KnitPicks and placing an order for size 6 4.00 mm double points and also a 16 inch circ (and some lace weight yarn, and books. Oops, the mouse must have slipped.) I frogged the bit of sleeve I had started and waited. Yesterday my package came--in just 5 days!
Maybe now I can knit with peace of mind.
Or not.

The Gauge Lady

How did I get to be the Knit Nite Gauge Lady?

Maybe because everytime someone starts a project and says something like "I hope this will fit," or "I hope this yarn will work ok instead," I say, "Did you knit a swatch? Are you matching the gauge?"

We know we take our knitting sanity in our hands when we try to knit a worsted pattern with chunky yarn, or when we use handspun and aren't quite sure of the weight, and yet we blindly cast on the stitches specified in the pattern with the suggested needle size and knit forth.

Maybe it is all the Elizabeth Zimmermann and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee that I have read, but I constantly find myself asking that same questions. And the funny thing is, by swatch standards, I knit very inadequate swatches. I may knit a couple inches on about 25 stitches, and if it is on my circs, I slide the stitches to the cable, put them on a flat surface and measure in several places. If I have match stitch gauge, I call it good. Or if I am off, I calculate the desired size I want and then recalculate the stitches I need to cast on for my project. Occasionally I will try a smaller or larger needle, but mostly if I like the way the swatch looks, I jumble figures.

Of course since I am rather ample in size, I usually need to up-size a pattern, so I have to recalculate anyway. What is a little more figuring?

But once I have established what gauge I will be using, I check it repeatedly while knitting. Have you seen the little brass gauges, shaped like a sheep? You can check your needle size on them, and they have a 2 inch L shaped window cut-out to use for counting your stitches. But what I find most useful is the fact that the feet are exactly 1 inch apart. I can take the little sheep, lay its feet on the project and count the stitches between the feet at a glance, and over several areas.

So easy. So I guess in a way, my project is also my constant ever-growing swatch.