Continental and Magic Loop revisited

…And Bad Mommy

I’ve tried using the continental knitting style several times with varied amounts of success, it’s not really difficult, just doesn’t always ‘feel’ right… but… I did do half of yesterday’s knitting continental style.  Go me!  AND…. I was youtubing for a better way to pearl using continental and came across CraftSanity’s video.  It made soooo much more sense to me.  Perhaps it’s because I learned to crochet before I knit and she shows the similarities, I’m not sure… but either way – it’s easier for my brain to do it this way.

The ‘pick up’ isn’t as high as I’d been taught before which was undoubtedly part of my problem getting decent tension.

And now…  Leila47 (ravelry link) encouraged me to do a new youtube search for Magic Loop and showed me her method (sans needle and yarn – we were doing resume review you know!).   For some reason, the importance of yarn direction had escaped me so her demonstration combined with the various videos I found LiatMGat’s easy to follow, fun and detailed enough to … tada… I cast on and did a few rounds!   I’m not starting a new project with it just now, I simply wanted to actually figure it out in a way that sinks far enough into my brain/hand relationship that I can use it at will.

You might want to check out Liat’s Blog, I’m loving her Leaf Bug Root Gloves.  She also has Stix Inspiring Yarns for Creative Hands – which is now on my ‘must do’ when I visit my brother in Montana.

In other news – only 27 more days of employment.  More legal stuff.  Need to go see Mom and Dad this weekend, they seem pretty lonely without Heidi.  Still forcing myself to find something to look forward to so I can keep going.  It’s not all bleak, just a bit on the dark/cloudy side still.

And, I took David to get two more guages in his ears this afternoon.  A different dude did the piercing this time and David started bleeding.  I know, I’m the ‘rocker mom,’ the one who signs the piercing forms, does Slipknot concerts, and doesn’t freak when the little darling blogs about his reasons for being an athiest (which includes quasi-sexual content), but I had to stop myself from getting violent, or at least verbal.  It wasn’t the piercers fault, he must have just nicked a small blood vessel or something but the automatic momma bear instinct kicks in when I see blood coming out of one of my kids.  Bad Mommy.

Fingerless glove modifications

Yule Blessings

It’s been COLD and snowy here the last few days.  Friday afternoon we had a huge storm, it was so bad that it took nearly three hours to drive home from work.  Actually, I got within five miles of home and decided not to go any further on bald tires.  It was a bit more adventuresome and dangerous than I was up to.  Fortunately, B was willing to come pick me up.

And…. it made me think about gloves.   I enjoy how cozy and comforting gloves feel when it’s bitter cold and windy.  However, I do not enjoy ‘the gap.’  That’s my not so technical term for how the wind blows down my coat sleeve between the glove and wherever my shirt sleeve has ended up.  How to avoid this… make gloves longer, of course!

I was in the middle of a pair of fingerless gloves for gifting and decided to add about two inches length before starting the thumb gusset.  They’re for a male recipient so kept the ribbing going a little longer to avoid any ride-up during wear.  I’m thinking out a way to incorporate longer lace ribbing with some decreases (maybe!) for a pair of gloves for another recipient.  This is what I’ve come up with so far: 

The stitch pattern can be found on Knitty.   It’s a pretty straight forward knit/purl/yo/decrease pattern but I think might be a little warmer than some of the other lacy ribbings.  And it still needs to be reasonably stretchy.  I’d rather avoid decreasing the overall width if possible BUT I don’t want it to be too tight for someone who may have a wider forearm.  Guessing a couple of test knits will be in order then, if all goes well, I’ll write up the pattern and post it.

Progress is being made on the Christmas knitting.  WRT socks are mid gusset on sock 2.  Fingerless gloves for …….. are 3/4 finished.  I’m coming to terms with the lack of time so am revising some gift things.   I have a funny feeling that Mom is going to get the reverse of what she used to give me.

When I was a little girl, sometimes she would give me the fabric and pattern for a new project then we would work on it together after the holidays.  I have learned so much from watching Mom and working with her.  It seems like a good idea to give her the yarn and needles for the pillow I want to make her then work it up, hopefully with her.  She’s an outstanding knitter, seamstress, and quilter but doesn’t spend much time doing any of those these days.  I would truly enjoy being able to go spend time with her talking and knitting.  It’s been a very, very long time since we did such things together.

And… as soon as I’m finished with the gift knitting I AM going to start a pair of socks for myself.  It’s freaking COLD (oh, I mentioned that a few times?!) and I need some warm, pretty socks.  I dug out the first pair of socks I made – basic tube socks in pretty pastels – and am going to kirtchener the toes which counts as one pair.  They’re an acrylic blend though so going to have to make some wool ones.  I knit.  It’s the rules.  hehehe

Oh…. and one more thing … as always…. I’m totally and utterly in love with Alice Starmore’s Aran and Celtic knitting. Check out her projects and patterns on Ravelry.  Once I’ve got the finances under control, I’m going to be doing some serious stashing to work up a few of her patterns.  I can’t wait!

In non-knitting news, B got my nails done for Christmas.  What a wonderful, thoughtful, magnificent gift.  They’re a beautiful holiday red now.  I’m one of those weird people who have to have nails to keep my hands ‘balanced.’  Thank you!!!!!!

Breaking down and making one…

Yes, I’ll be making a dog sweater.  I hate the things.   Mom has a poodle, Mom’s birthday is in February, Mom wants a sweater for Pepper.  It’s cold.
Talking Tails has a great ‘how to’ so I think I’ll be following the guidelines and coming up with something unique for the two of them. Unique as in singular for rather than completely odd. Hey, not my dog!

I’m thinking something along the lines of this:

dog sweater

possibly in dark red with black ribbing at the top and bottom.  Pepper is – black – big surprise.  Mom likes deep reds.

In further knitting news: WRT sock 1 fits!!!! I was a little concerned about the length since I’m used to working with a little bit stretchier yarn. Sock 2 is cast on. Grylion socks were frogged – what’s up with me and frogging socks repeatedly?! I just didn’t like the way they were working up so, starting over. Allied Giant gloves are making some progress. I need to get them finished up by tomorrow so I can cast on another pair of fingerless gloves. Two more pair, actually. Progress is being made. This is good!

And… cast on 4B’s scarf.

Oh, and I FINALLY figured out why I’m having trouble with the toe up pattern I’d been customizing. Without boring you with all the details, Wendy’s toe up tutorial on knitty did the trick! Thanks again, Wendy!

And the Christmas tree is still in it’s box in the front room. For whatever reason, the Christmas faeries failed to put it up while I was gone. So, I’m going to break down on that too and put it up all by myself. Go me!

Snowing – again!

It started snowing early this morning and we now have several inches on the ground with many more to come. It’s beautiful, it’s holiday perfect, and it’s really annoying me. The back tires on my car are very bald and I’m having a serious debate with myself whether to go home in the snow or not. Stayed at friend’s house last night and forgot my knitting – oops! Hmmmm….. weirdness!

We went to Walmart this afternoon, yes, Wallyword, on a Saturday afternoon, in December. It really wasn’t too bad though. And… I came home and finished the weaving in on WRT sock 1. Woot!

Advent Calendar knitting style

Garn Studios has the greatest little gift!

Vehicle of death and not quite finished glove

Happy dance alert!!!!!!!!!!

B and his boy C fixed my strut yesterday!!!!!!!  Being the sort who disapproves of vehicles being on the road that could, at any moment, cause death and destruction (literally) he popped the hood yesterday afternoon.  He had a bit of a ‘omg’ look on his face.  The strut mount was gone.  Yes, I know, it’s been gone for as long as I’ve had the car – about a year now.  B and C took the wheel off, took the strut off to check for any further damage, called Auto Zone and $40.00 and an hour and a half later… it’s fixed!!!!!

I went with B to Auto Zone to pick up the part.  He kept looking at me as though he wanted to say something so I finally said, “yes?”  He kind of blurted out, “Does 4B know how bad this is?!”  Yes, he knows.  Is he not at all mechanically inclined?  Yes, he is.

So he does realize that your front wheel could have come off at any time?

Yes, he did.

More puzzled looks followed by a short discussion on allowing one’s wife to drive a vehicle that unsafe.  I’d explain it if I had an explanation, but the only one available is – ‘that’s 4B, I’m only supposed to drive back and forth to work anyway…. and since I was out of work for a month…’  ok ok yes, you’re right, not the point.

Point now is – it’s fixed!  My son has his learner’s permit and will now be able to drive the thing without fighting the vibrations and worrying about pending doom.   My gratitude is overwhelming me right now.

I’m one happy, thankful Redfear!

The heel on sock 1 for WRT (B) is ready to be started.  The fingerless gloves are nearly finished.  I have them to where I had to put the thumb stitches on a holder and couldn’t find anything (not my house, thought it would be rude to wake host to request dental floss in the middle of the night) so…..  should have those done this afternoon.

Now finished and now cast on

Sister’s shoulder wrap/stole/capelet thing is finally finished.  I’ll try to get it blocked today (or tomorrow) and take a pic or two plus add some notes.  There is one thing I must say – this was knit on some very old metal circulars. They’re horrible… cable is somewhat thick and twisted oddly and can’t seem to get it fixed. (tried hot water, can’t do the microwave thing) I think they’ll have to be tossed as spent half the knit time arguing with the needle.

Tools DO make a difference.  Top of the line is nice but hardly necessary but when a tool makes working on a project more difficult then it simply isn’t the right tool.  ‘nough said.

Color is really deep red, think burgundy wineish  detail of hem ruffle (the thing looming at you in the foreground)

View from bottom to top

The whole deal – top is the gently scalloped edge from fern/fan stitch going into an eyelet stockinette freehand area with a ruffled bottom edged with garterstitch border.  Keep in mind, recipient is a very petite lady, 4″11 ish so something to keep her shoulders warm doesn’t mean an item that is overly long.  We’ll see how she likes it and perhaps get pictures (if she likes it) during the holidays.

Late last night I cast on a pair of fingerless gloves for myownbadself.  My hands are cold.  We’ll see how this turns out, doing a 3×1 rib cuff using left over Knit Picks Gloss.  It better be an all time record fast knit.  Did I mention my hands are cold?  oh yeah…   Could go get a couple pairs of cheapy knit gloves but I don’t want to.  Want my own!  Besides, experimenting with a newish design and need to know how it will work up before making a couple more pair to gift.

In other news – Have a job interview today!!!!!  And my former employer called yesterday and left a message.  I’ve called back a couple of times but no luck in getting through.  DO THEY WANT ME BACK?!  Yes, no, maybe, uh ?????

Very nearly Finished Object

I am finally binding off sister’s capelet, stole thing. It’s turning out fairly well, can’t wait to block it!  Truth be told, I can’t wait to finish it’s driving me insane.  Literally.  For some reason, I decided to add a ruffle at the top.  A very slight ruffle (increase by apx 1/4 overall)… that was fine.  Then decided to double that…. OUCH.  I started binding off last night about 9:00, was still binding off at 11:00.    There’s still about 200 stitches left. Of course, had a couple phone calls and breaks inbetween but geeeeeeeeeez.  Elbows and wrists are letting me know they are completely annoyed with me and fingertips are going numb again but… it will get finished!

Now back to binding off.  It WILL be finished and sweetly blocking away plus two more inches on each sock for soldier socks (say THAT five times!)  before I can cast on anything else.

Designing Monochromatic / Knit Quilts?

Have to admit, I do miss web designing, particularly the graphic side.

I was browsing a great LYS today (Kamille’s – Where Friends Wind Up in Gardener Village) and then through a quilt shop it occurred to me that I want to play with monochromatic design.  Something similar to star and/or round the world quilts done with such a theme plus perhaps one major accent color.

Oh… and one of those delightful moments happened in the shop.  As my friend and I were walking toward the door (uhhh after spending quite a bit of time doing the touchy, feely, is this the right weight, color for… thing) she stated I must be a great knitter.  (nope, just love doing it)  When we walked out, he turned to me and said, does she know you?  No, hun, only in the way that knitters can spot each other a mile away.  She was working on something a brilliant shade of green in a bulky wool (?).  Can’t wait to go back to see how it’s coming along.

The  deceptively simple overall look with increasingly complex patterning upon closer examination appeals to me.  Or, reversely, the complex overall look that can be achieved with different values.  Hmmmm…. going to get out the colored pencils and start playing….   Imagine something along these lines

texas star quilt

knitted, say in blacks/greys – working on that through mentally.  I’ve seen some beautiful knitting as ‘quilts’ but not very many using traditional quilt patterns.  An example of the direction I’m thinking of can be found on ravelry.  But again, want to play with color schemes a fair bit.

Any ideas? thoughts? help?   Pretty please?

Go me…. or rather go mkdesigner.  I found Classic Quilt Knitting Patterns with four volumes intended to use with Design a Knit Software.  Definitely on the wish list.

Also…. was finally able to write about The Great Storage Unit Debacle

Knitting Merit Badges

Hehehe… so far I’ve earned the following badges:

A requirement for all Knitting Scouts, the recipient must do his or her bit to present knitting in a positive light, whilst at the same time avoiding all references to “hipness”, grandmothers, and yoga.

This applies to both actual knitting under the influence, as well as achieving moments of stunning intellectual clarity about ones knitting under the influence. Presumes talking about knitting whilst under the influence a given. Note: Have stopped this practise but did earn the badge.

Better for you than wine, easier to care for than a houseful of cats, knitting probably kept you busy, and definitely kept you sane, while you navigated your way back to single life. You’re better off without him/her, honey.

In which the recipient professes an arguably unhealthy affinity for yarn with slubs, sparkles, spangles, fur, feathery bits, and an unconscionable proportion of man-made fibre. Recipient makes no apology for the preference.

The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a non-knitting tool in a knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used paper clips as stitch markers, or successfully whittled and then utilized bamboo skewers as dpns.

The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a knitting tool in a non-knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used a strand of Regia Bamboo to slice cheese, or repaired a small appliance with a metal knitting needle

Joy of not knowing what you’re doing; Wrath of the Lich King

I have a bad/good habit of just jumping into things after learning basics.  Last year I made a wrapped or tie shrug without a pattern and only a few notes as I went along for guides.  I knew I wanted a bell type sleeve, something that could be tied or wrapped then pinned, and soft.  From my sewing background I have a general idea of garment construction, sizing, set in sleeves, etc. but quickly found that these principles translate well to knitting IF you know what you’re doing or can fake it well.

overall view  deep rounded V neck, set in bell sleeves, side wrap or front tie

yarn detail

sleeve

The yarn is actually a very soft baby blue, not a weird off white.  (Light/cam problems) Bell sleeves were successfully set in, one was a little tighter than the other due to a misinterpretation of my own notes.  Other than that, it worked out pretty well.

Since this was finished (a little over a year ago) I’ve become pretty fixated on knitting from patterns.  Why?  Because I figured it would be a good idea to learn more from experienced knitters and some sort of odd fear of doing something ‘wrong’   The other night, I was browsing through some knitting and garment construction books and realized that there IS no wrong, just things that work well and those that don’t.  Ok, so sometimes it’s wrong – I mis read a stitch pattern, miscount rows, forget where I am and forgot to mark when I put a project down… but…. most things are fixable.

It’s a bit like life, sometimes I have to frog, go back, start again, take some time to figure out where you are and where you want to be.  Some things appear far more difficult than they are.  Some things are above my skill level but with some work, can be learned.  I have definite preferences (dislike purling, dislike pickled beets).  A few things are definitely ‘later’ projects but if I don’t try – how will I know?  And there’s always the joys of serendipity factor.

Confession time – yep, again – I took 4B’s wedding ring and am now wearing it as a reminder not to make stupid mistakes and that I CAN.  Figured it didn’t mean much to him and I needed the symbolic representation of my resolve not to re-make mistakes I’ve all ready made.  I can break co-dependent patterns, disengage, concentrate on me and mine, move on and take myself back while being loving, caring, responsible, creative, etc.  I can continue to be a good parent for my son and rebuild the relationship with my daughter.

‘And now for something different.’  World of Warcraft’s new expantion is released tonight.  I STILL don’t have a level 70 but my son has a few.  I’ve been knitting.  He’s been playing WOW.  I can’t knit while playing although some can.  Tonight we’re going to Game Stop to pick up his pre-reserved game, color him happy!!!!!  I’m a bit jealous but am happily plodding along with Christmas projects, Socks for Soldiers, and started on a lace scarf for myself.  (Had too, was informed that I was supposed to be doing something for me… oh.. yeah, I can do that!)

Socks, socks, socks and Stole

Work is going well, team leader actually encourages activities such as reading or knitting past 8:30pm or so (work until 10:30 M-F now).  It’s difficult to knit two straight hours (for me, know those who think it’s a breeze hehe) so working on socks off and on right now.  Trying to get a solid hour of Socks for Soldiers in every day but with the frogging I had to do  – ripping out that is – got fairly far behind.

Socks 4 Soldiers