Month: April 2008

Steeking…best knit high evah!

Posted by zyllah – April 22, 2008

Mid Steek

Post Steek.

So you know it really isn’t that scary. I mean its a freaking high don’t get me wrong but the scary factor…eh not really. I think it helped that I didn’t really care about the yarn I used. I mean I liked it sure but it was not some of my “OMG you can pry that yarn from my cold dead hands” yarn you know? So no uhh constitutional shot of vodka for me. I decided to be daring and just cut. Now see I had cut a swatch and tossed it and abused it in my knitting bag and it hadn’t fallen apart so maybe that is less daring than I thought. Anyway all that is left are the button bands. I’m thinking garter bands… It should blend a bit better than ribbing with the crossover cabled section.  I love this sweater!

Leyburn Socks

What a fun pattern this is. It works up really fast and it even plays into my whole knit goal for the year which is attempt and tackle fair isle. The stranding part is working out fine so I’m not as concerned about getting a puckering nightmare.  Also it works really well for semi solid/single color variegated.

Rav Link

So for the next sweater….I am considering doing the Phildar leaf thing.  However if I want to knit it from stash and if I want it to be green which I do (its the leaf thing) I have to use Ultra Alpaca light, which means rewriting the pattern. That’s ok though since I am planning on doing it in the round with a fake seam and borrowing the construction used in thermal. However I do have concerns it will be too drape-y so maybe not.

And now for my next act…Steeking

Posted by zyllah – April 20, 2008

Time to steek…Any advice? It grew enough (I think). Yes I know its sort of a craptastic photo but bad light today. I am actually really pleased with it so far, just hope I don’t ruin it when I cut it.

This was an oh so unexpected present from the most fabulous Mj. It looked much better but I couldn’t wait and took it out of its packaging and undid the hank (I can’t twist hanks obviously) I might use it for something other than socks I like it so much.

Now its time to pick the next sweater…Which will probably be a post tomorrow. But feel free to offer up suggestions…

Gadget Lust Fulfilled

Posted by zyllah – April 16, 2008

So some of you know how much I have wanted an ebook device. I read more than I knit probably and I have quite a collection of ebooks, they take up much less physical space than the books I have in every room of the house (minus the bathrooms). Anyway I wanted one because its not always cozy to read on my desktop and its certainly impossible to curl up with my laptop (I’ve tried and just got a sore neck) Anyway I finally found a place to get it that allowed returns if you hated it. So I bought it. It might be the best device I have ever purchased. I’ve read one book on it and really enjoyed it. I don’t skim like I do on desktop and its so small and portable I can keep it in the kitchen and still watch dinner being made. The cover it comes with is kind of fug though so I plan on getting a black one soon. Also…although you do have to reformat a bit…HELLO DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERNS. I can keep all my current patterns in there and if I wanted to I could even type up my notes as I went along. Also can you just say fantastic battery life? Anyway on to knitting…The first sleeve is finished. YAY, GO ME, and all that. I don’t have a photo because I had very little sleep and I didn’t feel like breaking out the camera. So you’ll get an ALMOST FO shot later this week. The sleeve is a bit well ultra fitted but I figured better that than bat wings.

Yarn Meme

Posted by zyllah – April 13, 2008

Out of the top 50 yarns on Ravelry (by number of projects):
Bold the ones you’ve used and would use again,
cross out the ones you’ve used and would not use again,
and italicize the ones you’ve never tried, but would like to.
Add comments as desired, and then pass the meme along to 5 knitters/crocheters.

1, Cascade 220 Wool, 11967 projects

My Favorite felting yarn ever. I have a sweater amount but haven’t used it yet.

2, Patons Classic Wool Merino, 10445 projects
3, Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted, 8421 projects

The softest yarn ever.

4, Noro Kureyon, 7947 projects

I’d use again but only for something felted. It made my finger raw.
5, Caron Simply Soft, 7914 projects

Not bad for craft store ack.

6, Lily Sugar’n Cream Solid, 6864 projects
7, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, 6619 projects
8, Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Solids, 6176 projects
9, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solid, 5554 projects
10, Noro Silk Garden, 5410 projects

I do wish it was more even.


11, Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM), 5094 projects
12, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 5071 projects
13, Lion Brand Homespun, 4296 projects
14, Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, 4157 projects
15, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi, 4086 projects
16, Manos del Uruguay 100% Wool, 3989 projects
17, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky , 3927 projects
18, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 3751 projects
19, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Lightweight, 3723 projects
20, Plymouth Encore Worsted, 3573 projects
21, Cascade 220 Heathers, 3422 projects
22, Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombres & Prints, 3384 projects
23, Zitron Trekking (XXL), 3348 projects
 24, Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes), 3243 projects
25, Rowan Kidsilk Haze, 3203 projects
26, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2917 projects
27, Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Ombres, 2658 projects
28, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, 2512 projects
29, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Mediumweight, 2503 projects
30, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, 2489 projects
31, Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids, 2476 projects
32, Cascade 220 Superwash, 2323 projects

33, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 2286 projects

My fav basic yarn

34, Knit Picks Swish Superwash, 2226 projects
35, Knit Picks Essential, 2149 projects
36, Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solid, 2142 projects
37, Colinette Jitterbug, 2090 projects

Some of those colors rock my err..socks


38, Lion Brand Lion Wool Solid, 2030 projects
39, Knit Picks Shine Sport, 1976 projects
40, Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull, 1885 projects
41, Lion Brand Microspun, 1871 projects
42, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino, 1863 projects
43, Knit Picks Palette, 1765 projects
44, South West Trading Company TOFUtsies, 1762 projects
45, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 1756 projects
46, Mission Falls 1824 Wool, 1725 projects
47, Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK, 1718 projects

I love cashsoft with a love that feels almost dirty.


48, Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Multis/Ombres, 1664 projects
49, Rowan Felted Tweed, 1646 projects
50, Rowan Calmer, 1571 projects

The Perfect Marriage Part 1. Yarn

Posted by zyllah – April 11, 2008

Knitting sweaters is such a crap shoot, there are four things to consider (let’s assume your knitting technique is up to snuff for the chosen pattern). You have yarn, pattern, fit, and a what not to wear-ish should I even bother or is it going to look like ass no matter what I do. Keeping this in mind has frequently made it very difficult for me to decide on projects. Since although I mentally see myself as a frail Rowan type…Uhh I’m not. In fact I’ve got shoulders a football player would be proud of. I should point out here that my take on knitting garments is that they should be something I would be willing to buy if I could find them. I try to avoid that special sort of ugly that only crafters seem capable of. You all know what I mean, the sweaters that are so ugly that the inner snarky bit goes WTF? So in the spirit of making hand knits vastly less painful to the viewer and much more flattering to the wearer let’s take each in turn and examine them.

Yarn:
Yarn is so many different parts to a project. It can be color, texture, drape. It can emphasize any mistakes or hide them because of the texture of the yarn. I tend to prefer smooth yarns without much texture but that just means any mistakes are glaringly obvious.

(an example from my very early knitting)

You can start with the yarn and find a pattern to fit it or find a pattern you love and go from there. I find for me I half decide on a range of yarns and then when I look at patterns I sort of refine it until I have a good fit. Another thing to keep in mind are colors. What you can get away with in sock yarn you can’t necessarily get away with in a sweater. So its helpful to know not only what colors you like but what colors look good on you. Like I’m dead white and have rather faux red/burgundy hair.

For those of you who have no idea what I look like. Nice bathroom shot eh?

Yellow is so not going to work here. In fact most pastels just make me look washed out and zombie like. I do much better with saturated jewel tones. Well and black, but I have this thing about knitting in black. I wear black every day but knitting in it seems like a waste. Skrilla posted some scans from color me beautiful that you might find helpful to take a gander at. I think most people know what colors will work for them but sometimes in the midst of mad yarn lust it’s easy to forget that this is something you are going to *wear* and no matter how much you like that color, it quite possibly might make you look like cat puke. For example most knitters I know fall deeply and hopelessly in love with hand dyed yarns and/or variegated colorways. We’ve all seen the examples of when it works

and when its a hopeless mess.

Now these are the exact same pattern but one works and the other doesn’t. Now imagine that splashed across your chest! It’s a vision of horror isn’t it? Friends don’t let friends knit ugly.

Moving on to texture…Fun fur is evil. If you want to look like a dead muppet go ahead and make that fun fur sweater. Ok more seriously there are times and places for novelty yarns but usually sweaters aren’t one of them. There are some lovely ribbon yarns. I have never knit with them so I can’t show you any examples but I’m sure for a summer knit they work up into lovely garments.

Also it’s incredibly important to know what the yarn can and can not do. I found the knitters book of yarn to be helpful in this regard. Like ribbing in alpaca…strictly decorative but a nice wool/alpaca blend can handle it. When I made Wicked for my mom I did it in a cotton, the cross over cable pattern on the neckline was totally wasted so I did a plain ribbing that worked much better.

In the end all you can do is swatch and make sure you like it. Although I am queen of a square inch swatch….I usually do test pattern elements just to be sure. Knitting is supposed to be fun and how awful is it when you finish something and then go What the Hell was I thinking?

Wicked Update

Posted by zyllah – April 10, 2008

I finished the body but I fear it might be too short. However I do expect to gain some length through the wonder and glory that is blocking. Also since it is a cardigan and I never ever shut them…it should be ok. If not I can cut off the bo edge and add some length. I was going to do the crossover rib all the way around the bottom but lacked the correct the stitch count.  So I decided a regular 2×2 rib was the way to go. The sleeves are coming along too. I have delusions of finishing one tonight. We can all enjoy a good laugh now. But it’s nice to dream…

So I’ve been on a baking spree the past few weeks. I forgot to take shots of my nicer looking cupcakes from the previous two weeks but this week I made muffins instead. I try (intermittently) to avoid carbs so I don’t tend to eat my creations too often. Anyway Justin asked me to make blueberry or banana nut muffins for his breakfast. I didn’t have that fruit in the house but I did have some strawberries. So I used the Martha Stewart recipe for Blueberry muffins and added in macerated strawberries and chocolate chips. He said they’re awesome.

After I finished spring cleaning today I needed to chill out so I went outside and shot some flower pics. There are more in flickr.  Anyway I want to vent just a tad, so last night after SNB I went to borders and decided to say what the hell and get the reader. Then I got a flash of ‘but what if I hate it” anyway so I asked about the return policy. Anyway the only way they would take it back was if it was broken. Hello not spending 300 on a device I’m not sure I’ll love and not be able to return. It was very disappointing.

A Wicked Wip

Posted by zyllah – April 3, 2008

Actually it’s a bit bigger but I’m behind on posting. I have been avoiding posting because I didn’t want to discuss my miscarriage after the previous post. Anyway yeah no longer pregnant, I’m sad about it but this isn’t really the place for that. I  would like to say I’m not sure I would have gotten through it if not for my knitting group who essentially staged an intervention when I was disinclined to leave the house. Anyway back to the wip, so on ravelry I saw a version of wicked done as a cardi last year and it just floored me. I had to make one. To be honest I’m not sure if it was the design or the glorious sundara yarn she used but something about it spoke to me and I finally got off my ass and started mine. I had started re-writing the pattern back in January but put it aside when it looked like it wasn’t going to fit for a long time. Anyway I have since picked it back up. I had to adjust for gauge and also figure out how I was going to do it. Since I decided to steek it and make it a speedier project I had to in many ways rewrite the damn pattern. Steeking also limited my choice of yarns. I have a large stash but figured I should go with a plain wool rather than something fancy. So I chose this really nice burgundy (color in the photo is slightly off) by Ella Rae. I have to say I like this yarn. It’s cheap, fairly soft and well cheap.  I also have broken my no yarn buying since October thing and signed up for Sundara’s seasons club. I was kinda mad at myself for not doing it last time. Plus since its a monthly subscription it was easier to contemplate doing. I just really like how you get a choice of season and its not all sock yarn. I felt kinda bad because I fully intend on purchasing some sort of ereader device in the very near future. I’ve been doing a ton of reading lately and reading on the computer doesn’t always cut it for me. I even tried reading on my ipod but its just too small. I used to use a Visor without any complaints but mine died right after we moved here and since I entered the world of hausfrauerie I didn’t see the point of replacing it. I am applying for a job though so that might change. I will try and post more regularly but you know how that goes.