Neophyte Knitter

Friday Review - Knitting Cuff to Cuff

Knitting Cuff to Cuff (Twelve Sweaters One Way) by Susan Guagliumi (February 2007)

This book focuses exclusively on an interesting sweater composition - sideways-knit garments.  That's not to say seamless.  Seams are still needed on the sides and the underarms.

There are 12 different sweaters to demonstrate the wide variety of styles and variations one can utilize using this single construction technique.  There are pullovers, cardigans and a shrug with different stitch patterns and details.  Shapes are generally squarish but some have some waist shaping.

If you are not familiar with this construction here is how it goes.  A sweater is done in five steps -  knitting the right sleeve, knitting to neckline, shaping the front neckline, knitting back and left shoulder and knitting the left sleeve. In this method, it  means your edges match (as opposed to cast-on vs cast-off). There is a good discussion on the authors preferred method of starting and finishing - scrap knitting.   This is a provisional cast-on that she prefers because of it's ease and the regularity of the stitches.  Basically you knit a few rows with scrap yarn before switching to the main fiber.  She states its easier to pick up stitches.  This method can also be used as a stitch holder.  The live stitches can also let you join the seams later without bulk. 

Directions seems very thorough with step by step directions, stitch charts and schematics.  Sizing is a bit odd with garment width instead of the traditional bust but it's easy to multiply by two. In most cases, sizes from 34" to 52" are given.  Yarns are of higher quality - Noro, Mountain Colors, Colinette, Manos.

I don't know if I would knit one of these but the concept intrigues me.  This particular garment is the most interesting piece to me.  It is constructed from two identical pieces and seamed on the outside with I-cord.  It looks very elegant.

My recommendation is that if you are interested in this technique, check out the book.  The author explains things very clearly and also pays attention to the details giving mini treatises on each throughout the book.  And pictures are clear, large and useful. There are even machine instructions if that floats your boat as befits the authors background.

Tee Bee Zee

Well I didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted.  I didn't account for the blocking time needed for the Ribbed Sweater.  I did get one project done.

ZeeBee
Pattern: From Schmeebot
Yarn: Knit Picks Memories in Yukon
Needles: US 2's
Knit: September 8 - 22, 2007

I didn't make any changes.  It was perfect as could be.  The sock weight yarn made a light hat.  The colors are great and I love the top!  I think this will be a XMAS present for my brother. 

The pattern is great for self striping yarn and I might even make this one again.  I might change it so there are 5 sections on the top.

The Ribbed Tunic is 3/4th blocked.  I only have one more sleeve. Per usual, the cats have been attracted to it like cat nip.  I guess Cloud-dee beat Gus out for it this morning.  He doesn't look all that happy.  But I am not happy with him.  In the last week, I have found three dead meeces.  Last night, the sucker was ripped in half!  Yuck.  There was a comical element to the murder last night.  I guess in his play, he let the mouse get behind the Roomba and accidentally turned it on.  To say he was startled was putting it mildly.  After I turned it off, he quickly grabbed his prey by the tail and pranced out the window scared the little vacuum would take it away I am sure.  Sadly, I didn't shut it so 10 minutes later he was back in to chase it around.  My kitty has a really short memory.

   

ID Theft never ends.

Grrr.  I just got a call from a collection agency on a fraudulent card that I thought I had gotten cleared off my account in July of last year during the whole identity theft debacle.  Now I have to dig out all the paperwork and make some calls to clear this up.  And check all my credit reports.  That's actually been something I have been meaning to do but since I now have a freeze on all my accounts, I just can't do it on-line.  I have to call with the my special code.  Not difficult, it just takes some preplanning and time. 

In other news, weathermen in LA suck.  All week we have been warned about the unseasonal winter storm that would be hitting SoCal today bringing cool temperatures and rain.  I was excited for it to feel fallish.  Instead I woke up to sunny, clear skies and it's 77-degrees out side.  So the scarf, jacket and umbrella I have with me all are useless. 

One good thing is the knitting.  My ribbed tunic is a mere inch from being ready to seam so hopefully next week, I will have a new sweater to show.  And a new hat.  My next obsession (which I have started) is the miter square baby blanket.  Jon is planning on making a trip to see his family next month so I want to finish all the knit gifts so he can present them in person to his brother and sister-in-law. 

And TV!  I am so excited for the Fall season being a huge fan.  I think I have 60 shows in my TiVo Season pass.  And this doesn't include those shows that are on demand (Dexter, Weeds, Californications, Torchwood, Hotel Babylon, etc.).  I try not to add too many new shows but this year I am going to try Reaper and Pushing Daisies.  I became addicted to Criminal Minds during the off-season so that's in too.  Thanks to the Emmy's and time slot changes, 30 Rock is going to be given a chance.  Sally Field's was so adorable that I added the first disc of Season 1 of Brother's & Sisters.  I got it yesterday, watched all 4 episodes last night and am now officially a convert.  I love this show!!! Now I have to get through all of season 1 before I can start watching the new episodes.  So much TV, so little time but at least its all knitting.

Friday Review - Nifty Knits for Kids

Nifty Knits for Kids by Catherine Ham (May 2007)

This book harps on "fun" knits for kids.  I think that must be code for "knit the ugliest thing you can think of and throw it on a kid" so it's "cute" and "fun".  Actually this book is not that bad.  It was just hard for me to get over the first pattern which was this novelty monstrosity.  It tainted my sight.  I had to look through the book 3 times to see that it really had some good basic kid knits.

The book does have some basic knitting instructions but it's focused more on how to work with patterns, caring for garments and sizing.  Obviously the topics focus on kids with one basic tenet, "clothing for kids should be loose and comfortable".  So for kid sizing, the author recommends 4-inches of ease for all garments.  Also of note is the discussion on yarn substitution which is quite good and thorough.  It's much longer than the normal paragraph dedicated to the subject in most books.  There is even half a page discussion dedicated to describing how to knit mirror images since many patterns explain the shaping on either the left side or a right side but rarely both.  This is a topic that can be confusing to the new knitter.

The book has 30 projects.  Sadly the projects seem to use more novelty yarn than normal.  Heck they use Mode Dea.  Blech. 

 

There are a few basic styles too.

The pattern write-ups themselves are ok.  The patterns cover a large range of sizes, in most cases from 3-12 years old.  Schematics are given and the projects are knit in main stream commercial yarns - Bernat, Plymouth & Lion Brand.

This book is OK but I don't think it's anything special.  There are better kids books to add to ones library.

Meh

My weekend didn't turn out like I thought it would.  The bf has been feeling a bit off (a bit of the "black dog") so he didn't want to really do anything.  It wasn't my preference but sometimes you have to take one for the team.  And I wanted to be supportive and spend time with him since he's heading to London tomorrow for over a week. So it was errands, TV and knitting. This meant no date night, no Disneyland and the saddest of sad, no Yarn Harlot.  Sigh. 

The kicker was that it wasn't the biggest disappointment of the weekend.  I washed the Tilted Duster.  I had been forewarned that this yarn pilled a bit through washing so inside out was a must.  I also did a special load with little agitation just for it and skipped the dryer.  And I got a super soft duster that had stretched by about 6" in all directions.  It's now way too big and shapeless to wear.  Another reason having my own washing machine would be awesome.  I only head to the laundrymat every three weeks and who can wait that long to wash a swatch!

It did kind of cement my recent musings of whether I am a process or project knitter.  When I got it home and saw its state, I just gave a little Gaelic shrug and pondered my options.  So I am definitely process since it didn't really bother me that much that I never even got to wear it out once.  As for the next step, I like the yarn.  It's super soft so I want to reuse it.  I could knit the Duster again but I think instead I will make a comfy pullover or cardigan instead. 

We'll see if this is one of those bad thing happen in threes situation.  The ribbed tunic sweater is almost ready to be seamed.  I just need to finish the front and I have already started the sleeve decreases.  And for my new small portable, I have started a ZeeBee hat in a sock yarn after seeing one on Ravelry that I loved (the best feature of that site imo).

Friday Review - Babies & Toddlers: a Knitter's Dozen

Babies & Toddlers - a Knitter's Dozen by XRX (March 2007)

I like this book quite a bit which is not a surprise since it's very similar to the previous ones in the same series I have reviewed (kids, hats, ponchos & wraps, scarves and bags).  It's just a well put together little book with clear patterns, great pictures and a good range of projects. The 24 projects in this book include cardigans, fun blankets, pullovers, socks, toys and some other miscellaneous projects.  I know they were all previously published in Knitter's so if you are a subscriber this book might not interest you.

A few of the projects that stood out to me were this mitered square blanket.  I have decided to make it as a baby gift for Jon's niece to be.  I am going to do it in Tampa Bay Buccanears colors of white, red, and black with just a wee bit of orange.  I have already picked up a yard of cotton team fabric for the backing which is how I chose the colors.  Jon's brother is a big fan so I know he will get a kick out of it. 

Another stunner was a pram set with an unusual construction.  It's an octagon shape that you "fold" to ge the garment.  I like to try different techniqies so it goes into the queue too.  Plus it looks so adorable. 

So if you are looking for some interesting projects for babies and toddlers, I would say take a look at this book.  I know it's going on my wish list.

Shawls Attack

One of the things on my to-do lists last weekend was pictures.  I had a stack of stuff waiting to be photoed.  I decided that the "perfect" day would never come and was reduced to using the self-timer in the house.  Blurry pictures are the result since I haven't figured out a good way to hit the button while it is focusing on me but the not so faboo evidence does not detract from the absolute gorgeousness of the projects!

Pink Satisfaction
Pattern: My own but the stitch pattern is from a bedspread pattern in First Modern Book of Lace Knitting
Yarn: Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud In Peppermint
Needles: US 5s
Knit: August 23, 2006 - June 12, 2007

It's has been so long since I finished this that I don't remember any bad things about.  How great is that!  I also will probably gift this to someone since I have yet to have a single occasion to wear it. 

I also snapped some pictures of the Shetland Triangle shawl.

Did you notice my new shawl pin?  Isn't it gorgeous!  It's from Designs by Romi. I figured with all the shawls I have I should have at least one shawl pin.  After seeing how amazing this one is, I might get a few more to give out as gifts with lace shawls.

Well that's it for now.  I am off to hang out with the my guy for the weekend.  We met for the first time and had our first date (gotta love internet dating) four years ago today.  We are both watching out pennies so no big celebrations.  We will be going to the location of that momentuous date and have a drink (we go all the time anyway) and to Disneyland tomorrow!  Here's my first post after meeting him from September 15, 2003.

Wowzer!

I met a guy over the weekend and he is damn near perfect for me. I am falling and falling fast.....luckily he is too.

He is amazing. Smart, funny, talented, generous, sweet, cute, sexy.....I could go on and on.

I didn't think it was possible to connect with someone so fast and to just know immediately that it was "right".

I am so damn happy. I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face for two days. My face hurts from smiling so much.

Our relationship isn't perfect and we are slogging through some issues at the moment but I still love him incredibly much and count myself very lucky to have met him.

And Friday reviews are back starting tomorrow.  Summer is over and it's time to get back to work and figure out which books are worth my time.

Fugly

Thanks for all the compliments on the Duster.  It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.  Not how I feel at all at the moment.  I just had an interview for a job in a different division and feel discombobulated.  I really dislike interviews.  I never do well in the very formal ones given by government where you are scored.  I always feel like I am running at the mouth.  Sadly these wretched things are the only way to move around and get promoted.  Sigh.  We'll see what happens. 

I started a new project.  Once I have been thinking about for a while.  I wanted to do a scrap blanket to use up all those miscellaneous remnants and odd skein.  The other night it all clicked and I just started what I have dubbed "Ugly Blanket".  I am not separating colors, or fibers or weights. Instead I am putting different one's together to get approximate the same weight for a size H hook.  The stitch is a half double crochet.  I cast-on 50 stitches and plan on making it about 70" long.  Then once I have 3 or 4 strips, I will sewing them together.  I am not sure how long it will take me but it makes for a great TV knitting project.

The heat is back.  I think the only person who enjoys it is Clou-dee.  She loves nothing better than baking in the sun behind the couch and watching the world go by.  I wish I could do that all day.  Well that and knit but then don't we all. 

Le Teelted Dooster (Read in Bad French Accent)

The Tilted Duster is done.

Project Information
Pattern: Tilted Duster from  Interweave Knits Fall 2007
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish in Merlot Heather
Needles: US 10's
Knit: August 14 - September 9, 2007

Modifications:
My only modifications were really minor.  My pick-up stitches for the skirt were less than what was called for in the pattern.  I don't know if this is an error in the pattern or if it was intended.  Regardless I picked up less so that my "skirt" was seamless with the top.

The biggest decision I had on this was buttons.  I spent an hour at the local store yesterday (they have about a thousand different types of buttons).  I ended up with these marble looking buttons that had just a tinge of maroon.  I think they go really well.

These picture are all without blocking.  I am actually going to wash and block it before I hang it in the closet to await much cooler temperatures. 

Overall I am super happy with it.  I think the fit and color are flattering.  If I had to change anything, I might have made it a wee bit smaller but that's a small quibble. So it is really warm, stylish and comfy so I see this getting a lot of weekend use.  Perfect for a trip to the movies or walking around the Farmer's Market.

Melting

We are at the tail end of heat wave here in Southern California (so the weather people say) that really put a kink in my 4-day weekend.  It was so hot in my no AC house that all the boy and I did was sit on the couch in our underwear with the fans on us.  We could have gone out to take refuge in some AC but the bf wasn't feeling to good.  I did get to watch the Mad Men marathon and have a new show that I love.

Knitting happened but it was sparse and done mostly at night. The Tilted Duster is all done except for buttons and a bit of blocking.  I did try it on for about 5-seconds before I felt I was going to be smothered under all that wool.  I finished the sleeves on the ribbed tunic and have started on the back.  All is well despite some minor surgery involving dropping a few stitches down over 20 rows to fix a stupid mistake. 

In other news, I am a strawberry blonde after 4-hours at the salon on Friday.  This involved bleach, toner, highlights, and getting my hair washed 3-times.  It was all Mandy Moore's fault.  I knew I wanted a change and when I saw this picture after being in the salon for about 2 minutes, I decided this was the look I wanted. 

I am very happy with the change.  I just wished I had snapped a picture before the heat made me all grubby.  I'll show you all soon though.  That and other things.