Neophyte Knitter

Friday Review - Lace Style

Lace Style from Pam Allen & Ann Budd, Editors of Interweave Knits (February 2007)

I love lace.  It rocks my world so hard. I adore the intricacy and beauty of the final project.   I mean all you are doing is yarn overs and decreases but you get this amazing fabric. I don't even mind how long it takes since creating a piece of art should take a while.  It gives me time to appreciate the marvel of it all. Now my lace to date has been limited to shawls/stole and the occasional hat but this book has really opened my eyes to other possibilities.

The 21 patterns run a gamut in terms of project types with cardigans, socks, a dress, hats and even leg warmers.  Plus some of the patterns are from some of the premier designers in the industry - Pam Allen, Shirley Paden, Nancy Bush, and Norah Gaughan - so you know they are good.  As for the book itself, like other Interweave Style Books (Wrap Style & Scarf Style which are on my book shelf), it is well put together with great detailed photos. The patterns write-ups are short and too the point with schematics and charts, a necessity with lace.

Now this book is strictly patterns.  It will not teach you how to knit.  The best part of the book though is the 17-page design notebook in the back which gives you a more in-depth background into lace enabling you to really understand how it works.  It goes over different yarn over increases, decreases and has a discussion on how the two are used to form an openwork patterns (i.e. lace!).  There is also instruction on reading lace charts, how to incorporate lace into a design and shaping lace patterns

The best part however is the section on mistakes and fixes.  Anyone who has ever done lace knows how easy it is to fuck up and how hard it is to fix it.  Fixing lace is not as intuitive as fixing stockinette or even a cable. It's the reason lifelines are so often used.  Especially since picking up lace after ripping back a bit can test anyones sanity.  So the in-depth instructions with pictures on what to do if you miss a yarn over or a decrease is something you want to read carefully and absorb.  It will save you much tearing out of hair or keep you from putting too many quarters in the swear jar.

So this is a book that I will definitely be adding to my shelf.  A few of the projects that might find their way on to my needles include the Lily of the Valley Shawl, the Katherine Hepburn Cardigan, and the Peek-A-Boo Cloche.  I would recommend this book for more intermediate knitter.  It's not impossible to do lace as a new knitter but it definitely helps to be comfortable in your basic skills before tackling it.  And starting with project that use bits as lace as an accent to a larger project.  Or you could just be fearless!!!!

Careful What You Wish For

Remember how a few months ago I was whining about how I didn't have enough to do at work.  Well now I have the opposite problem - too many damn things to do and all of them urgent.  Yet they expect me to attend these meetings instead of actually getting shit done.  So now I have to put in some late hours and maybe come in a bit this weekend.  Sigh. I really need to be careful what I wish for.

So although my blogging has decreased due to work demands, my knitting is still going strong.  I am over half done on Lady Eleanor and am on target for my Valentine's Day deadline.  My only worry now is that I won't get the length I want.  I was going for 5-feet which is the recipient's height but based on what I got out of the first 160gr, I might be short 6 or so inches.  There may be so mighty blocking in the future for this lady!!

I also started another retirement gift that I need to have done on the same day so I can give it to a mentor who retired earlier this month but will be at the same luncheon.  He's a really special guy so I am making him a set of golf club covers (he's a nut). I actually meant to have them done this week but I didn't get off my duff and start them until Sunday.  And that's only after I spent a few hours designing the thing in my head.

Here's what I went with - yarn from the stash (Red Heart Soft Yarn), an argyle pattern, and his initials topped off with a big pom-pom. 

    

I really am pleased with the design but not the construction.  So as with most personal designs, there will be ripping.  I want to do the intarsia in the round as opposed to in two pieces and them seaming it.  It's just not as neat as I want it.  I have been busy googling different ways to do it and will be figuring it out this weekend.  Hopefully once I have that down, I can whip out the next two. 

Friday Review - Just Wraps

Well I am back from my hiatus.  It's a new year and there are lots of knitting books out there to look at with a critical to see if they deserve to be allocated a precious spot on my knitting bookshelf.  So without further adieu.....

Just Wraps from Lion Brand Yarn

Ah...you gotta love yarn companies putting out their own books.  It's a marketing wet dream!  And this one hits two crafting groups or the supercrafty as it has knitting and crochet patterns.

This book is all about "wraps" which to me is basically a catch all category for anything that covers ones shoulders - shawls, shrugs, ponchos and boas are just a few of the types of projects this book has.  There are no learn to knit instructions but there is some limited discussions on the basics of yarns, gauge, sizing and finishing. 

It goes without saying that each of the 30 patterns uses Lion Brand yarn.  The patterns are broken down into 7 sections - "Easy Does It", "Ripple Wraps", "Cable-Knit Wraps", "Patterned Wraps", "Dressy Wraps", "Wraps Plus" and "All Wrapped Up".  Patterns are written for the super beginner with lots of detailed written out instructions.  Abbreviations are not used anywhere, which can make for a long set of directions.

The patterns run the gamut with fugly mixed in with classic.

And although there are a few patterns that appeal to me I am still meh about the whole book.  It's just a showcase for Lion Brand yarns and feels that way.  I don't think the patterns are any better than those they offer for free on their website. And nothing truly jumps out at me as something I have to make.  Part of that reason may be the type of projects themselves.  I think the "wrap" fad has come and truly gone.   And I for one, am happy to see it go.  Shapeless and ugly seem to be the norm for this garment and I am done with that!

Plastic Shrinks

Gah!!!  How did two weeks fly by already!!  I keep meaning to blog and half a New Year's wrap up post done but time seems to slip away.  Not really sure where all that time is going since that is one of the mysteries of life.  I'll get around to my wrap up for my own edification soon but figured I would only get further and further behind if I didn't bite the bullet and post now.

Anyway, life is marching on.  Work is finally getting good.  I am getting lots of work that is engaging my mind and keeping my days pretty busy.  Life is just ok.  Somebody in the house has a new girlfriend and the adjustment has been predictably difficult for me.  Especially since I am in a bit of a funk and just want to stay home.  And surprisingly I have not been able to meet anyone new on my couch.  Sigh.  I am trying to crawl out of the doldrums but it takes time.  And lots of effort.  I have been working out more and have lost a few pounds which lifts my mood a bit.

As always, knitting has helped keep me sane. I finished weaving in the ends of my Brioche scarf this weekend.

Brioche Scarf
Pattern: My Own
Yarn: Knit Picks Andean Silk in Grass
Needle: Size 7
Knit: December 14, 2007 - January 12, 2008
Notes:  The yarn was recycled from the BackYard Leaves scarf I knit last year.  I loved knitting it but the end product just didn't pop for me and I never wore it.  So i frogged it and made these very basic but comfortable replacement.  Since I didn't de-kink the yarn before I reknit the stitches aren't clean in this yet but I expect after I wash and block it a bit, it will be fine.

I am also feverishly knitting on the Lady Eleanor I am making with the Kauni.  I absolutely adore how this is coming out.  The color changes are magical.  This picture from 3-weeks ago gives you an idea but I am much, much further along with about 3-feet and one ball done.  The yarn does feel a bit scratchy but my Internet googling has indicated it does soften up.  The amount of little pieces of biomass I have found is quite astonishing.  There all pretty tiny and easy to pull out but I could make a small branch by the time I am done.  Still, I want to buy some more for myself!!!

Sadly, I can't for a while since I am trying to stick to a budget.  My purchase for this month is new running sneakers.  This actually pisses me off since I had bought new ones just a few months but I was stupid and ruined them.  Last week I wasn't watching where I was going and stepped in to a trench near a construction site coming home from the gym.  I was lucky I didn't break my leg!  Instead I got a skinned knee, soaked shoes and dirt up to my ass.  So when I got home I placed them on my heating vent to dry, conveniently forgetting the burnt clog incident of 2004.  Ten minutes later, I had the smell of burnt plastic in my nose and ruined shoes.  My lesson to all of you - running shoes are essentially plastic and when plastic burns/melts, it shrinks.    Anyway, I am on a gym kick so shoes are a must.  My old ones are filling in but their cushion gave out years ago.

One thing I did accomplish this weekend was finally getting around to trying out the scanner we have at home.  It's pretty good and easy to use.  So Friday reviews will be back starting this week!  And I hope to resume regular posting too!