Persnickety

January 06, 2007

Nice Comfy Socks

Design: Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holiday by Melanie Falick

Yarn: Rowan Cork

Needles: US 5's DPNs

Begun: October 10, 2006 - part of Socktoberfest!

Finished: December 31, 2006

What a wonderful pair of socks! These were my first official pair of socks. I knit 1 sock when first learning how for this year's Socktoberfest and was hooked from there. Socks are so much fun to make and so very fast! Once I got over the whole DPN awkwardness it was smooth sailing. My one problem with handknit socks though is stinking them up! I would definitely have to wash them after every wear and I'm afraid of wearing them out fast. Anyone have any tips on keeping handknit socks looking ok?

So because of my issue there, I actually gifted the socks. My mom is now their lucky owner and she loves them. Makes me so happy!

My talented husband designed the labels for me. It is way too fun being married to a designer. He made about 4 or 5 different options that I can use as tags or wraps around socks and other things. Love them!

So on to the pattern. This was a perfect pattern for socks. The short row heels were perfect and I love them. The pattern is written beautifully without flaws. My favorite part about these socks is how the cables snake around and intertwine. Hands down, lovely socks. Nothing more to say.

09:15 Posted in 2006 Finished , Log Cabin Socks | Permalink | Comments (9) | Email this

December 28, 2006

The Year in Review

Click for info

It has been a really good year for me, knit wise and otherwise. I completed a bunch of projects I am really proud of, and not necessarily because they all fit perfectly or turned out exactly as I'd like. I learned so much from each one about stitch patterns, constructions, sizing, yarn substitutions, stranded knitting, how I can't focus on just one project at a time, and perseverance. I will *hopefully* have two more items to add to this list before year's end: Lucky Clover and the other Log Cabin Sock.

Knitting is such a release for me. It's a craft that I love, one that I can pour myself into and see myself all over each stitch. The memories associated with each knit by where it was completed, how long it took and what I learned from it make each piece an heirloom in my mind. And with each project my skills get that much better, that much more honed and capable. Which is good for me because I have some things on the horizon for 2007 which will make pretty construction and clear thought processes a vital knitting necessity!

As much as my busy life overtakes my knitting and blogging at times, I have enjoyed so much being a part of this community. Meeting new people and conversing with old about knitting keeps me inspired! Thank you all so much for sharing your skills and selves with the rest of the knitblogging world.

10:45 Posted in 2006 Finished | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this

October 30, 2006

Rusted Root

Design: Rusted Root by the Zephyr Girls
Yarn: Lana Grossa Novella
Needles: bamboo US 5s & 3s for ribbing
Begun: August 5, 2006
Finished: October 22, 2006

I have to say that I really enjoyed this project. I'm always digging the raglan shaping and no seaming goodness. And Sarah & Rachel really match my style. I love everything they come up with and they are just so gosh darn nice!

As far as notes on the project...

Yarn. I got the Lana Grossa for so stankin cheap it wasn't even funny. It has roughly the same fiber makeup as the Brown Sheep yarn this pattern calls for and so I thought I would give it a whirl. It worked in the pattern like a charm. It's not quite as soft as the Brown Sheep yarn (or even the Cascade I substituted in the Green Gable pattern) but it's not scratchy or rough my any means. It works up really well, has great stitch definition (but what cotton/wool combo doesn't?) and I only found one yucky patch in all the balls I used (no knots!!!).

Changes. I didn't make any big changes besides using a different yarn. The only part of the pattern that I didn't do was the ribbing on the sleeves. I was never happy with how it turned out on my Green Gable and so I just did a loose bind off and that was that.

Sizing. For whatever reason, I don't think the sizing on this one was the same as the Green Gable pattern. I got gauge (I thought...?) but maybe using a different yarn somehow changed my sizing? I don't know, but it turned out to be just a bit smaller than I would have liked. It still fits, but the sleeves don't poof real well. Kind of a bummer. I'm sure it's a case of user error, I just wish I could figure out what exactly I did wrong.

Final Verdict. I give this sweater one thumb up. The pattern was fun and the yarn was great, but the fit is not stellar. It's a lesson learned sweater for sure.

Close up of the lace panel

09:05 Posted in 2006 Finished , Finished , Rusted Root | Permalink | Comments (9) | Email this

September 02, 2006

Deep V Argyle Vest

More pictures on Flickr.

I present to you, Eunny's Deep V Argyle Vest!

Project Details:

Design:Deep V Argyle Vest by Eunny Jang
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style in Vanilla and Coal
Needles: US 3s (really, I promise)
Begun: June 2, 2006
Finished: August 31, 2006
Skills learned: Fairisle colorwork, double handed knitting, steeking

Notes:

First of all, I am so very pleased with this vest. For my first effort at fairisle, Eunny's pattern was full of wonderful tips and instructions. She is an amazing designer and gives such detailed and beautifully illustrated instructions. It made my first fairisle/steeking adventure delightful and stress free! Steeking was make so easy with her instructions and I only felt nervous the very first time. Thanks Eunny!!!

The yarn I used ended up being ok for this pattern. I do like the yarn and really think so highly of knit picks, but probably one weight lighter would have been better. The steeking created a really thick armhole (which was mentioned to me but there wasn't much I could do halfway through already using this yarn!). Gauge was a big problem too (see below).

Steeking is so RAD! Every time I learn a new knitting skill I am totally jazzed. Crochet and knitting melded in a perfect combination to make a colorwork sweater in the round possible. I had to redo the first crochet I did as it was much too tight but after going up a hook size it became much easier.

Gauge. This was a huge issue for most knitting making this pattern with the knit picks merino style. I made several swatches and ended up using size 3 needles (I believe most others used size 6 or so) because that is what got row gauge. I saw that as the most important piece because of the deep V placement and length issues others were having. To compensate for the strange gauge, I used the charts for the L (38) size and redrew the lines to correspond to the descreasing/increasing/bind offs/etc... from the size S (34) chart. It took some mental gymnastics but after figuring that piece out, redrawing the lines was no big thing. It turned out perfect and exactly the right width/length.

As far as blocking, I soaked the vest in a Eucalan bath for about 30 minutes, then rinsed and pinned out on a towel with a fan blowing full speed. It took a couple of days to dry which was only obnoxious because I was so desparate to try it on!!

The only real issue I have with the vest is that the shoulders are a little too wide. After looking back over the Eunny's pattern notes, i think she had the same problem. I think it should be ok though with the collared shirt underneath.

design

13:35 Posted in 2006 Finished , Deep V , Finished | Permalink | Comments (15) | Email this

July 25, 2006

Baby Lace

(click for bigger sizes)

Design: Lydia's Lace baby dress from Kids, Kids, Kids
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport in Orchid
Needles: US 5 (b/c gauge doesn't really matter with baby clothes)
Begun: May 20, 2006
Finished: June 15, 2006

Once again, working on baby clothes is dynamite! You finish up so fast, even if it takes me over a month to get pictures taken and posted. This one is for a cousin's fresh out of the womb little girl.

Knit Picks Shine is a fabulous cotton yarn. It is a 60% cotton, 40% modal blend, and is unbelievably forgiving. My stitches are all perfectly even and beautiful and the lace stitches pop with this yarn as well. And it has that delightful sheen to it that looks so gorgeous with this orchidy purple.

As far as the pattern goes, I had no problems except for the sleeves. You can see in the full shot picture that there are bunching in certain places. The first go-around of seeming had me screaming in frustration, as there was about 1 inch left of sleeve and no where to attach it. Please note that the picture in the book has no such bunching or cute runching at the top. I am left once again with giant baby sleeves. So I ripped out and tried to accomodate for the fact that I absolutely did not want to reknit 2 sleeves by making a bit of poof all the way around the sleeves through gathering as I seemed. Not my idea of totally pretty but it works. Note to pattern designers: what the heck is up with making baby garment sleeves so HUGE??? I could have knit probably 1/2 inch less on both sides of the sleeve and been good to go. Half an inch is a lot on a baby arm!

The buttons. Oh, how whimsical and delightful! They are compliments of my mom's super fabulous button stash. Just don't ask me where she got them. Probably some quaint little embroidery store somewhere.

I highly recommend this book. Some of the patterns are a little, um, uncool. I would never put my kids in them. However, most of the baby stuff is down right adorable and I plan on knitting quite a few from items from here.

10:20 Posted in 2006 Finished , Finished , Lydia's Lace | Permalink | Comments (7) | Email this