XY Knits

Sleeves are evil

2007-06-30T21:12:00.000-05:00

My first sweater attempt, a seamless Aran (ambitious, I know) got stalled at the sleeves. I had trouble getting the decrease rate right. After three attempts, I accepted defeat and just put it aside. I really like the cabling and want to finish it, but the reality of Texas weather eats away at my motivation.

So, I looked for yarn that would be more warm weather friendly and found a couple of bags of discontinued Jaeger Trinity at a great price on ebay. I decided to keep things simple this time around and cast-on for an EZ seamless sweater from Knitting without Tears. Right now I'm thinking it will be the saddle-shouldered construction, but the recipe lets you put off that decision.

I was able to get through the body rather quickly--stockinette in the round is good for that. So quickly in fact that I didn't even cast-on for the first sleeve, as a recommended traveling project, until I had finished. Well, I'm about six inches in, and I hate this sleeve. Trinity has pretty poor stitch definition and counting rows between increases is a pain. And I can't seem to find needles I like. First I used a 16" circular as recommended, but I simply cannot stretch 8" of non-wool knitting that far. I switched to metal dpns, but now I am getting laddering. ARGH!

So, what do I do? Cast-on for something else, of course.

FO: Koohaas

2007-06-13T16:08:00.000-05:00

The brooklyntweed inspired Koolhaas hat is finished.

I used one skein of Reynolds Whiskey in 'Light Olive' (#103) on Needlemaster circulars & Knitpicks dpns size US3 (3.25mm). This gave me a gauge of 7.5 stitches per inch. I started on June 4th and finished on June 12th. I didn't have a pattern to follow (which is becoming a trend), but I had Jared's photos for inspiration.

I could easily figure out the body of the hat which is a modified diamond pattern where the traveling line coming from the right is always on top and all knit stitches are twisted. Unfortunately, I didn't know weight details about the yarn so as to deduce the number of pattern repeats. I also couldn't find any pictures in Jared's flickr set of the top of the hat, so I just decided to be creative with it.

This is a great hat design, and I'm sure Jared has a good reason for delaying sharing it. Hopefully we will see it published somewhere soon. Until then, I will refrain from listing additional details and spoiling his fun. But I do recommend you try this one, either on your own or from the worth-the-wait instructions.

Breaking the rules

2007-06-07T15:19:00.000-05:00

The pug sweater is on hold while I await inspiration on the finishing details. Meanwhile, I have been focusing on the Koolhaas hat. I've made some good progress, given that there are 144 stitches in each round.

Admittedly, I didn't like this project at first. I made several mistakes and the early rounds were a little tight. And twisting the knit stitches (to improve stitch definition) didn't help either. But as it has gone along and the pattern has become more recognizable, I am really becoming enamored with this little hat. Plus, I developed a trick to help in the cabling where the lines cross--one that kind of breaks some rules.

Normally, you would hold the traveling knit stitch and the middle purl stitch to the front on the cable needle. Then, knit from the left needle, purl off the back of the cable needle, and finally knit off the front of the cable needle. This was too much knitting acrobatics for me, especially with the twisted knit stitches. So, I have taken to picking up all three stitches on the cable needle, rotating 180 degrees clockwise, and knitting normally off the back of the needle. This picture shows the three stitches rotated just before being knitted.

This creates the cable cross and twists the stitches in one step. The downside is that it also twists the center purl stitch as well, but that stitch kind of gets buried anyway. This may be some standard technique that I just haven't come across before, but to me, it feels like I am breaking some rules. And to be honest, I kind of like that.

How often is too often to go to the yarn store?

2007-06-05T17:16:00.000-05:00

I have completed the applied I-cord trim on the pug sweater and added the button loops along the back. I am still debating whether I should add some sort of sleeve at the legholes and if I want to give it a collar or different trim at the neckline.

While I am in deep thought on that project, I decided to cast on for the Koolhaas hat. This bugger is off to a rough start. In my first attempt, I messed up the foundation stitch pattern and had to start again. Then , I somehow doubled back on a dpn causing enormous confusion until I figured out what I had done. The third try seems to be going more smoothly, but I keep changing between my Needlemaster circulars which have an awful join and my bamboo dpns which have very dull points. I may break down and buy a set of Addi Turbos, but I think I've been to the yarn store enough this week already. Here is my progress so far.

I also wanted to share the other yarn I picked up last week during the anniversary sale at The Shabby Sheep. The brand on the label is "Andes" but I can't find anything about it online. I had originally intended to use this to make the second pug sweater, but I think it is destined to be a scarf instead.

I did not knit a vase cozy!

2007-06-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, I kind of knitted a vase cozy.

Actually, this is a sweater for my pug, Kiwi.

While I like the Puppy Knits book I bought for pattern inspiration, I decided to branch out and design something myself. I wanted a cardigan type sweater that would close along her back. Kiwi previously had a fleece jacket with that sort of design and it was much easier to put on and take off of a squirmy pug.

Inspired by Avast by Jesse Loesberg, I decided to start with a cable base. After looking through several cable charts, I landed on the Besotted pattern (i.e., the XOXO pattern) posted on Hello Yarn.

I then picked up stitches and made the body in stockinette with 5x bobbles along one edge to make a closure. I made legholes by binding off a few stitches then knitting them back on a couple of inches later. Then, I made raglan style double decreases above the holes to shape for the neck.

So far, I have used 2 full balls of Berroco Keltic in 'Queen Anne' (#5864), but I need to get another ball to do an applied I-cord edging and to make the button loops. I should have this completed in the next day or so. As for how the sweater ended up on the vase, I was looking for an easy way to block the thing. I doubt Kiwi would tolerate being wrapped in wet wool all day.

And in the spirit of fair (pug) play, here is a photo of my other pug, Ozzie.

WHAT?!?!

2007-06-01T19:25:00.000-05:00

My LYS, The Shabby Sheep, is having an anniversary sale, and no one told me? Heads will roll!

Thank goodness for Seamus.

Update: I got there in time to take advantage of the sale. Yea! In fact, I got there as they were closing up, and those crazy ladies stayed open an extra 30 minutes so that I could look through just about everything they had. Love them!

I nabbed some Berroco Keltic in 'Queen Anne' (#5864) and some unknown Chilean wool which are earmarked to become sweaters for the pugs using a pattern from the Puppy Knits book I also picked up. I also Reynolds Whiskey in 'Light Olive' (#103) with which I plan to ~~steal~~ recreate brooklyn tweed's Koolhaas hat.

And Then There Were Two

2007-06-01T16:33:00.000-05:00

Due to my neophyte quest to knit varied types of projects and because I had read that they make great travel projects, I decided to knit a sock. Well, two socks actually; can't have one foot freezing while the other is toasty.

I used one skein of Austermann Step recommended by my LYS because it has aloe vera and jojoba oil added to the yarn. I could definitely notice an affect on my hands after knitting for a while. I chose the basic black/grey/white colorway (#22) and had a lot left over. For needles, I used bamboo dpns in size US1.5 (2.5mm).

There are way too many sock patterns out there. It can get a little overwhelming for a newbie. I primarily used Amy Swenson's 'Universal toe-up sock formula' from knitty.com for general pattern reference and for wrap & turn guidelines.

However, because I can never leave well enough alone, I made several modifications. First, I used Judy Becker's 'Magic cast-on for toe-up socks' also from knitty.com. I loved this cast-on because it allowed me to just knit away without any adjusting for provisional casting-on or sewing and gave a perfect, seamless toe. However, because I was using dpns instead of the suggested two circular method, the first few rounds were extremely cramped and not very fun.

When the time came to transition to the calf ribbing, I used the tip by TECHknitting. In my case, when going from stockinette to ribbing, you slip all knit stitches purlwise with the yarn in the back and purl as normal. This helps bridge the knit columns smoothly into the ribbing and makes a cleaner look. I used 2x2 ribbing, but the method should work for just about any kind of transition.

In finishing, I used Peggy's Stretchy bind-off method of adding increases in a K2, M1, P2, M1 pattern in the row before the bind-off row. These increases are then slipped instead of knitted while the other stitches are bound-off in pattern. This just adds a little more yarn for the cast-off making it a little more stretchy.

I also wanted to mention that I was able to take my knitting on the plane without any difficulty. Because I was using bamboo instead of metal needles, I felt more comfortable about getting them through security. I guess this isn't really surprising because I haven't heard of too many knitter being given grief by TSA or the airlines.

As Seen on TV

2007-05-29T19:31:00.000-05:00

I had planned on blogging about the socks I knit over Memorial Day weekend, but I am going to have to postpone that until I can take better pictures. Instead, here are some other finished objects I completed a little while ago. Both were inspired by several other knit bloggers that have also posted about these patterns.

The first is Shedir by Jenna Wilson published by knitty. I used one ball of the recommended Rowan Calmer in 'Slosh' (#479) and size 3 bamboo dpns. I started on April 14th and finished April 20th.

I saw this hat on many different blogs, and I instantly wanted one. I was a little intimidated by the pattern at first, but I plunged in anyway. Unlike most of my other knits where I mostly read my work, I had to keep the chart with me from start to finish. And while I wanted to pull my hair out during the last couple of rounds of centered double decreases, I really love this hat and expect to make another some day.

Jenna also wrote a piece about her design process for this hat that I thought was pretty interesting.

The second is the Shetland Triangle by Evelyn A. Clark from WrapStyle. I used 2.5 hanks of the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in 'Deep Purple' (#022) and size 4 metal circulars. I started on April 27th and finished May 8th. My needle size was a little too small as I had to do 16 repeats instead of 10 in order to get the right size. After blocking, the shawl was about 52" wide and 25" long.

Again, this knit has been featured on may blogs, and I really liked the pattern. The problem was that I didn't know what I would do with a lace shawl once I finished it. Luckily, the BF said his mother might make a good recipient, so I set to work.

Truth be told, I don't own WrapStyle nor have I even seen a copy. I was able to decipher the repeat pattern using the wonderful pictures and postings online. There a probably some differences, particularly at the edges, but I liked the finished product. More importantly, the MIL loved it.

Obligatory first scarf

2007-05-24T11:47:00.000-05:00

Like so very many of you, my first FO was also a scarf. However, unlike most, I did not choose a basic garter stitch but a ribbed, braided cable. How’s that for ambitious!

I was inspired by an episode of Knitty Gritty which featured reversible stitch patterns used to make a baby blanket. Making blocks out of several stitch patterns seemed easy enough and looked like a good learning opportunity. So, I casted on for the first pattern, the reversible braided cable. I liked it so much, that I just kept going. After a while, I realized that I had long since left the realm of a 12” x 12” block, but that I had made good progress towards a new scarf. After about 2.5 skeins worth of Patons Classic Merino in ‘Natural Mix’, the thing was as tall as am I (about 6’1”), and I decided to bind off. Note: there is a error in the charted pattern, so ignore the right side of the cabling pattern and use only the "12-st repeat" for all your cabling.

The 1x1 ribbing, while tedious in scarf length, makes the cabling reversible, so the scarf does not have a wrong side. Being my first knitting project, it is a little wonky in places when my gauge was inconsistent. I have held off on blocking though because I am afraid that it will stretch out the ribbing and lose some of the effect. And really, is a first FO supposed to look like anything other than a first FO?

I am off to Atlanta tomorrow to attend a wedding and to enjoy the long weekend out-of-town. I have a sock to keep me company on the flight. Here is a teaser shot until I can get out a full post.

Day One

2007-05-23T16:12:00.000-05:00

I have decided to join the ranks of the knit bloggers. This is in part to add my voice to the growing number of male knitters and also to provide an outlet to share and brag about my knitting.

I started knitting about six months ago primarily as a way to learn something new and be a little creative. Somehow, I managed to get a little addicted and seem to spend more and more time knitting and perusing the numerous great blogs around. There are so many wonderful resources online that I have pretty much learned everything I needed to know from the comfort of my home-and for free!

Unfortunately, I have made some mistakes. Case in point, my first yarn purchase:

I really loved the colors and the price was perfect for the yardage. Too perfect. Yes, the one-pound skein with unending yardage that I got for less than $3 was in fact 100% acrylic. I was such a newbie that I didn't even think to look at the fiber content. It did serve its purpose and allowed me to make several practice swatches cheaply. Unfortunately, there is a ton of it left, but I don't think there is anything I could make out of it that I would actually use. Mostly, I just use it for waste yarn. Oh well, live and learn.