Needles & hooks

Trial and Error

I have a bunch of posts stored up to describe all the neat things I got and did at Stitches West, but I also want to talk about what I’m doing, so there will probably be a few double-posting days.

Last night I played with some new yarn I got at the Market. It’s a microfiber ribbon yarn from Tess’ Designer Yarns. It was a total pain to wind into a ball because it’s very slippery. Despite that, it wasn’t too challenging to knit with. However, I had visions of some sort of elongated stitch and the yarn wasn’t cooperating with that.

After an hour or so of fighting with the yarn, I managed to make this:

The loops at the top are the elongated stitches I’d made, before giving up on making another row of crosses and ripping the whole thing off the needles. The stitches in stockinette look really lovely. But I want something a little more exciting than that. So I’ll let it sit for while and ruminate.

Comments: 2 — Posted under: Knitting

Mass Consumerism (Stitches, part 1)

Of course, I bought a lot of yarn. But I bought a lot of things too. A variety of notions that were just plain convenient so I snapped them up (an Addi needle gauge, some brass stitch markers without joins, a circular row counter). And I bought a few new Addi needles because the step between “oooh, it would sure be convenient to have a smaller diameter for X” and actually buying the needle was far, far too small. But I grabbed a few things just because they were neat.

My very first purchase in the market place was this:

If you can’t read the writing, it’s glow-in-the-dark yarn! And it works too! It’s fine enough that it could be knit together with a main yarn to create a hidden message. Don’t have any specific plans for it, but my bag was empty and it was just too cool to pass up.

Another thing I got was this:

That’s a Weavette mini-loom (2×2 inches) and a book of stuff to do with it. I don’t aim do to large weaving projects, but this seemed like some small fun. And I imagine I could make a bunch of squares with the bin full of tiny balls of spare yarn I have and turn them into squares for various charity projects. And save my actual knitting for larger projects.

Move over Pink Chibi, there’s a new kid in town:

I already have a green Chibi and I love the bent-tip needles. But I also like see-through things. So I bought one.

So, I didn’t have many goals for my weekend at Stitches. I wanted to go see a big yarn market. I wanted to touch some of the yarns I’d heard about. I signed up for a few classes just because I thought they might be interesting. But one thing I did want to do was to try to find a good knitting bag. Currently, I drag knitting projects around in any of a variety of Clinique Bonus Time bags. The straps are sometimes long enough to throw over my shoulder. A small zippered one sits inside, holding all my tools (gauge ruler, markers, stitch holders, Chibi, etc). No matter what I do, I end up dragging around knitting and a purse and still don’t have much space for any purchases I might make, or to bring a book, etc.

I wanted something I could take places with me. That was convenient for travelling on trains or planes. Something with lots of space and compartments. But also something that fit my style.

I was despairing of finding anything I liked at all. I saw many lined baskets that had no pockets and threatened to spill over if stored at the wrong angle. I saw a bunch of bags that screamed “Your mom would love this!!”. Aside from the fact that those also didn’t have many pockets, I naturally had to run from them.

Looking around at the other Market-goers, I wasn’t inspired. I saw many roller-bags pressed into service. I saw shopping trolleys. And every variety of hand or shoulder bag pressed into service. Many seemed functional but not practical.

Well, halfway through my first pass of the Market floor, I stumbled into Jordana Paige’s booth. Three stylish bags were displayed and all of them caught my eye. While Jordana was writing up a sale, her mom gave me a tour of the bags and their features. I was tempted by the microfiber bag and the leather bag (especially the purple one), but the tour of the Messenger Bag told me I didn’t have to look any further.

Here’s my new bag:

It’s got lots of pockets and compartments. A change purse, a ring to snap your keys onto. Slots for credit cards, knitting accessories, pens, cell phone, and other purse items.

And a funky loop inside to keep your working yarn in one safe place coming out the side of your bag:

So, Momma Paige showed me all of those neat features and I was already excited. My credit card was in hand. I was eager to have my bag. And then she showed me the inside of the flap…

That’s a pattern holder!!! No need to risk leaving it on the seat of the train or spilling a beverage on it. No fishing back into your bag when you reach a point where you have to refer to your pattern. Just flip up the flap and take a glance! This tickles me so much I can barely stand it.

UPDATE: Becky asked how big the Messenger bag is. I’d call it “generously sized”. In the last photo, you’ll note that the pattern holder is holding an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. The outside pocket held the large envelope that contained all my Stitches registration information. I could easily see putting a 3-ring binder in it. The dimensions (and more photos) are here.

Comments: 3 — Posted under: Stitches West 2006

Stitches Afterglow

My plane landed at 5:30am local time. Although I got a lot of sleep on the plane (I had a whole row to myself to stretch out in), I came home and slept for hours. Then I started unpacking. I have a ton of photos and a ton of stuff to tell you about. Far too much for one post, so I’ll break it up across days.

Right now, I’m sitting in my new t-shirt and processing all the photos and composing the posts you’ll read over the next few days. And then I’m gonna grab some of my new yarn and go knit. Despite taking two classes, bringing lots of projects with me, and being surrounded by more yarn than anyone could knit in a lifetime, I didn’t get to do a lot of actual knitting myself!

So, while I write posts, you can think about joining the Rockin’ Sock Club and look at my new shirt:

Comments: 0 — Posted under: Stitches West 2006

The Rockin’ Sock Club

For those drooling over this card….

I didn’t realize they didn’t have the Club details on the website.

The front says:

“Join our Rockin’ Sock Club in 2006 and be a member of the first graduating class. Be the first to see and knit with new Blue Moon colors!

• Sock kits will be sent out in the months of March, May, July, September, October, and December.
• They will include one skein of Socks that Rock yarn in a new color not yet available to the public!
• Each kit will include a brand new sock pattern created by one of our many talented designers. Patterns will have full color photos and be placed in plastic sleeves.
• Kit prices are averaged at $28.85 each and includes shipping within the US.”

The back says:
“Later in the year, we will have club contests…
Like submitting the best name for new colors, giving prizes for photos of the ugliest socks or the most unique stripes, who knows? We want to be interactive with our members!

• Quarter year subscription includes 2 Rockin’ Sock Club Kits
• Half year subscription includes 4 Rockin’ Sock Club kits and; bonus gift: Custom Rockin’ Sock Club Binder.
• Full year subscription includes 6 Rockin’ Sock Club Kits and; bonus gift: Custom Rockin’ Sock Club Binder; bonus gift: One extra skein of STR in a colorway ONLY available to yearly members.

Join today by e-mailing us at sockclub@bluemoonfiberarts.com”

I signed up for a year.

Comments: 2 — Posted under: Stitches West 2006

On Vacation at Stitches West

Just a drive-by post before I pack up and head off to Day 3 of Stitches West.

I’ve spent 2 days in the Marketplace and have taken an Entrelac class. So far, the most memorable thing wasn’t even something I had to pay for. On Friday, Blue Moon Fiber Arts was giving out these….

That’s a card announcing their new Rockin’ Sock Club that’s starting soon. Do you see what’s attached to the card? A mini-skein of Socks that Rock “emergency sock yarn”!!!! “Don’t leave home without it!”

Comments: 4 — Posted under: Stitches West 2006

Swimming along…

I spent a lot of time with Mermaid last night. I’m now in the middle of the 3rd hem gusset. I had a counting issue with the YOs on my armhole gusset. I’m not sure if I charted something wrong on the spreadsheet or if I miscounted when I knit. I was only a stitch off, so I’m not concerned. It looks fine and it will be under my arm anyway. But I will spend some time with some graph paper to see if I can’t work it out for the next one and fix it on the spreadsheet.

Here’s what she looks like…curvy:

After the armhole, the pattern has you cast on stitches to bring it back to the back width. It suggests you use a double strand on your thumb and a single strand on your index finger for a long-tail cast-on. I found a technique I liked a lot. I wound off a long piece of color C from the outside of the ball. I doubled it and tied a slip knot at the fold. I inserted this slip-knot between the last two stitches on my right needle. Then I used both tails from the slip knot on my thumb and the working yarn from the right needle on my index finger and cast on my stitches, remembering that my slip-knot was the first one. At the end, your working yarn is exactly where you want it to be to knit the RS row.

I also worked a bit on my hat idea with some spare yarn. I found a few issues and I need to work it a bit longer to see if it does what I want it to do. Then I’ll try working up real prototype with the Artyarns stripes that I’m using for Whirligig.

I’m also thinking about a sock pattern. I’m a font of creativity these days. I think I need to start carrying around a notebook to jot these things down in and work them out.

Comments: 1 — Posted under: Knitting, Mermaid

Start-itis

Yep, I want to start things. I hadn’t even finished Zig Zag when I cast on for Odessa. My poor cherished Mermaid has barely gotten any time. And one Odessa isn’t enough. I’ve got beads for 2 more and am thinking about color combinations.

As if that weren’t enough, I got more yarn to make a matching hat for my Whirligig prototype, which isn’t even finished itself. And the hat is a pattern just swirling around in my head right now.

And wait, what’s that I hear? Some unloved KPPPM in my stash wants to become Jaywalkers? Oh gee, my tiny needles are available right now too.

And to top it all off, the new Interweave Knits arrived over the weekend. I didn’t even have to open it. I want to make this:

I don’t even mind the bobbles. Someone stop me!

Comments: 2 — Posted under: Knitting

Fill in the title…

Comments: 3 — Posted under: Zig Zag, Knitting

Maes…

…Because that’s the opposite of “seam”. Although it’s not as catchy as “tink”.

Yesterday I sat down with Zig Zag and started sewing in the sleeves.

This is what all the pieces looked like:

As I was pining one sleeve in, I noticed that the armhole and sleeve caps were not equally sized and a closer look revealed that my tension got a bit tighter in my sleeves. Once again, I suffer the problem of setting a project aside for a long time.

Anyway, I decided to sew the sleeve in and see if it looked okay.

And I tried it on, and it did! The sleeve fits me really closely on the upper arm, but it doesn’t bunch or gap anywhere, and the swatch I did grew when I blocked it, so I have confidence that this will relax some.

This morning, I got up intending to sew in the second sleeve while the blizzard swirled around outside. While my husband tackled the driveway with the snowblower, I settled into the couch with my needle.

I finished a little while ago. And I ripped off my sweater and turtleneck and pulled it on. I carefully inspected it in the mirror, looking at the seam, pleased that it didn’t gape or bunch funny. As I was walking back to the couch preparing to remove it to block it, I noticed a small yarn tail sticking out on the sleeve. I looked closer, to figure out how to pull it back to the wrong side, when I realized that I was staring at the wrong side!. Yes, I had sewed the sleeve on inside out.

I’ve since un-seamed it. It’s sitting on the coffee table while I calm down and gather up the courage to start it again. In the meantime, I decided to make a quick Odessa with a ball of Lana Gatto Feeling that I’d bought to see how I liked it for Zig Zag. The silk and cashmere will soothe me. Hoping to have some sort of finished object today…

Comments: 1 — Posted under: Zig Zag

For Anna:

Here’s what Mermaid looked like when I started knitting tonight:

Just about to start the 2nd gusset. I completed that one tonight and bound-off for the first armhole.

Comments: 2 — Posted under: Knitting, Mermaid