First sock is complete. I've really not been doing much knitting since Friday before Xmas when I finished this one. Been busy with work and family events and merry making. I do need to get back on the wagon...
As per usual, Flour had to come and pose with knitting.
Priscilla's Dream Socks by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts - Interweave Knits Fall 2000
Yarn:
Trekking xxl: 110 3557
Occasion:
Christmas 2006
Recipient:
My Mom
Notes:
Love Trekking! Will using a lot more of this in the future
Pattern:
Lang Sock Pattern Leaflet with Cables
Yarn:
Regia Jubliee: 5470 54466
Occasion:
Christmas 2006
Recipient:
My Dad
Notes:
Second pair I've made with this pattern which turned out not to be of the currect size according to the pattern. I'll likely not use the pattern again.
Pattern:
Priscilla's Dream Socks by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts - Interweave Knits Fall 2000
I've spent most of this year making presents. And of course, they don't see the light of day until after they've been given to the intended recipients. So... now that they have been, I can do a reveal. It's really been a very happy Knitsmas. Here's hoping everyone enjoyed the work and effort.
Pattern:
Priscilla's Dream Socks by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts - Interweave Knits Fall 2000
Discontinued color dark grey Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. (one of my favorite yarns on the planet!)
Needles:
Cheapy size 6 (4.0mm) Imra double point
Date Started:
November 7, 2006
Date Finished:
November 9, 2006
Changes and Notes:
The pattern calls for making two identical gloves and just switching how you wear it. However, I decided to really do a matching pair. On the second glove, instead of making the thumb on the first 7 stitches of the row, I made it on the last 7 stitches of the row. That is, on the other side of the stitch marker. (I leave a long tail at the cast on and use that as my marker.) This way, the rib stitch lines on the thumbs are mirror opposites.
I do love how quickly this pattern knits up and it does only take just under 1 ball of yarn. I probably would have finished it in 1 day except for the fact that I managed to screw up the counting of the second pair and had to rip and redo. I am now needle-felting to join two pieces of yarn. It makes for slightly fuzzy yarn, but not much noticeable and love how I leave less to weave in. I just couldn't consider too many ends in a piece so small.
Nothing I really didn't like about the pattern except for the fact that it's worked on 4 dpns instead of 5. That was annoying to work with since it felt strange. I might try to change this, but given the easy division of stitches by 3, I can see why it was done this way. A change of gauge or size and I'll redo them with 5 dpns.
All cables were worked without cable needles. I'm still struggling a little with this, but can handle doing it with cables smaller than 4 stitches wide.
I'm definitely making this again. I might feel more free to make more changes and I'm feeling very much better about tackling gloves in the future. The scary thumb bit wasn't too bad.
The joy of Knitted Christmas Gift giving by Google Holiday Doodles chronicaled over the past few days leading up to Christmas. I love the fact that they are shining some light on the effort those of us put towards the hand made gift. Something that says I've thought of you all year and I spent many hours making this with care just for you.
The photos of the knits gets to be shown off in a couple of days. Stayed Tuned.
Interesting heel construction for this sock pattern. I've never made a heel like this and I wonder what type of heel it is. I do think it has an interesting look. I will have to compare with the short row one and see which is more comfortable to wear.
And for anyone interested in start up this pattern, I'd say go for it. I really moves very quickly and the pattern is so easily memorized that it's quite a joy to knit.
Some people read knit patterns like others read cookbook recipes. I read knitting patterns. Then again, I read recipes too. But not that way that some others do. Cookbooks, I approach in a more utilitarian manner. "Will I ever make that?" "Do I have the ingredients to make dinner?" While some people read it to dream, to learn, to experiment, to get hungry, to look at all the pictures ... just like how I read a knit pattern. (This doesn't apply to cross stitch since the chart for a pattern does all the work for you.) I can spend a good evening going through old magazines and dreaming of what's next. I do that with the xs patterns too.
Some patterns you read because you plan on making it and you're trying to get the important info. What yarn? What Gauge? What needles/notions? Do I have them all? Do I need to shop? How big is the project? (personal estimation.) Will you ever wear it? Or will anyone? Does it go up on the to-do list? Or goes in the maybes? Is the pattern charted or written? Does it look like you'll have to rewrite it all just to work with it? so on and so forth.
This one is just fun to read. It's got lots of humour and personality in a strict package. And a pattern you can knit to boot! But if you have trouble with legalese. I'd advise against reading it.
Last night, I cast on again for Monkey on size 2 needles. Which is what the pattern called for, but I've been doing a lot of sock knitting on size 1 needles, which turns out was too small for this yarn and pattern. Yes, I probably should have known better.
A little more knitting tonight and this is the result. It's really nice to be working on something for myself and be able to show progress.
So far, it's been quite enjoyable. So far so good on the sizing. We'll see how it goes when we get to the heel.
I had a nice time shopping on Saturday and came home with some sock yarn. (Yes, I have a lot, but seriously... ask anyone, sock yarn isn't stash!) After the start and rip with my lace scarf, I went back to a more tried and true. I took out the sock yarn (a new ball of Regia Canadian Colors) and cast on and started knitting Monkey from the Winter 2006 Knitty. The lace pattern was really easy to memorize and it was going pretty great. That was until I realized that I've really just been swatching. The sock if I continued, was probably going to be too small for me to wear.
Then I got out some Zara and started to work on a fair-isle scarf. I'm trying out a pattern from a Japanese book and I had some trouble with trying to figure out what the pattern was telling me. I thought I had it right when I cast on and knitted through the season finale of Dexter which we watched last night. But this morning when I pick it up again and tried to knit it again following the pattern. I realized that I had read the chart wrong. I kept trying to figure out it and see if it can be salvaged, but in the end it could not.
This afternoon, I ripped into them all, and wound all the yarn back up onto their balls. I've put down the needles and will have to pick them up again. But first, I'm going to scan and photoshop that Japanese Pattern so that it's easier for me to read.
By this time tomorrow, I'd likely have gotten over this and at least cast back on for the sock. The yarn's too pretty not to knit.
While each failure of a project is a disappointment; I'm not discouraged. Each is a learning experience and you're wiser the next time around. (or at least there's the dream that you could be wiser....)
After finishing a knit project, I promptly dove into my knitting stash and got out needles and yarn to make a lacy scarf. I have been making a few projects which have more lacy patterns with these nice yarn overs, so I was keen to work on a lace pattern to do more yo's.
Sadly, after knitting two rows. I gave up. The first row was on metal addi's which were too slippery, I went to knit row two on wood. Next, row three: I do yo's twice, and that goes well, but then came the k3tog. AGH... a whole minute of trying I finally gave up. The needles are too blunt. I was really struggling and to have to struggle the whole scarf would make me go crazy.
I've read it many times recently about the need for sharper needles for working lace. And now, I've experienced it myself. I ripped up the two rows and put it all away. It's just not the day to do this. there's one more chance that the denise needles I've got on another project would be sharp enough for the task. I'll have to give that a go. Or... maybe I'll just break down and buy a set of knitpicks needles and see if I like them as much as most people.
I guess it's time to look for a less aggravating project.
Oh.. and I've decided to fight my perfectionist nature, and let G's socks stand. One cuff being 1/2 inch shorter than the other. I told him I'll make him another pair. Like there was any doubt that I would. So, I guess I gave up on trying to fix that too.
I mean, what the fuck? Was I high when I started the heel on that second sock a whole 1/2 inch too short!? This is what happens when you don't follow a set pattern and don't have the other sock around to 'read'.Edit:Sadly, it's not the foot that's short. Only the cuff is short.
I've got to fix it... suggestions? Do I rip down from the cuff and bind off loosely? Can I bind off loosely enough? Or will I just make it worst?
It's probably a bad time to have it done, but my passport is nearing expiration so I figure I'd better renewal it soon so that I can travel with peace of mind. So, I took my application form, ids, and knitting to the passport office yesterday.
The lines were ridiculously long. I was well armed. I went nearing the end of day so that it won't be as long lines as first thing in the morning (3 hours!) and went prepared with knitting. I spent in total 1h and 45 minutes waiting from start to finish. I managed to knit my way though most of it and nearly finished turning a heel on a sock; I only had two more rows left when I got home.
I looked around the waiting room many times during this wait and saw a few people reading, some books, some papers. I saw a few playing cell phone games. 4 or 5 moms needing to tend to children. Barely anyone doing business on the phone or computer. (I'm sure it's because of the office I was in, it's more residential and not in a business area.) I had to wait for nearly 100 numbers to go ahead of me and maybe 20-30 more after me all sharing the same waiting room. Of this sample, I was the only one knitting. Most people were staring off into space or whispering to some one. Most people were bored out of their brains. Some were more annoyed than others. But I swear except for a couple who were reading, no one had a more enjoyable and quicker waiting time than myself.
If you are in Canada and trying to get your passport, here's a tip I learned yesterday while in line. Wish I knew this before hand. Fill in your application online using Passport Online and then take the info to the passport office and you'll jump the line! So instead of a three hour wait, you might have to wait 15-45 minutes. And of course, when the wait lines were even shorter, you barely have to wait five minutes. It seems like a good idea.
That is, unless you need the waiting room time to catch up on your Christmas Knitting.
Makes me wish I was still living in the states so I could send these out for the holidays 2007.
The Xmas Stamps from Canada Post this year isn't too bad either! I rather like the retro look.
As I heard on the radio today, 45 days until Xmas. I guess I'd better get going on the packaging. Luckily for me this year, most of the Xmas presents are done. I just have a few more to-do and work on the presentation.
The Best of Mary Maxim's at the Yonge Eglinton Centre
Yesterday I went to check out the Mary Maxim store's Grand Opening. It's in Lewiscraft's old spot and honestly, it's just like a Lewiscraft, but with less stuff. The nice part is that it does have a good amount of yarn and carry sock yarn. I had a coupon for 25% off one item and they had an sale of the day as 14% off yarns. So, I managed to pick up two balls of Regia Canadian Color 100g. The colors are great and I can't wait to knit them up. I think they will be my socks or gloves for sure.
I would say that it's a good start. It won't be any competition to the much nicer yarn stores downtown, and won't compete with the Michael's. They have a certain clientele and they were out shopping yesterday at the same time I was. Now that I've seen the store, I'm in no hurry to go back. However, I think if I'm in the neighbourhood, I'll go look for some sock yarn. If I'm in need of some dpns in sizes I don't use often and will want cheap ones, I'll go and buy it there. It's really easy for me to get to since it's right on the subway line and really close to me. On the other hand, I really do hope that they stock more items in the store soon since I think they had more 'stuff' at their booth in the creativFestival market floor.
Since they are having opening sales, I would recommend going to check it out before end of next week. I'm uncertain how long the grand opening sales are going to go for...
As I've mentioned before, this was the first year in many that I found classes I wanted to take and some interest in going to the CreativFestival. Weekend of October 20-22 was the event at the Metro Toronto Convention Center South Building.
Lily is a great teacher who has a lot of energy. She pepper the informative class with her great laugh and fun stories. The time just flies by and I was so inspired to learn new techniques. She strongly encourages us to think freely with what can be done with revisable cables. She also brought along a lot of her own designs and patterns to help inspire us and show us what more advanced techniques can be achieved. I particularly enjoyed seeing some of her sketches and swatches to the final products. It just reminds us that we need to put in the work, swatch and there was a lot of work behind the finished product.I found seeing that so inspirational.
I was speaking with another person in the Lily Chin class who was saying that she did not enjoy the class with Fiona. However, I could not compared them and found the two to be enjoyable. I have to say that the style of the class was much more workshop than instructional. You learned by trying things and learning and asking questions. From Beginner to more advanced students will get out of the class what they were willing to do and interact with Fiona. Fiona was super friendly and easy to speak with. I had a good opportunity to try some different cables and practice and try to figure out how to cable without the cable needle.
Fiona also mentioned that she's got a new book coming out, I'm looking forward to seeing that.
I would recommend both classes if they come your way. I got so much inspiration and information out of the classes that I'm going to keep my eyes open for more classes in the future. I've been very much looking to learning new skills and sometimes, it's really much easier to be taught than to figure it out yourself.
Door Prizes
I headed into the market two days, Friday night with my sister (who does beading) and once again alone on Saturday. I ended up with two door prize ballots, which I put in the 'basket' on Saturday morning before heading off to do my shopping. I had spent Friday night looking at different parts of the show while my sister shopped the bead merchants. And would you know it I heard my name for the door prizes. I go and claim my prize (1 packet of red heart yarn) and the lady tells me that there's a "Mary Yan" who also won. I'm thinking that's really odd but didn't give it another thought. At the end of my time at the market, I had a few minutes and "Mary Yan" was bothering me. It's a common mistake made on my name. I thought I'd better to check the winners list and it turns out "Mary" also lived in the same town I did. I just had to ask the lady to check the other ticket for me to see if it was also me. IT WAS!!! So, I won two door prizes. She gave me more yarn and a great cross stitch book. I felt so lucky. What are the chances! It was so much fun!
Free Yarn:
That wasn't the only score of the weekend, In the Lily Chin class we got a ball Tribeca from her line of mohair and in the Fiona Ellis class we got this new yarn Perth. It was much raved in class by my class mates. I found it not to be as easy to use as they did since it did split on me, but it does a great job showing off cables.
I'm really looking forward to really exploring some cable work with all this new yarn!
Stash:
On the shopping front, here's my additions to my stash.
I had a great chat with Judy from JBW Designs and got some of her new designs which I love. I also got to see some of Maureen Appleton's work in person. They were so beautiful. To be honest, I've never been interested in her work before. The photography really doesn't do it justice, I did fall in love with some of her designs. I had to come home with her "Be Mine" silk kit.
As I expected, most of the show was scrapbooking, quilting and beading. There was just a little bit of yarn. (Frolic was so much better.) And with Cedar Hill, Crossed Wing Collection, JBW Designs, Maureen Appleton, Britstitch showing, there was at least some Cross-stitch showing. It really helped make the show more interesting for me. There was NO needlework at all!
On the quilting side, while there were quit a few merchants, I found the styles of the quilts to be more folksy than my liking. So, in the end, I was really just looking at tools and not fabric or patterns or designs. I found out about a show that's going to be in November at the Japanese Cultural Center put on by the York Heritage Quild, so, I might go to that. I got such great deals on the tools that I've been looking for, it was still a great time!
With this experience I did not find that it changed my impressions of the show much at all, but the conference classes is something I'll keep my eyes on since that part was great. I think for yarn, I'm better off going to a show like frolic or other specialty shows and for cross-stitch... I'm just about out of luck outside my 'in' with my friends at the official retail trade shows. I've still not been to the shows like CATS in the US, but it's quite pricey. It's hardly surprising that there seems to be such a small network of cross-stitchers in Canada. There seems to be few sources for us here outside of our LNS.
Modifications: Not much, needed to extend the width of it by about 2 inches. Either it's a gauge issue or a pattern misread.
Completion Date: 3rd week of September, 2006.
Lessons:
Make sure to check the yardage on substitute yarns just in case. As it turns out, I did over estimate enough in my purchasing, but I was left with so little that I worried about finishing the piece and had to order more yarn. It was not a good experience to have to wait and have to search for it. So, must do better next time.
The sweater is more cropped on me than on the model... it may be a stockinette stitch knitted sideways issue or an issue with sweaters knitted sleeve to sleeve, will have to be more careful on the width (length) in the future. This looks cute, but as it may stretch over time, it may become an issue.
To make my sewing up easier, I've got to try to remember to work in some selvages.
The 'roll' on the sweater may start to drive me crazy, will have to put in some stabilizing stitches in the future.
While the sweater would have been too small the width it was before I fixed it, it is rather big now since after blocking, it's not as crumpled. I have to add stitches on the shoulders to make sure it's not too big and will fall off the shoulder which may get annoying. After all, it's not the 80's.
Will I make it again? Not the pattern as is. I liked working a sweater side to side so that I can try it out as I knit, but I'd take into account some of the above and would like to make a modify version of the sweater.
And of course, any attempt to photograph anything on the carpet, will cause Flour to come and claim it as her own...
Flour! Off. Off. Get off my sweater. [Nudge] It's mine. Not everything is yours. Get off, that's mine. [Pick up dog off of sweater. Put sweater on a higher surface. Flour promptly loses all interest.]
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