2KCBWDay7 Knitting Spot

The last post for knicrobloweek. Where do I do most of my knitting? Sadly, in front of the tv. Today, for example, I knit during the Rangers-Flyers hockey game. I hear those announcers' voices and feel the itch to knit. I made great progress on my yoga socks. And this time they will fit!

Lately, I've been surfing the net while I watch tv. Ever since we got wireless broadband, I've been spending way too much time on the computer. I've really enjoyed writing on the blog this week and hope I can keep up.

2KCBWDay6 Aspirations

What do I aspire to do? Well one thing that is unrelated to knitting is to blog mo' better. I'd like to put down my thoughts about books I read and what's going on in our natural world and how my knitting and art and riding are progressing.  Well I guess that sort of relates to knitting. This week's experience has been fun, and I've found a couple of blogs I'd like to emulate. Maybe 2KCBW will be my jumping off place. That would be cool.

I hope no one notices that I skipped day 5. I decided to jump back on instead of trying to catch up.

Strictly relating to knitting, I would love to one day purchase and knit a bohus sweater.  I tried the bohus hat and found the pattern to be a little frustrating to knit. But it was worth it to see those little purl stitches pop.

2KCBWDay4 Whatever Happened to My Shawl?

A few years ago, I had the urge to knit a shawl. They were all the rage. I read discussions about wearing them for casual and dressy.  I studied every photo with a person wearing their creation. Could I do that? I convinced myself that I could. I ordered "Wrapped in Comfort" by Alison Jeppson Hyde and gloss lace yarn from Knitpicks, and went to town. I knit the bigfoot pattern, intending to knit a short version. I didn't like the look of that, so I knit the long version. Hmmmm. I just couldn't see myself wearing it in public. It's lying in the bottom drawer of my dresser taking up valuable real estate. I love how it turned out, and I keep thinking someone will come along who wants/needs it. I hope it will have a happy ending like Alison's stories.

2KCBWDay3 An Organized Knitter

This topic is timely, as I recently opened the "yarn trunk", as posted earlier here . I don't have a photo of the trunk with yarn as it's not as pretty as I'd hoped. The color of the inside of the trunk does not match the colors of my yarns. But I'm going the the authentic aesthetic. The trunk is an excellent receptor for yarn. Perhaps too excellent? The drawers are deep, and there is room for more yarn (gasp!). The yarn at the bottom is going to get hidden and remain stashed. I know it. And I've hidden my small beading collection in there too. That said, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

2KCBWDay2 Skill Set

Things I learned this year. Up a level? Well, I'm trying to get a grip on gauge and getting a garment that fit. Last year I made two perfectly wonderful garments that didn't fit. The first was a sweater for me, Mr Greenjeans. Wonderful pattern, wonderful yarn, Cascade 220, but it was a little too small. I simply didn't get it that 36 inches was too small around.  And the length is too short. It would work if it was longer, but I keep tugging at it. Darn it.

Secondly, I made an Elizabeth Zimmermann Tomten Jacket for my friend's boy. Close, but no cigar. The arms were too long and skinny and the body was a little short. What is it with me and length.

Now I'm working on another sweater for me. A top-down-set-in-sleeve using Rowan Felted Tweed. So far it looks pretty good. The sleeves might be a little wide at the top. I won't know until I work them a little more.

Tomten II is going a little better, but I haven't checked with the actual boy yet. 

What's changed? I double checked my gauge and I'm following the pattern instead of making up my own. (duh). I figure this is an important skill: letting someone else do all the math.

2KCBWDay1 Where I Compare Yarn To My Horse

Cascade 220 is a lot like my quarter horse.  He is a little plain to look at, but dependable as the day is long. What you see is what you get.  Pick out a navy Cascade 220 and it stays navy. No funky bleeding. Deep red? Same thing. Once you settle on the needles necessary to get 5.5 st. to the inch, in plain stockinette of course, you are good to go.

Off down the trail, you have an idea of how things will turn out.  Sometimes there is a little trouble along the way.  Shied at the bird? Dropped a stitch? No biggie, one sideways step and a little latch up will put it right. No complications, the stitches are easy to see.

Need a little fancy work to liven things up? Fine. The horse will listen and trot with cadence or do a little sashay. Cascade is a whiz at cables, with excellent stitch definition. Lace work is okay in small doses.  Too much and the yarn looks like it's trying to be something it's not.  My horse goes to rock and roll or a little country music. No classical music here, although maybe Wagner, but I can't do that.

Back at the barn, when the project is done, Cascade 220 cleans up well. No pilling under the arms or at the side seams. A good soak and air drying and it looks brand new. To work with a steady-eddy horse or Cascade 220 gives me great pleasure.

Spiffing Up for Blog Week

Tomorrow starts the blog every day for a week event. I forgot what the acronym is at the moment. Oh yeah, KNit and CRochet BLOg week.  I am going to try to keep up. Today I am going to spiff up my blog a little bit. I need to take photos of my current work and add a paragraph about myself.  That should get me revved up.

Open Trunk, Finally!

So, the trunk that was locked during our move in 2001 is open in 2011! I googled trunk keys and found an antique trunk place that sold keys. For $25 they sent a key for our lock. At first we couldn't open it. We could feel a little give, so Matt used WD40 and kept at it. After about ten minutes the lock opened.

I put my yarn and knitting supplies in it and there was room left over for my beading boxes!

Joining

I finally reached the point where I separate the arms and join the fronts to the back. Now I can knit in the round.

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed, silver gray and charcoal gray
Needles: Knit picks # 4
Gauge: 6 st. per in. 8 rows per in.

Second Tomten Details

I'm having fun with the second Tomten for Simon.

Yarn: Lion Brand Amazing, 53% wool, 47% acrylic color: Arcadia two lots: 9947 and 7417.
Needles: Knit Picks #7
Gauge: 4.5 st. per in in garter stitch

Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmermann's Tomten Jacket in the Opinionated Knitter, size 2T

I put in one pocket on the right side, and am working straight to the armholes.