Knitting and crochet... and new glasses.

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More about knitting. The Baktus is finally finished. Ends dealt with and I put in a tassel at each end as well.

 

Then I did a hat in Rowan Bamboo Tape. I also finished that one with a tassel. I put myself as less than enthusiastic about it because it's too loose around the band, it's a terminal issue I have with ribbing... my ribbing is always larger than the actual plain stocking stitch when it's supposed to be smaller. I think it's because when I switch from knit to purl that it takes up two stitches of space. Meh.

 

I started the Magical Cosy Warmer and finished the actual knitting; I haven't sewn in the ends because I'm still trying to decide if I'm just going to frog it and maybe do it again with 200+ stitches instead of the 160 of the "medium"; which according to their instructions ought to have fitted me. It fits... tightly... Too snug to actually wear with anything else. No. I don't like tight garments. I'm too pudgy for tight garments.

 

Ugh.

 

I was steaming long with the Sycamore Poncho but I stalled. I stalled because of several factors, or excuses, whichever you want to call it. I got the main body done, but the third part where you start doing the netting isn't adding up or I'm not getting it lined up correctly and at the time, I couldn't figure out why. I think I have to go ahead and block it, whilst still incomplete, and then attempt to count rows and be certain I actually have the 60-odd required rows for each panel and then maybe mark where I should be putting in the dc's (US sc's) for the mesh/netting stitches to go in.

 

I want to do more crochet, found several new items, but the truth is, I'm having guilty thoughts about all the crochet pieces started and are 99.9% incomplete, but for things like sewing together and dealing with loose ends. It's the putting together and dealing with the loose ends that I dislike.

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New glasses... I think I'll have to ask for an alteration with regards to my pc glasses. Otherwise, I now have to sit with my nose practically up against the monitor to get clear vision with them. I'm sitting at arm's length from the monitor and it feels far too close, but that's the only way I get a clear vision with these things. I usually sit about 3' to 4' from my monitor. My knees are banging into the computer desk with the new glasses. :( I've already waited two weeks for the lenses. Ugh.

 

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Projects now in progress:

 

"One skein stole my Noro" it's a one-skein of Noro sock yarn to make a scarf. Wrap-n-drop stitches throughout with a row of 'yo, k2tog' lace every nineteen or so rows. I've got to do ten repeats of the 19 rows and so far, I've got part way through the fourth one. I'd like to have this completed before Autumn.

 

The other is one that's been on my 'get started on it' for a few years is a "Knit mesh top". It's the kind of top I'd wear. Loose, simple and not overly complicated. Suitable for wear over a tank top. Another one I hope to complete before Autumn.

 

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Looking ahead:

Winter's projects, assuming I don't completely stall, will likely be several hats >.> It's a good way to burn up surplus single balls of yarn... or balls of yarn over 100gr. If they're under that, I'll have to consider either a crochet or knit poncho/wrap/thing to use up single yarn balls of similar or complimentary colours.

 

I might give gloves a go as well. We'll see. I have the "Purple Sparrows" for fingerless armwarmers as well as "Wizard City Gauntlets" to muck about with.

 

Crochet... "Wrap round my shoulders" is calling to me. Though I might use the Yeoman cannel yarns instead of the other stuff, I like how the cannel holds up.

 

Shawls and wraps are jumping around at me, ones that I've been sitting on for years. Am trying to get enthusiastic about some of them and the rest that aren't, I might look at donating both pattern and yarn to someone for their benefit.

 

As usual, 'We'll see'.

 

Almost there - the cape

Had to buy a new sewing machine, couldn't get the old one repaired.

I have the lining pieces sewn together, the collar attached to the body and the lining is sewn to the outer cloth. It's currently hanging for the night before I press the seams and close the slit that allows me to turn it inside out. I have a fur hook for the closure for the cape. I'll see about a photograph in the morning.

Next up is the hat... my search through my remnants didn't bring up anything suitable for this hat, so I acquired some other pieces of red fabric that nicely coordinate with the brick red wool.

New project

Yes, it's been a while.

New steampunk project in the works as I'm finally taking a dressmaking course to assist me.

The hat:


The blouse:


The jacket:


The cloak pin:


The cape:


The trousers:


My intent is to create a gender-mixed, slightly military-flavoured outfit. My use of the red wool and green lining will remove confusion with any known military unit. The cape will end at buttocks. I intend to wear my All Saints Damisi boots. I'm going with 'antique gold' for buttons for the shell jacket. I'll have to look at creating some fingerless gloves.

You'll be correct in noting there are no mentions of gears or goggles. I do think I will do some Irish-style crochet for possibly the hat or the shell jacket collar, I haven't yet decided.

Suggestions, comments and whatever are appreciated.

tension and realisation about knitting

So I have some mystery yarn a friend donated to me, burn test suggests lots of acrylic/nylon in it, with possibly a touch of wool. I'm going with the 5.00mm needles as I suspect it's an aran yarn (it's one of those huge 400g balls). I recall when I did some crochet with it that this fuschia stuff felt thicker than the teal stuff.
Thus the tension tube. I have close to 400g to make hats, I think, and perhaps mittens. Time to practice some stuff out of the Betty Barnden's how to knit with circular & double-pointed needles.

I realise now that I will never be a knitter who does large projects, knitting just takes way too damn long to get anywhere with it.

So, all the sweater projects I'm giving to a friend who only knows how to knit so she has stuff to do if she wants it. To which, I am grateful she has the willingness and patience to do it. I know I don't.

I'll always be a small projects knitter... everything else is just too boring for me.

Well drat...

I was doing so well and was so happy with my progress on the second hat... but then when I tried doing a decrease every 8 stitches, that went ok, then I went to do the second row and I messed up. I tried to tink it and messed up. >.<

So I tried ripping back. Bad idea, I can't seem to get the stuff back on the needles correctly.

Moral of this story: even hats done in simple knits might need a lifeline. From now on, I'll be adding a lifeline on the last normal knit row before starting decreases... then if I bodge the decreases (which I seem to like to do >.< ) I don't have to rip the whole hat to bits and start from the cast on again -- which is what I'm going to have to do with this one.

Oh and... 104 stitches with the Robin Service DK for a hat works out pretty nice, no gaps and not so tight around my skull, so it ought to be just fine for the BISS donation.

Hu-zaaaah.

Another hat from vintage yarn

This one, I cast on 104 stitches on 4mm circular needles and am using the vintage Robin 'Service DK' yarn; it's another of those ancient yarns I picked up for a very bargain price from Violet's. The yarn is dark gray-black with silvery-white streaks in it, it's supposedly machine washable and is 60% wool, 40% 'Courtauld fibre' (likely some kind of acrylic).

About to start the shaping; I've started a second 25g ball, so it looks like the hat will take close to the 50g mark to complete. I have no idea what the length of the yarn is as it's not mentioned on the ball band.

I went with thumb/long-tail cast on and did about 1-2cm of stocking stitch in the round (so, knit every row). Then did 3 rows of purl stitch followed on by going back to knit stitch.

Once again, I'm hoping this yarn will soften up once it's washed.

Last item, while I'm delighted with how it's coming out, it seems a bit too small/tight, I really wanted to cast on 112 stitches, but I also didn't want to redo the cast on because an arm-span this time was perhaps not as generous as with the other and didn't have enough yarn to get the last 8 stitches. Will finish knitting it then wash it and then see if my Darling can try it on. If it fails to fit him, then it'll go to a children's charity instead of the Seafarer's charity (BISS - British & International Sailor's Society).

The hat's done

Poor picture, yes, it's night time and I don't have strong lighting in the room I took the photo in.

Yes, the crown is a bit more pointy than it should be. I think on the next one that I'll do two decreases at each point or find a way to pretty up the decreases so they don't gnome-hat on me again. Used surprisingly little yarn, still have 1/3-1/2 of the navy ball of yarn left.

Still, a success in that it looks like a hat and it was designed entirely by me, no pattern! And that's kinda liberating. I ought to do that more often, learn how to make stuff on my own with no pattern... then I can use any yarn in my stash and not have to worry about it.

Liberating...