Kung Fu Knitting

I have just had crochet on the brain for the past week, literally. Dreams and all. So I have been doing a lot of "swatching" regarding this scarf and came up with some of good parameters: Single Crochet (SC) makes a more spirally effect than Double Crochet (DC), even if you start off the first set of rows with SC and then switch the next set of rows to DC. If you end on an increase row it will give a lacier effect to your scarf. This is especially true with DC if you are using a fine mohair. If your mohair is weightier you still get a nice lacy effect, but it's a little heavier. The edge will get more ruffly (not spirally) if you 5 Shell into every other stitch (SC, 5 Shell repeat) for the final row. This is not really the case with a 3 Shell, though. It's a lot more work for a little effect. The 5 Shell will make the edge of the scarf heavier looking and you will lose some of the lacy effect mentioned above. (see picture) If you want double the ruffle, then pick up m...

Yesterday as I was crocheting a scarf (I learned how from the crochet goddess at my local Stitch'N Bitch on Wednesday night) and I noticed that my first chain was too tight or I made too many crochets on my first row or something because it had started to spiral. And I thought, "hey that's kinda of cool. I wonder if I should do it on purpose." and kept on crocheting. This morning I was reading through the threads on KR and came upon the stash busting spiral scarf thread and thought that's it exactly! It would be sooo much easier to crochet this. So I commented on this thought and other people were interested too. So I tried it out this afternoon and this is the pattern that I came up with: Spiral Scarf ala Single Crochet Gear: ~ 300 yards of mohair or yarn of your choice. I used Ironstone Wharehouse (78% Mohair, 13% wool, 9% Nylon) US P or 11.5 mm crochet hook tapestry needle Specifications: 7 1/3 feet in length 3 inches in width (with spiral seems like more) Patt...

Yesterday I was looking in my closet for a bag for my knitting and pulled out my first felted bag. It had been stored there for the summer (the heat and all) but the truth of the matter is that I wasn't happy with it. It needed to sit in the closet for a while. Now I jumped into felting with a reckless abandon. This bag was made without a swatch, without a pattern, and with bits and pieces and balls of yarn that I no longer had the wrappers for. I had size 13 circulars and a lot of zeal. I cast on for the bottom and used some LP bulky and leftover Rowan Polar in a slip stitch pattern with some striping. It looked very nice to me . So I built up the sides using a bunch of scrap yarn including some from the first two skeins of yarn I ever bought. I knew that everything was wool as I have been a wool purist since I started knitting. I like all the colors I was using but was a little confused about whether or not I should be using one or two strands of yarn, especially if I was planni...

50 rows of Eris went to the frog pond. I haven't been knitting much this week, but put in some time yesterday. I just didn't really like how it looked. So this morning....while I was waiting for the coffee to brew....ribbit, ribbit, ribbit.... I was reading some comments on the yahoo groups eris KAL. Other people were also using Andean Silk and one person gave a warning about cable splay. This person suggested using a cable needle that was smaller than the knitting needle. I am not really sure what spalying is, but I wasn't in love with how my cables were looking so I think that must be it. Okay I just had to google "cable splay" and I don't think that was my problem. Cable splay is a flaring out of the knitted fabric. My problem was more like sloppy knitting. ;) But I was using a needle 1 size larger for the cables. Anyway I decided to try different needles. My swatch on 5's wasn't really to gauge but I just didn't want to go down any farther. I...

Yesterday the Andean Silk from KP came! I have to say that I am very impressed with how soft this yarn is. It knits up very nicely, though is a little drapier than I imagined. The color is nice, though I was expecting it to be a little lighter. Still I am very happy with the yarn so far. I've started knitting swatches for the Eris Cardigan. The first (of many I fear) I knit with size 7 bamboo circulars. The bottom portion I knit in K continental and P throw. It's a lot faster for me but with this yarn I am rowing out a little. The top portion is all throw knitting and has much less rowing out. I actually did this to see if the gauge was the same and it is: 5 sts/inch and 6.25 rows/inch. The row gauge is too large. I am supposed to have 7 rows/inch. I know, however, that if I move down a needle size I won't be able to get the stitch gauge which is more important for this part of the sweater. To get the collar gauge of 8 rows/inch I am going to have to try size 5 needles I t...

For the yarn for Eris to arrive from Knit Picks, I have finished and started a couple of projects. I finished the One Skein Wonder shrug. I really liked the way it turned out. The colors are gorgeous. Now it just needs to cool down a little so I can wear it. Pattern: One Skein Wonder Yarn: Noro Silk Garden 87 Gauge: 4 sts / inch Needles: US 8 and 7 circulars 24 inch Kudos to those folk that manage to take normal looking pictures of themselves in the mirror! Well maybe if I brushed my hair before snapping a photo I could do better? Hmmm... I am still working on the purse stitch poncho from IW fall by Meema Spadola. I am not in love with it, I just want to use up this yarn. I hate it. LB Suede sucks. It will make a nice xmas present though. I decided that given where I live I really need to stock up on wool socks for winter, but I wanted to start on something new. So I am doing these socks in a very pretty blue in fingering weight wool. The pattern has cables (boring ones but...) ...

The worth of our words is measured by how much they improve the silence.

I have FO pictures today that are only a couple years in the making. Seriously I have been working on these socks for years. Not because it's difficult. I just got ultra bored with sock knitting. You see I learned how to knit knitting socks on DPN's. And that is ALL I did for years. Not even a scarf. So here they are: socks for my BF. Knit on #4 DPN's in Plymouth Galway, I think. It was so long ago I lost the tag/wrap thingy. The gauge on these puppies is 6.5 st/inch. This is worsted weight yarn, ack! I don't want to know what my gauge might be on 1's or 2's. The fabric of the sock is nice and tight, but not stiff. These will be warm winter boot socks. The pattern: there isn't one. I made it up as I knit. In hindsight, I wish I had left out the fairisle bits. They aren't as regular looking as I would like. That will probably go away with washing, but ..... This irregularity is really apparent on the inside of the sock. When I knit these I am pretty sure ...

The last couple classes have been difficult for me as I have been sick or with super crazy allergies. I am not sure which one, but I am sure that it is seriously interfering with my breathing. I just can't get enough air and have started bringing my inhaler again. I have a lot of bruises from Thursdays' class. G and M both got me pretty well a couple of times in the leg. But it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately on Saturday I accidentally kicked someone in the groin. I felt so bad. It wasn't hard, but it happened. I just didn't realize how close we were and didn't pull it in time. I really struggle with shame when I hit someone. Stuff like this happens in a martial arts class but it should only be when you want it to happen. Control. Anyway today I had fun with K. We did a lot of kicking. He taught me how to sweep and throw someone over my shoulder. That was really fun. I want to do more of it. Knitting: I still have to finish up the cover cardigan from the summer issu...

I'm okay pleased with it today. And not embarassed to give it away. I think it will be a cute accessory. Almost time for kung fu!!!

Not so great in my opinion. This is a gift and I was hoping that I would really love the way it turned out. But there were a few problems. The first is that I attached the handles incorrectly and didn't really notice until after the first wash was through. The second is that I washed and spun this one 3 times and there are still garter ridges. I so hate that look. My instinct has always been to use just one thread of yarn for garter knitting and it has always felted away. I could felt this more, but honestly I don't think they will go away. The third is that I need to shave it. I think it will look a little more crisp when I finish this and attach the flower, etc.