I’m posting this a little early this weekend, since I missed last Sunday. Hope you don’t mind – I have a lot of cool stuff to share this week. Current projects, finished objects, cool websites, and what’s in the (growing) queue…
First off, I’m making quite a bit of progress on CBtY’s socks, and am hoping to finish them up in the next couple of days. Here’s where they were last Sunday, a week after I cast them on:
Click for larger picture
And here they are right now:
I love the 2 socks on 2 circulars from the toe up method, by the way. I’ve been able to have him try them on so I get a good fit, any little adjustments I’ve made along the way are automatically incorporated into the second sock, so no need to remember what I did, and I can make them as high as I want without fear of running out of yarn before I get to the end. And it’s a lot easier to throw them in my purse to work on while I’m waiting at appointments and stuff, because I don’t have to worry about the needles falling out the way they would if I were using double-pointed needles. I like how the striping on these is offset a little bit; I think it makes them more fun to wear.
Next is a little pair of Fetching fingerless gloves I made over the holidays (free pattern here). My hands get too cold when the thermostat is set lower, so I’ve really been getting some use out of them. (Sorry for the poor picture quality; it was a really bright day when I was taking these.)
Anyone remember my poll a few weeks back about what my next project should be? Well, the Lizard Ridge Afghan won, and I bought the first 2 balls of Noro Kureyon to give the pattern a try:
I haven’t started that yet, partly because I’m finishing up the socks that were part of people’s Christmas presents, and partly because I’m a little hesitant to make an afghan that isn’t easily washed. I also might switch from the yarn above to another Noro yarn that has some silk in it and would be a little softer (Silk Garden, which I used in the wavy gravy hat I posted before). So the jury is still out on that one…
Let’s see, that leaves me with the cool website and another project in the queue to tell you about. Back in mid-December, I put myself on the waiting list to sign up for Ravelry. I’d been reading raves about it, and wanted to find out what the big deal was.
My invite to join came on New Year’s Eve, and I finally had time to check it out thoroughly this week. It is INCREDIBLE! I can see popular patterns people are using, what yarn they’ve used for their different projects, read feedback from people about the yarns they’ve used, whether they liked the pattern, ways to modify them, where to find good video tutorials on new techniques, etc.
For example, earlier this week I had found 2 patterns I liked (Rogue and Cardigan for Arwen). I then looked through the pictures and notes people had posted of the versions of these sweaters that they had knitted, along with the details of what yarn they used, how they thought it fit, what changes they made to it while they were knitting, etc.
I decided to use this yarn after seeing several versions of both of the sweaters knitted from it, and reading that the people who used it were delighted with it. Plus, it’s a closeout at almost half price!
But I still couldn’t decide which pattern to use. I knew from reading that the vast majority of people had added rows to the sleeves of the Arwen sweater because they were too tight as written in the pattern, and that people felt that the sweater could have been constructed in an easier manner, with less seaming to do at the end. But I liked the cardigan style, and want to try the reversible (2-sided) cables that run down the front and around the hood.
I actually used one of the Ravelry pattern forums to solicit feedback from folks who had knitted either or both. When people responded that they had liked Rogue pattern so well they had knit two of them, and then someone posted that she had just finished hers in a zip-up cardigan version in the same type of yarn I had chosen (complete with pictures!) and loved it, I made my choice and ordered my pretty purple yarn. What a great resource! I highly urge anyone who knits (or crochets) to put themselves on the waiting list and check it out.
I just have one more pair of socks before I can start my new sweater… π
So, what’s on your needles this week?
Sorry this is so long and rambly…I think my cold medicine carried me away.
Feel free to post pictures and links for your own projects.
I’m still in awe of your prowess — and I hope your cold goes away soon!
Aw shucks, it’s really not that hard to do. But thanks.
And my cold seems to be going away – I made it through yoga class without dying this morning. π
No, no, you should say knit me some fabric of your thoughts . π
And I should credit you for both of those…
Now if only I could get you to upload my pictures and write the diary for me, I’d be set.
I received some yarn and some knitting needles and a card for free knitting lessons for Christmas. I had my first lesson 10 or so days ago. It’s been great. I knitted a couple of swatches but found I loathed stockingnet stitch. It was so tight it hurt my hands to knit it. My friend looked over my work and watched me knit and screamed. I was twisting each and every stitch! :>0
I think I have it right now. I’ve got a project in the works that I would love some input on. But, it’s late, so it will have to wait until tomorrow to get my kid to help me take a picture.
Socks look so hard. I take it the yarn you used automatically created the striping effect?
Yay! I can’t wait to see the pictures. And really, I highly recommend you put yourself on the waiting list for Ravelry; it’s a great place to get answers when you’re stuck on something, and from what I’ve seen there’s a lot of support and encouragement for newbies.
The socks are just plain old stockingnette stitch with self striping yarn, so they’re easier than they look. It just takes a little time to figure out how to keep the tension even when you move from one needles to the other. If you’re not careful, you wind up with loose stitches there.
Let’s see if I can get this whole picture thing working.
In my fantasy world, my first scarf looks like this:
In the real world, my first scarf looks like this:
I’m just hoping that when I finally finish the monstrosity that I will be able to get it to uncurl and be a scarf and not a very long snake.
But, wtf, it’s my first project and live and learn and all that! :>)
Is that a little garter stitch edge I see there? And you’ve already learned how to change colors.
Very nice.
I will sign up for ravelry. I also registered for the boards at Knitty.com.
I still haven’t learned how to increase and decrease (except through weird mistakes), so the heel on the socks is really intimidating.
I’m also still trying to figure out patterns and such. Some really simple things look so complex when written in pattern form.
Increasing and decreasing aren’t too tough once you get the hang of the knitting and purling: you just knit 2 stitches together (to decrease) or knit into the front and back of the stitch before sliding it off (to increase).
I always had to call my mom for over-the-phone instructions whenever I encountered anything new in knitting – and she’s so good she could explain it over the phone.
I bet your friend who’s teaching you could help you learn to interpret patterns pretty quickly too.
Oh my gosh, that afghan is gorgeous! I wish I had the skill and/or patience to make something like that.
It’s really not that hard to do. Maybe you should come visit when we’re at the beach this year and I’ll teach you.
Lets see.. this week I finished DH’s Fuzzy Feet & felted them so he’s no longer complaining about cold toes. Made quite a bit of progress on a toddler sweater that I’m rewriting the pattern for so as to eliminate having to seam it up and worked on my sock which is almost finished.
Photos! We need photos! π
I have a hard time imagining why anyone would write patterns with all those extra seams anymore when you can just knit the body in the round.
This one is for Second Nature: Stitchy McYarnpants.
Haha! I love that scary, Stephen King clown. What child wouldn’t want to wake up in the middle of the night to see that thing smiling on his pillow? And who wouldn’t want some hand-knit hotpants overalls? Fashion has gone so downhill since then….
I just knew you’d love it the moment I saw it. π