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January 25, 2009
UPDATE: The Never-Ending Sock
I DID IT!!!!!!!!! that's right, i finally did that heel! and you know what? apparently i'm a big baby, 'cause it was nothin'! actually, i think it was easier than on some of the bigger looms. so now i'm all set to finish this sock. my next hurdle will be doing the grafting for the toe, and we all know how my last kitchener stitch experience went... i just hope fear of ruining this sock won't make me put it down for 2 months again! i'll post pics of the heel as soon as it gets some more length and clears the bottom of the loom. YAY!!! so excited!!
January 13, 2009
Mitten and Hooded Scarf
YAY!!! made a hooded scarf and mitten set for my friend!!!! it came out soooo cute. of course, there were a few mishaps. i decreased wrong on one side. one side of the scraf is longer than the other. But all in all, i'm psyched!!! so, here are the details, but keep in mind i rarely count stitches. i just work it til it looks even. i'm sorry and i know it makes it difficult to gauge how much yarn you'll need. i plan to go back and do it again and get the proper numbers later:
Mittens:
yarn- Lion's Brand Wool Ease Think & Quick in claret, small amount of Bernat Shimmer in brown for the cuff
loom- ITA mitten loom
stitches- rib stitch K2 P2, 2 over 1 e-wrap, 1 over 1 e-wrap.
this is basically the one loomed mitten design found here. i just did a ribbed cuff instead of the brim. and i adjusted the numbers slightly because the yarn was so thick. i used one skein of Thick & Quick to make both mittens. i used the rib stitch, K2 P2, to make the cuff. but the loom is 18 pegs, so at one point, you're gonna have to K4. the cuff is worked holding one strand of the claret and one strand of the shimmer in brown. i think i did this for about 12 rows. (i actually had notes written up so i could make the mittens symmetrical, but i lost them!! ARG!) then i dropped the Shimmer yarn and just used the claret and began doing a 2 over 1 stitch. this was a little hard on the fingers, but i wanted the mitten to be really thick and warm. you do about 7 rows, and then begin the flat panel for the thumb.
knit pegs 1-5,then turn back and knit pegs 6-2 for 25 rows.
you slipped the first stitch as you went back and forth to make a nice almost braided looking edge which is easier to seam up afterwards. i did the thumb with a regular 1 over 1 e-wrap.
began to knit in the round, going back to 2 over 1, until the mitten is the appropriate length. i can't for the life of me remember how many rows that was. i just stuck my hand in the mitten to gauge the size. then i did a little decrease to make the top not so bulky.
i moved stitches 1, 5, 10, and 15 to the pegs to the right of them and knit off.
then i did a gathered bind off. seam up the thumb and the mittens all done!
The Scarf:
well, the scarf was knit off the top of my head, making it up as i went along. just a warning, i'm not a pattern writer. these directions are crappy, but i'll go back later and spruce them up. here's the details:
yarn- 1 skein Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in claret, 1 skein of the same in black.
loom- yellow knifty knitter long loom (38 pegs)
stitches- figure 8 stitch, flat panel e-wrap
i began by casting on the fist 15 pairs of pegs using the figure 8 stitch. i used stitch markers to mark all 30 stitches of the first row. i did not use the end pegs at all. after about 5 inches or so, i realized the hood wasn't going to be deep enough if i didn't make it wider, so i began to increase, one pair at a time.
so, as i wrapped my way back up the pegs, when i got to the 15th pair, i also wrapped the 16th pair twice, still using the figure 8 stitch, so i got two rows of stitches on the pegs. now i'm using 16 pairs of pegs. i knit for 4 rows, then i increases another pair. knit another 4 rows. i continued this till all the pegs (except the end pegs) were wrapped. i knit until i had about 10 inches of material the width of the entire loom.
then i began the decrease. now, i did this wrong, but i'll tell you guys the correct way. so, you're at the 18th pair. you take the loop from the 17th pair, bring them over onto the 18th pegs and knit off. then move the loops from the 18th pegs and put them on the empty 17th pegs. knit four rows. decrease again and knit four rows. do this until you're back down to 15 pegs. knit until you have another 5 inches or so, or until its even, meaning if you folded the hood part in half to knit the seam, the increases and decreases line up and the sides are the same length. by this time, i only had about 18 inches of yarn left over. i left this as i planned to use it to seam up the hood later. now its time to introduce the black yarn. you should have 1 row wrapped on the loom. wrap a row of black over that and knit off.
i did 8 rows of black, then i began the decrease. decrease one pair of pegs. knit four rows. decrease another pair. knit four rows. do this until you are using 9 pairs of pegs. knit 4 more rows.
now its times to make the double panel a single panel.
alright, so you have nine pairs of pegs being used, numbered 1-9 from left to right on rows 1 and 2. you're going to criss-cross the pegs as you combine them to get a nice even spaced holey design.
so, you take the loop from peg 8 on row 1 and place it on peg nine on row 2. take the loop from peg 9 on row 1 and place it on peg 8 on row 2. knit off.
loop 6 row 1 goes onto peg 7 row 2, loop 7 row 1 goes on peg 6 row 2. knit off
loop 4 row 1 goes onto peg 5 row 2, loop 5 row 1 goes on peg 4 row 2. knit off
loop 2 row 1 goes onto peg 3 row 2, loop 3 row 1 goes onto peg 2 row 2. knit off
loop 1 row 1 goes onto loop 2 row 2. knit off
now you have nine pegs one 1 side of the loom and you can begin to knit a flat panel using the e-wrap. i knit till the piece was about 7 inches. this part curls up on itself and makes a nice tube like ending.
switch the piece around and put the other end of the hood back on the loom and repeat with the black yarn. Ta-Da!!
i know, i know, that was terrible directions! i promise, i will re-do this later, with accurate numbers, and maybe a video or two to illustrate my point, in about a month or so. i just really need to finish up on this never-ending blanket and sock and maybe make a baby cocoon. and then i'll re-do this properly. but i have to get this down or else i'll forget what i did.
Mittens:
yarn- Lion's Brand Wool Ease Think & Quick in claret, small amount of Bernat Shimmer in brown for the cuff
loom- ITA mitten loom
stitches- rib stitch K2 P2, 2 over 1 e-wrap, 1 over 1 e-wrap.
this is basically the one loomed mitten design found here. i just did a ribbed cuff instead of the brim. and i adjusted the numbers slightly because the yarn was so thick. i used one skein of Thick & Quick to make both mittens. i used the rib stitch, K2 P2, to make the cuff. but the loom is 18 pegs, so at one point, you're gonna have to K4. the cuff is worked holding one strand of the claret and one strand of the shimmer in brown. i think i did this for about 12 rows. (i actually had notes written up so i could make the mittens symmetrical, but i lost them!! ARG!) then i dropped the Shimmer yarn and just used the claret and began doing a 2 over 1 stitch. this was a little hard on the fingers, but i wanted the mitten to be really thick and warm. you do about 7 rows, and then begin the flat panel for the thumb.
knit pegs 1-5,then turn back and knit pegs 6-2 for 25 rows.
you slipped the first stitch as you went back and forth to make a nice almost braided looking edge which is easier to seam up afterwards. i did the thumb with a regular 1 over 1 e-wrap.
began to knit in the round, going back to 2 over 1, until the mitten is the appropriate length. i can't for the life of me remember how many rows that was. i just stuck my hand in the mitten to gauge the size. then i did a little decrease to make the top not so bulky.
i moved stitches 1, 5, 10, and 15 to the pegs to the right of them and knit off.
then i did a gathered bind off. seam up the thumb and the mittens all done!
The Scarf:
well, the scarf was knit off the top of my head, making it up as i went along. just a warning, i'm not a pattern writer. these directions are crappy, but i'll go back later and spruce them up. here's the details:
yarn- 1 skein Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in claret, 1 skein of the same in black.
loom- yellow knifty knitter long loom (38 pegs)
stitches- figure 8 stitch, flat panel e-wrap
i began by casting on the fist 15 pairs of pegs using the figure 8 stitch. i used stitch markers to mark all 30 stitches of the first row. i did not use the end pegs at all. after about 5 inches or so, i realized the hood wasn't going to be deep enough if i didn't make it wider, so i began to increase, one pair at a time.
so, as i wrapped my way back up the pegs, when i got to the 15th pair, i also wrapped the 16th pair twice, still using the figure 8 stitch, so i got two rows of stitches on the pegs. now i'm using 16 pairs of pegs. i knit for 4 rows, then i increases another pair. knit another 4 rows. i continued this till all the pegs (except the end pegs) were wrapped. i knit until i had about 10 inches of material the width of the entire loom.
then i began the decrease. now, i did this wrong, but i'll tell you guys the correct way. so, you're at the 18th pair. you take the loop from the 17th pair, bring them over onto the 18th pegs and knit off. then move the loops from the 18th pegs and put them on the empty 17th pegs. knit four rows. decrease again and knit four rows. do this until you're back down to 15 pegs. knit until you have another 5 inches or so, or until its even, meaning if you folded the hood part in half to knit the seam, the increases and decreases line up and the sides are the same length. by this time, i only had about 18 inches of yarn left over. i left this as i planned to use it to seam up the hood later. now its time to introduce the black yarn. you should have 1 row wrapped on the loom. wrap a row of black over that and knit off.
i did 8 rows of black, then i began the decrease. decrease one pair of pegs. knit four rows. decrease another pair. knit four rows. do this until you are using 9 pairs of pegs. knit 4 more rows.
now its times to make the double panel a single panel.
alright, so you have nine pairs of pegs being used, numbered 1-9 from left to right on rows 1 and 2. you're going to criss-cross the pegs as you combine them to get a nice even spaced holey design.
so, you take the loop from peg 8 on row 1 and place it on peg nine on row 2. take the loop from peg 9 on row 1 and place it on peg 8 on row 2. knit off.
loop 6 row 1 goes onto peg 7 row 2, loop 7 row 1 goes on peg 6 row 2. knit off
loop 4 row 1 goes onto peg 5 row 2, loop 5 row 1 goes on peg 4 row 2. knit off
loop 2 row 1 goes onto peg 3 row 2, loop 3 row 1 goes onto peg 2 row 2. knit off
loop 1 row 1 goes onto loop 2 row 2. knit off
now you have nine pegs one 1 side of the loom and you can begin to knit a flat panel using the e-wrap. i knit till the piece was about 7 inches. this part curls up on itself and makes a nice tube like ending.
switch the piece around and put the other end of the hood back on the loom and repeat with the black yarn. Ta-Da!!
i know, i know, that was terrible directions! i promise, i will re-do this later, with accurate numbers, and maybe a video or two to illustrate my point, in about a month or so. i just really need to finish up on this never-ending blanket and sock and maybe make a baby cocoon. and then i'll re-do this properly. but i have to get this down or else i'll forget what i did.
January 4, 2009
I Must Be Crazy
After the Kitchener stitch nightmare, I had to sooth myself by buying some new yarn at A.C. Moore. Yeah, I just spent $90 on new yarns! And you know what? I do feel better! :-D
Kitchener Stitch Nightmare
okay y'all. i'm a little upset so this post will be brief cause i don't want to talk about it!!! anyways, i was working on a beautiful sock-slipper for my friend for Christmas. i'm already late with the present. i'm already in a rush. i get the first sock done and i decide to go ahead and use the Kitchener stitch to close the toe, cause the sock is pretty bulky and nothing else will look right. but i don't have knitting needles. no problem, i'll follow the directions on the http://www.loomknittinghelp.com/ website, which gives direction for how to do a Kitchener stitch right off the loom. but i get confused. and i loose track of which way i last put the needle. and a few loops fall of the peg as i pass the yarn through them. and my yarn is too short so i have to do a knot to to attach more yarn. which makes the yarn a b$#%h to pull through. and what do i end up with? a big tangled mess of a seam that looks NOTHING like the Kitchener stitch and a ruined sock. i was so upset i almost cried. back to square one.
January 1, 2009
My Alternative
i really need to get some stitch markers. i was working on some sock slippers for my friend while watching TV and i kept on getting distracted and messing up the ribbing on the cuff. so i thought, i'll just add some rubber bands to the pegs to mark them. only problem, i already had the project on the loom and the bands need to be put on first! so whats a girl to do? get creative! i used some paper clips instead! hey, it works for me! cheap and effective! i'll probably get real stitch markers later, but for now, this is what i'll go with!
Love this hat!
so i made a hat for my boss. she never wears a hat on her head and its getting pretty cold around here! just today the temp is 2, wind chill -17! so i decided to use the lions brand wool ease chunky. i kind of made up the pattern as i went along. i actually got about halfway done and frogged it and started over again. i love the way this hat came out!!! i can't really remember the pattern too well, so i'm gonna try to write the pattern down now on my ravelry page before i forget it! i made it on the green loom. it ended up being just a tad bit too small for her, she squeezed it on her head and said it was okay, but i know it would be uncomfortable to wear for a long amount of time.
here's a close up of the ribbing i did on the brim. i used a cable cast on for the first time for this. i really like the way it turned out!
i haven't thought of a name for this hat yet. it kinda looks like a balloon to me, so i might go with something like that for the name. i wish i was more experienced with the wedge way of finishing a hat. i did a gathered bind off cause thats the way i'm most familiar with, but i think it would have looked much better with a smoother wedge top. nothing would have aggrivated me more than to try something differnt and ruin the hat at the last stages, especially when its a present for someone else and i'm on a time line. maybe i'll try this again for fun and try doing the wedges instead next time.
here's a close up of the ribbing i did on the brim. i used a cable cast on for the first time for this. i really like the way it turned out!
i haven't thought of a name for this hat yet. it kinda looks like a balloon to me, so i might go with something like that for the name. i wish i was more experienced with the wedge way of finishing a hat. i did a gathered bind off cause thats the way i'm most familiar with, but i think it would have looked much better with a smoother wedge top. nothing would have aggrivated me more than to try something differnt and ruin the hat at the last stages, especially when its a present for someone else and i'm on a time line. maybe i'll try this again for fun and try doing the wedges instead next time.
The Never Ending Sock!
so i got my beautiful wonder sock loom from dalooms a few months ago. i went out and bought some nice sock weight yearn and i started using it. i didn't want to bite off more than i could chew, so i decided to start with a baby sock. a nice small project that i could (hopefully) get finished quickly. at first, it was VERY hard to use the loom and i was ready to give up. but after getting through the first ten rows or so, it started to get much easier and things started picking up. now, i have the sock to about where i want it to start the heel but i'm stuck. or more accurately, i should say, I'M SCARED!!!!! i'm terrified of taking the loop off the peg and then trying to get it back on. those pegs are super tiny and the space between them is even tinier! i put so much work into this itty bitty sock so far, and it would kill me to ruin it now! so what have i done with this sock over the past month? the answer is NOTHING! its been sitting on my coffee table, unfinished and untouched. i'm frozen. anyways, here are some pics of what i've got done so far:
i'm still working on my christmas presents now and that baby blanket, so i haven't had the urge to mess with this sock. but i don't think i can put it of for much longer...
i'm still working on my christmas presents now and that baby blanket, so i haven't had the urge to mess with this sock. but i don't think i can put it of for much longer...
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