Thursday 21 January 2010

I'd Rather be Knitting/Crocheting (delete as appropriate)





Well here are my latest creations. I seem to have gone knitting mad and not touched crochet for ages. If we really are doing a spring fair in April I realised I only have two months to make things. I don't really feel like another lot of mass production. I'm enjoying just noodling about on these projects which are just for fun and just for me. Also in my experience you can't sell anything at that time of year, except perhaps easter eggs!

Anyway these are both being worked on long circular needles. The pink one is a mad variation on the seamless yoke sweater from Elizabeth Zimmerman. I'm also attempting stranded colour work for the first time in over 20 years. It really is experimental and I don't know how it will turn out. Also I bought this yarn in a sale and it is beautiful but it's very scratchy and the only way I will be able to wear it is if it is a v-neck which looks impossible to do on a yoked sweater.

As I was starting this one I got one of my knitting magazines delivered and for almost the first time I actually liked some of the patterns in it. I was inspired to make this cardigan as it is made of lots of bits of left over yarn. Ha Ha I thought, something to do with all the yarn left over from the rainbow blankets also allowing me to make a garment without having to buy anymore yarn. (well a bit for the borders). I love wearing cardis but I hate having to knit all those bits and sewing them up. So I decided to try a complete experiment and try to knit it all in one, but back and forth not in a circle. So I've cast on all the stitches for the back and two fronts. The first problem was that the pattern calls for the two fronts and the back to increase on the seam sides. Easy enough to do on each piece but I don't know how that will look on one piece. I have just marked where the seams would have been and then done pairs of increases on each side of these markers. This will distort the fabric but I'm going ahead and seeing if it will look ok when its all made up. Wish me luck.

3 comments:

  1. I learned to knit years ago but quickly gave it up when I discovered how much faster crochet went. Now seeing all the lovely creations made from knitting I regret it somewhat. I keep saying one day I'm going to pull out my needles and give it another go. I can still do the basic stitches, you know... knit 1, purl 2, lol, but that's about it. You are doing a good job and good luck with your 'all in one piece' cardi.

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  2. Hi Violet,
    I'm learning how to knit. I just started seriously to master the basic techniques such as increasing, decreasing and keeping my tension even so that I have even stitches. I'm doing Ok with decreasing but it's the increasing on the same stitch that's giving me problem, Oh well I just have to practice more. I'm learning the English method of knitting. I'd like to learn the Continental way later. What method of knitting are you using? Are you left-handed or right-handed knitter.
    I Wish you luck on making your cardi also.

    I'm a member of Knitter's Review Forum which is a very helpful and friendly site.

    Good to hear from you,

    Zoe

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  3. Hi Zoe and Sonya, thanks for the positive comments. Zoe, I am a right handed knitter but when I do stranded colour work I keep the yarn in both hands, this is much easier than trying to knit with two yarns in one hand.

    Increasing on the same stitich should be quite easy. Which bit are you having trouble with? Have you tried looking for a video on youTube. I always find it easier to learn from a video than from a book, though learning from an actual person is best.

    I will check out Knitter's Review Forum, thanks

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