Cramming

Greetings, and Dear Cynthia,

In more than one way, I am cramming today. First -- our blog -- lots to cram into today's post. Second -- my class -- our first test is Monday, after having ten lectures in a week and a half. I find the material extremely interesting, so at least I don't mind the work too much...though it **is** a lot of material in a short time. Two weeks completed. Four weeks to go (which, by the way, means only four weeks until we go to Stitches Midwest)...

Your socks look so great, and WOW -- done with three weeks remaining before the deadline? I think your "setting goals" is paying off! Will you miss the feeling of panic as the deadline approaches? And your mailbox is certainly much more interesting than mine these days...unless you call "Highlights" magazine interesting. I guess my kids love it, so that's something...

Thank you all for the kind comments regarding our tie-dyed shirts. For those of you interested, here is a mini-tutorial of how you might go about getting a heart in the middle of a tie-dyed shirt. I will use a paper towel for illustration purposes. Pretend the paper towel has a double layer, just like a tee shirt does when you lay it flat on a table. First, fold it in half along its vertical centerline. Then, using a water soluble pen, or a pencil (lightly), draw half of a heart as shown in the photo (except I used a marker -- don't use a marker on your shirt!). Then, the object of this game is to get a rubberband to cinch the fabric along the line just drawn. To do this, start at the top of the heart and begin cinching the fabric... little by little... following the line, until you get to the other end of the line. Then, put a rubber band tightly around the cinched area, directly over the line. If you like, you may put additional rubber bands farther out from the center area to give more of a sunburst effect. Tie dye following directions for your dye, and voila' -- a heart in the center! (I used some food coloring for my paper towel....and if you squint, you may see the white heart in the photo below...but really, an absorbent paper towel really works hard to pull the water under the rubberband, so perhaps an absorbent paper towel is not the best material for tie-dying.....)Okay, now some sock talk. Debi was most insistent that I try her tutorial for the Turkish cast on for toe-up socks. She also suggested that I could do this with only one circular needle, holding both ends of the needle in the same hand and having both ends pointing the same direction, then follow her directions for sliding the needles through the stitches, etc. It sounds complicated as I say it here. It isn't!!!!! In fact, in *The Ultimate Toe-up Sock" pattern which I am compiling as I am trying out various toe-up methods (and which will only include my final favorite method for each stage of sock construction), Debi's version of casting on the toe is going to be the winner....BECAUSE.....no waste yarn is required, it can be done with only one needle (which does not include anything with crochet hooks) and then knitting may proceed with the magic loop method for the rest of the sock. Yes, you heard me right -- the magic loop. I've so far seen no need to learn how to do that, but after using Debi's tutorial, I am actually able to visualize just how the magic loop works, and the thought of a toe-up sock without any special tools required is very appealing to me. For now, however, I'm finishing this sock using the dpn's I started with. It is the Embossed Leaves pattern from Favorite Socks, except I used the cast-on I just described, so I'm making it toe-up, then started knitting the lace pattern (which I changed to only be 15 stitches wide instead of 16, so there are only two stitches of reverse stockinette between each column of leaves). I didn't turn my chart upside down, though, because when I turned my book upside down, I decided that I liked the look of the leaves "growing up" instead of "growing down"....so these socks will have the pattern topsy turvy compared to the photo in the book. In any case, I think it is a lovely pattern!

Anyway, for the record, here is "The Ultimate Sock Pattern" so far:

Cast on using Turkish Cast-On and one 40" circular needle, size US2.

Make the toe -- increase increments yet to be refined --may be every other row -- may be every row until 32 stitches, then switch to every other row -- until 60 stitches are on needles.

Knit until length is two inches less than desired finished length.

Make the heel -- yet to be determined -- trying to decide between short row vs yarnover method.

Knit leg until it is the desired length.

Bind off: *Purl two together. Return this new stitch loosely to left needle.* Repeat between ** until all stitches are bound off. I like this bind off IMMENSELY -- it looks really nice, it doesn't require any hand sewing (except for weaving in the end), and most importantly, it forms a very elastic (but not sloppy) edge.

Since I am totally late to this toe-up party, I think that many of you are way ahead of me on this process of having a favorite way to make a toe-up sock. I'm slow that way sometimes, and change is difficult :-)

Anyway, I'd better run. More soon!
Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

Socks done!!

Greetings and Dear Laura:

Oh, I knitted furiously last night, trying to finish my Sockapalooza Socks so that I could post them as finished on Tuesday. (Official update day.) Alas, it did not happen.

I finally admitted defeat at about 11:30, with 13 1/2 rounds to go. I was able to finish on my lunch hour today, tho, so it's a Wednesday update! Here they are, bound off, ends woven in and ready to be blocked and sent. And I would like to point out that I am 3 weeks early!! In the previous Sockapalooza's, I was finishing up during the last week, so this is a bit of an odd feeling for me. GOOD, but odd.


I was left with 10 minutes in my lunch hour. Fortunately I was optimistic this morning, and I packed the supplies to begin swatching for an EZ Surprise jacket for my great-niece's birthday present later this month.


I talked it over with Lea-Ann at Knitting Today on Saturday, and mentioned that my hesitation about using the pattern was that when I made it a few month ago, the arms were too short for the child. I was unsure how to approach an alteration. She immediately knew of a solution - to either pick up stitches at the cuffs and lengthen the sleeves, or else to cast on the cuff sleeves with a provision cast-on, making live stitches available for adding length.

I'm going to try the provisional cast-on and see how that works. I also need to do a few pairs of baby socks for a gift, so those two projects should keep me busy and content!

Keep knitting!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

Mail call!

Greetings and Dear Laura:

Hey, great t-shirts - I love your variation! Sounds like you're working on a fun tradition there!

Yesterday, I made a trip to my remaining LYS, Knitting Today, which is about 20 miles north of me. Having fallen in love with the "magic loop," I needed 47" circulars in size 0 and 1. I'm trying the size 1 in the Addi Turbo Lace needle to see how I like that. Since I'm still dinking around with short-row heels, the sharp point might be helpful. (For the purling three together, not for stabbing myself, although the thought crosses my mind.....) I did have a little bit of a accident at the Noro Kureyon bin, but I'm collecting for a project, so I don't think that counts. I just needed to hang around a yarn store for a while!

(BTW, the Sockapalooza sock is having a bit of a time-out this afternoon...)

And then I got home and checked the mail.....w00t!!

There was a package.....

from Canada!

I confess that Knitting at Lunch and I had a bit of an "online accident" a couple of weeks ago after the Yarn Harlot posted about these baby sweaters. We both have plenty of babies on the way to knit for! I got the Tulip colorway and she got the Rocketry. By ordering together, we did save a bit on shipping.


And there was more......



Just a month away!

Keep knitting....

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

Sock Break

Greetings and Dear Cynthia,

I interrupt this blog to bring you photos from our most recent tie-dying extravaganza. Every year, I ask the boys something like, "What should we get Daddy for his birthday?", and I can always expect the answer to be something along the lines of a tie dye shirt. It isn't because they think their Daddy looks great in a tie dye shirt; their thought process is more along the lines of, "Hey, I think **I** can get a new tie dye shirt out of this deal." In any case, I confess that my thought process isn't very different from theirs. And, each year we get a little better at it. Here are our creations from this year, in "age of owner" order, which puts mine totally last, because, as my kids point out publicly and loudly several times a week, "Mommy is the oldest one in our family."

This year's theme was "sunburst". The boys picked and applied their own colors.

My four year old's shirt (**four and a half**, as he will emphasize to anybody who will listen):My six year old's shirt:My dh's shirt (I picked and applied the colors, with emphasis on using colors that are "not too bright" -- my dh's most comfortable "fashion statement"):My shirt (in which I cheated on the sunburst theme a little bit):In my next post, I'm planning to begin the "Embossed Leaves Socks" from Favorite Socks, except I'll be revising the pattern to knit them from the toe up using the Turkish Cast On. I used to be a firm believer in knitting a sock from the top down, but lately, and I'm very surprised at myself, I think I'm being converted to the toe up approach.

Anyway, I would be happy to be your support group when you cut your first steek, though I make it clear right here and with witnesses that you are completely responsible for the location of said steek, and it is up to **you** to measure four times and cut once.

Regarding Duluth, I made both of the items (two Dale of Norway headbands) I set out to make with my purchase there, and now my six year old son wears the headband. It looks much better on him than it ever did on me, and I think he likes the fact that it matches his Daddy's headband..... You could teach me a thing or two about stash.....though I have been picking up a little on my own :-)

Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

Stash Talk II (and socks and babies!)

Greetings and Dear Laura:

Great looking socks!! This blog may have a bit of a sock-focus for a while, as I'm working on Sockapalooza 4, and I have several other sock projects "in process!" (I don't know if I mentioned, but I'm thinking of bringing the Lady Bug sweater I'm working on when we meet for Stitches. Wanna be my support group when I cut my first steeks???????)

I've finished the first sock and done the toe of the second sock, so I am well on my sockapalooza way! I used the cast-on that you mentioned, and I'm really happy with how stretchy it is. Thanks!



Ok, a bit more about stash - I'm kind of obsessed with it lately! I've been remembering the beginning of my stash - do you remember? That trip to Duluth? You and Ruth were saying that you weren't going to buy any more "craft projects" until you had completed some. I announced that I had stopped doing any crafts, so I didn't have to worry about buying any. Then Ruth, that sly minx, took us to her LYS and stood back and watched as you bought a little yarn and I, well, I "had an accident" of mammoth proportions.

I got that white furry yarn for my first scarf (where I learned about lifelines!) and a navy wool with little white slubs in it. I think I bought a pattern book and some needles.....and of course, the discontinued Dale of Norway Cotton/Alpaca blend. It was only like THREE DOLLARS A BALL!! How could I not??? Of course, I didn't know if I would like it, but it was Dale of Norway! and ALPACA, which I had already noticed was expensive. And DISCONTINUED!! What if I loved it????

Turns out I didn't love it, and all but about 2 balls are still in my stash..... I did make a scarf (my third FO) of my own design. Remember that you noticed all the stockinette stitches were twisted? I couldn't figure out why, and eventually discovered some Eastern European style of knitting where they purposely twisted the stitches, so I always called it my Slavic Scarf!

And then for quite a while, when I would see a yarn that I loved, I would try to decide at that moment what I would make of it. I always ended up buying about a sweater's-worth, just in case, and so the stash grew. Fortunately for my pocketbook, I saw a tip that said to buy only one ball, take it home and decide if you love it and exactly what to make before you buy so much. I stopped haunting Elann.com and learned to make socks, so the bulk of my stash is now smaller lots.

I haven't decided to STOP buying yarn, but I am working on organizing, cataloging and USING my stash. There is still some yarn that I no longer love and would like to de-stash. The best thing that has happened since I stopped neglecting my stash is that I have begun to use it!

I have done a couple of commission projects this year, and of course the blanket - those were not from the stash. But most of the rest of my knitting from this year HAS been from the stash, including the Sockapalooza socks!

www.flickr.com

So, now I'll quit babbling about stash - at least for a little while.

Because I need to spend some quality time with my stash and pattern books and imagination. I just found out that my niece-who-is-a-new-bride is expecting a baby next spring!! Yay!! (That brings to FIVE the number of babies I get to knit for by March...I really don't have time to talk to you, now do I???)

Keep knitting!!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

Socks (still).....

Greetings and Dear Cynthia,

First, Happy 4th of July! It's a bit on the gloomy side here today, so we haven't put our flag out yet because it looks like it is probably going to rain. However, a day off from the routine is a day off from the routine! No kids' programming today! DH has to go to the office for a little while, but he can set his own hours today....so, for the most part, a relaxing day...

Second, your blanket looks so wonderful! AND, YAY FOR YOU for getting it done on time!! It sounds like you're having a fun time deciding what to work on, now that you are freed from that huge project! Fun to hear about your stash thought process. Makes me feel a little bit more sane...

Thank you to our commenters for your strong encouragement to try using a circular needle for the Turkish cast on. On my very next pair of socks, I'm going to try that -- I promise! For now, I continue working with the pattern in the current (Summer 2007) issue of Interweave Knits, for a "better toe-up sock". I have one sock finished, the other just past the toe.So, let's talk about short row heels again.....your **favorite** topic, Cynthia :-) This pattern teaches a method that utilizes yarn overs instead of wraps and turns. I particularly love it for the first half of the heel, because there are no wraps! YAY! It got a little confusing for the second half of the heel, because there is some manipulating of the yarnovers so that they are oriented properly, and also some purling through the back loops of three stitches at a time, which sounded like a horror to me initially, but which ended up being just fine....once I figure it out. Both sides of the heel match nicely, and I love the fit. It seems to me that doing the yarnover method basically achieves a result quite similar to knitting the wraps together, only the way it is executed is different. Not sure which way I like better. Maybe I'll arrive at a conclusion after I do the yarnover technique for a second time on my current sock..... (Please disregard the huge welt that is on my leg, as shown in the photo above. I think it's from a bug of some sort..... I have two words regarding that -- "topical Benadryl")

AND, my class started this seek -- Physiology of Exercise -- and already I'm up to my ears in glycolysis and other bodily processes which serve to convert the food we eat into forms of energy our muscles and brains can use. I just really love learning about this stuff, and I think it is partly because for the first time in my life, I've managed to keep up with an exercise regimen for over nine months in a row, averaging three workouts per week. It's helped my cholesterol and triglyceride levels, too. My HDL (good cholesterol) is 73, and I've been reading that having a high HDL is more important than keeping the total below 200 (my total is 244 -- high cholesterol runs in my family). I still have some dietary things I want to work on modifying in order bring my total cholesterol down, but it's a good start, and my doctor isn't concerned. Anyway, I digressed..... This class is going to be stealing away some of my knitting time for the next five weeks, so it's a good thing I've been getting you all accustomed to posts about socks, because I have a feeling that's what I'll have to show you in the coming weeks.

Right after that in mid August, of course, is our planned meeting/excursion to Stitches Midwest, so I know we will have LOTS to talk about and show on the blog after that!....well, for me it will hopefully be something more than socks. Perhaps the Mystery Stole 3, which I think is going to be the project I'll work on while on the bus on the way to Stitches.....because even though I joined the Yahoo group, realistically I won't be able to work on it until my class has finished.

Well, I think I've rambled long enough! I hope you have a great day!

Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

Stash Talk

Greetings and Dear Laura:

Whew! With the blanket in my rear-view mirror, I feel like I'm on vacation or something! Just knitting away on whatever I'd like. The cuff of my first Sockapalooza 4 sock only needs a few more inches to the cuff, so I'm in good shape there. I'm hoping to do some swatching tomorrow on a baby sweater. Oh, and cleaning my house! Good heavens, it's amazing how quickly it reverts to dust-bunnies.

Last March, I posted about my genetic tendency to stash in a post called My Grandmother's Stash. I followed up later in the spring with a stash sale that lightened the load and also resulted in a bit of organization. At least it all saw the light of day, if only for a few weeks!

I've pretty much always lived with a stash philosophy of "More is Better." Or, "She who dies with the most yarn wins!" Let's just say what when someone would bring up ideas for breaking a stash addiction, my response has always been a resounding, "WHY???"

My attitude is shifting, however, and I blame this.



I listen to my iPod at work. Depending on the project and level of concentration, I either listen to music, an audiobook or podcasts. High concentration - music. Medium concentration - a book that I have already liked in print or audio. Low concentration - a new book or podcast. I also tend to listen to podcasts in bunches. When I discover a new podcast, I download all of the available episodes and listen to them in order. Sometimes after the first few episodes I decide not to continue. However, if I liked the podcast, the next time I go on a podcast jag, I'll catch up-to-date on those that I enjoy.

Early last March, I discovered the first few episodes of "Stash and Burn" featuring Jenny and Nicole from San Francisco. I was amazed that they are tracking their stash on a spreadsheet (hello!) and knew exactly how many yard of yarn that they have. (One of them had 65,000 yards!!!) I was torn between admiration, horror, fear, and the nagging question....(whispered) how much do I actually have???? It can't be THAT much, can it??

Then I went into my hall closet to find something, grabbed a bag that was stuffed under a pile of things and opened it to discover yarn that I had no recollection of acquiring. Kinda freaked me out, I have to say.



In my defense, having touched all of my stash in the last few months, those 4 balls are the only ones that I have no recollection of. I sometimes have to think awhile, and some yarn brings to mind more detail than other yarn.....but even with the receipt, I don't remember buying this yarn!

Since discovering "Stash and Burn," I've toyed with the idea of a Stash Spreadsheet of my own. I've mostly been restrained by thinking about how much knitting time would be used up in data entry. Then along came Ravelry, which is so much better than just a spreadsheet! It's a full featured stash-o-rama, online and shared! I am so psyched!

I think the best thing that I have learned so far in my Stash Management (I'm not DE-stashing!) journey is that I want to SEE my stash. At some point, I wanted all of this yarn. Even if it hadn't spoken about what it wanted to be, or even if it has changed what it will be, if I don't see it I don't love it. And if I'm always adding yarn that I love then I'm missing an opportunity to knit what I already loved.

Alright. Enough for now. More stash talk on the way tho!!

Keep knitting!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

YES!!

Greetings and Dear Laura:

The blanket is finished! Thank you all for the support and encouragement as I was madly knitting to the end! I cast off at around 2 pm on Saturday, so I was a full three-hours ahead of schedule. The blanket was wrapped and presented at the party - a first for me!

I ran out of pink yarn at about 55" and then began the border. I was amazed by the fact that my gauge was considerably different at the end than at the beginning. I would have assumed that if my gauge were to change, it would be tighter because of the stress and tension of trying to finish on time. Turns out it was considerably looser than when I started out. I had changed my "grip" somewhat in an attempt to relieve the pain in my wrists, shoulders and hands, so I suppose that accounts for it. The top border was a bit "wavy" because it was looser garter-stitch, but I'm hopeful that it will block out. Which I do still have to do - blocking. Hopefully this week I'll be able to give it a bath and square it up.

And so now I'm off and running on my Sockapalooza 4 socks. I had several inches on the cuff of the first sock, but Saturday evening I had to admit that something was wonky and ripped back almost to the heel. This was distressing to my aunts and uncles who were watching me knit. One of my aunts said, "It's a sock! Won't it be covered up by the pants anyway????" I explained that these socks are a gift. For a KNITTER. Who will know wonky when she sees it!! I'm still not sure that I went back quite far enough, and even though I'm back into positive progress, I'll be taking a closer look again tonight to see if it needs to be ripped out again.

The center cables alternate between right-left turn and left-right turn. At the very bottom of the cuff, in the back, I did right-left turn 2 times in a row. It wouldn't bother me so much, but I didn't make this mistake on the front 1/2 of the sock. While it's not something you'd ever really notice unless you were working hard to find it, it means that I have to consciously remember to do the back cables differently than the front cables. This is making me crazy and would have to continue for the rest of the cuff. EEEEKK!

I do have another project that I'll be working on in July - I'd like to do a sweater in a size 18 mos for my great-niece who is turning 1 at the end of this month. I'd like something in wool, preferably worsted weight. I'm perusing the stash and pattern collection and I'd like to start this week. Other than that, I'm not really going to have "GOALS" for the month. As much as it has been helpful and I've appreciated the discipline (such as it was,) I'd like to have a break this month. Just knitting. No crazy impossible goals. And....I don't think I want to cast on anything else, and I don't want to be bound to finishing anything else off....I may cast on something(s) and/or finish something(s) but I'm just going to follow the mood this month.

What I am hoping to concentrate on in the near future is STASH. Stayed tuned to this station......

Keep knitting!!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

Trying something new

Greetings, and Dear Cynthia,

Your blanket looks so nice, and I agree with everybody else that you have a great shot at finishing it on time. What a wonderful gift it will be! And awesome "schedule" you have for finishing it. I just have to say that 10,032 is a WHOLE LOT of stitches for only two days!

I moved on to another pair of socks, this time following the directions in the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits for "A better SOCK from the TOE UP". Well, mostly following the directions..... (I moved the "end of round" to be at the side of the foot, instead if in the back, because after casting on, it just seemed more logical to me.....though perhaps it is just because I am unable to follow directions verbatim...

In any case, it uses the Middle East Cast-On (also referred to as the "Eastern Cast-On" in the magazine). Basically, it ends up being just like this (thank you, Debi) except without having to use circular needles. It is just my four sock needles, and the skein of sock yarn, which really appeals to me. No need for waste yarn. No need for a crochet hook. No guessing about how long to make the "long tail".

It all sounds wonderful, except that this:....took me approximately 30 minutes to accomplish.

Well, even the knit stitch seemed difficult the first time I tried it... I think it will be quicker and easier when I get to the second sock. I prefer this to the figure eight method I tried once, only because after doing the figure eight, I had to go back and tighten stitches. With this method, I didn't have to mess around with it at all. (Though, perhaps if I tried the figure eight method again, I could do it a bit tighter and so wouldn't have to go back and tighten things? I don't know.....)

My dh took both boys out for an hour..... My six year old has a soccer class, and my four year old went along because he likes spending time with his Daddy (or maybe he already spent too much time today with me and wanted a break). Anyway, it means I have a free hour to use however I see fit! I think I'm going to work on my new sock!

Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)
P.S. You go girl! Just think of how great it will feel to have that blanket done! What will you knit next? Hopefully something with a little meat to it, because I feel like a bit of a knitting slacker lately and am counting on you to pull this blog through my slump.....

10,032 stitches.....

in 2 days.

Thanks for all your encouragement. I have managed the full 3" per day Tuesday and Wednesday. 8 hrs work, 1 hr commute, 4 hours knitting times 2 days = 10,032 stitches!
;)

Oh, I wanted to mention that the goal is 60" OR until the pink yarn runs out plus 2" brown border. I may end up an inch or two short, but I'm not going to try to track down another $16 skein for a few inches.....I may consider making the top border a bit thicker, we'll see.

I have counted out an M&M for each "pair" of rows, and when I've had 12 M&M's, my day is done!

G'night!

Keep knitting....

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

Knitting Delusions......

Greetings and Dear Laura:

First of all, thanks to Arianne and Debi for the tips on the provisional cast on. I'll definitely give it a try on my next pair of socks. I have a pattern that I fell in love with,(hmm, were's that link? HERE it is...) but have since avoided because of the provisional cast-on. While I tend toward the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy (and I love the figure-8 cast on toe!) I like to keep an open mind about learning new knitting techniques. Hey, everything I've learned was new at some point!

Laura, your socks are beautiful! I love the yarn, the colors and the pattern all! Great job. I'm glad you had enough yarn....and I'll be digging into the directions for that bind off sometime next week is my guess.

Because I have delusions. Blanket delusions. And a deadline.

Yes, even tho two weeks ago I accepted the fact that the blanket would not be finished by June 30th, I cannot completely let go of the madness. Despite the fact that I started this blanket in January, and in the next 5.5 months I was able to knit all of 35" (of the 60" that is the goal) somehow last Friday I thought that if I knit REALLY REALLY HARD and did NOTHING ELSE (except go to work) just MAYBE.....

I don't know how these things happen. And I have in the last 4 days knit an additional 10"! (And done laundry and gone to church and a birthday party!) Now I have 15" left. I've started carrying it (gigantic tho it is!) to work for my lunch hour, so that's 3 extra hours to work on it yet this week. The math breaks down like this:

In one focused hour, I can knit 6 rows which is .75" I need 15" more. That equals 20 hours of knitting. I have 3 lunch hours, so I need 17 more hours. The kicker is...the party isn't until Saturday at 5 pm!! SO, if I knit the next 4 evenings for 3 hours, that's 12 more hours, leaving just 5 hours that I need to knit on Saturday!

Here are current pictures - the "brick" side is the pattern, but I think I like the reverse side even better. And I'm amazed at how much less yarn the slip-stitch rows take. The brown is solid garter stitch, and I get 11" per skein. The pink is knit 3 slip 1, and I get almost 17" per skein (same yardage.) Amazing....

Anyway. Keep knitting!! (I know I will.........)

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

The case for toe-up socks

Greetings and Dear Cynthia,

I give you exhibit A, which resulted after a few days of wondering, "Hmmmm, am I going to run out of yarn":
This is the yarn remaining after I finally finished my Traveling Companion socks. These are socks knit from the top down, and TEDIOUS, and if I had run out of yarn, I swear I would have just left the second toe un-knit before I would have ripped them back all the way to start over with shorter leg parts. (Well, once I got over the shock, I would have probably purchased additional yarn, but really, the best option is not running out of yarn in the first place, so a big PHEW!) In any case, this summer I'm going to try several methods for knitting socks toe-up... I really like the idea of not having to worry about running out of yarn after guessing wrong about the leg length on the top-down variety... Can you stand the excitement?

And so, I finished the first toe-up sock knit from Wendy's pattern. (This next picture might be a little bit blurry, but I had to quickly take the sock off and put my camera down, because as I was sitting on the front porch getting these photos, a strange man rode his bike into our driveway, and I had to at least give this visitor the appearance that I am sane. This strange man happened to be a friend of mine from college (ahem, 20 years ago), and he was on his way home from work. You know how you wonder sometimes whatever happened to friends from your past? Yes, well, now this particular friend can say, "Laura, yeah, um, I ran into her the other day, and she was sitting on a bench in front of her house taking pictures of her feet.") I thought Wendy's directions were pretty straightforward, and I'm really very happy with the results, and it was a quick knit. I did end up picking up two extra stitches on each side of the heel to close the gaps there, and then kept those stitches all the way up the leg so that the leg part would be a little bit wider. I also switched to larger needles about halfway up the leg part to allow for the widening of the calf. For the bind-off, I did what I've seen referred to as a "lace bind-off", in which you *purl two stitches together, place the newly formed stitch back onto the left needle loosely*, then repeat between *, and I LOVED it.
Very stretchy -- exactly what I needed for this sock.

Anyway, back to sock knitting...but before that, a "thank you" to Arianne and Debi for your hints regarding toe-up socks. I'm eager to learn more about this topic, and I'm so glad for your thoughts and information! I'm going to try out your suggestions, and ultimately develop my own "favorite" toe-up pattern incorporating my favorite techniques, so I'm glad to have additional things to try which YOU have found useful!

Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

Lets NOT talk about short-row TOES!

Greetings and Dear Laura:

AACCKK!! My brain is overflowing! Short-row toes just push me over the edge. Which is why the criteria for these socks included "figure-8 cast on!"

Seriously, one of the many things that I love about knitting socks is that I can generally knit socks without being 'tied to a pattern.' As long as I know how many stitches to cast on for my yarn & needle size, then I can make a pair of socks. Cuff-down, flap heel, and I can even jazz up the ribbing combinations and/or throw in some lace or cables. Once the lace or cable pattern gets a little complex, I may need a few notes to stay on track. For instance, the pattern for this pair of socks, while rather basic, still takes 2 pages and that's more than I want to carry. The summary that I carry around in my project bag looks like this:

Sock pattern
Originally uploaded by designatedknitter

I figure that once I master the short-row heel technique, whichever I end up with, I'll be able to knit a basic sock, toe up and short-row if I know how many to do a figure-8 cast on, and how many stitches I need to increase the toe to. However, the words "provisional cast-on" give me the heebie-jeebies!! I know I've done it, but only with a book in front of me and well....let's just say I have it in the same category as Kitchner. (To be avoided if possible!)

Marit and Tania - thank you for your short-row heel suggestions. I am going to try them on the next heel - I'm sure I'll have more than one opportunity! I'll definitely be using a lifeline - Marie N, I'm glad that you've found that tip useful. I would still be knitting my first project (a garter stitch scarf with furry yarn - you could NOT find a dropped stitch!) if it weren't for lifelines!

Lauren. Yeah, yeah, spell check will not catch if you use viola instead of voila!! ;)

Guess that's all for today,

Keep knitting!!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

I actually finished something.....

Greetings, and Dear Cynthia,

I DID actually finish something.....though it wasn't the pink, tedious sock. (Another week for that, I think...)

I've had only half of a blind up on one of the windows in the master bedroom for weeks now. Nothing screams to my husband that "Laura has a lot of unfinished projects" more than half of a valence on one of the windows we see every day. I think he must notice it, though, kindly, he hasn't said anything. Perhaps it is my own conscience which is convicting me.

In any case, I finished the rest of the panels. Here they are, the "front side" of one panel, the "reverse side" of another, and the third showing both sides:And here is the finished window:I couldn't get the lighting right on that shot after a dozen tries, but I think you get the idea.

This is what it looked like originally:The new valence is mounted a bit higher, to give the window the allusion of being taller. Also, the fact that I fixed the blind might give it a more "finished" look, too...

Anyway, one window done, and one to go. I'd like to have it done before my class starts on July 2nd....well, that and about a thousand other things...

Knitting in my next post, for sure! I've been knitting socks!

Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

Well, what about short-row toes?

Greetings, and Dear Cynthia,

At the risk of sounding as though I got a laugh at the expense of your misfortune, I have to say that I was quite humored by your post yesterday about short row heels.

And, this is a journey that you and I are sort of taking together, because look:I HAD to have a mindless break and relief for my hands from the tedious sock I was working on, so I got some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport yarn out of my stash (a wonderful gift from a former knitter who **gave** it to me because she just didn't want it any more, which I'm having a hard time imagining, but some things in this lifetime just can't be explained) and started Wendy's toe-up pattern....which has a short row toe....

This is one of many knitting adventures in which I am totally **late** to the party. I've done one pair of toe-up socks, and I used the figure-eight cast-on for them, so this short row method was completely new to me. It took me a little while to figure out how it was unfolding (because it starts with a provisional cast-on row at a position that is sort of at the base of my toes, then smaller and smaller short rows are worked for a while to form the fabric which goes from the base of the top of the toes out to the tips, then the short rows get bigger again to make the other side from the tips to the base of the toes, then the provisional cast-on is removed and voila' I'm working in the round with a whole toe completed already). It seems like clear sailing to have this toe out of the way, though.....after reading your post..... it sounds like I am in for a bit of a surprise when I get to the heel. Perhaps "mindless" does not adequately describe what I'm about to encounter on this sock. Hmmmm..... More news on that as it happens.....

Elizabeth - Your comment about picking, and that alternating knits and purls would be less tedious that way, made me laugh. I'm sure that Cynthia (a picker) was secretly cheering when she read that, too. I've actually tried the Norwegian Purl method of knitting and purling while picking, and though I was extremely impressed and excited about the possibilities, I didn't take it any further, and my tension was pretty loose, probably because I'm unpracticed at it. Perhaps I should re-visit that, because I know you're right. Also, why didn't I talk to you **before** our trip to get your advice about things like First Aid Kits??

Elaine and Sus - Thank you for your support regarding my class. For the most part, I've really been surprised by how supportive almost everybody is regarding my return to school. I expected that most people would question it, and so have been glad for a response that is so completely the opposite of what I expected.

Well, today's chores while the boys are at Vacation Bible School are to go to the grocery store (haven't yet mustered the courage this summer to take both kids along with me -- I used to do it all the time when they were smaller, but it wasn't a lot of fun then, and I don't think it would be now, either), and then I've got a lot of paper filing to do. And, two loads of laundry..... Plus, some sock knitting.

Have a great day! More soon!
Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

I love short-row heels, really.....

Bottom of sock
Originally uploaded by designatedknitter

Howdy all!

You see, it turns out that I have this.....obsession with short-row heels. I remember making my first sock with a flap heel and thinking, "That doesn't look like a heel!" I've gotten used to it - I've just never really liked it.

I first did a pair of socks with short-row heels several years ago. The directions made no sense whatsoever to me - I just followed step by step and ended up with heels that I liked the look and feel of, but that I didn't enjoy knitting. Too much turning around and being confused.

So I continued on with the flap heel. And I saw the Lizard Ridge Afghan pattern, and really wanted to make it. The directions recommended learning to knit backwards to eliminate the constant turning of your work. I wasn't ready to start the afghan, but on a whim I decided to learn the knitting backwards technique so that I would be ready when I DID start the project.

I was working on the intarsia-blanket-without-end and it was flat stockinette, so I followed the directions in a book and knitted backwards instead of purling. Turns out it's really easy! It even made intarsia less evil! (Well, I think it helps that I knit continental - the angle helps.) I lost my fear of short rows in general. I've made a couple of Lizard Ridge squares and it's great!

So obviously now I can knit short-row heels, right?? I like the look and feel, and I understand short-rows, AND I can knit backwards. I am all about the short-row heels.

Ahem. You may remember that I currently have a pair of socks in "time-out" because of heel issues? Yeah. Seems I have yet to do a short-row heel in less than 3 tries.

This project? One of my pattern criteria was short-row heels? Right. As I knit the first heel row, I flirted with the idea of a life-line, but decided that this time I really could do it in one shot.

Attempt #1 - Japanese Short Rows. It was the wraps that were giving me fits, so I heard about Japanese short rows - no wraps! I sat down in front of an online tutorial and started in. Apparently this technique requires putting a saftey pin on the yarn at each "turn" to mark the loop. So I have these neat little sections with paperclips hanging off the back of each stitch. Then after you've worked the loop, you remove the pin. I found the technique to be pretty fussy, and so when I forgot to take off the pin a couple of times on the purl side and totally messed it up, I frogged.

Insert lifeline.

Attempt #2 - Ok, no Japanese - how about the no-wraps yarnover method? I found the directions to be confusing. The directions specifically pointed out which of the "pair" of stitches was the yarnover - and then told you on each row to knit to yarn-over and turn. I thought that was odd, and that the net stitch count would not decrease, but hey, I'm following the directions. About 10 rows in I count and discover that I am correct and that I have not decreased the number of stitches at all. Frogged.

Attempt #3 - SO, reading the directions as if it says to knit to the yarnover PAIR instead, I am able to successfully knit the first half of the heel. However when I start working the yarn-over pairs on the second half, the purl side seems to be wonky. There's a point where I'm purling 3 together through the back loop, and it's leaving a HUGE hole. Frogged.

Attempt #4 - This time when I start working the yarn-overs, I notice on the knit side that I am knitting together the newest yarn-over, middle stitch, and the next held yarn-over. I apply that principle to the purl side, and VIOLA!! Like magic! A short row heel!! Fourth times a charm!!!

I spent my knitting time last night on the sock, just so that I could have a HEEL to show in my Tuesday progress report. I'm now working on the lace cuff. I think I have the short-row heel figured out now, so I can't wait to get to the next one. Where you better believe I'm putting in a lifeline the first time.

Keep knitting!!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter!)

Remember me?

Greetings, and Dear Cynthia,

First, your fingerless "jaywalker" mitts are awesome!

Second, so sad about your Chibi. I would never have guessed that they aren't machine washable.....

Phew! Summer is here, and we spent last week on vacation. I brought along my "Travelling Companion" sock, and so I have some progress to show for it. This is hours and hours worth of knitting, in the car, in our cabin in the evenings, etc., shown with its already completed mate: It is a tedious pattern to knit, but it packs well (small) and I had no worries about running out of knitting. Now that I'm past the heel and working along the foot, it goes much faster, since the patterning is only on the top half. YAY! I'm ready to move on to a different style sock...

We went to a cabin in the Minnesota Woods, learning later that it is one of the areas in the state in which the deer ticks (those that transmit Lyme disease) are the most densely populated. On the first day of our trip, we went to the pharmacy because my little guy had a sore bottom, and I hadn't packed any sort of ointments. On the second day of our trip, we went to the pharmacy, because both little guys were covered with mosquito bites. On the third day of the trip, I think we didn't go to any pharmacies. On the fourth day of the trip, we bought a first aid kit in order to clean/remove a splinter. In spite of having scratches and mosquito bites all over, both boys said that they like Minnesota a lot more than Wisconsin and they want to stay there for 20 weeks. I guess that means that we had a great trip.

Summer programming officially begins today, with the boys going to Vacation Bible School for the mornings. I'm going to be taking a class this summer (four credits in six weeks), and am a little bit concerned about the intensity level of it, so I'm trying to "work ahead" in the house in order to make things as easy as possible for the duration of the course. It's sort of like stocking up on paper products and putting meals in the freezer in anticipation of the birth of a child, because you know that first six weeks after you come home from the hospital is going to be a bit hectic.

However, I continue to have knitting projects lined up, and will share those with you as I go, though probably at a slower pace than usual.

I'd better go get some sun block on the boys. I think it is one of my least favorite things about summer, though I'm thankful for these disease preventive "technologies".

Have a great day! More soon!
Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)

I don't like to sew....

Bent Chibi
Originally uploaded by designatedknitter

Ok, but that's not really what happened to the chibi on the top! I had tucked the chibi in my pocket, and it ended up in the wash. Guess it's not "machine washable!"

It was kind of a crazy weekend. My parents were back from Kentucky, so I didn't really get much done. That's just how it goes - mom has even noticed. She says, "I'm sorry you don't seem to get much of your own stuff done when we're here..." but I am glad to have them around and to do stuff for/with them, so it's good.

However, since they were home and have "the good camera," I decided to start photographing my stash. (I heard that starting to put stash photos on Flickr is a good way to be prepared for when I get my Ravelry invite!) I photographed one of the baskets, and uploaded about 20 pics. Then I sat down and added tags and comments and label information. It was fun - I'm looking forward to working on this more. I enjoy remembering what yarn I already have and it makes me more eager to knit with it.

And spending time with my stash over the last few months has gotten me started knitting from it - other than the blanket, the last 5 or 6 projects that I've started have been from my stash, which makes me happy!

All right then....keep knitting!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter!)

Socks zigging and zagging along!

Hello all - thank you so much for you kind comments about the Jaywalker mitts! They were a fun distraction from the blanket project (which I'm not going to talk about much for a while. I'm working on it. It's growing. Not much more to say until it gets close to the end!) The Jaywalker pattern is a great candidate for converting to fingerless mitts. All I had to do to make the circumference smaller was decrease the number of stitches between the increases/decreases, and then add a standard thumb gusset when I got to that point. It's so fun when it works out to be simple!


Here is a picture of the progress of my Sockapalooza 4 socks. Now, I know that at first glance, they look exactly like the first picture I posted. In fact, I staged the photo differently to assure you that it is indeed a different picture! (But you're right, it is at the same point....)




See? The first picture is on the top, the current picture on the bottom. If you look REALLY REALLY hard, you may be able to tell that currently the zig-zag lace line moves toward the middle at the same time and outward at the same time, where in the original pattern, they move in parallel. That just made me twitchy! Gotta have symmetry!

Now that I've got my pattern charted out, it's much easier to get into the rhythm of cabling without a cable needle. I was telling Lauren today while we knitted at lunch that I still have to THINK about how to do it, but by time I've done 2 socks worth of it, I'm sure I'll be able to do it in my sleep! You're so right, Marie - it takes a lot of practice!


The lace pattern is 12 rows, and I can do a repeat in 45-55 minutes. Right now, since I'm on the foot portion, I'm only doing the lace on the top 1/2 of the stitches. We'll see if my time changes once I get to the leg portion.


That's all for today - keep knitting!!


Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter!)

Sockapalooza 4 Begun!

Hello!

Well, another weekend passed at lightening speed. I was really excited to have my new clothesline installed - I got to sleep on freshly laundered sheets that had been hung outside to dry! I love that smell.......


I finished the Jaywalker Fingerless Mitts in time to mail them out on Saturday morning! Here's a picure of the finished project.



I really like the look of them being worn better than just laying out. It really makes a difference. The measurements are smaller than the recipient's, but they stretch and fit really well.



I also included a pair of "Knit & Purl" stitch markers for Poor Miss Finch to either add to the prize stash or else keep for herself. This knit-along/contest was such a lovely thing for her to do!


I started my Sockapalooza Socks! I kind of made an event of it. Saturday morning I stopped by the Wool Barn to see if the two sock books that I had ordered were in - no such luck. I also "visited" my swift and ball-winder, and wound up my top-two yarn choices. I then drove up to Knitting Today, and purchased a 47" needle so that I could use the Magic Loop method.


Then it was back home to choose a pattern. I wanted: Toe-up with a figure-8 cast on. Short Row heel. Lacy, cabley, something pretty and interesting. Most of all, a pattern that I liked as written - I didn't want to be "tweaking" it. I enjoyed browsing the patterns, and I settled on "Waders."



I was able to cast on and got through 2 pattern repeats. I'm really happy with the pattern/yarn combo. I looked up cabling without a cable needle, and I started out doing that. However, it's a new technique for me, and I got to the point where I had to choose the technique, or "reading my knitting" so that I didn't have to follow the text of the directions. I decided to chart the pattern so that I could move away from the text. I also (cough"tweaked"cough) decided that I wanted the eyelet zigzags to mirror each other, rather than match. So I charted accordingly, frogged back, and found that with the chart and no cable needles, the pattern flows very nicely.

So, I'm off and running!

Keep knitting,

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter)

June already???

Dear Laura:

Well, things have been rather crazy - but not in a bad way! Just a bit overwhelming.....

Memorial Day weekend was grand. It started off Friday evening when I got to babysit my new little baby niece for a couple of hours! Then Saturday I met another niece and her husband and baby for a sushi lunch at our favorite restaurant. Yum!!

Then EVERYONE gathered that evening for the wedding reception of yet another niece! She and her husband were married the previous weekend in the Dominican Republic. The reception was lots of fun, lots of good food, good music, LOTS OF BABIES! (Ok, latest count - I have 8 nieces and 3 nephews ranging from 3 weeks to 25 years old, 3 great-nieces and 2 great-nephews ranging from 10 months to 3 years old, and 2 more on the way. Plus there are God-children, I have another one of those on the way too!!)

After a brief sleep Saturday night, we all gathered for Missy's Baptism, piling joy on top of joy! We filled a room at a local restaurant for lunch afterward, changed clothes and gathered again to watch the bride and groom open presents. Really, I don't know how the weekend could have been better! My parents were home from Kentucky and my nephews-who-kind-of-have-jobs-working-with-a-band in California flew home as well. It was the first time in a while that we had EVERYONE together!

I did manage to get knitting done (NOT at the reception or in Church!) over the weekend. My blanket has grown to over 30", which is wonderful!! It was my main goal for May to have it at 34" by June 1st, and I didn't miss that goal by much. There are 23 knitting days left until the graduation party and I have no idea what size it will be at that point. I'm dealing with a convergence of time and yarn and desired size. The goal is 45" x 60"....I have 1.5 skeins of pink yarn, and most of 3 skeins of brown yarn, so it's kind of a race to see where it all ends up. (I do have a secret ball of the pink yarn in my stash, but I don't want to break into it if there isn't enough brown...I use brown faster than I do pink.) I don't really want it to be a square, so it has to be more than 50". 60" really would be good. In the end, it can go on into July if needed, as long as the yarn holds up. I'm just ready to be done with it tho!! (No picture. Really, without a measuring tape, it looks no different than it did last month!)

I've also been working on a pair of fingerless mitts for a KAL at Poor Miss Finch's blog. I'm using some Lorna's Laces from my stash, and I'm happy to have found a project that it wants to be!! I may be making more of these, since I have several skeins still stashed. I based these on the Jaywalker socks pattern and just reduced the number of stiches between the increases/decreases. They are a bit snug on Lauren's hand (thanks for modeling!) but the intended recipient has a smaller hand, so I think we're good. This one is finished now, and I am almost to the thumb on the second one. I plan to finish it this weekend so that I can get it in the mail in plenty of time for the June 15th deadline. Hmm, if I stay up tonight and finish the second one, I could mail them tomorrow when I make my weekly post office run.....


That's really the end of "May Knitting." For June, my main project is of course, the blanket. My carry-along project is going to be my Sockapalooza 4 socks.

I'm so anxious to get started, so once I get my housework done and my laundry hanging on my new clothesline (YAY!!!!!) I'll be fondling my stash and drooling over sock patterns....I can't wait to see what I choose!! ;)

Anyway, that's some of what has been going on here.

Keep knitting!!

Cynthia (aka Designated Knitter!)

Tuesday Sewing

Greetings, and Dear Cynthia,

Thanks for your comments regarding taking it easy with the socks which cramp my hands! Now I'll feel less guilt if I decide to cast on something else and make a "rule" that I may only knit a few rows at a time on the straining sock (Blackberry Ridge "Traveling Sock" pattern). I actually DID take the advice of sage sock knitters and immediately cast on for the second sock before I thought too much about it, so I'm part way through the ribbing. Sadly, that is about all the knitting I've done in the last several days.

I'm continuing my never ending pursuits to organize this home. I think that is taking up some time. On Tuesdays, I work in my sewing room/work area. Such was the case this morning. I have had two small boys' shirts cut out, one of them partly sewn, for almost a year, so today I finished them both. I think they'll fit my six year old. I hope so, because my four year old doesn't like them.

I also did some more work on my valences. I'm not sure what I was thinking with the SEVEN panels, because really, that is a LOT of panels, and it's similar to making socks, except that there are SEVEN of them instead of only TWO. Anyway, my goal is to finish three more panels today, and then I'll have one completed valence.

I start with two rectangles, each cut from a different fabric, measuring 10 x 41 inches. I sew these together, right sides together, leaving an opening in one of the ends for turning. Then, I turn them right side out, and press the edges out. It is critical that these edges be very "sharp", so I generally lick the tips of my fingers, then grab the edges I'm trying to press out and gently roll the fabric between my fingers a little bit until there is no excess fabric in the fold. Then, I press with a steam iron, move over a couple of inches to the next section, and repeat, until the entire rectangle is done. In the area which was left open for turning, I turn those raw edges to the inside and press them flat, too. (That open area will be sewn shut during the next step.)
Then, fold one end over 5 1/2 inches, and stitch close to the edge (which will be roughly 5 3/8 inches from the folded edge). Stitch again 2 inches from the folded edge. Now there is a casing, a little bit bigger than three inches through which the curtain rod may be inserted, and the area above this rod pocket makes a cute little ruffle above the curtain rod. I think this will be obvious when I show the finished valence.

In any case, on the other end of the rectangle, again fold the edge over 5 1/2 inches, except this time to the opposite side. Stitch close to the edge (roughly 5 3/8 inches from the folded edge) and again 2 inches from the folded edge. Now the sewing is done on the panel, and it just has to be installed. I'll show you a photo of a completed panel, before and after installation, in my next post.....

Anyway, we are in our final week of school. Friday is the last day, and then my oldest "baby" will be a "second grader". I can't believe it. Things get more complicated as I try to work on house projects with both kids home..... After school today, we're going to get new shoes. I discovered the other day that my six year old has worn clear through the bottom of his sneakers..... There's just something about a new pair of shoes! I don't know anybody who doesn't love the prospects of having a new pair.

I'd better go get some lunch made.

Warm regards,
Laura (YarnThrower)