On a quest

Does anyone have a copy of Interweave Knits Summer 2004 and be kind to share a pattern from it with me? This issue is discontinued and can't even be found on EBay... :-( There is one pattern in it that I'd love to give a try... I give a skein of sock yarn to my hero!

Survey!

Just a little survey, for everyone's benefit, I hope!

What is your favorite(s) sock yarn of all time?

If it is a very expensive one (>20$US), what is your affordable favorite one too?

Odd question

Just a odd question out of the blue...

When you find a pattern you like but turn out to be crochet and you don't crochet at all, it is "portable" to a knitting one easily? Is it even feasible? Or do I have to learn to crochet?

Dyeing fun!

Apple to Apple yarn - The mixture
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

Last November, I felt like experimenting further at dyeing with Kool-Aid. It was a fun Sunday afternoon!!!

My lovely assistant helped me to design this stripy yarn. I had a certain width in mind and I gotta say, I am pretty close to it in the end! He also helped to achieve the colours I had desired.

Apple to Apple yarn - Ongoing dyeing
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

In order to do the red, we mixed some grocery brand cherry-flavored beverage powder with fruit punch or whatever darkish red flavours I had in the kitchen.

For the green, since it was not possible to find green powder, we had to be creative. I used Crystal Light Lemondade, with Gatorade Frost and Tang, because I ran out of source of yellow.

Apple to Apple yarn - Drying
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

I always keep a bit of grape Kool-Aid, in case I need to darken a colour.


I wanted bright colours, so I saturated and saturated the mixes. It was so sweet and sticky!


I heated and heated until no pigments wanted to soak in the fiber and washed. Happy yarn was born!

Festive finished Apple to Apple sock!
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

For the sock, just a basic pattern and stockinette stitch were executed.



As I was knitting them, I found they were more and more looking like Christmas socks. So I finished them on time for the event!

Knitter's New Year's Resolutions

In 2008, I want...

My Holiday WIP
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

... to knit my first sweater.

... to learn the Magic loop and knit 2 socks at the same time and toe up.

... to update my blog a tad more often, because right now, I am about 3-4 projects behind!

... to avoid buying any new yarn this year (yup, yarn diet!) except for a few exceptions which include exceptional yarn colorways and yarn for a sweater project. (I got a few skeins of yarn for Christmas. I should really melt that stash before considering buying more).

As you can see, I already started my New Year's resolutions! More on that, if I ever follow my other ones, in a timely manner! ;-)

Happy New Knitting Year everyone!

Needles and injuries

Note to self: Only bamboo. Especially for sock knitting.

Safely warm!

I can happily report that for the first time in say, forever, I feel warm when I wear my soft and luxurious Malabrigo Clapotis. The only problem I have met when the temperature falls 20 C degres below 0 is that my legs get really frozen. I just thought that I should knit myself some Malabrigo long-johns! LOL! Any pattern? ;-)

Now, that is what I would call ready for Quebec winter!

Interactive knitting

Hello knitters!

I have a couple of inquiries that need interaction!

- Would anyone have any idea of a good pattern for stripey yarn? I guess that it wouldn't have to be to busy to let the stripes do the talking, but on the other hand, I don't want to do only st. st. for all of them!! Any idea is welcome!

- I am pondering about knitting slippers and have been for a while. The main thing stopping me right now, besides time, is that I seriously don't know where in Montreal to find suede. I wouldn't want my slippers to wear off too quickly, so I want to make suede soles. But where does one get that in Montreal? I know that Effiloché doesn't have that (despite having sewing stuff)... :-(

- I want to learn how to knit socks using the Magic loop! Would anyone teach me? What length of needle do I need for it? At least, I can obtain it in advance...

Thank you!

Scandal!

Reading Knitting up a storm's blog made want to confess something... As many of us knitters, I share dark secrets. The one I will confess today goes like this:

I HATE sewing! I am a snobby knitter; I often avoid patterns on the basis that a part that is sewed should have been designed to be knitted as a whole and that way, there wouldn't be any need for sewing.

Sewing takes precious knitting time away from us, knitters!

Voilà. I feel much better. :-)

The Emergency Shawl story!

So much knitting occurred as well as knitting events! It won't be contained solely in this post, but that it just to make it suspenseful!

Andean Treasure Shawl
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

All right, back in September, I woke up at some point (read too late), awoken by connecting the dots that me going to a wedding in Lake Louise at end September and there being around 5C at that time of the year, as well as me wearing a fancy dress that doesn't really cover that much the shoulders should lead to the logical answer being that I need a shawl. Basically, I ordered my yarn 3 weeks before the flight (at the epiphany moment, basically), which took 2 eternal weeks to show up at my door step and left me with 1 week to produce a shawl.

I call it the Wedding Emergency Shawl.

I wanted something easy to do and to remember, given I have no previous experience in lacing and that I have no time and interest in that, given the circumstances. I went for KnitPicks' Feather and Fan pattern. Here it is:

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1, *[k2tog] 3 times, [yo, k1] 6 times, [k2tog] 3 times; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 4: Knit

I used a total of 10 balls of Andean Silk, colorway cranberry, because I wanted it rather long and wrapping.

View from the 2nd hole
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

Now, this shawl has a lot to tell. It had to be knitted in a week (at the time, I was considering using only 8 balls of yarn), which lead me to have go through a ball a day. Even during working days.

I knitted and I knitted. On the bus, walking to the bus, in the metro. On the plane.

Poppy
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

When we arrived in Lake Louise, the day before the wedding, we went to Golden (BC), for golfing. I don't golf, but I was offered to be my boyfriend's chauffeur (never drove those before and it is fun, fun, fun!!) and that gave me the opportunity to take gorgeous pictures like there is no tomorrow. But, sometimes, between two holes and after taking all that inspired me, I would knit a couple of rows in my cart (especially when there was a shower of rain). There I was, on the golf course, driving and knitting, sometimes both at the same time!

I figured that finishing it in time for the wedding was a tad utopian, but I wanted to do the most I can so I can take it off the needles, wear it at the wedding (hopefully it'll cover my shoulders!) and then I would finish it completely when I come back on, by placing it back on the needles. And so I did.

I blocked it last week. Yeah!

Unhappy? Impatient? I dunno...

It's been more than a week that my order from kyarns has been said "shipped", but still no signs of package at all.

I find this rather frustrating, especially considering that I found that being charged 20$ for the shipping to be ludicrously expensive (usually, nice stores will charge around 7$ for Canada, when coming from the USA). I just fear now that it'll be shipped by UPS (because, I didn't get the choice, despite the amount of money spent on it) and then getting my package will become a retarded exercice in trying not to lose a drop of sanity while juggling with a nuthouse (been there for a lense and it still hurts).

I wish that getting Malabrigo yarn didn't involve paying so much shipping. I wish for shipping options. I wish for delivery in a timely manner. Is that too much to ask? When you expect a package from amazon.com, it never takes forever, it is never complicated to get your order in your hands, and you never have to pay a retarded amount for it. Why yarn has to be different than books?

A question to all Malabrigo lovers

A question to all Malabrigo lovers (and they are oh so numerous!):

Where do you obtain your yarn?
Where/how have you done it so far?

All answers will be appreciated. :-)

Thank you.

I should be called "Small Foot"!

I should be called "SmallFoot", as opposed to BigFoot. I am frustrated that (almost) all sock patterns are for bigger feet than mine. I am a woman size 7 and I feel that the rest of the planet is size 8!!! Most (non-cable) patterns call for 64 sts and my personal number seems to be 56. Yes, even with fingering weight yarn and 2.5mm needles. And, even if I am a thight knitter.

So, that means that a significant part of my knitting a sock involves adapting patterns to a 56 sts, which is not always possible without altering the pattern itself (sometimes majorly) and knit/rip apart/start over again and again, which is frustrating and not as productive as I want. (sigh)

Any small feet knitters in this room with a word on this? <:-)

Happiness

Malabrigo soon to be in my hands

You know what makes a knitter happy? The promise of more yarn! Guess what there'll be on my Christmas list... :-) A few luxurious items that I so want to try but cannot afford as a regular thing. In other words, a knitter's treat! Plus, I have some Malabrigo on the way to my doorstep any day now... Yay!

On my wishlist...
Originally uploaded by LotusKnitter.

I think that every knitter realises at some point what is the correct equilibrium for them. At least, it helps. How many projects at the same time? What kind of projects? What level of difficulty/concentration for each?

Malabrigo soon to be in my hands

For me, I realised that I need to always have a sock ongoing, while knitting something more substantial. It is like having dessert. I couldn't go on only knitting socks or too many in a row, because the rapid satisfaction will lead to a lack of feeling fully satisfied, just like if we had desserts all the time. If I had dessert all the time, man, would I appreciate a substancial meal! Plus, if I were knitting only heavy projects, I'd feel heavy and stagnant. Everyone needs a little dessert to bring joy! So here goes the sock permanently casted on!

On my wishlist...
Originally uploaded by LotusKnitter.

So, I try to stay focussed and keep my attention on 2 projects only. I know very well what comes next and I have a generous queue list, but I keep myself from working a little there and there or even casting on. I want to fully enjoy what I am doing at the moment and progress at a good speed.

So, what works for you?

A hope for warmth!

Wool of the Andes Bulky
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

My friend, FuzzyMitten came home recently to help me figure out how to produce a mitten. With her generous help, I have been able to achieve a pair within 24 hours! Woohoo!

I wanted a basic and easy way to knit mittens and she popped a pattern out of her hat, as we went! So, for those who are interested, here is how I did them.

Basic Mittens
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

Basic Mittens

Yarn: Wool of the Andes Bulky Hand Dye, from KnitPicks
6.0mm needles.
RedWood Forest colourway.

Cuff (15cm circumference)

(Wrist circumference - 2 cm) x (number of sts per cm) rounded up to the nearest even number.

(15 - 2) x 1.7 sts/cm = 13 x 1.7 = 22 sts

CO 22 sts.

K2P2 for about 2 in.

Palm (18 cm circumference)

(18 cm x 1.7 sts/cm = 30 sts.)

Round 1: K around
Round 2: *K3 M1L, repeat from *, then finish with M1L. (30 sts)
Round 3: K around
Round 4: K2, PM, [M1L, K1, M1L]*, PM, then K until the end. *thumb formation. 3sts
Round 5: K around
Round 6: K2, [M1L, K3, M1L], K the rest. Thumb has now 5 sts
Round 7: K around
Round 8: K2, [M1L, K5, M1L], K the rest. Thumb has now 7 sts.
Round 9: K around
Round 10: K2, [M1L, K7, M1L], K the rest. Thumb has now 9sts, which is enough.

(Hand - palm = thumb)
(22 cm - 18 cm = 4 cm)
(4 cm x 1.7 sts/cm = 7sts. But 7 sts would have been too small, so we opted for 9 sts.)

Subsequent rows: K around until the work reaches the base of the thumb. Finish after knitting the thumbs stitches and place them on scrap yarn for further use.

Finish the round.

K1, M1L (because the palm lost a st for the making of the thumb), K2tog (using a st on each side of the thumb to join them together), M1L (to compensate for the loss by the K2tog), K until the end of the row.

K around until the reaching of the little finger.

Decrease rows:
- *K3, K2tog, repeat from * until end of row.
- K around
- *K2, K2tog, repeat from * until end of row.
- K around
- *K1, K2tog, repeat from * until end of row.
- K around
- *K2tog, repeat from * until end of row.

Break off yarn and darn the end.

Thumb

Put the 9 sts back on needles (3 sts on 3 needles).

Make 3 sts in the gap between thumb and palm leaving a long end inside the mitten, K around. (12 sts)

K2tog to join with the gap, K around, K2tog to join with the gap (10 sts)

K around until end of thumb.

- *K2tog, repeat from * until end of row. (5 sts)

Break off yarn and darn the end. Use the thumb long end of yarn to close any holes or to insulate better the gap between thumb and palm.

Enjoy!

Now, I need to make a pair using Malabrigo yarn!!!

Yarn envy!

I know I am not supposed to think about this, but I feel yarn envy!! Despite my yarn diet, I have ideas of mittens using Malabrigo yarn... 2 different colors. And a matching scarf for each pair... (2, so I can match my 2 winters coats: the light black one and the warmest navy one!)

In that respect, I need to try to resist buying a few skeins of Malabrigo Alpine Pearl, in worsted weight, but I may fail... It seems that this yarn is wonderful and I don't want to be left out!

As for the other yarn, I need your help!! I saw a someone using Malabrigo Merino, in worsted weight, Sealing Wax colorway (a non-solid red). Where can I find it???? I can't seem to find it anywhere I look on the interwebs!! Help!

In addition, where is the best place to order some Malabrigo? Who has the best selection and good prices? This yarn seems somewhat hard to find... :-(

Thank you!

A finished project!

Penelope
Originally uploaded by diluvienne.

Last July, I bought Perl Grey's Penelope pencil skirt kit, which includes the pattern and Handmaiden's Ottawa yarn, in beet colourway.

I had to start over 3 times. because I am bad at gauging properly my tension and I am a tight knitter in transition towards looser. Yes, I made a swatch, but they are always misleading!

The first attempt was way too small (I am not 27 inches around the hips!!), the second way too big (jumped up to 40in). You know what they say, third time is the charm. Well, apparently so. :-) So, I started for real in August, left it on ice for the most part of September and October, only to really finish it just now. In total, it must have taken slightly more than a month to execute.

My first (major) piece of clothing!

Knitting puzzle

I have been meditating about a design I want to make and for which I ordered some gorgeous for. One little problem is that I can't figure out one detail in order to achieve what I have in mind. I have been struggling over this for days now, trying little tests/prototypes with scrap yarn, meditating some more, consulting the stitch libraries I have, but to no success.

What I want to do is so very simple, but puzzling. I bugs me to not be able to solve something so simple! (Yet complicated , I guess...)

I want to be able to find a stitch that will generate a bump on the knit side. In other words, something like "Kn P1 Kn", but the reason why this latter stitch pattern fails is that the bump is inward as opposed to outward (the inside, or Purl side displays what I am looking for).

I know that going for "Pn K1 Pn" would make my life easier, but I want a K-based pattern!

The whole goal behind the bump I want to create is to, after many rows, have a vertical line... It doesn't have to be of a specific shape. Something different than a P-looking or a K-looking stitch would actually be a bonus!

Any ideas?

Ravelry

I got my Ravelry invitation!! Yay! I shall be found under diluvienne (original, eh? ;-) ) Woohoo!

Another project (like I need more...) ;-)

I would need new slippers and given that I am a knitter, I think that I should make them myself. The only problem is that I can't seem to find a free pattern for cool slippers. I don't want the traditional grand-ma style of slippers or sock-style type of slippers. I would be willing to pay for a pattern, if it is for that pattern only (so, it is affordable and I don't need to buy a book, just for that project). Does anyone have suggestions? Or, if you are from Montréal, do you have a printed copy of a pattern/ patterns magazine/ patterns book you could lend me?

Thank you!