Many knitters and crocheters are just about half-dead right now, because they have decided to craft for the holidays. Crafters, I salute you and your selfless efforts.
Don't forget, though, that it's okay to be selfish. You've earned it. It's almost the end of the year, and it deserves to go out with a bang. Get your nummiest materials and make something nice for yourself!
Me? Oh, I have that skein of Jacques Cartier Qiviuk Majestic Blend, and I just bought Pettine by PicnicKnits, who also designed the Gaenor shawl that I've made twice. Pettine, like Gaenor, has you increase until you've used half your yarn, then you decrease. It seems like the perfect way to make sure I get the most out of my yarn -- and when you have a qiviut yarn (even if it's a blend), you damn well make sure you get the most out of it!
Is this qiviut next on the chronological list of yarn to knit? Nope. Is it anywhere near the top of the list? Nope. Do I care? Nope. After all, I've earned it. Have you?
Happy holidays, everyone!
Edit: I just realized I have 217 yards of a laceweight yarn. Um, we'll see how this goes. It might be a really expensive hankie.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Measure Twice, Cut Once
An alternate title for this post might be "Hubris: A Primer". Or "Pride Goes Before A Fall".
Actually, "Gauge: I Does Not Have It" is probably best.
I've been working on a matching hat for my husband's Binary Scarf, so I measured the gauge on the scarf, did the math, and started knitting. I got through two character repeats before it was long enough to put on his head to measure, and it was obvious that something was wrong. So I threaded on a lifeline and slipped it off the needles to assess the damage.
Ah, yes. That's going to be a slight problem when it's windy.
The gauge I (thought) I had measured on the scarf was 27 st/4 in -- maybe it is. I don't know. I had to change to my aluminum needles from my bamboo, so that probably didn't help. I was so high from my Binary success that I succumbed to the hubris and did not reswatch.
I'm getting closer to 18 st/4 in, which makes a lot more sense for worsted-weight yarn. So now comes the frogging, the recalculating of stitches, and a reconfiguration of what the darn hat was going to say. Here's hoping the second time's the charm.
Because if it's not, he's getting a cowl for Christmas.
Actually, "Gauge: I Does Not Have It" is probably best.
I've been working on a matching hat for my husband's Binary Scarf, so I measured the gauge on the scarf, did the math, and started knitting. I got through two character repeats before it was long enough to put on his head to measure, and it was obvious that something was wrong. So I threaded on a lifeline and slipped it off the needles to assess the damage.
Ah, yes. That's going to be a slight problem when it's windy.
The gauge I (thought) I had measured on the scarf was 27 st/4 in -- maybe it is. I don't know. I had to change to my aluminum needles from my bamboo, so that probably didn't help. I was so high from my Binary success that I succumbed to the hubris and did not reswatch.
I'm getting closer to 18 st/4 in, which makes a lot more sense for worsted-weight yarn. So now comes the frogging, the recalculating of stitches, and a reconfiguration of what the darn hat was going to say. Here's hoping the second time's the charm.
Because if it's not, he's getting a cowl for Christmas.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
FO: Binary Scarf
I'm going to let you mull over the title of this post for a minute.
Yup. It's done.
Pattern: Binary (on Ravelry)
Yarn: Cascade 220. Black (8555) 2.85 skeins/627 yards. Green (8910) 1.67 skeins/367.4 yards.
Needles: US size 8 Clover Bamboo DPNs
Timeline: 1.1.10 - 11.27.11
Opinions: Oh, man. What to say? My first stranded-colorwork project. My first project using Continental and English style knitting. My first time knitting with charts. It was an ambitious project, but I managed to finish it.
The pattern is pretty well-written. I had difficulty on the first section (cutting the yarn every few rows -- not sure why I couldn't have kept stranding it?) and the fringe. There really weren't directions for the fringe, and her math and my math didn't agree, so I just did my own thing. Also, I wanted it to be authentic, so I put in an actual message using binary instead of just doing random digits, and did more repeats than she called for so it would fit evenly.
This is a very long, warm scarf. I used smaller needles than the pattern called for. Next time, I'll use the recommended needle size, even though I'm a loose knitter. The stranding really tightens it up. My version is 114" x 5", which makes it 9.5 feet long. Whoa!
Random Thoughts: Happy Valentine's Day 2009, honey! This yarn was purchased 1.27.09, even though I didn't start the scarf until almost a year later.
I like doing stranded colorwork. Who knew?
I don't like doing fringe.
He wants a matching hat now. We'll see.
Yup. It's done.
Pattern: Binary (on Ravelry)
Yarn: Cascade 220. Black (8555) 2.85 skeins/627 yards. Green (8910) 1.67 skeins/367.4 yards.
Needles: US size 8 Clover Bamboo DPNs
Timeline: 1.1.10 - 11.27.11
Opinions: Oh, man. What to say? My first stranded-colorwork project. My first project using Continental and English style knitting. My first time knitting with charts. It was an ambitious project, but I managed to finish it.
The pattern is pretty well-written. I had difficulty on the first section (cutting the yarn every few rows -- not sure why I couldn't have kept stranding it?) and the fringe. There really weren't directions for the fringe, and her math and my math didn't agree, so I just did my own thing. Also, I wanted it to be authentic, so I put in an actual message using binary instead of just doing random digits, and did more repeats than she called for so it would fit evenly.
This is a very long, warm scarf. I used smaller needles than the pattern called for. Next time, I'll use the recommended needle size, even though I'm a loose knitter. The stranding really tightens it up. My version is 114" x 5", which makes it 9.5 feet long. Whoa!
Random Thoughts: Happy Valentine's Day 2009, honey! This yarn was purchased 1.27.09, even though I didn't start the scarf until almost a year later.
I like doing stranded colorwork. Who knew?
I don't like doing fringe.
He wants a matching hat now. We'll see.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Here's what I'm thankful for today: my husband.
If he hadn't asked for it, I never would have learned how to do two-handed stranded colorwork for the binary scarf.
He waited almost a year for me to start it and almost two years for me to finish it.
He offered to help me with the fringe.
He said it was okay that I made mistakes I couldn't fix (even the ones that screwed up the message).
He wanted to wear it before I even blocked it.
He threaded the blocking wires for me so I didn't have a panic attack.
Thanks, honey. You'll have your scarf real soon. <3
If he hadn't asked for it, I never would have learned how to do two-handed stranded colorwork for the binary scarf.
He waited almost a year for me to start it and almost two years for me to finish it.
He offered to help me with the fringe.
He said it was okay that I made mistakes I couldn't fix (even the ones that screwed up the message).
He wanted to wear it before I even blocked it.
He threaded the blocking wires for me so I didn't have a panic attack.
Thanks, honey. You'll have your scarf real soon. <3
Monday, November 14, 2011
The 5-Minute Rule
A few months ago, I was reading the Knitter's Review, which mentioned the 10-minute rule. It is basically like it sounds -- work on things for 10 minutes a day until they're done. Well, I have a bad attention span, so I made it the 5-minute rule. I began by applying it to the binary scarf (done knitting!), as well as some personal projects. It's funny, but I seem to work on things for more than 5 minutes once I get started! (I guess that's part of the point.)
Since I need a few hours to block the scarf, which I won't have until the weekend, I've been working on a few other things in the meantime. I pulled out a loom hat that's been languishing and did 5+ rows last night. I found my loom sock and gave it some much-needed attention. But since these are fun things, I've also tried to balance them with not-fun things.
Example: I have a craft room. Most of the stuff from my craft room is on my desk in the office. So every time I finish a row on the sock, I have to put 3 things away. So far I've managed to organize most of my needles, actually find (and keep together) darning needles, and put away balls of yarn I haven't used in months. Ultimately I'd like to find my flexible measuring tape, but one step at a time, you know?
The 5-minute rule has definitely helped me make progress on things, even though I haven't applied it to all my UFOs. Have you given this rule a try? How has it benefited you?
Since I need a few hours to block the scarf, which I won't have until the weekend, I've been working on a few other things in the meantime. I pulled out a loom hat that's been languishing and did 5+ rows last night. I found my loom sock and gave it some much-needed attention. But since these are fun things, I've also tried to balance them with not-fun things.
Example: I have a craft room. Most of the stuff from my craft room is on my desk in the office. So every time I finish a row on the sock, I have to put 3 things away. So far I've managed to organize most of my needles, actually find (and keep together) darning needles, and put away balls of yarn I haven't used in months. Ultimately I'd like to find my flexible measuring tape, but one step at a time, you know?
The 5-minute rule has definitely helped me make progress on things, even though I haven't applied it to all my UFOs. Have you given this rule a try? How has it benefited you?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
I'm Finished Knitting
No worries, I'm not giving up the craft. Nope, I just finished knitting & binding off ... the binary scarf.
Wow. I think I need a moment's reflection there.
I have a few spots where I want to try and duplicate-stitch some errors, and I need to add the fringe, wash & block it, but ... that's it. I'm done knitting it. The rest is a piece of cake, comparatively speaking.
I have no idea where I'm going to block it, though. Sucker's long.
Wow. I think I need a moment's reflection there.
I have a few spots where I want to try and duplicate-stitch some errors, and I need to add the fringe, wash & block it, but ... that's it. I'm done knitting it. The rest is a piece of cake, comparatively speaking.
I have no idea where I'm going to block it, though. Sucker's long.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Happy Binary Day!
Well, okay, first of all, happy Veterans Day if you're in the US.
Secondly, happy Binary Day!
What's a binary day? No, I haven't finished the scarf. I wish! A binary day is where you write out the date and it's got only ones and zeroes -- today is 11/11/11, so it's a binary day.
I'll celebrate, even though the binary I'm using for the scarf has 8 digits per piece of information, not 6. After all, I wasn't alive on 11/11/1111.
Secondly, happy Binary Day!
What's a binary day? No, I haven't finished the scarf. I wish! A binary day is where you write out the date and it's got only ones and zeroes -- today is 11/11/11, so it's a binary day.
I'll celebrate, even though the binary I'm using for the scarf has 8 digits per piece of information, not 6. After all, I wasn't alive on 11/11/1111.
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