WIP Wednesday Round Up

On May 24, 2017May 24, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, Sweater, WIP3 Comments

Last time we talked about the sweater currently on the needles, it was having some trouble. Happy to report I fixed the problem and was making good progress. WAS.

Sadly, I encountered a fatal flaw. The knitting is perfect. This problem is a dumbass mistake. I picked the wrong size to knit. My size fell between two pattern sizes. I decided to knit the larger one. Except, when it comes to bulky yarn, a too big sweater can be a very poor choice. I have enough bulk of my own. I don’t need my clothes to add bulk. And that’s what bulky sweaters do, especially if they’re a size too big.

Ooopps. To the frog pond we go.

Factor in the new box of yarn being delivered tomorrow, perfectly timed, just in advance of the three day weekend, containing yarn for the next sweater…this poor sweater had no chance.

I can’t wait! I’m planning not just one, but TWO new sweaters with this new box of yarn.

Cat Sweaters!

How am I supposed to resist that? Especially when my sister agreed to a day of twinning, if I made sweaters for both of us. I can’t wait! I’m okay with being a crazy cat lady. I’ll proudly declare it while knitting my cat sweater. It’s not like I created the stereotype. I promise to represent crazy knitting cat ladies everywhere properly!

Of course, I needed a new project in the interim. I’m always ready to cast on! This time, in a surprise twist, I cast on a new shawl. (<-not really a surprise)

The yarn is KnitPicks Chroma Fingering, so it goes without saying, the colors are much better than my late night cell pic represents. The pattern is Vee Vee by Mariana Martins. It’s a triangle shawl that uses short rows to created a series of Vs in asymmetric rows. With the Chroma, I think it’s going to look fabulous!

Rocky is just glad I’m distracted from cat sweaters at the moment! He’s trying to avoid the topic entirely!

Happy WIP Wednesday! Hope you’re equally as excited about your impending weekend!

It Worked!

On May 11, 2017May 11, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP9 Comments

Motivational M&Ms work!! A little determination probably didn’t hurt either!

I sat down to weave ends and 45 minutes later, I’d done 2/3s of my 100 ends!

Look at all those ends! Who knew cutting yarn into tiny bits and making a pile could be so satisfying!?!

Fingers crossed that I can ride this high right on through to the end of the weaving! The end is in sight! It should be rather painless!

Still not done

On May 9, 2017May 9, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP14 Comments

My latest shawl is off the needles! The ends aren’t woven but I’m wearing it anyhow! I need to come up with a trick to motivate myself into getting that particular chore done.

Apparently, as a wee lass, my Mom used M&M’s as a potty training aid. I vaguely remember that. Or rather, I remember eating one M&M at a time, for many different reasons, none of which is really clear. I remember those delicious chocolate moments though. Mmmmmm.

M&M’s might be the key here. One M&M for every end I weave? Yeah…I think that could work, especially if I upgrade to peanut M&M’s. Mom’s no dummy…she knew what she was doing!

This thing is going to be huge once it’s blocked! I can’t wait!

Although, now that it’s off the needles, my modifications don’t stand out much. Blocking will help but the lesson here is: Go Big! There’s no such thing as going too big when it comes to knitting big scrappy shawls. I could have put many more giant eyelets along the bottom edge and the ripple along the top edge could definitely have been more pronounced.

Not complaining, just noting the lessons I’ve learned for the next one. Always got the next one in mind…

Almost FO

On May 8, 2017May 8, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Bind Off, Shawl, WIP11 Comments

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After 4 months and all my leftover yarn bits, my WestKnits Mash Up is being bound off!

I’m doing an Icelandic Bind Off. I haven’t counted but it’s probably in the neighborhood of 500 stitches. I’m about halfway. It’s fun to finally see it stretched out, it’s been months since it fit comfortably on a 40″ cord.

I’ve combined pieces of my favorite Stephen West projects. The main body is Dotted Rays. I’ve given the edge a little flare, inspired by the Doodler. The bottom border is a little bit Esjan.

I went a bit understated with the Esjan portion, lining up one big hole with each Dotted Rays hole. You won’t see it until it’s blocked but there’s also a series of small YOs around each of the large holes.

Of course, there’s 100 ends to weave so this project may never make it to the blocking phase. On occasion, I’ve done finishing work for hire. This is something you couldn’t pay me to do though. LOL. I am curious what the ‘professional’ finisher would change for it. I might go as far as a getting a quote. Heck, if she works cheap, I might actually pay.

It’s an interesting discussion…what would I pay vs what would I charge too weave $100 ends. Sadly, even as someone who knows the skill & time spent on a task like this, I would not pay as much as I would charge. How about you?

Halfway

On April 28, 2017April 28, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP9 Comments

I like when projects have distinct points to reference progress! In this case, I’m doing two halves so it’s pretty easy to tell. The first half is done!

If I wanted a scarf, I could call it done. I don’t want a scarf. I like big shawls. To grow this one, I’ve rotated it and picked up stitches along one side. Like this…

Of course, in classic kitchen sink fashion, I didn’t just pick up stitches. I staggered the edge skipping the first bit and then casting on an equal bit at the far end of my pick up.

I was aiming for colorful, asymmetric and funky. It’s too soon for me to tell if I got there. I really, really, really like the green side though. The texture is so delightful to me!

It’s Sequence Knitting. I sing the praises of Sequence Knitting every chance I get. The basic idea is, pick a sequence-any sequence of stitches-and repeat it within the frame of your garment.

For me to get a symmetric triangle that meant I KFB’d at the start of every row and then K5, P5 across. That’s it. It’s the least stressful knit ever. Of course, I had no idea what sort of texture I was going to get until I knit it. I’d say I got lucky except every sequence I’ve tried has been a textural sensation.

Add in the marled effect of double stranding a solid + a variegated yarn (because: kitchen sink again!) and it’s a really complex, interesting fabric that was completely stree free and fun to do!

I love it.

I don’t want to mess it up.

That orange is very loud.

The variegated yarn has remained the same, only the solid changed but boy does that green disappear next to the intensity of the orange!

The texture hasn’t fully revealed itself either. I’ve kept the same sequence *K5, P5* but this time I’m knitting in a serpentine fashion. Not every row is a multiple of 10 stitches (aka a full repeat). If I had 7 stitches, I knit 5, purled 2 and then disregarded the last 3 purl stitches. Each row, I started again with *K5, P5*.

This time, instead of disregarding an incomplete sequence, I’m carrying it forward to the next row. If a row ends P2, I start the next row with P3 to complete the full sequence. It’s creating a texture I can’t quite predict yet.

I predict it grows on me before the end. There’s still time.

D’oh! (a sweater update)

On April 17, 2017April 17, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Sweater, WIP6 Comments

Last week, I promised a sweater update.

Today, I’ve got one.

It’s not good news.

There is going to be a frogging.

Even worse, there’s going to be a frogging because I’m a dumbass. I avoided writing this all weekend, hoping I’d come up with a positive spin for the situation.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to candy coat a stupid decision based on ‘alternative facts’.

It is a teachable moment though, so that’s the saving of grace of it. Maybe you won’t make the same stupid choice I did.

So what happened? Because this doesn’t look so bad…

Well, halfway through the body, just to make sure I was on the right track, I checked gauge on my progress. It was off (or so I thought).

I didn’t panic, I just changed direction a little bit. My gauge was off by just the right amount, in just the right direction, I could switch to the larger size and keep going.

No Problems!

Except, I totally had problems. Did I measure too close to the needle? Did I not measure on a flat surface? Did I measure with a tape measure and not a rigid ruler? Did I just flat out miscount? Maybe all of the above?

Whatever the case, I rushed to judgement with poor data because, in fact, now that my sweater body is on waste yarn waiting for the sleeves, I have discovered my gauge to be spot on.

I’ve let cooler heads prevail on the frogging. There’s no way around it though. I’ve gotta pull out about half of what I’ve done so far. It’s a very bulky fabric, 2.5 sts/in on size 13 needles. As is, it’s huge. A bulky gauge sweater with extra bulk is not a good idea. If I’m not going to wear it, no sense in moving forward.

A-frogging I will go! It’s going to be pain, each stitch needs to be delicately relieved of its position with pencil roving. There’s no hastily ripping out with this one.

It’ll take time but I’ll get there and it’ll be worth it, getting it right. Still though, there’s a special spot in the time out corner just for this sweater.

That’s what I get for thinking a sweater on size 13 needles would be a no-brainer that went quickly!

D’oh!

Monday Morning

On March 27, 2017March 27, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP8 Comments

It’s only been Monday for six hours but I’ll admit, I’m already nostalgic for Sunday. It was a lovely day, overcast and eventually rainy! Just my kind of day! And that’s without even mentioning the knitting! I did spend some time working on my newest sequence knitting project…which I’m completely loving!

My Eyeball Shawl is the big news though! I’ve started the brioche border.

It’s only a 596 stitch row. Here’s what I think about that…

It’s worth it though. This is going to be awesome when it’s finished!!

How could a giant pink eyeball be anything less than fabulous! I think I’m going to run a little short on yarn, not enough to worry about it, just enough to stop a row or two early…the end is in sight!! (<–get it…eyeball joke!) With that, it’s time to Monday!