FO Saturday. I refuse to be rushed.

On May 27, 2017 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Shawl8 Comments

I finished my latest shawl last week. It’s a bit of sequence knitting that I designed myself. I LOVE SEQUENCE KNITTING! I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. I really want you to know how awesome it is. It’s such a simple idea – pick a sequence and repeat it – and yet the possibilities are endless! Anyone can become a designer with a basic understanding of sequence knitting.

The thing about sequence knitting is amazing reversible textures that look complex but are easy to execute. My sequence of choice was K5, P5. With just a few little notes about how to create a shape, a triangle in my case, you’ve got the whole pattern already.

Of course, I complicated matters by making two asymmetric triangles but taken individually, either half could be a stand alone design.

The first triangle, the green one, I started at the bottom edge on the right side. I cast on 3 stitches and then worked every row the same: KFB, (K5, P5) to the end. If my row ended K5, P1 I just ignored those 4 purls necessary to complete the sequence. Same thing each time, disregarding the portion of the sequence that was missing.

To work the second triangle, I picked up stitches along the edge of the first triangle, casting on 6 stitches at the top. I really wanted to accentuate the asymmetric shaping.

I set my sequence as K5, P5 again but this time the triangle is shaped with decreases instead of increases. I wanted the top edge to remain straight so I only decreased along the bottom edge.

The result for the orange triangle is a two row repeat, starting from the top edge.

Row 1: (K5, P5) to end. Row 2: K2Tog, (K5, P5) to end.

Last change: For the second triangle, instead of ignoring unworked portions of my sequence, I carried them to the next row. If Row 1 ended K5, P2, the next row began, K2Tog, P3, K5, P5…etc.

I know, it sounds complicated, but really, that’s just me doing me. I like simplicity and complication all at once. I added lots of little bits to customize it. All that extra stuff is completely knitter’s choice! That’s why sequence knitting is great! Maybe you like lace, your sequences could include yarn overs & k2togs. It could be a really long repeat, like K5, P1, K3, P2, K2, P1, K1. If you can remember it, it’s your sequence.

And we haven’t even mentioned the ridiculous color yet. I dyed the base yarn for this project with my Mom. It was Halloween. Maybe I got carried away. Maybe orange, green and purple yarn is a classic example of variegated clown barf. So, maybe double stranding it with other orange and green yarn will tone down what could be variegated nightmare?

Hopefully?

Ultimately, it all works. I couldn’t be happier with how this knit-on-a-sequence-whim piece turned out. The yarn, the crazy designing, the sequence knitting, all came together lovely! I really like it. I’ll definitely be wearing it lots!

(at least until my cat sweater is done…it’s on the needles! Stay tuned for an update, it’s gonna be awesome!!)

Friday Photo Dump

On April 7, 2017April 7, 2017 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Misc, Scarf, Shawl, Toy, Yarn3 Comments

Hoooooray for Friday! I’m very excited to get some knitting done this weekend! In the meantime, here’s a random bunch of pictures I took but haven’t shared yet!

First, some yarn my Mom dyed for me recently! The olivey green is going to become a felted hat with a wide brim. The color has a lot of depth to it, lots of gold & mustardy tones to it. Hopefully that’s not lost when it’s felted.

The multi is a special handspun yarn I got in Iceland. Not sure what to do with it yet. Something for the torso I think. It’s the soft part of the Icelandic wool, next to skin softness for sure!

Next, my little Yoda, done he is!

His friends will be joining him soon.

My latest foray into beading. The beaded part was lots of fun! I didn’t even mind the pre-strung business. It’s tough on the yarn but it’s way less fiddly that stopping to pick up a crochet hook every time you place a bead. Now it’s just slogging through a regular old scarf. No bells or whistles to get excited about. Oh well, that is what I signed on for after all…

And last but not least, the sequence knitting shawl has been getting lots of outdoor love with spring springing so much in the recent weeks! I’m really looking forward to wearing this one. If all goes according to plan, I predict I’ll love it!

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend filled with lots of knitting! Only a couple hours to go, I’m confident I’ll make it…

WIP Wednesday – Another New Cast On

On March 22, 2017March 22, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP6 Comments

Last month at Stitches West, my knitting group all drank the same kool-aid! The Miss Babs’/Martina Behm kool-aid, Viajante.

The mass cast on swept me up easily. I picked yarn, a lace weight halloween themed number my mom and I dyed together. I knew from the beginning it was destined to be a Martina Behm pattern, so the time was right.

Until Stephen West’s latest MKAL started. I’m not doing it this go around but I’m watching the progress intently. I got swept up with that energy too and promptly decided I’d rather work on some bias knit seed stitch, like the second section of the MKAL.

Until I swatched, that is.

I tried the yarn held alone. Then I tried introducing a second lace weight yarn (Malabrigo Lace that’s been hiding in the stash. It’s Malabrigo March after all!) I wasn’t loving it the way I wanted to though.

Before I could say ‘cast on’, I found myself sequence knitting. And suddenly, a star was born! I’m definitely loving it.

New Plan: Avoid KALs of all types and make up my own shit. As usual!

In theory, I’m going to knit a symmetric triangle, with the yarn held double, currently the halloween yarn and the green Malabrigo. I’m doing a simple K5, P5 sequence with a KFB at the beginning of each row. It’s developed into a lovely argyle/brocade sort of texture. It’s amazing, reversible and super easy to knit! Winning!

I can’t possibly knit a plain symmetric triangle though. As a twist, I’m going to knit the first triangle, then pick up stitches along one edge for another triangle worked perpendicular. Because one twist is never enough, I’m going to offset my triangles.

Like this!

Of course, I’m not actually working out from the corner of the second triangle, I’ll be working along the entire edge, doing decreases this time. At that point, I’ll switch from the green Malabrigo to the orange Malabrigo. How convenient that I just happened to have the exact right colors in my stash! More winning!

I haven’t decided on a sequence yet but I’d probably change my mind anyhow! I’m sure I’ll get there soon enough. This has been lots of fun so far!

I would be working on it right now, if it weren’t for work. C’est la vie! Fingers crossed for a speedy hump day at work so I can get back to this tonight!!

WIP Wednesday*

On January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Hat, Socks, WIP1 Comment

*Turns out having a job has nothing to do with knowing what day of the week it is. I went from having one day a week – always saturday, to having two days a week – workday or weekend – the calendar is still pretty irrelevant. And work continues to occupy all the best hours of the day so knitting progress is slow.

I did find time to cast on the first hat of 2017 though. While reading about the history of the bagel! I love the use of Yiddishists here. What a great word!

The yarn is cashmere and the pattern is a sequence inspired knit. This yarn has lovely stitch definition so I knew I wanted to show off a texture. It’s destined for a man’s head so I didn’t want to go overboard with something lacy. Sequence knitting is exactly what the occasion calls for! I cast on whatever amount of stitches (it happened to 114) and my sequence is a multiple of 5 (K3, P2). It’s perfect for the amount of time I have to knit these days. I can pick up & put it down with complete disregard of the pattern. No need to say ‘just let me finish this row’.

I’ve made it through the toe increases of my next sock as well! Another project that will satisfy my need to process knit for the next few days.

I love the way the stripes are fading into each other! The stitches are just so tiny. I found an easy rhythm with the size 0 needles I used for my last socks so I’m hoping by the time I get to the heel turn I won’t be so fixated on how tiny these 00 needles are. At this point, every stitch takes a bit of attention. I’m looking forward to getting to those meditative qualities back. My sock knitting career might be short lived if I don’t get there.

The countdown to the long weekend is on…I can’t wait!! So. Much. Knitting. Time!!!!

Sequence Shawl FO’d

On March 28, 2016March 28, 2016 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Shawl4 Comments

My Sequence Shawl is done! Inspired by the Sequence Knitting book, this shawl delivered everything it promised…A complex, reversible fabric that is easy to create! If you follow me on Instagram (I’m FogKnits there too!), you’ll be familiar with this one already…it was the perfect commute knitting!

The Sequence Knitting concept is simple, pick a sequence (K4, P4 in my case) and repeat it within the framework of your shape. I’m an asymmetric triangle lover, who isn’t? So I inadvertently designed one of the patterns in the book, Delta Wing. Once I realized that, the finishing became obvious…I needed an i-cord bind off in a pop color!

Yellow is apparently starting to grow on me?!? I’m loving this!

As usual, the project has inspired approximately a zillion new ideas to try…a solid color with a really long sequence, K15, P15 maybe. A shawl with a center spine that divides two different sequences. A striped something where each stripe has it’s own sequence. I did this bottom up, but top down is always an option. This was a straight 1-row knit, if the sequence was incomplete at the end of the row, that was okay. I definitely want to try the serpentine method, if you end a row at K3, you carry the remaining K1, P4 to the beginning of the next row. I’m super curious what the result would be changing only that parameter.

So much knitting, so little time. I can’t decide what would be better…my own army of knitting Minions or Molly Weasley’s enchanted needles?

Details: My Ravelry Project Page

Pattern: My Own Design

Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo

FO Sunday – Sequence Hat

On March 20, 2016March 20, 2016 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Hat6 Comments

The hat streak continues! This is the third hat and the third giant pom pom from these two balls of yarn, Imperial Yarn Pencil Roving. I love this stuff! The yardage is amazing!

I’ve even got a little bit left. It’s a two ply that isn’t plied. I think I may have enough to squeeze one more hat out of this yarn if I separate the plies and use smaller needles. All of these hats were knit on 13s, so I’ve got a few other sizes I could try!

I just winged the pattern. I took inspiration from Sequence Knitting, working a K2,P2 sequence over a multiple of 4 + 2. The +2 is what gave me columns. If I’d worked a multiple of 4 + 1 or a multiple of 4 + 3, the result would be a spiral.

Maybe that’s what I’ll try with the separated plies, it would round out the set nicely! I love it when a plan comes together!!

More Sequence Knitting

On March 16, 2016 By FogKnitsIn Hat, Shawl, WIP1 Comment

The sequence shawl I started last week is making good progress!

It’s proven itself to be the perfect on-the-go project for the bus and social settings. It’s just about to graduate to a 40″ cord!

SO, when the latest hat was not working out how I wanted it to, I thought about sequence knitting as the answer to that problem too!

So far, so good!

I’m working K2,P2 over a multiple of 4 + 2. The pattern is a sort of broken rib. Had I worked the same sequence over a multiple of 4 + 1, I’d have a spiral instead. Maybe that’ll be the next one. I’m seeing endless stashbusting potential here. Simple 2 row stripes become fascinatingly complex with the addition of a little texture. I can’t wait to try more combinations. I certainly have the stash to bust!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

On March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 By FogKnitsIn Hat, Shawl, WIP6 Comments

It’s Wednesday and I am full of wips! There was a slight bout of castonitis yesterday. There are still hats to be made and stash to be busted so there’s a new hat on the needles…

It’s my favorite yarn combo, Superior Cashmere and Panda Silk! It’s the most amazing thing to knit, so soft and lovely!

And it’s about time I started something for Malabrigo March!

The yarn is Malabrigo Arroyo and the pattern is chose your own adventure knitting inspired by Sequence Knitting. The tagline is ‘Simple Methods for Creating Complex Reversible Fabrics’. In addition to being a gorgeous book, it delivers gorgeous fabrics, every time! I played around with a few different swatches, all attractive and easy to execute. I decided on a simple K4, P4 repeat within the framework of a bottom up, asymmetric triangle. I’m striping two colors, two rows each. Couldn’t be easier, the process knitter in me loves it!

It’s going to be perfect as a daily commute project! and it’s reversible. I love everything about it! I’m thinking about ways to change up the sequence for my next one already!

And just so I wouldn’t feel guilty about ignoring the stack of UFOs, I picked up my second doodler again. Clue 3 begins by picking up 300 stitches.

pashmina madelinetosh knitting fogknits doodler westknits clue 3

westknitsmkal2016 thedoodler madtosh pashmina grasshopper shawl

I don’t count so it’s actually easier than it sounds! I’m certain I didn’t have the correct stitch count but I like to live dangerously. I made it work. There was never actually any danger. No biggie.

And now, it’s time to knit!