There's More

There's more blogging and thinking about knitting going on. Just not here anymore.

I've moved to a NEW BLOG SPACE: debgemmellmods.wordpress.com

Where I'm exploring:

Top Down knitting,
getting a Good Fit,
Any Gauge patterning,
Pattern Recipes and
Gaugeless knitting.

I'm talking about how you can adjust, modify and have creative fun with your knits. Come over and FOLLOW to check it out.

Skew

I'm over the BlueV now. It's time to move on. Although I seem to be spending more time ripping back than knitting forward. I ripped this one back to the neckband.

I've started again with a 2x2 rib with twisted stitches in the K2 sections. I've also introduced a skew to it. This is turning out to be lots of fun. The line of twisted stitches is going to follow alongside the raglan line on one of the fronts ...

and alongside one of the raglan lines at the back.

I'm feeling quite avant-garde doing an asymmetric pattern since I usually really like patterns to mirror on each side. We'll see what I think once the skew is more obvious. So far I'm loving it.
Deb

Admitting defeat for the moment

I'm not moving at all on the BlueV. It's sitting in the time-out corner because no matter what I do, and I gave it two good tries, it is misbehaving. It's tough love time. It's staying there until I can work up some enthusiasm to try one more time. If that doesn't work, well, it's three strikes, you're out!

I was going to put a huge X across the photo but that seemed a bit harsh.

I've realized that I'm not fond of the eyelet all-over pattern. If every time I see that row coming along I'm groaning, that would be a clue, right? Not my favourite stitch. Next time I'll rethink the front lace pattern. Oh, no, see what just happened there, the knitting optimist is at it again, I'm thinking of next time.

For the moment I'm knitting little people sweaters. This one with cables. I have a couple more little sweaters in mind. They are so quick to knit that I can think ahead to the next one and not get too far ahead of myself. It is frustrating to have so many ideas and not be able to knit fast enough. But these little guys are pretty quick.

I'm turning my head away from the time-out corner and having fun with cables.
Deb

Still moving slowly

As you can see I'm still exactly where I was last week.

I seem to be stalled on this for the moment. Well, not stalled exactly. In fact I have been going backward. I ripped out another several rows in order to contemplate the fit. I think I have it worked out now. Ha, we'll see.

This has been a forward and backward design project. Often new construction ideas are like that. Not frustrating exactly, OK frustrating, but also challenging. You see how I'm trying to reframe this!

The best way forward I have found, through past experience, is to move slowly, almost at a crawl. Not easy to do but in the end it saves quite a lot of ripping back. I wish I had remembered that at the beginning of this project but, alas, I was excited and have paid the ripping price.

Now, onward to the Great Divide.
Deb

Olympics are bad for knitting

Watching the Olympics was not good for my knitting. I was watching the curling and knitting 3 rows forward and 1 row back. Unfortunately nothing I did provided any luck to our Canadian teams. Sigh.

I have progressed on my Mulligan, sort of. I think I'm back to where I was on the first Blue V. As you can see I still have to recover from the last rip out when they lost!!  How am I supposed to keep track of my knitting when I'm sitting on the edge of my seat?

I am also working on my Take It From The Top KAL where we are all using the Take It From The Top pattern as a basic guide and having our way with it. We've just started if you want to join us.

I have finished the neckband and worked a different kind of short row to lower the front. I am ready to add a panel down the centre front. I'm looking forward to getting into the stitch pattern.

But that's not all, ha. I am also knitting a Mosaic hat which I am writing up and hopefully will be out soon. I have to tell you that I love, just love, knitting mosaic.

It's a huge amount of fun. It's colourwork where you use only one colour at a time and work knits and slips to make the pattern. Here's the matching cowl in solid colours.

And a close up of the matching red cowl.

The colourwork is so pretty that it's hard to put down. But I must because I have yarn to make up after the big rip on the Blue V. Must be firm with myself!

Deb

Mulligan

I'm allowing myself a do-over.

This second try is looking much better.

I laid it on top of the first sample and the angle of the front is already showing a better line.

I also charted the beginning edge of the first front and the far edge of the second front. I am working the increases at the front edges much further apart than my first sample. Now it's an 8 row repeat. I'm feeling like this is on it's way to a final sweater. I'm excited.

I'm keeping my first sample because I would like to try sewing and cutting away the front. Then do something attaching a new front to it. Cut the front away, leaving the neckband stitches intact and open. Nothing lost if it doesn't work but I'm intrigued.

Then work some sort of stitch to join the neckband and the raglan edge. I can envision it.

I could work?! Maybe.

I'm trying to stay on course and not jump to trying this out. Must get this sweater done first. Must get this sweater done first. Must get this sweater done first.

I'm going to start knitting right now so I don't lose focus. Bye for now.
Deb

Denial

It's a wonderful thing isn't it? I kept knitting and knitting ignoring the little voice that said something was definitely wrong. It was. The Front is much too big. Now that I take a look at the math it's quite obvious.

So did I do a swatch? Nah. I started another cardigan with bigger yarn and I took a good look a the math this time and I think this one is going to be good.

Already the angle of the front seems better.

You'll have to take my word for it since all the stitches are crammed around the needle since I'm fairly close to the bottom of the yoke. The V is deeper which I'm quite excited about. I'll be working on this over the weekend. I can't wait to get to the Great Divide.
Deb

Committed to the Great Divide

I'm committed now to getting the yoke finished. I'm close to the Great Divide. It looks different than I imagined it would but the V is working as I had hoped it would. It's deeper than my regular V-neck top down cardigans which is what I was looking for. The eyelets are dreaming of summer.

I'm still pretty sure the front is bigger than it needs to be. A shawl pin might be needed for me to wear it. Although all those holes sort of lend themselves to being buttoned any way I want to. There are still possibilities here. It's working really well as a prototype, it's almost right but could use some work. I like that.

Someone the other day asked why I don't do a child's size first. Sometimes I do that and guess what, the adult version seldom gets made. In my head I've worked it all out and now I'm done with that design and on to the next idea. There is another idea hiding behind this one which is nudging me constantly. At least this is an adult size and I think I would knit another one with some modifications. I like it and would wear it.

I'm going to make this with cap sleeves, real summery. Then I have to work out the bottom of the eyelet fronts. I don't want too much of a V at the bottom of the sweater. At least that's my thinking at this moment. Could always change my mind though!
Deb

Up to my Knees

I'm moving along on my new sweater but it's very slow. To continue with my swimming in cold water metaphor, I'm up to my knees. I'm not totally committed yet. I can still turn back.

There are several things about this new cardigan that I like. I like the garter stitch sleeves and back. I don't think I will make the back garter stitch the entire length, only the yoke. At least that's what I think now. That could all change of course.

I like the eyelets on the front.

My concern is the size of the front which will not be apparent until I have knit a couple more inches. It might be too big. There lies my trepidation and slow progress. It could, maybe, possibly, be the exact width that I want it to be, right? I'm going to be optimist and knit a little bit further. Wish me luck.
Deb

Toe Dipping

I haven't progressed very far on my new sweater, as you can see.

Sometimes starting a new experiment is like trying to swim in cold water. You walk to the edge of the water, stick your toe in and scamper back to your towel which is baking in the hot sun looking so comfortable. It would be so warm and cozy just to lay on the towel and not even think about the water but there it is ... so you walk to the edge of the water again and get your ankles wet.

That's where I am, I've got my ankles wet but have not make the commitment to jump in. I'm back at the blanket laying there thinking that today I'll just lay in the sun but the knitting is sitting right there ...

Deb, fantasizing about sun and warmth and the beach.

If All Else Fails, Start Something New

I haven't refashioned any of my garments just yet. It seems to take a little bit of time to build up to getting the scissors out and really start snipping. Or at least a bit more planning since it's a good idea to measure 15 times and cut once. The scissors are at the ready. I just need one more week to get brave enough to actually use them.

In the meantime I've got a new idea for a new sweater. How come it's always so much easier to start something new?

I have my little pile of Cotton Tweed in the Faded Denim colour. A lovely soft blue. What? Blue again you say? Yes, stick with what works, it's blue again.

My idea is to do a Top Down with both fronts worked on the bias with eyelets. It might be cap sleeved or maybe longer sleeves. I'll have to see what I think once I get going. I have a different idea for working the V which will lend itself to the bias. I need to get my carpenter square out to check on the angle and width for the fronts. Ha, ha. No really I do need to do this.

A new project. Kinda makes one a little giddy.

Cheers,

Deb

The New Year has begun

It's time to get organized. The new year has begun and my office is a mess.

I took the week off. Did you? You might have been knitting up a storm but because knitting is my job, I read ... a lot. Nice and cozy, sitting in the sun (inside of course because outside it was frickin' freezing!). Now I have piles of yarn and half finished projects and ideas and ... well it's a mess.

I have made a couple of decisions though.

I need to pull out every knit thing I have put away and decide why I'm not wearing it. Do you have some of these projects too? I enjoyed knitting them. I like them but I don't wear them. How come? What could I do to make them something I want to wear?

I have a top from the Need A Circular Yoke book with short sleeves which I don't wear. In hind sight I think I should have made it with long sleeves. I think I would wear it now if it was a vest with cap sleeves. This is totally doable.

I have a wool sweater which is way too big for me that I am going to turn into another garment by felting it and cutting it up. Yep, cutting. I'm looking forward to it. Imagine me rubbing my hands together in a gleeful manner, hee, hee, ha, ha. Snip, snip.

These are the first two reconstruction projects that I have earmarked for my new year of wearing as much knitwear as possible!!

How about you? Something new in your knitting year?
Cheers and Happy New Year,
Deb

Fish Lips Heel

Are you ready? All my sock presents are done, yay, so I started one more pair since I wasn't going to do "the Christmas thing" until after the holiday and now have time. I thought I would continue to explore different heels.

I'm knitting Queen's Castle socks which are toe up with a wrap & turn short row heel.

And this time I substituted in the Fish Lips heel which is also a short row heel but uses Twin Stitches instead of the wrap and turn.

I did the heel over 60% of my sock stitches instead of 50% which I think is used in that pattern. This gives me a higher instep and more room for the heel. If you find your socks are straining at the ankle you could try this with any short row heel.

I like it very much. I find the Twin stitch great to do even on dark coloured, fine sock yarn although it is a little more of a trick after a long day.

This is the beauty of learning lots of heel methods. I and you too, are free to sub in any of them at will, to add variety to sock knitting.

Have a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. See you on the other side,
Deb

New to me Heel

Yikes it's coming up soon, the big day of the winter. It's sneaky. No matter how much you plan, it seems to jump closer and closer without you even noticing.

I'm on my last pair of Stash Buster socks using the Stacking Stripes method.

I'm trying a new heel which I'm loving.

This is the heel which acts as the gusset. You work increases on either side of 2 centre stitches every other round until you have doubled the back of the leg stitches. Work the increases into any pattern you like. I choose to work the increases into a K2, P2 pattern. Example: 60 sts on sock, 30 sts for back of leg, work increases until 60 sts on back of leg, total on sock is now 90 sts.

Then turn the heel using the standard V-heel short rows ending in SSK, K1, turn and P2tog, P1, turn. There is a trick, you knew that was coming right? You will get back to the original number of stitches and then have to continue to turn the heel for a couple more rows. On these rows work the SSK (no K1 afterwards) and turn. Work P2tog (no P1 afterwards) until you have your original number of sock stitches. Then work in the round again.

I have found it works great and gives a nice deep heel turning which I really, really like.

I first worked this heel using Vanilla is the New Black pattern. You might find this an easy heel too.
Cheers,
Deb

Printed Spiral Striped Socks

I'm deep into Christmas knitting. Maybe you are too. I'm knitting socks and am on my third pair and on the home stretch with the second sock. Then I'm done. Whew, before the big day too. I'm patting myself on the back as I knit (makes knitting a bit awkward).

This was the first pair.

This a printed sock yarn (Comfort) and knits up beautifully. I had a second ball but didn't want to do exactly the same thing so I decided to Spiral Stripe it and see what happens.

It's the same printed wool but striped with navy. One stripe in printed wool and one stripe in a navy solid from my stash. I'm so happy with this. It changes the effect of the printed wool so much.

I used the same method as the Stash Buster Socks  which uses 3 colours but here I used 2 colours and only the switched colours in one spot. I've written about the technique in another blog which I call Spiral Stripes. In one sock I changed colours at the side of the sock and on another sock, in the middle of the back of the leg. It didn't seem to make much difference to the sock. The line you see in the centre of the photo is the dpn line which will disappear on washing.

I happen to have several 50g balls of different sock yarn in my stash. I think there will be more of these stripes socks in my future.

I hope your Christmas knitting is going well. What are you knitting?
Deb

Good Shaping, Wrong Garment

One of my new experiments is working... sort of. I like the deeper neckline. This particular neckline works by not working any raglan increases on the Front edge. Raglan increases are worked on the sleeve side of the Raglan Marker but not on the Front side, for about 3", while I worked short rows up against the neckband at the same time. Don't you just love "at the same time"?!

Can you see it now? Once the crewneck was done I reverted to the regular raglan increases on both sides of the marker.

Would it help if you could see it upside down exactly like it would be as if you were knitting it? You can't see the increases on the sleeve side but you can see that the sleeve is accumulating stitches.

It works but I don't think a crewneck pullover is the garment to use this on. I think it would work really well for a V-neck cardigan. I can almost see it in my head. So I'm saving it for that and just playing with this pullover for a bit.

I'm wondering if it would be fun to start moving the knit columns in the centre panel and make them move around, criss-crossing into a lattice. Would that look really weird when the top section is straight? Maybe I could have a bit of fun with it just under the bust and then work straight again. Maybe work hip shaping increases into the centre panel?! Hmm, I think I like that idea.

Time to play,
Deb

Change the Angle

T_a asked me what the difference was between the Spring Breeze neckline and the new ideas I have had for shaping the neck.

The Spring Breeze has the shaping system I have used in the Baby V, Button Your Top Down and Hoodies and Pullovers books. It works really well. I love using it.

Once the neckband is knit, the neck shaping is achieved by using short rows. On one side of the front the short rows end with SSK, K1 and Turn. The SSK is a decrease but it also attaches the front to the side of the neckband. The K1 kicks it over a stitch giving the neckband a 45 degree angle.

SSK, K1
         SSK, K1
                  SSK, K1
                           SSK, K1
I want to try to push this a bit and see if I can get a deeper neckline while still leaving myself some open stitches at the centre of the neckband to work a stitch panel down the front. What I've done is add extra rows that do not have a K1 at the end of the short row so do not bump the neckband over one stitch. It means that the angle is no longer 45 degrees. The extra rows add a short vertical section to the angle at the side of the neckband. One one side of the front the short rows end like this:

SSK, K1   attaches and adds to V shaping
         SSK,         attaches only, vertical
         SSK, K1,
                  SSK
If I was working a Top Down where the neckband is picked up afterwards, this is the equivalent of working an increase every 4th row. Of course I'm doing this the hard way but ... there you go, it's more fun.
I wonder what it would look like if I used P2tog instead of the SSK? That might work great. OK one more swatch just to see.
Deb

I'm There

I think I've got it. My experiments seem to have come to a successful system I can use.

I have a system where the neckband is worked first and then short rows are worked to lower the front by working more rows across the back of the neck.

I've used this neck shaping system in several books: Button Up Your Top Down, Baby V, Hoodies and Pullovers and any "Kid's" pattern leaflets from these books. It totally works and I have several sweaters that I wear using this system. It's straight forward and easy to work once you get your head around short rows in general. You may have worked with it already.

It looks great along the edge of the neckband.

It makes a lovely dropped front of neck.

I want to take it one step further and lower the front of neck a little further, to a full 3"/7.5cm, and still have stitches left open on the Front to work a stitch pattern.

My first experiment was to work an extra SSK row. It lowered the front sufficiently but is messy.

Next I tried using German Short Rows and took out the SSK decrease which didn't work so well. The short rows turns are worked on every stitch: work short row treatment from last row, work short row turn on next stitch. This leaves slight holes along the neckband.

But I like the general idea of using the short rows. So this time I separated the short row turns by one stitch: work short row treatment from previous row, K1, work short row turn. I used Short Rows with Twin Stitches which are easy to work and look great.

This is working very well. Nice smooth raglan line and the short rows look good against the neckband.

Yahoo. I'm excited. Now to get down to crunching numbers. I really need a new sweater so am anxious to get started on the real thing.

Deb

Almost There

I think I'm a little closer to what I have in my head. I want to start with the neckband and then work short rows to build up the back and lower the front. I am looking for a lower front of neck for more comfort. My last try at this works but it's messy.

I think this new trial is closer. It's smoother at the edges of the neckband and it's still nice and deep.

I used German Short Rows. I really like them. If you haven't tried them it's worth doing a little sample and giving them a shot. They are a great substitute for Wrap & Turn Short Rows.

But I'm taking another stab at it since I think this one is almost there.
Deb