I’ve decided to merge my two blogs, mostly because I’m too lazy to update both, so now there is only Indiscriminate Postings. I will leave Knitty Ripper up, but any future knitting posts will be made to that blog instead, since knitty things could be considered indiscriminate, but not all indiscriminate things are knitty. Make sense?
So anyway, I'm still around... Head over there for more posts coming soon.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
It's Almost Here
Fall is coming. I know this because football season is here. And I loves me some football! The sucky part is that we no longer have TV service, so we can’t enjoy watching the game from the comfort of our living room. But on the plus side, nachos taste so much better when someone else makes them (and brings them right to you, and then does the dishes). For those days when we are too cheap or lazy to go out, there is always the radio- and it wouldn’t surprise me if we could watch some games live via the innerwebs.
For me, football and knitting go hand in hand. The weather is getting cooler, which makes knitting much more pleasant; and the games provide the perfect backdrop for all but the most complicated projects. During my favorite team’s games, I will knit things that do not require much attention, like a plain sock. During other games, I might work on something that requires some attention, but will allow me to look up once in a while. These are usually projects in which it is easy to figure out where I am in the row after I look up when something interesting happens, then look back down only to realize I have no idea where I left off. I might start another pair of Hedera socks just for those games- they are pretty easy to read once you learn the pattern.
Of course, you wouldn’t guess fall is on the way with the weather we’ve been having recently. On those days when the temps nearly shot into the triple digits, all I could do was look at my woolly socks with contempt (for the weather, not my socks). Speaking of socks, though, I did finish a pair:
The Skittles Socks. Modeled in my awesome, awesome shoes of joy. Now I’m working on another pair of socks for Cass with Creatively Dyed Tradewinds in Hana. I just sort of picked a pattern out of a pattern book and went with it. Hopefully they’ll turn out okay.
I haven't really made any progress on anything else. There may have been some thoughts about attempting some Christmas knitting, but I haven't decided if it's worth the stress. You know what? Sitting here, just now, I decided it isn't. And that's my Christmas present to myself. I'm gonna knit myself some stuff instead. After Cass's socks of course...
For me, football and knitting go hand in hand. The weather is getting cooler, which makes knitting much more pleasant; and the games provide the perfect backdrop for all but the most complicated projects. During my favorite team’s games, I will knit things that do not require much attention, like a plain sock. During other games, I might work on something that requires some attention, but will allow me to look up once in a while. These are usually projects in which it is easy to figure out where I am in the row after I look up when something interesting happens, then look back down only to realize I have no idea where I left off. I might start another pair of Hedera socks just for those games- they are pretty easy to read once you learn the pattern.
Of course, you wouldn’t guess fall is on the way with the weather we’ve been having recently. On those days when the temps nearly shot into the triple digits, all I could do was look at my woolly socks with contempt (for the weather, not my socks). Speaking of socks, though, I did finish a pair:
The Skittles Socks. Modeled in my awesome, awesome shoes of joy. Now I’m working on another pair of socks for Cass with Creatively Dyed Tradewinds in Hana. I just sort of picked a pattern out of a pattern book and went with it. Hopefully they’ll turn out okay.
I haven't really made any progress on anything else. There may have been some thoughts about attempting some Christmas knitting, but I haven't decided if it's worth the stress. You know what? Sitting here, just now, I decided it isn't. And that's my Christmas present to myself. I'm gonna knit myself some stuff instead. After Cass's socks of course...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Not Much Of An Update But...
My new shoes came yesterday! I got these cuties just to wear with hand-knit socks. I think they do the job quite well...
They are the Doc Martens Alison in Grizzly. I love them, and they are perfect. They've only been worn about the house so far, but seem very comfortable. And they are cute, but won't look overly dressy with jeans and a tee shirt. Most importantly, they are a great showcase for socks!
Now I just have to knit more socks. Honestly, I have barely been knitting at all the past couple weeks. Every few days I'll add and inch or so to my current sock project, but that's it.
I did pick up a couple sweaters' worth of yarn at the Eleganza Midnight Madness sale last weekend. I got a bunch of Noro Silk Garden for me, and some Ella Rae Classic for Scott. I'd like to make him another sweater for this winter- probably something simple and basic (the way he likes), and warm. He rides his motorcycle all year round, and maybe a nice wool sweater will help keep him warm. I also got some Aussi Sock and Poems Sock yarn. Gotta churn out more socks to wear with my new shoes!
OK, off I go to not be lazy and knit some more socks...
They are the Doc Martens Alison in Grizzly. I love them, and they are perfect. They've only been worn about the house so far, but seem very comfortable. And they are cute, but won't look overly dressy with jeans and a tee shirt. Most importantly, they are a great showcase for socks!
Now I just have to knit more socks. Honestly, I have barely been knitting at all the past couple weeks. Every few days I'll add and inch or so to my current sock project, but that's it.
I did pick up a couple sweaters' worth of yarn at the Eleganza Midnight Madness sale last weekend. I got a bunch of Noro Silk Garden for me, and some Ella Rae Classic for Scott. I'd like to make him another sweater for this winter- probably something simple and basic (the way he likes), and warm. He rides his motorcycle all year round, and maybe a nice wool sweater will help keep him warm. I also got some Aussi Sock and Poems Sock yarn. Gotta churn out more socks to wear with my new shoes!
OK, off I go to not be lazy and knit some more socks...
Monday, July 13, 2009
Blargh.
I’ve hit another knitting slump. It seems my mojo is taking a vacation for a while, leaving me with little desire to do anything that requires brainpower… so working on the Bohus is right out. In fact, I sort of blame the Bohus for this slump- I think it temporarily zapped all my knitterly energy. While waiting for the tank to refill, I did manage to start working on a bed for Spencer.
His little doggy bed is starting to look a little ragged, and a washing did little to help. I got to thinking that a felted bed might not be a bad idea. The wool would be nice and toasty in the cooler months, and I could put 4” foam in the bottom, ensuring it would be nice and squishy for his aging butt (the store bought beds never seem all that comfy with their meager 2” or so of squish). In any case, figuring out the design would prove tricky but starting the knitting was a perfect no-mojo project. I wanted to use up a bunch of leftover Patons Classic from the stash, of which I had one skein or less each of five different colors. Honestly I just sort of cast on with a very basic idea and the hope that it would work out. I wanted the main part to have sort of a Log Cabin look to it- that facilitated using many colors with little attention needed. I would just work the garter strip until I got bored, then change colors. The center block is actually a bit big, but I think it might be fun to needle-felt a “S” in the space to fill it up.
One day at work I managed to create a little 3D model out of graph paper, so I could sort of figure out how to do this with as little seaming as possible. I still haven’t completely figured that part out, and will probably just wing it as I go. As long as my dimensions are consistent for each side, it should be fine. I am armed with the knowledge that felting shrinks the fabric about 30%, and foam is easy to cut to size. The only problem I’m worried about is how to felt it. I don’t think the finished piece will fit in the pillowcase I would normally use, and I don’t want to ruin the washer. Maybe I’ll try to do it by hand in the tub. If anything, that will be good exercise.
Also during this slump, I’ve been planning another project: an adult Tomten. I plan to do it in Noro Kureyon (thought about Poems, too, but I like Kureyon’s colors better). I’ve played around with the numbers, so now I just have to order the yarn and get started. I really hope it will come out the way I see it in my head.
And lastly, picked this up at Lowes over the weekend:
A foam alphabet mat set for blocking. Thanks to Ravelry, I not only learned of the usefulness of said foam mats, but also that 26 square feet for $17 is a pretty good deal. Now I just have to knit something to block on them...
His little doggy bed is starting to look a little ragged, and a washing did little to help. I got to thinking that a felted bed might not be a bad idea. The wool would be nice and toasty in the cooler months, and I could put 4” foam in the bottom, ensuring it would be nice and squishy for his aging butt (the store bought beds never seem all that comfy with their meager 2” or so of squish). In any case, figuring out the design would prove tricky but starting the knitting was a perfect no-mojo project. I wanted to use up a bunch of leftover Patons Classic from the stash, of which I had one skein or less each of five different colors. Honestly I just sort of cast on with a very basic idea and the hope that it would work out. I wanted the main part to have sort of a Log Cabin look to it- that facilitated using many colors with little attention needed. I would just work the garter strip until I got bored, then change colors. The center block is actually a bit big, but I think it might be fun to needle-felt a “S” in the space to fill it up.
One day at work I managed to create a little 3D model out of graph paper, so I could sort of figure out how to do this with as little seaming as possible. I still haven’t completely figured that part out, and will probably just wing it as I go. As long as my dimensions are consistent for each side, it should be fine. I am armed with the knowledge that felting shrinks the fabric about 30%, and foam is easy to cut to size. The only problem I’m worried about is how to felt it. I don’t think the finished piece will fit in the pillowcase I would normally use, and I don’t want to ruin the washer. Maybe I’ll try to do it by hand in the tub. If anything, that will be good exercise.
Also during this slump, I’ve been planning another project: an adult Tomten. I plan to do it in Noro Kureyon (thought about Poems, too, but I like Kureyon’s colors better). I’ve played around with the numbers, so now I just have to order the yarn and get started. I really hope it will come out the way I see it in my head.
And lastly, picked this up at Lowes over the weekend:
A foam alphabet mat set for blocking. Thanks to Ravelry, I not only learned of the usefulness of said foam mats, but also that 26 square feet for $17 is a pretty good deal. Now I just have to knit something to block on them...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
It's Not Just Me, Right?
I can't be the only one that has Kitchen Knitting, right?
Or dining room knitting?
And it only makes sense to keep two knitting projects on the coffee table- one complicated (for quiet, alone, knitting time)...
...and one simple (for all the other times).
It also makes perfect sense to have knitting books in more than one place, because you never know when inspiration will hit you.
One should always keep a well-stocked knitting bag in case you need to grab it on the way out.
But I bet there's an emergency project in your car, too, in case you get caught off guard.
So I'm not the only one, right? Other knitters do this too? I thought so. Now can someone explain that to my husband? Please? Everytime he asks me to put my knitting stuff away all I can think is, "But it's exactly where it's supposed to be!"
Or dining room knitting?
And it only makes sense to keep two knitting projects on the coffee table- one complicated (for quiet, alone, knitting time)...
...and one simple (for all the other times).
It also makes perfect sense to have knitting books in more than one place, because you never know when inspiration will hit you.
One should always keep a well-stocked knitting bag in case you need to grab it on the way out.
But I bet there's an emergency project in your car, too, in case you get caught off guard.
So I'm not the only one, right? Other knitters do this too? I thought so. Now can someone explain that to my husband? Please? Everytime he asks me to put my knitting stuff away all I can think is, "But it's exactly where it's supposed to be!"
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Madame Self Pattern
I’m not a real designer; I just play one on the innerwebs. The following pattern has not been tested, so if you find a problem please let me know and I’ll fix it. You can leave a comment, contact me on Ravelry (I’m Stinkytinky).
The Madame Self Bag
Wisdom Yarns Poems, color #585, 4 skeins (436 yds)
Size 9 needles, or size needed to get gauge
Darning needle
Magnetic snap
One pretty button (mine is 1.25")
Hot glue gun
Gauge before felting: 14 st over 4” in garter stitch
I emphatically suggest knitting a swatch, measuring gauge, and then felting it to make sure you like the way it felts up. Also, Poems has sort of a reputation for having several knots which often disrupt the striping sequence. If you’re the persnickety sort, this is something to watch for. I think (while it’s still sort of a pain) that it adds character and didn’t worry about it.
Note that the measurements given on my sad, little schematic are approximate. It’s a lot easier in this case to just increase and decrease to the correct stitch count, as the size doesn’t need to be exact.
The bag is knit starting with the strap…
Cast on 10 s., knit every row for approx. 25” or 150 rows.
Begin increases*:
Row 1) Kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 2) K
*I stuck a stitch marker through the fabric on the side facing me when it was time to increase or decrease, as a visual cue.
Repeat these two rows until there are 64 st, ending with Row 2.
Begin decreases:
Row 1) K2Tog, K to last 2 sts, K2Tog
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 20 sts, ending with Row 2.
Increase:
Row 1) Kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 64 st, ending with Row 2.
Add the button flap (I added a short row to give the flap a bit of a flare):
With the working yarn, CO 15 sts, and knit 8 rows even. Next row: knit 16 st, wrap stitch & turnª. K back to end of row. Knit 8 rows even. Cast off 15 sts.
ªTo wrap and turn: yarn forward as if to purl, slip next stitch purlwise, yarn back as if to knit, return slipped stitch to left needle, turn work.
Decrease:
Begin decreases:
Row 1) K2Tog, K to last 2 sts, K2Tog
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 20 sts, ending with Row 2.
Increase:
Row 1) Kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 64 st, ending with Row 2.
Decrease:
Begin decreases:
Row 1) K2Tog, K to last 2 sts, K2Tog
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 10 sts, ending with Row 2. Bind off, leaving a tail long enough to seam the end of the strap (2-3 feet).
(sorry about my chicken scratch- along the right side, the measurements read 8.5", 7", 7", 3", 7", 7", 8.5")
Finishing:
Pick the side you want to be the outside. With right (outside) sides facing, whipstitch together edges A to A, B to B, and so forth, ending with attaching the strap end (E to E) with the yarn tail, being careful to make sure the strap isn’t twisted. Weave in ends on the inside. Felt the bag. I did it by hand at first, then when that proved to be rather tedious, put it in the machine. I then dried it in the drier to further shrink it. Watch it closely through the felting process to make sure it’s not felting in some renegade fashion.
Once dry, it’s time to add the snap and button! I followed the package directions on my magnetic snap to attach it the bag, using an Exacto knife to cut small holes where needed. Wind a bit of leftover yarn through the holes in the button**; this may require some creativity. My darning needle wouldn’t fit all the way through the little holes, so I used it to sort of smash the yarn through so I could pull it through the other side. It occurs to me now that a sewing needle threader might do the trick. Once the yarn is wound through the holes a few times, knot it on the back. Warm up your glue gun, and apply a glob of glue to the ugly side of the magnetic snap on the purse flap then quickly stick on the button. If necessary, add more glue to secure the button to the bag. Loudly proclaim, “I made it Madame Self!”
**The goal is not only to make it look like the button is sewn on, but also to fill up the holes a bit so that hot glue doesn’t ooze through or so people can’t see right through to the metal snap behind it. So you may need to wrap the yarn several times to accomplish this.
Use this pattern however you want, wherever you want; just don’t plagiarize!
The Madame Self Bag
Wisdom Yarns Poems, color #585, 4 skeins (436 yds)
Size 9 needles, or size needed to get gauge
Darning needle
Magnetic snap
One pretty button (mine is 1.25")
Hot glue gun
Gauge before felting: 14 st over 4” in garter stitch
I emphatically suggest knitting a swatch, measuring gauge, and then felting it to make sure you like the way it felts up. Also, Poems has sort of a reputation for having several knots which often disrupt the striping sequence. If you’re the persnickety sort, this is something to watch for. I think (while it’s still sort of a pain) that it adds character and didn’t worry about it.
Note that the measurements given on my sad, little schematic are approximate. It’s a lot easier in this case to just increase and decrease to the correct stitch count, as the size doesn’t need to be exact.
The bag is knit starting with the strap…
Cast on 10 s., knit every row for approx. 25” or 150 rows.
Begin increases*:
Row 1) Kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 2) K
*I stuck a stitch marker through the fabric on the side facing me when it was time to increase or decrease, as a visual cue.
Repeat these two rows until there are 64 st, ending with Row 2.
Begin decreases:
Row 1) K2Tog, K to last 2 sts, K2Tog
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 20 sts, ending with Row 2.
Increase:
Row 1) Kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 64 st, ending with Row 2.
Add the button flap (I added a short row to give the flap a bit of a flare):
With the working yarn, CO 15 sts, and knit 8 rows even. Next row: knit 16 st, wrap stitch & turnª. K back to end of row. Knit 8 rows even. Cast off 15 sts.
ªTo wrap and turn: yarn forward as if to purl, slip next stitch purlwise, yarn back as if to knit, return slipped stitch to left needle, turn work.
Decrease:
Begin decreases:
Row 1) K2Tog, K to last 2 sts, K2Tog
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 20 sts, ending with Row 2.
Increase:
Row 1) Kfb, k to last st, kfb
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 64 st, ending with Row 2.
Decrease:
Begin decreases:
Row 1) K2Tog, K to last 2 sts, K2Tog
Row 2) K
Repeat these two rows until there are 10 sts, ending with Row 2. Bind off, leaving a tail long enough to seam the end of the strap (2-3 feet).
(sorry about my chicken scratch- along the right side, the measurements read 8.5", 7", 7", 3", 7", 7", 8.5")
Finishing:
Pick the side you want to be the outside. With right (outside) sides facing, whipstitch together edges A to A, B to B, and so forth, ending with attaching the strap end (E to E) with the yarn tail, being careful to make sure the strap isn’t twisted. Weave in ends on the inside. Felt the bag. I did it by hand at first, then when that proved to be rather tedious, put it in the machine. I then dried it in the drier to further shrink it. Watch it closely through the felting process to make sure it’s not felting in some renegade fashion.
Once dry, it’s time to add the snap and button! I followed the package directions on my magnetic snap to attach it the bag, using an Exacto knife to cut small holes where needed. Wind a bit of leftover yarn through the holes in the button**; this may require some creativity. My darning needle wouldn’t fit all the way through the little holes, so I used it to sort of smash the yarn through so I could pull it through the other side. It occurs to me now that a sewing needle threader might do the trick. Once the yarn is wound through the holes a few times, knot it on the back. Warm up your glue gun, and apply a glob of glue to the ugly side of the magnetic snap on the purse flap then quickly stick on the button. If necessary, add more glue to secure the button to the bag. Loudly proclaim, “I made it Madame Self!”
**The goal is not only to make it look like the button is sewn on, but also to fill up the holes a bit so that hot glue doesn’t ooze through or so people can’t see right through to the metal snap behind it. So you may need to wrap the yarn several times to accomplish this.
Use this pattern however you want, wherever you want; just don’t plagiarize!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wheeee!
They're here!
My Phildar patterns! Straight from France! You know, I think I'm going to start ordering everything from Europe... it seems to get here so fast compared to stuff that just travels across the country (this order was placed on the 23rd!). If memory serves, the Bohus kit from Sweden got here in about a week too.
88 patterns in all, for about $28. Not bad considering more than half of that was shipping!
I started the Bohus, as promised, but am only a couple rows into the colorwork so far. No pictures yet, maybe by the end of the week.
Also, I should have a pattern for the bag up tomorrow. I'd have it up now, except that I forgot to email myself the schematic I drew and scanned at work. Thus, it remains trapped in the server until tomorrow!
My Phildar patterns! Straight from France! You know, I think I'm going to start ordering everything from Europe... it seems to get here so fast compared to stuff that just travels across the country (this order was placed on the 23rd!). If memory serves, the Bohus kit from Sweden got here in about a week too.
88 patterns in all, for about $28. Not bad considering more than half of that was shipping!
I started the Bohus, as promised, but am only a couple rows into the colorwork so far. No pictures yet, maybe by the end of the week.
Also, I should have a pattern for the bag up tomorrow. I'd have it up now, except that I forgot to email myself the schematic I drew and scanned at work. Thus, it remains trapped in the server until tomorrow!
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