Thursday, September 26, 2013

What now?

All my deadline knitting is done.
Lea & Lola in K1C2 Cozette.  Done.
Milano in nine colors of HiKoo Cobasi.  Done.
Latus in Malabrigo Finito and a zillion beads.  Done.


Before and After Scarf in Phydeaux Soie and half a zillion beads.  Done.


I even renewed the shawl wall:


Blocks of Color scarf in seven colors of Be Sweet bamboo.  Done. 
Cladonia in Malabrigo Finito and Malabrigo alpaca/silk lace and a zillion beads.  Done.

Rachel's wedding shawl is down to the beading, and beading is so not portable.

Even DH's new socks are done.  He wore them yesterday and they're in the wash so you'll have to wait for a photo.

What to make now?  I'm dithering with indecision.

I started a pair of Circle socks for me out of leftover Taiyo sock yarn just because it's helpful to have a pair of socks going in your bag.

I have enough heavy worsted yarn to make Churchmouse's Modern Wrapper, so that's a strong possibility.  Only the beginning is portable, though -- after that it's German short rows, which require 40 coilless pins, which I still haven't been able to get my hands on.

And Sarah wants to make Jane Slicer-Smith's Mitred Poncho so I've been playing with that.  Oddly, this may be portable enough to win out.

Will report in.

LK




Thursday, September 12, 2013

on pins and needles

And who says finishing isn't exciting.
OK, sometimes it's tedious.  But the possibilities for experiment are vast. 
Also the possibilities for experimental failure.

So I thought crocheting the set-in sleeve seams on Milano would add a cool architectural note.
Not. With. Nine. Colors.

Of course one of the great things about crochet is how easy it is to pull out.  Undo the end knot, pull the tail and, whee!, it's out of there.

Back to backstitch, in which this:
turns into this:
A good graphic statement, which makes more sense with, yeah, nine colors.
In knitting, sometimes you just have to try something and fail at it before getting it right.

In the meantime, there's been the almost instant gratification of sock finishing for DH, turning this:
into this:


The pattern is Circle Socks by Anne Campbell.  This is my go-to sock pattern.  It's got a satisfying slipped-stitch cuff, an Eye of Partridge heel and a star toe.  Star toe = no kitchener.  DH actually asked for these socks when he saw my first pair (Elf Socks).  His first pair was in gradient red yarn.  The socks pictured are in Lorna's Laces Solemate.There are two more pairs planned.  He has size 12.5 feet and these are quick.  The perfect Laziest Knitter sock pattern.


LK

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Soul-baring yarn?

So I finished both sleeves of Milano.  And you now how it is when the knitting is done and all that's left is finishing?

You need a little time-out.

Now the pieces are hanging on the shawl wall

 to remind me that one day soon I'll want to wear Milano. 
After DH walked by it several times,

he came up with an idea:  we need soul-baring yarn.  Yarn that as we knit it will show what we're feeling.  That we love the person for whom we're knitting.  That we need, oh, a spot of motivation to set in those sleeves.  That we love playing with yarn colors as much as other artists love playing with paint colors. 

Or maybe most all yarn is already like that.

Thoughts?

LK

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Buttonholes, briefly

Next time you make buttonholes, try Sally Melville's one-row buttonhole from The Knit Stitch p. 96.
Her method fits all my Laziest Knitter requirements:  easy easy with beautiful results.
This is the buttonhole band just finished (on Lea & Lola in Cozette):

I'm pretty picky about buttonholes and this fills the bill.
Thank you, Sally.

LK