I found a fabulous book at the library called Knitting in No Time by Melody Griffiths. Most of the patterns look easy to follow, and are for practical things like bags, shawls, ponchos. There are also some creative uses of knitting with -ahemmm-- jute for a market string bag and ripped up fabrics. I got a lot of ideas, and realized that I would have to buy some more yarn before starting any projects.
Most of my stash consists of single skeins that I purchases for dog sweater/accessory projects. Well, I found out about a site called Little Knits that seems to be having a fantastic sale on Noro, etc. Payday is coming up and I am going for it.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Sock news
Well, TL wore his Breathe, Relax socks for all three days of his End-of-Grade (EOG) testing. They held up well, even with being washed 3 days in a row. I'll have to closely examine the toes because he wore them with sandals yesterday. Apparently the socks are "hot and sweaty" on the playground in sneakers. I won't be surprised to find holes in the toes, the playground is mostly hard-packed dirt and he goes full tilt during recess.
He did say that he felt very good about the tests and that the socks did help him remember not to get stressed. Mission Accomplished!
I know Sari thinks I should make a bunch and sell them, but I don't think I have the energy right now. Plus, it would mean really doing the same thing twice, and I doubt I have it in me. Maybe in a different set of yarns would be OK to do.
He did say that he felt very good about the tests and that the socks did help him remember not to get stressed. Mission Accomplished!
I know Sari thinks I should make a bunch and sell them, but I don't think I have the energy right now. Plus, it would mean really doing the same thing twice, and I doubt I have it in me. Maybe in a different set of yarns would be OK to do.
Gifts for the Graduate
My standard gift for high school graduates is a set of towels. This year Lisa suggested I add a shower puff, and I thought--I could make something. The With One Skein book has an entire bath set, but it is so boring looking...
Second best advice before going to college from my mom: "You have to have a couple of nice sets of towels. You don't want to be embarrassed in the shower room." (She went to an expensive, Catholic women's college and I went to a cheap-ass in-state school known as #2 party school in US) but she was right!
Best advice from mom: "Don't join a sorority."
I need to give a present to a childhood friend's daughter who is going to Arizona State. If she is anything like her mom, she will spend time partying. Knitty came through with the perfect gift (besides the towels)--washcloths that say party or study....she won't get 7 but 2 will give her the idea.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Help with Circular Knitting on DPNs
Well, Sari, I had some time this afternoon (which I took off to clean the house, but I got bored) and so I looked for some free online videos to help you out with the knitting on double pointed needles (dpns).
I am including links to 3 sites I think you'll find helpful.
Knitting Help.com has several how-to videos on their site, but in Advance techniques, there is a section called "Small Diameter Circular Knitting" which includes help on knitting on dpns. I think the video looks pretty good, but it's the only one I looked at on the site.
Knitter's Review offers Knitting Tips: Getting Started with DPNs in Four Easy Steps which is not a video, but a step by step description of what to do. It is pretty clear, and I think it could be helpful.
Another step-by-step description of how to use dpns is on Stitch Diva Studio's Knit Tutorial - Double Pointed Needles. This tutorial includes photos.
One thing I learned from scanning several sites for easier-to-follow instructions is that some knitter recommend rotating the stitches around so that the same column of stitches is not always at the beginning of a needle. This is supposed to make your knitting have a more even gauge, decreasing the possibility of "laddering" between needles. I've never done that, but I don't think you can tell from looking at any of the socks I've made where the needle changes are. I can't tell on WK's either; Do you rotate your knitting, WK?
I think that the simple answer to what you're doing is that you're forgetting to use the newly emptied needle as the working needle, and are continuing to use the original needle after knitting the stitches on the original needle. Does that make sense? I know I had to read several descriptions of how to do this style of knitting, as well as look at that free online helpful videos. To find these things to pass along to you, I Googled this: "double pointed needle video" and this "double pointed needle help." As is usual with Google, some things just weren't helpful.
I am including links to 3 sites I think you'll find helpful.
Knitting Help.com has several how-to videos on their site, but in Advance techniques, there is a section called "Small Diameter Circular Knitting" which includes help on knitting on dpns. I think the video looks pretty good, but it's the only one I looked at on the site.
Knitter's Review offers Knitting Tips: Getting Started with DPNs in Four Easy Steps which is not a video, but a step by step description of what to do. It is pretty clear, and I think it could be helpful.
Another step-by-step description of how to use dpns is on Stitch Diva Studio's Knit Tutorial - Double Pointed Needles. This tutorial includes photos.
One thing I learned from scanning several sites for easier-to-follow instructions is that some knitter recommend rotating the stitches around so that the same column of stitches is not always at the beginning of a needle. This is supposed to make your knitting have a more even gauge, decreasing the possibility of "laddering" between needles. I've never done that, but I don't think you can tell from looking at any of the socks I've made where the needle changes are. I can't tell on WK's either; Do you rotate your knitting, WK?
I think that the simple answer to what you're doing is that you're forgetting to use the newly emptied needle as the working needle, and are continuing to use the original needle after knitting the stitches on the original needle. Does that make sense? I know I had to read several descriptions of how to do this style of knitting, as well as look at that free online helpful videos. To find these things to pass along to you, I Googled this: "double pointed needle video" and this "double pointed needle help." As is usual with Google, some things just weren't helpful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
