Adventure in knitting---Learning new techniques

Went to Beverly's Fabric and Craft shop the other day, with the intention of just picking up fabric for a project I'm working on.  I did find the fabric and it was exactly what I needed, but since I had some free time I figured walking around the store would be fun.  So I found this tiny skein of yarn, so cute. Just enough to make a pair of baby socks.  Could not resist...........

I usually knit socks toe up, two at a time but since the project was so tiny thought that 4 or 5 double points would be best...and of course out of the thousands ( maybe hundreds) of needles I own, I did not have the correct size.   So I needed to order needles..I like knit picks, so knit picks it was.


After casting on and knitting the ribbed cuff, I researched heels on You Tube.  Watched the Japanese short row, German Short row and finally found this Short row method that worked beautifully for this fine yarn. Here it is from Knitting Blooms    https://youtu.be/0Os1aDRdI_w

Kitchener Stitch is a great way to finish the toe and Guess What I found a knitted Kitchener Stitch and loved the way it worked.   Much easier to me and definitely a smooth outcome for such a tiny sock.   https://youtu.be/-S9v-pEiu-M

A Little Swing Jacket

There are so many designs running around inside my head....

 and I love to knit them, but to get it written down is a chore.   I've created formulas, read about writing patterns, taken classes on the subject,  written patterns and had them tech edited before,  but it just seems that I need to be in the right frame of mind for all of it to click.    It takes time: constructing it, engineering the process, figuring out the math and then editing the work.    

I designed and knit this pattern years ago, but never finished writing it all out...

So last week I picked the draft up and started knitting and writing again.  Today the pattern is complete and was just posted on Ravelry (ElizSCKnits) and Love Knitting....

Pattern on Ravelry  Elizscknits

This is knit top down and in the round.  No seams and very little weaving in of yarn tails. 

Sleeve stitches on a stitch holder or yarn

Dividing the sections of the yoke

Knitting the body and adding the swing

 

 

 After knitting the body and seed stitch hem, it's time to knit the sleeves in the round using two circular needles.   Here I have transfered the sleeve stitches from the holder to a circular a needle and picked up three (3) stitches at the underarm.    The Sleeve will be knit in the round.

Underarm stitches

So it came apart in the wash......

I guess the gentle cycle on my washing machine is not that gentle.   This is The Purl Bee's Cap Sleeve Lattice Top from Purl Soho.     It was constructed a couple of years ago and now it's being reknit...finished the front lattice portion and now have the back to complete... stay tuned...

Color Changes in Crochet

Changing colors in Crochet  

Make sure to place your last color strand to the front of the work before taking the next stitch.

Rainbow at the end of June

I saw this and just had to have it.   

Well it was a fabric quilt, but I decided that I would rather have it as a crocheted Baby Afghan.    After much trial, error, ripping out and restitching I am finally satisfied with the result.  

Rainbow Heart Love on Ravelry

This piece is done using alternating rows of cluster stitch and half double crochet.   

A bit of texture and lots of color.   The pattern includes stitch charts and written instructions (color chart too).

My intention was to make this a corner to corner design but I found that with the number of color changes within each row, hiding floats (strands of yarn) was a challenge and I was not happy with the look on the back.  This is a reversible blanket.  

 This piece is crocheted side to side so you are only working with three colors at a time.   

You can get this patten at my  Ravelry shop   

How To: Changing colors, hiding the float and setting up for the color change in the next row.

The key to hiding floats is to set up the dropped color yarn so that it is in the correct location when you pick it up on the next row.    Notice that it is important to pick up the new color yarn on the last stitch of the first color.   

On cluster row-

1.     On the last dc of the cluster, pick up new color and pull through the last two (2) loops on hook.  

      Always bring the color yarn you are changing from (white yarn in photo) to the front of your work.   Place it on top of new color yarn strand and below the tip of your hook. 

Skip 2 stitches,  Single Crochet 

White yarn will be anchored to the front, when you make the next stitch, a single crochet. 

 This yarn will be properly placed for pick up on the return row. 

Notice the white yarn is hanging in the front.

Yarn over, pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. The White yarn is anchored to the front.  

Changing Colors on a Half Double Crochet Stitch

hdc- yo, insert hook, yo draw up st,  3 loops on hook.  Pick up new color, yo and draw through 3 loops 

Ravelry shop   

More Blankets--Lucille Packard Children's Hospital @Stanford

It feels wonderful to give to others.   I have been fortunate in getting the very best of care at Stanford Hospital and it was the small touches that gave me more strength in my healing.   Nurses and assistants who listened and showed they cared,  that beautiful stone heart and the confidence of my surgeon .. making these blankets is my way of saying thank you... plus I get to play with so many colors and designs...  fun, fun, fun...

Sent Feb 2017

Work in Progress May/June 2017

May 26, 2017 

Knit Picks City Tweed DK Habanero

Size 5 needle  

Drops Design 171-11

click the link

A little doll with Love

So for something different,  I friend was in search of a doll for a friend.  This doll was a replacement for a torn and worn doll, much loved and needed.   I found a Weir Doll kit and here's the result.   

Follow up on the Mitered Square Poncho

Front

All finished and worn quite a few times.   It gets cold in SF and Sonoma at night.  

This piece is asymmetrical, perhaps not meant to be but I find wearing it off the shoulder comfortable.

Back 

A little cable detail- Knitter's Magazine
Merino 9 Trendsetters

It truly is all about the finishing

Although most people love the knitting and don't care for the time and attention it takes to FINISH (as in block and weave), this final step can make all the difference in the world.  

Think of it as how a garment looks when pressed or not pressed.

Blocking the Date Night Wrap www.ExpressionFiberArts.com

After the piece was blocked my daughter asked if I could make the wrap longer.   She 5'8" , so yes of course.   I purchased 3 additional skeins of the Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino DK and added approximately 7 more rows.   Lovely pattern, delicious yarn

As a back-up, if the temperature really dropped-- GGH  Husky -wool
High Fructose Shawl  by Tunney Wool Company

 She wore both!!!!! yeah