Lost Control -Well not completely

When I sat at the computer today to write a post, the first thought that came to mind was that I just have too many projects started....I lost Control!

Some items in the photo are just a few steps from completion -- weave in a strand or sew on buttons. Others are half finished and some are really just me designing- make a sample swatch or knitting a shawl as I design it.   There is crochet and knitting in the mix.  Charity and gifts.

And did you notice the lovely bags to hold my projects.
(Thanks Katie and Brenda)

Now I could beat myself up about this situation, but the truth of the matter is I need diversity.   I need to have different skill level projects to meet the needs of knitting gatherings..you know it's best to have a mindless project when you knit at Murphy's Pub.  You understand, just in case a cool beer or Margarita fits the bill that day.   

(as an aside, this has been the hottest summer ever).  

How many projects do you have started?   

I have 9. .  No wait, where is that beautiful chevron scarf with the Spanish Yarn????

Eliz Zimmerman for the Twins

It's so easy to be creative with the Baby Surprise Jacket.   The identical twins are not dressed in identical outfits, so I used a variety of colors, added a little fun fur and cute buttons for these sweaters.   

Knit One, Knit All

Brimmed Hat- Horizontal

Knit in Patons Shetland Chunky

The one thing I have learned in knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman style is that the directions seem so simple, and I need to just read them and not try to figure out where she is going.  JUST GO WITH IT.



TOP SECTION- knit in three sections (triangles) by picking up the side of each triangle



RIBBING WORKED IN THE ROUND



At this point it's time for the brim to be knit.   Elizabeth asks you to increase 1 stitch for each stitch on the needle.  She also instructs you to work back and forth, and stitch together in the end.   I'd rather not sew so I decided to wrap and turn, on alternating end stitches at the end of each round so that there was no seam.  It worked

I cord trim (wonder what it would look like with a differant color yarn)

The Package

The package came in the mail yesterday and I actually let it sit without opening for about 3 hours.  Could have been the need to savour the contents at the quiet time, no rush.   This was really a treat.  Since I need to block a large piece (the Knit, Swirl #1) it seemed the right thing to do..ordering blocking mats from Knit Picks.  They had a special sale on books...  well even though I hardly have room for the books I own..The Opinionated Knitter was on the list..could not pass it up and it is lovely.   Absolutely Lovely.   I love the way she thinks.

Cardigan Knit one knit all Adding the front and collar

This project is really working up much faster then expected.  Back is on the stitch holder and collar is worked on the circular needles.

It this point the front side and back are knit together at the same time that the collar is added.

Notice the I cord binding which is knit in all at the same time and the collar.  Now to begin the left side.

The needle to pointing to the front side and I corded buttonholes.

Knit One Knit All #4

Total pink and bulky --This next hat is shaped with shortrows and will be woven together top to bottom. (notice the blue yarn, that's the provisional cast on) What is really nice about working in the Bulky yarn is that no short row holes can be seen, and that's even without knitting the wrapped stitch.   A super quick project- this is the work of one afternoon.

The top of the hat is on the left and you can see the levels where the hat increased in size across the right side and the middle (center of photo) less increased

ko,ka #2 the brim

So once I sewed the tapered side together, the hat looked very strange to me.  Adding the border and brim was very easy and this is where I feel you have the flexibility to make the hat longer.

  Knitting in the design, I choose light olive and turquoise and then used the green for the brim.   this part is knit in the round (my favorite way to knit) and again the use of icord for finishing really gives this a rich look.

Knit One Knit All #2





I decided to take the liberty to skip to any pattern I choose during this endeavor..so I am knitting the Single Border Hat , page 15.  Again I read over the pattern instructions and wondered how is this going to work.. but of course it does because Elizabeth Zimmerman is genius!!   Using Paton's Merino wool (from my stash) I cast on the required stitches and knit away.. 

 



Love the spiral affect



Still did not get the look of the hat?













Knit One Knit All --One down more to follow

The first project in Elizabeth Zimmerman's wonderful book Knit One, Knit All is complete.  The Spiral Hat  (yarn Cascade 220 super wash)

Knitting an I-cord and creating a fabric (piece) at the same time is pure genius

I found during the construction of the hat that by changing the way I picked up the side stitch the look of the join changed.

Sometimes I knit two stitches together from the front, or the back or I would pick up a stitch with out knitting it and yarn over.

You may be able to see the effect on the spiral above the outside edge.  It's only a slight difference. 
For my next project I'm going to take notes on everything I do or adjust.   What an innovator Eliz Z is .....I love this technique and can see using it to attach I-cord to any project easily.. what a great way to add a hem!!!


I'd  like to knit this piece again using a different yarn, something with a little mohair or angora.  

So it begins -- Knit One Knit All Pattern #1

 Knit One Knit All  Chambered Nautilus Tam



picking up I-cord stitch

Although my caplet is not done I decided to begin the first pattern in Knit One Knit All. Saturday is Knit in Public day and this is a wonderful piece to work on, the caplet is too intense to be able to knit and talk.   It is a spiral I-cord beret.  You know I love spiral designs, it must be the hypnotist in me!!  The pattern is written as Elizabeth Zimmerman would have written it and I realized that I needed to read the directions over twice and then experiment with the stitch.  I began with a chunky yarn on a size 7 needle to get the gauge desired, but found the fabric to be stiff and the spiral was not lying as it should.  Then taking Cascade 220 superwash in a lovely brown I began all over again.   The fabric swirl is created by knitting across 7 stitches, including short rows and attaching to the I cord you create in the row.  My knitting style is unconventional, the legs of my stitches do not lie on the front of the needle, so many times I need to re-load the stitch in order to get the desired result.   I found that in the beginning of this project I was not following the directions as clearly written and created a new version at the attachment to the I-cord, with a second raised  row running along side.   Once I realized my error and how to create a more seamless attachment the spiral took on a new look.   See below.

Knit One Knit All

Have you seen this book?  I am in love.. never thought I would want to knit almost every design in one book  but I have changed my mind...Soooo here is the plan   I will knit every design,, except the pullovers. ( At my age and body type ..definitely not my style) but who's to say I could knit them  and give as gifts... hum..
Game Plan:

• I will have two projects going at one time, at all times
• I use quality yarn from my stash, before I purchase new yarn
• Each design will be photographed in progress
• I will update this blog frequently with the details

Oh but I must finish this project first.  It's on the cover of Spring Summer Vogue  --Caplet--knitting it in Rowan DK Wool and working on the border now....  I'll keep you posted... really I will!!!!

OTN & super garage sale find!!

I love to go to garage sales!!!  It my only addiction (not counting yarn, needles and books-- well I have to go somewhere to find this stuff!!) and I found this basket at a sale a couple of weeks ago.  Isn't it lovely!! 

Mini Mochi yarn (pattern online www.straw.com)

Last month was  the anniversary of  Elizabeth Zimmerman's birthday and and a local yarn shop had a celebration.   A group of women from the International Knitting Studio met at Village Knitters in Santa Rosa and  it was a great night.  

Lots of demonstrations, beautiful yarns and I saw this hat.   A few of the ladies have been asking to learn fair isle knitting and this is a wonderful  introduction to learning the technique-- The trick in this design is that the yarn is variegated and the color changes happen as you knit.