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January 28, 2007
knit whatever the hell you want
Since I have set myself to finish three WIPs, I noticed all the time I've not been in the mood for knitting...further more, I felt stressful to think about knitting or approach to the needles.
It is not good. Knitting is something to enjoy, fulfilling bits of time with pleasure between daily errands for me. It is NOT duty....and this time, this task-like way doesn't work. No.
I need some soothing mantra, or whatever give me motivation, positive reaction. So far Wendy's "Bad-Ass Knitter Manifesto" condition is applied as a prescription. Especially number 1.
1. Knit whatever the hell you want . . . whenever you want.
Yes. I want to knit what I want. Not what I have to knit. Right? I make no excuse then, and knitted this for the past 2-3 days:
This is a back of a vest for kids, "Hamish" from Rowan Junior book. Let me tell you about it. This was a curling red stuff on the sofa the other day. Yes, it progressed fast, and is finished now.
Some days ago at the moment I had some spare time to knit, I felt so negative to cast on the second sleeve for Cactus Flower, and happened to approach my Stash-Forest forbidden closet. When I opened a drawer to search something, I bumped into some red and orange center-pull balls. These are apparently colorways for DS first. I remembered these yarns are Rowanspun DK and I bought them for Hamish, some years ago. These were skeins, but already made into these balls to be able to start anytime. Normally I won't make skeins into balls until the last moment before cast on, and these were prepared, ready, and forgotten.
The next thing I knew was that I casted on and started knitting, felt much better than these recent days. At the same time, I noticed something: I don't like at all circular knitting for sweaters. Both Cactus Flower and Hourglass Sweater are required to knit circular. I am happy to knit socks with dpns, or knit flat garment with circular needles, but not knitting circular for big project like sweaters.
Anyway, after letting myself to knit something FLAT back and forth, other than old tasks, this treatment really soothed disturbed soul. Now I feel much better and a bit positive about Cactus Flower and actually casted on the second sleeve yesterday. At the same time, I am knitting the front part of Hamish. And...I will reveal next time the secret project in waiting....
Posted by trico at 11:38 PM | ???? (1)
January 24, 2007
something happening
Hey, where are her WIPS? Cactus Flower and Jaywalker and others?
Well...what's that?
check: something on the sofa...red, curling.
check: percel on the floor
check: contents overflowing. chocolate brown.
Posted by trico at 11:16 AM | ???? (1)
January 21, 2007
longing for wool
I have less than 10 days to finish two sweaters and a pair of legwarmer, yet what I knit now is this:
This is my first Jaywalker socks and from left to right, the first one, second one which I have knitted since January 1st and complete yesterday, and the third one which I started yesterday.
No, I have only two legs, no third one.
The first sock turned out too small, and knitting the second one with one size larger needles, the second finally fit perfectly with my leg. As it looks I have yet quite much oddment of the yarn, I started the another sock without frogging the first one. If there is not enough yarn to complete the third sock, I will destroy the first one, but not likely. In that case, what I can do with this orphan sock?
So let me tell you what I am thinking in knitting Cactus Flower sweater.
I like this sweater design and concept to use mohair and silk/cotton yarn togather to make a garment. That is why I wanted to make this. But now, each time when I reach this sweater, I feel kind of unconfortable...there are some reasons I have noticed. First, the substituted yarn for Summer Tweed is NOT GOOD to knit. The fiber contents are almost same, but my yarn is much more "savage" than Rowan yarn and I found very often woody/hay-like frecs everywhere. It is quite annoying and addition to that, knitting two yarn togather is tricky factor.
Kidsilk haze offers gentle touch to the garment but it tries to escape any moment, I mean, every four or five rows under the current fow, I find a dropped mohair stitch. Ugh.
It also means even if Cactus Flower is allover stockinette sweater, I am forced to pay attention for every stitch when knitting. Ugh. Ugh.
I think maybe because I should not substitute yarn, and I might be not skilled enough to knit two strand togather throughout. BUT ANYHOW knitting this sweater is not confortable at all for me, for now. YET, YET the reason why I don't give it up is that I want to wear this sweater, badly.
Even knitting becomes now kind of difficult plactice, the knitted parts feels so good and nice, soft, light and inviting.
So....I feel strong ambivalence with it. I don't like to knit it and like to wear it. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
And sigh. Knitting this, I am thinking about wool, springy, soft, confortable yarn to knit.
Wanna see? The current status:
After the photo I worked a bit more, finished the sleeve within this weekend. Not yet cast on the second sleeve.
BTW: let me show you another photo, Bobby sweater modeled by DS second:
Sadly it won't suit him next winter....for now, however, it is not so bad, I believe. He has not yet claimed itchy, until now.(he is quite fussy normally) The yarn is Rowan True 4ply Botany and I like this yarn. I have more of them and I might knit socks with it, someday.
Posted by trico at 11:11 PM | ???? (1)
January 15, 2007
plan and reality
So... I am supposed to knit three WIPs since my previous post, and of course something happened. Knitty incident, or called "knitting in need".
It's the season. We need many protection when we go out,you know, friends. Status:
DH: recently scored a new scarf and a pair of socks in November(check!)
DS first: red hat(last winter), red scarf( before hat), gloves(from MIL, found a big hole on right palm
DS second: baby cashmerino hat(two years ago), scarf(shame on me, bought one) no need yet gloves
Found urgent knitting in need. That was it.
The coloring is followed to his request. He loves red and colorful stuff as a kid. Vivid red and blue are not acrylic yet. Red is "Merinos 300" and Brue is "Merinos 200 Adhoc", both from Filatura di Crosa, and light gray is some oddments without label, which is as soft as other colors. No specific pattern, for I always arrange a base glove pattern to each specified size and make "haut-couture" gloves for the recipient.
This gloves are now completed and in use from today.
BTW, I have made a mini swatch for my new plan in question:
I love this appearance of cable and color, and touch...I will definitely use Silk Road Aran Tweed, but the color which is most appropriate to respect the original photo of sweater looks now discontinued...I am now in search.
And on the post dated on January 3rd, I have mentioned a certain knitting method like "bag-knitting" for my i-Pod cosy and put a photo series for the explanation of the method, but I FOUND I did NOT EXPLAIN how to knit it! How silly!
It is ridiculously simple and easy. pattern is like that:
1) cast on even number of stitch.
2) *k1, sl1 purlwise, repeat from * to end.
3) repeat 2) for each row.
And that's all! Too easy. Try it!
Posted by trico at 10:39 PM | ???? (1)
January 13, 2007
6 weird things about me
I was tagged by her the other day, since I have been wondering my points...and finally gathered them till 6. Here they are "6 weird things about me":
1. When I am on the road, strangers always get me to ask for directions. Every two days or so. Hey, I am living in central Tokyo, huge metropolis which have enormous popularity, not in the fields where human being is rather rare than birds or wild animals. But people choose and try me for directions. Why??
2. When I was younger adult, I wished I were a brush stick turning on high speed at the car-washing space in the gas station, if I would reincarnate. Really.
3. I dislike drinking water. So far I scarcely drink any kind of water, except a french very heavy minaraled water "Contlex". The taste of normal water is just annoying me, my general beverage is tea and coffee with milk, sometimes a bit of fruit juice.
4. Contrary to number 3, when I was pregnant for the first time in my life, I was obsessed to eat ice cube. I made it everyday in my fridge and ate up all the tray. Midnight, I opened my eyes, woke up silently, reached the fridge, ate some ice cubes with eerie cracking sound and back to bed, every night.
5. I hate TV. I have been living now more than 20 years without TV set at home.
6. I have married officially under the law of the state of Alaska, United States. Neither DH nor I have US nationality, and we've never lived in US.
But reading the rule part carefully:
RULES: "Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog."
Tagging 6 new people is more than my ability...so if interested in searching yourselves' weird things, please just do it instead. Thank you.
And I will post about my knitting news very soon...
Posted by trico at 10:34 AM | ???? (0)
January 06, 2007
2007 resolution
I have just counted my 2006 FO, which I didn't care until now and found as:
1 bag
2 kids hats
1 kids sweater
1 kids cardigan
2 scarves(one of them is mini)
1 cardigan
1 jacket
2 tanks
2 pairs of baby socks
3 pairs of adult socks
Total: 16 garments
The fact surprised me quite a lot...I underestimated myself for productivity. Even if it contains tiny ones like baby socks. And I didn't notice that I made 3 pairs of adult socks last year(all as for the gift) and I didn't think I made something for kids....also, there is such a variety of the garments.
I am quite happy with the result of 2006, and here it is my 2007 knitting resolution:
1. knit MORE than 2006 result
2. knit minimum 2 garments of each DS
3. knit more socks
4. try a challenging project as a first new project for 2007
For number 4, let me explain a bit.
Now officially I am a housewife and mother, no worker. Yet I don't think that I would stay in this status until the end of the year, anyhow now it is my place. And after graduation, I have never been unemployed until now. When I changed the job, always I prepared in advance the next and shifted after I've got the new one. So it is very new and I am not used to be like that, just stay at home.
I am sort of feeling that this is new and NOT AT ALL bad for me, I am more relaxed and caring for details. All is shifting slowly, and I believe I am ready to challenge a project which I have never imagined to be able to knit myself, because I didn't have enough time to keep concentration until it would be complete. And I have time now.
To make it real, there is number 5 resolution:
5. complete all of three WIPS on the side bar within January
So that I could start the new project on February, or maybe earlier than that?? I don't know. Also, as my mentioned project would be quite complicated one, I will start also Chelsea, a plain yet gorgeous sweater which has been waiting since last year.
So far I am now looking for a appropriate substitute yarn for the project. This is current candidate:
Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed. The original yarn is rather simple wooly yarn, looks quite itchy for me, so I want to substitute with more smooth, not-itchy yarn. But I want to keep the impression of the photo of the sweater pattern. Heathered, tweedy, yet with a hint of moderate shine, aran weight. I found a blogger who has made this sweater with Jameson yarn and it looks very "correct". Can you imagine what I am looking for?
So if some of you have any ideas for the yarn, please drop me your recommendation on a comment. Thanks!
Oh, don't forget the number 6:
6. more often blog posting!
Posted by trico at 11:46 PM | ???? (1)
January 03, 2007
happy new year
This new-year holiday week(which is far more important than christmas for Japanese), we stayed with my parents at hometown and over the holidays I have worked my loose ends and another. Let me explain what I've done:
1)sewing up Bobby sweater(see my post on Feb 22, 2006)
Since I have knitted up this sweater I have NOT joined and just left aside....lazy Trico FINALLY got finished joining this sweater, and yes, it is now a bit small for DS second...it is my fault, I know. Actually he can put it on, but the sleeves looks too short...besides, you might notice that this sweater's left shoulder is open, and as of today I cannot find buttons which I have bought for the sweater...these are very cute hedgehogs. I have to find it asap. ugh. Anyway I will show you when I find the buttons and put it on my DS second.
2)Almost finish weaving ends of Electra:
Now if I want I can wear it. I weaved all the ends around front bands and low side of back, sleeve tops. And left the ends of the sleeve joint parts and inside them. But I don't like the looks of shoulder joint. It is not correct, or not neat. I am considering to remove and do it again....
3)Making iPod cozy:
I've got iPod nano from my Santa at Christmas(Yay!) so I wanted to make it immediately. When I searched on line I could find some iPod cozy patterns, but actually it is just a lectangle mini bag, so I thought I did't need any pattern, I could just make it. And at the same time, I've got a funny idea... I can make it with a bit unusual way.
Some time ago, I've read somewhere about "bag-knitting" method or whatever, I don't know the real name of the method. It is one of a traditional knitting method of somewhere in Europe, I believe, and with this method you can knit a bag-form garment with only two needles.
At first, it looks just a plain knitting but the piece looks a bit dense.
The stitches on the needle looks very dense too.
Because, actually the piece is already a form of bag, and there is a space in it. The stitches are knitted alternatively so you knit both side of the bag on one needle.
When you have knitted enough length, you separate the stitches alternatively on the two dp needles. Voila, you have already the pocket space in it!
After that, you turn inside out and add another dp needle to knit circular, knit the edge part or cast off as you like.
I knitted an i-code string and an earphone-code holder tube. The yarn is the odd bits of Claudia's sock yarn, with #1 needles. I love this neat stripes!
4)I have started the second sock of my first Jaywalker sock(sorry I forgot to take the photo). I changed the needle from #1 to #2, so it should be the first one and the previous sock should be ripped out soon.
And just a photo of new-year eye candy for you:
Gorgeous sock yarn from a seller of Etzy... I have to knit many socks in 2007! and I will talk about my new year resolution on my next post.
Happy New Knitting Year for all of you!