a hat for Chris

August 14, 2013 by 20 Comments

Chris’ birthday is today!  He’s turning 28 and he says he feels old.  As you know, I don’t have a job, so funds for a present are pretty much nonexistent, but luckily I have a nice yarn stash and could make him something:

spaceinvadershat

It’s a Space Invaders hat!  For those who don’t know, Space Invaders was/is an old arcade video game (probably one of the first ones).  Since Chris loves video games, I figured he’s probably played Space Invaders, and since I found a handy chart by Arne & Carlos here, I figured I could make him that.

To make the hat:  using worsted yarn (Berroco Vintage) and a US6 circular needle, I cast on 96 sts and did some rows of k2 p2 ribbing.  Switching to a US8 circular needle, I used the chart from the free PDF, and did the decreases at the top like this (switching to DPNs when it became necessary):

k10, k2tog.  Knit 1 round.  k9, k2tog.  Knit 1 round.  k8, k2tog.  Knit 1 round…. etc. until I got to the last three decrease rows, where I didn’t do a regular knit row in between them.  When 8 sts were left I cast off and secured the ends!

I hope it fits him — it fits me but might be a little tight for him around the colorwork area — I did the floats without really factoring in stretch.

Also, my sprained foot is feeling much better — I’ve been taking it really easy and I think it’s going to be just fine.  The swelling is almost completely gone, the big bruise has stopped spreading, and I’m walking almost normally again.  Thanks again for all the well-wishes — ya’ll made me smile!

I guess that’s all for today.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Filed Under: knitting Tagged With: , ,

the many moods of knitting

July 2, 2013 by 14 Comments

It’s been a while since there’s been a post about knitting, probably because there hasn’t been much knitting done around here lately (largely because of the CAL).  When I get the urge to pick up the needles, however, the actual process of knitting and the feelings I get from it usually matter more than the finished product.  Here’s what I reach for and why.

straight needles

straights

 

These are grabbed when I want to work with something that looks pretty, but is knitting at it’s most classic. (It’s hard to pass up a pretty pair in the store, even if I’ve already got 5 of the same size.)   They are pretty portable and easy to work with, and there’s just something about that back and forth, back and forth repetition of motion that is so soothing.

circulars or DPNs

dpns

 

These really do make you look fancy when you knit in public — people can’t believe that you can work magic with so many tiny sticks or those large twisty loops!  They’re a step up in complication from straight needles because they take some finagling, but still easy enough to manage without too much trouble.  Just make sure your project is securely on your needles before putting it back in your bag.

something garter or stockinette

garter

 

Simple garter or stockinette projects are a great stress reliever because I can just let my hands do their thing and release all that anxiety.  The repetitive, almost mindless quality of projects like this make them perfect for working on while doing other things at the same time, such as watching TV, having a conversation, or listening to lectures.  It’s so easy to put these down and pick them up because you don’t have to follow a complicated pattern, making these projects ideal for a quick 5 minute knitting session on the go.  They work great with textured or novelty yarns, too!

something with lace, cables, or colorwork

lace and cables

 

These projects require concentration but I always get a sense of great accomplishment when it turns out right!  It’s a proud feeling you get when you can say “why yes, I made it myself!”  They can also be incredibly frustrating, at least for me, because I don’t know how to go back multiple rows when working with lace or cables; this means that if I make a huge mistake, I have to start over.  Small mistakes tend to get left there in hopes that nobody will notice.

a small project

small project

 

Small projects are ideal for trying out a new technique because if I mess up, I haven’t wasted a zillion hours on something I just have to unravel.  I also reach for a small project when I want to see “fast” results (“fast” is in quotation marks because it is only fast compared to larger knitted projects; a crocheted project of the same size would be much faster).  Also of course they’re quite portable!

a big project

large project

 

I haven’t been brave enough to take on a knitting project bigger than a cardigan, because that’s big for me!  I know there will be a great feeling of accomplishment when I finish my first cardigan, but it does get a bit monotonous when using a thin yarn and small needles (making it take a long time to see progress).  Also, picking such a big project in stockinette can be a bit dull.  To be honest, I’d choose crochet for the biggest projects like blankets or rugs because they would take less time and you can see fast results, and therefore I’d be less likely to get bored.  When working on large projects, there tends to be a bunch of smaller projects littering my coffee table at the same time that I can grab when taking a “break” from the big item.

So, does any of this ring true for you as well, or do you feel differently?  Do any specific projects, techniques, or tools evoke strong feelings (good or bad) for you?  I’d love to hear about your knitting moods, too!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Filed Under: knitting Tagged With: , , , ,

a new app and some projects

May 10, 2013 by 4 Comments

the app

For those knitters with iPhones (and maybe other smartphones too), there is an app that takes your specific measurements, yarn, preferred design elements, and gauge and comes up with a customized raglan sweater pattern.  Here are some screenshots from my phone:

raglanify screenshots

Pretty neat, huh?  It’s a lot of information to put in, sure, but I bet it would be worth it for a perfect fitting sweater!  The app, “Raglanify,” is $0.99 in the app store, which is great for what it does, I think.

the new project

After thinking about my last post, wondering whether or not to attempt the Wonder Woman sweater (which I would alter), I decided against it.  Can’t afford the yarn right now in anything but acrylic (and I don’t want an acrylic sweater), and our CAL is coming up so I’ll be plenty busy without a sweater!  However, I do happen to have some rather patriotic themed yarn in my stash:

spaceinvadersyarnMan, it’s hard to get good  coloring in my pictures lately!  I swear that’s navy in the back, and a true red as well.  This is Berroco Vintage, a worsted wool blend that has been gracing my stash for years.  THIS is what I’d make a sweater with, but that would be expensive.  Anyway, instead of a sweater, I’m going to use this yarn to make a few hats with the space invaders pattern by Arne & Carlos that I also mentioned in my last post.  Wish me luck — they’re for some boys with large heads (literally) and since my head is small, the size will be a guesstimate.

the finished project

And speaking of Arne & Carlos, I made the first Christmas ball in the book:

ornament1*sigh*  It’s a real red, not magenta.  Cute though, right?  I plan on going through the whole book, making almost all of them (some are a little weird, like the outhouse one, but I’ll definitely be making the pig one, hehe).  These will be Christmas presents and I can’t wait to give them away!  I’m thinking of getting some cigar boxes and wrapping them in pretty contact paper, then putting 4 (maybe 6) ornaments inside.  The ornaments are a bit large, though, so I might have to think of another solution… I can’t remember exactly how large cigar boxes are.  Anyway, the ball is a bit lumpy, and I’m not sure why.  I tried to leave plenty of give in the stranding on the back to keep it from puckering, so it’s probably uneven stuffing.  Next time I’ll try smaller bits of stuffing instead of using a few big pieces.  That should help, right?

other stuff…

On another topic, I’m going to Pineville/Charlotte tomorrow to apply for jobs at a couple of malls.  I’m getting no bites for counseling positions, and I’m still refusing to apply to anything that involves doing intensive in-home work (that’s where you go to a kid’s house by yourself and try to counsel them there with their family and pets and TVs and bugs and nasty smells all around you the whole time).  Doesn’t sound fun or safe or very effective.  Tomorrow I’ll be certain to hit up Aerie, Barnes & Noble, and Sephora, amongst other stores, and maybe even a few at the fancy-pants mall where all the rich people shop.  Hmmm…  If I apply at the frozen yogurt place do you think I’ll get free yummies?  Hehe.

I’ve started reading “A Game of Thrones” again.  Last time I only got a few chapters in and all the characters got so confusing that I put down the book in frustration.  After marathoning the whole 2 1/2 seasons of the TV show in 4 days, I understand and am going back to read the book.  It’s weird knowing the ending already.  After watching the first episode on TV, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue, to be honest — it’s an HBO show and therefore full of very explicit things — but following through I found that the story is very good.  I can thank Yoona for inspiring me to give it another go… it might have been due to all those good looking guys she mentioned.  Now I’m obsessed too.

Well that’s all for today — this post is long!  Thanks for stopping by!

Filed Under: knitting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

DPNs vs magic loop method

April 9, 2013 by 12 Comments

dpnsvsmlThis is my review on which method I prefer for knitting in the round: DPNs (double pointed needles) or the magic loop method (using circular needles).  If you’re new to knitting, maybe this post will be helpful!

For those who don’t know exactly what each method entails — both can be confusing — KnitPicks has beaten me to making a good explanatory video on how to knit both ways:

And I know it may look like it, but I’m not sponsored by KnitPicks… I just like their needles and they had the best video I could find.  That video also includes knitting with two circulars, but I’ve never done that so I don’t have an opinion on it either way.  Let’s get started.

double pointed needles

Double pointed needles (DPNs) have been the traditional way of knitting small-ish objects in rounds for a very very long time.  Think socks, hats, mittens, Easter egg decorations, whatever small tubular things you can think of.  Let’s look at some pros and cons:

pros:

  • Most patterns for circular small-ish objects are already written for DPNs because that’s the traditional way.
  • You don’t have to deal with the “wings” of the magic loop method.
  • DPNs are available in very small needle sizes.

cons:

  • DPNs can feel like you’re wrestling with a pointy wooden spider, especially when you’re just learning.
  • Because there are more transitions between needles than with the magic loop method, there are more places where your tension could be off, potentially leaving ladders of loose stitches all the way down your project.
  • DPNs often aren’t available in the larger needle sizes.
  • There are many possibilities for your yarn to slip off the needles, since they don’t have ends.

Not looking too good, huh?  Let’s check out the other one:

magic loop method

The magic loop method is a very new technique, so many patterns do not have specific instructions for it.  Sounds bad, but let’s see:

pros:

  • With a little practice, you can adapt patterns written for DPNs to suit the magic loop technique.
  • You don’t have to juggle as many needles as with DPNs.
  • You don’t have to worry as much about your work slipping off your needles because there are only two possible ends to slip off of.
  • Circular needles are available in larger needle sizes.

cons:

  • Circular needles sometimes aren’t available in small sizes.
  • Those “wings” can take up a bunch of space.
  • Tension issues can still take place — for instance my transitions from one half of the work to the other are always really tight, making it harder to slide the needles through.

OK, so DPNs have 3 pros and 4 cons, and magic loop method has 4 pros and 3 cons.  I guess then that my personal favorite would have to be…..

6indpnset0to3

DPNs!  Surprised?  That’s just my personal preference.  Many people who are frustrated with DPNs are very grateful to have an alternative such as the magic loop method, and honestly I’m glad it’s an option, too.  However, since both methods are relatively awkward it’s really just a matter of what works best for me.  I don’t have as many tension issues with DPNs, and for me the magic loop method just takes up too much space to knit comfortably next to others.  Also, if you get wooden or bamboo needles you won’t have to worry so much about your stitches slipping off, since they’ll have a nice grip to them, thus pretty much eliminating that con, in my opinion.  Considering that some pros and cons weigh more or less than others in importance, my favorite is DPNs.  Plus, DPNs look really complicated to everyone else, so they’re impressed by our mad skills.

Since it’s really just personal preference, which do you like best?  Do you have any pros or cons for either method that I didn’t mention?    Any questions?

I hope this post was both entertaining and helpful, and as always, thanks for stopping by!  I’ll have something on crochet next time!

Filed Under: knitting Tagged With: , , , , ,

busy busy!

April 4, 2013 by 4 Comments

Guess what I got in the mail!

haulMy stuff from KnitPicks actually came in yesterday while I wasn’t at home, so I had to pick up the parcel today at the post office.  It only took 4 days to get here, and I was so surprised at that and the products (I had been expecting a paperback book, not a nice hardback one) that I sent KnitPicks a thank-you email!

So anyway, I got the Christmas book by Arne & Carlos:

55christmasballsbookIt is amazing!  I love it and I’m super-excited to get started on some of them for Christmas gifts!  These moderately easy projects have both written instructions for the balls and charts for the pictures on the balls, which is great (I say moderately easy because they do involve DPNs and switching colors, so they’re not super-easy).  I still have to get the yarn, but I really only need 2 or 3 colors so that’s not a problem.  Of course I’ll be getting Stylecraft Special DK, my new go-to yarn.  And I’ll be making these ornaments with these needles:

6indpnset0to3These DPNs are gorgeous and I can’t wait to use them!  They’ll be perfect for socks, too (I’ve got an upcoming post on DPNs vs. the magic loop method, so look out for that).

And of course, here’s the bit that I didn’t need for anything in particular, but purchased anyway:

dishieThis 100% cotton yarn, as you could guess by the name “Dishie,” is good for washcloths, dishcloths, tea towels, and perhaps hot pads (not sure about how well cotton would hold up to a hot pan — better than acrylic but maybe not as good as wool).  I’m sure there are plenty more possibilities, but I will be making something either kitchen or bathroom related.  I haven’t picked which.  Nor have I decided whether to use this for knitting or crochet.  It’s not the softest yarn, but it’s pretty good for cotton, I suppose, and it’s not like I’m going to be using it for clothes, hats, or scarves.  I’m pretty excited about it.

I know I’ve been posting a lot lately when I said I would try not to, but I’ve got so many crafty things going on right now and I don’t want to wait because I’ll forget!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: knitting Tagged With: , , , ,
«Previous Page
Next Page»