have you seen this yet?

So I was browsing Pinterest today and came across this really cool program.  When making a granny square project, if you’re like me, the colors have to be used an equal amount of times on the edges, in the middle, and in the center.  This can be very difficult to keep track of — my last granny square blanket‘s colors were distributed evenly like this, but I did it by keeping all the squares in carefully organized piles, and it got kind of ridiculous because I kept knocking piles over and having to re-sort everything.

That picture doesn’t show everything, and actually looking at it makes it seem like I didn’t do a very good job distributing the colors… but trust me, there’s every combination possible in this blanket.

But now there’s an easier way (do I sound like a TV ad?).  Check out this program from Double Crochets, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.  You can see the results of the math permutation in a printable chart.  Now you can’t select your colors, at least not yet, but you can choose the number of colors.  Once you see the way the chart is made it would be easy to just draw out your own with colored pencils or markers.  It just makes the whole process of distributing the colors evenly easier to visualize.  I will probably use this in conjunction with Design-Seeds (for picking out my color palettes).

What do you think?  Would you use this program, or make a chart of your own?  Or do you prefer to just wing it and not worry about such things as even distribution?

That’s all for today!  Thanks for visiting!

Oh and PS:  I made an extensive post the other day with lots of great information about makeup & skincare, but I didn’t publish it because I thought it might not be very interesting to everybody, since it’s off topic (I don’t want my dear readers to be put off by posts that aren’t about crocheting).  I was just wondering if any of you would like me to publish it.  It’s made specifically as an extensive and detailed regimen for people with really oily, acne prone skin like mine, but there are other great tips too on how we should really be applying our makeup, how to contour, and more.  I spent lots of time writing it up and putting videos and links in, not to mention the years of trying to find things that work and suffering through lots of embarrassing skin issues.  Just let me know if you’d like to see it.  If only one or two people are interested I can just e-mail the content to you instead.

one down, one to go

As I think I mentioned in my last post, my mom asked me to make this pattern for her and one of her friends.  She wanted a thinner version though, so we got some pretty variegated sock yarn and I used size 6 needles.  Here’s the first one:

Didn’t the yarn turn out lovely?  It’s Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox, and the colors are gorgeous!  I enjoyed making this, which is good because I still have one more to make!

My ski bonnet is currently on hold until I decide whether or not to do one more repeat of the band pattern before going down the other side of it, and whether or not I can actually do the math to make it work out alright in the end.  Since I’m new to knitting, it might take me a few days to be sure of what I’m doing.  When I do decide, though, you’ll be the first to know!

That’s all I’ve got for today, thanks for stopping by!

how to properly knit a ski hat

I’ve had a bit of success with the ski bonnet!  About time, too — this is attempt number 4.  I figured out how I needed to knit the band.  First, I knitted the first few rows on double points, because it was easier for me to keep things from getting twisted that way than it was with the magic loop method:

I’m liking the magic loop method much better now.  It feels less like I’m wrestling with a large wooden spider and it’s going quicker.  I’ve gotten 24 rows done so far, and you can begin to see how the pattern will look:

The yarn looks extra pink here. The first picture is more accurate color-wise.

So far, no mistakes (that I know of).  I’m crossing my fingers for continued success, because I wouldn’t know how to go back to a previous row with this pattern of complicated cables and twists if I did mess up.  Well, it’s complicated to me, at least.  But hey, I wanted a challenge, right?

I am actually worried that the band is too narrow — I believe it should be about 4 inches wide and mine is about 3.  Maybe once it’s blocked?  PLEASE don’t tell me that  I should start over and go up a needle size.  Well, actually, do tell me if I should, but don’t expect me to be happy.  What do you think?  I don’t want to redo it, but I do want it to be perfect!

frustration wins this round

While I’m happy with how my blogs are looking after some changes, I’m frustrated with the ski bonnet.  Last post I mentioned that I ripped out my first attempt (which was only about 13 rows but actually took a long time.  Well, here’s my second attempt, using scrap yarn so that I could get the pattern down:

I messed up the twists in the bottom right corner but it got better.

As you can see, I chose to use my double points instead of the circular needle.  Crazy as it seems, it feels less cumbersome to me (especially when starting off).  So after achieving satisfaction with the sample, I brought out the magenta yarn again and tried for the real thing.  Again I got to about row 13 and realized I made a mistake in row 5, and I had no idea how to go about fixing it.  So I’ve done rows 1-13 three times now, none of which have been satisfactory.  I considered just keeping going, but I want this hat to be perfect, so I frogged it again.

Maybe 4th time’s the charm.  I’m going to try to be less distracted by other things while I’m knitting this time so I can follow the chart properly.  No more Japanese anime with subtitles!  Maybe some good ol’ Harry Potter audiobooks.

Wish me luck, and thanks for stopping by!  Hopefully I’ll have a photo worthy sample soon.

ski bonnet: begin!

Remember that awesome ski bonnet that I wanted to make?  Well, I’m gonna make it!

I’ll be using 3 skeins of Berroco Vintage in their Dewberry shade, which I had to purchase today, even though I said I couldn’t afford yarn this month.  I swear, this yarn was the cheapest yarn in the store that still felt soft.  I’m gonna just say this is my birthday present to myself.

So I started the pattern, and I was immediately struggling.  I know how to do the magic loop method but I’m still not good at keeping the breaks between the sides tight and even, so that was all over the place.  Maybe I should try it on double points, which I’m more used to, so I don’t have those “wings?”  In row 1 I immediately had to learn two new things, as well: the Left Twist and the Right Twist.  I think I’m doing them right.  (Check out those links for video tutorials on YouTube.)

In the end, my first 6 rows looked so shabby that I frogged it.  I think I’m going to practice with some spare yarn to get the hang of the pattern first before trying it again with my nice magenta yarn.  Anybody have any advice for me?