Adventures in Ugly Knitting

Another Ribbed Scarf

2011-12-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged about knitting in a while, because between the baby and my husband's work, I haven't had time. I've still been knitting, but haven't had a moment to myself to say much about it. I wish I had a recent finish project more amazing than this simple ribbed scarf to show for it, but this is all I have. Two weeks before Christmas, my mom informed me that my dad wanted a scarf, as he is traveling to colder climates for a while. I threw this one, which is an adjusted version of the Stitch N' Bitch ribbed scarf, but made a bit shorter and wider. I used some Red Heart Flecked yarn that I had on hand for this one. I probably could have had it done faster if I wasn't easily distracted by life.

Cute Hat Pales to Cute Kid

2011-09-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, because things got busy again. I finished up a lot of quick projects and then worked on this berry hat before it was no longer wearable, as winter is coming. This is only my third hat, so I was pretty nervous about adding stranded color work. I think, however, it turned out nicely. It's an easy knit that looks complex and I really like that about the pattern. Next up, I am back to working on my throw blanket, which I have mentioned I don't necessarily like. Despite this, I've decided it needs a crochet border to pull it together when I'm done. I guess I'm a masochist or want to do an extra good job after all that work.

Here is a cute baby that makes this cute hat look cuter:

Blanket Update

2011-09-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

After seaming the second row on the right side of the knitting, instead of the wrong side, I ripped it all out and redid it. Today, I was finally able to get back to where I left off. I'm down with 7 squares out of 20, which doesn't seem like that much progress from my last update. For some of these patterns, the knitting seems to be slow going. For others, they build so fast. I was going to get a lot more done tonight in the house, but I'm tired. Going to finish up the laundry and get the baby's things ready for tomorrow. After that, I'll press forward on my blanket. Here's an updated picture:

Why I Don't Love this Blanket Pattern

2011-08-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am working on the throw blanket pattern from Lion's Brand found here: Knit Sampler Throw. Now, I endeavor to finish everything that I start while knitting, so I will finish this. However, I have some complaints about the pattern. I'm guessing that what I'm complaining about was partially done to make it an easier knit.

The seaming takes a long time and isn't all that enjoyable.
The blocks are different patterns and different stitches and the only thing they have in common is they are 9 inches tall, so I find the seaming to be more difficult and therefore less enjoyable. Matching the stitches for seaming adds additional work.

Okay, I guess that's two complaints. Now, I could just forget it, but when I buy yarn for a project, I generally work to finish it, even if it's not my favorite. I have to be honest that I probably would have enjoyed something for my first blanket that you just kept knitting or crocheting straight through. I'm about thirty percent done at this point and part of my lack of enthusiasm might be the distance I have to the finish. I will see how I feel when I'm closer to 90%!

August Mystery #2 Solved

2011-08-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

I finished my mystery knit (the second one, still have not delved into #1) for August. I did not guess at all what it was until I saw the pattern pictures at the end and then it all made sense. I've placed my picture here after the cut, in case someone is working on it from the 220 Mystery Group or if you want to give it a try and don't want to know. Otherwise, enjoy this knitting.

It turned out to be a water bottle holder!

Mystery Knit Along

2011-08-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

I joined the mystery knit along group on Ravelry that does mystery projects within 220 yards of yarn. I wasn't sure about it, because it's a lot harder without a picture. However, it's great practice for paying attention, counting rows, and most of all learning to read patterns. Unfortunately, I tried to work on it right before bed while dead tired and ended up messing up to the point of confusion, so I frogged it to try again. Knitting with DPNs is still a skill I'm practicing with, and I feel like it takes me time to get the flow. No spoilers on what it is, though to be honest, I can't quite tell yet what it is. I had some left over Knitpicks Swish in a blue color, Whirlpool, to work with so it's a nice stash buster, as I didn't need this entire skein for my lace hat that I made last year.

I plan to give this another go tomorrow when I'm well rested.

Throwing Blankets

2011-08-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

I've moved on in projects and now I'm working on a throw blanket for my dad. This is a fairly simple piece, as far as stitches go. It is 20 blocks of sampler stitches that are sewn together after knitting. There are only 6 different stitches and several of the blocks repeat themselves. The stitches I'm working with are the seed stitch, ridge stitch, diagonal rib stitch, blackberry stitch, berry stitch, and basket weave. So far, I am three blocks out of ten finished. It says to sew them together when they are all done, but because I can't wait, I am sewing them together as I get them finished. Right now it is a really thin blanket!

I'm excited because tomorrow my yarn swift and ball winder arrives from Knitpicks. Actually, scratch that, I forgot the baby has me up at 4 am. It actually comes today. I tend to be lazy about winding yarn into nice center pull balls, so I'm thrilled to be able to organize my yarn, especially my small amounts of scraps, into nice regular looking balls of yarn.

My First Crochet Project

2011-08-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, my grandmother patiently tried to teach me to crochet. I did not understand it at all. Knitting and crochet were the activities that my aunts and grandmother participated in and I just never figured it out. I would say I was impatient, but I learned how to cross stitch and counted cross stitch, which requires equal numbers of patience. For whatever reason, when my grandmother was alive, I never learned how to crochet. As an adult, I started into yarn crafts with knitting. It just seemed to click. And still, I never learned how to crochet. My grandmother passed away two years after I graduated high school. The missing skill always bugged me as I came down our steps and landed on the rug that my grandmother crocheted for her own home. After days of reading and researching and re-reading, I finally can say I learned how to crochet and I finished my first crochet project after numerous failed attempts over the years. And with that skill, I feel like I can continue the tradition that my grandmother started.

Back in the Saddle

2011-08-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I posted here and since I even knitted. When I got pregnant, I got tired. But worse than that, I got carpal tunnel in my hands, which made knitting very hard. I got back into it and my current project is to learn crocheting. It's not going bad, but to say it is going well is another thing entirely. I'm working on the Garden Scarf from the Happy Hooker book. It's not really hard. It's all me making it that way. Knitting is so linear for me. Even when working in the round, there's a linear design to knitting. The Garden Scarf is crocheted flowers and crochet is so multidimensional for me compared to knitting. And because of that, I try to make it so much harder than it is. Here is my first, rejected attempt at flowers. Notice that I did it really wrong. It's not supposed to be that loopy. I think I corrected my problem (which was making turning chains I didn't need) but we'll see on this next try.

Big Projects

2010-10-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a big project, this doll, that needs to be finished. I finally got the last bit of yarn that I need so I think I can finish it uninterrupted, finally. This is a great gift, but, I'm not sure I would ever knit it again. After that, I have a gazillion cloths to make so I have some gifts on hand for the holiday season. The goods news is I've grown speedier so a 50 line cloth takes me far less time than it used to when I was fumbling for the stitches.

What Is Taking So Long

2010-10-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't had many knitting adventures to share. I've actually been working on just one project. This doll has been very difficult as far as the many pieces. There's not so much variation in technique from other projects. However, this project has taught me more about seams and stuffing pieces. I still have four pieces to go, if you can believe it. Here is what she looks like so far. This pattern I got from Knitpicks and her name is Annie. Here's what she looks like so far:

Stepping up in Difficulty

2010-08-26T07:53:00.001-07:00

This week, I took a project that was slightly higher in difficulty than my other projects. It wasn’t that the stitches were too crazy and it was only a dish cloth, so I didn’t think it could be that hard. However, this one is a complicated mix of knits and purls. There’s a lot to keep track of and this seems to be my folly. Finally, I figured out what I was doing. The border is purl 1 knit 1 ribbing. The inside of this pattern looks like it’s inset because it doesn’t stick out like the border. This is made by rows of knit 1 slip 1 and then purling the back. It’s very pretty and looks elegant in its simplicity. You can find the pattern here and it is free: Simple Slip Stitch Dischloth.

Increasing

2010-08-17T18:01:00.001-07:00

I started, and have nearly finished, a kerchief that is blue. The point of this was to learn how to increase. I was nervous, since ribbed stitching was such a challenge, that this would be really hard. Increasing requires some work with counting rows and keeping track of things, but it was less frightening than I imagined. Here is a picture of it, though, I don’t have the ties finished on it yet.

Ribbed Stitch is a Little Hard

2010-08-13T08:45:00.001-07:00

I am probably the only knitter to have this much trouble with it. But, the ribbed stitch is fairly difficult for me right now. It's not that I don't get the premise, but for some reason, I keep knitting a purl or purling a knit somewhere, without even remembering I did it. It's not a matter of identifying the stitches. I totally notice when I look down and see it. I think I've had to go back seven to ten times so far on this poor scarf. I don't know if I'm just really inane or if this is common when you're learning to knit, what seems like a fairly straightforward stitch.

Red and Black Scarf Finished

2010-08-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my red and black scarf. Despite it being my third project, I'm pleased with how regular my stitching looks. You can definitely tell someone made it, but, it's not so horrible that someone wouldn't be willing to have it around either. Finishing was less scary than on my second project and it shows definite improvement with my knitting skills.

Technique

2010-08-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm only on my third knitting project, and, what I've found is there are just some things that feel beyond me. Let's be honest, I've done a stockinette stitch once on a hat that wasn't all that good. Then, I decided I needed some more practice so I made a garter stitch scarf on a ridiculously large needle. I'm on my second garter stitch scarf now, but, I've added stripes. I never thought I'd ever graduate to the point where I could do stripes so I know more difficult techniques can be learned. It just seems things, like socks, are just way over my head.

I planned a lot of easy projects to do next. These are things that well-weathered knitters might find too easy or boring or could do in a few days. I think it's good practice to just keep pushing out simple stitches for a while, so that I learn how to knit evenly. As it is, my scarves keep looking better and better, even if they are clearly a bit endearing in their appearance.

Scarf Moving Along

2010-08-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely moving along with the scarf that I am working on. I feel like I'm getting a rhythm and a more regular stitch. Though nobody will ever confuse this for something professional, it definitely shows some improvement. I'm really glad I tried more than one garter stitch scarf. While repetitive, I think it let me get some comfort with the knitting needles.

New Yarn Purchase

2010-08-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

This morning, I ordered yarn for a few projects so I thought I would show them off.

I ordered a nice green for a scarf:

Wool of the Andes - Grass

I ordered a nice blue for making a kerchief:

Telemark Skyline

Finally, I got this funky color for a shrug:

Wool of the Andes - Spumoni

Working on Stripes

2010-08-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

The first project I ever attempted was a hat from a book I got in a craft store. This was a big mistake, really. It was just not made for learning. I finished it but not before I thought knitting was too hard for me. It was an ugly hat that was too small for me. The second project I tried was a garter stitch scarf that was multi-color yarn in one yarn color and it went a little bit.

Currently, I'm working on a red and black scarf. This is my first attempt at stripes. In the pictures, you can see where it seems like it gets bigger and smaller in stitch tension. Oops.