Dishcloths & Fair Isle

I joined a dishcloth exchange. I think it'll be a fun way to use my cotton stash, practice stitch patterns, and have fun sending knitted gifts across the continent. Here's my first submission, a lovely chevron in reverse stockingnette stripes, which looks equally nice on both sides. This is the JIC cloth (just-in-case somebody flakes out of the exchange, their receipient can get a replacement from the JIC stash.)


My second real attempt at fair isle is fun at best, since it's a real challenge to knit both right & left handed at once. It's so darn difficult to get those color changes nice and even, because you have to tension the back strands just right, or you get uneven stitches, like mine. Good news is that this hat is way too big and too drapey for a hat. Yes, GOOD news, because now I can slightly full, or felt, this 100% silky alpaca, and not only will I get a thick warm hat, hopefully fulling will equalize the stitches, and smooth my fair isle into perfection.

FO: My First Own Socks!

I'm so excited about having my own first pair of handmade socks to wear! These are made with Elann's Sock-it-to-Me, on size 2.5mm 40" circs via the magic loop for the foot, and then I switched to 2.25mm dpn's for the ribbed cuffs. I used the suspended BO with 3.25mm, but it's still a little tight if I wear them pulled up, but fine when folded down.

After a warm water machine wash and low heat dryer, the stitches are perfect, and the socks shrank a bit, so they fit now. I can hardly wait for cool weather, so I can sport these with a pair of comfy loafers at work!

Thanks Gina for the yarn, and guiding me through the toe-up CO. Can't wait to see what she comes up with for the Sock-Pal exchange. I've got to get on the ball and finish mine too!

I followed most of the advice in Queen Kahuna Crazy Toes and Heels. I started with the Aloha CO, then did a standard short row heel, with a small gusset increase before and decrease after the heel, but with the suspended BO. My next own pair will be 100% QK style, since Mary Anne is the best thing to happen to sock knitting since the invention of the needle. Thanks for sharing your genius with the world!

Handworks Gallery

L-R: Maria, Rebecca, Robin, Hanna, me, and Susan. This is the partial yarn crew, saying goodbye to our school-bound employees, whom I will dearly miss. Come back and knit with us when you get a break!

On My Bookshelf

Updated September 20, 2005

Color Works: The Crafter's Guide to Color by Deb Menz
Cool Crochet by Melissa Leapman
Cotton Knits for All Seasons by Debbie Bliss
Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas
Finger Knitting #1 by Suzuki Katsino
Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle
Folk Socks by Nancy Bush
Freeform Knitting and Crochet by Jenny Dowde
Hip Knits by Better Homes and Gardens
Hot Knits by Melissa Leapman
Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick
Knit and Crochet with Beads by Lily M. Chin
Knit Mittens! by Robin Hansen
Knits for Barbie Doll by Nicky Epstein
Knit Socks Whatever the Yarn! by Edie Eckman
Knitted Shawls, Stoles, and Scarves by Nancie Wiseman
Knitted Sweaters for Every Season by Nancie Wiseman
Knitter’s Handbook by Montse Stanley
Knitting by Nancy Hall
Knitting: 20 Simple & Stylish Wearables for Beginners by Catherine Ham
Knitting For Your Home by Nicky Epstein
Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti
Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein
Knitting with Beads by Jane Davis
Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Mosaic Magic by Lily Chin
My Knitting Teacher by Susan Bates
Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Embellishments
Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys, & Arans by Gladys Thompson
Ribbon Knits: 45 New Designs to Knit and Crochet by Judi Alweil
Queen Kahuna's Crazy Toes & Heels by Mary Ann Beattie
Scarf Style by Pam Allen
Stitch ‘n Bitch by Debbie Stoller
The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie M. Wiseman
The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd
The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd
The Knitting Goddess by Deborah Bergman
Tadpoles & Tiddlers by Kathleen Hargreaves
The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook by Lynne Vogel
The Ultimate Knitted Tee by Laura Militzer Bryant and Barry Klein
The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches by Readers Digest
Vogue Knitting: Quick Knits by Trisha Malcolm
Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book
Yarns to Dye For: Creating Self-Patterning Yarns for Knitting by Kathleen Taylor
101 Easy Scrap Crochet Projects
220 Aran Stitches and Patterns by Harmony Guide
250 Creative Knitting Stitches by Harmony Guide
365 Knitting Stitches a Year
1000 Great Knitting Motifs by Luise Roberts


MAGAZINES

FC Easy Knitting
Spring/Summer 2005

Interweave Knits
Spring 2004
Spring 2005
Summer 2005
Fall 2005

Knit.1
Spring/Summer 2005

Knit ‘N Style
April 2003
August 2003
April 2005
June 2005
August 2005
October 2005

Knitting
February 2005

Knitter’s
Spring 2005
Summer 2005

Phildar
Spring 2004

Vogue Knitting
Special 2002 (Men)
Winter 2003/2004
Spring/Summer 2005
Fall 2005

BGH Knit It!
2005

BHG Crochet
2004


FROM THE LIBRARY

A History of Hand Knitting by Richard Rutt
Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting
Encyclopedia of Crochet by Donna Kooler
The Knitting Sutra by Susan Gordon Lydon
Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick
Spinning by Lee Raven

Sock Progress Report

My Secret Pal's socks are about to get their heels turned. After that, they'll be nearly finished, as she prefers ankle socks. Next, I'll knit up a pair with that Kool-Aid dyed merino, and whichever ones look better, will be the ones she'll get.


I'm about an inch away from completing my own first pair of socks, finally! The only problem is, they're nearly two inches too long for my feet. I'm hoping that a hot water wash and machine dry will take care of this problem, but if not, then I just may donate these to someone with narrow size 9 feet.

There's also the option of performing surgery on these socks. I could feasibly cut out and unravel the heels and toes, then reknit them a little smaller. Essentially, I'd be making peasant socks, which will be something new and exciting for me.

Double Eyelet Ribbing

Using Hayden by Goddess Yarns, a strong and smooth cotton/linen blend, I'm trying to design a top that looks like I tried, but knits quickly. I like my clothes to fit at the waist, but calculating inc's and dec's for waist shaping is a feat better suited for the more experienced.

So I'm going with ribbing instead of shaping, using the same eyelet pattern as my orange socks. I think this pattern will be work nicely as a top similar to my DD's RRR. Problem is, I can't decide if I should stop here with the eyelets for trim only, or keep knitting eyelets to just under my breasts, or go all the way, and have eyelets over the entire sweater. What do you think?

To Block Acrylic or not to Block Acrylic, That is the Question

I keep reading that it's impossible to block acrylic knits - that it will eventually spring back into its original knitted shape. Then other resources say you can block it by steaming, or "kill" acrylic yarn by ironing it.

I made a swatch of 100% acrylic Red Heart, in preparation for the Stitch-n-Bitch Big Bad Baby Blankent, modified to fit my DD's twin bed. I should've taken a before photo, but trust me, it was less than a perfect square. The seed stitch border warped at a looser gauge than the stockingnette squares that puckered like ribbing at the edges. I thought this to be the perfect time to test the acrylic theory.

The answer is YES, you CAN block acrylic knits. Though it flattens the knitting slightly, the result is a much smoother and softer fabric that now drapes quite nicely.

I used a standard Black and Decker home iron with 3 steam settings and a Teflon surface. The acrylic setting is the lowest temperature, but there's no steam available at that level, so I turned up the iron to the minimum temp setting for steam, in between polyester and cotton blends.

With the steam level set to medium, the swatch directly on the cloth covered ironing board, I took a deep breath, and VERY lightly touched the swatch with the iron, moving it circles, without letting its full weight rest upon the swatch, while slowly pulling the knitting into shape with my other hand. Then when the swatch felt slightly damp, I turned off the steam, and pressed the swatch a little bit more to dry it into shape, while still not letting the full weight of the iron press on it.

Whoever says that you can't block acrylic yarn, apparently never tried this method. This swatch now has perfectly square corners, and after 6 hours, has not crept at all back into its original knitted shape. I've never been a fan of Red Heart acrylic against my skin, but now it's smooth enough to be worthy. The key is not to press too hard, don't let it get too hot, work quickly, pull it into shape a little at a time, and iron it until fully dry. Above all, test your method on a swatch before trying this on a fully knitted project. My next test will be to throw it in the laundry, so I'll let you know tomorrow....

Coasters and Can Cozies

Sometimes, I just want to make something simple. This diagonal garter coaster and crochet can cozie is great for using leftover cotton. The coaster increases and decreases make a neat border, and it's a great way to teach somebody to do so.

Using DK cotton and size 6 needles, CO 2sts
Row 1: K-fb both sts
Row 2: K4
Row 3: K1, K-fb, K-fb, K1
Row 4: K6
Row 4: K1, K-fb, K to last 2 sts, K-fb, K1
Row 5: K-all
Rep rows 4 and 5 until 32 sts (or desired size)
Begin dec rows:
Row 1: K1, K2-tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K1
Row 2: K-all
When 4 sts left: K2-tog, SSK, turn, BO, weave ends.

Using a size G hook, the crochet can cozy is a simple circle bottom, until desired width, then SC around in a swirl until desired height.

Mom's Crochet Purses

I spent this weekend at my parents' home, and though I'm disappointed to miss the Stitch-n-Bitch meeting again, I've got enough yarn and books here to keep me happy. The anonymous poster on the previous photo of this flower was right - it is a type of bromelaid plant. Now little tiny flowers are budding from what we thought was the flower.


I knit with my mom in the living room at night while she crochets. She doesn't use patterns or schematics, only looking at the photos in the books I've given her for inspiration. She amazes me, and now I know from where my creative influence developed. I'd like to teach her how to read patterns, and encourage her to make clothing, but that would require proper gauge and sewing. Even crochet lovers are intimidated those, too.