It’s Sunday afternoon and after a busy week, I’m sitting on my couch with a sleeping cat curled up beside me. I have two chapters to read and outline as well as a group project to e-mail my group members about. I have phone calls to make, laundry to check on, vacuuming to be done and dinner to make. The week has flown by in a mass of to do’s. I have spent over a week working on a sock which I’m finally at the heel. I love the yarn but I’m using size 1 needles doing two rounds at a time in periods of five to fifteen minutes that I can find through out the day. If only I could knit while on the treadmill or elliptical but I have a feeling that experiment would end in a trip to the emergency room and a messy stab wound. I like sharp knitting needles. I spend dinner time talking to the hubby while flipping through knitting books and magazines that are conveniently layed out on the table. Life is busy, even on a Sunday afternoon but knitting is an addiction that can fit into even the busiest of schedules.
Sticks and Socks
Most knitters have at least tried to knit socks but many of us have a love of creating those unique pair of toasty warm socks. It is a bit crazy, considering that you can buy a three pack in Wal-Mart for a few bucks but many of us will go out and spend ten to twenty dollars on yarn and a week or longer of our blood, sweat and tears. Blood because of the small sharp pointy needles, sweat due to trying to follow intricate patterns while using small sharp pointy needles and tears when one of those needles fall out and you lose your place in the pattern.
There are several ways to knit socks.
1- Toe up. This is what I’m working on. It is easier because you can try it on as you knit and don’t have to worry about running out of yarn.
2- Double pointed needles. Take 4-5, five to seven inch long needles and spread the stitches out between them. Work in the round and try very hard not to allow the needle to fall out.
3- Two circular needles. The stitches are split between the working points of two circular needles.
4- Magic Loop. This uses one circular needle that is at least 40 inches in length. The stitches are split between the cable and the working needle point. One side is worked, moved and the next side is worked.
5- Two socks on two circular needles. I haven’t figured out how to do this, but there are many books and websites willing to explain further. Someday I will conquer this too.
6- Cuff down. This is the classic method that most patterns refer to. You work on dpns, knitting from the cuff down to the toe.
Niddy Noddy
For anyone who begins spinning, you will soon realize that you need more tools than just a spinning wheel. Once you have spun your initial wool into yarn, most will then ply it with another length of yarn to create a stronger and better looking yarn. After that you will want to create a hank by winding your yarn onto a niddy noddy. These can be made of wood or pvc and are found online in many spinning/knitting related stores. I decided to make my own out of hardward store pvc and this is how I did it.
Things you’ll need.
4 – 4 1/2 inch piece of 1/2 inch pvc
1- 12 inch piece of 1/2 inch pvc
2- 1/2 inch pvc tee connectors
4- 1/2 inch pvc end caps
optional- pvc cement
Either request that your pvc is cut into these pieces at the hardware store or cut them at home using an ordinary hand held saw.
Fit 12 inch piece of pvc with tee connectors at either end. Use cement to hold in place (I found that my niddy noddy stayed together pretty well without it.)
Place end caps on all four ends.
Wind skein around niddy noddy and be happy!
- Cutting the pvc
- Attach the tee connectors
Spinning in the New Year
My mother gave me a Kromski Sonata spinning wheel for Christmas and it has been keeping me happily busy. After managing to put it together, then reading through the instructions, oiling everything up and then finding my stash of wool I had bought at the Fiber In two years ago, I began my new adventure of spinnning.
Things you should know about spinning wheels and spinning:
1- you have to oil it. My spinning wheel came with oil but I noticed online that people recommend using non additive motor oil as the cheap method. I also read online that the piece of leather on the flyer should be oiled every 15-30 minutes of use.
2- There is pencil roving available that is easier on newbies. It is predrafted so that you only have to draft minimally while becoming comfortable with spinning.
3- You will overtwist the yarn. The best way to slow down the twist while learning is to slow down the treadling. I want to immediately treadle like crazy because it’s what I’ve seen experienced spinners do. Slow down.
4- It is incredibly addicting and relaxing it. I’m enjoying my new spinning wheel and playing with yarn. I’ve already made a ball of yarn out of it and knit a pair of socks.
New Year Resolutions 2011
January 1st is a day of celebration, reflection and reconsideration. Most people tend to create resolutions that are unrealistic or unobtainable such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or saving more. Those resolutions are generally forgotten by January 3rd.
This New Years, I’m creating a few realistic resolutions for myself. These are the craft related ones which I will share.
1. Learn how to spin. I received a beautiful Kromski Sonata spinning wheel from my mother for Christmas and am having a blast learning how to spin on it.
2. Knit a pair of socks. My favorite wool socks went through the dryer and sadly no longer fit. I need a replacement pair made yesterday.
3. Learn more lace patterns. I have a tendency to avoid these patterns because I have trouble following the intricate instructions.
I have many more things that I want done in the year to come, but I think these three are my top yarn related goals to reach. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2011!
Merry Christmas
I just wanted to wish all my reader’s a very Merry Christmas. I’m sure by now you are surrounded by hand knit Christmas goodies to enjoy today and next year. Have fun and I hope Santa brings lots of yarn and fiber.
Christmas Gift Ideas Pickle Ornament
Gift Idea #23
It is said that there is an old German tradition to hide a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree. The first person to find it will receive good luck the rest of the year. There are American versions of the story as well although I hadn’t heard of the tradition until last year when all these pickle patterns began popping up. This is knitpick’s free downloadable pattern and maybe you’ll start a new tradition in your own house.
http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Christmas_Pickle_Ornament_Pattern__D50801220.html
Christmas Gift Ideas Celestine Star
Gift Idea #22
I was looking for an ornament to post because chances are if you are looking for ideas at this point, you need a quick knit object. Then I came across this dodecahedron star (please don’t ever make me pronounce that). This does not appear to be a quick knit object, but it is truly unique. It doubles either as a tree topper or a stuffed animal. If you use different colors for each point, it would make a great baby toy!
Have Fun.
Christmas Gift Ideas Snowman Ornament
Gift Idea #21
If you are still looking for knit ideas at this point, you are nearly out of time. Your best bet would be to stick with the ornaments because they are quick knit and often can be made out of small amounts of yarn already in your stash. Below is a cute little snowman. With short simple instructions, this can be whipped up in no time and will appear to have taken much more effort and time.
Christmas Gift Ideas Elf Hat
Gift Idea #20
This child’s elf hat is simpler to make but still very cute. It’s easy to make and great for Christmas outings.
Christmas Gift Idea Knit Garland
Gift Idea #19
This is truly unique. There is a pattern for a quick knit holiday garland made out of a fun fur like yarn. Personally, I think this would look better with a more metallic fun fur, like silver with a little dark green thrown in, but it still looks remarkably good. I’m not sure how long it would hold up outdoors but it would be used indefinitely inside.
Christmas Gift Idea Rudolph Hat
Gift Idea #18
Less than a week before Christmas! This is a knitted hat, made out of one of my favorite inexpensive yarns- Caron Simply Soft. The instructions are given for Newborn through ten years old. This is a great gift for the little reindeer lovers.
2010-11 Cabled Fingerless Gloves
2010-11 Cabled Fingerless Gloves
Another pattern completed. These are my favorite things to make. I work in cold offices and tend to have frozen fingers that have to keep typing away, so I’ve made a few pair of these and decided to write down the pattern. I’ve attached the downloadable pdf document but would appreciate a donation either through Ravelry or Etsy. The gloves are made out of Caron Simply Soft yarn but would work with any worsted weight yarn. My hands are on the smaller size and these are knit with size 5 needles. They do stretch. If your hands are on the larger size, please use size 6 needles.
2010-11 Cabled Fingerless Gloves
Christmas Gift Ideas Knitted Mice
Gift Idea #17
These knitted holiday mice are adorable and made out of worsted weight yarn. This is a great use for left over balls of yarn from other projects. The author gives instructions for knitting them flat or in the round, with worsted or sport weight yarn. The pattern is fairly easy to read and these could me made pretty quickly.
Christmas Gift Idea Sweater Ornament
Gift Idea #16
This adorable ornament is cute enough on its own, but add the felted Christmas tree and the mini hanger and you can’t help melting. The instructions are fairly straight forward and you can sub in a different design besides the tree on the front of the sweater.
http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-sweater-jersey-knitted.html
Knitwerks 