My Favorite Tool

This is for the Tool Project of Etsy, developed by Bre Pettis.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/thisHandmadeLife/article/the-tool-project/2203/

In the studio - mohair and linen

Capelet, mohair and linen, stockinette stitch, size 4 cable needle, 24 in.

I've tried this combination of yarns on about three new projects, all having failed. Now I think I have the winning formula. It's almost complete after a big gob of work on it this weekend.

In the studio - the linen series

Scarf, linen, seed stitch, size 1 "mystery metal" needles

I've collected quite a linen stash, and have decided to make a series of pieces. The idea of this one is to make a solid scarf, then a ruffle all the way around the edge. With the needle size it's taking forever to get anywhere, but I like the texture.

In the studio - playing with new silk

Test swatch - silk

I was lucky to go to the great yarn studio in Brattleboro with Allison and Dr. Brat and found this very wonderful yarn along with a few others. I've been playing with it and trying to get a good idea. I always sort of get lost in the colors and textures when I get it out to play. Yum!!

In the studio - sea greens, blues, pinks

Triangle Shawl, mixed fibers: nylon, cotton, silk, polyester; size 11 cable needle, 24 in.

Since I have been so inspired by this shawl of greens and pinks I decided to take many of the same yarns and add a touch of this zippy silk and cotton tape of sea greens and blues. All the "yarns" are tapes, and they have an interesting weight.

In the studio: cotton capelet

Capelet, cotton, reverse stockinette stitch, size 9 cable needle, 24 in.

I decided to include this to show that I have my fair share of doomed projects. Now that I've accomplished this much, I know that I don't like this thing at all. I'll rip it out and try to think of yet another idea for this very problematic yarn.

In the studio - blues

Shawl, mixed fibers: mohair, silk, wool, cotton, nylon; stockinette stitch, size 9 cable needle, 24in

I love working with all the blue colors and coming up with exciting combinations.

In the studio - bronze shawl

Triangle shawl, nylon and lurex, garter stitch, size 5 cable needle, 24" and size 13 cable needle, 16"

Since my Mac is sitting right here where I do most of my knitting, I decided to try the camera - yes, I'm lazy.

Compare with March 7, 2008 in the studio, which was soon after I started. Now that I'm closer to taking it off the needles I have to decide about the applique pieces. I have the horizontal panels the way I want them and will put the applique in the larger panels. Because of the needle size this has ended up being an enormous amount of knitting, but it's worth it for the texture. I think with a larger needle it would just be too flabby.

Since I happen to be working with a number of different pieces of this guage, I feel like I'm not getting anywhere with any of them!

In the studio - banjo cable

Scarf, silk, banjo cable stitch pattern, size 5 plastic needles

This is another: "look ma - I'm doin' CABLES!" scarf. For a few weeks this spring I was starting pieces based on a knitting pattern library volume that I acquired about 20 years ago. It's still a fountain of inspiration when I'm looking for a stretch in my creative work.



The scarf has fallen into what my friend Dr. Brat called the "soup" of my knitting couch. But I haven't given up on it altogether. I've been distracted by the other several projects that have been holding my attention over the past couple weeks. More photos soon!

Finished hat

Hat, wool, stockinette stitch with rib stitch, crocet tassels, intarsia color work, size 9 wood needles

I want to do lots of hats of this shape, making a variety of fabrics. YUM.

This is an Auracania chunky natural wool, and I wouldn't use such big needles again, it's a bit on the flabby side of fabrics. So I would go down to a 7 or 6 US size to give the fabric a bit more body.

Finished green and pink shawl

Shawl, mixed fibers: linen, viscose, nylon, acrylic, garter stitch, self-fringing, size 11 cable needle, 24 inches.

I love the freshness that the colors bring to this fabric. I'm very happy with it altogether and that's due a lot to the way the yarn weight and needle size produced a fabric that's just right. Not too dense, not too loose, but a good amount of stretchy and interesting.

Finished alpaca scarf

Scarf, alpaca, stockinette and reverse stockinette stitches, size 5 wood needles

I enjoy knitting with alpaca more than with most fibers, so this was a wonderful piece to knit. I made the rows long rather than short, which gives the scarf a different look. It's alpaca that is knot dyed, but it's a combination of brown and a blue gray color. I like using smaller needles to make a somewhat dense fabric - the softness is accented that way, I think.


It's a gift for a friend in Nova Scotia, so I'm sure it will be used often.

Black afghan

Afghan, mixed fibers: cotton, silk, wool, rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic, metallic, hemp; rib stitch, size 11 metal cable needle, 36 in.

This big thang is funky. I'm using about 20 different black yarns. The reds pop out a bit more "in person". I'll do probably another 12 inches and then call it quits. I never thought I would like doing afghans, however they are very rewarding.

Finished shawl

Shawl, garter stitch, nylon and rayon ladder or railroad yarn, size 9 metal cable needle, 24 in.

For the first time ever I got a very good blend of colors using the railroad yarns I've collected over the last several years. I had a little bit of trouble getting it right, and probably had to test out four or five variants before getting one that I liked. The lacy sheerness of the knitting is a feature that I like very much. I'm ready to play with many more fabric designs based on similar combinations.

Finished scarf

Scarf, nylon and rayon, garter stitch, size 9 metal cable needle, 16in.

This is the May 21 scarf, finished at last. I'm liking this size scarf - about the size of a folded bandana. It's meant to be an accessory neck scarf, one that can be tied and draped in a few different ways.

In the studio - pastel scarf

Scarf, mixed fibers: nylon, wool; garter stitch, size 13 wood needles

This done with two strands, changing colors in a systematic way. It's made with an old Rowan R2 "paper" yarn. I'm really having trouble liking the yarn.

I'm just not convinced that it's a good yarn for garments. I lusted after it for months on end because of the idea of it, and then I finally ordered it and found out that it looks interesting in pictures but feels icky. So this may never reach fruition. I'm going to try handbags, which I think will be more suitable for its characteristics. If that doesn't feel right, it may go to rag rugs. That's where the really awful yarns end up in my studio, anyway.

In the studio - light green shawl

Shawl, mohair, silk, merino wool,stockinette stitch,size 3 cable needle, 24in.

When I saw the strange greenish merino wool, I reached for it but didn't know why. I had been looking at yarn for quite awhile and the colors felt sort of weird and I knew they would stretch me out of my usual color choices.

Then I realized how beautifully it would pair with the whispy light green mohair and silk yarn I've been mooning over for a few months. This is yet another riff on the stripes with two weights I've been trying all this year.

Me likes!

In progress - green and pink shawl

Shawl, mixed fibers: linen, viscose, nylon, acrylic, garter stitch, self-fringing, size 11 cable needle, 24 inches.


I'm finding these colors to be delightful - I wanted to try something very fresh.

In the studio - small scarf

Scarf, nylon and rayon, garter stitch, size 10 wood cable needle, 24 in.

This is a small neck scarf that is very slinky and interesting and it acts like a small bandana. Since I was in the cafe knitting and had my camera, I decided to just photograph it there.

In the studio - another Noro homage

Scarf, wool and silk, linen stitch with two Noro colorways, size 5 wood needles

Ok I got the camera this morning and decided to learn to use it by making a little clip about my ongoing Noro project.

In the studio - red ruana

Ruana, mixed fibers, wool, silk, cotton, hemp, nylon, linen, mohair, rayon; linen stitch; size 9 cable needle, 24 in.

Et voila!

Stash - remix

Ok, I'm ready to face the fact that I can sit for long periods of time and do very idiotic tasks when it comes to yarn. But I can be patient for the particular results that I want.

Yesterday I spent hours untangling a "skein" of railroad yarn. It was a skein once, at any rate. If the colors were not unsurpassed, I wouldn't bother. But this yarn is going to make something fabulous.

This stash in the photograph above is an instance of such persistence [or some capacity for absolute drudge work]. I have about 20 types of red yarn, so I have eyeballed lengths of about a yard then cut and tied them together to compose these balls. These are two of about six or so that it will take to make a stunning red ruana. The basic yarn that will bring everything together is a beautiful cherry red hemp and wool blend. I put a length of that between just about all the other colors. I don't do any color combination consistently so that it will be an entirely unique fabric. All the other colors make a great blend of novelty yarns and other sort of plain red yarns. Combining the yarn does take some thought. I want specific results in the blend, with a specific kind of fabric as the end result. So the way the yarns follow one another along the strand is important. The fabric is not completely predictable, but it is not a complete surprise either. I make sure that there is a certain evenness to the texture, so that there are not lumpy places or there are not big patches of one color. I tried to keep the range of weights fairly close, but I'm not afraid to put a couple fat ones and a couple skinny ones in the mix. I am very careful not to make big patches of the fat ones or skinny ones, but I keep the textures dispersed throughout the fabric. Sometimes this involves a lot of testing to see the effects of the combinations. This is a different technique than changing the yarn every row and putting the knots at the end of each row

This technique involves putting balls of various yarns out on a table and sitting with a pair of scissors beside a ball winder. Each length of yarn is pulled out of its ball, then cut and tied to the previous length, leaving a tail in the knot long enough so that it can be woven into the fabric. I leave about three cm., or about 1.75 in. I use a very sharp pair of scissors, because cutting hundreds of lengths of yarn with a dull scissors is a big drag. I also usually have a crochet hook or other device to help draw the yarn ends into the knot. It saves time. As the strand grows in length and starts to tangle, I wind it up onto the ball winder.

I'm using linen or woven stitch as it is variously called, for the fabric so that the colors will be blended across the rows.

Transmogrification

Crochet bag, cotton, single crochet, size e aluminum crochet hook

This yarn has given me fits, but I still love it. I've tried knitting a zillion things with it and I can't find very much that feels just right. This is my tearing out of the scarf in seed stitch and deciding to start a handbag. I think the bag is going to be very nice, but the scarf just couldn't feel right for some reason.

In the studio - capelet - circle scarf

Capelet, nylon and rayon, stockinette stitch, size 10 cable needle, 16 in.

I can't help myself, I love this yarn and how it drapes when made into a capelet. It's the Melody yarn from Southwest Trading Company, and I like the idea of a plain ivory colored capelet with this marvelous lacy texture.

In the studio - school colors scarf

Scarf, wool, stockinette stitch, intarsia color work, size 7 wood needles

This is one of the more wonderful purple and gold series items.
I'm playing with school colors and avoiding all the school color pattern cliches. I've got a zillion ideas.

In the studio

Scarf, mixed fibers: mohair, linen, polyester, cotton, size 5 plastic needles

I'm experimenting with these stripes and don't know exactly what will happen. I'm not sure I like the knots - or put more accurately, I don't know what to do with all the knots with these fine yarns. They're difficult to conceal and don't fit in with the refined look.

In the studio - white capelet - circle scarf

Capelet, mixed fibers, cotton, linen, mohair, acrylic, wool, silk, lurex, reverse stockinette stitch, size 10 metal cable needle, 24 in.

I've given up saying "this is the last capelet". I like lots of whites mixed together and this is the perfect sort of wintery mix. I want a decorative crochet edge.

Peace badge

Badge, 3.75 in., wool felt, silk, cotton embroidery floss

This silk inspired me to start embroidering again and I adore these big badges. I didn't bring a large safety pin with me when I shot this round of photos, but I'll try to remember to do that next time.

In the studio

Scarf, silk, Chinese lantern lace pattern, size 8 wood cable needle, 16 in.

Look ma! I'm doing cables!!!

Louisa Harding workshop

I went to my first workshop ever "Experimenting with Yarn Combinations" on Saturday. It was presented by Louisa Harding, a wonderful designer who has designed many yarns that are distributed by Knitting Fever. The workshop was at Colorful Stitches in charming Lenox, MA.

During the workshop we selected five of Louisa's KFI yarns and produced this little bag, or as much as we could knit of it.




One of the most interesting aspects of the workshop was looking around the room at the various combinations of colors. Since color and texture are the main attractions for me in knitting, this workshop opened my eyes to the way that Louisa uses her knowledge (genius, really) regarding color to design yarns that combine in beautiful ways. To see how each person found yet another beautiful combination was a thrill.

She encouraged play, which was a very good thing. I've seen so many knitters who are so involved with getting everything "right" that I think they miss much joy. So I'm hoping they have taken Louisa's message to heart as she offers her encouragement.

The final section of the workshop was Louisa's professional autobiography, and it was especially interesting to hear the life of a designer, from art school student to seasoned professional.

The workshop participants were very interesting and I wished I had time to sit with more of them and hear their stories as well. I was especially please to sit with a fellow librarian who has taken up knitting recently.

In the studio

Hand towel, organic cotton, stockinette, reverse stockinette and garter stitch, size 7 wood needles.

This cotton is soft, and I'm making a series of these towels for my own home. That's how much I like them! I'm working out what sorts of patterns I want to make with the reverse stockinette. They're fairly easy to improvise, however I like how some look better than others. So once I experiment with this series, I'll start another series for gifts or for sale.

The September 13th entry shows off the design a bit better than this one does right now.