Archive for in English
November 3, 2007 klo 10.39 · Aiheena on in English
And here is the last Socktoberfest pair, finished in time but photographed today.
Pattern isChristine Lorin’s Mad Color Weave, yarn Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, colour Sage. Pattern was good, produced a well fitting socks with thought details. My only modification was slightly shorter toe.
And here’s all Socktoberfest FO:s. My second bayerische socks did not advance at all…
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And here’s a sample from Finnish knitting swap, my swap pal is really on nerve what I like! Look at that lovely alpaca, beautiful surina wood short DPN:s and those stunning stitch marks!
October 28, 2007 klo 11.26 · Aiheena on in English
I casted on yesterday few stitches to my beloved ebony needles. When end titles of Edith Piaf biography movie rolled by, I had a new beanie…
Pattern is Emile Mooneys Foliage from Knitty. I reworked the chunkier version to beanie by extending the crown part with half pattern repeat. Just one repeat of the actual lace pattern, decrease round and few rounds of ribbing. I guess that I’m actually going to use this.
October 21, 2007 klo 14.03 · Aiheena on in English
Jatta made a beautiful and more practical version of Ysolda Teague’s Cloud Bolero - that encouraged me to try, too. I’ve always liked those wavy lace patterns, but short sleeved cropped bolero will certainly not get much actual use.
My yarn choice was Sublime Angora Merino, used about 4,5 balls. I like how this yarn has very angoralike softness, allthough the angora content is just 20%. It is not as fuzzy as 100% angora and this suits me well, I’m not exactly the greatest fan of fluffy angora creations. But the yarn sheds quite a lot, not a good idea to knit a shawl from it to be used with black wool wintercoat…
I love Ysoldas pattern but wanted to avoid the result being overtly sweet. So my color choice was somewhat dull deepish taupe - a colour I actually favor a lot in my clothing. It is easy to mix with neutrals and pastels, but is workable with bright colors, too.
Long, actually too long sleeves were in my vision of the finished object and these are just what I thought. And the length of jacket is way longer than in pattern, under the waistline. Angora Merino knitted in 8 mm needles produces very stretchy and drapey material that suits well my pattern modifications.
I left the fastening away, the idea is to use the cardigan open, or…
…attach it from suitable place with brooch, or…
…just tie it from the bottom for the shorter version.
And sorry, still no modeled pictures. I have to find my tripod…
October 16, 2007 klo 18.43 · Aiheena on in English
With a new Twinkle book arriving February I guess that it is time to glimpse over my Twinkle projects and experiments in substituting Twinkle Handknits Soft Chunky. I managed to get four skeins of the actual stuff, so I have a good reference point. Although the yarn is now in form of Groovy Sweater and I threw away the three inches of leftover yarn… But comparisons are still possible!
First of all I have to say that Soft Chunky is really worth its name. It is probably softest 100% wool yarn I ever touched. And it’s chunky. Seriously that. But there is quite amazing loftiness in this yarn, it does not produce platelike garments. And the colour palette is great, very appealing to knitter with scandinavian complexion, too. The negatives: the yarn piles (not the worst I have seen - come on, this is very loosely spun single ply yarn, what’d you excpect) and sheds hair. And it is hard to get - if someone knows a retailer in Europe, please inform!
I have to say that one thing I never worry is horizontal gauge. If it is off, I just adjust the pattern while I knit along. But please notice that you have to take this in account, too - especially if the garment has something exciting going on lengthwise.
Kauhavan Kangasaitta sells nice chunky weight wool yarn called Melli. It has two solid shades (unbleached and wine red) and some variegated ones. I used this for Magic Shawl. Horizontal gauge is one stitch off. Does not sound bad, but when gauge is 6,25 stitches for 10 cm, this will produce some problems with fitted garments. However, substitution worked just fine with this pattern! I could use this yarn for fitted garments, too, but probably pick a size larger than otherwise. I wouldn’t use this yarn straight against the skin. But Tuxedo Jacket, Rockefeller, Marilyn, Karate… …why not!
And here are some images, a swatch and the yarn. The structure of the yarn is very similar to soft chunky, slightly more felted, coarser (but not itchy) and not so bulky.
Difference in gauge can be easily seen when comparing the knitted surfaces (sorry about the lost focus in this image). Not too bad to handle.
Rowan Big Wool is mentioned as substitute and I made Karate Sweater from it. Big Wool is very soft, but has two plies and it is considerably lighter than Soft Chunky. Actually the yardage is about the same in 100 g Big Wool and 200 g SC. But Big Wool is very lofty and produces pretty nice surface even with 15 mm needles. The different structure and lightness gives naturally some characteristics for the finished objects. I really can understand if someone actually prefers the slightly less bulky outcome with this yarn!
In closeup you can see, how close the gauge actually is. Both ribbings are made with 12 mm needles, but the edge of gray Karate Sweater is bound off quite tightly. Difference could be remarkable in stokinette stitch with 15 mm needles, but unfortunately I don’t have a swatch to compare. The stitch pattern in Karate Sweater is very forgiving and strechy - and it is very easy to add some rows in this pattern, if the horizontal gauge is off.
I used also Garnstudio Eskimo as substitute when knitting Balthazar vest (post is in Finnish only, but contains images). It is considerably lighter but structurally similar yarn to SC. And I love the colours! When knitted in large needles it produces very drapey and stretchy garment, but fills the surface surprisingly well. When knitted with 10 mm needles you get gauge equivalent to Twinkle summer knits, so if you want a wintery version , this is an option.
But I decided to double this yarn and experiment for even more Twinkleish garments - and look, it worked!
The gauge is very close to the original. I guess that I’m going to test this on that Vogue Knitting fall 2007 Twinkle jacket.
October 16, 2007 klo 9.12 · Aiheena on in English
Socktoberfest continues, Mad Color Weave, yarn Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, colour sage.
I’ve bee hunting more Sublime kid mohair in local yarn shops, with no luck. Guess I got to check out the internet shops. I want my shawl!
October 14, 2007 klo 14.29 · Aiheena on in English
My Socktoberfest socks number two: Knitting Lingerie Style, Lacy Summer Socks. Modified the pattern by leaving the lace pattern off from the bottom of the sock.
It was nice to learn to knit the sock toe up. Will definitely use this method again, especially when I’m not sure if there is enough yarn. But I have to study some heel options, this type is not the best for my feet.
Anyway, I like these a lot. Will use them right away.
Sorry about the images, it is so dark outside. Yesterday would have been perfect day for photographing, but I slept late and spend the bright hours running some errands. I really could crawl in bed and hibernate through this time of year…
October 12, 2007 klo 17.49 · Aiheena on in English
I want my handknit socks like this:
Lovely, lightweight yarn, neutral colour, snug fit and nice pattern. I made the bottom in plain stockinette stitch instead of lace - these aren’t actually going to be lacy summer socks.
Confessions of a yarn shopper (again). For the Socktoberfest, only *clears throat*…
…a small package was waiting for me in the local post office one day. It revealed something wrapped in candy coloured tissue paper…
…inside of that something blue…
…and something gray.
Yep, these are my very first Koigus. I’m so exited!
October 7, 2007 klo 14.16 · Aiheena on in English
I decided to clone (well, almost) one of my favourite shawls with this Sublime Kid Mohair. Pattern will be very simple, medium-large rectangular shawl in stockinette stitch with narrow crocheted borders. Very often the simplest knits are those I really end up wearing. This yarn knits up like a dream!
This morning I knitted toes for my next Socktoberfest socks. These are Lacy Summer Socks from Knitting Lingerie Style, yarn is lovely Regia Silk. Don’t believe when they say that longer needle is always better for magic loop. I’d say that 80 cm is pretty optimal for socks. This 100 cm would probably suit better for knitting two sleeves on it.
Some Colourmart cashmere for my husband, with improvised pattern. I’d love to get this finished for winter.
But I decided to frog Fyne. It is just not my style. I guess that the main colour will end up as another vest. These two Jo Sharp patterns are strong candidates, specially if this cardigan in progress succeeds.
October 6, 2007 klo 14.06 · Aiheena on in English
The sun peeked out from heavy clouds this morning:
This wonder lasted perhaps fifteen minutes, now it’s raining again.
But I got my first Socktoberfest FO photographed, at least! Embossed Leaves socks from IK winter 2005. I liked this pattern a lot. Easy but interesting enough to keep the knitter entertained. Nice details: previously unknown version of tubular casting (perhaps not the best for sock ribbing, could be a bit stretchier), neat twisted stitch ribbing and beautiful toe - continues the leaf pattern of sock gusset.
Yarn is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, colour Whisper. I love the very subtle colour variations of this yarn, so subtle thay I couldn’t manage to capture them to these photographs. Yarn was very pleasant to knit but other skein had quite a long section with one tangling ply. Fortunately two skeins are more than enough for this pattern.
I loved the magic loop -technique for two socks, will be my preferable method for sock knitting now on. I think that it might be slightly faster (not much) than usual DPN-technique, but the very best thing is to get both socks finished together. No more one sock syndrome!
I guess that these cuties will get a bath and light blocking, after that they can wait few months to be wrapped in nice paper with some christmassy decorations.
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I’ve been longing the beautiful, hadpainted yarns in Etsy for a long time. But now I decided to actually give a try and to order something. And look what the postman brought one day:
Yarn is SkeinQueen Lavish, silk and cashmere mix. The yarn is lovely, I got excellent customer service, delivery was a swift. So I will do it again… …and again… …and again…
October 1, 2007 klo 21.31 · Aiheena on in English
Wow! That magic loop thing really works for me!
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