Pondering Gauge

Over the past year I’ve been working on a theory of gauge, specifically mine and how it relates to the rest of the knitters out there.  This theory is becoming useful to me, as it is helping me pick the right needles for specific yarn right off the bat, without going through numerous iterations of needle sizes or yarn for particular projects.  As always, what I’m about to hypothesize only pertains to my knitting, and is not a detriment to other peoples knitting styles.  Everyone knits their own way, in their own time, and exactly how they want to, and each and every one of them is right, okee dokee?

I begin by saying that I knit english style, and am a thrower.  Adding to that I don’t wrap the yarn around any fingers, I kinda hold it loosely between the thumb and forefinger of my right hand.  I knit this way simply because that’s the way my Mum taught me, and even if I’m a bit slower I do have nice even tension.  My theory has to do with knitters who knit with their left hand, continental style, or wrap the yarn tightly around their finger in order to maintain tension. 

Theory 1: As a result of putting the tension on the yarn from wrapping the yarn, larger needles are needed in order to achieve proper gauge, whilst I need smaller needles.  I’ve been noticing a trend that in certain patterns, and with certain designers now, I go down 1-2 mm in needle size and achieve the same tension. 

Theory 2: I don’t have a problem with the Noro sock yarns breaking on me, or really any yarns breaking on me, because I’m not  pre-tensioning the yarn as I knit it, just holding it.  I still love my Noro socks, a year after I made them.  (I also still need to sew some elastic in the tops, but that’s a whole other problem). 

Back to theory 1.  I first noticed this when I wanted to knit some Brooklyntweed patterns, and could not get over how big the needle sizes were.  Why did I need such small needles I wondered?  But now that I’ve noticed the trend I can mentally substitute the smaller needle and start my gauge swatch.  Also with the Ann Budd socks I recently completed, the interlocking cables.  The pattern calls for 3 mm needles, I instead cast on with my trusty size 1 needles (2.25 mm I believe) and went to town.  And by town I mean sock town. 

I would like to conclude this presentation of random theories on gauge with a shout out to Nancy Bush.  Mrs. Bush is also a thrower, and with every single pattern of hers I have ever attempted ( and by now that is a few) the needle size is right on for the gauge that I get.  Yet another reason to love her patterns!

Stop the Presses…

Okay, I had my weekend project all picked out, then I stopped at Gina Brown’s last night after picking my car up at the repair shop, a repair that cost me $2000 less than I was worried it was going to.  When does that ever happen?  My streak of unbelievable luck continued when the store had many copies of Made in Brooklyn, which I’ve been coveting for a couple of months now!  I smartly picked up three copies, one for me, two for friends, this book disappears fast!  This is a book in which I would like to make every single thing, excepting perhaps the ear muffs.  So, there I was in the store dancing an excited jig, when I spotted a copy of Verena, a European knitting magazine.  I was just discovering their gorgeous designs on line, the fall magazine has beautiful textured knits, whilst the Winter one (not yet available) has some incredible colourwork.  At this point I was positively gushing, but then I spotted Interweave Holiday Knits which looks pretty good this year.  I think I want some of the knitted balls to use as pillows. 

As much as I want to cast on immediately for the mittens, and one or two of the hats in the Brooklyn book, I think its going to have to become a reward for me.  If I can get a few things finished up, then I can cast on.  AND once I use up my stock of sweater yarn, I can start purchasing for a few of the sweaters in this book, they are all beautiful, and lucky for me they seem to be perfect for my figure.  Even the models look similar to my body type, I bet most of them have my 34b bust.  And of course his mens sweaters would be perfect for long and lean Mr. J if I ever start to knit for him.  This book is a keeper, and one to knit from for a long, long time, just not this weekend!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, looks like we aren’t too cold yet so we may get outside yet!

Instant Gratification Weekend Project

Has been found!  Check out this hat here: Qivuit Cap.  I think I will use the last bit of buffalo/silk that I have however to make it up.  The key is to have a yarn with a bit of a halo for this hat to work however, helps fill up the holes to make a cosy head.  It is nice at the end of the weekend to be able to hold up a finished object, rather than point to an extra 6 inches of sleeve!  Makes one feel right pleased with their productive weekend (to come).  The jury is still out whether this will go into the Christmas box or not, right now I’m smitten with the design and may just have to keep it (and make 3 more).

A Weekend Knitting in the Sun with Friends

What could be nicer?  The weather turned out lovely, Riley Park is in full bloom and full of happy families, beautiful weddings, boisterous cricket matches, and babies.  We spread our blankets, pulled out the sock yarn, food, and just enjoyed.  Erynn from Twist of Fate is either evil, extremely crafty, or a mobile LYS all wrapped into one.  She brought along a basket of her originally dyed yarn, everything from BFL, angora mix lace, camel silk lace, cashmere lace, merino bamboo sock yarn, you get the idea, it was wonderful!

Jenn digs through the treasure!  After a few sets of fisticuffs, I managed to wrestle a lovely purple/black/grey BFL skein from the other ladies and have already cast on for a Baktus scarf.  Its not stash if it doesn’t see the inside of a bin!!  She dropped off another basket at Make One if anyone is interested. 

I also successfully babysat my nieces for the first extended afternoon to evening session.  There was no blood, tears, major fights, and everyone got to bed at the decreed time (those under the age of 7 that is).  Yeah!!

Saturday = Nothing Day

Mr. J and I have declared Saturday to be a Nothing Day.  I’ve even written it in my day timer “Nothing”.  We’ve been so busy the last few weeks/months, and we’ve having a day to do nothing, or whatever we want to do really.  Mr. J asked if by “Nothing” it meant he could bring his laptop into the bedroom, lay in bed all day watching shows, to which the anwer was “Yes, you can do whatever you want”.  You just don’t “have” to do anything!  I’m so excited about this. 

My plans are to have a leisurely breakfast with eggs, veggie breakfast sausage (or the poor substitute to Boca veggie sausages that us poor northerns can get), coffee, whilst watching Space Channel and a cat on my lap for awhile.  Then I’m heading up to my knitting room to listen to podcasts, and perhaps download “Stuart McLeans Tales from the Vinyl Cafe” from Itunes.  I may wander out to the deck if its a nice day.  Maybe I’ll even work on my tan in my bikini and see if any of my neighbours notice.  In Calgary our houses are so close together pretty much all the neighbours are privy to everyones backyard doings.  So far my knitting plans include:

1) Finishing a donkey I made approximately 4 years ago that I just have to sew up, stuff, make its mane and tail

2) Finish my pink shawl (working on the last few petals with my super petal powers)

3) Make the sleeves on the February Jacket (I had one almost done, but had to rip it out due to hugeness)  I’m also attempting to master magic loop technique to avoid the dpns on the lace pattern.

4) Start the Flower Child sweater

5) If I get my copy of Vogue Knitting, make five hats from it

6) Start Icarus

7) Finish my Betty Stockings, currently in time out due to need to increase the top of the sock.  My calves aren’t fitting into the standard sizing, one side effect of all the biking I guess.

8 ) Make a pair of mittens to test pattern.  I’m planning on making wedding mittens (2 pairs) for a friend in October, so I need to start making a pattern.  Current plan is to put their initials, and the wedding date on them.

9) Have a nap.

All in one day apparently, we’ll see how it goes!  We have Monday off for our fine Civic Long Weekend (otherwise known as an extra long weekend that was made up so that we get one each month in the summer Woohoo!).  Have a great weekend everyone!!

Looking Ahead to Fall

I do realize that even though July is almost over, and August is yet to be enjoyed, and September can be rather nice around these parts, I am already looking forward to the fall crop of knitting magazines.  Tis the season for the new cosy fall sweater, hats, scarves, mitts, etc to be oohed and awwed over.  Once again I have plans to make tons and tons of Christmas gifts, and make about 20 sweaters, hats, etc. etc. etc. 

I also love to chit chat about the new magazines, the great new designs, and what everyone loves this year!  So far the only sweater that makes me want to order yarn RIGHT NOW is the Farmer’s Market Cardigan in www.interweaveknits.com .  This is surprising as its been well over a year that I’ve liked any of the Interweave sweater designs, or wanted to make any of them.  However Connie C. C. continues to be an outstanding designer. 

And Vogue Knitting (www.vogueknitting.com) has declared that this is the fall for hats, and I’m all over that.  I think I have yarn stashed away to make about half of the hats in this years issue.  I’m not loving the Koi or Cityscape hat, but I do love the other textured ones.  I am currently planning to make everyone I know a hat, so you are all warned.  I also figure I need another 10 or so hats to round out my fall/winter wardrobe.  Now you may think this is going a bit overboard, but a number of my toques walk away with friends when they come to visit, so having a good supply on hand is just smart.  Here in Calgary we also need four different types of hats: Plus zero degrees, -5 degrees, -10–15 degrees, and below -20 degrees.  And that my friends, is a lot of hats.  Not to mention corresponding mitts, gloves, scarves, and cowls.  I have a lot of work to do if I’m going to survive the upcoming winter, and I’m starting to get worried. 

By the by, I was nominated on the weekend to be a member of a friends “In case of Disaster” team.  My skills were deemed to be providing clean drinking water, and keeping everyone warm for double duty.  That made me feel very warm and rosy inside to be so gosh darned useful!

In other chit chat, I’m going to buy the Brooklyn Tweed booklet from Elann yarns as soon as possible!  Absolutely everything is beautiful in this book, and I intend to make a few things from it.  I may also just cut it up and hang the photos around my knitting room, they are that beautiful.

What’s on your drool list?

Spring begins with a Birthday, and a trip to Moab

For the fifth year in a row now!  Normally I try and be in southern Utah around my birthday, and I’m two weeks late this year, but at least I am going.  We are attending the Moab Skinny Tire Festival (www.skinnytirefestival.com) this weekend, and for our contribution to cancer research we both chose the Huntsman Institute in Salt Lake City, simply because we know it is a good place who employs some of my friends who do great work there.  Whenever I rode with Gigi and Stormy behind the Huntsman Center we would stop and wave at all the patients, who were friends of my friends. 

It is currently twenty degrees Celsius warmer in Moab than in Calgary, and we brought our shorts and sandals.  We are going to uphold the tradition of vacationing Canadians wandering around in our summer clothes, whilst everyone else is wearing jackets and hats.  We will mention how nice the weather is, how strong the sun, as the natives shiver.  Oh yeah!  We’re all packed up, and most importantly (well secondly important after the biking gear I guess) is my travel knitting:

If it wasn’t for the back-up skein of sock yarn in “Desert Rocks” I would be awfully colour coordinated now wouldn’t I?  Sometimes its only when you pile your knitting projects one on the other that you realize they all go lovely together.  This means:

1) I am very coordinated, and even my projects match

2) I make way too many blue things and should shake it up now and then.  Which is perhaps why the red sock yarn is there, except I threw that in to match the rocks in Moab. 

3) I over think things, and should let it all just flllooooow! 

I will miss my kitties of course, who should be well looked after by their sitter.  How could you not love this face:

Posting will be sporadic and people like parents shouldn’t worry.  If I damage anything on my person I’ll be sure to call you right away!  When I get some good pics I’ll be sure to put them up. 

Red Rocks here we come!!!!

Fancy Fun Fur Throwdown!

I know, the term “fun fur” is in my blog, with the precurser “Fancy” no less.  If hell has frozen over, I believe its new name is Calgary, and we just call it winter here.  I’m afraid its no secret that I do not like fun fur, and will probably not join a local skating team as their uniform involves a blue scarf made from the stuff (shudder).  I will however give you that when used in its proper place, as actual fake fur, its fairly useful and oftimes adorable.  The recent spread of Hedgehogs for instance are very cute with their felted fronts and fun fur backs.  I am also partial to the green fun fur Christmas tree. 

However when a recent Tuesday Knit Night friend moved back to Iceland, she left us with two balls of Fancy Fun Fur in Mixed Berry.  By the way, it is extremely dangerous to be friends with lovely women from Iceland, as you will be extremely jealous of their knitted items, their grandmother who runs a knitting collective in Iceland, their yarn, and you will miss them when they move away.  Be friends with them at your own risk.  We therefore declared a Design Throwndown a la Project Runway, and are now immersed in the design process.  The rules are simple, and we’re still making them up.  The prizes are grand, and not yet announced, but may involve more boucle yarn left behind by the aforementioned Icelandic friend.

1) At least 20% of the project must involve Fancy Fun Fur in Mixed Berry

2) The rest of the yarn should be from your stash, or your friends stash, or some other extremely cheap place

3) We have no idea how the projects will be judged, I have a sneaky suspicion they will all be declared winners, and may be multiple winners since there may be more than one category such as “Most Creative use of Fun Fur”, “Most Funny”, and “The Most of the Most”.

I am beginning my design process by asking the Fancy Fun Fur what it wants to be:

Next up, my design and inspiration board!!!  I have it on great authority that you need to make one of these before you can do a design.  Mine may involve mixed berry vodka, but I’m not making any promises.

Knitting Man Loves Knitting!

Who doesn’t like men that love knitting eh?  My friend Knitting Man sure does, and as a result a friend’s Mom made him a beautiful sweater.  Its a gorgeous yoked sweater, which makes Knitting Man’s broad shoulders even broader!

I told Knitting Man the secret: if you want people to make you more knitted items, wear them often, and give them photos of you wearing it!  With this advice, I do believe these photos are about to make someones Mum very happy! 

Knitting Man gazes off into the distance, looking for his true love.  Where is she?  Once I find her, how will I make her every day one of joy and happiness?  (Come on, don’t you love guys in knitting magazines and books, of course this is what they are all thinking!).  Knitting Man will look after you and make all your dreams come true:

At least those were the directions that I was relaying to my model, Knitting Man, as I the photographer went to work.  Too bad the photos came out a bit fuzzy, Winger really got the “I’m the man of your dreams and I will look after you” look great in that last one that we were going for.  Aren’t photoshoots fun?

Creativity?

Perhaps, perhaps not.  On my Saturday “Creative Day” I also managed to vacuum the house, ride my bike, and go grocery shopping, which means it was not a fully Creative Day.  Its hard to do!  My need to “get stuff done” overrode the creative side.  I think the next time I try this I need to be more prepared (start with a clean house!) and dedicated.  Creativity takes practice! 

I did however accomplish one goal, which was to work on a scarf design utilizing my Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit Angora (heavenly!).  I wouldn’t call the design overly creative, or a design really as all I did was take a previously invented stitch pattern (blueberry stitch from back of Estonian Lace Knitting by Nancy Bush) and incorporate some shaping.  But it was fun!  This yarn has such a big halo, and is so soft and warm, plus I don’t have much of it (its expensive), that I had decided awhile back that a simple lace design would be perfect for maximizing this yarn.  I tried a trinity stitch on a few rows, but the blueberry stitch which is a modification (or vice versa) of the trinity seemed a bit nicer. 

I got a chance to use the shaping learned from the Juno scarf pattern, and tips from the workshop with Nancy Bush herself last year.  The stitch pattern is repeats of four (my favorite number) and I’m making the scarf 36 stitches wide (my age as of next month!).  As always I enjoy incorporating special numbers into projects.  In the photo above I’ve only just gotten to the first full 36 st repeat row, and intend to knit straight from here on in, with a point on the other side of the scarf, which will occur when I think I will run out of yarn soon.  I’m also picturing two small pom-pom’s attached to the point on either side, but that is still up in the air.  Also planned when I can get my little hands on some more Peter Rabbit is a matching Floppy Toque from the Holiday VK. 

It was also a pom-pom aliscious weekend all around:

The new sweater is awaiting its photoshoot!  Avec les pom-poms bien sur!