May 6, 2007

New Dishcloth - MicroSpun

I finished it, used it and am not very impressed. It feels like acrylic. Not scratchy or anything like that, it just isn't cotton. I'm going to use it awhile and see how I feel about it. It doesn't absorb liquids very well, so doesn't wipe down a counter as nicely as cotton. I'll give you an update in a few days.

I CO a cotton towel. Just a small hand towel for the kitchen. For something to do..... Am still working on my hat for my upstairs project. Started the decreases last night, so if everything goes okay this evening, I should be able to finish it up. It's big, grey with purple and blue...so in our culture it would be a good guy's hat.

You ask how my sweater is coming along.... Haven't touched in forever. Maybe I should work on it today.... Just so it doesn't feel totally abandoned!

For the crocheters: I noticed a few years ago that if I had some bulk on my needles, my hands felt much better. I bought the little rubber handles that slip over the hook and they work fine.

But I think this felted one from Grafton Fibers looks way cool, too. One could use the same technique to felt an ink pen. Wouldn't that be a cool gift for a fiber friend?

Linda at Grafton Fibers also has two crocheted sock patterns, one done in the round and one done flat to be joined so the stitches run up and down the leg. I've used the first one alot, but never tried the second.

Charmed Knits comes out on Tuesday. I'm really excited about it. The pictures from The Blue Blog of the unmatched Doby Socks is right up my alley! Wouldn't it be great if the idea caught on? Just think of it...no more Second Sock Syndrome!

May 2, 2007

'Nother Hat

Had a request for the pattern for the MicroSpun socks, so here it is!

Slouch Socks

Fits size 9.5 shoe size

Lion Brand MicroSpun Yarn

Using size 3 needles CO 48 sts

Garter stitch for 6 rounds. St st for 4 rounds. Garter st for 1 round. St st for 4 rounds. Garter st for 1 round

St st until leg is as long as you'd like it.

Divide sts for heel flap--24 sts on N2, 12 each on N1 & N3

Sl 1 p across, turn.

*Sl 1 k1* repeat * to * across, turn.

Continue these two rows for a total of 24 rows ending with a just finished k row

Purl 14 sts, p2tog, p1 turn

Sl 1, K5, K2tog, k1, turn

Purl to one st before gap in sts, purl the two sts on either side of the gap together, p1 turn

Knit to one st before gap in sts, knit the two sts on either side of the gap together k1, turn

Continue the last two rows until 14 sts remain on the needle ending with just having knit a row

Go down the left side of the heel flap just worked. Pick up 12 sts with one needle. With another needle, knit across the two needles holding the instep stitches. With the next needle pick up 12 sts along the other side of the heel flap. Now knit across half of the heel sts with the same needle, and slip the other half of the heel sts onto the first needle. There should be 24 sts on N2, with 14 sts on Ns 1 & 3.

Starting with N1, knit one round even

Decreasing Round: Starting with N1, k to the last 3 sts on the needle. K2tog, K1. Knit across N2. On N3, K1, ssk, knit to end of N3.

Knit one round even. Knit one decreasing round. Continue alternating these two rows until there are 12 sts on N1 & 3.

Begin knitting even rounds for 28 to 32 rounds or until foot is as long as you want it. (When I try mine on, I quit when the knitting reaches the base of my toes.

Round Toe Decreases: Knit to end of N1, K2tog, K1. At beginning of N2, SSK, knit across to last three sts on needle, K2tog, K1. At beginning of N3 SSK knit to end of N3. K1 round even. Continue these two rounds until about 8 sts remain on N2 and 4 each on Ns 1 & 3. Kitchener or graft these 8 sts.

I finished another hat for Michelle <--click. If you can see, I did a little bit of color work in it. I had one color on my left hand and one on my right (Continental and English methods). Not too clumsy, and I think my tension was pretty good for a first try at it.

Found some neat stuff while surfing the blogs today.

Knit a rug out of t-shirts <--click I really dislike using huge knitting needles or crochet hooks, which is why I've never made any of these things. But with all the t shirts we go through....hmmm I should just make a braided one......

If you are into miscellaneous crafting or just like looking at others stuff, Echoes of a Dream <--click is a great place to browse!

And last but not least, on the bottom of this page <--click is a pattern for knitted strawberries! I'm thinking filled with a potpourri of some kind, they'd be pretty attached to hanger in the closet, or in the undies drawer, hanging in the linen closet....

My youngest son and I ran away yesterday to the movies. We saw "Next" with Nicholas Cage. It was pretty good. I won't tell you anymore, because it can easily be spoiled.

I did take my sock with me. Got all the heel decreases done and quite a bit of the foot. Maybe an inch or so to the toe. I need to weigh the sock and the remaining yarn to see if I need to put a contrasting toe on them.

April 30, 2007

MicroSpun Socks Done!

Stats: Lion Brand Micro Spun, 100% acrylic. Size US 4 (3.5 mm) needles. CO was 52 sts, Eye of Partridge heel, rounded toe. CO on 21 April and BO on 29 April.

I was ready to start the toes when it was time to go to the concert. So I ended up taking them upstairs and finishing them before bed. I'm pleased with how the came out. They are in the wash now and I'll run them through the dryer, too, just to see how they feel after that. Very soft. Very cushy. I think these are the way to make house socks for those that have carpeted houses! They are waaaaay too slippery I think for tiled homes! Of course there is the puff paint and liquid applique that can be used to make them slide proof.

The concert was absolutely wonderful. These guys really know how to put on a show! I always leave their concerts feeling uplifted. Generally their last number is appropriate for audience participation.

Did you all check out Knitterman's square <--click the other day? His blog was having issues and loaded on a whim. Now it's fixed. My plan for the day is to follow his directions and CO a square... It's got that horrendous issue of having to CO with 8 sts in the round....don't know if I'll ever master that, but I really want to make a square like that. Why, I don't know, but I do.... hmmmmm I need a couple new dishcloths....

I have a skein of pink and one of purple Knitpicks sock yarn. Just trying to figure out how to make them..... And of course I was looking at patterns with lace again. I have to stop doing that. It always leads to disappointment!

Well, today is laundry day. :::sigh:::

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For Amy

April 27, 2007

MicroSpun Sock

It's finally done! It feels so nice. Soft, cushy...just great. And I'm still having problems getting past the 100% acrylic fiber content! I CO on the second sock (I'm being a good girl, Joansie!) and with any luck will have it done this weekend. With that being said, as I've spent most of my knitting time with the sock, I'm going to work on the sweater while visiting with F today at his house.

Nothing much else exciting to report.

Isn't this square <--click cool? I'm hoping he will share how he did the increases to make it twist like this.

This is a sampler I cross stitched a few years ago and entered into the County Fair. I think it took a second prize, but I can't remember and it's packed away some where. Can you believe we've been in this house since last September and I still can't use my closet for all the unpacked stuff in it?

Keeping with the HP theme, this is Hagrid, Keeper of the Keys and Gamekeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

April 21, 2007

It's so much easier to knit with light colored yarns!

It was very nice to finish the purple socks. Although the Lamb's Pride Purple Haze Super wash was wonderful to knit with, dark colors are not...especially in dim light.

They did turn out nicely, though, in spite of all the frustration!

The light blue socks are from click--> Lion Brand Micro Spun. This is a 100% acrylic yarn that feels like a soft polished cotton. It is the same fiber I made the Ankh Dishcloth for B. This arrived in the box of acrylics I received last week. There was about two skeins of it, and from what I've been reading, one skein should make two decent sized socks. I tend to put short legs on my socks anyway, so there will be more than enough for a trial pair of socks.

I CO another hat last night. So far just a generic hat, ribbing, st st. That may change if I find an interesting pattern!

Since I found Google Reader, I've been adding more blogs to my List of Things To Do on the Computer Every Day. I think click--> TECHknitting is a good one to check periodically when one doesn't have anything else to do! This is a Subject <--click list of topics covered in the blog. Quite a bit of useful info there!

It's cold (mid 40s) and rainy today. Good day for socks! At least this morning!

April 12, 2007

Free Dishcloth Pattern

Ankh Dish Cloth

CO 40

RS Rows 1, 3, 5: sl as if to p, p1,*k1, p1* repeat * to* across

Rows 2, 4: sl as if to p, k1, *p1,k1* repeat * to* across

Row 6: sl as if to p, k1, p1,k1, p12, k8, p11, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 7 and all odd numbered rows thru Row 61: (sl as if to p, p1), k1, p1, k across to last 5 sts p1,k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 8: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p13, k6, p12, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Rows 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p15, k2, p14, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 26: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p7, k1, p7, k2, p7, k1, p6, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 28: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p7, k2, p6, k2, p6, k2, p6, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Rows 30 & 32: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p7, k18, p6, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 34: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p7, k2, p6, k2, p6, k2, p6, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 36: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p7, k1, p7, k2, p7, k1, p6, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 38: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p15, k2, p14, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 40: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p14, k4, p13, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 42: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p12, k8, p11, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 44: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p11, k4, p2, k4, p10, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 46: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p11, k2, p6, k2, p10, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 48: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p11, k2, p6, k2, p10, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 50: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p11, k2, p6, k2, p10, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 52: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p11, k3, p4, k3, p10, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 54: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p12, k2, p4, k2, p11, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 56: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p12, k3, p2, k3, p11, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 58: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p14, k4, p13, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 60: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p15, k2, p14, (k1 p1)2x, k1

Row 62: sl as if to p, k1, p1, k1, p31, (k1, p1)2x, k1

Row 64, 66: sl as if to p, *k1, p1*repeat from * to* across

Row 63, 65, 67: sl as if to p, *p1, k1*repeat from * to* across

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I finally finished it. The Microspun is really a pain to work with. It splits very easily...it's just doesn't have much twist in the yarn...kinda like Sugar 'n Cream. However, the Microspun is so very soft. (I'd definitely recommend it for a baby blanket using kinda dull needles. Sharp metal ones definitely contribute to the splitting.) Again, I don't know how effective it would be as a dish cloth but may be okay as a wash cloth. I've got a few ounces left over so I'll knit that up when I can and let you know how it works.

I started the sock and have the ribbing almost done. I'm hoping I'll be able to get quite a bit of it done now that I don't have any other "downstairs" projects. Got a two more repeats of the pattern I'm doing on the latest click-->Michelle hat. I think I'll need to do one more repeat before starting the decreases. I am trying to figure out how I can incorporate the design up the decreases and may need to spend an hour or so with pen and paper on that one!

My son and I made two trips to the dumpster with wagon loads of left over tree from the trimming last week. I think we have three or four more trips to make. Hate to fill the dumpsters up as soon as they are emptied, so we'll spread the trips out!

Heard of a good ww yarn for socks for men wearing work boots. Briggs and Little Tuffy. It's 80% wool and 20% nylon. Anyone know any more about it? Super wash? Where it can be purchased? Two of my sons wear work boots year round and the other is really hard on socks. I was thinking this would make great socks for them but only if it's super wash....

April 11, 2007

Sock of Disappointment

I frogged the purple sock. Tried it on and it was way too small. Well, not way to small, but too small for comfort. So, I went up a needle size, swatched and will CO again as soon as I finish the Ankh washcloth for B. I decided to use the Micro Spun. It's soooooooooooooooooooo soft, and very thin (compared to Sugar 'n Cream. So I am using two strands. It's coming out beautifully and feels so nice. Again, I can't imagine an acrylic washcloth would be that useful, but others swear by it. When I get done with the Ankh, I'll knit up what's left and try it out.

The hat with a pattern is coming along nicely. I'm using one of the patterns from the 365 Pattern a Day calendar. Maybe I can finish it tonight, but I'm thinking it'll take another evening!

And so that was my uneventful life yesterday. Today my son and I have left over pieces of dead tree to haul to the dumpster. I let the property manager know it'll take us a while to get it done but that we will haul it all away...eventually....

Here's another one of my cross stitch projects of long ago....

April 10, 2007

Ankh and Free Hat Pattern

I got the Michelle<--click hat finished up last night. (Pattern below.) It's really a firm fabric. A little hard to see but there is a basket weave type pattern in the body of the hat. CO on the next one last night, but.... It occurred to me with all the whining I've done about not being able to knit fancy socks, that I could practice some of the sock patterns while making these hats. Larger needles, larger yarn, somewhat easier to manipulate...although this doesn't help with counting which really seems to be my main issue, but we'll gloss over that and see if I can do it. Now, don't have too high expectations on this, as these hats are supposed to be my night time knitting, aka, brainless knitting. So I still might not be able to do the lace work on them!

Here's the sample of the washcloth I'm making for B. I adjusted the lighting as best I could so the design would show up. It does, but not too well. I bought a skein of Sugar 'n Cream in a soft yellow/beige and a skein of Lion Brand Micro Spun in the same color. I'd heard somewhere that wash cloths made of Micro Spun were great. It's acrylic so I don't know how it can be that good, but it's sure soft! Would make great baby stuff!

Only got a few rows done on my sock...had to finish the Ankh and we had some shopping to do yesterday. I've finished the heel decreases and am working on the foot now. Won't take long once I get a chance to sit down and work on it.

Talked to my DIL yesterday. It's really been cold (below freezing) in TN. And here we sit with our warmer than average temps of 80s in the days and 40s at nights. It's gonna be a HOT summer for us I'm bettin....

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Hat with Pique Check Stitch

Two strands WW yarn, Size 7 16 inch circular needes, Size 7 DPNs

Pattern requires multiple of 6 sts Fits young child, 2, 3, or 4 years

CO 66, join

Knit 8 rows of st st.

R 1: *K3, P3* repeat from * to * around

R 2: Knit even

R 3: Repeat R 1

R 4: Knit even

R 5: Repeat R 1

R 6 - 11: Knit even

R 12: *P3, K3* repeat from * to * around

R 13: Knit even

R 14: Repeat R 12

R 15: Knit even

R 16: Repeat R 12

R 17-22: Knit even

R 23: *K 9, K2tog* repeat from * to * around

R 24: Knit even

R 25: *K8, K2tog* repeat from * to * around

R 26: Knit even

R 27: *K7, K2tog* repeat from * to * around

R 28: Knit even

R 29: *K6, K2tog* repeat from * to * around

R 30: Knit even

R 31: *K5, K2tog* repeat from * to * around

R 32: Knit even

R 33: *K4, K2tog* repeat from * to * around

R 34: Knit even

R 35: *K3, K2 tog* repeat from * to * around

R 36: Knit even

R 37: *K2, K2 tog* repeat from * to * around

R 38: *K1, K2 tog* repeat from * to * around

R 39: K2tog around Cut working yarn leaving about 6 to 8 inches.

Thread yarn onto yarn needle and insert yarn needle through remaining sts. Pull tight to gather up and close hole. Weave in ends inside hat.