Years ago, when I attempted my first steek, I knew nothing about steeking. There was no internet then, only word of mouth help. Wasn't good help. Today we have such an invaluable tool to find our answers.
When I saw Murial's cardigan I knew it was the pattern I'd been seeking for years. Of course I had to download it; a free pattern from Knit Picks. It is knitted in the round and I knew that it would have to be steeked! Oh my. Much to my surprise the pattern is written with so much detail, on steeking, that my fear evaporated instantly. Today I steeked. Wow! I have decided to put in buttonholes, so now I had to find the proper button. I have lots and lots of buttons. I got out my container of buttons that are all sorted and on lengths of string. I found two different buttons that would work, one a light green and the other a dark green. The dark green will be perfect! Antique buttons with a shank. I say antique because they are from my MIL's stash and probably as old or older than me! Now all I need to do is put the cardigan on and note the bust point, for a button, so it won't gap. I will knit the left band first so I can count the stitches to be able to figure where the buttonholes will be placed. Ah, math! Glad I do like math! I will also place markers where I will attach the buttons and put in a stabilizer, between the front and back of the band, for extra stability when sewing the button on.
I can remember reading Elizabeth Zimmerman's note about steeking. "Cut on basting, then lie down in a darkened room for 15 minutes to recover. You will never fear to cut again". That was from page 61 of Knitting Without Tears. In another quote she suggested a glass of wine and a cold cloth on your forehead.
I was feeling very confident when I did my steek because of the instructions with the Classic Lines Cardigan pattern. The band will fold over and cover all of the steek.
It all worked just like it was supposed to.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Round and round I go
My cardigan is progeressing, wonder of wonders! Both sleeves are now on holders to eventually attach to the body. 12,210 stitches in each sleeve, which is nothing compared to 44,676 on the body, just to get to the point where I can attach the sleeves! Oh my! I'm at 11,016 stitches now, on the body, which represents about 1/4 of the way to the sleeve attachment. Sure doesn't look like that much! I've recorded a bunch of Christmas shows on tv that I can watch while I knit. Those I don't have to watch so close, so I can get a lot of knitting done while they play.
I'm thinking ahead and have decided to hem the sleeves before attaching them to the body. Because it steeks I will do most of the body hem, at that time also. Just won't hem the front portion at that point. I just want to have as much of the finishing work done, as possible, when I finish all the knitting. I've been thinking about the sweater that I've still got to finish. It has so many ends, that I have finished off and think maybe I'll use the same technique on it as the Classic Cardigan . . enclosing the edge in a self facing to cover all the front edge. Something to think about as I go round and round.
I'm thinking ahead and have decided to hem the sleeves before attaching them to the body. Because it steeks I will do most of the body hem, at that time also. Just won't hem the front portion at that point. I just want to have as much of the finishing work done, as possible, when I finish all the knitting. I've been thinking about the sweater that I've still got to finish. It has so many ends, that I have finished off and think maybe I'll use the same technique on it as the Classic Cardigan . . enclosing the edge in a self facing to cover all the front edge. Something to think about as I go round and round.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Remembering the past
I started the Knit Picks Classic Lines Cardigan last night. This evening, while working on the first sleeve I remembered that it used to take me 3 days to make one sleeve of a sweater. Of course those sweaters were aran, not 2 strands of lace weight yarn. I am enjoying this very easy knit, round and round! This sweater is sure bringing back the memories, even though it isn't an aran.
Finally getting my WIP items under control. Still have two projects to kitchner, David's socks to add the toe to, in a different color yarn, since I ran out of the pattern yarn. Hey! Size 14 feet don't take kindly to 100g of sock yarn if you make the leg portion longer! Ouch!
Went to the doctor today and had two more probable basil cell carcinomas removed. Already have had 3 removed over the last 3 years. One of the two today was very small but since he was removing the other one he decided we might as well have it removed and biopsied also.
My stash is growing!
Finally getting my WIP items under control. Still have two projects to kitchner, David's socks to add the toe to, in a different color yarn, since I ran out of the pattern yarn. Hey! Size 14 feet don't take kindly to 100g of sock yarn if you make the leg portion longer! Ouch!
Went to the doctor today and had two more probable basil cell carcinomas removed. Already have had 3 removed over the last 3 years. One of the two today was very small but since he was removing the other one he decided we might as well have it removed and biopsied also.
My stash is growing!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sweaters and more sweaters
Along with everything else I have on needles I've got one sweater almost done. It is one that was designed by Marge Butler and I just have the final sleeve to do, besides of course the band & hiding lots and lots of ends.
Today I ordered yarn for cardigans. Yes, multiple cardigans. There will be one in green tones, one in rust tones and one in blue tones.
I always have so many projects on my needles. It gives me variety and I can knit what I feel like working on. I even mended a couple of socks last week! Today I wanted to finish my latest pair of socks, except for the kitchner. Only problem is I'm tired and have the blaaaas. Maybe I'll get the foot done, never can tell. I tend to save a bunch and do kitchner all day.
I haven't knit much this year, as I went on vacation and then my friend was sick so I spent a lot of time just going to see here daily. Then I got sick and couldn't knit, my gauge was way off. So I read and slept alot. I was doing good to even be able to concentrate to read. Even though I haven't done a lot of knitting I have been buying yarn! I stayed on a "no new yarn" diet for quite awhile and then the dam broke! The Yarn Vault, Marge Butler and Knit Picks love to see me coming! Now it is knit fast, for Christmas for Sharon #1, since she is the only one I knit for, besides myself and David. Poor David will be getting only one pair of socks this year! I keep looking at Argyle patterns for him, but haven't found much. There is one vest I think he would like, but then I have to decide on the colors. Oh well, maybe someday.
Today I ordered yarn for cardigans. Yes, multiple cardigans. There will be one in green tones, one in rust tones and one in blue tones.
I always have so many projects on my needles. It gives me variety and I can knit what I feel like working on. I even mended a couple of socks last week! Today I wanted to finish my latest pair of socks, except for the kitchner. Only problem is I'm tired and have the blaaaas. Maybe I'll get the foot done, never can tell. I tend to save a bunch and do kitchner all day.
I haven't knit much this year, as I went on vacation and then my friend was sick so I spent a lot of time just going to see here daily. Then I got sick and couldn't knit, my gauge was way off. So I read and slept alot. I was doing good to even be able to concentrate to read. Even though I haven't done a lot of knitting I have been buying yarn! I stayed on a "no new yarn" diet for quite awhile and then the dam broke! The Yarn Vault, Marge Butler and Knit Picks love to see me coming! Now it is knit fast, for Christmas for Sharon #1, since she is the only one I knit for, besides myself and David. Poor David will be getting only one pair of socks this year! I keep looking at Argyle patterns for him, but haven't found much. There is one vest I think he would like, but then I have to decide on the colors. Oh well, maybe someday.
Friday, October 14, 2011
How time flies
It's been over 2 months since my last post and not much has changed. A few new things on needles and Mary is still registered in a nursing home to get physical therapy but currently in the hospital with an infection. Then Dick, a dear friend, broke his leg and has 3 broken ribs. He is in a different nursing home! I guess the running and stress was to overwhelming for me and I came down with something. I don't know what it is but it has kept me home. I was supposed to go to Rheinbeck NY yesterday and here I sit!
I have a tendon problem in my left arm but it is not from knitting. It is from reading! I hold the book in my left hand. Now I am setting the book on my TV tray/stand and it seems to help.
So, here I sit, sort of enjoying a quiet early weekend, eating club crackers to make my stomach happy. Wish I could find some diet 7-up. Don't want to go all the way out to Walmart and couldn't find any in town. Weird. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough.
I have a tendon problem in my left arm but it is not from knitting. It is from reading! I hold the book in my left hand. Now I am setting the book on my TV tray/stand and it seems to help.
So, here I sit, sort of enjoying a quiet early weekend, eating club crackers to make my stomach happy. Wish I could find some diet 7-up. Don't want to go all the way out to Walmart and couldn't find any in town. Weird. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Summer Read-A-Thon hits again
Last year I went through a period of time without knitting. Looks like I'm in the same rut this year. Of course this is not intentional but circumstances seem to dictate what direction we journey.
This summer has not been smooth, since returning home from my wonderful Alaskan vacation with Sharon #1. We had a blast. The first 5 weeks after I got back I was on the road to Erie 6 days a week. My friend had come down with GBS while I was gone. Now it is 5 days a week to the Oil City nursing home/rehab facility, where she is receiving physical therapy. As a result I'm not doing much besides visiting her AND the house isn't getting messed up since I'm not here to make much of a mess!
I have done a few rounds on the Neibling and re-vamped the way I handle the pattern. Previously I had the pattern charted and printed out on 2 sheets, taped together. Now I have separated the big sheet into 8 sections of 10 stitches per section. I bought some small receipe cards, 2 1" x 3", and using double sided scotch tape, put each section on a card. I punched a hole in the top right corner of the card and used a 1" ring to hold the set together. The cards hold 3 rows of pattern, so right now I'm working on round 99 which is the last round on the 1st set of cards. I have rounds 101, 103 and 105 on the next set, ready to use.
I've found these little cards great to write my daily to-do list on, for when I'm out and about. They come in packages of 200 and I have all the extras punched and on a 2" ring. I thnk big! I bought 2 packages! Also you can't buy just one ring! I bought one set each of the 1" and 2" rings.
Oh yes, I also decided to put stitch markers every 10 stitches, within each pattern repeat, of the Neibling. I know, more stitch markers to have to move! But, darn it, I was having problems with the pattern. This fix has eliminated that problem and now I'm only putting in a safety line after every 4th round. I was inserting one through every plain row.
I've decided that since returning from my vacation I've lost my (mind?), no, just my morning schedule! I used to get everything taken care of in the morning, before noon. Then, just before going to bed I'd go on the computer and check everything one last time. Now I'm not using my time efficiently and this has got to stop! Starting in the morning I'm going to try and get back on schedule. Of course the running to be with Mary has been part of the mess up of my schedule and I think the heat is another reason. Of course I wouldn't give up going to cheer Mary on, but I do need to get some order back into my life. I've made myself a reminder list, so I'll try to stick to it.
This summer has not been smooth, since returning home from my wonderful Alaskan vacation with Sharon #1. We had a blast. The first 5 weeks after I got back I was on the road to Erie 6 days a week. My friend had come down with GBS while I was gone. Now it is 5 days a week to the Oil City nursing home/rehab facility, where she is receiving physical therapy. As a result I'm not doing much besides visiting her AND the house isn't getting messed up since I'm not here to make much of a mess!
I have done a few rounds on the Neibling and re-vamped the way I handle the pattern. Previously I had the pattern charted and printed out on 2 sheets, taped together. Now I have separated the big sheet into 8 sections of 10 stitches per section. I bought some small receipe cards, 2 1" x 3", and using double sided scotch tape, put each section on a card. I punched a hole in the top right corner of the card and used a 1" ring to hold the set together. The cards hold 3 rows of pattern, so right now I'm working on round 99 which is the last round on the 1st set of cards. I have rounds 101, 103 and 105 on the next set, ready to use.
I've found these little cards great to write my daily to-do list on, for when I'm out and about. They come in packages of 200 and I have all the extras punched and on a 2" ring. I thnk big! I bought 2 packages! Also you can't buy just one ring! I bought one set each of the 1" and 2" rings.
Oh yes, I also decided to put stitch markers every 10 stitches, within each pattern repeat, of the Neibling. I know, more stitch markers to have to move! But, darn it, I was having problems with the pattern. This fix has eliminated that problem and now I'm only putting in a safety line after every 4th round. I was inserting one through every plain row.
I've decided that since returning from my vacation I've lost my (mind?), no, just my morning schedule! I used to get everything taken care of in the morning, before noon. Then, just before going to bed I'd go on the computer and check everything one last time. Now I'm not using my time efficiently and this has got to stop! Starting in the morning I'm going to try and get back on schedule. Of course the running to be with Mary has been part of the mess up of my schedule and I think the heat is another reason. Of course I wouldn't give up going to cheer Mary on, but I do need to get some order back into my life. I've made myself a reminder list, so I'll try to stick to it.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
So slow
I ended up making more Pop-Up-Paws, so Sharon #1 will be receiving a pair made out of the same yarn I used to made her heavy V-neck sweater. I made myself a pair out of the same yarn I used to make my heavy V-neck sweater. I didn't get to the post office until yesterday, to mail David's sock and Sharon's Pop-Up-Paws.
Now I'm back to the Herbert Neibling doily and put another sock on the needles for David.
I did get one of the felted slippers put together and ready to felt, but the 2nd one is still in pieces.
I'm trying to stay away from buying more yarn. I have such a large stash of sock yarn and miscellaneous yarn that I need to use up. I guess it is time to design some quick projects to knit up and set aside, to sell next winter, for Christmas gifts.
Now I'm back to the Herbert Neibling doily and put another sock on the needles for David.
I did get one of the felted slippers put together and ready to felt, but the 2nd one is still in pieces.
I'm trying to stay away from buying more yarn. I have such a large stash of sock yarn and miscellaneous yarn that I need to use up. I guess it is time to design some quick projects to knit up and set aside, to sell next winter, for Christmas gifts.
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