I'm just about bouncing up and down in anticipation of the arrival of my Big Ass Cone of Bamboo Yarn from Halcyon. 1050 yards of DK bamboo for about $36 with the shipping! Unbelievable! I can't wait to get started on the skirt. I think I'm going to go with the bamboo needles for this, partly because I think they'll help me from knitting too loosely and getting a saggy skirt.
I'm also obsessed with finding another sweater to knit. A pullover this time. I'm considering Bombshell from Big Girl Knits (probably with 3/4 sleeves) and also Stephanie Japel's Simple Knitted Bodice. I know I want a low-ish neckline, some waist shaping, and a reasonably easy place to put short rows (i.e., no wacky stitch patterns or colorwork at the bust that I'd have to worry about). Those two fit the bill nicely. Looking at Ravelry, it's amazing how some people turn them out looking perfect, and others make them look awful. The garments themselves often look equally good, but it's the FIT that makes the difference. I will not be lazy with fitting. I will NOT. I will be very careful and do my math. I will try on as I go. I'll be a good knitting doobie. :)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Project!
So. On Saturday, I placed an order for a one-pound cone of this gorgeous stuff, in color #12, "Lipstick". That will be used to make this!
See, shortly after making that last poll, I had a brilliant idea. I will start Intolerable Cruelty. If all that stockinette gets intolerably boring, I will take a break and start working on a Dalek. Then I'll go back to the skirt. I think this says about me that I am neither entirely a project knitter nor entirely a process knitter. Generally, I do pick things to knit that I simply want to have as an FO. This is "project knitter" style. But I also like a bit of a challenge in the work, and if I'm working on something very simple for a long time, I get bored and want to do something different. This is "process knitter" style.
I took my measurements today. 39-28-37. Huh. Not too bad considering I've been feeling bigger than usual lately. I'd like that middle number to drop a little, but I think that might have to wait until after the holidays. Anyway, this means that the small size IC will probably be just right for me. That's not a typical thing for me, with knitting patterns (either the "small" part OR the "just right" part). It also means I really do need to get a book that will teach me sweater alteration and design tricks. Or, you know, maybe more than one. Why limit myself to one? I'm thinking Big Girl Knits and some other book. Or maybe BGK and a whole bunch of web-based articles. We'll see.
Ooh. I also need a 24" size 4 circular, since that's one size that is NOT in my Denise Interchangeables. What works best with a smooth bamboo yarn? Are metal needles too slippery, and would bamboo be better? Or are they good and fast? I'm thinking of actually buying a pair of Addi Turbos. Zut alors! :)
See, shortly after making that last poll, I had a brilliant idea. I will start Intolerable Cruelty. If all that stockinette gets intolerably boring, I will take a break and start working on a Dalek. Then I'll go back to the skirt. I think this says about me that I am neither entirely a project knitter nor entirely a process knitter. Generally, I do pick things to knit that I simply want to have as an FO. This is "project knitter" style. But I also like a bit of a challenge in the work, and if I'm working on something very simple for a long time, I get bored and want to do something different. This is "process knitter" style.
I took my measurements today. 39-28-37. Huh. Not too bad considering I've been feeling bigger than usual lately. I'd like that middle number to drop a little, but I think that might have to wait until after the holidays. Anyway, this means that the small size IC will probably be just right for me. That's not a typical thing for me, with knitting patterns (either the "small" part OR the "just right" part). It also means I really do need to get a book that will teach me sweater alteration and design tricks. Or, you know, maybe more than one. Why limit myself to one? I'm thinking Big Girl Knits and some other book. Or maybe BGK and a whole bunch of web-based articles. We'll see.
Ooh. I also need a 24" size 4 circular, since that's one size that is NOT in my Denise Interchangeables. What works best with a smooth bamboo yarn? Are metal needles too slippery, and would bamboo be better? Or are they good and fast? I'm thinking of actually buying a pair of Addi Turbos. Zut alors! :)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Presents
I want to make a hat for my friend. Said friend has a large, bald head. I imagine it gets rather cold in the winter. I would LIKE to knit from my stash on this, but I don't know if I have any yarn that is both warm enough to keep his head from getting cold in the winter, and soft enough not to be scratchy on his shaved head. Meh.
There's also the issue that I don't know how big his head is. If I ask him, he'll know I'm knitting him a hat. I could ask his girlfriend, but the relationship issues are a bit...complicated at the moment. Not bad--she and I like each other just fine--but complicated.
I'm contemplating Knitty's Halfdome, but knit at a bulkier gauge for more warmth. We'll see.
In the meantime, I might knit up a hat or two for charity. I need to bust some stash, and damn it, I want to knit SOMETHING.
There's also the issue that I don't know how big his head is. If I ask him, he'll know I'm knitting him a hat. I could ask his girlfriend, but the relationship issues are a bit...complicated at the moment. Not bad--she and I like each other just fine--but complicated.
I'm contemplating Knitty's Halfdome, but knit at a bulkier gauge for more warmth. We'll see.
In the meantime, I might knit up a hat or two for charity. I need to bust some stash, and damn it, I want to knit SOMETHING.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Rant
You know what I wish?
I wish that every knitting pattern would say, "This is how much ease is at the bust, waist, and hip (or whatever's appropriate) for the model in the picture." Then you know, "Oh, if I want it to fit like that, I should probably have about that much ease, so I should make this size." That would make life so very much easier. Or at least put, "This item is designed to have X, Y, and Z ease at these points." This is why I e-mailed about half a dozen people on Ravelry to ask them about how much ease they had at the hip in their Intolerable Cruelty skirts. I went through EVERY PICTURE, and picked out the ones whose fit I liked the best, usually on people whose bodies were at least somewhat similar to mine in general shape (not too skinny but not too big in the hips). But I don't want to have to do that with everything I make. I might, though, since it doesn't look like putting ease in the pattern is going to be the standard any time soon.
I want to make another, cuter sweater. A pullover, this time, not a cardi. And I want it to be fitted but flattering, and CUTE. I like the look of the Bombshell sweater in the Big Girl Knits book, which I don't actually own. I am thinking about getting it because I hear their design instructions are really great. I'd probably have to scale the pattern down a bit, but hopefully the design instructions would help me figure out how to do that while still keeping the shape I want. If you've seen the pattern for Bombshell, I'm thinking a little negative ease at the ribbing under the bustline, short rows above the ribbing to help shape the bust, and maybe a bit smaller at the hip proportionally than it's designed. Or I might make something else entirely.
In other news: I have finished the Brea Bag, at last! I finally said "f*** it" to the lining and just finished it. It's actually quite cute! I'm reasonably happy with it. I am now working on another little in-between project: a bag for my zills (belly dance finger cymbals). It's in a pale pink cotton/viscose/silk blend I got in a Yankee swap. Svale, it's called. I don't much like the yarn for knitting. It loses its twist very quickly when I knit, and as a result, it splits very easily. Still, it's looking rather nice in a simple seed stitch on size 5 needles. I'm just doing a rectangle with a row of eyelets at the top and bottom. Then I'll fold it in half so the two eyelet bands match up, seam the sides, and make a little i-cord (possibly with some beads) to close the bag.
I wish that every knitting pattern would say, "This is how much ease is at the bust, waist, and hip (or whatever's appropriate) for the model in the picture." Then you know, "Oh, if I want it to fit like that, I should probably have about that much ease, so I should make this size." That would make life so very much easier. Or at least put, "This item is designed to have X, Y, and Z ease at these points." This is why I e-mailed about half a dozen people on Ravelry to ask them about how much ease they had at the hip in their Intolerable Cruelty skirts. I went through EVERY PICTURE, and picked out the ones whose fit I liked the best, usually on people whose bodies were at least somewhat similar to mine in general shape (not too skinny but not too big in the hips). But I don't want to have to do that with everything I make. I might, though, since it doesn't look like putting ease in the pattern is going to be the standard any time soon.
I want to make another, cuter sweater. A pullover, this time, not a cardi. And I want it to be fitted but flattering, and CUTE. I like the look of the Bombshell sweater in the Big Girl Knits book, which I don't actually own. I am thinking about getting it because I hear their design instructions are really great. I'd probably have to scale the pattern down a bit, but hopefully the design instructions would help me figure out how to do that while still keeping the shape I want. If you've seen the pattern for Bombshell, I'm thinking a little negative ease at the ribbing under the bustline, short rows above the ribbing to help shape the bust, and maybe a bit smaller at the hip proportionally than it's designed. Or I might make something else entirely.
In other news: I have finished the Brea Bag, at last! I finally said "f*** it" to the lining and just finished it. It's actually quite cute! I'm reasonably happy with it. I am now working on another little in-between project: a bag for my zills (belly dance finger cymbals). It's in a pale pink cotton/viscose/silk blend I got in a Yankee swap. Svale, it's called. I don't much like the yarn for knitting. It loses its twist very quickly when I knit, and as a result, it splits very easily. Still, it's looking rather nice in a simple seed stitch on size 5 needles. I'm just doing a rectangle with a row of eyelets at the top and bottom. Then I'll fold it in half so the two eyelet bands match up, seam the sides, and make a little i-cord (possibly with some beads) to close the bag.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)