Knitting and other Creative Endeavors

[Matterhorn Fan]

Scarves are easy. Maybe if they're really thin and light, we could use them in that one week of winter?

Oh, you're in San Diego. That 72 degrees + or - 2 doesn't mean any winter. Surely you must venture to NoCal once in a while? Think about how cold it is up there in comparison to SD?

I think the big question is why they sell learn to knit kits in the shop in Norway in EPCOT--full of bulky yarn (and, presumably, patterns for scarves, hats, mittens, or sweaters).

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

I don't really have any real reason to knit, though. Typical knitted stuff isn't that useful in Florida.

Surely even Floridians wear socks once in a while?

[Matterhorn Fan]

OK, the great (sensational?) sock project...

I have sock yarn, and I've got metal needles--a set of 5. The now-unravelled sock (I'll get to that) was a beast to cast on. I hated that. I'm *this close* to trying the 2 circular needle method.

I did fine (though I realize now that I was making my own pattern up) until I got to the heel flap. Instructions for the heel flap were only a partial problem. The book said to always slip as if to purl, I assumed that meant that I needed the yarn in front, and I realized my sock didn't look like the one in the picture. No biggie, I liked the look, but about 12 rows in (out of 32) I realized that it wouldn't be comfortable to walk on. So I tried a few rows the right way, and that was way better.

So I decided to go back to the beginning of the heel flap to redo it. I mean, it's just 14 rows, right?

Stupid me, I decided to unravel and then get the needle back into the loops instead of unknitting. There was my big mistake. I never got all the stitches back on correctly, the yarn was splitting, etc. In a fit of frustration I unraveled the whole thing and balled the yarn back up.

I bought 2 size 2 circular needles at JoAnn's this afternoon (maybe casting on will be easier with only 2 needles?). Well, they're not the same size as the double points (2.75 mm v. 3 mm). And looking at them now, they're not as sharp, either, which I know will bug the crapola out of me. I think I'll return these to JoAnn's (unless someone can convince me before I get a chance to go back).

So, I need casting on advice. Once I got going I was fine, but the top part looked a bit loopy and casting on took forever--is this just how it is?

I'm confused about picking up gusset stitches, but obviously I haven't gotten there yet, and it might make perfect sense once I'm on that row.

Oh--and I started with the first one in the book, the 4-stitch ribbing patterns. When I restart, I'll either do the non-sensational "Garter Rib" (p.37) or the "Elongated Corded Rib," which looks less boring and still easy. I totally would've done the silly class sock to get the techniques quickly, but it seems lame to buy needles for a practice sock (and that I'd most likely never use again). I'm terrible at returning things to stores. We'll see what happens to the needles I bought this afternoon--I would, after all, like my $11 back.

Wow, um...long winded.

[Prudence]

I personally prefer the double pointed needles for socks. The worst part is getting started, but once there's a couple inches of sock hanging down, I find it goes pretty smoothly.

I've looked at a bunch of casting on instructions lately and realized that I don't do it like any I've seen. *I* think my way is plenty easy, and way fast, but I'll have to wait until I get home and can play with yarn to describe it.

One thing to try, though - I never try to cast on to the different needles. I cast on to one needle and then when I have the total number needed I move the loops onto the other needles as appropriate. I find this helps minimize the big gaps and whatnot.

Picking up gusset stitches is confusing because there's no one way to do it. When you make the heel flap, the reason you slip a stitch at the beginning of the row is that you're making this sort of chain stitch down the sides. what part of the "loop" you pick up is basically a matter of taste. If you pick up the back loop, you get ridgy bits on the outside and smooth inside. If you pick up the front loop, it's reversed. Sometimes I change depending on the yarn. Don't worry about that now - we'll deal with that when you get there.

OKay - I'll try to remember when I get home to post a description of my casting on method. I'll look at the patterns you're thinking of, too.

And if it makes you feel any better - last night I realized I screwed up something about 8 rows back (I reduced a stitch at the wrong end of a needle - in the middle of the heel instead of the gusset edge) so I'll have to undo some tonight.

[Matterhorn Fan]

All my wordiness, and I didn't say that quite right. Casting on isn't the problem--I did just what you described (moving the stitches). I guess I should've said that knitting that first row was the pain in arse.

One question about the pattern (when you get a chance to look at it)--in the instructions for the heel flap, for the wrong side row, it says K3 and purl to end, but there's supposed to be a purl edging there--should that say K3, purl to last 3 sts, K3? The right side row had P3 on both sides, and that one instruction offended my sense of symmetry. But if there's a reason for it I'll give it a shot.

This book doesn't have a slipped stitch at the end of the heel flap rows.

And you've convinced me. The circular needles are going back, back, back to the store! If I change my mind later, I can order pointier ones online.

[Prudence]

Knitting the first row is always weird. I'll look at the pattern tonight. Aren't there a number of heel types in that book? I like the padded heels, myself. That's where I get wear. (You make those by doing k1, s1 on the knit rows, and pearl across on the pearl rows. You can do each knit row the same, or do one as k1, s1, and the next as s1, k1 - stripe look or checkerboard.)

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

One question about the pattern (when you get a chance to look at it)--in the instructions for the heel flap, for the wrong side row, it says K3 and purl to end, but there's supposed to be a purl edging there--should that say K3, purl to last 3 sts, K3? The right side row had P3 on both sides, and that one instruction offended my sense of symmetry. But if there's a reason for it I'll give it a shot.

This book doesn't have a slipped stitch at the end of the heel flap rows.

Ok - you were on the four-stitch pattern, right? Yeah, that one has the garter edging for the heel flap. (I've always done the chain stitch (slipped stitch) border, like they have for the six-stitch pattern.)

As for the edging - the right side row has pearl three to start, knit three to end. The wrong side row has knit three to start, and pearl all the way to the end (so the last three are pearl.) That makes each edge garter stitch - knit one way, pearl the other - although they're opposites.

The patterns here are a little intimidating. I think the vintage pattern book might be easier. But you'll get through!

[Matterhorn Fan]

The vintage book looked more difficult to me, maybe because the sensational book has all those fancy color-coded columns and stuff. The stitch patterns themselves aren't too bad--I've been doing fancier (or just as fancy) stuff with worsted-weight yarn, so it's just the same stuff on a smaller scale. I can live with that.

Yes, I'm on the 4-stitch pattern. Worked 2 rows last night of the cuff. Haven't decided which stitch pattern to follow yet--I turned the page and discovered 6 more options, none of which look too difficult. I have mixed feelings about all these choices.

As written, the heel flap pattern (the one given for the 4-stitch patterns) would look like this:

KKKPPPPPPPPPPPPP (wrong side)
PPPKSKSKSKSKSPPP (right side)

The last three of the wrong side row look to me like they ought to be knits. It just looks funny to me. I may need to give in and trust the sockmaster.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Prudence-- here is a link I found to corrections for Sensational Knitted Socks. Thought it might help.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I wanted to learn to knit. I learned to knit. I knit a shawl. And since I haven't really had the desire to knit again.

I think I'd prefer needlepoint. The outcome would be more exciting for me, I think. I can cross-hatch, that's easy enough, but I have trouble learning this stuff from a book. I need a 3D instructional. I've a friend who can pick that stuff up in books no problem. She didn't enjoy needlepoint, but the one thing she made was friggin' professional looking, and it was only her first try. Damn crafties!

I am thinking about a fun L.A. based project, but I've got a lot more thinking to put into it before it gets off the ground (if ever, so many of my ideas don't)...