Lately yarns seem comprised of a bit of this and a bit of that and doled out in 100 yard (or fewer) skeins. Then you pay $10.00 or more per skein. I am amazed that so many people are willing to pay $50.00 for a pair of socks...in self-striping yarn, no less. The technology is amazing, but please! We did ugly back in the '60s, why is it fashionable again?
I was crawling through the latest issue of Vogue Knitting when I spied an ad for a yarn called Tofutsies. SWTC makes the yarn which explains where the tofu comes from. They are the makers of Soy Silk...which is made from the stuff left over from making tofu. They put it through a chemical process and out comes the 21st century version of rayon!
Back to Tofutsies, it is a sock yarn made of 50% Superwash wool, 25% Soy Silk, 22.5% cotton, and 2.5% chitin. Chitin??? Isn't that what bugs are made of? You know, the stuff that goes crunch when you step on one? eeeYuck! Then they explain that the chitin comes from shrimp and crab shells. Oh, that's better. Does this mean your feet are guaranteed to smell like a fish market at high noon?
After all this I should probably try the stuff, if only for the reaction at the yarn shop when I ask for some of that crab shell yarn. But my first reaction was to visit A.C. Moore for a couple skeins of honest 100% acrylic. It is soft, it is shiney, and sells for $2.19 per 315 yard skein. I can swatch till I drop for a Miz Marple jacket I have in mind. If it works, there is always the option to do it in a nice wool...but no crab shells, please!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Knitty Submission
Today I uploaded my Michelin Man sock pattern to Knitty. And what do I worry about? Getting responses like "File too big" or "Missing X info". Nothing about "We don't want this pattern". Guess I've submitted enough fiction to magazines and publishers to understand "NO!"
The secret of success finally clicked with me the other day. Like the kid on the commercial trying to put a square peg in a round hole: "Just keep hittin' it!" If this pattern doesn't fly, then maybe Viking Formal (aka Frogger) will. Or St. Brendan's Fair Isle. Or something.
Meanwhile I walk the floor unable to settle down to anything specific. So...I blog.
Measured The Shuj's foot today 'cause my next project will be socks for him. I had decided from measuring my own foot that the length, ankle, instep, ball would all measure the same. Not so! His foot is 9.5" long, 8.25 at the instep, and 8.5 at the ankle. Will have to measure more feet before I make any ponderous statements in patterns...
The secret of success finally clicked with me the other day. Like the kid on the commercial trying to put a square peg in a round hole: "Just keep hittin' it!" If this pattern doesn't fly, then maybe Viking Formal (aka Frogger) will. Or St. Brendan's Fair Isle. Or something.
Meanwhile I walk the floor unable to settle down to anything specific. So...I blog.
Measured The Shuj's foot today 'cause my next project will be socks for him. I had decided from measuring my own foot that the length, ankle, instep, ball would all measure the same. Not so! His foot is 9.5" long, 8.25 at the instep, and 8.5 at the ankle. Will have to measure more feet before I make any ponderous statements in patterns...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Ain't life jest like...
...knitting a sock. There are times when you are focused and interested, like learning short rows, and times you are flat bored, like knitting those interminable 7.5 inches of stockinette before anything interesting happens again. Then there are the fun times, the dreaming times when you near the cuff and the whole world of colors and textures lies before one. And the bad times...let me count the ways! Evil yarn that won't behave. Color stranding that is too tight...again. Lovely, expensive yarn that hops into the shopping bag but then won't fit into a shoe.
In spite of it all, I can understand the addictive nature of sock knitting, especially for a designer. What better way of working out patterns? 4-5 inches of cuff that go wrong is nothing compared to being halfway up a sweater before realizing the beautiful Fair Isle pattern that looked so stunning in a swatch is going to make the wearer look broad as a barn. Oh, yes, all of the big girls out there will flock to buy that little number!
At least the Knitty sock is ready to go. Just waiting for PayPal to verify my account and then...this weekend...up it goes! First submission and I'm shaking like a first date! Hello, it's just a sock pattern...
In spite of it all, I can understand the addictive nature of sock knitting, especially for a designer. What better way of working out patterns? 4-5 inches of cuff that go wrong is nothing compared to being halfway up a sweater before realizing the beautiful Fair Isle pattern that looked so stunning in a swatch is going to make the wearer look broad as a barn. Oh, yes, all of the big girls out there will flock to buy that little number!
At least the Knitty sock is ready to go. Just waiting for PayPal to verify my account and then...this weekend...up it goes! First submission and I'm shaking like a first date! Hello, it's just a sock pattern...
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Apology
Boy, did I ever get Cat Bordhi's name wrong! She's the author of "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles". Although her technique didn't work for me since I need to knit on a couple of stitches at the end of each needle to keep bad things from happening, I admire her innovative spirit. Cat, if you ever read my blog, please accept my apology.
Back to Frogger
I've finished with Michelin Man! I've even got the instructions mostly done. At this point it was a great temptation to write "Make a toe. Knit until long enough. Make a heel. Do the top." Hopefully I can do a photo shoot today before it rains, but the Shuj is out on a job and won't be back until whenever.
He did call, however, to make the marinade for the Chinese bbq pork. Guess he's over the last Chinese meal he did when he told me to shoot him if he ever suggested such a thing again. Keeping a cook out of the kitchen is like keeping me out of a yarn store.
Oh! Frogger! Meant to talk about that. Now that I can make toes and heels, I think Frogger is going to be a knee sock if I have enough yarn. That will give me enough room for a foldover cuff that I can bind off with a lace edging. I've been dying to try that! Now do I put a Fair Isle stripe up the front...with bobbles...oh such fun!
He did call, however, to make the marinade for the Chinese bbq pork. Guess he's over the last Chinese meal he did when he told me to shoot him if he ever suggested such a thing again. Keeping a cook out of the kitchen is like keeping me out of a yarn store.
Oh! Frogger! Meant to talk about that. Now that I can make toes and heels, I think Frogger is going to be a knee sock if I have enough yarn. That will give me enough room for a foldover cuff that I can bind off with a lace edging. I've been dying to try that! Now do I put a Fair Isle stripe up the front...with bobbles...oh such fun!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Socks on Circulars
Maybe expereimenting on a sock meant for submission isn't a good idea, but why wait to learn a new technique? Knitting the second sock, glove or whatever begins to smell of production knitting as the second one needs to be like the first one. Some intrepid designers knit the second sock in the same colors as the first but put them in different places. Cool idea and I'll probably try it. But these socks are the same eggplant color throughout and messing with the spaces between the Michelin Man rings would just look weird.
Back to circular needles. After reading Cat Cordi's book I gave the technique a try. After a few rounds I noticed that there was no worm hole in the leap between the two needles. Hot dog! An excuse to add some Addis to my collection and whip up on that lace stocking I'm doing for the Vintage Knit-Along! But first things first. I had to finish Michelin Man.
A minor irritation of this technique is the part where you come to the end of the row. At that point you have to pull the working needle through so the work sits in the middle and the ends dangle, thereby becoming the resting needle. Then you flip the sock around with a tinkle and a rattle like Jacob Marley dragging his chains, push the new working needle through so you can get to the business end, and start knitting the other side.
Then came the heel. I've just learned short row heels/toes and the idea of doing one on a circular needle did not appeal. Back and forth on a circular for large projects is OK, but 24 stitches on a 29 inch needle? No way. Two dpns for me on that.
Another problem. Crossing the gap between the top of the heel and the instep. Next thing I knew there were a couple of evil eyes staring at me. Now how do you mess with gap stitches on two circular needles? Each needle has its own set of stitches and never the twain shall meet. Back to the dpns to fix this problem.
And what did I see then? MOLE TUNNELS! There was a funky ridge where I snugged up the yarn between the two needles. Yuck!
Is it Frog City for this one? Please, God, not that...
Back to circular needles. After reading Cat Cordi's book I gave the technique a try. After a few rounds I noticed that there was no worm hole in the leap between the two needles. Hot dog! An excuse to add some Addis to my collection and whip up on that lace stocking I'm doing for the Vintage Knit-Along! But first things first. I had to finish Michelin Man.
A minor irritation of this technique is the part where you come to the end of the row. At that point you have to pull the working needle through so the work sits in the middle and the ends dangle, thereby becoming the resting needle. Then you flip the sock around with a tinkle and a rattle like Jacob Marley dragging his chains, push the new working needle through so you can get to the business end, and start knitting the other side.
Then came the heel. I've just learned short row heels/toes and the idea of doing one on a circular needle did not appeal. Back and forth on a circular for large projects is OK, but 24 stitches on a 29 inch needle? No way. Two dpns for me on that.
Another problem. Crossing the gap between the top of the heel and the instep. Next thing I knew there were a couple of evil eyes staring at me. Now how do you mess with gap stitches on two circular needles? Each needle has its own set of stitches and never the twain shall meet. Back to the dpns to fix this problem.
And what did I see then? MOLE TUNNELS! There was a funky ridge where I snugged up the yarn between the two needles. Yuck!
Is it Frog City for this one? Please, God, not that...
Monday, October 23, 2006
Self-concept
Knitted a sock in a weekend! It looks good, and I know I can get the other one done just as quickly. Yet, as the last stich went in, a cloud of creeping nasty came over me and for the first time I recognized it. The feeling that says "back off. What if you succeed?"
The sock is as good as anything I have seen in Knitty. The stitching is the best I have ever done. If it does not sell, it will be because the design is too simple. What if I succeed? I will be on my way to creating the life I want rather than living at everyone elses command.
That is the answer. I hope I have the grit to deal with it.
The sock is as good as anything I have seen in Knitty. The stitching is the best I have ever done. If it does not sell, it will be because the design is too simple. What if I succeed? I will be on my way to creating the life I want rather than living at everyone elses command.
That is the answer. I hope I have the grit to deal with it.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
In the yarn shop
Finished the first Michelin Man sock the other day, and started the next. Fuzzy, discontinued Shetland is not what I need for a Knitty sock, though, so I headed for the local yarn shop. For the longest time the folks there looked at me as if I were shoplifting...as if I could stash a few 50 gram balls of yarn in my bra with no one the wiser! The place is tiny (a big yarn shop is called a department store...), with good variety and all of it expensive.
And what's the deal with 50 gram balls anyway? They measure out at about 100 yards...I guess you aren't supposed to ouch so loud when you see the $10.00 price tag. But that's what's out there and if the world knits with nice yarn, then so must I. One of the trials (perks?) of being a designer. "But honey, Knitty wouldn't be caught dead recommending Red Heart Wintuck to its readers..."
So I found some beautiful plum merino/bamboo (bamboo?) blend that I can't wait to get my sticks into. No fuzz, no itch, soft as a cloud. I wonder if the world is discovering plant fibers anew? There's bamboo, and soy silk...and I seem to recall that the Japanese make cloth out of kudzu. Kudzu yarn? I'd buy some just for the laugh factor :)
And what's the deal with 50 gram balls anyway? They measure out at about 100 yards...I guess you aren't supposed to ouch so loud when you see the $10.00 price tag. But that's what's out there and if the world knits with nice yarn, then so must I. One of the trials (perks?) of being a designer. "But honey, Knitty wouldn't be caught dead recommending Red Heart Wintuck to its readers..."
So I found some beautiful plum merino/bamboo (bamboo?) blend that I can't wait to get my sticks into. No fuzz, no itch, soft as a cloud. I wonder if the world is discovering plant fibers anew? There's bamboo, and soy silk...and I seem to recall that the Japanese make cloth out of kudzu. Kudzu yarn? I'd buy some just for the laugh factor :)
Friday, September 29, 2006
Like designing, there's more to blogging than meets the eye. I've been trying to get some of those cool buttons to link to other blogs, but all I got was a picture of said button. Bummer! Turns out you need a little HTML to do that. So I'm gonna be plowing through an HTML book this weekend to see if I can learn anything. Always something new.
Am reading "Blogging for Dummies". Some of it explains the obvious, like how to get to Blogger and read the instructions. Apparently I could have got myself in a real mess and decided to blog on WordPress. It looks nifty, but you have to download the software and publish the thing from scratch! How can you write great thoughts when you have to figure out geekspeak? HTML is going to be challenge enough.
Am nearly finished with a successful practice sock! Well, at least it will be wearable. I still get that itty bitty hole that shows up at the ankle when you finish with the short rows and start knitting in the round again. I think this time I simply forgot to pick up the wrapped stitches. Since I have to knit the mate to this one, there will be another opportunity to work with this problem.
This one I'm calling the Michelin Man sock for the horizontal ribbing at the cuff. Someone has probably done this before, so I'll have to check it out before offering this one for sale. It is a fun and easy sock, though. Knitty might like it, especially if I figure out the hole in the ankle thing.
Am reading "Blogging for Dummies". Some of it explains the obvious, like how to get to Blogger and read the instructions. Apparently I could have got myself in a real mess and decided to blog on WordPress. It looks nifty, but you have to download the software and publish the thing from scratch! How can you write great thoughts when you have to figure out geekspeak? HTML is going to be challenge enough.
Am nearly finished with a successful practice sock! Well, at least it will be wearable. I still get that itty bitty hole that shows up at the ankle when you finish with the short rows and start knitting in the round again. I think this time I simply forgot to pick up the wrapped stitches. Since I have to knit the mate to this one, there will be another opportunity to work with this problem.
This one I'm calling the Michelin Man sock for the horizontal ribbing at the cuff. Someone has probably done this before, so I'll have to check it out before offering this one for sale. It is a fun and easy sock, though. Knitty might like it, especially if I figure out the hole in the ankle thing.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Did it!
I've finally turned out a sock that looked pretty good. I used worsted weight yarn on #8 needles. Unfortunately my guage swatch was done on #6 needles that I thought were #8s...don't ask me how...so the sock was rather loose. But who would wear worsted weight socks anyway?
Finished up with a rather cool looking cuff of horizontal ribbing, rather like the Michelin Man, but the whole business stayed in place in spite of the large guage.
Sportweight is next, to see if I've really "got it". If it looks spiffy enough, it might turn out to be the Knitty sock. I'd have to get some current yarn for the final version, but hey! Simple and fun is a good thing.
Finished up with a rather cool looking cuff of horizontal ribbing, rather like the Michelin Man, but the whole business stayed in place in spite of the large guage.
Sportweight is next, to see if I've really "got it". If it looks spiffy enough, it might turn out to be the Knitty sock. I'd have to get some current yarn for the final version, but hey! Simple and fun is a good thing.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Now it starts...
Well, the design euphoria is over and the work begins. After about 4 re-knits of Frogger's heel I have come to the conclusion that I need to spend some time learning how to knit socks. Basic, elemental practice on (supposedly) simple stuff. In the old days 6 year olds not only knit socks, but sold them! Knitty will just have to wait for now.
I've been messing with toe up socks and short row shaping. The advantage seems to be that I'll be able to remember the technique without having to look it up every time.
This weekend I did one toe with a provisional cast-on, then learned that some used a crochet cast-on. Sounded easy, so I did a toe with a crochet cast-on. I was still working with color stranded, fingering weight yarn. The short rows looked like lace...just the thing to allow toes to escape, durn it! Then the crocheted piece wouldn't unravel like it should.
That's when I decided back to the drawing board. The current project is with some ancient Green Mountain yarn from my stash. Worsted weight on #8 needles so I can actually SEE what is going on!
And...oh goody, I've figured out how to link to other sites!
I've been messing with toe up socks and short row shaping. The advantage seems to be that I'll be able to remember the technique without having to look it up every time.
This weekend I did one toe with a provisional cast-on, then learned that some used a crochet cast-on. Sounded easy, so I did a toe with a crochet cast-on. I was still working with color stranded, fingering weight yarn. The short rows looked like lace...just the thing to allow toes to escape, durn it! Then the crocheted piece wouldn't unravel like it should.
That's when I decided back to the drawing board. The current project is with some ancient Green Mountain yarn from my stash. Worsted weight on #8 needles so I can actually SEE what is going on!
And...oh goody, I've figured out how to link to other sites!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Poor ol' Frogger
This poor sock is living up to it's name. I've ripped out the heel twice and am still not satisfied. Looks like this will be a dry run...I could never offer this to Knitty or any other magazine.
There is a heel stitch that uses slip stitches...I seem to remember using it at one time.
Maybe what I need to do is make some plain ol' boring functional socks so I can work on technique and not worry about color stranding.
I understand that Deborah Newton worked for an entire year on a design before submitting it to anyone! Guess I can do the same.
There is a heel stitch that uses slip stitches...I seem to remember using it at one time.
Maybe what I need to do is make some plain ol' boring functional socks so I can work on technique and not worry about color stranding.
I understand that Deborah Newton worked for an entire year on a design before submitting it to anyone! Guess I can do the same.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Pictures...what a pain!
It's hell being an analog person in a digital world! Took me half of Sunday to upload a picture to the Vintage Knit Along blog. Discovered Flickr, though, which got the job done.
Creeping along with Frogger. For some reason the ribbing is really erratic, tight in places and loose in others. I think I just need to keep knitting and see what comes out. At this rate I'll never get the other sock done.
But if something doesn't straighten out soon, it'll be rippit, rippit again.
Creeping along with Frogger. For some reason the ribbing is really erratic, tight in places and loose in others. I think I just need to keep knitting and see what comes out. At this rate I'll never get the other sock done.
But if something doesn't straighten out soon, it'll be rippit, rippit again.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Ahhh, Saturday!
Damp and rainy here, but a whole lovely day ahead to do just what I want! Namely, work on the Frogger Sock. It was the Knitty Sock, but I've had to rip back more than once and Frogger stuck to it. After figuring out the math to get rid of 60 stitches, I proudly slipped the cuff onto my ankle to find it was way loose. So I've reduced another 15 stitches, said the hell with it, and started into the sock part. Wanted to do stranded K2, P2 ribbing for some vertical stripes but didn't like the look. I may try again after I get out from under the cuff. Sure hate the idea of a fancy cuff and a plain brown foot.
Meanwhile the herb garden needs attention. Though humidity and I don't get along, the herbs loved it! I've never seen such fat basil plants! After chopping off a lusty harvest, the husband cooked it up with his home grown tomatos into a marinara sauce to die for. He's gonna freeze most of it for winter. Mmmm!
What is it about knitting that you can't do just one project at a time? When I am annoyed with Frogger I've got a pair of lace stockings going made out of laceweight Zephyr. I could develop a passion for that yarn! It is a blend of Merino wool and silk and feels like heaven. I may be stuck with arch supports and flat shoes, but I'm gonna have some dazzling legs under my granny skirts!
Meanwhile the herb garden needs attention. Though humidity and I don't get along, the herbs loved it! I've never seen such fat basil plants! After chopping off a lusty harvest, the husband cooked it up with his home grown tomatos into a marinara sauce to die for. He's gonna freeze most of it for winter. Mmmm!
What is it about knitting that you can't do just one project at a time? When I am annoyed with Frogger I've got a pair of lace stockings going made out of laceweight Zephyr. I could develop a passion for that yarn! It is a blend of Merino wool and silk and feels like heaven. I may be stuck with arch supports and flat shoes, but I'm gonna have some dazzling legs under my granny skirts!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Doing the math
Yesterday I nearly finished the cuff of the sock I want to sell to Knitty when I realized that no Real Designer would say "reduce stitches until the thing fits your ankle". Bad enough that you can't multiply your guage by the inches around your ankle...the sock would fall down! You want to stretch your swatch a bit and use that guage.
Anyway, I needed to get my 120 stitch cuff down to 60 stitches. K2 tog would take care of it, but I wanted to do it in two rows so I made my best guess and went on. Bad move. Time for a trip to Frogville. I had messed up not only the second row of decreases, but the first.
So, lying awake and counting on my fingers I figured to get rid of 30 stitches take 3 into 12 (I dropped the zeros for now) to get 4. Get rid of one stitch in each group of 4. K2, K2tog and 12 stitches become 9. It...could...work!!!
Now for the second row of decreases. 3 into 9 is three. Lose one stitch in each group. K1, K2tog. Yes! Now I can go to Frogville and not get lost in traffic.
Anyway, I needed to get my 120 stitch cuff down to 60 stitches. K2 tog would take care of it, but I wanted to do it in two rows so I made my best guess and went on. Bad move. Time for a trip to Frogville. I had messed up not only the second row of decreases, but the first.
So, lying awake and counting on my fingers I figured to get rid of 30 stitches take 3 into 12 (I dropped the zeros for now) to get 4. Get rid of one stitch in each group of 4. K2, K2tog and 12 stitches become 9. It...could...work!!!
Now for the second row of decreases. 3 into 9 is three. Lose one stitch in each group. K1, K2tog. Yes! Now I can go to Frogville and not get lost in traffic.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Here I am!
Hi, y'all!
First blog, first post and such possibilities! I can yap all day and never see if anyone glazes over from boredom. I love this Internet!
The subject is knitting. It is what I do and what I love. Decided the other day to be a knitwear designer. What's not to like? I can submit a design and if it is rejected, why, I get to create another one!
I look forward to talking with others who like to create beauty with sticks and string.
First blog, first post and such possibilities! I can yap all day and never see if anyone glazes over from boredom. I love this Internet!
The subject is knitting. It is what I do and what I love. Decided the other day to be a knitwear designer. What's not to like? I can submit a design and if it is rejected, why, I get to create another one!
I look forward to talking with others who like to create beauty with sticks and string.
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