theraineysisters knitting and so much more

November 9, 2007

From Susan — What was I thinking??

Filed under: Current Projects,Susan's Kauni Cardigan — lv2knit @ 8:07 pm

Gas is $3 a gallon and going up, the housing market has bottomed out, they are talking recession — so, what do I do?  Buy yarn, of course!  And not just ANY yarn — yarn I already have!

I am talking about Kauni Rainbow.  I was nearing the finish line with my first Kauni Cardigan and then was gobsmacked by the Damask version.  I bought two more huge skeins of Kauni yarn (and I hope it is enough: cross fingers and toes!). 

It arrived today from Wollsucht and was already wound onto cones — very nice presentation.  It inspired me to dabble in a little creative stash maintenance, holiday style:

NewKauni004.jpg picture by lv2knit

Ah-h-h-h-h, see the festive cones hidden in plain sight!!  How do I think I’m going to finish a second Kauni when I haven’t even finished the first??  A true knitting mystery.

Speaking of knitting mysteries: why did I start a new project?  I have plenty of knitting already under way!  I picked up the Lopi yarn I ordered from Needlework Unlimited for this little gem (bought during the Shop Hop):

LopiPattern.jpg picture by lv2knit

and thought, “This is a quick knit.  Maybe I can whip this out and not even miss a beat!” 

NewKauni.jpg picture by lv2knit

The color is actually a very pale grey (Lopi 054) — not so beige as the picture.  It is kind of a quick knit, but really.  What about Lyra, Plisse, Kauni, Homage — the list goes on and on.  I feel conflicted!!

I know a lot of knitters suffer from start-itis, but that doesn’t make it right! ;)  This is a nicely written pattern and I hope to finish it quickly so I won’t be diverted too long from finishing Lyra, Plisse, Kauni & Kauni, Homage….etc.!  I’m outta control!

 

October 31, 2007

From Sally — My Little Assistant Is Haunting Me (and so is a Ballerina)

Filed under: Knitting Tips,Sally's Ballerina — surly @ 10:50 am

Now that the first rush of excitement of our Roslin Hoodie pattern is past, and quick before we find any more mistakes, let’s get back to our regularly scheduled knitting and blogging.

I love Halloween — for some reason it’s always been one of my favorite holidays. Mayhaps it’s the candy. I usually carve a few intricate pumpkins, but I confess that this year’s are a little dull:

Fortunately, someone in the wilds of Colorado has been taking up the slack. Remember my little assistant? Here’s a refresher photo for those who don’t:

He’s been immortalized in a Halloween pumpkin by my daughter’s boyfriend. I think he may have found his true calling; it captures Batman perfectly.

As for knitting, I’ve embarked on another Hanne Falkenberg: Ballerina. I’ve had this kit for some time, and suddenly got interested in it when I finished Mermaid. I needed a portable project — my Kauni skeins are too large to carry around. Well, all I meant to do was get it “started,” but I got carried away. I’m just over halfway finished with it already, although I suspect my progress will now slow considerably.

Here are a few shots. First, Lucy is modeling it and wishing I would provide her with some kind of undergarments:

Here are some other shots that show the color and the pattern a little better. I was surprised, based on the photos I’d seen of this jacket, at just how many stripes there were on the sides. That part was a little sl-o-o-o-w.

For some reason, I’m finding this to be a more enjoyable knit than Mermaid — I’m not sure why. One reason may be that you are forced to knit the sleeves as you knit the body, so I know I won’t be faced with the drudgery of sleeves when the project is almost, but not quite, finished. It’s also a very clever design. As you finish the front, you knit one row of a garter ridge (which is always two rows) from the bottom to the neck edge, quickly (ha!) knit a sleeve, and then go back down the garter ridge and finish it. There is thus no side seam — you just keep going. You are supposed to go back later and seam the sleeves.

My clever sister Susan, who made Ballerina earlier, figured out an easy modification that allows you to join the sides of the sleeve in a three-needle bind off as you are knitting so that you don’t even have to go back later and do that bit of finishing. Instead of doing the sleeve increases as Falkenberg directs (by stitch increases), you do a provisional cast on of all the sleeve stitches and increase using short rows (as you do for the raglan shaping, etc.). Then, as you finish the last row of the sleeve, one side of the sleeve is already on a needle. You remove the provisional cast on from the other side and put those sleeve stitches on a second needle, and do a three needle bind off as you knit the last sleeve ridge. It’s brilliant and easy and eliminates finishing. I’m so glad she knit this first.

October 19, 2007

From Susan — Well, THAT Didn’t Work!

Filed under: Updates — lv2knit @ 11:11 am

I have yet another knitting snafu.  Homage is totally HUGE!!  The back is at least 2.5″ too wide.  I have about 12 inches done and will have to rip back yet again.  I am starting to feel cursed unlucky.  So I will rip back another day.  I love the way it was looking so I will give it another go, just not today.

I started Hanne Falkenberg Plisse instead.  You begin at the back with the center strip:

plisse-ryg-1.jpg picture by lv2knit

I have about 10 inches of the strip done and will show more once I get the back started.  It is supposed to be knit on US 1 & 2 needles, so I automatically went up a needle size — look, Ma, no swatching!  I have done enough Hannes to know how my gauge compares with hers.  The color I chose (#98, Lagoon) is very nice and similar to Sally’s Tangled Yoke:

Color.jpg Color picture by lv2knit

I am very happy with Lyra once again – I am almost back to where I had to rip out.  The chart itself is very easy to follow; the mistake was all mine.  The Fino Alpaca is really nice yarn to work with.  It is a slow moving project, but nice to work on when you want to focus on your knitting.  I am hoping that Plisse has less mental effort involved so it will be portable.

I am thinking of putting the Modular Tote/purse together soon (maybe this weekend?).  All the main knitting is done — just the constructing and handle to do.  Kauni is not far off the radar either.  It will be very wearable so I’d like to get it done soon.

One of our French readers finished this intriguing knit:

LionBrand.jpg picture by lv2knit

I had already purchased the pattern (Lion Brand!!), but have not found suitable yarn.  This is one of those projects that looks like it could go horribly wrong, so I was glad to see that someone had finished it successfully.  We’ll see if it makes it up the queue! 😉

It’s the weekend, so start your knitting!

October 10, 2007

From Susan — We Walk Among You

Filed under: Lyra by Niebling,Uncategorized — lv2knit @ 12:43 am

‘Those who walk among you’ are knitters who have discovered Herbert Niebling and are now obsessed!  Apparently there is an underground cult of sorts of Niebling Followers — who knew?  I would never have heard of Niebling myself except for the influence of fellow bloggers.  Soo left a nice little comment about my Hemlock Ring Throw so I innocently clicked on her blog, not knowing that it would change me forever.  I found this:

SooLyra.jpg picture by lv2knit

SooLyraCloseUp.jpg picture by lv2knit

My jaw still hurts from hitting the table.  All I knew was that I had to make me one of these!  I am not much of a lace knitter but decided to not let that be a barrier! ;)  The most immediate barrier was finding the pattern.  Niebling died over 40 years ago.  This pattern, called Lyra, was only printed twice.  The most recent was in a 1986 Burda magazine, European issue.  Soo kindly provided many details and I found the magazine in an ebay auction that very day.  It had to be mine!  I paid way too much for it but it was worth every penny.  It arrived last Saturday.  It is written in Dutch, I bought it from a woman in Germany, and it included an English translation.  All the charts are done using Niebling’s unique charting style. 

I started my Lyra already.  I laid out my knitting supplies like an operating room: yarn (Fino Laceweight Alpaca with a Twist — check), needles (Size 2.5 mm — check), reading glasses (check), small crochet hook (check), valium (sorry — all out!), bead mat (check), lamp (check).  I used the Emily Ocker cast on and for the first several rows had the highest anxiety going!  I was so worried I would drop a stitch — then I did and actually fixed it :), so I am off and running. 

Here is my progress so far:

Lyra10-09004.jpg picture by lv2knit

I am not far enough into it to be at the hard part but so far I have not had any trouble.  I have put many hours into it so far and it is still very TINY, though it already has over 300 sts!  Soo finished hers in two weeks.  That’s right: TWO WEEKS!  I will not even attempt to match her pace. 

Because I can’t work on Lyra in anything but the most optimal conditions, I also started this (Rowan’s Calmer “Loll”):

Loll.jpg picture by lv2knit

I am making mine in ivory (Rowan Calmer in “Drift”) and I have about 5-6 inches of the back done; all of the fringes complete — whew, are they ever slow!  I’ll post a picture later.  Why a summer sweater??  Who the heck knows!  It’s something to work on as my take along project.

PS in response to pjknits: I buy 99.9% of my yarn from my LYS’s — I find almost all the yarn I want locally.  If there is something I absolutely must have and it is not readily available (i.e., the Kauni yarn or the Swedish Bohus kits) then I shop on line.  I know a lot of people do not have access to the quality of yarn shops available in the Twin Cities.  We are tres lucky here!

 

October 9, 2007

From Sally — The Damask Pattern

Filed under: Susan's Kauni Cardigan — surly @ 8:29 pm

I know many readers who like how the Kauni yarn knits up in the Damask pattern are wondering if we have it to give or whether we know where it can be purchased. Sadly, we cannot provide it because of copyright infringement. It’s a Dale pattern and was published in 2001 as a leaflet. It was part of Dale’s “Home” collection and was intended to be knitted as a pillow (at least that’s the case based on the copy I have). I believe that the same pattern and chart may have been used in a sweater, but that’s a vague recollection. I found a link to a sweater with the same name, but I can’t tell if it’s the same pattern or not from the photograph.

I know that there are other, similar patterns out there. It may also be possible to chart it or adapt it yourself by looking at it, but we can’t provide a copy of the chart. Again, I am sorry for that.

On the other hand, a slightly “used” copy of the pattern might be a nice prize for our next bloggiversary.

September 30, 2007

From Susan — Bottom Knitter

Filed under: Back Story,Modular Purse,Susan's Kauni Cardigan — lv2knit @ 5:55 pm

I am knitting the bottom of the barrel modular purse.  My knitting is as exciting as licking stamps.

ModularPurseBottom.jpg picture by lv2knit

I am plodding along on this project to have something to do.  It is not the most exciting fish project in the sea.

I did finish the 7th Harry Potter book.  I am in shock and awe.  It was amazing.  You are driven to get to the end, but you do not want it to end.  There is a sadness about its finality.  I must say though, placing my beautiful Hemlock across my knees while snuggled up with Harry P. made me very happy!!

I did a lot of swatching over the past few days and nothing has clicked, so I will be returning some yarn this week.  I would rather waste one skein and move on than sit on yarn I do not think I will use.

Kauni Update: I need to finish Sleeve #1.  When you knit a Kauni sleeve, you need to err on the side of too long rather than too short.  You can always rip back, but it would be nearly impossible to add length if you have already moved on to the second sleeve.  The colors need to stay in sync.  I am knitting my sleeves from the cuff up, so I will need to make sure the sleeve is overly generous before breaking off for Sleeve #2.  I also may change the way I am doing the shoulders.  I am considering a 3-needle bind off with a visible outside ridge.  Don’t know yet, still pondering! 😉

It is a rainey Sunday afternoon, so you know where I am headed.

PS — Daughter #1 got a job in a darling coffee shop!!  Woo Hoo!  Whip me up a latte, Baby!

September 22, 2007

From Susan — Another One Bites the Dust

Filed under: Back Story,Hemlock Ring — lv2knit @ 1:46 am

Are you tired of seeing my weekly Hemlock updates?  Well, this should be the last one.  I am done with Hemlocks for a while, though my love affair with them has not ended.  I do anticipate knitting one or more of these in the future.  I just love making them — and because you can finish one in a week for around $30, it’s a great gift idea.

So, here is the last of the Hemlock Hat Trick — this “blob” picture really looks like a blob 🙁 — it looks like Sally took the picture (Susan says with a wink ;), thinking back on Sally’s Yarn Harlot photos).  And before you yell at me, Surly, I do think most of your photography is fabulous!!

SusansHemlock001.jpg picture by lv2knit

And the blocking shots:

SusansHemlock006.jpg picture by lv2knit

SusansHemlock008.jpg picture by lv2knit

SusansHemlock009.jpg picture by lv2knit

I am now in between.  I certainly can go back to the Kauni Cardigan — one sleeve and the front bands to go.  Not a lot left to do.  I also was working on the felted Modular Purse.  The class was supposed to start tomorrow, but got cancelled — try making a living from that, mes amies!  It took the wind out of those sails.  I could start Plisse, but just looking at the directions made my head hurt.  Lots of odd shaping and tiny print to decipher. 

OR I could start the Large Lace Collar.  After seeing Michelle’s (sorry, Michele with One L!!) Michele’s masterpiece, it is very tempting:

LargeLaceCollarBohus.jpg picture by lv2knit

It is beautiful to see but even more wonderful to touch — like rubbing the soft underbelly of a baby kitten (I got to hold it at the knitter’s guild meeting).

We’ll see.  The nip of fall in the air certainly encourages winter-type knitting — real wool and rich colors.

August 29, 2007

From Susan — Three Unexpected Delights

Filed under: Plisse — lv2knit @ 10:37 pm

I left work today with no expectations to speak of.  Just meeting up with a knitting friend for coffee and then home.  I had a lovely time at the Yarnery waiting for my peep, and then a lovely dinner with said peep.  That constitutes Delight #1.

Delight #2: Aforementioned peep told me about a knitting book “must have.”  We rushed back to the Yarnery and I bought:

BigBookofKnitting.jpg picture by lv2knit

I’m sure many of you have seen it, but it was new to me.  It has some very helpful knitting tips and those were gleaned with a very cursory glance, so I look forward to exploring it in more depth.

Delight #3: My Hanne Falkenberg Plisse kit was waiting for me when I got home! 

PlisseKit.jpg picture by lv2knit

Was this the color I would have chosen if I could see them all?  Who knows!?  But I do know that the color is very lovely — it should go with jeans and khakis (I think), and so will be versatile.  Much needed addition to the fall/winter wardrobe — maybe not THIS fall/winter but… :)  I’m not the fastest knitter and I have a few things in queue but this one will jump to the front of the line pretty soon.

What a day brightener!  And I needed one, believe me.  I want to finish up the Hemlock Ring (it’s growing each day) and of course, the Kauni will be perfect for fall.  So, off I go to do my daily knitting chores!!

PS to all of my blog friends:  I luv ya!!  A big cyber-hug to every one of you who commented yesterday.  🙂

 

 

August 18, 2007

From Susan — Does Susan Knit Anymore?

Filed under: Modular Purse — lv2knit @ 8:55 am

The answer: not much, apparently!  I have not been doing enough knitting to brag post about so Sally has been doing the heavy lifting.  I have done a little knitting on the Modular Purse I am working on for my class at Amazing Threads.  Here is part of the first large square:

FirstSquare.jpg picture by lv2knit

I did it differently this time and it is much improved.  I started with a provisional cast on and then joined the last small square to the first using a ssk (slip last st of the row you are working, slip corresponding provisional stitch and join like a[n] ssk). 

SquareJoin.jpg picture by lv2knit

In the original pattern, you do a knitted cast on and then seam the last square to the first.  It was bulky and unattractive (at least mine was!).  This join is seamless and when you’re done, you’re done!

I was very enthused about knitting the purse WHILE making the large Modular Tote.  However, it is not so enthralling now.  I’m not really in the mood, and I have many other things I would prefer to be working on.  Like this:

plisse.jpg picture by lv2knit

As mentioned in a previous post, Sally said she would get this for me for my birthday — I just could not pick a color.  Yesterday, I asked her to go on line with me and help me pick one out.  We pulled up the color cards and BOTH of us said immediately, “Color 98 jumps out at me.”  It’s called Lagoon:

ColorCard2.jpg picture by lv2knit

Since I really don’t care which color it is, just that it’s pretty, I ordered #98 on the the spot.  Thank you, Surly!!

Surly & I also ordered and received enough Rowan Calmer in off white for both of us to knit Whisper:

whisperpattern.jpg picture by lv2knit

This is a summer sweater so it will have to wait until Spring.  And, of course there is the Chinese Lace Pullover which I plan on making next in Cascade 220 in a Chinese lacquer red.

I am also working very slowly on my Kauni sleeve.  Nothing to show there as yet but soon — ???? ;)  So, I’m not making any progress on anything but I sure have BIG PLANS for the future! ;)  Am I biting off more then I can chew — but, of course!

PS to Marina: You are CORRECT!  I do have the Large Lace Collar kit from Sweden — that will come after Chinese Lace Pullover and will be my fall knitting project.

PS2 to Elizabeth: The jacket is a Hanne Falkenberg design called Plisse.  I purchased the kit from Cucumberpatch.  Sorry I did not include the details :).

 

August 12, 2007

From Susan — Mini Modular

Filed under: Modular Purse,Susan's Kauni Cardigan — lv2knit @ 9:35 pm

Today I spent a grueling afternoon at the Mall of America — I know that many people travel from all corners of the world to shop there, but why?  It is NOT my favorite hang out, and I just may never go there again.  At least I can hope.

I did start a little take-along project.  I am reknitting the Modular Tote by Theresa Gaffey into a smaller purse version.  As I was knitting the regular tote I kept thinking that it would make a great purse.

I’ll be teaching the standard Modular Tote as a class at Amazing Threads and also offered up the purse as an option — I thought maybe I should knit one myself before “teaching” others how to do it ;)!!

MiniModularBag004.jpg picture by lv2knit

I had a very specific idea for the colors but could not find them, so I settled on these in Nature Spun 100% Wool Worsted (from left to right): Plum Line (#015), Limestone (#010), Hurricane (#001).  The class starts in September so I thought I better do my homework!

I have been very lax on my Kauni 🙁 .  It is not fun knitting the sleeves so I have been avoiding them like the Sleeve Plague of 1752.  Hmmmm, the Kauni Vest———??   I like the sound of that ———> N-a-a-a-a-h-h-h-h-h-h!   As I have often said to other knitters: this is a hobby, it is supposed to be fun — not like taking your medicine (OR doing homework), so pick up a project you LOVE!  But, I want to wear the Kauni and it will be more wearable with sleeves, so I will work on it again soon.

Enjoy your Monday!

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