...addendum

I almost forgot, I also made a hair scrunchie with some fancy yarn on the LK150. The video is here - you are supposed to keep going until the elastic band is covered. I stopped when I ran out of yarn.

Will post a photo when I have one to post!

In progress...

This is the sleeve for the chenille jumper. The yarn is a kind of sky blue, and is pretty strong. However I discovered last night it's a good idea to leave the ravel cord in until the rib is finished, because it will snap otherwise. Oops! The main part is knitted on the LK150 and the 2x2 rib is being added by hand.



This is the first jewelbox sock. The yarn is red, yellow and blue. I don't think I'll have enough for a second sock - garter stitch uses a lot more yarn.

Back on Elm Street...

Well, I am currently without a major hand-knitting project, and I needed something to take to knitting club last night, so I dug out the Drooping Elm leaf scarf (started in 2007). After a few rows of cursing (and adding stitches in a few places - shhhh!) I finally got back into the groove and did a whole 1.5 pattern repeats (15 rows) in two hours. About 1.5 inches. Yes, not exactly stellar speed - you can see why it's taking so long, especially as this project gets pushed to the back of the queue. I really should just put my head down and get on with it. My rule of thumb for scarves is they should be as long as the person, so I've some way to go yet - I only have 62cm done so far and I'm 5 ft 7.

Next week I'm training in Rugby for three days, so I shall skip the Coventry meet. But I'm torn - to go to the Three Horseshoes hotel and join the knitters, or to go to the Merchant Inn and join in the Belgian beer festival? Decisions, decisions....

Oh Mr Postman....

Look what the postman brought me today!




Four cones of Elmore Pisgah Peaches n Creme yarn, and "Think outside the sox". Apologies for the poor colours - my mobile doesn't have the best camera so it's the closest approximation I could manage with Paint Shop Pro. The colours are shades of blue, fiesta (neon colours), a mix of pink, lilac and green, and a mix of baby pastels. For those of you not in the know, the inventory and machinery is being shipped off to Spinrite in Canada - not sure what they are planning to do with the kit, but the Elmore Pisgah factory is closing. It's such a lovely yarn, it is such a shame. They are having a sale, so if you love this yarn, better move fast.

I keep seeing the "Drip candle socks" everywhere on Rav so wanted the pattern. There are lots of other lovely sock patterns in the book, too - sideways ones, entrelac, lacy. I think this could keep me occupied for quite some time.

When (machine) knitting goes wrong...

Maybe this should be part one in a series of fugly... (click for a bigger picture)





This is a hand-latched rib as per the LK150 Option 4 pattern book - you leave needles out of work and then latch them up, skipping the first three rows. I reckon I must have done something wrong. It was also about 16 needles too wide, but that's another matter entirely (and the math worked out in theory). It's already been frogged and replaced with a hand knit rib, but it was so bad I felt I had to capture it for posterity.

Next time - a versatile jacket that has no way of ever staying on your shoulders. Huh.

Finally FO: Diagonal Matrix Shrug

shrug
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

This isn't a difficult knit. There are just rather a lot of stitches! I did make the largest size, mind you.

FO: Cowl

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

If I'd thought to buy another skein of this yarn it could have been a snood. *eyes up Colinette one zero*. Hmmm.....

Not a great pic, but it's not that easy to photograph yourself in artificial light.

Row 23 of the diagonal matrix shrug. And I sewed up a Posh Frock jacket, and it looks terrible, it will never stay on my shoulders. I think it will either be frogged or end up in the bin unfortunately. And no, it doesn't look any better worn upside-down, either.

Slowly does it...

Diagonal matrix: on round 21 of 25. Getting there slowly - would have finished last night, had I taken another ball of yarn to knitting club. Have also finished a cowl in a fancy yarn I picked up at Ally Pally last year - it's just awaiting the sewn bind off. If I'd bought two skeins it could have been a snood, but never mind.

Had a rather confused 'phone conversation with Mum earlier - "Are you going to the cathedral later?" "What for?" "The Knit-a-thon?" "Er... that's next month mum..." I plan on going to Manor House machine knitting club tonight, we are working on making our own body blocks. I may draw some up for sewing - I want a classic shift dress for work, but nothing I've tried on so far flatters me.

Slow progress

I'm on the home strait of the Diagonal Matrix, but boy is it slow going. It's a 1x1 rib that runs around the back of the neck, down the front, around the small of the back and back up to the neck. It takes about 40 mins to do one round. But I am getting there, gradually. Did 5 rows (of 25) yesterday. Oh and it increases by 4 stitches on every other row which is not helping!

The principles of ribbing

Japanese machines

1. Set carriage to tension 0 and set to knit both ways, knit 1 row
2. Hang ribber comb and weights
3. Set carriage to circular or to knit one way, and set the ribber to knit the other
4. Knit 3 rows (increase tension by 1)
5. Set both carriages to knit and tension to ribber tension (usually main tension -2).
6. Set row counter to zero and knit your rib.

Extra steps - if you are knitting 2x2 rib.

Step 0 - arrange needles as required and then rack 1.5 positions so that needles fall RMRMRM - you cannot cast on when needles are RRMMRRMM. You may need to add a needle at one end to make this work.

Step 4a - rack machine back to original position, transfer any extra stitches onto required stitches.

Passap machine

1. Knit 1 row N/N ss 1/1
2. Knit 2 rows CX/CX ss 2/2
3. Knit 1 row N/N ss 3/3

If you are knitting 2x2 rib, the racking principle above still applies.

FO: Vivi slouch hat in mohair

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Originally uploaded by steel breeze

I need to get a better picture of this, on my head. It looks rather teacosy-ish on its own!

A really easy knit. The rib pattern is two sts garter stitch and one st knit 1 below (every other row). The hat is knitted in the round.

FO: Easy passap sock (bottle green merino)

100_3745
Originally uploaded by steel breeze

Another from the Easy Passap Sock pattern (Vera Hutton). 144 rows for a size 9 foot.

Confused

OK I'm completely confused about the sleeve instructions - it gives instructions for the left side and then for the right side. I suspect I've knitted two pieces of junk. GOnna have to ask on Rav, see if anyone can decipher. It doesn't say to split the sleeve (ie holding position), but it's written as if it should be.

The pattern is from the Knitmaster Option4 book and all parts are in three pieces - a central cable strip, and two tuck braids on either edge.

Addendum - I missed one important sentence - place LH needles into hold. Duh.