KnitWerk

While Husband is very happy with his new socks, he complains that they’re “Socks With Rules.” The knitters I know will understand this, since the new socks are alpaca. For him, “hand wash only” is a rare and foreign concept.

The first pair that I started for Husband (in hardy Lana Grossa sock yarn) was my first attempt at a toe-up, short row sock, and it wasn’t pretty. The toes turned out okay, but the heel was not good. You can guess the problem: unintentional holes. I should have ripped the first sock right away, but I didn’t… and I never even started the second one. Too discouraging:

The project got stashed in the bottom of the knitting trunk, but it hasn’t been completely forgotten. I’ve been collecting links to conquer the short row problem. In honor of Socktoberfest, I put them all together in one place for easy reference. Have I tried these? Not yet. But Socktoberfest, combined with Husband’s apparent need for a machine washable pair of hand-knit socks, has inspired me to finally rip the thing out and get it right. May not happen until November, but I’ll let you know what works for me.

Note: if I’ve misclassified any of these, or missed some key tutorials, I’d love to know about it.

Short Row Links

Wrapped-Stitch Short Row Tutorials
The following tutorials show wrapped-stitch short rows where you pick up and knit the wrap

• Knitty article Tiptop Toes by Wendy
• Nona’s wrapped stitch technique tutorial
• No photos, but step-by-step instructions from Woolworks
• Socknitters tips: troubleshooting holes
• Socknitters tips: More troubleshooting ideas
• A full pattern using the wrapped short rows technique that’s also used in PGR’s Priscilla’s Dream Socks
• This pattern from Hellchick.net wraps stitches twice (when you pick up and knit one wrap, you wrap the next stitch again)
• Another photo tutorial on this technique from NothinButKnit with very clear photos

Wrapped, but not picked up

• Lucy Neatby’s Garter Stitch Short Row Heel (pdf)

Yarnover Short Rows
Lots of good photo instructions for this technique

• Picture tutorial from Alison
• Ann Budd’s Better Than Booties baby sock pattern, (pdf) which uses Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ short-row heel and toe
• Scrap Sock pattern also features PGR backward yarnover
• Nona’s yarn over technique tutorial
• Purlwise Yarnover Short Row Heels
• Purlywhites Yarnover Short Row Toes

Knit (and Purl) Encroachment Short Rows
This technique closes short row gaps by lifting the stitch below the next stitch and knitting (or purling) together with the next stitch

• Hipknitism has tutorials for knit encroachment and purl encroachment, as well as a full sock pattern using this technique
• This looks like a similar technique: Unwrapped Short Rows

Japanese Short Rows

• Nona’s Japanese short row technique tutorial
• Japanese short rows described by Knitting Universe (no photos)
• Purlwises’ description of Japanese short rows; also includes a list of books that show the technique

Other Online Resources

• Nona compares several short row techniques in this conclusion to her experiment
• Interweave Knits subscribers can find pdfs on short rows in the Beyond the Basics section, from the Summer 98 and Winter 2004 issues. One concentrates on using short rows to fix sweater fitting issues, the other compares different short row methods.

Beyond Socks: Using Short Rows for Shaping Other Garments

• Knitty’s article on using short rows for sweater shaping
• Using short rows to shape shoulders for 3-needle bind off, also from Knitty
• Nona’s explanation of short row shoulder shaping
• Shoulder shaping description (no photos) from Woolworks
• Shaping a neck opening with short rows. See also purl-row shaping and hiding the wraps
• Shaped Cap Sleeves with Wrapped Short Rows from Purlwise

I was kicked around by the flu the last week or so, and am finally feeling a bit better. There were several days there where knitting seemed too difficult. Despite that, I do have some progress to report:

• Finished my Interlacements Clapotis – but I don’t like it. I did an extra repeat for a wider piece, and it’s just too wide. I’m very much a scarf/shawl person, so it’s not that I wouldn’t wear it… it’s just that when I try to throw one end over my shoulder for a casual but oh-so-glamorous look, it’s too bulky and clumsy. I’m trying to wait until I’m at 100%, though, before doing something as drastic as ripping back to the start of the straight section… it’s possible that need to take another look at it with a clear head. I love the look of the fabric knitted up, but I admit that I don’t enjoy knitting with the yarn.
• I started Sexie from Stitch and Bitch Nation for my niece (the only one that didn’t want a poncho). I’m knitting it out of the remainder of my Interlacements. Like me, her favorite color is purple. While this yarn is variegated and includes some other colors as well, I suspect she’ll like it. I’m about halfway done, but I’m really getting tired of the feel of this yarn in my hands—another reason to avoid ripping back and reknitting my Clapotis right away.

I’ll post photos next week.

Last month, when my nephew came to visit, we actually did do some yarn dyeing with Kool Aid. The skeins have been (ahem) drying in the guest bathroom since then… I think it’s fair to say that they’re now completely dry. Since six-year-old attention span only lasts so long, there’s still some white yarn left to dye another day. I love the way these first skeins turned out:

Off to Mom and Dad’s for a weekend visit. I’m bringing lots of craft stuff to do—gotta take advantage of Mom’s great sewing machines and huge fabric/yarn stash. I’m hoping to finish some bags from felted sweaters. Wish me luck!

Literally.

I’ve been a bad blogger. Haven’t been able to spend a second longer at the computer than common business courtesy requires lately – I’ve been late responding to all non-business mail lately. No pressing crises, just an anti-computer attitude. Sorry, everyone! Spring beckons.

I must tell you, though, my Secret Pal rocks it hard. I got a happy box in the mail last Friday: four cool mix cd’s in this batch – two whole CD’s of 90’s indie-alternative-type stuff, with some much-admired-though-never-acquired stuff, in addition to a “Chill Out” mix and an “Irish” mix (how did Secret Pal know of ridiculous obsession with Irish musicians?). It’s very, very cool.

Not only that, but hitching a ride in the box was the softest burgundy alpaca yarn. This stuff is seriously yummy:

No one in the household can resist the alpaca, apparently. A mere second after this frame was snapped, Wilson started to eat the yarn (I mean, I’ve been tempted, but—no). I quickly rescued the yarn, only to find The Husband touching it fondly later: “This would make me a great pair of socks,” he said. “Or a scarf. It’s my color.”

Hmmmm… the man does cook me dinner every night (I know), but this would also make a great Flower Basket Shawl…

Tricky. Must carefully weigh happy spouse points against selfish knitting desires.

In other news, over the weekend I finished the Flower Trellis Scarf from Scarf Styles – photos later – and I started to sew up the purse made from the purple needle felted sweater:

I learned a few things:

1. It might be better to do the needle felting after cutting the pattern pieces. It would be a lot easier to get the proportions right. I think the flowers I added after cutting to the back side of the purse are in better proportion to the whole.

2. Felted sweater fabric is thick. Super, duper thick. Observe:

I made it through the first couple of seams OK, but my presser foot won’t go up enough to let me sew the strap on. I tried, in an ill-advised, ill-tempered way, to adjust my machine late at night, but it just didn’t work out. I may try again later this weekend. If it doesn’t work, I’m stuck with hand-sewing (are you serious?) or taking it with me to Mom & Dad’s in late April to try one of Mom’s machines. Fingers crossed.

I ordered the yarn for this one a few weeks ago when things were crazy at work, and there wasn’t much knitting time. It was raining and dreary then, and the promise of the chenille roses lifted my spirits. For the first time in my long knitting experience, I’m using the exact yarn in the exact colors called for by the pattern. It seems weird somehow to use specified yarn, but I’m a sucker for analogous reds, so it seemed a good choice. The yarn, it turns out, is delicious:

The bulk of this one—the trellis—is actually crocheted. I started late last night, and have already finished most of the trellis and one rose, so it should finish quickly—hopefully before it’s too hot here to wear it again. It’s a nice change from US #1 needles—progress is happening fast. We’ve had some gorgeous spring days in the last few weeks, but if current dreary weather patterns hold for a while, I should be able to wear it at least once.

I just joined the Scarf Style Knitalong, since there are at least 3 more scarves I want to make from this book. It’s fun to knit for me, for a change!

I’m tickled pink that Suzie tagged me for an interview. I’m very new to this blog scene, so this is my first time being asked to participate. Thanks, Suzie!

1. Tell me more about your mom’s yarn store. Where was it?

It was in Chico, California. The exact dates are all a little fuzzy now, but Mom started working in the shop when I was in elementary school. She purchased it soon after, and finally closed it in 1990, my senior year of college. I walked to the shop after school every day, and started working there in junior high. That experience changed me in so many ways… I was painfully shy. Customers came in all the time with problems, and at first I didn’t have the confidence to help them—I deferred all questions to my mother. Soon, she said, “Sara, you know how to fix this. You need to let people know that you can help them.” At 12 or 13, I began to help people of all ages out of knitting problems. So began my lessons in poise and projecting confidence. I do not exaggerate when I tell you that I use those skills to this day. Working in retail for a family-owned business is a wonderful way to learn not only about customer service and integrity, but also about presenting yourself confidently.

2. Top 10 songs played on your ipod?

A Minor Incident – Badly Drawn Boy
Shipbuilding – Elvis Costello
These Days – Nico
Orange Sky – Alexi Murdoch
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service
7 Chinese Brothers – REM
Gone for Good – The Shins
Needle in the Hay – Elliot Smith
Dry the Rain – The Beta Band
Float On – Modest Mouse

Hmmm. These are all from the same playlist, my mellow collection that was a true comfort during stressful deadlines last autumn. Must merge my new Secret Pal mellow mixes to this one, as they would all play nicely together.

3. What’s the ratio of things you knit for yourself vs gifts for others?

Ugh—I don’t want to think very hard about this. When I consider my knitting since last summer, only two projects out of 15 were for me (one of them being the scarf I started last night). It’s definitely time for some selfish knitting.

4. What are your favorite East Bay Restaurants? I’m always looking for new ones!

Mmmm…. we go to Lark Creek in Walnut Creek for all special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, Tuesdays, etc.). Prima is another great one, though we haven’t been for a while. One of my new faves is Cafe de la Paz in Berkeley. Killer mojitos! Le Cheval in Oakland is really loud and busy, but terrific Vietnamese food.

5. Is there anything you regret not buying at Stitches?

Sock yarn eluded me. The Koigu booth was tiny, swamped, and pretty well picked over by the time we got there on Sunday. Sock yarn skeins are awfully small in the visual chaos that is Stitches—I think I just overlooked many opportunities in all the clutter. I tried really hard to buy something at Brooks Farm, but by Sunday the colors left were either too pastel-y for me, or too similar to something I already had. I’m looking forward to the TKGA National Conference in Oakland. Hopefully, with this much lead time I’ll be able to get my sisters, mom and both stepdaughters to come.

whoops – later edited to add:

Please let me know if you’d like to be interviewed!

OK, so my fantasy knit-all-weekend-thing didn’t go exactly as planned… I’m almost done, though! One more pattern repeat, then the toe. I’ll be able to wash and block them tomorrow, so I estimate a Thursday or Friday mail date.

Hang on, Sockapalooza pal! They’re a’comin.

I’ve tried some variations—some offshoots—of knitting during these last few weeks of work craziness. I’ve had varied success. I thought a quick trip to the thrift store between meetings might be fun for some cheap yarn frogging adventures.

Attempts at lateral fiber crafts:

Project 1: ripping lovely thrift store sweater for white lambswool

Thumbs down in the stress knitting department. I HATE ripping thrift store sweaters for the yarn (at least when I’m stressed out). It’s all curly and tangle-y, and has that thrift store funk smell. The yarn becomes an unholy tangled mess. Not pleasant. One of the popular tutorials shows cuts to seam thread with big, ol’ honking scissors. Is she nuts? Because I broke my seam ripper, and couldn’t find little scissors (no time for tracking down missing tools this late at night), I tried the scissor technique, and was not impressed. Normal scissors are way too blunt and horsey. This is a job that requires precision. Finesse.

Lessons learned:
1. a) Buy another seam ripper, dummy. (done)
1. b) Wind the yarn as you go—from your palm to your elbow, on a ball winder, whatever—or face the hellish, knotty consequences. Tie often and liberally—certainly before you get up from the couch. Do not, under any circumstances, rip without coralling your yarn while you do it. Twist ties will work in a pinch.
1. c) Positive note: crocheted seams are actually kinda fun to rip, once you have the right thread. Ziiiiiiippp! This is the kind of fun I was looking for from this project.
1. d) Washing the sweater and allowing it to fully dry before attempting to rip it would probably avoid the aforementioned funk.
1. d) Abandon the project early if it’s no fun, or at least postpone for calmer days.

Project 2: Felting (fulling) thrift store sweater

After the previous experience, I thought I’d try something new. After the demonstration of needle felting at Stitches, I thought I’d throw the next sweater in the washing machine to create needle felting substrate. Into the washer it went, on hot wash/cold rinse, heavy agitation cycle, and BAMM! A felted sweater (or “fulled,” if you’re going to get all fussy about it).

Lemme tell ya, this is FUN. I grew up in my mom’s yarn store, and like her, I’m very particular about the way I care for clothes—especially hand knits. There’s something delightfully naughty about throwing a 100% wool sweater in the washing machine. Hot wash/cold rinse + heavy agitation = serious rebel knitter good times (yup, I’m a nerd). Think I’ll make a bag out of it.

Project 3: Needle felting onto felted thrift store sweater

More big fun. I’m using some of (ahem) Husband’s needle felting present to embellish my felted-sweater-soon-to-be-bag fabric. He wouldn’t use the purple, anyway. Punch punch punch punch. Something calming, meditative even about needlefelting. Punch punch punch punch. Punch punch punch punch punch.

And behold: fabric for a pretty purple bag

a close up: