Trish Knits.com

Category: Knitting

  • Live and Learn

    Shawl Progress
    Shawl Progress

    Well, ok. Section Three (the short rows) section of my Color Affection shawl is well underway. And I’ve realized, now that I can see the proverbial light at the end of the knitting black hole (how’s THAT for mixing metaphors?) that I’ve made an error in judgement. I am a habitually loose knitter, so I always knit with a needle that is way smaller than the pattern usually calls for. But in this case, with this shawl? I probably shouldn’t have gone as small as I did. The thing is huge from end to end, but skinny, I mean scarf skinny, from top to bottom. I’m going to have to add an extra repeat of short rows to add depth to the thing. And maybe make the bottom border bigger, too.

    This is not what I wanted to have to do, add more rows just as I am getting so sick of this project I could die from the boredom. But alas I want it to be a large wrap that my friend can curl up in. So, I’ll have to get creative about it.

    I’m more determined than ever to finish, though, and have made a point to knit as much as possible every day. I’ve been re-listening to some steamy audiobooks to pass the time, and I finally caved and started watching Downton Abbey. Ok, so I know I’m late to THAT particular party, but in a way I’m glad that I can plow through the episodes at my own ravenous pace rather than having to wait for the next installment like everyone else. Of course, I will get to the end soon enough, and then I’ll be waiting just like the rest of you for it to start up again.

    But hopefully, by the time that happens, I’ll be on to another knitting project. This one is now plaguing me. And I can’t wait to be done with it.

  • The Knitting Goes On…

    I’ve been making slow but steady progress on my Color Affection shawl:

    r Affection Shawl Progress
    Color Affection Shawl Progress
    eup of Color Affection Shawl
    Closeup of Color Affection Shawl

    I’m concerned that the shawl seems very wide but not too deep so far. I hope that when it’s all done that it’s big and snuggly. I suppose if needed I could make the border section wider. The shawl is intended to be a gift, and I want it to be a big, warm hug to the recipient.

    I am very pleased with the yarn. It is Dream in Color Starry, which is the same as Smooshy yarn, I think, except that there is a tiny silver thread running through it. I like that this shawl is going to have a little bling.

    I would be lying if I said I wasn’t getting at least a little bit bored. I’m at that stage in the knitting where it feels like I’m doing an awful lot of knitting but not making a lot of progress. And, it doesn’t help that the rows are sooooo wide now. I’m dying to make something else, like a simple hat or a scarf, but I know that if I stop now, this would just land on my huge pile of already abandoned projects. So, I will knit on. I am determined that this project will be finished and delivered. Wish me luck to keep going…

  • Yes, I’ve Been Knitting, Too.

    Ok, so this website did start out as a knitting blog, and I’m not intending to lose that concept. It’s been a while, but I have an update.

    I’m fascinated by the Color Affection shawl, and have yarn to make four of them. *gasp*

    Color Affection closeup view
    Color Affection closeup view

    This one is made from Dream In Color Starry yarn in brown, grey and blue. This one’s a gift for someone who could use a little extra sparkle in her life, so you’re just going to get a sneak peek for now. Sorry!

    Closeup of brown, gray and blue striped shawl
    Color Affection in progress

    I’m loving knitting this project, and I’m looking forward to the next one, which will be for ME! That’s all for now… gotta get to work.

  • Hobby-Knitter: Visions of Knitters Past

    Hobby-Knitter: Visions of Knitters Past

    On Friday, I received a new knitting gadget in the mail. No, that’s not true, really. The item I received is actually quite old, and best as I can tell, never used, or only very gently used. It is a Hobby-Knit I-cord machine, and it was manufactured in about 1949. Somehow a knitting vendor received some remaining new old stock of this device, and I’ve been eying it for a while. I don’t know why, but I-cord fascinates me, and I have collected all sorts of devices for making knitted cord for years. Yes, I know that I-cord can be made with knitting needles, by hand. But I love the cranky machines, antique spools, and all sorts of gadgets that have been created with the idea of making a simple knitted tube.

    Here’s a photo of the machine with all of its parts, including the original manual:

    Hobby-Knit with all parts shown
    Hobby-Knit with all parts shown

    And here it is, all set up and ready for knitting.

    Hobby-Knit machine set up for knitting
    Hobby-Knit machine set up for knitting

    Here’s a closeup of the knitting mechanism:

    Closeup of the knitting latches under the plastic yarn guide
    Closeup of the knitting latches under the plastic yarn guide

    Here’s a closeup of the original label on the machine… it looks like new! The label says, “Hobby-Knit, Pat. App. for Montello Products Co., Montello, Wis.” Even the abbreviation conventions are suggestive of its age.

    Label on the machine
    Label on the machine

    My friend Rachel and I made a short video of the machine in action. Check it out; it actually works!

    We didn’t use the yarn spool in our demonstration because we wanted to try knitting straight from the yarn ball. It works, but we found that we have to put additional tension on the yarn coming from the ball with a free hand, as shown in our video. Here’s a closeup of the yarn spool:

    Closeup of yarn spool
    Closeup of yarn spool

    And finally, here’s a photo of the cord as it’s coming out of the bottom of the machine:

    I-cord knit on the Hobby-Knit machine
    I-cord knit on the Hobby-Knit machine

    The resulting cord is a finely knit 6-stitch beauty, which I think would be the perfect size for jewelry making and other things requiring a not-too-thick cord. Isn’t it lovely?

    The truth for me is that I’m not sure how often I will use this machine. I’m betting I will use it for some jewelry making from time to time, but so far I find the machine fussy to set up and work with. I’m sure I’ll get better with practice, but there are other machines I have that I also enjoy but are a bit easier for me. That said, there’s something magical about this little beauty. It gives me a feeling of nostalgia to use it. I wonder how many people in the past actually might have had one of these and what they made with it. I’m thrilled that this machine is part of my collection. It makes beautiful cords, and makes me feel like I have something special.

  • The Fun Part

    The Fun Part

    See what this is?

    Closeup of Clapotis, showing beginnings of dropped stitches
    Closeup of Clapotis, showing beginnings of dropped stitches

    This week, I’ve finally begun the “straight rows” section of the Clapotis pattern. This means I get to drop stitches! Yay! On purpose. I’ve actually done this before (follow the link and scroll down for the evidence), and it is terribly fun at the outset. The problem, as I see it, is being able to maintain my mojo all the way to the end. I know this about myself, because this will be the fourth or fifth time I’ve worked on one. How many finished objects do I have to show for my efforts? Embarrassingly, none. That’s just how I roll, I guess. But, I pledge that this time will be different. To wit:

    • I am using a most favored yarn, Lisa Souza’s Sock! Merino in the colorway, “Wild Things.”
    • I’m having the good fortune of being able to show some newer knitters how this pattern works, and how it is so elegant in its simplicity. (Just don’t discourage the noobs by telling them how boring it is to knit after a while, ok? We don’t want to discourage their enthusiasm.)
    • I’m enjoying some really fabulous audiobooks to listen to while knitting. Right now, it’s the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I’m only on the second book, and I’m completely addicted!

    So maybe this is the time that my long-suffering fantasies of wearing a Clapotis in public will finally come true. It’s about time that I owe this one to myself, right?

    Now, if only I didn’t have the distraction of wanting to cast on for Color Affection… It’s a sickness, for sure. Wish me luck.

  • The Increases…

    The Increases…

    …are done. Just sayin’.

    Clapotis in progress...
    Clapotis in progress…

    Onward!