Category Archives: knitting

Got gauge?

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I had nothing on my needles so I decided to knit a swatch for this sweater. 

Knit Simple Button Cardigan Fall 2008

The pattern calls for a bulky weight and I bought Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, a worsted weight yarn.  I forgot about that bit of important information when I decided to knit this  sweater with the WOTA yarn I planned to use for another pattern.

Papaya Heather

Knitting a 4 x 4 swatch would be very important.  Gauge is 17 stitches to 22 rows.

I started with the recommended size 10 US needles and got 16 stitches to 20 rows.  Not close enough for the time investment in this project.   After completing the Musica Mitts using fingering weight yarn, size 3 US needles and colorwork, I must have loosened my grip on the yarn and needles.

So I knit another swatch using size 9 US needles.

Got gauge.  Joy.

Pattern copies

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Before I start to knit a pattern, I copy it.  I don’t like to carry around a book or magazine.  I keep track of my row and/or stitch count on sticky notes.

How do you deal with your patterns?

Do you make a copy of it or do you knit right from the book or magazine? Do you keep your notes with the pattern when you’re finished?  Or do you only knit something once?

Monkeys and WIPs

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The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com said I had about 2,600 visitors in 2010 or as the monkeys put it about 6 full 747s of people.   I’ve only been blogging for about seven months, so I’ll take that as a positive.

Yesterday I took care of all but one work-in-progress aka WIP I had suffocating in plastic zipper bags.  I took the needles out and either ripped them apart or will rip them apart.  The yarn will be repurposed.

The one WIP is one mitten still needing a thumb and partner.   I started these mittens in 2009 for a friend.  Fortunately she didn’t know about the surprise since I never finished them.  Th yarn was on sale, naturally, but the orange had too much of the green in it to contrast the pattern I made up.

What was I thinking?

Stardate 20110101

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I don’t know how Star Trek came up with their Stardate but this is my take on that.

Update from 2010 knitting: I forgot to mention the 7 Swiffer covers and apple cozy I knitted.

I’m sure everyone has some goals/resolutions for the new year.  Some of mine are knitting related, some are general craft related, and some are personal.

My list of 2011 goals include:

  1. Declutter the basement.
  2. Design and follow-through with a craft room in the basement.
  3. Repaint our bedroom, the kitchen, and family room.
  4. Finish the felt ornaments I started for Christmas 2010.
  5. Start (and finish) a secret project before February 1.  I’m waiting on some yarn and that’s why it’s not started.
  6. Make belated birth gifts for some 2010 babies.
  7. Revisit my WIP list and do something!
  8. Figure out the macro setting on our camera.  Mr. Aitch says it’s there but I am clueless.
  9. Knit the Knit Simple Button Cardi for myself.
  10. Publish a knitted purse pattern.  It’s hard to write out a pattern.  Maybe I should have some test knitters try it out first.
  11. Begin knitting my way through the Around the World in Knitted Socks.
  12. Stop eating foods that make me feel blah.
  13. Put more miles on my motorcycle.
  14. Be nice.