Knitting – Page 4 – String and Beans

January Goal: Spinning on a Spindle

Happy Belated New Year everyone! Hope you are enjoying 2012 so far. I didn’t get myself into any resolution-making, but every January I review the knitters’ bucket list to see how many items I’ve “checked-off” – I’m still afraid to try steeking 😉

Over the month of December, we stayed close to home (hubby was recovering from surgery), and I spent a great deal of time in my ‘studio’ (aka our finished attic space). I inventoried the ‘equipment’ – 3+ knitting machines, table loom, cowichan spinner, & 2 spindles. I’ve decided that I should actually start learning the skills to use those items…

So, this month, I’m trying spinning on a spindle – motivated by the lovely conversation & photo sharing on twitter by a few spinners/spindle makers. I’ve moved from a “thick/thin bulky yarn” (photo at right) to a “inconsistent thread w a few small nubs”. My goal is to spin on the spindle 15minutes per day (as per the instructions from Respect the Spindle“)

I’ll keep you posted – do you have Fibre-related goals this year? Please share them!

Types of Drop Spindles (joyofhandspinning.com)
Spindling & Other Fibre Terms (IcanSpin.com)
About the VKG (victoriaknittersguild.blogspot.com)

Twin Rib Baby Cap

As mentioned, earlier today, I’m knitting purple baby caps (to see why look here). So, to add some variety, I came up with a pattern 🙂

I love the twin rib stitch pattern because it is very stretchy, yet looks wonderful even if the stretch isn’t needed. The top crown is decreased to create a ribbed star pattern on the top but I’m still playing around with it to have it decrease ‘in pattern’ since I prefer a universal look to a hat, rather than a slanted or plain crown. I’m likely going to update the pattern with child sizes (skull caps)
NOTE: Aug 25, 2012 – edited to add Gauge/Finished size – oops! Sorry about forgetting that…

Yarn: Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly Baby Sport
Needles: size 3mm dpns
GAUGE: 30st to 4″ in pattern flat – ie unstretched

Size for newborn
Finished size: 5″ wide flat – ie unstretched by 5+” high

Twin Rib Pattern:
row 1: k3, p3 to end of row
row 2: k1, p1 to end of row

Abbreviations:
K = knit
p = purl
Sl2k = slip two stitches as if to knit together
Sl2p = slip two stitches purlwise
psso = pass slipped stitches over stitch just worked

Pattern:
Cast on 72 stitches
Join in round (careful not to twist!!)
K3, P3 for 6 rows

Follow Twin Rib Pattern for 4″ (27 rows) ending with a row 1

Decreases for Crown:row 1: (K3, sl2p, p1, psso) repeat to end of round
row 2: k1, p1 to end of round
row 3: k3, p1 to end of round
row 4: (sl2k, k1, psso, p1) repeat to end of round
row 5: k1, p1 to end of round
row 6: (sl2k, k1, psso) to end of round

Break off yarn, thread through remaining stitches, draw to a close & weave in ends.

FInishing Thoughts

Image via WikipediaLast evening was the twitter #knitchat, and the topic was regarding Finishing – (You can see the topic questions here) Soon the list of tips will be posted by @cloudynatknits so watch for them 🙂

Being a 140 character chat in only one hour with a dozen or so knitters – we could venture off into any number of side topics, following thorugh on all the issues like weaving in ends, button holes, blocking, sewing, etc…but we did do a fair job of sharing tips with one another.

So to that end, I give you a couple of selected tips I’ve learned over the years that I teach in my beginners classes

1) Seams
There are various techniques for seaming, depending upon the location of the seam – invisible seams are best for hats. Shoulder seams need more ‘stability’ so are seamed differently (if not done as a three-needle bind-off – something for a different class!) The most recommended option I hear is Mattress Stitch, however, I do like the Bickford Seam if you want a less bulky seam.

2) Weaving in Ends
Weaving – on the wrong side of the item, put the thread through the backs of stitches – (generally purl bumps), you can go diagonally up and back or across a row

Duplicate stitch method – (my personal favourite) basically follow the path of the yarn with the needle so it’s almost ‘knitted’ into the item.

Knitting in – some people will knit the loose piece(s) when they are knitting through the back of the stitches to avoid weaving later – this sometimes shows ‘through’ the knitting but does save time later.

3) Joins
To avoid having to weave ends in later each time you add a ball of yarn, try an invisible join – my personal favourites are Spit Splicing (if using feltable wool), or the Russian Join.

4) Blocking
For Hats – use a dinner plate for berets; balloon or upside down planter (of correct size) for touques.
For larger items – I use my bed 🙂 BUT, I find the children’s foam floor puzzles are great for blocking boards, plus being puzzle pieces – you can create any size board you want without taking up valuable storage space.

Lots more tips to come in future – but these were the ‘starter tips’ I gave my budding new knitters 🙂

If you’re on twitter – join us on Thursdays for #knitchat!

Russian Join (Love) (my jubilation with the join)

I AM REGISTERED!

I did it, I registered for Sock Summit 2011 – and I’m feeling on top of the world. I may register for more classes (if any are still open later), but for now, I got the one I really, REALLY wanted – Kilt by Association as I’m dying to knit kilt hose – I even have a design or two in my head that I should get down onto paper so I can test knit them 🙂

Regardless, I just needed to do a ‘happy dance’ on the blog – I’m going to Sock Summit, I’m going to Sock Summit…

Stitcher Nights in #yyj

Image via WikipediaAnother list from my JDF Recreation knitting classes – I hate to set my beginner knitters free without some support. The first week of class I give them links to videos, how-to websites in case they need some extra help until the next class. But, when we are nearing the end of classes, of course I encourage them to join a weekly Stitch N Bitch or the like!

So, I give you the ‘current as of January 2011’ list of knitting groups in Victoria, BC – note these groups keep moving around, not all are listed in one single place…so I will have to keep updating this list! As I always advise the beginners, ‘call to confirm/don’t make a special trip’ just in case the group folded/moved.

SUNDAY

Afternoon Stitch ‘N’ Bitch
Union Pacific Cafe on Herald Street

MONDAY

Coffee & Chat
Koffi at Haultain & Belmont in Fernwood
Monday 2-4 p.m.

TUESDAY

Bitchy Bees
Cornerstone Cafe at Gladstone/Fernwood
Tuesday Evening 6-8 pm

WEDNESDAY

Victoria Knitters’ Guild
First and Third Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30
St. Aidan’s Church Hall

Arts and Crafts Night
Logan’s Pub at Cook and Caledonia
Wednesday Evening (note some evenings are ‘special events’, so check first)

6 – 8pm Savoury, coffee shop at 1841 Oak Bay Ave.

7 – 9pm Starbucks at Gorge and Tillicum (beside Rogers and the Liquor store)

Victoria Knitters’ Guild

2^nd & 4^th Wed Evening 7:00-9:00pm

Saanich Commonwealth Place – Douglas Fir Room

THURSDAY

Stitchers Night ON HIATUS
Coast Collective
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

email stringandbeans @ telus . net if interested in knowing when we restart

FRIDAY

Knit ‘N Cafe
Serious Coffee in the Cook Street Village
Friday 1-4:00 p.m.

Beehive Wool Shop “Friday Night Knitting”
1700 Douglas Street
5:00-7:30 pm on Friday evening

Bitchy Bees
Serious Coffee at Cook/Oxford
Friday Evening 6-8 pm

ONCE A MONTH

Fibre Fun Social Nights

Knotty By Nature Fibre Arts

6-9pm (3^rd Friday of the month)

edited Apr 23 to add 2 more listings for Wed evenings

edited May 31 to update Thurs nights (on Hiatus)

#yyj Knitters: Knitting for Others

Image via Wikipedia

Considering this is the last day of National Volunteer Week, I thought I’d post a piece from my Beginner’s Knitting Class handouts on Knitting for others.

Knitting for charities is a great way to practice on small projects, and the charities are very appreciative of your efforts. Some groups even provide wool, needles and patterns in exchange for your knitting time!

Facecloths

– James Bay Child Care Society – daycare centre

– Our Place – for showers

– Canada Comforts – for Haiti

– Socks for Soldiers – for overseas soldier care packages

Baby Hats

– Victoria General Hospital

– Welcome Wagon

Knit Slippers

– Royal Jubilee Hospital

Community Knitters – Marilyn Guille has a group/listing of charities across Canada, and also coordinates pickup/dropoffs via Knotty by Nature Fibre Arts – http://www.communityknitters.com/

Below are some organizations for which the Victoria Knitter’s Guild coordinates pickup/dropoffs:

Afghansforafghans.org Woolen items as requested at website.

Canada Comforts Baby/children’s sweaters, hats blankets, any fibre.

Blankets for Canada 8”X8” washable squares; help assembling too. http://www.blankets4canada.ca/

Mex Tit Bits These are breast prostheses for women in Mexico who have had mastectomies. More information below from the coordinator of this project. In the meantime, you can knit some tit bits from this Knitty pattern if you are interested.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html

Or you can take a look at some ideas here:

http://www.titbits.ca/v1/tb_shop.html

Royal Jubilee Hospital Gift Shop Slippers, baby and children’s sweaters, just about any lovely knitting, except plain toques for children; they have plenty of these plain hats right now. Other stylish hats, any size, would also be welcome.

VGH Mother-Babe Unit Hats for newborns.

The Westshore gets a knit night!

Image via WikipediaWe finally managed it! After teaching beginner and sock knitting classes through Westshore Parks & Recreation, there is a demand for a social knit night out here in the Westshore of Victoria. One of my beginner class knitters is an artist with the Coast Collective in Metchosin, and has asked on our behalf if we could use the classroom on Thursday evenings.

So, starting February 3rd, 2011, Thursday evenings 7:00pm ~8:30pm, we’ll be knitting at the Coast Collective 3221 Heatherbell Rd – http://www.coastcollective.ca/contacts.html

Hope to see you there!

Wee Kilty Socks

My preschooler had a ‘cultural fair’ today (Friday) at his school (preschool-gr8). He went dressed to represent Scotland in his kilt! We already had the kilt from the age of 2, but the socks I made back then were no longer knee length! So this week, I whipped up a pattern for him (fits preschool shoe size edited – being revised). The ribbing makes a nice texture and looks good stretched and ‘relaxed’ thereby eliminating the need to increase/decrease stitches for the calf (although at this age, the calf usually isn’t that much bigger!). The heel flap makes for a very, very easy stitch pickup!

Gauge: 4″ =30st & 42 rows in pattern

Pattern:
Row 1: *K3, P3, repeat
Row 2: *K1,P1, repeat

Yarn: Henry’s Attic Kona Superwash Sport
Needles: US1, 2.25mm dpns

These are from the cuff down (after knitting the cuff, you turn it inside out and continue knitting the leg).

Cast-on 48 stitches loosely.
Arrange stitches as follow: needle 1=12, needle 2=24, needle 3=12.
Join round being careful not to twist stitches!
Knit 3 rounds of k1,p1 ribbing
Knit 8 repeats of pattern (16rows).
Knit 2 rows of k1,p1 ribbing
Decrease row: k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,pass purl stitch over*repeat around. (you should have 36 stitches)
K1P1 ribbing for 14 rows
Increase row: *k1,p1,k1,m1, repeat around (you should have 48 stitches)
Turn knitting ‘inside out’ and start knitting leg as follows:
Knit 90 rows in pattern (45 repeats of rows 1&2)
K3,P3 on needle 1 and needle 2 ONLY ending at beginning of needle 3

Heel (needles 3 and 1 only)
Row 1: sl1, k1 to end of needle 3 and needle 1, turn
Row 2: k2, purl to 2 stitches before end, k2
Repeat 11 times (22 rows)

Heel turn:
Sl1, k13, ssk, k1
sl1, p5, p2tog, p1
sl1, k6, ssk, k1
sl1, p7, p2tog, p1
sl1, k8, ssk, k1
sl1, p9, p2tog, p1
sl1, k10, ssk, k1
sl1, p11, p2tog, p1
sl1, k12, ssk
sl1, p12, p2tog

Gusset:
Knit 14, pickup the 12 purl bumps,
Needle 2: continue in pattern
Needle 3: pickup the 12 purl bumps, knit 7 stitches
(make sure your stitches are now arranged so needle 1 has 19 stitches, needle 2 has 24, needle 3 has 19 stitches)

Row 1:
Knit to last 3 stitches on needle 1, K2tog, k1
Continue in pattern on needle 2
K1, ssk, knit to end of needle 3
Row 2: knit
Repeat the above two rows until there are 12 stitches on needles 1 and 3, and 24 on needle 2

Foot:
Continue for 24 rows (or 1″ less than length of recipient’s foot) by knitting on needles 1&3, and continuing in pattern on needle 2

Toe:
Row 1:
Needle 1: knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1
Needle 3: k1, ssk knit to end
Row 2: knit
Repeat above 2 rows until there are 7 stitches on needles 1&3, and 14 stitches on needle 2
Knit row 1 4 times.
Graft toe

Fold over cuff at decrease row.

Knit 2nd kilt sock!

(Generally the sock is to land at 1″ below the knee)

Setting up

Image via Wikipedia

Hello world!

We’re just setting things up, not quite ready for the world…yet…but are going to keep a log of our journey 🙂

Under Canada Post rules, we are in ‘Victoria‘, BC. However, anyone that knows the area, understands there are 13 different municipalities that make up Victoria. Right now there are 3 yarn shops in downtown Victoria (great walk between the three), and one in Estevan Village (10 min drive from downtown), and two up in Sidney (30min drive from downtown). On a map, you’ll notice there is ‘nothing’ in the western communities (25 min drive from downtown). However, its this area that is seeing the most growth and development resulting in more and more families moving out to the western communities. At the moment a quilt shop sells a few knitting items, and of course there are the two box stores (Walmart & Michaels – which also have other locations close to downtown). I’ve found there is interest in having knit nights out here, and classes. Currently people travel into town to buy their ‘nicer’ yarns.

So, at the moment, we are looking for space to share with a coffee place – the concept is very much like the Goudy branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library – which is co-located with Mirage Coffee – although we are looking for space that will be a little MORE open between the two spaces.

For now, we are opening accounts, placing orders for inventory, doing mail order, and selling through our classes. We have a Tuesday night class through Juan de Fuca Recreation, and will be hosting a drop-in knitting cafe on Saturday mornings in our front room (pending the studio being ready for the public). We’ll post drop in dates and hours soon!

Category: Knitting