First Knitted FO

January 3rd, 2012 mio
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I learned to knit a couple of years ago. I finally sat down with multiple youtube videos and strained my brain until I finally got it. (For the crocheters out there, I recommend learning Continental style with short needles to improve your odds of picking it up!).

The motivation for learning how to knit was actually borne out of my desire to figure out how to do crochet entrelac properly. I thought learning how to knit it would help things along. So, once I had the basics of knit and purl down, I tried out knitting entrelac. I learned how to increase, and decrease, and how to pick up stitches (though, I’m not convinced I’m doing that right yet – entrelac should look like rectangles not trapezoids). I taught myself how to do cables and knit in the round and change colours, too.

With all of this knowledge, it’s only natural that my very first finished knitting project be…

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Wait… garter stitch?

Yes, my first knitted item ended up being a Doctor Who scarf for my brother-in-law.

For those not familiar with this pattern, it is the knit stitch, worked over and over and over again until the scarf is freakishly long (and then you add tassels). (Specs: Vanna’s Choice yarn in Brick, Burgundy, Charcoal Grey, Beige, Toffee, Mustard, and Olive. 4mm circular needles)

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Even though I had to go out into the main hall of our apartment building to get a picture that showed the length, the scarf did end up a bit shorter than the authentic one worn by Tom Baker (the fourth Doctor). It was supposed to be 20 feet long, but mine is only 14 feet. I do believe it’ll stretch out over time, though!

Come to think of it, taking pictures of this thing was quite a challenge. Usually to display scarves I employ the services of my trusty sidekick, Roopurt,
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but…
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In a neat turn of good luck, a few days after I finished the scarf, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was launching her new book here in town. I, of course, brought the scarf to show her:
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I think she was impressed. ^_^
(Also, I love that the people in line behind me are knitting while they wait to have their books signed!)

Posted in Knitting Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Totally Worth It

December 28th, 2011 mio
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I made this Luigi blanket for my nephew for Christmas:
IMG_20111219_092037

It took more than two and a half months to complete. Weaving in the ends took longer than the actual crocheting part! Would you believe that there were a whopping 1040 ends to weave in on this blanket? 1040. Crazy.

It is made up of one-round granny squares, joined using this join-as-you-go method (because if I had to make all of the squares first and then join them all together afterwards, this blanket would never have been made!).

The real challenge here wasn’t the many, many ends to weave in. It was actually the lack of real estate to actually do the weaving. One of the benefits of using that joining method is that any square can be removed without disturbing the surrounding squares, which would be ruined by traveling the ends from one square to another. So, each end had to be woven in with only 12 stitches to work with. 1040 times.

But you know what?
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He was over the moon about it!

Totally worth it. ^_^

Posted in 11 Blankets, Afghans, Geeky Tags: , , , , ,
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Invisible Join

November 28th, 2011 mio
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Here I go with another tutorial for something you can’t see. I do enjoy a challenge!

This is one way to make an invisible join when you finish a round of crocheting. Usually the instructions tell you to join with a slip stitch, but that leaves a very different looking area that may not be desirable when working the final round of a border on your project.

One thing to note before going in: this join makes it look like there is an extra stitch (and so, in that way, it’s not actually invisible). This won’t matter at all if it’s the final round of your project. If you’re doing this on a round that isn’t the last one, just keep in mind that this creates an extra V you might accidentally work into.

You need: a darning/tapestry/sewing needle (the same kind you’d use to weave in your ends)

Here is a one-round granny square that I have added a sc border to. I’ve done all of my sc stitches and am ready to join:
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Start by cutting the yarn and pulling the loop out:
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Thread this end onto a needle:
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Insert the needle into the first stitch of the round under the two arms of the V in exactly the same way as you would if you were crocheting into it:
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Pull the yarn all the way through.

Next, go back to last stitch of the round, and insert the needle under the back loop of the last stitch, in exactly the same way you would if you were doing a “back loop only” stitch. This was tricky to take a picture of, so here are two:
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Pull the yarn all the way through.

Now it’s just a matter of pulling on that yarn until the V-shape you just made looks like the others around it:
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(The needle is pointing at the join)

All that’s left is to weave in the end! Try not to tug too much on the stitch you just made while weaving the end in.

Posted in Tutorial Tags: , , ,
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