Blast from the Past: Time unknown

Rather than repost and old post from my other blog, I figured I would redo it. It wasn't a good post to begin with really.

Back around July '07 I knitted a carrying case for some juggle sticks (aka, devil sticks).

Not having had any real experience w/dpn's I knit the body flat. I used random, overly-fluffy, boring grey yarn from my stash. The intended recipient wanted holes in the body for visual texture, so I did a lot of yo,k2tog patterns at odd intervals that turned out to be barely visible.
All in all, it is a rather unimpressive looking bit of knittery.

Until you consider the execution and design of the piece.

This was an off the top of my head, no known pattern idea. I had to wing the whole thing as I had not even found a pattern to base it off of.

I started by knitting a circular base that would go inside on the bottom to hold the sticks in the case. Again, I knit this flat.
How does one knit a circle via flat knitting? I took my thinnest needles and some crochet thread. I cast on 2 stitches then k1,yo until it was half the size I wanted and then knit a few rows and did a standard bind off. I then took the two corners and crocheted them together and crocheted the new seam down to the center.
Unfortunately I did not take a picture of this piece, but it is in the FO.

Next I took US15 needles and my bulky yarn and cast on more stitches than I figured I would need for the width of the body. I knit a row and then decreased a bit until I got my desired width. Then it was knit each row and make holes to the top. Not too impressive on this part. It was when I got to the top that it was fun.

I realized that I would need a lid for my carry case and I did not want to make it a separate piece, in fact I wanted the top to look like a Carnivorous Plant. When I got my desired length I did some yarn overs to add to the width then started binding off until the middle stitches. These I knit onto a stitch holder then went back and cast off the rest. I cut the yarn and reattached it near my held stitches.

The flaw with this part became obvious when I started sewing the piece closed. Because I put my lid in the middle, the seam was in the "front" rather than hidden in the back. Next time, cast off until the last 4 stitches and knit this as per usual.

Then came the shaping for the lid. I did yarn overs to increase and when I was halfway done I started decreasing via k2tog. Simple, elegant and surprisingly successful. The plant look was done well enough that I began to wish the yarn was green.

The last part I had to make was a handle/strap. A simple I-cord was knit up on dpn's (my first work with those type of needles) and when that was done I decided my next case would be on dpn's rather than flat.

Sewing the piece together was a huge pain. I never want to do that again. I am not good at sewing to begin with and the length of the piece meant I was made very uncomfortable for most of that part.

In the end, it came out rather well.
I would not recommend such a large needle with such a loose, fluffy, yarn. The yarn actually is very relaxed which means my measurements were for nothing as the whole thing stretches and the sticks sit a bit too far down on the inside. Attaching the I-cord brought up the problem of reinforcing the connection point due to the pull of wearing the case.

The best part of the whole thing was that this was being made for a loved one and I wasn't going to get stuck with the ugly first attempt. '-)

Later I will tell you about the second one I made.

New Skills

Yesterday I had my first in person lesson about spinning yarn.

This is another fiber related interest that I can blame on Franklin.

I have to say, it was not as challenging as I thought it would be. My first bit, a single ply at this time, varies in width from worsted weight to oh-my-it-will-snap-at-any-second. I am fine with this as I know people who buy that kind of yarn on purpose.

I got the wool and drop spindle from a nice little Learn to Spin Kit. It includes a DVD which I did watch, but I managed to hold myself back from getting into the fiber until I could attend a group event.

Our local Meetup group, Yarn for Breakfast, made plans for a get together to learn spinning. Queue, the wonderful lady giving the lessons, was brutally honest. She told us how she worked a full day then drove nine hours to pick up her spinning wheel, rather than have it shipped, and then stayed up into the wee hours playing with her new wheel. Her spinning wheel looks like this, but is a single treadle (or pedal). It is compact and folds for easy traveling. I got to pedal it a few times and it was very nice.

For now I will stick to my drop spindle. Goodness knows I can't afford a spinning wheel at this time, but someday... oh yes, someday it will be mine.
Honestly I don't know which wheel I will get, but I do rather like the center style design so far.

When I can, I will post pictures of my 'yarn'. In the meantime, I have much practicing to do.

Blast from the Past: April 4th, 2008

On Tuesday this week I had a bit of an accident.

I was on my way back to the office from doing the deposit and there was a bare sprinkling of water from the sky.
My scooter and I had just turned on to Little Creek Rd, down by Ward's Corner for you locals, and we found a large freshly moistened oil slick.

I did not see the oil slick when I turned the wheel slightly. I did see the ground as the scooter went sideways and fell out from beneath me.

Skipping details....

Yesterday I was able to walk around the parking lot of my apartment and even went next door to the store that sells stuff for handicap peoples. I picked up a nice new cane with a comfort grip.



Within an hour of getting it home, I had knitted a soft cover for the grip, making it more comfortable.



Since the weather is rather nice I get to wear a lighter coat, rather like a suit jacket.So today, I was limping around in a jacket, with a cane and a pocket full of Vicodin.




It's not lupus.

Stash update

Many stores have sales on Memorial Day.
Many yarn stores have sales too.
But one of our local yarn stores, Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn specifically, had a stash busting sale.

It's over now and I report this having been a witness and participant.

All the yarns in a dedicated and surprisingly large section were available for $40-a-bag.
Which is to say they gave each person a very very roomy plastic bag, which could be stretched for even more room, and anything the customer put in that bag or have barely hanging in the bag (from that section only) could be purchased at a flat rate of $40.
This event was two days only and I honestly missed the first day. While I wonder about what I missed, I do not feel regret as I did do quite well.

When I arrived I had with me a friend who had finally decided she wanted to learn to knit. I explained the sale to her as we got our bags. She started off shyly while I pounded yarn in my bag to make room for more.
Eventually one of the store employees said she wasn't doing it right and went to her aid by dumping the yarn out on to the floor. Then the lady stretched the bag and started putting the small skeins in first, jamming them down and asking for more then finishing off with large 300+ yard skeins of worsted weight Llama.

In the end I scored $321 of yarn for only $40.
My friend managed an amazing $394 of yarn for the same price.

My stash is a happy stash. I will have to figure out how to store skeins on the ceiling, but I am sure I will figure it out.

After that, we did regular shopping. We found her an easy lace shawl pattern and the needles for knitting it up. I got myself a yarn spinning kit, complete with drop spindle, (which I could afford thanks to all that savings) and a $0.99 skien of yarn that had not been snatched up yet from the bargain basket.

There was a table in the back of the store with cookies, cake and candy were we snagged some seats and I taught my friend to knit. She was not the first person I have taught knitting to, but she is my first dedicated pupil. Within short order she was working lace, reading charts and learning to adjust patterns.
I am lucky to find such a gifted student. One of the other store employees said I should teach a class for them. I have to admit being tempted by that idea.

While we were knitting, others were shopping and we got to see the record deal of the whole two day sale. One lady, bag stuffed with some very very nice yarns, scored over $600 worth of yarn for forty bucks.
Wow.

Admittedly all of us felt a little bad, as if we were taking advantage of the deal, but I don't think there is a single one who actually regrets our purchases.
And why should we? The employees were encouraged by the store owner to help us stuff our bags as much as we could. If nothing else, they have more room for new yarn and an amazing amount of word of mouth advertising for their store. Oh, and my friend lives close to that store, so she will be going there for her supplies.

Before we left, I told them they should do this sale again but with a couple of differences. I suggested smaller, large-envelope style bags and the sale be $60 or $80 for selected books, magazines and patterns. I do hope they will do this. My stash is set, but my library could use some padding out.

For now, I have my hands full photographing my new yarn and posting in my Ravelry stash.

I got a lot of yarn.

Quick note

I have started asking for test knitters in Ravelry for my Wine Bottle gift bag. As soon as I get some responses I will be posting the pattern here. :-)

Thank you and we now return you to your regularly scheduled web surfing.

Blast from the past - April 15th, 2008

It has been a couple of weeks since my injury. My last visit with the doctor was just this past Friday and I was sentenced to two more weeks out of work.

What have I been doing with this time?

At first I was limited to the couch and watched much TV.
I was hooked up with a Wii and some time was spent playing various games. There was also some reading of books. The first weekend after my injury some friends of mine kept me busy with various events, including dinners. I have since learned which vehicles are comfortable for a person with a bum leg, which is only one. The car in question has a dozen or so buttons for adjusting the seat.

Some time last week I realized that I was getting nothing done during my downtime and I quickly figured out it was because the TV was sucking up hours of the day. I have since cut the TV out of my daytime activities and focused more on knitting.

This has lead to two finished projects and a third secret project that should be done by 6pm today, yarn willing.

I completed the Alaska Drops headband, which is awaiting pick up by the intended recipient:















I also made a knitted coffee sling. The pattern can be found
here. I do not yet have a picture of this one, but that will be forth coming. (ETA: A picture will be forthcoming when I redo this one.)


I found a lovely podcast for knitters called Cast On. A full directory of episodes can be found here.

Where before the TV was sucking away my hours, now knitting is doing so.
The pod casts are around an hour each and I am up to episode 27 as we speak (ETA: I completed all episodes before the 21st of April). I only found this podcast a few days ago. Sunday, I believe.
I am neglecting other activities as I focus on making things from yarn. There are actually enough engaging projects before me that I am not really hurting to bad from lack of work.

It is amazing to me. I used to hate not having a job to keep me busy. Nine hours of my day was easily kept from boredom via work, even when I hated my job. Now, I find the day gone without having once stared at the walls. I keep busy enough that my lack of interaction with other people doesn't bother me, until someone from my office calls me and I am reminded that I have my own store, my baby, and I am sure it is becoming a horrid mess without me.

With my current job it is easy for me to put in ten hours at work. I have often stopped by on my day off to fix something, drop something off or even just check in and make sure all is well. This is the first time I have had a job that I loved and I am finding that I am almost as much of a workaholic as my friend Jason. So imagine my surprise when I learn that I can have downtime without going crazy.

Of course it helps to have four or more hobbies, new books and a Wii.
Once I am back at work all of these other things to do will slide back onto the shelf as my job takes the fore, but I can at least look back at this time with fond memories. I know that if I win the lottery and retire (yeah, right) that I will have things to do that I enjoy and can fill my days with.

What does it say about me that I check Ravelry before I check my email?

My how busy I have been

I just got back from Yarn for Breakfast, a local knitting Meetup. This particular event usually is held in Portsmouth, but due to an Arts Festival, it was moved to my neighborhood. Go me! '-)
We chatted and knitted from 9 am until around noon when people started packing up and wandering off.

In the past 24 hours I have completed three projects.

Last night I cast off on a personal designed Wine Bottle Gift Bag. I will finish drawing up the pattern and will be posting it for free here.

This morning I finished the first panel of my easy lace curtains, which is based on the the Jan's Sensational Scarf pattern in the book One Skein Wonders, by Judith Durant. When I actually finish the whole thing and get the pieces blocked and sewn together I will do a write up on it.

I also finished a kids shawl for a friends little girl this morning. I want to add little bows as a finishing touch, but I have to find the things first. A full write up and pics will be upcoming.

So, three projects completed in a very short time. And all in time for Mother's Day.
Mad skillz are here! '-)

Currently my needles are empty.
In an hour or so that will change as I have a friend coming over to take me yarn shopping. She wants to pick up yarn for me to knit her a stuffed nautilus.

What is Sinister Knitting?

In the world of knitting, most terms are very clear.
Except Left handed knitting.

Continental Method, aka German Method, is also known as left handed knitting. Simply put, it is holding your working yarn in the left hand.

For most of us who are left handed, this term is not an accurate description of how we knit. Rather, when we knit left handed, we move our stitches from the right hand needle to the left hand.

There is a group on Ravelry for left handed knitters, named On The Other Hand, and we ended up discussing the confusion of terminology. Annekaelber suggested we use the term Sinister instead.

I like the idea and have decided to use the term for my knitting blog, being as I am left handed and Sinister is how I knit.
I am not limited to Sinister knitting. Mostly I do Sinister Combo style, but I have mastered Continental Method and am working on learning even more styles.

It is a wonder that there are so many different ways to turn strings into clothing and other stuff. But end the end it a basic process that we all share.
To quote Antimony from Exotic Knitting Styles group on Ravelry:

"When you create knitted fabric, all you are doing is interlocking each row of yarn into the one below by pulling through each of the loops on the needle.
If the yarn is pulled through the loop from back to front, it's a knit, and from front to back, it's a purl."

We begin through the past

Greetings and Welcome!

This is going to be my knitting blog. I have another blog on another server, one that I have had for many a year, but I felt the need to separate the knitting from there as my old friends are not as interested in what I do with yarn.

The next few days I will be copying old posts from that blog and reposting them here. In between I shall be posting about the different designs I am working on and eventually have patterns posted here that will be linked in Ravelry. There will also be posts to comment or respond to things in the knitting world, including podcasts that I listen to. There will be discussions about projects that have gone by and the things I haven't made yet.

In case you can't find me, I am Quasipsyco on Ravelry.

Wondering about the name of the blog? Well, I will discuss that on a future post.

So, tune in and enjoy.