Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Man Hands
Monday, January 27, 2014
Rants
No pictures today, I'm being super lazy.
My fiancé Mike left again for New York...while I am incredibly sad, it is also somewhat exciting. Assuming I see him on one of our spring breaks, this means we will only have to say goodbye ONE MORE TIME before we never have to say goodbye again :)
After over 3 years of a long distance relationship, I'm pretty darn excited! Now that there's an end in sight, the distance is getting much easier. Looking for apartments, planning a wedding, and talking about living in Boston together makes it much more exciting and joyful than sad.
On the downside. Apple sucks.
I have a MacBook Pro, which I love. However, my WiFi isn't working. It will work about 2 minutes and then get angry and decide not to speak to me for a few hours. I successfully logged onto my blog in one of those 2 minute periods, but WiFi has shunned me once again. So who knows when this will actually get posted.
It's not like I haven't tried to fix this problem. I went to the Apple store yesterday. Twice. They deleted some system files or whatever off of the computer and said that should fix it. My brilliant Mike said it wouldn't. And it didn't. I clicked some buttons that they recommended and something worked. So I had Internet most of the day today. And I actually just got off the phone 30 seconds ago (I took a break a couple sentences ago) with the second apple person of the night. Internet is currently working. We'll see how long that lasts. They're gonna call back in 24 hours. Crossing my fingers.
Oh right! This is a knitting blog. I did some of that the past few days. Not as much as I would like because of the stupid homework. Earlier today, I successfully proved that Hungarian and Finnish are related languages. So that was productive. Anyway. I finished a mitten!!! The left one!!! But I didn't weave in my ends...because it's annoying. The right mitten is going well. I picked up some stitches along...MY INTERNET JUST BROKE AGAIN.
I picked up some stitches along the cabled band and have started the thumb gusset shaping. It's going much better than the first one did. I also ordered buttons from Etsy for the mittens. I've never put buttons on any of my knitting before, so I'm really excited to see how it turns out!
My other old lady problem: my wrists are stiff from carpal tunnel syndrome. I guess it's because I practiced piano for a little more than an hour today. Don't tell my teacher, but it's the only time I've practiced in the past week. I'm hoping that it's also due to the extreme cold...St. Louis dropped in temperature over 50 degrees in the past 24 hours.
OK I'm gonna stop my ranting while my Internet is connected for the next 2 minutes...hopefully I have some pics of completed mittens soon!!
Happy knitting :)
Ruthie
My fiancé Mike left again for New York...while I am incredibly sad, it is also somewhat exciting. Assuming I see him on one of our spring breaks, this means we will only have to say goodbye ONE MORE TIME before we never have to say goodbye again :)
After over 3 years of a long distance relationship, I'm pretty darn excited! Now that there's an end in sight, the distance is getting much easier. Looking for apartments, planning a wedding, and talking about living in Boston together makes it much more exciting and joyful than sad.
On the downside. Apple sucks.
I have a MacBook Pro, which I love. However, my WiFi isn't working. It will work about 2 minutes and then get angry and decide not to speak to me for a few hours. I successfully logged onto my blog in one of those 2 minute periods, but WiFi has shunned me once again. So who knows when this will actually get posted.
It's not like I haven't tried to fix this problem. I went to the Apple store yesterday. Twice. They deleted some system files or whatever off of the computer and said that should fix it. My brilliant Mike said it wouldn't. And it didn't. I clicked some buttons that they recommended and something worked. So I had Internet most of the day today. And I actually just got off the phone 30 seconds ago (I took a break a couple sentences ago) with the second apple person of the night. Internet is currently working. We'll see how long that lasts. They're gonna call back in 24 hours. Crossing my fingers.
Oh right! This is a knitting blog. I did some of that the past few days. Not as much as I would like because of the stupid homework. Earlier today, I successfully proved that Hungarian and Finnish are related languages. So that was productive. Anyway. I finished a mitten!!! The left one!!! But I didn't weave in my ends...because it's annoying. The right mitten is going well. I picked up some stitches along...MY INTERNET JUST BROKE AGAIN.
I picked up some stitches along the cabled band and have started the thumb gusset shaping. It's going much better than the first one did. I also ordered buttons from Etsy for the mittens. I've never put buttons on any of my knitting before, so I'm really excited to see how it turns out!
My other old lady problem: my wrists are stiff from carpal tunnel syndrome. I guess it's because I practiced piano for a little more than an hour today. Don't tell my teacher, but it's the only time I've practiced in the past week. I'm hoping that it's also due to the extreme cold...St. Louis dropped in temperature over 50 degrees in the past 24 hours.
OK I'm gonna stop my ranting while my Internet is connected for the next 2 minutes...hopefully I have some pics of completed mittens soon!!
Happy knitting :)
Ruthie
Monday, January 20, 2014
Stockinette Setback
OK, so I finished the cable section of those mittens a long time ago...
then came the stockinette section.
which shouldn't be hard.
but it was.
So I started with a long-ass circular needle. Which is just a pain in the ass. Mom said "You should look into the Magic Loop Method!" So I did. And it turns out I figured out the Magic Loop Method all by myself a few years back when I knit my first hat and didn't have the right DPNs. And it's still a pain in the ass.
Which led me to just use DPNs. So I did that. then I had the wrong number of stitches. Then I was deliriously tired and did my M1s wrong so there were holes. Then I dropped a stitch. I lost count of how many times I started over. BUT I PERSEVERED NONETHELESS!
FINALLY the other day I said, "This is dumb. I can do this." And I did it! I am now most of the way done with the stockinette on the left mitten. For most of it I had 40 stitches instead of 39 (oopsies), but I just did a simple knit 2 together when I got past the knuckles and it looks fine and dandy! I had never made a thumb gusset before, but it was very easy! I have found that a lot of knitting is that way. It looks impressive and difficult, but really if you simply trust the instructions it turns out perfectly!
In the picture below, only 1 of those Dr. Peppers belongs to me...
So next I need to finish the left mitten. The only part I have any apprehension about is the thumb, never done that before. But again, just trusting the instructions usually works for me and it turns out easier than expected. I also need to start looking at cute buttons! I am hoping for something with a light blue in it to match that blue/grey cowl I made so long ago...
Lesson for the day--Don't Knit While Tired (KWT).
Bright Side: School started!! I love school. I am in a writing intensive class this semester where we get to write about whatever we want. We had to suggest a topic to the professor, and I suggested knitting! The professor seemed really excited about it, so we will see how that pans out!
Happy Knitting!
Ruthie
then came the stockinette section.
which shouldn't be hard.
but it was.
So I started with a long-ass circular needle. Which is just a pain in the ass. Mom said "You should look into the Magic Loop Method!" So I did. And it turns out I figured out the Magic Loop Method all by myself a few years back when I knit my first hat and didn't have the right DPNs. And it's still a pain in the ass.
Which led me to just use DPNs. So I did that. then I had the wrong number of stitches. Then I was deliriously tired and did my M1s wrong so there were holes. Then I dropped a stitch. I lost count of how many times I started over. BUT I PERSEVERED NONETHELESS!
FINALLY the other day I said, "This is dumb. I can do this." And I did it! I am now most of the way done with the stockinette on the left mitten. For most of it I had 40 stitches instead of 39 (oopsies), but I just did a simple knit 2 together when I got past the knuckles and it looks fine and dandy! I had never made a thumb gusset before, but it was very easy! I have found that a lot of knitting is that way. It looks impressive and difficult, but really if you simply trust the instructions it turns out perfectly!
In the picture below, only 1 of those Dr. Peppers belongs to me...
What I have figured out about knitting with double pointed needles:
I am terrified of ladders (not the kind to get onto the roof. those are fun, but the gaps in your knitting between two needles when using DPNs.) In order to avoid ladders with DPNs, I have a system. I am sure plenty of other knitters have come up with this, too, and I don't want to sound like a know it all, but this is just a documentation of my journey! In reality, as long as you know where your round starts, it doesn't matter if you have the same number of stitches on each needle. So you can either pay attention to the number of stitches on each needle when you use DPNs or just go with the flow. What I do is never have a break between needles in the same spot twice in a row. After I knit all the stitches off my left needle, I keep going for a couple of stitches on the next needle, using the same right needle. For those couple of stitches, you are using only 4 DPNs.That way there is a consistent tension over where two needles previously met. You can make sure to still have an even number of stitches on each needle. For instance, always knit two off the next needle after finishing knitting off one. That way it is consistent with no ladders.
Or you can just completely randomize it like I do. Just make sure your stitch marker stays in place!
Lesson for the day--Don't Knit While Tired (KWT).
Bright Side: School started!! I love school. I am in a writing intensive class this semester where we get to write about whatever we want. We had to suggest a topic to the professor, and I suggested knitting! The professor seemed really excited about it, so we will see how that pans out!
Happy Knitting!
Ruthie
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Fun with Cables
Well I did finish the cable band for the first mitten! I think it turned out quite nicely, but I think the darker color makes the intricate cables a little harder to see. Once I got going on it after so many failed attempts, it went pretty quickly and was very enjoyable.
I feel like I better learned how the cables were constructed, and it's not as complex as it looks! In my mind, I think of it as groups of stitches switching places. The difference between c5b and c5f like I described the other day is really which way the cable leans. I still think the abbreviations are a little misleading. It makes it seem like whether you put the cable needle in the back or front makes it lean a different way. This is NOT the case. It's whether you knit the group of 3 for the cable or purl the group of 2 first. But you always want the group of 3 held in front. The middle layer of cables (not the center twist or border twists) is made up of 3-stitch wide cables. In order for those 3 stitches to move, you switch them with 2 other stitches. How many stitches you switch them with will determine the angle of the slant. I would imagine there's a limit. Cables are always (usually?) knit on the right side. You always want the 3 stitches of the cable in the front. So if you want the cable to lean right, you do c5b, which means you put two stitches on a cable needle held in the back, knit the three stitches of the cable (this pulls the cable towards the right because you're skipping two stitches) and then purl those two stitches from the cable needle. The cable needle is a tool to help groups of stitches trade places, producing a cable!
I feel like I better learned how the cables were constructed, and it's not as complex as it looks! In my mind, I think of it as groups of stitches switching places. The difference between c5b and c5f like I described the other day is really which way the cable leans. I still think the abbreviations are a little misleading. It makes it seem like whether you put the cable needle in the back or front makes it lean a different way. This is NOT the case. It's whether you knit the group of 3 for the cable or purl the group of 2 first. But you always want the group of 3 held in front. The middle layer of cables (not the center twist or border twists) is made up of 3-stitch wide cables. In order for those 3 stitches to move, you switch them with 2 other stitches. How many stitches you switch them with will determine the angle of the slant. I would imagine there's a limit. Cables are always (usually?) knit on the right side. You always want the 3 stitches of the cable in the front. So if you want the cable to lean right, you do c5b, which means you put two stitches on a cable needle held in the back, knit the three stitches of the cable (this pulls the cable towards the right because you're skipping two stitches) and then purl those two stitches from the cable needle. The cable needle is a tool to help groups of stitches trade places, producing a cable!
I got started on the second mitten band, but, alas, I messed up again. I was knitting while tired, and somehow ended up on the wrong row! I have to back out about 2 rows...which with DK weight yarn and intricate cables is a real pain in the ass. But worth it, right? I just haven't worked up the courage to do it yet...tomorrow. I promise.
Last night, I brought my knitting home to show my momma (my biggest fan). She saw me knitting with a bulky cable needle and told me it would probably behoove me to use a smaller cable needle with DK weight...she was right. It's so much easier!!
The snow is still on the ground in STL...a lot of schools have had 3 snow days this week, which means they haven't even gone back to school since Christmas!! I can't complain. Being in college means I don't go back until Monday. But I should mention, I only have classes Tuesdays and Thursdays for my LAST semester of college!!! It's pretty nice--I'm hoping I can get in a lot of knitting.
I hope you're having a great day!!
Ruthie
Monday, January 6, 2014
Well...I'm learning.
Roughly 1 minute after I wrote that last post I looked at my work again and saw it for the mess it was. Since then I've had to restart it at least 5 times. Last time it was a dropped stitch.
Problems I've had:
1. Knitting in bed with a pattern spread out and cable hook falling in my piles of blankets (have to stay warm, -26 wind chill here!) is apparents conducive to messing everything up. knitting at a table it is for these mittens.
2. Not paying attention to whether I need to be holding cable needle in back or front. Pretty sure that's what was wrong in the last pic I posted.
3. Pattern is different than anything I've ever read. c5f means sl 3 sts to cn and hold in front, p2 then k3 from cn. But c5b means sl 2 sts to cn and hold in back, k3, then p2 from cn. Can't keep them straight! But I think looking at where I need the cable to go and lean is helping reason whether I need to p2 or k3 first.
4. I haven't knit with anything thinner than worsted weight in over a year! It's so delicate and sts keep falling off so easily!
Luckily, this time around is going much better. I switched to my extra skein of yarn because the first one was becoming so twisted and kinked with all my do overs. I think it had made a huge difference!
Fun fact: Mac and cheese and bacon is the best brunch ever.
Stay warm out there!
Ruthie
Sunday, January 5, 2014
New Year, New Yarn!
There's 10 inches of snow outside in St. Louis today! Mike and I are snowed in, so we have been cooking, watching tv, and on my part, knitting all day! It has been a perfect day :)
I've been wanting to knit these mittens for a while now. Finally got to the Hearthstone Knits on Friday to get some DK weight grey yarn to match my cowl.
The pattern is Erin's mittens on Ravelry. I've loved doing simple cables in the past, so I wanted to try out a more complex cable pattern. The pattern starts with the cable cuffs. The cuffs are 4 repetitions of 16 rows. So far, I have 10 rows. I'm not sure if it's right or now...so I think I am going to continue before I rip it out. On the bright side, I feel like I am understanding more how cables work! Maybe someday I can write my own patterns with cables :)
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