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July 24, 2007
Glove knitting
Last week, I had a sudden, uncontrolable urge to start the gloves on the cover of this Japanese knitting book:
Thanks to a friend and fellow knitter who lives in Japan (you can follow her knitting adventures here), I get to knit them in exactly the yarn called for in the pattern. It's lovely tweedy stuff called Soft Concious, made of 83% wool and 17% baby alpaca. It's very soft.
I casted on with 3mm needles. I haven't tried entrelac before, but the Japanese schematics are quite clear and I had some help of my general knitting technique books (in this case especially the Debbie Bliss book How to Knit / Het nieuwe breien). Or you could say I just winged it. It all starts with a square.
And some more squares...
Add more squares in a different color...
And before you know it, you've knitted yourself a glove cuff!
I think these gloves will turn out great. And I just really enjoy knitting gloves! There is something totally satisfying about it. The construction is so clever, similar to the way the construction of socks is clever. It just never ceases to amuse me.
By the way, if you want to know more about knitting gloves, check out the booklet Nanette of Knitting in Color has put out, called Glove Knitting. She explains in much detail every aspect of well-fitting knitted gloves. She describes different kind of thumbs, finger tips, how to deal with holes between the fingers, and much more. Two patterns are included. The booklet is available in print and as a PDF, and Nanette donates a portion of the proceeds of the sale to a rabbit rescue society. What more could you ask for? Well, apart from a Dutch translation maybe...
Posted by saartje at 11:50 PM | Comments (18)
July 13, 2007
February Baby Sweater
I've been wanting to knit the February Baby Sweater (also known as FBS) from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Almanac ever since I got the book. It's such a cute little sweater, and what's even better: it requires minimal finishing. Last week, I found myself surfing the internet, looking for examples. All I can say is: wow! Take a look:
One that is modelled by a cute baby by Elliphantom Knits
One in pink by Jenna
Many more sweaters at the EZ knitalong blog (Zimmermania)
Lots and lots of FBS at Flickr
After this overload of inspiration, I just had to cast on. Luckily, I had some great yarn in my stash. It's Alcampa (85% wool, 15% alpaca, 95 m/50 g) from Stahlsche Wolle (now discontinued I think). I got this yarn from a friend of T's mother. She wanted to get rid of it and offered it to me. There were three different shades of green, neither of which enough for a cardigan. I decided to cast on with one of the darker shades, using a 4.5mm circular.
This is what the sweater (though I will call a 'cardigan' from now on, because that's what it is to me) looked like a week ago on Thursday. Such a lovely round shape!
Then on Saturday, we took the boat to spend some days with relatives who are living on the island of Terschelling. Of course, the cardigan (and some other knitting in progress) went with me. The weather has been great (which can't be said for the rest of the country...) so I've been knitting in the sun on the balcony. After the yoke, I changed to the lighter green yarn. Here you can see the cardigan on Monday, together with some other life essentials:
On Wednesday, I finished the cardigan.
Apart from buttons. I couldn't get the right buttons (if any, I didn't really try) on the island, so that'll have to wait until I can get to the fabric market here in town on Tuesday.
I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. The two shades of green work together well, I think. The pattern is easy and fun to knit, I probably will knit it again some time. Here's another view, just for fun:
Lotte was having a good time at Terschelling too. It was her first time of many, and next time we'll remember to take her sun hat. This time, her grandfather made her a sun hat out of one of his handkerchiefs.
Works just fine!
Posted by saartje at 11:19 PM | Comments (42)
July 2, 2007
I did it again
So I was merrily knitting along on the second sleeve. Everything was going fine, soon I was going to have a finished cardigan. Then, for some reason, I decided to double check the second sleeve against the first, finished one.
At the cuff end, everything was looking fine.
But at the shoulder end....
Something clearly went wrong here. Or should I say: when will I learn to count and count again? This brings back memories. I can't believe I did it again! Sigh.... Of course, my motivation to rip, reknit and finish this thing has dropped to zero right now, so I will be focussing on other knits in progress for a while. Like this baby cardigan for example:
It's a Drops pattern. It's available from the Garnstudio website in lots of languages, among which Dutch and English. The pattern number is Baby Drops 14-27. I'm using Drops Alpaca and a 2.5 mm circular. I'm ready to start the second sleeve but I'm feeling a bit nervous to start it, considering my past experience with second sleeves. I'm trying to build up the courage to do it by knitting Lotte some socks.
And here she is, sitting on her father's arm, wearing her Fana cardigan. She seems pleased with it.
Here is another view. She's lying on a blanket my mother knit her.
Isn't it great? It's a pattern from And so to bed... by Lucinda Guy, a book I absolutely adore. The blanket is made from Rowan Cashsoft, yummy!
Posted by saartje at 11:38 PM | Comments (52)
