I have my hands on KnitKnit and Knitting Fair Isle Mitten & Gloves!

KnitKnit’s got profiles of various interesting knitters, unfortunately, the patterns included are not as fun as the best of their work (i.e. seeing Tina Marrin in a great knit outfit, but there isn’t a pattern for it!! I took a pic of the page and am determined to duplicate. ). A few were ‘oh, that’s cute, but not me,’ patterns, with the exception of Annie Modesitt’s cute swimsuit–which is why I checked out the book in the first place. There’s a list of various featured knitters’ websites or e-mails, but sadly, some of them are not developed at all. The sample of Eugene Ong’s work looks awesome, but NOT ONE PIC on the website is working!

Some of the pictures have been seen elsewhere (Debbie New’s bowl/boat in A Gathering of Lace; Tina Marrin’s boots on Knitty Gritty; Althea Merback’s tiny knits in a recent issue of Interweave Knits; Norah Gaughan’s Knitting Nature work; and Dave Cole’s construction crane US flag on the internet–that’s for real! The proof is in the book. He is standing in front of the flag for a true sense of the scale in one pic!).

I’m excited about theKnitting Fair Isle Mittens & Gloves patterns (and it has nothing to do with not having to pay over $200 USD for it!). There’re gorgeous patterns and some variations–with different colors! I <3 color. I think I’ll be getting into dyeing more often because of these little projects (why pay for 7+ skeins of each color?)

I just need to find the best sources for white/undyed/pale yarn. Or go thrift store combing for handknits to unravel.

Well, 1/2 an FO, I suppose, if you count socks as a pair.

I used the universal toe-up pattern by Wendy Johnson to modify Q. So only the top of the toe has red. I had to frog back once because I had guessed at which size would work for me & it was too big. Using the provisional or loop cast on from knittinghelp.com (scroll down), this project went really fast.

I also modified to get rid of the margin column, so from the ankle, I inc’d to a multiple of 8 (st. pattern). My starting point was actually on the left side of the sock (I used magic loop on 1 circ). It’s actually not so easy to tell where the jogging is.

I worked the calf decrease chart upside down & just inc’sdas indicated. Worked out nicely. I also didn’t do the third leg repeat because I was afraid of running out of yarn for the 2nd sock (which will be in the reverse colors).

It just happened to work out that the dyelot change was right before the beginning of the charted pattern. If it had been anywhere else, it would have been a much more obvious color difference.

I know, very Christmassy. It was what I had on hand.

(click to see larger pics)

Left: bayerische socks by Eunny Jang on US 0 needles, in Filatura di Crosa Diwa (discontinued).

Right: Q by Ajia Goto on Us 1 needles, in Cascade Fixation.

Both patterns available for free online at http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/ and http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTq.html, respectively (I’ve linked page 2 of the directions for Eunny’s socks, part 1 is linked on the page). Both modified to toe-up construction.

For the bayerische socks, I did some editing in Preview & Neo Office (Mac & freeware programs) to make the chart reading lots easier (I goofed it up a few times the first time. You can read about that here.):

(click to see larger version. I printed it out & carry it w/ the sock.)

I’m modifying Knitty’s Q with the universal sock pattern from Wendy Johnson with short row toes and heels. It’s been interesting because the measurements in the pattern are almost none of what I need to work the universal toe-up. I swatched & started in the round, then ripped it out because it was too big. As usual, my foot’s just right for the smallest measurements.

I’m currently working with some leftover Cascade Fixation on US 1s as my test before I even think of trying pretty, expensive sock yarn. They’re green & red. The greens are obviously not of the same dyelot, even though they’re the same color number. :/

Also using my new sheep counter that came with the August issue of Simply Knitting. It’s a sheep head with the numbers where its eyes are and a clicker on top.

I shall be venturing into the world of dyeing yarn soon. I have multiple skeins of Cascade Eco Wool and Knitpicks Bare. The Eco will become Knitty’s Trellis, adult size, and the Bare will be painstakingly measured, cut, & dyed to become the Autumn Rose Pullover (since Shetland Spindrift sucks).

Since WordPress’s support seems to be in no hurry to fix their blogroll code, I’ve done some cleaning up.

Resources & recommended Shops have been moved to their own pages.

The “knitting stuff you’ve done or plan to do” meme, I found at Octopus Knits.

Bold stuff you’ve done, italicize stuff you plan to do one day, and use normal font for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

(feel feel to copy & modify for yourself–I freely admit to having begun a number of italicized things, but have yet to complete )

Afghan/Blanket (baby sized)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton (NOT a fan)
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere (I suppose the 5% in Bernat counted)
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

I did some more work on my bayerische sock.   I will finish the pair someday! Size 0 needles + uncooperative yarn & single st cables don’t make this quick.  I’m aiming to used up 1 skein per sock.  I have a lot left of the first, but at least I’m past the heel!

I’ve cast off on the body of my Simple Knitted Bodice 2.0!

 I have a WIP pic, but am too tired to hunt up the cord & upload.

 I forgot to switch back to 4s on the last set of purl ridges.  Meh.

In my eagerness to finish the body of my SKB 2.0, I forgot the second purl ridge (don’t worry it was just a few rows). Tinking back!