splityarn

wicked redux

It was exactly a year ago that I started knitting Wicked. That first incarnation met an untimely demise with only a sleeve to be finished. Although it was a really fast knit (under two weeks if memory serves) it was still hard to rip. When you frog an entire project knowing you'll have to reknit, sometimes it's best to leave the yarn in a time out in the stash. Yesterday I hauled out the same green Brooks Farm Fourplay and cast on for Wicked v2.0. The yarn is so delicious. When I knit with it, I'm surprised I put it away for so long (but then I remember the sizing frustration. Grrrrr.)

I'm sorry pretty yarn, it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have punished you for so long. I hope you'll be happy to be back out in the sun and coming with me to SPA this weekend for some knitting and manicures and girlfriendy goodness.)

central park hoodie

Pattern: Central Park Hoodie by Heather Lodinsky for KnitScene.

Yarn: 7 skeins of Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran in colour 032.

Needles: Size 8 US (5.0mm) Bamboo

Size: 44". I wasn't quite spot on gauge, so I knit the 44" knowing it would work out to a 46" finished product. I was in between sizes anyway, so that worked out well with no math adjustments to be made.

Started: December 29th, 2007
Finished: February 9th, 2008

Modifications:
I knit the body about an inch longer than written and the arms about 3 inches longer. My sweaters have to reach my knuckles otherwise I'll constantly be pulling on the sleeves.
I knit the hood as written, but I kitchenered the seam up the middle. The button band was to be knit in two sections and seamed at the top to match the hood, but I just picked up and knit it all at the same time on two long circs.

Final Verdict: It's a little shloompier than I'd like. If I were to make it again, I'd definitely add in some waist shaping. As it is, it's kicking hot to wear, so it will end up being more of a jacket type thing than just a cardigan. 

Ravelry project details

houndstooth everywhere

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knitting bind-off with beads (tutorial)

Way back in the Spring when I finished Hanami, I had it in my head to write a tutorial on how to do the beaded bind off. Spring led to Summer and a ton of travel, Summer led to Fall and we moved across country so the tutorial fell into the drawer of One Day. As it turns out, One Day is today.

This version of the beaded bind off is really easy with the right tools. The first thing is to get a small enough crochet hook to fit through the bead and still have room for the yarn. The one shown here is ridiculously small (0.75mm;) it's way teenier than it needs to be, but it was what they had at the store AND it was on sale. That makes it the right size for me. I'm not a beader, so I don't really how the sizes work, but the ones I used are 6/0 seed beads. The yarn is the leftover Seasilk from Hanami, but with the right combo of yarn and beads, you can use this cast-off on anything.

The bind off is essentially the same as normal with the addition of adding the bead on every other stitch.

1. Start by knitting one.
2. Put a bead on the crochet hook and take that first stitch off the right hand needle.
3. Hook the stitch with the crochet hook and slide the bead down over it.
4. Put the stitch back on the right hand needle.
5. Knit the next stitch.
6. Pass the beaded stitch over just like a normal bind off.
7. Knit the next stitch and pass the first one over.
8. Repeat steps 2-8 until you're finished.
9. Marvel at the sparkliness of your finished handknit.

Easy hey? As always, bigger pictures in the flickr set.

not a perfect (sweater) season

I confess I don't really like football at all. I love to watch hockey and when I married the Husband I added baseball to that list, but football just does not sing to me. I don't actively avoid football games, but I certainly don't seek them out. What I do like about it though, is it provides ample knitting time on the couch, completely uninterrupted. The Husband can jump up and down and holler at Tom Brady while I can quietly hum along on whatever knitting project I want.

The Central Park Hoodie was swatched and started during a game at the end of December and I was hoping to have the whole thing finished by yesterday's Superbowl, but I didn't quite make it. (And neither did the Patriots, but that's a whole other ball of yarn) All that remains now is three inches on the hood and the button bands. I think no matter how hard I try, knitting a sweater is always going to take more than 6 weeks. I always assume I can knock it out faster, but I'm consistently closer to the 2 month mark. Somebody please remind me of that in August next year so I can budget my winter knitting time better.