* cough * JGG

Ahem...*Cough*...clears throat.

There has been JGG knitting going on. Lots of it. Lots 'n lots 'n lots of it. An extra 3 motifs on the existing sleeve, a whole 'nother sleeve to match, and 10 inches or so of the front. Not bad considering the week I had with hubby away for work and the usual mad crazy busy schedule of work, school and craft club.

While I had some real trouble with the motif on the front piece, I'm truckin' away now good-o and am reasonably confident of making my new deadline of 27th March. (Note to self: Over confidence = Disaster. You never learn nuthin'?)

Must be the Spring weather tho'. I got a sudden uncontrollable urge to do some de-cluttering (and boy is it necessary) and came across this carefully stashed away, calling my name.



Yes my treasure, I just couldn't hear you tucked away in that box. Don't cry.

And as soon as I realised that the JGG was not going to make its St Patrick's Day deadline, I just had to pick this up again. If only to stop it whining.

There may have been seaming. I'm not prepared to say.

This baby has been gestating for 2 years now. It's about time it got finished. Heck, if it was a movie, it would be Benjamin Button, born at a great age.

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I'm a Chunky Knitter

OK, so altho' I don't generally get into stuff that's toooo personal in this blog, while on the road to finishing up some UFP's I have come across a curious reluctance to finish something special.

It goes something like this...I'm a chunky knitter. Not a knitter of chunky yarn on big needles so much as a slightly chunky wielder of the needles.

I'm not sayin' this to put myself down, (something I try not to do, honest) but it has led to an interesting hesitation in completing a UFO which has been waiting patiently to be seamed for over a year now.

I refer to the Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan, the longest UFO on the needles. Waaaay longer even than the JGG if you can believe it.





Given that this project was launched with great fanfare at the start of this blog...(end of 2007) it is not surprising that people occasionally ask about it and...ahem...slag me for not having finished it.

(For an early blogpost go here and here and here for some cardigan related stuff.)




The thing is, you see, is that it's fitted, and ribbed and might not look quite as wonderful as I would like on a curvalicious booty such as mine. I had in fact intended that there would be a little less of my loveliness when the time came to cast off, but life intervened and my plans in this regard are enjoying a somewhat delayed success.

(I'll get there by the way, don't fret, this is my year.)

I conclude the following:

- A great knitting project deserves to be finished, regardless

- and this would finally get it off my UFO list (yay)

- and do I really think that I can't finish it in case it looks cr*p on me?

- so while I'm walking around in other clothes I obviously think I'm invisible?

Get up the yard girl, and finish the thing already.

Sheesh.

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Professional Finishing at TIK

Well, I gotta tell ya, I had the BEST time on Saturday morning. I was the Magician's Assistant* for the Lovely Lisa at TIK for the Professional Finishing course. And a very professional course it was too. I could talk all day about it and not cover it all. (And I could. Talk all day I mean. Do you doubt it?)

So, briefly, (since ya'll got other things to do today I'll bet):

- I met lots of really lovely knitters. There was great chatting, camarardarie and sharing of funny stories of knitting successes and disasters; (Boy, it was sooooo good to spend some time amongst my own kind.)

- I learned exTREMEly valuable tips on finishing garmets professionally, and especially for set-in sleeves, which are probably the most feared things, and up there with button bands for making-or-breaking the finished garment.

- Lisa did a fabulous job, of course. 'Nuff said.

- It was such fun to watch the beaming smiles of the knitters as they realised one-by-one that their seaming troubles are over. Their happiness was proportionally in contrast to the awful dread and litany of disappointments that is the nightmare of seaming. So, they were very very happy indeed.

This is the Holy Grail of techniques. Really.

- I got to see the Knit Picks Harmony needles in person. And I'll be getting some soon for certain sure. They're soooooo pretty!

- I got a copy of The Best of Interweave Knitting. Another knitting book. So?

- AND I got a set of these clever do-dads. Locking stitch markers. Don't know how I lived without them. And almost the best bit? When you open the packet, there's another packet inside to keep them in, with a secure flap-thingy closure an' all. Fabulous.




So many great knitting things in one day. Heaven.

Inspired, I got up the following day and started seaming the set-in sleeve for the Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan. It's going very very very well (whispering now so's not to wake the mischievous Knit Gods). It's such an improvement on my usual ad hoc stitch where you feel like it and hope for the best freeflow method.

Sound bites from the occasion:

• 'This child is going to be wearing this cardigan for 18 years' - an expectant knitter refers to a lovely sweet baby cardigan.

• 'You can hide a lot of things in your armpits' - Lisa, on hiding excess fabric in your seaming.

I strongly urge you to take this course if you've half a mind to. Even if you've read the techniques already, there's nothing like seeing them in action.

Seriously.

Do it.



*If you'd like to imagine her in a top hat and myself in sequins then go ahead. It wouldn't be accurate, but it might add a little theatrical interest.

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Ribbed Cardigan Update

Well! Just look at this elegant thing. Isn't it wonderful?

(If I say so myself. And it seems that I do.)



This is the back view of the Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan which has been hibernating for an age. There are lots of reasons for delays on this project, but the most recent was that I lost the pattern book with the collar instructions. Found it recently and managed to find the time to get back to it.

It was this back view of the collar in the book that sold me so absolutely on the project so I'm thrilled that the collar has turned out so well.

This part was a real joy. Well the results were. The actual process was a bit more tricky.

When seaming the fronts and back I briefly considered grafting them - and had even left some of the shoulder seam stitches live with that very intention (i.e. didn't cast them off, but left them on spare yarn). However, I recall reading somewhere that seams add structure and strength to the garment and they shouldn't be abandoned just because grafting is an option.

So I seamed the shoulders and was very happy with the result...even tho' it took a few tries to line up the ribbing at the top of the shoulders. I'll try and get a photo of this soon.

The instructions for picking up the collar stitches were a bit confusing however. First you are told to pick up the stitches with 'right side facing', which is clear enough. That's with the right side (i.e. the outside) of the garment facing you.

So far so fine.

However, the very next line gives the stitch instructions (K6, P3, K3. etc) also with 'right side facing'. If you take it (as I did) that you're still on the right side of the garment it soon becomes clear that the ribbing is now 'out of step', i.e. you are knitting where the purl rib is and purling where...ok, you get it. Plus the garter stitch edgings were turning into stocking stitch, which seemed wrong also.

So far, so not fine.

I mulled over this for ages and even knit on a few rows but I still wasn't happy so I finally tinked back and decided to just reverse the instructions so that it would come out right.

And then I realised.

The 'right side facing' in this 2nd instance is in fact the 'right side' of the collar.....and therefore the inside not the outside of the garment. In other words, between the 1st instuction 'right side facing' and the 2nd instruction 'right side facing' on the very next line, you TURN THE PIECE AROUND to reverse the way the garment faces.

In fact it does make sense, because you are just turning around ot the wrong side of the garment and knitting back the way you came in the usual way of knitting. But that's NOT WHAT IT SAYS. I'm just sayin'.

(Funny enough, it wouldn't have happened with straight needles since I would have no choice as to which direction to go in. Never thought there would be a downside to my beloved Addi circulars.)

If you're still with me on this one, go off and get a coffee or strong beverage. I nearly had to lie down in the dark with a cold compress. Guess I just take the written instruction too literally. The point is that you need to watch what you're knitting and respond to what's happening in front of you as well as read the instructions. Between the two methods I might get there eventually.

Anyway, the results were lovely.

(

You'll notice the bobbles? Well, I tried to omit them here, but the purl part of the ribbing is increased in the last few rows to give the right flare. And dammit it just looked bare and lumpy without the bobbles. So they were reinstated. Still don't like them much, but what the hell. I don't think I'll be able to see them when I'm wearing it.

Now for the simple task of setting in the ribbed sleeves and finishing seaming. Might take another few months.

Oh and to find the perfect buttons of course.

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More Bliss...

As promised, more pics* from the World of Bliss.



A view of the cardigan back, showing fab cabling detail. See the way all those bobbles are receeding into the background? I think they call that adding perspective or something in the art world. Anyway, they're lovely. (Eagle-eyed viewers will see that there's something in the basket at TIK on 1/2 price sale. A bargin. Get down there, I'll wait. You back yet? OK)

And that's my new cosy jacket that I'm wearing (from Dunnes Stores). I needed something to wear at work that doesn't look dipped in baby spit and domestic chaos crumpled. Smart innit? You can't knit your WHOLE wardrobe.




Here's the cardigan back with the left front piece draped artfully across it. Those cables are quite seductive. If they could, they'd wink at ye. 'Come up and knit me sometime'.....they say.

Even more eagle-eyed viewers will notice that I have ommitted the bobbles all the way up the front. This is because while they serve a purpose on the back, by creating a lovely vertical line and giving the back detail an almost Tudor-like feel...well. ..I ...actually ...hate ...bobbles. Seriously. Hate 'em.

Hate knitting 'em. After all it's the knitting equivalent of running on the spot. All that knitting and knitting and turning the piece around and around, and no progress.

At least on the back I won't have to look at 'em. I permitted them to remain on the front insofar as the cable detail requires them, but I wasn't about to let them creep all the way up towards my neckline-view. Nasty bobbly things! Go 'way! And they were just too much with the button band as well. Trust me.

So...what happened next? Well, I spent HOURS picking up stitches for the button bands. I dislike knitting button bands almost as much as bobbles. (Jeez, I sound like a very grumpy knitter, but I'd honestly rather knit a 3rd sleeve than a buttonband. Go on, admit it. You feel the same.) It took 3 or 4 attempts before the 129 stitches were picked up evenly on one side but mercifully the other side was quicker.

And remarkably, the bands look ok. No flaring to speak of.

Progress on the cardigan has been halted due to the gift knitting. 3 or 4 pairs of mittens and a lacey drawstring bag.

More pics, you've guessed it...

...later.

* These pics also courtesy of the Lovely Lisa of TIK.

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The Foolish Princess

Once upon a time there was a Foolish Princess.

The Foolish Princess started out as a Happy Knitting Princess (HKP).

The HKP didn't intend to be foolish, it just kinda happened along the way. The HKP is sorry now and she won't be foolish anymore - at least, not this kind of foolish. (She reserves the right to be foolish in many other ways that she hasn't thought of yet.)

Our story begins long long ago, when the HKP fell in love...no...not with a Handsome Prince, but like many other HKPs before her, she fell in love with a Handsome Yarn and a Charming Pattern.

Such a very Beautiful Project (BP), thought the HKP, I shall be the Happiest Knitting Princess in the land!



When the HKP went home and cast on for the BP, she was a very HKP indeed. The Handsome Yarn knitted swiftly and the stitch pattern was interesting and delightful. The HKP took her progress knitting to show it (off) to the Fairy Godmothers (aka, the ladies of TIK).

The Fairy Godmothers ooh-ed and aah-ed over the BP and suggested that the HKP might like to take home THE LAST BALL of yarn for the BP as a precaution against running out. (Here comes the foolish part.) The HKP foolishly said, 'No thanks, it'll be fine' and foolishly skipped off home.

The HKP (now the Foolish Princess) said this even though she ALREADY PLANNED to make the BP slightly longer than specified. In her defense, if she had known that HKP Mary L had finished the very same BP with only THREE FEET of yarn to spare, she would have answered differently.

[On a serious note however, the cardigan was only lengthened by 4 rows (front and back of course) which doesn't justify running out of yarn to such a degree. AND the HKP left out most of the bobbles on the cardigan fronts - because she just doesn't like bobbles - so that should have saved some yarn. Definitely a pattern warning.]

The FP kept on knitting and knitting but instead of becoming happier, she became sadder and sadder as it became more and more obvious that she would run out of yarn entirely before the end of the 2nd sleeve, with the button band and the collar still to go.

Too late, the FP ran back to the Fairy Godmothers. 'Please, please may I have the last ball of yarn for the BP', she said eagerly. But the Fairy Godmothers couldn't help her. The last ball of yarn was long gone. Sadly they sent her a new ball in a different dyelot in the hopes that it would suit, but in vain. The dyelot was significantly different and just would not do.

The FP searched far and wide and finally found a 1/2 ball of the Handsome Yarn hiding in a stash sale in the Castle of the HKP Knitting Neels. HKP Knitting Neels gladly sent the yarn to the Castle of the FP, but again it was in vain.

In desperation, the FP sent out messages to HKPs throughout the land to see if anyone had some of the Handsome Yarn hiding somewhere.

'Desperately Seeking Debbis Bliss Cashmerino DK, Colour 18004 (Red), Dyelot 54', the message said.

The Foolish Princess sadly put the Beautiful Project away and waited. While she waited, she wondered if casting on for Sofia would ease her pain. 'I'd better shorten the sleeves if I lengthen it', she thought.

The Foolish Princess had finally learned her lesson!


Sofia, from the magic needles of Fairy Godmother Jacqui!

Digitally challenged

Well, here I am again and still no knitting pics. Is this a soooper knitting blog or what?

Don't answer that.

Yadda yadda yadda there are lots of excuses reasons for this, but the long and the short of it is that somebody else has the cables for the digital camera, and the drivers that make it work, so that person gets to download and store the pictures. Hence, the camera is full of non-knitting pictures. This situation will be recitified as soon as I can get around to it.

However, just so's I ain't got nuthin', here's the Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan that I am almost finished.

Lovely, innit? A thing of beauty. The kind of thing that makes one rush out and cast on forthwith. I was instantly inspired by the cardigan Mary L (currently blogless) had with her at TIK the day that Ms Bliss came to tempt us to spend the children's allowance on yarn say hello.

And if you think that's nice, you should see the picture inside the book of the back shaping. And no smart remarks about how it'll be better to see me leaving than arriving.

Progress pictures presently.

Promise.