Tag: knit

Knitting

Foray into Machine Knitting

Iris Rose

This week, I thought that I would write about my third craft love, machine knitting.  I know that I have written about this in the past and I know that machine knitting is regarded by many as cheating or not requiring much skill, but nothing could be further from the truth.

I have caught up with my WIPs (actually ignoring the pile is more accurate) and decided to give the old standard gauge a whirl.  I have a couple of knitting machines, okay four, all of them Singers from the eighties, three are standard gauge and one is a bulky machine.  Three have matching ribbers.  My first machine was a gift and the others were just too tempting a price to refuse once I caught the bug.

Silk Noil Tank Top With Hand Crocheted Edging

I am self taught and learned before the era of Youtube and other helpful online resources.  I thought that using a machine would be breeze and, although I was already an accomplished crocheter and knitter at the time, I soon found out that this craft was a whole new ball game.  The instruction books that come with the machines are good but there is no substitute for hands on help with this type of knitting.  I joined a machine knitting group and that really helped to keep me going.  I have learned so much more these last few years through facebook groups and Youtube that I am light years ahead of where I was when I packed up my machines thirteen years ago.

A standard gauge knitting machine will handle yarn from very fine to about sport weight.  3ply and 4ply (sock) are the perfect weight in my opinion.  You can knit DK but it is a struggle and requires using only every other needle so is limiting in what you can make.  My favourite machine is my Singer 560 (I have two in case one dies on me) and has built in electronic patterning which was state of the art in 1984, the year it was made.

This last couple of weeks of been a fun test of all of the knowledge that I have acquired but not used recently.  I had rehabbed my machines a few months ago with new retainer bars and needles and, wow, what a difference!  I cast on without dropping everything on my toes and I was off.

    

Cashmere, Silk and Merino Wrap, the photo doesn’t do it justice!

The first thing that I made was a wrap for myself.  I collect yarn, did you know that?  I have a few, okay some, okay a lot, of luxury yarn on cones that I buy online from Colourmart in the UK.  I had a 150g cone of cashmere, silk, merino blend in a charcoal grey.  Perfect, I thought.  I played with some swatches (yes, you have to swatch for machine knitting too!) and settled on a simple tuck stitch pattern that gives the work some interest but allows the sheen of the yarn to come through.  Thirteen hundred rows later I had a gorgeous wrap that only required some crochet around the edge to stop the curl.  Three thousand single crochet stitches later and my wrap was done.  It is really lovely, soft and drapey, and is my new favourite wrap.

Bunny Hop Cardigan

Well, the simple work was done, and I ventured on to something more challenging.  I didn’t keep the patterns that I had written long ago but remembered enough to work out a simple girl’s cardigan.  Having a lot of sewing experience in garment construction really can make a difference in success or failure when designing for another craft.  A border of bunnies across the bottom above the ribbing made the sweater.  I still needed to block everything and sew it together but, when that was done, it is really cute and I am proud of the way it turned out.

Cable Sweater Back, Unblocked

Next up is a more complicated pullover with hand manipulated cables and raglan sleeves.  I had no trouble with the back but, of course, thinking that this would be a breeze, I needed to reknit the front a few times.  All in the learning curve I guess but whew, I was glad when it was done.  I have completed a sleeve and am working on the second.  I should be done this weekend, yay!

    

Wrap Knit from a Youtube Video, this took some patience but was fun!

If you think that machine knitting might be for you, I highly, highly recommend that you join a group in your area if you can find one.  I did that when I first started and it really does make a big difference in continuing or quitting in frustration.  Youtube is your friend and an active facebook group will keep you inspired and encourage you to keep going.

Knitting

Busy Week!

Iris Rose

 

I have an unexpected late start at work today.  It snowed lightly here last night and, of course, all of the people who drive too fast and too carelessly have met by accident.  The roads are clogged so I thought that I would wait out the snarls and write to you instead.

It has been a busy week with Thanksgiving in the middle.  It is always lovely to see family and have a feast.  It also signals the start of the weather declining into winter.  I know that I have mentioned this in my last few posts but, and here it is, it is time to get busy with your winter crocheting and knitting.  There I have said it, finally admitting that the summer is over.

I have found some time for crafting this week.  I am still working on my poncho.  I have the front done and about one third of the back.  It helps if I don’t watch anything too interesting on TV while I am working.  I dropped a stitch on the weekend and had to rip back about sixteen rows.  Not too happy with myself but I did it right away instead of tossing it into the project basket as I usually do for a time out.  I am back to and have passed that point so all is well.  I will have the pattern out in the next month; I am excited as it is going to be so pretty with the gradient yarn.

         

On another note, DD1 brought me a handmade gift for Thanksgiving.  The ghost has a little LED candle inside that makes it light up and the pumpkin is squishy soft.  Very cute and very talented crocheting!

            

I have been busy populating my Etsy store, Iris Rose Crafts.  There are mostly toys up at the moment but I should have other things out by this weekend.  My patterns for download will be added as well.  Come over and have a look!

In the meantime, come to Ravelry and browse my store there.  I do have free patterns that will fall in nicely with gift giving (speedy and easy to make) but also have several paid patterns for some pretty shawls and sweaters that you can make for those special people in your life.

Both of these are free patterns in my Ravelry store! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/combo-hat;  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick-and-easy-garter-stitch-cowl

New patterns next month will be the poncho and a surprise crocheted wrap so stay tuned!

Knitting

Stash Busting Easy, Easy, Easy Scarf

Iris Rose

I am late at posting today!  I cut my finger (ow, ow, ow!) and got behind in doing the stuff that needed to be done earlier.  Anyway, here I am now.

I wrote last week that I would have a new pattern for you this week and, tada, I do.  This is a really basic garter stitch scarf pattern that is ideal for a beginner, a quick knit for a more experienced knitter, and a fabulous way to use up part skeins that are in that box in your stash to be used for something, you know the one.  A pretty scarf is also a perfect last minute gift to make, you can make this scarf in an evening. 

The scarf is built in sections of different colours, textures and/or weights of yarn held with a base yarn that remains the same throughout.

I start by choosing a base worsted weight yarn.  This yarn will be used to knit the whole scarf so you will need a fair bit of this one depending on how long you want your scarf to be.  You will need from 225m to 360m or 250yds to 400yds for your base yarn.  I used Bernat Premium acrylic yarn but you can use anything that you have on hand.

Here is the base that I chose along with some potential contrasts.  I didn’t use all of these but added in others.

         

Next, dig through that box or tote or bag where you save the part skeins that are too pretty to toss and find anywhere from six to twelve contrasting or matching colours to pair with your base yarn.  I used some bits in two places as they were long enough.  These yarns can be anything from lace (used double so twice the length) to light worsted.  You will need these yarns to be 36m or 40yds each or double that to use twice in the scarf.

The needles that I used are 12mm or US 17 needles.  These produced a nice thick and squishy scarf with enough drape to wrap nicely.

With your base yarn and one of the selected smaller skeins held together, cast on twenty stitches.  Knit twenty-six rows.  Cut the contrast yarn and, holding another contrast yarn with the base yarn (you haven’t cut the base yarn and won’t throughout the scarf) knit another twenty-six rows.  Continue knitting twenty-six row sections in different contrasting yarns held with the base yarn until you have at least eight sections.  Twelve sections will make a long, wrap around scarf if that is the type you want.  You can make as many sections as you like but I find that eight is probably the minimum that you need to make a decent scarf.

Cast off at the end of the last section, weave in your ends and lightly block your scarf.  Add a fringe if you want to finish off the ends if you like that look.

The above scarf was made with a bunch of boucle pieces that I held with a basic black acrylic yarn.  It is only fifteen stitches wide as I was experimenting with this pattern.

You can use your great imagination to really make this a unique accessory.  If you like to experiment, use larger needles to make a looser knit or to use up chunky or bulky yarn.  You will have to be careful of your yarn length to make the twenty-six rows.  You can vary that too.  Make your sections all different numbers of rows for a different look and a great way to use up all of the extra bits.

Have fun with this and let me know how your unique creations turned out.  I always welcome feedback and love to see photos.

Knitting

Started Your Winter Knitting and Crocheting Yet?

Iris Rose

Before I start my conversation, I do have some sad news.  An upset on my web page caused my subscriber list to disappear.  I have set up a new subscription form on my blog page and, if you would like a notification of new posts, you will need to resubscribe.  Thanks for supporting me!

My goodness, this month has flown by!  I am always surprised at how fast the end of summer goes by but this year it seems to be exceptionally speedy in passing.  The weather has been so lovely for so long that it feels like winter is still far away but sadly it is not.

For those of you (and I include myself here) that have not yet started your winter gift knitting, it is now or never!  I have a few easy free patterns on Ravelry that may help you out.  You can click the link to the patterns or check out my store to see what else I have been up to.

 

The first and my favourite quick, quick, quick and easy pattern is the Simple Shawl.  This is a basic sideways knit triangle that, worked on large needles, can be completed in four hours.  I am a pretty speedy knitter but the large needles really slow me down.  I can still finish one of these in that time.  I try to use a bulky or textured yarn that shows well in the simple garter stitch pattern.  The large needles give it an airy texture and show off the yarn.  You will need from 135m to 150m to make a nice size triangle.  Try overlapping and wrapping it for a cozy cowl look if a shawl is not your thing.

Speaking of cowls, my next suggestion is my Quick and Easy Garter Stitch Cowl.  Again, big needles and yarn are what make this such an easy pattern to knit and result in a soft and squishy cowl to keep out the cold.  It is small enough to fill in the neck of your coat without wrapping it around a couple of times and still soft and stretchy enough to pull up over your nose on those really nippy days; you prairie people know what I am talking about!  You will need less than 100m for this one so it is a great way to use up those odd skeins in your stash.  If you have a couple of complimentary yarns in a lighter weight, try doubling them up for a uniquely yours look.

             

Now that you have taken care of the necks on your list, try out my Combo Hat.  It combines crochet and knitting for a really warm hat to keep out the winter chill.  The band is knitted in a twisted stitch faux cable and the crown is crocheted with two colours.  It is really pretty and still a relatively quick make that requires a little more skill.

Next week I will have a new scarf pattern for you that uses up the part skeins in your stash that you are saving but don’t know what to do with.  In the meantime, happy crocheting and knitting and thanks for reading.

Knitting

Oh, I’ve Started Another One

Iris Rose

I usually have a topic in mind when I sit down to write my blog post but today, not so much.  It is raining and starting to really look like fall which is really not my favourite time of the year.  I know, I know, it is a great time to be crafting.  All of those great yarns calling your name and all of those lovely patterns just begging to be made or at least bought and saved or printed and placed in the pile.  Sound familiar?  See you are just like the rest of us!

I have ventured into a couple of new projects and thought you might like to see them.  I went yarn looking (okay really yarn shopping, that road to hell is paved with I won’t buy any more yarn) on Saturday of last weekend with DD1 and came across this new, at least to me, lovely gradient yarn in a worsted weight, 200g, 500m cake.  Oh, I thought, that will make a gorgeous poncho.  But wait, 500m won’t be enough to knit a poncho in the round and to start a second cake part way through will spoil the beauty of the gradient colour changes.  I am now knitting a poncho in two pieces front and back and will seam it.  I am making notes as I go of course so, if it looks as good as I think it will, there is a new pattern in the works.

The yarn is a product of Germany called Gala.  I have seen a few free patterns on Ravelry this week so I am assuming that it a new to North America yarn.  It is, as I said, a generous 500m in a 200g cake.  It comes in six colour ranges, is composed of eighty percent wool and twenty percent nylon, and is a very nice yarn to work with.  It looks fragile but is surprisingly strong.  I can’t wait to finish my poncho; I have been neglecting my other projects in favour of this one.

I did pick up a couple of other skeins to try and will fill you in on what I thought of those when I start to work with them.  I also stepped into Michaels, that centre of temptation, and found a no name bag of fine boucle with long colour changes.  A project for that one is cooking but not quite done and ready to come to life.

I have finished the vest that I started some time ago with another clearance no name yarn that I still haven’t identified.  I thought that it was Bernat Maker but, after seeing that yarn close up, I am now sure that it is not.  In any case the vest turned out better than expected and is awaiting a zipper to finish it.

If you are in the Calgary/Okotoks area on Saturday, stop by the Etsy Made in Canada sale at the Crescent Point Regional Field House in Okotoks at 125 Field House Dr East.  I’d love to say hello in person.  I will be selling from my Etsy store, Iris Rose Crafts.