Just not a good knitting week and pattern design

 I looked at the blue gloves again and decided.... the thumb gussets had to come out. They are much too big, not going to have sloppy knitting on my hands. Literally. 

 

 

So yes, I frogged both of them all the way back to where the gusset starts. This gives me a chance to also get them both in sync with row sequence as well. Not too much frustration with picking up stitches. I made sure to stop where an all knit row was to make it easier. At least on the first one I did. Second one, sill my was distracted and had to be careful picking up the slip and knit stitches. It's not a rush project, won't be needing them for another nine months at least. 

 

Oh and I decided not to rip out the green cuffs for the other pair and just knitted the first two stitches together on the round. A couple of reasons why I chose to do that; first, I really, really did not want to restart them again. Second, the first two inches are at the thicker part of the arm and a little extra room by one stitch is actually a good thing.

 

 

 

 

I decided to try a new stitch combination on a sock. This is going to be 100% an original design for me and so far, pretty happy how it's turning out. Temporary name is 'Faux Braid Pad Foot Sock'. Because that's what it is. The pattern on the top of the foot, and the leg, is called 'Faux Braid' and the sole is a three row alternating S1K1/K/K1S1. So it adds just a little extra padding to the ball of the foot and when I get to the heel will see what type of heel will work best with the stitch. I tried to do the four row slip stitch but it curled too much so I researched to see if anyone else had done a slip stitch on the sole of a sock and someone did. Voila! The striped yarn is working out really well and I am now considering taking out the blue 'wave' socks completely down to the toe and doing a pair in this pattern.

This is an older pair of socks I own, they're good 'summer' socks because they're rather thin. What looks like moss or seed stitch is actually faked. They add an extra loop inside the sock so it thickens the stitch so technically this could be either a slip stitch or seed stitch. The yarn, of course, is much thinner than anything I want to use so in order to copy this pattern from a commercial sock will be interesting. 

Toe and heel are contrast colors and the sole is straight knit, not a problem. Making the stitch counts to  look similar is the thing. A narrow band of seed stitch, two stitches of plain, the wide band of seed, two knitted and the other narrow band of seed. So.  Starting with a women's medium, 32 sts on top to work with divide in half is 16, half again is 8. 6 seed, 2 plain st, 16 seed, 2 plain, 6 seed. The calf/leg part is a mock 3-1 rib. Technically it looks like a 3-1-1 (p1k1p1k3) but commercial stitches are deceiving. 

When I actually figure this out I'll be looking for a plain or semisolid yarn to work it in. I love colors but sometimes a solid color works better for a pattern. It feels good to be creative but I want it done now.

Right?

Again with the six rows forward eight rows ripped.

 The scarf is also coming along nicely, as it's my go to project if I'm watching a movie or need something almost mindless to work on. Then there's.... another needle parted ways and on the Sheepicorn socks to boot. I'm just getting to the heel gusset on those and the tip just folded and came off. So that has to wait until next month to get a new needle. Wish I had enough money to buy multiples of the sizes I need. Oh and I should get a new needle gauge as well. Mine is the old white plastic one that the writing is almost all worn off.

 

 

 

 

I also discovered another mistake...with the green glove cuffs. I somehow added in an extra stitch on both of them. That's an inch of knitting done and it goes all the way down to the cast on. So. I will have to pull them off the needles and restart. Sigh.

 

The pattern on the gloves calls for 16-18 sts for the thumb gusset, I saw another pattern that said 19 but it was a different pattern. I just knitted this to 19 stitches and it is way too loose. Going to have to take it back four or six rows. The length for the palm is fine, but the thumb gusset is horridly too big. So glad I have them separated and can stop the other glove where it is. I forget that this is supposed to fit snugly because it is supposed to have negative ease.

 

So glad I have them separated and can stop the other glove where it is. I forget that this is supposed to fit snugly because it is supposed to have negative ease.

So onward and upward, it's been cold and cloudy today, perfect weather for working on warm knitting.

Two steps forward, and five rows back

 I was chugging along on the gloves, working on the other projects then was looking at the gloves after starting another sequence after a knit row and saw an extra long float. Hmmph, okay that's about two rows back so put a stitch marker in it and start to tink back the rows, I then looked at it again and ....damn, it's a dropped stitch because now two more rows are loose.

This is turning out to be a problematic project. I have to unknit all the rows now and it's going to be at least three rows of slip stitch and one more row of plain knit. Hope I caught the wayward stitch, it's so hard to tell with the dark yarn. 

I am further along on the green set of gloves for my son, the issue is I'm using a joined set of cables for a nearly 47 inch long needle set. The other problem is, the join causes a stitch jam when I'm pulling it through. The colors on this one is more subtle and I had hoped to use another yarn for the slipstitch but couldn't figure out how to do that easily so.... just plain green which is okay. This yarn coordinates well with the yarn I used for his hat.

I am really loving this particular stitch though and am considering using it on a pair of winter sock/slippers. Maybe that aqua blue scratchy yarn that I can never finish a project with. It would be warm and cozy for socks and since I don't have a lot of sensation in my feet anymore, so it should work out. Just working the yarn is difficult. 

I am flat broke and wouldn't you know at least two yarn companies are having sales. Simply Sock Yarns and KP are both having sales or a promotion and I think another company is as well.

Now, if you have a sci fi geek in your house or are one, like I do, and specifically a Star Trek fan, these socks may be worth the effort to learn color work.

Star Trek Socks by Laura Hohman on Ravelry for free! I saw them being knitted by the Yarn Dragon (who is much more advanced than I am) and found the pattern. On the Ravelry page it shows someone had done it in white and pale rainbow colors which is wonderful! My sweetie only wears black socks and given the problems I'm having with the navy blue Hawthorn....no black. So, eventually, when I get the budget for more yarn and a few other projects are finished, these will be a possibility. The directions call for DPN's which is another thing I do not want to deal with again so I would use two circulars instead. Easier to manage and... would have to do them one at a time given having two yarns at a time being worked it would make doing two socks at a time even more frustrating. The pattern used Stroll solid from KP which I think would be okay for the main color but the contrast definitely would want something more colorful which would be something like Stroll Effects or Tonal.

I could go yarn shopping but am going to not get into it due to several other things going on with projects that need to be finished. Being a good girl and focusing on what needs to be done first. 

Progress is pursued

 I have both of the mitts going now, the second one is being worked on more to catch up to the first one, with the replacement needled. Here's the thing, I misremembered what size the needle was and got a US 2.5 (3 mm), I double checked and ... they're supposed to be a size 2. No wonder it was so tight initially! Well that and I was knitting entirely too tight.

 I only have about an inch more to go on the second one to start the thumb gusset and be caught up with the first one. I think the thicker cable is also keeping the stitches a bit larger and looser. Yes, that is a 40 inch ChiaoGoo Red Lace needle, if I had paused just a half minute longer I would have gotten the next size up so I could fit both of them on the same needle. It's working out fine the way it is.

Now... me being impatient and frustrated because I almost ordered the wrong size needle AND it wasn't delivered when expected because ... lack of lighting at the gate. That's something else entirely. But I decided I needed to start another project ... yes... I know.

 

I have had about a dozen of these balls of Italian sock yarn for years. It was from a 'moving/consolidation' of a fellow knitter. This was years and years ago but those are all my colors for sure and snagged the entire bag. Not knowing..what to do with them. Then I started working the yarn and every project as abandoned and frogged. It is not soft yarn at all. It's machine washable supposedly but feels like some of the scratchiest wool from an old sweater. It must have been just my hands being extra dry the other day because it's not so bad today but still not as soft as Merino superwash.

 I decided to start a pair of socks anyway but only work with it for an hour or so before my fingers start getting sore. The other thing is, it calls for size 3-4 needles and I do not have the right cables to go with that size. I did find a size 1 40" and thought, well it's going to be socks might as well be tight.

Yes indeed, they are a tight knit and I started with the 'Magic No Gauge' sock pattern but the increases were awful!

I had to double check the pattern but I was doing it right, double increases every other row but that is way too steep. It also started with only 16 stitches (eight on each needle) which makes for a very pointy toe.

When you have something that works, stick with it and don't try to improve on it. Of course because I'm knitting uber tight with smaller needles it rolls horridly and I also went for 68 stitches for final count instead of 64. The next step is, what stitch pattern to do for the foot and leg? I realized that the colors are reminiscent of water, and then thought of Pandora (Avatar) and now need to find something that works like a vine pattern or leaves or waves or something. Also hope I can change to a size 2 needle but will see what happens with that. I'm working about an inch more two more on the two just straight knit for strength in the toe while I research a possible lace pattern.

The Sheepicorn socks are also not abandoned, I work on those in the evening when I have my dark blue blanked on the bed and the lighting isn't as bright. It's been rainy and cloudy the last few days so only working on the darker colors when I'm at the desk with overhead lighting. Same with the Hiking Scarf because that is stupid simple but is getting long so I need room to sit up straight to work on it. 

More updates when they happen of course, nothing too exciting going on while projects progress.

So... decisions were made

 I realized I was not happy with the way the mitt was turning out, so I restarted the thumb gusset after frogging back. I then kept doing it in pattern and then it had two elongated stitches from a slipped stitch that didn't get picked up so I restarted.... and still was not happy and realized the increases were not even on the two sides.

 

 

 

 It was not turning out as neat and tidy as other gloves have knitted and that increase discrepancy.... not gonna put up with it so I frogged it back again. 

 

So I now have two cuffs started and just might put both on the same needle using a cable connector and restart, keeping the increases in between markers and keep the slip stitch pattern on the rest of the body but regular knit on the thumb and fingers. I compared my results with the actual pattern photo and there's was not as professional looking at all at the 'seam'.

 

Adjustments will be made and I will make these gloves! The pattern keeps my interest with the slip stitches just not with increases in the mix. So there will be a band of maybe three knit stitches when the increases start. 

The hats arrived at their destination and the boys were happy to have them. At least they were smiling when he sent me the picture. That's one reason why I want to get the gloves finished is to send them off as well in sort of coordinating colors to the hats.  I cast on with the lighter green Hawthorne thinking it would be easier if I used a lighter colored yarn but the needles and cables are already on the purple ones so I might as well just fix that problem and get them finished.

That's my update for now, ribbiting ribiting.....

Progress and hats are off!

 I finished both hats in record time, it helps with worsted weight yarn they work up so quickly.

I hope they fit the guys and aren't too small. I sent a photo of me wearing the green one to show what the sizing is. They are loose-ish so enough play in the stretch. I mailed them off today and should be up there in about seven days or so. It took me about nine or ten days to make the green hat, I can see why a lot of people just make hats for charity, easy pattern, works up fast and you can have one done in about a week.

More progress on the Cypress Hill mitt. Started on the thumb gusset but it was too confusing trying to work the slip stitch with increases so decided to do flat knitting. It's ended up with a little poof at the bottom so I may have to use some extra yarn and stitch that in.  The cuff and body are a bit snug on me but will see what happens later. I decided to start on the second one since I have the needles free and hoping by the time I finish the ribbing on that one I'll be done with the body on the first one. I doubt it because I'm working the ribbing on the second one for now. I think I'll do that until I'm long enough then go back to the first one and finish it. I wish I had the needle to do both of them at the same time but it was just too confusing. I hope to use the green yarn as well in the same pattern. The slip stitch doesn't stretch crosswise easily so the green ones I might size up to a 3 for the main body for a bit more ease. 

I rediscovered the blue wave socks in my main bag of projects, those are going to wait because the pattern is a bit more fidgety and the color is dark. I also picked up the Sheepicorn socks and am working a four row repeat in the evening when I'm sitting in bed. Sometimes two repeats. 

That's all for now, just working the patterns trying to keep calm and knit on!

 

And more progress, a hat is finished!

 Not the green one though. Since I decided to frog that one back completely, it was just too loose for my comfort knowing my sons head may be big, but not that big. So I frogged that back and wound it into a cake at the same time, a bit of a trick but it worked okay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I considered that done and cast on the Neon Nights to start the other hat. After starting that is when I decided to frog the green hat. I cast on with the same needle size I did the green one and decided it was just too loose. Those are the before and after same number of stitches and it still stretches enough to fit my head a bit loose. So it's perfect I hope.

 

The spiraling of the colors are wonderful, all my favorite blues, greens and purples in this one. It seems like it would be a bit short but it's not a 'watch cap' style so the brim doesn't fold up it's just snug. A 'summer' hat for Alaska ha!

 

I'm making the 'Saffron Hill' fingerless mitts with the Hawthorne I thought was too dark. That left picture was taken in my car in natural sunlight and the other was taken at night with all the lights on in my bedroom. So big difference. I'll get a better picture of it in the sun to show off the slipped stitch pattern better. The pattern called for 4 inches of ribbing, I got to 3 1/2 and called it good. I was toying with the idea of making them for my son's friend to kind of go with the hat but I have a feeling they would be too snug. They are comfortably snug on me right now and the slipped stitch pattern makes it rather dense so will have to see how it works.

 

The start of the Irish Hiking Scarf, it's about three times that long now as there are four twists in the cables. I realized that the needles I'm using are the same exact ones I used with the original scarf I made years ago. It's an odd feeling, the same needles and pattern bringing back memories of the other yarn I used (which I think was a Wool Ease in Aran color). 

 

I restarted the green hat tonight, took me four tries to get the long tail cast on the right length. The Sheepicorn socks I decided to go with a different pattern for the foot. The diamond shaped pattern wasn't looking right so I'm using the left diagonal rib which has a kind of spiral appearance up the foot. Unfortunately, the pattern completely turns to a blur when it stretches. Oh well, at least the cable will look good on the leg I hope. 

Now, what to do with the leftover yarn mish mash?  I'll have some of both hat yarns left over but not enough to make another hat. Used just over half the skein for the hat, will have to do some research and figure out what I can do.

That's all the catching up for now. Knitting to keep my sanity these days.