Done!

I participated in my first KAL. It was the Shirley Paden Cowl on her Ravelry board. It was an easy knit, but I had to pay attention. I have a tendency to let my mind wander and then oops! It was a KAL, but I know of only two others that participated and of this morning I was the only that posted. DH is wearing it here as yesterday was a baaad hair day.



Two Cables asked if I preferred hand or machine knitting. To be honest I don't know enough about machine knitting to have a preference. Right now hand knitting is easier because I can do it and turn out a reasonable garment. Machine knitting on the other hand is torture. It is quicker once I get going, but it takes a while to get going.

Hand and machine knitting are related only in the type of fabric that is produced. Knowledge of hand knitting doesn't help with the machine and in machine knitting gauge is paramount. Hand knitting is portable, I can take it any where. Hand knitting is limited only by the fiber you can wrap around the needle. With the machine you're limited by the yarn the machine can handle. The two machines I just got are standard machines and can't handle anything heavier than sport weight. So the part of my stash that's worsted I'll have to knit by hand. Hand knitting can be meditative, but the machine is noisy. The language is different. I guess you could say it's likes siblings - related, but completely different.

First Finished Objects of 2011!

I'm already off to a faster start than last year! We were away last week and I've never had time to complete anything on vacation, much less three items. That should tell you a lot about our trip. My sister always says "everything isn't for everybody" and our vacation destination definitely wasn't for us. It was nice enough, just not what we expected. I think if we'd done a bit more research we'd have gone somewhere else. Nuff said.

I completed the two hats and the scarf. Machine knitting is faster, but finishing by hand, especially with bum hands, still takes about the same amount of time. This first hat was done using every other needle (EON) over 160 needles (80 used). I thought I'd gotten gauge but if I'd knit it as I was supposed to, I think it would have been too big. The directions called for knitting EON for a set number of rows the pulling the remaining needles into working position and knitting with all needles for a bit then switching back to EON. I forgot this small bit of direction and was happily knitting along when I realized the error. I decided to see what would happen. It fits great and I'll make a couple more of these.



For this hat I was experimenting with one of the Tuck Stitches. I'm not as pleased with it as I am the first one. For one it's a little too short to turn up. If I make this one again, I'll make it longer. It's also a little big. The next time I'll decrease the number of stitches by about a fourth. This pattern also works up into a thicker fabric, somthing to remember when I fold it up. I may also try experimenting with a plain fabric on one side and a patterned fabric on the other.



In hand knitting news, I finished the short row scarf. I'm contemplating using the last skein of yarn and making it longer, but I think I like it this length.



I've done 36 rows on the cowl I've got more hospital waiting room time this week, so I expect to have this finished later this week.


TTYL,

Melodye

I won!

CiCi and Chelette at 2 Sistahs Knit Together had a GiveAway and I was one of three winners. I received the new Interweave calendar, 2 pieces of chocolate AND 412 yards of Bugga Handpainted Sock Yarn in the Dragon Millipede colorway. It is absolutely gorgeous. I'm already thinking of what to make. If you're not already reading their blog hop over and check them out! Thanks CiCi and Chelette!

In other knitting news, I can't believe I used to be a monogamous knitter. I'd work one project through til completion then I'd start another. I've been spending a lot of time in waiting rooms lately. Sitting doing nothing drives me crazy and I'm too distracted to read. I liked this scarf the first time I saw it. The plus is that it is big yarn and can be knit on large needles. I thought it was a mindless knit until I realized that when I joined the second ball of yarn my short rows were going in the opposite direction! It's the Short Row Scarf, a free pattern from Berroco. I'll tink it back to the join next week.



I finished machine knitting 2 hats, just have to do the hand work. I'll do it in the car next week.





I also joined the Cowl KAL in the Shirley Paden Ravelry group. The KAL started today and ends on the 28th. Just 14 days and works out to about 8 rows a day. It's an easy pattern with 3 rows of K3, P3 and 1 pattern row. The pattern is in her book, Design Knit Workshop.



Unfortunately, I'm beginning to feel all this knitting. I won't do anything else now until we leave on Sunday to give my hands and arms a break. I finally have an appointment week after next. Hopefully it won't be much longer before this pain is just a distant memory!




TTYL,

Melodye

Ta-Da!

Here's the first sample from the Brother 930 that I'm willing show. It's been a real struggle since I started playing with this machine. I was able to locate a Mennonite owned shop about 90 minutes from me that had the sponge bar and manuals for the 930 and punch cards for the Toyota machine.

I was able to do a straight stockinette panel once I changed the sponge bar, cleaned it and replaced one of the needles. After the stockinette panel, I hit a dead end. Two of the buttons are stuck together when they are supposed to move independently. Then I kept dropping stitches. On more than one occasion I was tempted to throw the carriage through the window!

So today, I took a deep breath and decided to try one of the tuck stitches. I took it slow and easy and it worked with the exception of that tuck on the right side of the panel where the panel occasionally gets caught on the sinker posts. I think I know what causes it and will be on the look for it next time. I'd like to get several hats done for one of the local women's' charities but I didn't want them to be plain. Just because they are for charity doesn't mean they have to be ugly. I'm hoping I can get several done before we go a road trip next week so that I can seam them in the car.

The more I learn about this machine the more I realize what an awesome gift this was. I say gift because it's turning out that the $110 I paid was but a fraction of price for the garter carriage alone. I think this is a lesson for all of us. We need to leave our families some idea of what our things are worth. Some of these pieces have never been used and they weren't inexpensive when new. Then if they decide to give them away they'll at least have some idea of what they're giving away.

Oh well, I'm off to try to get a hat done.

TTYL,

Melodye

P.S. Miss Ginny, I wished we lived closer together for many reasons, but yes I could really use your help with this one.

Happy New Year!!

Hope each of you are having a good start to the New Year. I'm reading so many blogs where bloggers are publically stating their resolutions. No new yarn, 11 in 2011, lose weight, exercise. I don't normally do resolutions. Or at least not absolutes.

I'm going to cut down on yarn purchases because I've started putting my stash into Ravelry. I'm about halfway through. While it's modest compared to lots of others, it makes me uncomfortable having so much stuff just sitting there. I also have it sitting out so I can see it. I should be doing something with it. And because I spin I make my own yarn. I'm learning to make yarn I can use not just yarn.

Last year this time I just wanted to do more. Since I injured my arms in May that's been difficult. This year I've written specific goals that I hope will get me there.

I've also started my Christmas list for 2011. There are several handmade items on the list so keeping the list front and center will hopefully keep me focused.

One thing I really want to do this year is more volunteer work. My youngest niece has decided that she's going to do her "own thing" regardless of what anyone else says. As a family we're working together to try to keep her on track. I'm going to be working at her school one day a week. Tomorrow I'll fill out the paperwork and get fingerprinted so I can volunteer in the city school system. Having her act out really caught us all as a surprise and this will be the most important thing I do this year. I'm thinking about teaching her to knit and we'll do scarves for the red scarf project. Have any of you done anything like this? Any other ideas?

Now for something completely different. Last year I bought a Bond knitting machine. I liked it but found it frustrating to use. It was definitely operator error. Because the machine is the most basic, stitches other than stockinette had to be done by hand. Since the movements are small and tight, it really hurt, much more than working with the the larger needles I used last week. I started looking for another machine, but wanted to do it as inexpensively as possible (as usual!). I looked at EBay but even the most inexpensive machine became expensive after shipping was added. Last Saturday, I answered an ad in Craigslist. For $100 I got everything in this picture. A family 40 minutes away was clearing out Grandmas' stash and had no idea what they had. Although to be fair, I didn't either. It had been stored for a while and there was no guarantee it was complete or that it would even work. I figured that at worst I would part it out and resell it on EBay.



I've been going through this pile since Saturday and there are two complete machines. One is a Brother 930e with the knit tracer. I sent an email thanking them for the machines and said if they found any more pieces to the machines, I'd be interested in buying them. They contacted me yesterday and I bought a garter carriage and cover for an additional $10. I have no idea how the knit tracer and garter carriage are used.

There's also a Toyota 901 and a 501 ribber. There are so many attachments to this machine, I'll be this time next year figuring it out.

I'm going to concentrate on learning the Brother since it appears less intimidating. I didn't get any manuals but I found them at a Mennonite run shop yesterday. Everyone on Ravelry tells me I got a great deal but it's overwhelming. At this point I have no idea if I'll keep them both.

The Bond did teach me that machine knitting is a completely different skill from hand knitting. It has it's own language and techniques. If keeping your brain active wards off Alzheimer's, I'm in good shape.

TTYL,

Melodye