Wet blocking for knits…..a Tutorial

Submersing the knit into water evens out the stitches. All yarns are not necessarily clean; this is an opportunity to clean the yarn as well as block. I mostly knit with wool, but this method works with all fibres. Very little extra steam blocking is needed when dry.

The blocking board is styrofoam insulation board from a building supply store. 

The wooden block is for smoothing out the knit as it is pinned to shape on the blocking board.

The bucket may contain a mild cleaning solution or none. Rinse well when appropriate.

Squeeze item to remove liquid, do NOT “Wring out” tightly. Roll in a towel to absorb more liquid. Some knitters will put the item in the washer on a delicate spin cycle, before pinning to shape.

Hopefully, the photos are self explanitary.

Fashion Manniquins and Floral fashion……real flowers

My local Mall has a live floral exhibition. Fashion mannikins are dressed in live flowers.

This one is in progress. A hat for a mannequin. More fashion photos follow.

After Thought Trim….for machine knitters

AFTER THOUGHT TRIM,  for stabilizing edges of knitted items.

For use on any knitting machine.
Hold up your work, Public side facing toward the operator.

Hang up edge onto knitting machine needles. Pull needles to holding position. (D on Silver Reed knitting machines)

Crochet cast-on onto the same needles, in front of the item.  (Carriage and yarn on right side of bed.)

Row 1: Knit 1 row.

Row 2: Knit 1 row.

Row 3: Knit 1 row.  (3 in total)

Row 4 …Pull needles to D. Move carriage ( free pass) to right hand side of bed.

Crochet cast-on on those needles. Knit 1 row, across the needle bed.

Row 5: Cast off all stitches. This trim may be left to look like a “roll” or can be steam blocked flat.

Mary Anne Cutler, Yet Another Canadian Artisan 2017

Working with Acrylic yarns……so many pretty yarns.

I am so enraptured with pretty yarns. On the other hand, I also dislike using acrylic yarns…….oh, but this one had sequins, mohair and some wool. My object was to knit a gossomer type stitch to keep the garment light. Was I successful? Well, marginal.

It weighs 250 gms and it does sparkle. I knit on the Studio/SilverReed mid gauge 6.5 mm. At tension dial set at 4. This time, I knit the garment and put the trims on the cuff and bottom edges last. Not my usual method, but OK. Some knitters prefer this method.

Would I knit with it again? probably not. 

How should I wear it? Add accoutrements on the sweater or wear plain with dramatic jewellery?

I was seduced……..Unforgettable…..

I was seduced by the colour and the sheen of this yarn. I purchased and began swatching by hand. The yarn was irritating to my hands. It sat for a year or so, but the colour seduced me again. This time, I tried it on the knitting machine. The Studio/Silver Reed Chunky 9mm. I am impressed with the colour striping.

Details: mine weighed in at 130 gm, Dial Ten 2, Chunky 9mm machine,

Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn. Acrylic. Available at most big box stores.

PATTERN

Start on left side of machine, somewhere about L40 needle. The increases will be on the Right side only, every 10 rows.

Cast-on 5 stitches,

INCREASES

*k10 rows

Carriage on right Cast-on 5 stitches,*

repeat 3 times. (15 stitches)

*Eyelet rows are also done on the increased rows.

Make eyelets(place every other stitch onto its neighbour stitch, leave empty stitch in work.

Knit 10 rows.*

Repeat until you think the shawls is wide enough, then start to Decrease  in the same manner.

Suggested Needle count possibly, L40 to R40 or as wide or narrow as desired.

DECREASES

Cast-off 5 stitches, every 10 rows. Continue to cast -off with decreases and eyelets until remaining 15 stitches, then no longer make eyelets, continue to 5 stitches and cast off so that both ends look the same.

block any chosen method. I use the soak and pin out method. No steam, so that the edges have some interest and texture. The Steam method would smooth out the pattern and increase the size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niagara Falls,Canada and USA http://galleries.buffalonews.com/default.aspx?id=4206#/0

This is a gallery of photos about Niagara Falls, ON and Niagara Falls, NY. USA. A river divides the 2 countries with these magnificent water falls. It is a tourist destination that I pass through frequently and never cease to enjoy the wonder of them.

The changing of the seasons; Winter ice, Spring blossoming of the flowering trees, Summer plantings, and Fall turning of the leaves. The surrounding area has changed from Soft fruit orchards (think peaches) to Wine Country with vineyards everywhere.

I apologize for the odd posting; WordPress, played some tricks on me.

 

FREE 2 ball Garter Stitch Scarf 2017

1 ball of self-patterning and 1 ball of solid colour. I used sock yarns and handknit a garter stitch scarf. The one on the right (green) is a self-striping.

Most interesting is the colour repetitions.

This is generic pattern. Garter Stitch
1 ball 50 gm, sock yarn, self patterning type.

1 ball 50 gm solid colour sock yarn

2.75 mm needle

METHOD

Crochet cast-on 45 st and knit 1 row.

Colour A

Row 1…..in *1st stitch, knit 1 make 1, Knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together*.

Row 2……knit across all

Colour B

CHANGE yarn to colour B and REPEAT row 1 and 2

Continue to change colours every 2 rows until yarn is almost used up, then cast off.

Wet block by gently washing, rinsing and air dry flat.

Size is approx 4.75 in x 60 in. It depends on how much yardage is the 50 gm balls.

Yet Another Canadian Artisan,

Mary Anne Cutler, 2017

Caron Cakes…..what is all the fuss? Key Lime Wall Hanging.

I succumbed. I bought a Caron Cake of yarn. For those who are not familiar with them, it is yarn presented as centre pull ball of yarn. It is also generally 4 shades or colours that abruptly change, no gradient. 200 gm in the ball. Most knitter/crocheters are using it for hats and scarves. The product is flying off of the store shelves. It is hard to pick which cake to buy.

Key Lime Wall Hanging

I used the Studio/Silver Reed Chunky SK890 knitting machine.

Method

Cast-on, (crochet cast-on) 54-0-54 needles. Dial Tension 3, Slip stitch from the OEM Mylar.( pattern 3 or 4, I don’t rember which one)

The Striping was a pure accident. I started with the centre strand of yarn and knit until the Yellow/lime colour ended. It looked long enough, so I cast off. Turned it on its side and fringed. On the other end, I needed a pocket to contain a dowel to hang it.

Lastly, it needed decor. A length of I-cord was Knit and sewn on bridging the 2 colour changes.

40″ long x 11″ wide. and have yarn left over from 1 Caron Cake.

Just had to share……

Warmness rating of various fibres

The following is a link to an interesting article about the warmthness properties of yarns and why they rated as they are.

Where is “Mink” or “Bison” on the list? Possum?

Hair cuts on certain animals?

http://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/lisas-list-fiber-animal-hotness/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=kd-jre-nl-170116&utm_content=913682_KE170116&utm_medium=email