Swatch #1 - knit not blocked yet

Here it is. Finally. Swatch #1. I didn't do anything fancy on the edges, except that really focussed on my tension and knit with the tips. It's not perfect, I can see some inconsistencies, but as Ursula reminded me on the phone the other night, "just wash it -- everything [handknit] looks better after its been washed." So today I will block it and see if those wee inconsistencies which are slowing me down, will blend into the rest of the knitting and I can get onto swatch #2.

It's the ribbing that kills me.

Back to Basics

I made a swatch, well not the whole thing, just got about ten rows into the garter stitch when I just couldn't stand the wonky look of the ribbing. So I came to this site, read your comment on the last post and was reminded about the archived articles. Sooooo, I have downloaded and printed a few off, unravelled the #$%&@! swatch and will spend the day reading and practicing. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS HARD!

Problems and Remedies

Funny. The way we settle into things at the same time. Lately I've been working so much and had little time to settle into the program. This past week my requested books arrived at the library and I've been slowly reading them. Knitting other things in the meantime. But last night, and this morning, I AM ribbing.

Never have I looked at my knitting so closely. Am I repeating myself?

Casting On

Problem: So many to choose from.
Remedy: The Long-Tail cast on is my favourite at this point. *must remember to find a reference for answering questions at the end.

Ribbing

Problem: My first stitch is always wonky.
Remedy: Purl the last stitch wrapping the yarn from the left instead of between the needles, shortening the yarn. Then at the Knit stitch, knit through the back loop. *must remember to find reference for bibliography.

Problem: The left Knit stitch in each column is fatter than the right.
Remedy: Use the tips of the needles. Pulling the bead closer to the fabric each wrap, be it a Purl Stitch or a Knit Stitch. [I remember you giving me this advice years ago... foundation learning!] *may I cite my older sister?

Increasing

Problem: Still working on finding the one I like the best.
Remedy: Keep on reading and experimenting.

Instructions

Problem: I just realized last night that the first swatch is to be knit in Garter Stitch!
Remedy: It might take me awhile to listen to what I'm reading. Patience Laura. Patience.

Finally, ready to start!

I've been on holidays for three days now and have spent most of that time tidying up loose ends, and we're not talking knitting here, yet. I've been closing up files and finally completed a report that was hanging over my head.
Long and short of it is this, I am ready to begin knitting swatches and writing answers to all those questions for Level One. I am ready to put my mind to it. Not going to go crazy with it, I am going to continue to knit for Handmade V all the while. Knitting cream coloured swatches with precision is only so exciting.
So stay tuned, hopefully I will have swatch 1 posted tomorrow am.

Me Too, Me Too!

Over the weekend I put down the swatch and picked up a that project for my client. Eight hours later, or by 9pm on Sunday evening, I finished two hats and two sets of mittens for ages 4 and 6 (with all that reading about gauge in my head). That was fun.

In addition to putting down the swatch, I collected a few more books from the library (see my resource pictures on the side bar). My hands need a rest, so I'll be reading for the next few days instead of knitting.

Don't get too ahead of me, you have Christmas presents to knit!

And lastly: I too, will be using the Classic Paton's yarn, with 4.5mm, and won't be slipping the first stitch of every row.

On with it Sister!

Day One of Holidays - day one of Level 1

Today is day one of my 49 day holiday. I am so excited. I have been organizing myself and reaquainting myself with my yarn stash. I have also been planning and knitting up several quickie projects for Ursula's Handmade V which is taking place on December 14th. In between those wee projects, I am going to work on my swatches, but I know you are working and I don't want to get too far out ahead to you. I don't like making all the mistakes first.



So back to the drawing board. I am using the Classic Yarn by Patons, size 4.5mm needles and am NOT slipping the first stitch of every row.

Will post my first successful swatch. Over and out.

A New Yarn?

I found this yarn at Michael's. It is a worsted weight, 100grams and 205 metres as opposed to the 85m for $6.50 on the other yarn [which is truly amazingly soft and delicious in many ways.] This one cost $6.99. As a worsted weight it is slightly smoother year and has a wee bit more twist in it. I am going to knit up sample one and two again and see what I think of the result.

I have never in my life spent so much time looking at the quality of my work and solving knitting problems. I agree with you about that piece, that is what this process is all about.

Two swatches and 14 more to go

"Selvedges: Swatches are to be knit in the pattern stitch indicated without additional borders or selvedge edges." -- I've read this a couple of times as well and don't know how to interpret this.

I know in some knitting guilds when they make swatches they have selvage borders, moss stitch or some other thing to differentiate the knitting inside the frame. I will send a quick email to TKGA and ask this question.

You are right on the mark about gauge, it doesn't matter, what matters is that you can figure it out.

I am a bit concerned about this yarn, on two counts. One, it seems loosely spun and thus every once in a while I have these loose pieces where I don't evenly grab the yarn and a wee bit sticks out. I rip out, go back to the offending stitch and do it all over again.

Second concern is the cost. I have made two swatches, and onto the moss stitch one and think I will have just enough to finish that one. That's three swatches for one $6.50 ball. Yikes.

Instructions

Again, I caught myself not listening to what I'm reading.

• Place increases evenly and unobtrusively in the last row of ribbing

I've been increasing along the first row of stockinette, which I think is a clever way to unobtrusively disguise the increase. However, I have to read follow the instructions. That is a major part of this process, after all.

So, this is how I make my increase:

With left needle, pick up stitch directly below the last stitch stitched, left leg of the stitch is in the front of the left needle. Slip as if to knit the stitch onto the right needle, return the slip to the left needle. The left leg is behind the left needle. Knit through back loop. Increase 1.

When In Doubt: Refer To Instructions

So, I knit my first sample. Shrugged my shoulders and went onto number two. After I made my increases and worked the stockinette for an inch or so, I thought about your needle size you chose and why, and maybe I would measure my gauge.

What a great mistake that was! 4.5mm needles I was using, until I measured my gauge. Too many stitches. Am I knitting too loose? I needed to go with a smaller needle. Upstairs I trot, hopping to find my Knitting Needle Gauge (I rarely know where I placed it last). Found a pair of 4mm needles. Worked it the stockinette some more, measured again! Upstairs I trot... 3.75mm... 3.5mm... and so the story goes until I left for work and I refused to think about it the rest of the day.

After the Guild Meeting, I sat on my comfy couch, picked up my knitting and gauge and measured. At this point, I realized I've been counting incorrectly, what I need is a 5mm needle to get 18 sts in 4". Upstairs I trot... 5mm (adi turbos to boot!)... and knit a few rows. I measured and got very close to the gauge. I ripped out sample two and casted on to re-knit sample one.

But alas, when in doubt: refer to instructions.

On page 10 of 16, Question 1 discusses gauge. It says to proplerly block the samples and measure the gauge of each. Which means, my gauge doesn't really matter, so long as I can count it properly and understand what's going on with my knitting. Would you read question 1 and tell me what you think about gauge?

WELL, haven't I taken this easy task of knitting sample one for granted? I haven't researched this much to knit, EVER! And, I have to admit, I'm enjoying it.

On another note:

I did get your message very late on Sunday evening. I wouldn't recommend using a slip stitch at the beginning. Only because pf page 3 of 16, the instructions state:

Selvedges: Swatches are to be knit in the pattern stitch indicated without additional borders or selvedge edges.

When I first started I thought I'd begin with dividing the first and last column:
K1, [P2, K2] to last stitch, P1.
But after reading the instructions, mine is the simple:
[K2, P2] to the end.

Back to square one.

Back to the drawing board

I gave up on the 3.5mm needles. The fabric being produced was too dense. So I moved to 4.5 aluminum needles that work so much better with this yarn. Also, in this swatch, unlike all the others I have attempted so far, I slipped the first stitch of each row knitwise to get a smooth edge.

I also tried to get the purl increases to happen on the right side of the work, a tricky feat for when you are working with 4.5 needles, one row makes a difference in terms of length. But I lucked out. So the purl increases are done in the last row of the ribbing, allowing for the first garter row to happen on the wrong side of the fabric. When this happens the first garter row that shows on the right side is the bumps, and that makes a nice border between the ribbing and the garter rows. Now a few more rows to get to 4 inches and this one is done.

Not bad for an entire day of knitting and thinking.

With the German Twist Cast-On, I tried a few different ways for increasing. I too thought it would be ideal to make the increases in the purl column.

Pink shows a slight twist, see arrow. This is what I did:
M1= pick up leg from stitch directly under last stitch purled, purl leg through back loop.
WS. P2, M1. *P4, M1* repeat to end. 25sts.

Blue shows a little hole:
M1= pick up leg from stitch directly under last stitch knit, knit through back loop.
RS. K2, M1. *K4, M1* repeat to end. 25sts.

Green square and arrows are totally messed up. The increase is shown in the middle of the knit colums, and the best example in the square is on the left side.
M1= pick up leg directly under last stitch, front leg slip to right needle and replace to left, left leg is behind needle. Knit through back loop.
RS. *K4, M1* repeat to end. 25sts.

Red is a nasty increase:
M1= Knit into stitch directly below, then into the stitch itself.
RS. K3, M1, *K4, M1* repeat to end. 25 sts.

I'm prepared to knit my first sample, but I'm going back to the Long-Tail Cast-On and use the Green increase.

Swatch from before

Here is a swatch I did last time around. Same weight as this yarn and made on size 4mm needles. I look at this now, especially the edges of the rib portion and feel that it is sloppy. So I am hoping to tighten things up by paying closer attention to my tension, [that's almost poetry] and using smaller needles.

I can't remember what kind of a c/o I used on this one, but will try the one you mentioned. I also can't remember what kind of an increase I did, but it was in the purl channels.

Remember, after it's complete you block the swatch so that can also help to hide or at least even out some imperfections.

This one has not been blocked, and you can tell.

Diana's Yarn

Here's my yarn and here are my needles. I am going to try 3.5mm even though the labels suggests 5mm! Call me crazy, but last time I made these swatches, I was using the same weight yarn and size 4mm needles. I tend to knit loose, so the knitting at times looked sloppy. I am going to try these smaller needles to see if that makes any difference. Otherwise, I only have my own knitting to blame.

My Yarn

On my way to work last Tuesday morning, I stopped into Wabi-Sabi, my local yarn store (LYS) to browse. Browsing is rather unsatisfying when you don't have a goal in mind. But my mind is on our Master Knitting Level 1 program and searching for a yarn for my samples is my goal.

Carol, the owner, welcomed me and I shared with her my secret. What a wonderful feeling to share a secret with someone who appreciates it! Her Mission Falls - 1824 Wool yarn in many beautiful, greyish toned colours, did not include Natural. When I mentioned this she told me she could order it in, but who wants to wait? I've selected Oatmeal for my colour to knit my samples in and only purchased one ball of yarn to begin with.

Here it is, and I began my first sample, ripped it out, began again, ripped it out because I can't remember how I increased, and I'll be ripping this one out too for the very same reasons.

It has come to my attention, that I would like to dedicate an hour each evening, in my studio, concentrating on my knitting.

How are you going about it?

I'd really like to do what Discoknits did. Knit the first three, send them off. I would like to knit the entire lot to find out something I take so for granted is messed up and I'd have to redo them. I like to learn as you go.

p.s. my package arrived the same day as you, how anti-climactic it was to receive it! $10 for the instructions and the postage was 96 cents to ship to Canada. Bitch Bitch Bitch. Today: I Bitch

My package arrived!

It's here. Sixteen pages of instructions and such to get us started. I have to admit, as I read it, while 1/2 inspired, I was 1/2 dismayed. Some of these swatches don't seem like fun. It seems like work, hard, focussed work. And the hat, why a hat? Why not something that I will wear and enjoy?

I thought, why I am I doing this? My thoughts ranged from, "this could be exciting" and "it will be great to be on my way to being a Master Knitter" to, "why do I care about this", and "these people are stupid". Of course that is the most juvenile part of me coming out. Part of it is true fear that I won't measure up. And then what?

Arrgh. I do want to do this, and I also want it to be fun. That's why I am eternally thankful that you are the other end of this blog.

Finding the error

So here's the latest shawl I knit. I am going to try out the function you just showed me to illustrate the "error" I discovered this weekend.

The shawl is from http://www.elann.com/, free patterns. It's called the "Lacewing" pattern. The yarn is Hand Maiden, purchased on my June trip to St. John's Newfoundland. It's silk and seacell.(sp?). The shawl knits up remarkably fast, I've made this pattern twice and am onto my third one.

I posted the one on the right first, and asked for left orientation, but when I posted the second one, the one with the red rectangle, it kept going to the left and moving the other one to the right. At this moment I don't care, but think I know how to fix it for next time.

See the mistake. There is supposed to be these "coin lace" things every few rows, but for some reason, I missed it this time. Alas, I can live with it.

Editing Knitting via Photgraphs and Paint

I was wondering if we would be able to constructively help each other by way of the internet. And, I've figured it out! By way of a simple photo graph of knit work and the simple "Paint" program that almost every computer has.

So this is how you do it:

• Right-click on the photo you want to view closely and critique, click "Save Image As.."

• Save in a location on your computer you will know where to find it (I like my desktop to keep it temporarily, where after I trash it)
• Open the Paint program by All Programs/Accessories/Paint...
  

Under FILE, Open... the photo you want to detail.

• From there choose a colour that will be visible and use the pencil, the square or which ever tool you find easiest for you to point out areas of concern.
• Use Text if you want or Number the areas you want to discuss in your entry

SAVE AS... using a new name, keeping the original photo on your desktop in case you need to start over again.

• Through trial and error you will find the program easier to use.

• When you are ready to blog about the photograph, post it using the photograph tool.

This may be intimidating, but it is easy once you get the hang of it. I know most of your capabilities and if this is unorthodox to you, I know you'll pick it up quick. Otherwise, ask your kid to help you out, she probably learned this program in kindergarten.

Do you think this could be useful to us?

Here's Something Else I Found Helpful

DiscoKnits has completed her Master Knitters Program Level 1. Read her entry here to see her method of completing her program. She gives some good advice and shows examples of her swatches and constructive criticism given to her from a judge. Very interesting.

After we spoke on the phone, I realize it would be beneficial to me if I joined my local Knitting Guild; bring a swatch or two have a few ladies look at them and see if I'm missing anything. Their next meeting is this 17th. I'll let you know how that comes about.

Video Tutorials for Casting-On

I'm finding video love to share with you. These videos have made a lovely marriage for the "desiring to learn".

The video below is a tutorial on three styles of Provisional Cast-Ons:


KnittingHelp.com has a great video for the Double Cast-On, or Long Tail Cast-On, or Continental Cast-On.
This method is great for stretchy edges for ribbing, easy to pick up stitches from and it has a knitted row included with the Cast-On!
The video and many more Cast-On methods are found here.

Diana's first test post

It was good chatting with you last night, I think we are on a roll here. I love these colours, maybe I will even use these colours in my swatches -- just kidding. I do think a simple cream is easiest to see and manage. Will call when my "learning" package arrives. Can't wait.

Second Test Post

I found a new site which has more colour codes!

Colours Chosen: Inspired by the following new book

If any colours jar you, let me know and I'll do my best to change them. I wish I could use softer colours here and there, but alas the choices are few.


I've set up a list of resource links for us. If it lets you, add more links, just go into Layout. If it doesn't, then let me know and I'll link it up.