In a Fix

Mistakes are a part of knitting.   You are, after all, making thousands of stitches for even small projects–there are at least 6,000 stitches in one adult sized sock and quite possibly more depending on your gauge and the size of the foot.  I don’t know anyone who is perfect enough not to make a mistake over that many stitches.    Some mistakes can be left in if they don’t affect the wear-ability or the stability of the  structure of the finished object.  Other times mistakes must be fixed, occasionally that includes ripping out and restarting, especially if the garment is not going to fit (gauge matters).  Most of the time, if I find a mistake in my work, I fix it, even if it is only a small cosmetic problem.   I will ruthlessly rip out just as I did in the sock in the previous post, when there is no other way to fix what is wrong.  Dropped stitches can be picked up, missed decreases/increases can be fixed even a few rows later without to much fuss and even mistakes in cables and lace can be fixed many rows later.  There is no harm in trying, the worst that can happen is that you mess up the fix and have to rip out part, or all and start over.

fixing lace

Here is a picture of a fix in process on a baby blanket I knit a few years ago.  I don’t remember the exact problem, but it was probably a misplaced yarn over or k2tog that I didn’t notice until I was about 6 rows past.  I knit over to the section of stitches where the error was, dropped down the 11 stitches in that repeat of the pattern to the row where I needed to make the correction, picked them up on a needle and then reknit each row of the repeat using the strands behind.    It’s easier to do something like this using needles a size smaller that what you were knitting the project with and a circular needle or dpn so that you can do all the work on the right side by sliding the needles back and forth.

Want to see another?

Fixing feather and fan

This one was a problem in a feather and fan lace patterned blanket called the Hemlock Ring.  You can see the chart laying behind the project.  I had to drop about 40 stitches down 10 or 12 rows to fix this one.   It was actually a bit fun to do.  (I’m not sure what that says about me though).   Next time, we will talk about taking a scissors to the knitting in order to fix it.

To Infinity and Beyond Socks

galaxy socks by Dtkpmom
galaxy socks, a photo by Dtkpmom on Flickr.

These socks seemed like they were endless too. The yarn is Regia Galaxy and it looks like rings of Saturn if you get the correct gague when you knit. Needless to say, I worked hard to get the correct gauge and when I didn’t see the rings forming to my satisfaction, I would rip all or parts and start again, either knitting more loosely or more tightly. It didn’t help that I changed dpn between socks since I didn’t like the 5 inch ones I was using, and even though I stayed on US size 0 needles, the change made a difference. Finally though I am ready to take out the waste yarn and knit the afterhthought heel. Hopefully they will be finished soon.

I’m a little bit biased…

but I think it’s really pretty.

Bias Loop Scarf
Bias Loop Scarf

This is made with 50 grams of Kidsilk Haze which is a kid mohair yarn.  This is one of the colorways designed by Kaffe Fasset and is self striping.  The cool thing about it is that it is knit flat  on the bias.  You begin with a provisional cast on.  (My favorite is the one where you crochet waste yarn over your knitting needle) then when you finish, you unzip the cast on and graft the 80 live stitches at the end to the beginning.  The first couple of stitches on the grafting were tricky, but then I got into an easy rhythm and it went smoothly (or at least as smoothly as grafting 80 stitches in mohair can go).  It is beautiful and warm.  See my Ravelry project for the details.

Weaving for Knitters

loom

I had a great class this morning at Silk Road Textiles teaching Rigid Heddle Weaving.  It is another terrific way to use luscious knitting yarns and you can quickly make a scarf or other item.    Here are two students threading the heddles on the Cricket loom you get to use as part of the class fee.  They will take the looms home overnight to weave some more, and come back tomorrow to take the scarf of the loom and learn about finishing.  It’s a great way to get a taste of weaving and using a Rigid Heddle loom before buying one.

March Classes

simple hatI have two classes beginning this week at Silk Road Textiles.  I am teaching a simple hat class beginning on Friday from 12-2 and a Sweater Knitting Workshop beginning on Sunday from 1-3.  Both classes will work for newish knitters and teach knitting in the round.   You must be comfortable both  knitting and purling for either one, but that is the only requirement.  The hat requires a 16 inch circular needle and a set of double pointed needles, both in size 8, and worsted weight yarn.  You have a couple choices for top down sweater patterns available at the shop and the yarn and needles required will depend on which pattern you choose.  I will be available 45 minutes prior to class time for the sweater to help choose the pattern, yarn and needles.  Call the shop at 513-541-3700 to register.

sweater