Summers Over

It’s time to say goodbye to Northern Ontario for this summer.

Time to head home.

First we’re visiting friends. So a long drive but I’m totally looking forward to it. I’m currently working on two projects which are good travelling companions.

I have started the sleeves of my Contiguous Drop Shoulder.

It did take some figuring out to get the helical stripes going in the proper sequence. Two tries later, and several rounds where I didn’t quite believe it, it’s worked out. Yay.

I cast on my log cabin blanket. I am using my handspun wool. The red square, in Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather sport, is tradition for quilts. I think it’s going to look great.

My handspun wool is very thick and thin but that’s where I am right now with my apinning. I might make one of those frames with 4 posts for the corners, to pile up the squares so they can be blocked to somewhat the same size.

This square needs two more sections of grey and then one square down and many more to go, LOL.

I’ve been thinking of fall projects. Nothing firm yet but fun to ponder. How about you? Thoughts about knitting fun coming up?

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-free patterns

Cabin Fever patterns

Debgemmell435 on YouTube

Five Days Of Fibre Camp

Last July I was introduced to spinning at the Elliot Lake Summer Fibre Camp. I didn’t know if it would take. I always said I wouldn’t learn because knitting is a big part of my life and who needs anything else?!

I borrowed a spinning wheel but was too scared to try it out until October. I watched a ton of spinning videos and then got busy. I spun and spun and spun. I love it.

This year I signed up again.

I was the only person who returned. There were 11 people new to spinning who were all struggling as I was last year. After 2 days it was amazing how many really got going and improved greatly after the first day.

I was able to help a couple people out with some tips that helped me get started. Next year I will be an official teacher. Yikes! That’s a big step.

After two days spinning outside we hit the Elliot Lake Arts Club‘s studio for a dyeing class with Lyn of Shelridge Yarns.

They dyed their spinning and some fibre with chemical dyes. I stayed for a bit but had promised to take my grandson fishing so only did a little bit.

On Day 4 we did natural dyeing which was greatly expanded from last year. We dyed with Logwood (purple), red onion skins (orange) and black eyed susan flowers (green/gray).

Can you see all the variation in colour we got? Natural dyeing is always a surprise. Skeins in the bottom of the pot were darker (we didn’t stir too much since there were other things to do).

Friday we plied up what we had done and it was all over. A great 5 days of fibre, fibre, fibre. Can’t wait until next year.

Cheers, Deb

Gauge-Free and Any Gauge patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell435 on youtube

Steek, Yikes

Cutting will commence shortly.

To set up the steek, at the top of the shoulder I cast on an extra 5 sts where the armhole will go. Then I continued knitting round and round for 8.5″, the length of the armhole, cast off those 5 sts and continued to knit round and round for the body.

So here we are. I’m ready with the scissors. But first, I ran a length of grey yarn down on either side of the 5 steek sts.

Then with cream coloured yarn I crocheted a slip stitch through the two legs of a column of sts, inside the grey line.

Now I cut.

Now that both armholes are open my DIL can try it on for some final measurements.

Just a couple more inches needed on the body for a cropped sweater. Then the rest of the summer will be sleeve knitting.

She likes it so I’m happy.

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-free patterns by Deb https://www.ravelry.com/stores/debgemmellmods

Cabinfever patterns https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/cabin-fevers-ravelry-store

Debgemmell435 on youtube

Deb.gemmell on instagram

A New Cast On

I’m afraid that monogamous knitting is not for me. I have knit a couple more inches on my Contiguous Drop Shoulder …

… but found myself wanting to try something else. So I cast on the 4 x 4 Rib Tank.

This is a Cabin Fever pattern designed by me, which I am happy to knit again.

I am, of course, not using the correct yarn. I’m using a sports weight yarn, Summer Silk by Shelridge Yarns: 65% silk and 35% linen.

Modifications are happening:

  1. Sports weight yarn, not DK as suggested in the pattern.
  2. Very small size. I’m going to knit a 31″ chest size. That’s much smaller than the smallest size in the pattern.
  3. Much tighter gauge. Using a 2.75mm needle I get a gauge of 6.5sts/1″ (26sts=4″).

Because I will be knitting at a much tighter gauge I can use the stitch numbers for the smallest size in the pattern. Instead of a 36″ tank top I will have a 31″ top for my daughter.

Here’s how the math works using the stitch count for the smallest size. There is a little extra chest circumference for the ribbing:

208 sts at gauge of 5.5sts=1″ (22sts=4″) for DK yarn: 37″ chest

208 sts at gauge 6.5sts=1″ (26sts=4″) for sports weight yarn: 32″ chest

I don’t expect that the silk will be able to hold the ribbing. It will flatten out when worn so I’ve done my calculations based on a flat fabric.

All these modifications make this an exciting knit for me. I know this sort of idea, with all these changes, is not for everyone but it’s definitely got me going.

I hope your summer knitting is exciting you. Cheers, Deb

Gauge-free and Any Gauge patterns by Deb on ravelry: Debgemmellmods

Cabin Fever patterns on ravelry

Debgemmell435 on YouTube

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Summertime and the knitting is slow

Heat and humidity is slowing me down and maybe you too?

But I have to admit it’s mostly a sore shoulder. I overdid it! I know, shocking!!! Too much knitting for too long at a time. Take a break, there’s a new thought. Note to self – TAKE A BREAK.

I took 3 days off. It was painful in several ways. No knitting, sore shoulder, but really, no knitting. Sigh.

I’m back at it now but trying to work for less at a time. It’s still hard to take a break.

The Contiguous Drop Shoulder is the one I’m drawn to knit on. I’m really enjoying the knitting.

Waxwing Cedre fingering weight wool

I have hit the spot that is so exciting, the bottom of the armhole. Yay.

The 5 steek stitches at the bottom of the armhole have been cast off. I know it doesn’t make much difference to the number of stitches or anything but it’s a milestone in the length. At least for me it is.

Nothing else is appealing to me knitwise so I’m just going with knitting this one sweater at present. Something different for me but it’s hot and humid so there we are.

I am also spinning in the Tour de Fleece. I’ve been spinning for about 7 months and I’m totally hooked. I’ve added Tour de Fleece videos to my youtube channel: debgemmell435. If you’re also spinning I’d love to hear about it.

Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Cabinfever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the cabinfever crew

https://youtube.com/@debgemmell435Debgemmell435 on youtube

Deb.gemmell on instagram which I am not using too much.

Teaching Again

It’s been a while but I’m going to get in front of a classroom and teach a couple of knitting classes at the Elliot Lake Arts Club in July. I’m really looking forward to it.

First up will be a Top Down V-Neck class . We’re going to knit a Baby Cardigan Vest with short rows to form the V. I have written out an option for long sleeves too. There will be lots of chat about adding this neckline to any top down raglan pattern and how to make your top down fit your unique body shape. That’s all information I have been working on for quite a long time and am really happy to pay forward.

Screenshot

Elliot Lake Arts Club – Baby V-Neck Vest Knitting Workshop over Two Sundays July 5 & 12, 1 – 4pm. You might notice that the little sweaters showing are not V-necks. This is the photo that will shortly be showing.

I just finished the DK weight sample for the class. It’s drying outside. I need some buttons and then it will be finished.

It’s so relaxing to be knitting tiny sweaters!

The second class will be: Knitting Mosaic Cowl Workshop. I love this technique. Colourwork without the stranding! What’s not to like. The class will also be over two Sundays, July 19 & 26, 1-4pm.

We will knit a strip of mosaic knitting in chunky weight yarn, working first in stockinette stitch, then in garter stitch (my favourite) and then a combination of the two. This is a photo from my class notes. Can you see the mosaic stockinette stitch at the bottom, garter stitch in the middle and the combo at the top?

I will provide both written instructions and charts. I’m going to explain how the charts work because I think they are a much superior way to work mosaic knitting and once you get used to them they are really helpful in working the design. We’ll have lots of time to get the hang of them.

If you are a northern person and within driving distance, I hope you will join me on these Sunday afternoons. I am really looking forward to teaching these classes.

I am going to be a studen too. I’ve signed up for the T-shirt into Bowl crochet class in June and the Fibre Camp in August. A fun filled fibre summer!

Summer time and the knitting is easy! Cheers, Deb

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free knitting patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the cabinfever crew

Debgemmell435 on youtube

deb.gemmell on instagram

Spring is here

Are you still knitting? Spring has finally shown up for almost a week of nice weather. Yay. So I’ve been knitting a little less than usual.

I finished my Inishmurray Shawl (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/inishmurray-shawl) in my very own handspun wool. It’s so exciting.

Mainly BFL from a spinning class I took. Then some mystery fibre (green) from Wellington Fibres (https://wellingtonfibres.on.ca/) and some Rideau Arcott (paler brown) to make up enough to make the shawl. I knit it with thicker wool since a light worsted is the best I can spin at the moment. It needs blocking which will really make it shine!

Still so thrilled to look at it.

I’m working away on my Need a Circular Yoke top (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/need-a-circular-yoke) in Allhemp3 fingering (https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/hemp-for-knitting-allhemp3). I’m going to work one more band of lace for the yoke.

Then I will figure out what my gauge really is since I changed to a larger needle size after the first bit was done. I have an idea what my new gauge is but I do need to take a measurement.

I’m teaching a top down class in Elliot Lake this summer so started my sample, a 6month size vest.

I head up north next week so the sorting of projects has started. Is 10 projects too many???

This will take all week to get it down to a reasonable number of projects that I will never, ever finish over the summer. Can you relate?

Cheers, Deb

Any gauge and Gauge-free patterns by Deb. https://www.ravelry.com/stores/debgemmellmods

Cabinfever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the Cabinfever crew. https://www.ravelry.com/stores/cabin-fever-patterns

@debgemmell435 on YouTube. https://youtube.com/@debgemmell435?si=RVNsZ6vgvt_pZUcS

Deb.Gemmell on instagram

A Few Cast Ons

I dithered around for a couple of weeks unable to settle on any new projects but I have finally landed. Whew. Do you do this too? I really dislike this feeling of being on edge about my knitting.

Here are the couple that are going ahead:

A summer circular yoke with Allhemp 3 fingering weight hemp by Hemp for Knitting. http://lanaknits.com

I’m not getting anything close to gauge which I totally expected. Nothing to do with the yarn. It’s the loose way I knit that’s the culprit. I’m getting 22 sts/4” instead of 28sts/4” on a 2.5mm needle. I’m comfortable knitting at this gauge so here we go.

I’m happy with how it’s looking. I’m using my own cabin fever Need a Circular Yoke book, with a few modifications of course. All that’s in the video. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/need-a-circular-yoke

The other project is the Inishmurray Shawl in my own BFL handspun. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/inishmurray-shawl

You can’t see the detail yet.

I wanted a solid shawl to wear instead of a sweater. This is it: a slightly thick and thin handspun, DK-worsted weight wool on a 3.75 needle. I’m excited just to be using it.

I did a video:

https://youtu.be/-ed6uPK6F5c?si=jdhQmT2us5qaz_PT

Happy spring, Deb

Any gauge and gauge-free patterns by Deb https://www.ravelry.com/designers/deb-gemmell

Cabin fever patterns https://www.ravelry.com/designers/cabin-fever

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell435 on YouTube

Rip, rip, rip

A discouraging couple of weeks when everything didn’t quite turn out as I had hoped. But now I am finallly reconciled to ripping, here we go.

Now you see it.

The Coriolis Sock from the New Pathways for Sock Knitters book by Cat Bordhi with what I thought was a slight modification – a second spiral, which didn’t work!

Now it’s gone and I’ll start the heel and leg again.

Another rip. My Contiguous Drop Shoulder with colourwork which I think would have more drape than I want

Colourwork gone. I’m going to repurpose this as a vest, maybe, possibly.

I finally got back on the video train so here is the full explanation and what I’m up to.

Now I’m back on track! I think it’s time to cast on something new. Fact is, it’s always that time, right? Video link if you need it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF1svP2GBhA&t=7s

Hope your knitting is going well for you. Cheers, Deb

Any gauge and gauge-Free knitting patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the cabinfever crew

Deb.gemmell on instagram which I haven’t been on much.

Debgemmell435 on youtube

Contiguous Drop

My next fingering weight pullover has been started and it’s going to take quite a long time to finish but I’m happy with it so far.

This pattern, Contiguous Drop Shoulder,

Contiguous Drop Shoulder

begins with the neckband but I’m working a colourwork pattern on this version and will use one of the colours for the neckband. I haven’t decided which colour yet so I just cast on the number of stitches, purled one round, and did the short rows against the cast on round.

Have you tried a contiguous sweater? This is an amazing way to make a drop shoulder sweater. In the contiguous method 2 increases are worked at each shoulder, every round. It is really easy to work.

The short rows are worked right away to lower the front. They are worked back and forth, knit right side turn, work across the wrong side turn. This is a system of short rows that I unvented (as Elizabeth Zimmermann would say) many years ago and have used it over and over again. The short rows are simple and worked after working a neckband. They usually butt up against a ribbed neckband. In this case, they are butting up against my cast on and one round of purling.

These short rows make a nice angle to drop the front of neck.

I am working in the purple (Shelridge yarn, 80/20 fingering – iris) until I have the width I want. I am going to have 8″ of ease, not as big as the sweater in the pattern photo which had 10″ of ease, but this is in much finer wool. That’s around 169 sts across the back, at my gauge, and considering my 12 st colourwork pattern repeat. I have put markers on either side of the centre 100 sts on the back so I don’t have to keep counting across them all every time.

Not toooo much more to do.

Here is a video of how the short rows work.

Cheers and happy knitting, Deb

Gauge-Free and Any Gauge patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the cabinfever crew

Deb.gemmell on instagram

Debgemmell435 on youtube