I’ve worked out my Any Gauge Sock, which is worked Toe Up with a Short Row Heel. I’ve even made a project page for it. No exact pattern for this one. I’ve already knit two other pairs which turned out really well.
Left is Rebel by King Cole and right is Timber Yarns.
I want to do a video but I’m having some difficulty winding myself up to do it. The blue sock above and the toe for the second sock are set up for the video, and there they sit. I can’t work on the second sock because I need it for the video. Argh!
Do you get stalled on a project? What works to get you going?
The sock idea I talk about in the podcast has progressed a tiny bit since then. The video was yesterday after all. LOL.
Timber Yarns, twin sock sets (2 x 50g balls with the same stripes).
I tried these on and they are tight around the ankle, at the heel. I need a little more room there. Some people do and some people don’t. Which are you? You probably know your own feet as a sock knitter.
This is a short row heel on half the stitches of my 60 stitch sock. In my case, for this sock, that is 30 sts.
I usually do a short row heel on 60% of the total sock stitches, which would normally be 36 sts for the heel on a 60 stitch sock. That gives me enough room around my heel. I just took this sock, with a heel worked over 36 sts, off my foot! You can see a much deeper heel.
I think you can see that the deeper heel gives me more space around my ankle. So I ripped back the totally finished lovely heel, sigh, and an extra inch of the foot. (This is what makes designing sooo much fun!)
To rework for more ankle room, with 1 inch to go before I start the heel, I worked 4 sets of increases on either side of the top of the foot (8 additional stitches on the top of the foot).
Then I worked the heel again on 50% of the original total number of sock sts (30 sts).
Definitely more room. I tried them on and it’s much more comfortable (except for all those dpns, of course). I decreased the extra stitches away, back to the original 60 sts, as I worked the leg. This is sort of an increase gusset and then a decrease gusset. This seems to be working. Hoorah!
I recently watched a podcast where they had had Stephen West as a guest and he said he needs 10 projects on the go at all times. The podcaster was a bit gob smacked by that.
I had an ah-ha moment. No wonder I’m struggling, not enough projects! The monogamous sleeve knitting got to me big time. So I’ve been busy on several small projects and am also getting ready to do another sweater, or maybe two, ha, ha.
My Twelve-Point Circular Yoke in Hempton by Hemp for Knitting is done. It’s only barely spring here. Congrats to me on getting it done before the summer. It’s still not warm enough here to wear it.
You’ll notice there is a flaw part way down on the body. Totally my fault. It is the resting round where I left it for several weeks and that round is loose. I should have taken that round back and reknit it. My bad.
I finished the first of my pair of the Aert Mitts by Gudrun Johnston in Waxwing wool, a rustic fingering weight wool. Total enjoyed it but decided on the second one to reverse the centre section colours, just for fun.
I’m not sure which one I like better yet.
I finished my rendition of the Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee. I loved the stitch pattern fish scales. I didn’t knit these socks according to the pattern. I knit them toe up with a short row heel, so except for the scales, they aren’t really the same socks.
I am working on an idea for Any Gauge Toe Up Socks with a Short Row Heel, nice pattern name – Not. These were my first try and it seems to work. I need more socks to try this idea out on.
I also finished by Windward scarf. It does not photograph well. It’s an intriguing pattern which I have knit 4 times and would totally do it again.
The mitts are almost done. I’ve cast on another pair of socks. But where are my 10 projects?
I’ve picked up an old project to finish.
I mostly knit for myself and know exactly how I like things to fit. This is the Slanting Slip-On top which I’m knitting for my daughter. I started last spring. I made some incorrect assumptions about her size and had to rip quite a bit of this back and reknit the bottom section again. This always slows me down. Things can sit in the time-out corner for a long time. This one did.
I decided to go up a needle size to make the hips wider, you can see where. I don’t think when it’s worn this will matter. I have 2 more inches to go. She loves the feel of it and wants to wear it as soon as I get it done. I did this in Summer Silk by Shelridge Yarns at a totally different gauge than the pattern, of course. If you’ve followed me for a bit you know this is my usual struggle. So many, many modifications to get it to fit: gauge change, shorter arm depth and exact size requested – not negative ease as in pattern. Two more inches to go.
I don’t think I’ve ever had this many finished or almost finished objects!
I was intrigued by the centre spine where you knit with all three colours. I’m not very far along yet.
This pattern is for people who like to tick off rows as they knit. I am not a row-ticker so finding it a little weird but if you are, this is the pattern for you.
Stitch counts at every set of rows are very reassuring.
Now I am looking around for a couple more projects because this is not nearly enough! Cheers, Deb
I’m always in a rush to finish. Why the rush? I have no idea. I don’t like to do the actual finishing, as in sewing in ends and sewing on buttons, etc. So why the rush to get there?!
I am trying to enjoy the journey, which I do while actually knitting, it’s the in-between times that are the problem.
So here I am trying to enjoy knitting a bit on each of these projects.
First up is the Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee. It is cuff down with a flap heel. So, of course, I am knitting it toe up with a short row heel!
Even though the stitch pattern from her pattern is upside down, they still look like scales to me, so all good.
As you can see I didn’t do a good job of choosing colours. The blue is way too pale and the pattern can’t be seen. These are my colours. All fairly bright except for that blue.
I’m going to rip it back and substitute the navy for the pale blue. You agree?
Next is the Windward scarf by Heidi Kirrmaier. This was tv knitting for me so I’m much further ahead. You do have to pay attention at the edge of each triangle or parallelogram, but there is an excellent written chart for that. Here’s how the middle section is worked. Amazing, eh?
Working a little bit each day will get me there. No rush!
I am really close to having all 3 circular yoke sweaters finished. Note to self: Self, pay attention, 3 sweaters at the same time is 1 too many!!! Unfortunately, I never listen, sigh.
The first prototype of the Twelve-Point Circular Yoke is done. The pattern is written and Free to you. Knit it in any gauge of yarn you like. This was a deep dive into old stash to find this DK wool/mohair blend yarn from Wellington Fibres.
Today I wore it on my podcast. If you have some time check it out.
I am almost finished the second Twelve-Point Circular Yoke in Hempton, a cotton/hemp blend DK weight yarn by Hemp for Knitting. I have 5″ to knit on the body and then a cuff on the sleeves for a summer short sleeve version. Summer is coming and I will be ready!
The Lunenburg is done too. I knit it in Durasport by Briggs and Little. I washed it last night so it’s still damp but look… finished. Just in time. Spring is here and this will be perfect to wear with a down vest. Come on weather, just a little warmer please.
I was also knitting a blanket for a break from the sweaters and it’s almost done too! This is the Puzzle Pillow Blanket by Meg Swansen. It’s done with short rows and is a modular knit. I added another section at the side to make it wider. I worked it with one solid fingering weight yarn and one variegated yarn held together on a 5.0mm needle. I used the russian join to attach each new small ball of yarn as I went, a new different coloured solid joined to the old solid and a new variegated to the old variegated. Not especially systematic but I’m pretty happy with it. Just a little more to go on the top left square, then cozy up.
My grandson wanted to know what I was doing so he got his first knitting lesson.
So now … OMG, I can’t tell you how excited I am, it is time to cast on some smaller things. I need the satisfaction of starting something and finishing it in a timely fashion. It’s also a reward for sticking with the sweaters to the end. This is something I find hard thing to do. Do you find that too?
First, I am going to knit something I have knit 3 times already and am excited to knit again. This is the Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier.
It’s construction is very, very clever. This time I am knitting it on a bigger needle with heavy fingering from my stash. I’m not even close to the gauge according to the pattern, but that’s ok with me. It has written charts (a sneak peak at the top of the photo) which you need to follow and is convoluted and amazing.
Next is the Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee which has been in my queue for a while. These are cuff down with a flap heel.
I bought this pattern for the fish scales patterning. My son is a fisherman so I think he will enjoy these.
I started these but have since ditched them. OK, I’m owning up, I am not going to follow the pattern at all. I am going to knit these socks toe up with a short row heel. I have an idea for any gauge socks that I want to try out. I just really like the fish scales!
Next up is Aert Mitts by Gudrun Johnston. I bought this as a kit by Waxwing Yarn. They are a new company producing non-superwash wool milled in Quebec. It’s fingering weight wool and blooms beautifully. I was so happy they did a trunk show at my local yarn store so I could see all the colours and buy quite a few. I can’t wait to get started.
I’m ready to get going on these smaller things. How about you? What is your spring knitting looking like?
Is second sleeve syndrome a thing? If you suffer, here is a solution. Knit both sleeves at the same time on two circular needles.
It’s a messy start, which you know if you have ever attempted to knit two socks at the same time. So here goes.
This is my Lunenburg pullover which I am really anxious to wear. I have done 5″ on both sleeves. It’s going to be a fabulous spring sweater.
Meanwhile, the Twelve-Point Circular Yoke is moving along. I’m past my waist now and have been working some hip shaping on the Back of this sweater. The end of the body is in sight, well, not exactly in sight, but you know what I mean.
Working on only 2 sweaters feels like monogamous knitting to me. I think I need to add another project to be comfortable. Maybe a pair of socks would fill the void. I’m thinking of casting on this week. I think I know which pattern I’m going to use, but I hate to say it because then I’ll probably change my mind, so it will be official once they are on my needles… although a shawl would be nice too. Sigh, so many options.
I’m trying not to cast on something new. It’s time to buckle down and finish my second Twelve-Point Circular Yoke.
The yoke is done. The body and sleeves are next.
But look at this. I’m so happy my protype is done and wearable, if only it would warm up and be spring.
Prototypes are experiments, so not even close to perfect.
Every time I begin though, I’m fully convinced that this design is fully formed in my head, and all I have to do is knit it. But you guessed it, that’s not even close to how it goes.
Problems crop up. I work out these problems while I knit, rip, and re-knit. Then, I decide on the changes I need to make for the final design. That is what I’m knitting now. But I have to admit that the prototype, for me, is much more exciting to knit.
Part of the problem solving was around coming up with a way to add some extra width on the front for those of us who need it. I’ve added an explanation of how that works in this video.
Yes, the prototype of the Twelve-Point Circular is done. Yahoo, sleeves are finished. Phew.
Why are sleeves such a slog? Anyone?
I have set myself up to knit 6 sleeves. Yikes, that’s bad news. The good news is that the first two are done! I’m celebrating 🍾.
Everything else is stuck in the middle. I have the ribbing to do on my Lunenburg and then 2 more sleeves.
The cotton/Hemp Twelve-Point Circular is on hold for the moment. I want to show you how I added extra width on the Front. Coming up soon.
Because 2 sweaters is not enough, I’ve started a Puzzle-Pillow Blanket by Meg Swansen.
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It’s all mitred corners which keeps me interested and is lots of fun. It’s from this book.
I’m using up all my odds and ends, working them doubled up on a 5.0mm. The pattern is a bit obscured, ok, a lot obscured, but I’m using each ball until it runs out. Otherwise, I’ll end up with even more tiny balls. I need to move all these bits of yarn into something I can use.
Since it’s garter stitch, and is getting larger, I am also practicing my Purling Back Backwards so I don’t have to flip it over every row.
That’s me, up to date on my projects which are all stuck in the middle. I hope your knitting is moving along. Cheers, Deb
… I have an ‘almost’ sweater, almost done that is. The pattern has been uploaded onto ravelry: Twelve Point Circular Yoke and it’s free. The sweaters aren’t even done but I thought you might like to see it since I’ll be talking about it for the next couple weeks as I finish up.
It always looks so great when it’s this far. I tend to forget how much back and forth it took to get here.
This is my dubious process:
Have an idea. Start knitting (that’s the really easy part). Go to bed.
Decide to write the pattern and start writing. As I knit I write what I’ve done. Then, I write ahead of my knitting, trying to write the instructions for the sweater that I will follow because I’ve got this, right?! Then I go to bed.
Next morning I decide that I should have done something slightly different for the neck edge. Rewrite the instructions and decide it’s too late to redo that part since I’ve done too much knitting by now. Wonder if this is going to work out. Go to bed.
I need to figure out a step by step way for you to do the math for setting up the yoke markers. Will this make sense to the knitter? It’s totally logical to me. Sigh. Go to bed.
Double check that the math works even though I’ve just knit it up and it’s fine.
Next morning decide that I can’t leave that neck edge problem alone and start another sample. This time it works better. Phew. Happy dance.
Next, write out the math for figuring out the stitch count for the bottom of the yoke. That’s easy since it’s the same method I’ve used on my other Any Gauge patterns. Then I start counting stitches to see how close I am to the bottom of the yoke. Counting all those stitches is a pain! I must be able to figure out an easier way to know when I’m getting close. Got to bed.
Next morning, work on an idea I had during the night. It seems to work. Yay. Happy, happy.
As I approach the bottom of the yoke I think about how to make the Front wider than the Back, for those of us who need this modification. I think I have it worked out. Write it down. Do a diagram and realize it’s not working. Stomp around for a bit. Start over. Doesn’t work. Knit something else for a while. Actually, quite a while as you can see (Lunenburg).
Back to the question of extra width of the Front. A solution comes to me now that it’s been on my mind for several days. OK, start knitting on my prototype again. Happy days again.
Write out the Helical sequence for putting the sleeves on spare yarn. Knit my prototype and realize I wrote it all wrong. Correct it. Keep knitting.
So here I am with a finished body. I’m a happy camper.
My second yoke is also coming along.
The pattern is up on ravelry: Twelve Point Circular Yoke and it’s FREE. I will update it with more photos when I have finished my sweaters. If you want to knit along with me as I knit my second circular yoke, I’m happy to have you along for the ride. I’ll be at this for a couple more weeks.
Here’s my video update if you want to see the sweaters in real life (is it real life if it’s a video?).
I’ve been having fun, really, I love this. Cheers, Deb
This is my latest circular yoke. What you can’t see if that I ripped back a couple inches, knit it again, ripped it back, and knit it once more. It’s been that kind of week.
I was trying, for a couple of days, to figure out how to get a bit more width on the Front of my circular yoke (for two obvious reasons) and still arrive at the needed number of stitches at the bottom of the yoke. If you also need this, good news, I was successful in the end. I figured out how to work 12 more stitches across the Front, above the bust and the divide, with 12 fewer stitches across the Back. This suits me and maybe it suits you too.
I’m hoping to post the pattern next week, all things going better than they did this week!
I now have 3 projects working the helical method. I thought I would just show you how the yarn you use affects how it looks.
This is the 3 colours, one-round stripes, in 3 solid colours.
Again, 3 colours, 2 solids and one variegated with a long colour change (cinnamon to light blue).
This is my stash bust of 2 variegated and one solid (brown).
All three using the same technique with very different results. Is this amazing or what?!
To continue my forward/back week, I started the Lunenburg circular yoke. It’s way more complex than mine. It is a Bohus style colour yoke with purl stitches which are part of this style. I am, at the moment, curious about all things circular.
I find picking colours really difficult so choosing 4 contrast colours against the main colour, grey, was not smooth sailing. I started with this.
I decided that I wasn’t feeling the pinkness. Ripped this back too.
Also, this pattern has lots of colours you use for only one round which means lots and lots of ends. So I decided I could take it down to 3 colours and the main colour. One of my colours goes from light grey to yellow (unfortunately you can’t see that in the photo) so I’m substituting it for the two light colours in the chart. Fewer ends, hoorah. I’m really happy with my decision.
I’m using Briggs and Little Sport in medium grey, teal blue, grey heather and Softspun Lite ‘n Fancy in the grey/yellow (the colour I’m using as both the 2 light colours in the pattern). After several inches of knitting the yoke, I finally feel like I am relaxing into the colour knitting. It’s been a while since I did any.
We are in the middle of the southern ontario snow dump. I live in a basement apartment and my view is filling up with the white stuff.
Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 