Misc Deep Winter 2021 Stitching Chat thread

[packyderms_wife]

Brrrr baby it's cold outside! So far the predictions for a warm winter here in central Iowa have been wrong! I plan to order some wool today and get that scarf for Orion Commander finished.

What projects are you working on right now?

 

[Martinhouse]

After nearly a year of using a shawl I knitted last winter and spring, I pulled out the cuff on one end and am adding another skein of yarn to it so it's long enough to use folded in half. My house has been extra chilly this year, and I prefer the knitted shawls better than fleece lately because they don't slide off my shoulders like the knappy fleece does.

I should have crocheted this shawl as it would have been lots faster than knitting, but I'm certainly not going to pull the whole thing apart. Way too much work de-kinking yarn that has been knitted for a whole year. Just that one cuff was bad enough to work with!

I miss the old streaming audio programs I used to listen to. I will never learn to knit without looking at what I'm doing, and I miss too much of the visuals when I knit while watching/listening to the videos.

 

[Faroe]

Finished a shawl of my own design, last week. Would love to write a pattern for it. It happens that the yarn used for it was a perfect match, and is milled by a place in WY. Thinking of maybe proposing an arrangement with the yarn people to provide the pattern for their yarn, and maybe I could get some free yarn out of it. We'll see. Not going to Ravely with any patterns.

Working on the new second-try gansey, and it is past where I left off with the too-small one. About 5" knitted. Entirely my own design. Knitting up like a dream, THIS time; looks good!

Threw a dust cloth over the inkle with the Baltic-in-progress, so y'all can guess how much progress has been made on that....

Will be ordering a few oz of Gotland roving and some Jacob roving for spindle spinning. *Should* just order the whole fleeces, but I know myself well enough to KNOW that I'll never get them washed. Even smaller spun yardages will useful in the woven belts, so just a few oz will do.

 

[Faroe]

After nearly a year of using a shawl I knitted last winter and spring, I pulled out the cuff on one end and am adding another skein of yarn to it so it's long enough to use folded in half. My house has been extra chilly this year, and I prefer the knitted shawls better than fleece lately because they don't slide off my shoulders like the knappy fleece does.

I should have crocheted this shawl as it would have been lots faster than knitting, but I'm certainly not going to pull the whole thing apart. Way too much work de-kinking yarn that has been knitted for a whole year. Just that one cuff was bad enough to work with!

I miss the old streaming audio programs I used to listen to. I will never learn to knit without looking at what I'm doing, and I miss too much of the visuals when I knit while watching/listening to the videos.

I always keep an eye on the needles. Hate mistakes and split stitches.
If other knitters can manage knitting by feel, good for them.

Lots of YT videos are just lectures. I find a channel I like, and listen all day. Some visuals on the screen get missed, but no biggie. Currently making my way through Hurstwic, listing to a guy on various aspects of Viking myth and culture. Maybe we should start a Listen and Craft thread for sharing links?

 

[packyderms_wife]

Lots of YT videos are just lectures. I find a channel I like, and listen all day. Currently making my way through Hurstwic, listing to a guy on various aspects of Viking myth and culture. Maybe we should start a Listen and Craft thread for sharing links?

My cousin sent me a bunch of links to YouTube’s discussing crypto’s and day trading.

 

[Martinhouse]

Last spring I was knitting while listening to Chris Martenson's video most days, as he rarely had any visuals except for a few charts which he described so well I didn't need to see them.

I used to get so much knitting, mending and hand-sewing done back when we listened to streaming audio! I even got things set up so I could peel and cut up potatoes, tomatoes, fruit, etc, getting it ready for canning. Now that I can't stand at the counter for very long at a time, I'd love to be able to do things this way again, But I'd miss too much of the information if I didn't watch the screen.

Oh, well. Maybe I need to just turn the computer off and pretend it's gone just like I had to get used to not having TV when I cancelled my cable connection.

Maybe I'd best stop complaining and appreciate the information in any for it's presented. Who knows, it might not be around much longer if things keep going the way they're going. It could all be censored away, or the grid could go down and we'd lose a lot more than we can even realize just thinking about it.

Faroe, I hope your new sweater knitting attempt continues to work out better this time.

 

[AlaskaSue]

It’s soooo cold. My room is huge but has almost no heat which really cools things down on clear nights below zero. My little electric heater is about worn out so I am sitting here (day 3 of fireworks in this area) with my beaver pelt on my lap and 2 wool shawls around my shoulders. I actually don’t mind the cold when I can just read.

But my current sewing project is some embroidery for my grand girls, just some pretty flowers on pillows so I can teach them next time I’m down there; have already taught them hand stitching which they completely love. They have said no one else in their respective classes knows that skill. And they are 5 and 9! I do have a gas stove to sit by for this sewing, so no chilly fingers.

Planning my next quilt which will be scrappy and have lights/darks making either straight or diagonal strips. Have backing, batting, fabric, thread. And with very little yard work right now (LOL), I also seem to have the time.

Have yet to teach grandgirls to knit, though I have taught quite a few adults and children. They moved to Florida so no need for hats, scarves or mittens. Maybe cute bags, and we‘ll felt them.

So many projects, so little time. .

 

[packyderms_wife]

Have yet to teach grandgirls to knit, though I have taught quite a few adults and children. They moved to Florida so no need for hats, scarves or mittens. Maybe cute bags, and we‘ll felt them.

So many projects, so little time. .

Teach them how to knit linen tank tops, those would be perfect for Florida's weather.

 

[Samuel Adams]

Just got in two ebay orders of sport and worsted weight mohair yarns in earthy gray/brown....taupe ?, maybe ?
Roughly 3 1/2 pounds.....

Will go nicely with the 2 pounds leftover from a recent super chunky turtleneck tunic sweater knit up a couple weeks ago, to do another, with some variations.

Takes me three average snowy blustery days of indoor, woodstovy, coffee with maple syrup and real cream.....to create one of these beasts.

Usually cast on 7-10 strands on #17s or 19s, to start, bottom up....average 54-60 stitches....

Keep in mind, I knit in loving memory of Her.

She loved sweaters.....and we loved thrift shopping for those vintage bulky woolens.....and she was taking knitting lessons from an elderly English lady from a neighboring village, when she passed.....

I took up the needles 4 years after.

Should have done so when we were dating.....hindsight.

Anywho, that blessed English lady was just showing her the technique of holding multiple strands on bigger needles.....and she was quite enthusiastic about the concept....

My very first, learning project, was a melon colored scarf, knit with three strands worsted wool weight, on #11 needles.

It’s been crazy, ever since.

My favorite, slow day, short gratification project has always been mittens.

Usually cast on 16-18 stitches, 7-9 strands, on 16” #17 circulars.

My record was set at my in-laws kitchen table, 3-4 years ago, Christmas eve day.....three pairs super chunky mittens for two nieces and a sister-in-law.

I mean, if yer gunna have an obsession, it might as well involve wool, eh ?

 

[Faroe]

Steven B., a guy who owns a yarn store in Mpls, knits interesting projects with multiple strands. You can have some fun mixing colors and textures that way. IIRC, I left a video linked post somewhere around here, maybe in the autumn of summer stitching thread, where he has an interview with Suzanne Bryan.

 

[Mrsmonty]

Hi there...I have recently joined this forum for the news but as a happy surprise I found this chat as well.
I am a lifelong crocheter and have decided to teach myself to knit this year.
I would love to knit myself a pair of socks. If you all have any links to good instructors, it will be greatly appreciated!

 

[packyderms_wife]

I'm somewhere between Irredeemable and Ascended. I've dyed fabric using both cow poop and urine, made one hell of an indigo vat!

 

[packyderms_wife]

Hi there...I have recently joined this forum for the news but as a happy surprise I found this chat as well.
I am a lifelong crocheter and have decided to teach myself to knit this year.
I would love to knit myself a pair of socks. If you all have any links to good instructors, it will be greatly appreciated!

I learned how to knit socks from watching videos. Which method of knitting are you using, there are several. Oh and welcome TBK!

 

[packyderms_wife]

Steven B., a guy who owns a yarn store in Mpls, knits interesting projects with multiple strands. You can have some fun mixing colors and textures that way. IIRC, I left a video linked post somewhere around here, maybe in the autumn of summer stitching thread, where he has an interview with Suzanne Bryan.

Looks like this thread Post #17 is your first mention of her.

Misc - Summer 2020 Stitching Chat!

This will cover June, July, August and probably up to Labor Day! Not much going on here stitch wise, I now have trifocals and can see to thread a needle once again... so stitching in the evenings will be happening now!

www.timebomb2000.com

I like to take different textured yarns and ply them together for chunky knit scarves, hats, and the like.

 

[Faroe]

So true about Kitchener stitch!

 

[packyderms_wife]

So true about Kitchener stitch!

yep, and a few other stitches as well!