I've got a French Knitter

After a few videos on youtube I figured out how to use it, but I'm still not sure what can I do with it, any suggestions?

Making gloves with i-cord? Genius!

Wandering on Ravelry I ended up on a pattern that suggested using the i-cord technique to make fingers for gloves. I found the suggestion simply amazing. I've never made gloves because working the fingers with the 4 needles techniques was too boring event to think. But now I had a hint!

My next step was finding exactly how to do it, and that's where nonaKnits entered the scene. In her blog she explains very well how to do all the fingers and how to attach them to the hand. It looks so easy that I'm going to try it right now.

Finally I can say goodbye to mittens and welcome back fingers! Yuppi! Thansk Nona!

p.s.
It's so easy and fast you can't believe it!

Hairpin Crochet patterns and tutorials

Thanks to Knitaly I found the essential key word to understand and use the knitting fork Ingrid offered me, the k-word is "Hairpin".

Looking for "Hairpin Looms", "Hairpin crochet" and "Hairpin patterns" I found all I need to know to correctly use this amazing tool and make wonderful scarves and shawls in no time. Horray! I feel I will be able to make some lovely scarves for Vik's project! :-)

Here a few links:

Hairpin Crochet video tutorial

Hairpin Looms tips and techniques

Joining two Hairpin stripes

Hairpin Afghan

Vogue Knitting Shawl (.pdf)

Many Hairpin patterns

Basic Directions Over a Span of 109 Years

Tatting as Combined with Hairpin Crochet Lace

I'm totally excited! :-)

Not yet, but almost

Yesterday I went to the first Fall Stitch & Bitch in Milan. It was so nice to see all the girls again. I was very happy to be able to say goodbye to Ingrid, who is about to leave to the other side of the world, and to chat with Typesetter (who was wearing a desirable 2 colors sweater she made, SO nice), Pm10, Zrinka and many new lovely knitters.


We talked about new projects, admired Ingrid's just-made brand new Urchin hat (published by Knitty.com just the day before and already finished and wonderful) that she made with a delicious yellow-brown shade of Manos-like wool. Adorable, we all wanted one!

As we chatted about summer holidays and finished projects, they all agreed that I'm a lazy lousy crocheter that has too many things going on and who hasn't finished one in months. I felt a bit ashamed (but mostly giggled) and I made a promise to Susan: I commit to finish at least 2 projects before the end of the month. Mark my words: I WILL DO IT.

After a quick look to my unfinished works gallery, I chose the (in)famous Brea Bag, almost done since June, and the Chanson Poncho, which is pretty fast and easy to do (if only I didn't have to unravel 1 kg of black cotton yarn before I could start). The poncho yarn, by the way, is starting to be full of Valda's hair, but Ingrid says that's not too bad, in ancient times dog's hair was mixed with wool on purpose to make it warmer during winter. Good news.

Ingrid is not only wise and fast she is also incredibly sweet. She brought me a present from Estonia, a fascinating tool that I foresee will give me infinite pleasure during winter evenings at home. The Netting Fork, to be used with crochet hook. I'm so intrigued and pleased by the thought of learning a new technique, and I'm seriously tempted by trying it right now. BUT I made a promise, no new projects until I finish something. So I better hurry up, and after I'm done with the "knitting for the homeless" scarves I'll jump on the netting fork! Can't wait!! Thank you Ingrid, have a nice trip!!!

My first S'n'B, finally

Yesterday I made it, I went to the Stitch 'n' Bitch in Milan. In the lovely surroundings of the Fiat Cafè in la Triennale, Milan's design museum, we chatted and knitted.

I had a great time with Typesetter, Ing. and Pm10, and I was really glad to finally meet them. We even had a super special guest, Ingrid's little girl, Anke Leen. She is a great little crocheter and made a lovely mini blanket for her doll.

Ing. finished her marvelous Forecast sweater, Typesetter advanced in her revisited summer top, Susan finished her *adorable* crocheted hat (I am totally partial ;-) and me? I made 2 rows of Brea Bag and one row of my crocheted blanket.

The rest of the time we obviously chatted and compared our different ways of knitting and crocheting. I didn't know there were so many ways of achieving the same results! So Fascinating! I didn't even know that it was physically possible to knit at Ing's super speed. This girl is a real serial knitter, no wonders it takes her only one week to finish a sweater!!! I am impressed and totally envious :-D

Great day so, and I look forward to the next meeting!

Brioche Stitch Explained

Looking inside the book "Viva Poncho", that I often use as inspiration, I found the lovely "Desiree Poncho" (in the pic in pink), and I found this Brioche stitch pattern very very nice, perfect of a scarf made with the new Rowan Polar yarn I just bought on eBay. So I tried.
The pattern looked very easy:


Co multiples of 3 sts
Found Row: *yo, sl 1, k1*
1st Row: *yo, sl 1, k2tog*
Repeat 1st row for pattern.

Simple isn't it? Well it is SO elementary that it's impossible to figure it out. How do you start a row with a yarn over? And how do you yarn over? When it says Slip 1, it is knitwise or purlwise? The number of sts will double from found row and row 1?

It took me a whole day of research on the web, I've found 1000 explanation but none clear and understandable. So I tried every possible combination, knitting and undoing what I had knitted, over and over again. The pattern was always a mess... until now!
I finally got it!!! I am so happy that I want to share my experience with you, so that from now on if you find a brioche stitch (or brioche rib) pattern you'll know how to do it without going crazy :-)

Here some tips I figured out:

1. YO = Yarn over in this pattern does not mean a usual yarn over, as if to make 1. But it means bring yarn forward, toward you. And keep it in front of you as if to purl. So you'll always start your row with the yarn in front of you. Then you'll slip one stitch as follows.

2. Sl 1 = Because the Brioche stitch is a rib pattern, which usually alternates knits and purls, I figured that slip 1, meant slip 1 as if to purl, because after that you always knit.

3. K2tog = Because the yarn is in front of you as if to purl, when you'll knit the next 2 sts tog (or k1 in found row) you'll bring naturally the yarn back, making a new st crossed above the slipped st (you'll knit them tog on the next row). You always knit together 2 crossed sts (a slipped one from precedent row and the stitch you made bringing the yarn back to knit). After knitting the sts, bring anew the yarn toward you (yo in the pattern) and restart.

3. Foundation row = Begin as it follows (this tip comes from Viva Poncho): Bring Yarn forward (yo), slip 1 (purlwise), k2tog, then continue as in pattern, *yo (=bring yarn forward), sl 1 (purlwise), k1*. If you follow this tip count one more stitch to the multiples of 3 sts.

So, after all this tying change the pattern as it follows:
yo -> Yf= Bring yarn forward as if to purl
sl1 -> Sl1p= Slip 1 purlwise

Cast on multiple of 3 sts (+1 if you follow the Viva Poncho Tip on foundation row)
Foundation row: (Yf, Sl1p, k2tog;) *yf, sl1p, k1*. Repeat ** till the end of row
Row 1: *yf, sl1p, k2tog*. Repeat **
Repeat row 1 for pattern

I hope I've helped some of you to figure this pattern out, because now that I got it, it goes really fast and the texture of the ribs obtained is fluffy and exquisite. Here's an example of the Brioche rib in Polar Combat (click to enlarge).

Happy Knitting!


ITALIAN UPDATE:
A grande richiesta aggiungo la spiegazione anche in italiano. Con un'avvertenza, prima di iniziare uno schema impratichitevi un po' con il punto. E' molto bello e veloce, ma difficilissimo da recuperare in caso di errore. Per cui meglio fare 2-3 prove prima di partire con la sciarpa o il poncho.


Monta maglie multiple di 3

Primo rigo di fondazione: *porta il filo verso di te (come se dovessi fare un rovescio), fai scivolare 1 maglia come se dovessi lavorarla a rovescio, lavora 1 maglia al dritto**. Ripeti da * a **
NB: quando lavori la maglia al dritto crei un incrocio col filo che hai precedentemente portato in avanti.

Rigo 1: *porta il filo verso di te (come se dovessi fare un rovescio), fai scivolare 1 maglia come se dovessi lavorarla a rovescio, lavora 2 maglie insieme al dritto*. Ripeti da * a **.
NB: Le due maglie che lavori insieme sono incrociate, perché una delle due è quella che hai creato all'andata.

Ripeti il rigo 1

Socks fever

I couldn't resist, before even finishing my first sock, I've started another project. I found the Knee Striped Socks by Diana so adorable, that I started to make a pair for my sister.


After practicing the 4 needles knitting, for the first pattern, I'm now approaching two new techniques. Which is cool cos' I'm learning so many new things!!

For now I've learn the Turkish Cast On (thanks to the fantastic tutorial by Deby) and the Magic Loop Knitting thanks to Knitting Help.com! And I have successfully combined the two techniques, look at this seamless toe, isn't it nice? I'm proud ;-)


At the beginning everything looks extremely difficult, but after a while it gets easy and very fast!
It's a socks fever!!!!

English or Continental knitting?

Which one do you prefer?
I can't decide. To be honest I discovered the Continental knitting just a few weeks ago, thanks to this great website KnittingHelp.com, and I'm trying it (only knit, purl is too complicated). I must say that when my right arm is tired, a little bit of continental knitting helps, but only if I'm using steel needles, because Takumi Bamboo needles have a very round ending and I cannot hook the yarn.

Today I've been progressing 10 rows on my mom's poncho and, I must say, Continental knitting made me go much faster in stockinette stitch than the throwing method. I speed up like a flash! This way I could be done for Easter... At the beginning my gauge was tighter than with the other method, but after a few rows it was exactly the same. Continental knitting conquered me! Wow!

Felting and fulling by hand

That's it I wanted to try felting so long, and finally I did it. I don't have a washing machine so I tried by hand. At the end of the process my hands were way more ruined than the little purse I was trying to felt, or I should say full (see difference here), but in the end something happened. I'm not sure I should redo the process to shrink it more, but I guess I won't.

I used Cascade 220 yarn in pink (col 7805), Dawn dish soap, ultra hot water and a bowl of very cold water. Passing from one to the other for at least 15-20 mins. This was my rehearsal before starting the "booga bag" I'm planning to knit. What do you think? Should I re-felt it to have a more compact texture?

I've also progressed a little with my mom's poncho, I've finished the collar and now started the body. I hope I'll make it in time for Easter!!! Hopefully I can count on my cat's help... as usual ;-) This reminds me I have to finish my sister's Amigurumi dog!! I'm running so late in all the projects!!!

Finally, on e-Bay I bought the "Amigurumi Collection vol. 1" book, and to be sincere I was expecting something more. I mean all the amigurumi are made using the same technique (rounds increased 6 sts per row), so the book is kind of superfluous, anyway the pictures are cute and the animals in it definitely nice.

Needle Master, I Love You

Finally all my bidding on e-Bay gave some results. I've received the fantastic, marvelous, wonderful, outstanding Boyle Needle master. Yooohoooo! I LOOOVE it, and even if I'm a very bad knitter, I don't care I wanna knit the world with my needlemaster!!!

I already started to knit a pillow cover, and I already can see that the results will be very poor... But who cares!? My next step will be knitting a poncho from the lovely book "Viva Poncho", I've chosen this one, it's called ELEANOR. Isn't it lovely? I'll do it for my mom.


My only problem now is buying the Rowan Polar yarn necessary for the project, and apparently is not easy, not even on e-Bay. I thought I made it today, but at the very last 20 sec on the auction someone bided 1 dollar more than me and got the yarn :-(
I guess, I'll try again... or I'll go to Article Pract in Oakland and ask for a substitute yarn...

Tapestry Crochet Kitty Bag

The lovely weather, almost summery, that we had here in Berkeley during the last week inspired me in trying something new. It was a while that I wanted to try Tapestry Crochet, but I never figured out how to do it properly. Finally, a couple of days ago, I found online this adorable pattern by Carol Ventura for a Tapestry Crochet Kitty Bag, and it is very well explained how to tapestry crochet.
Ok we all agree that my attempt, as usual, is not as good as the original, but still I am satisfied with the results... If only I new what to do with my new little bag... ;-)

First Doily Ever

So here it is, my first doily ever. I am totally amazed, and still, when I finish a first-time ever project, I almost cannot believe I did it.
I used a very lovely pattern by Crochet memories, called "Autumn Reflections", some thin cotton thread and a tiny tiny crochet hook size US7/ 1,75mm, and I made it through. Can you believe it? And I am not the tipe of person who has a lot of patience, but I did it...
and I must admit it wasn't that difficult, at least much less than I expected when I first saw the size of the hook, that was scary!