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Monday, September 26, 2016

YOP Update 9.26.16



I finally finished my Meandering Rib Scarf and I am so glad. I was getting tired of the same thing all the time. Of course I couldn't wait to give it to my husband at Christmas and just gave it to him as soon as it was finished. He really liked it which is really nice. He isn't big into "crafty things," especially if they are things to wear. I knew he would like the color and also pretty sure he would appreciate something knitted over crochet. Now I want to make him a knit hat in the same yarn to match it. I've never knit a hat so I am looking for a good pattern that isn't too challenging to start with.  I've already got enough challenge going on in the new project I just started.

I'm taking on an intarsia wrap using 8 balls of yarn (each one is half a skein - 71 g). It is already making my gray noodle hurt but I'm figuring it out. Hopefully by the time I'm finished it will look like the pictures in the pattern, Japanese Weave Wrap. The pattern is great with photo tutorials for how to do a multi-color cast on and other necessary things. I watched some youtube videos to learn about intarsia before starting.




Multi-color cast on
The first time I started this I got my yarn and myself and some furniture tied up together. I knew there had to be a better way. I decided to lay the balls out in order and instead of flipping my work I just moved myself to the opposite side. That way I have a lot less tangling. The little bit of tangling I get because of crossing the yarns when changing color I just fix as I go.

For some reason I'm always good at getting half-formed ideas and then I have to run the idea by my husband or one of my sons to get a complete, workable idea. My oldest son (22) is super smart (Enrolled in public school Gifted & Talented class/ELP when he was only 3 years old!) but he is book smart and if it isn't math, statistics or he hasn't read about what you're doing he doesn't have a clue lol. He was so confused when I tried to explain to him what I was doing. It was funny because he stood in front of my yarn balls for 30 minutes trying make sure I wasn't totally crazy. He was drawing diagrams and writing out number sequences and I was trying to explain knitting in very basic language and what I was trying to do. He was sure I was wrong about how this thing was going to come out and wanted to save me from wasting so much time on it. My youngest son (19) always compared himself to his brother and never thought he measured up.  He didn't see that he had his own talents when he was younger. I did though. He is very clever and he is my main go-to for color questions and things like "Is there something in the garage (or backyard etc) I can use to (do whatever)?" Anyway, my problem was my kitchen table is way too wide for my idea of moving myself to the other side instead of flipping my work; It's a big circle. I didn't have anything else that would work and I couldn't use the floor or Buddy (beagle puppy) would make a mess of things. My younger son came up with the ironing board set up with a bar stool on either side. Later he grabbed my yard stick and put it behind the balls to keep them from rolling off.  



Now I'm learning to change colors properly when on the right side or wrong side of the work and praying I don't make any mistakes. I really wish I had a couple of 12" double pointed needles.

I'll leave you with a new picture of my dwarf maple looking a little more glorious than last week. You can't tell from this picture but it frosted this morning and the air was frosty and white-ish like there were very fine particles of ice in the air. It looks almost foggy but it wasn't fog, it was ol' man winter's breath hanging in the air.






12 comments:

  1. That tree is so gorgeous.
    When I do Intarsia I cut the yarn to about a yard or so and let the strings hang down the back - easier to untangle - just have to comb them through your fingers. Much less tangling then balls or winding them on bobbins. Seems like you and your son have figured out a good system that is working for you. I knew ironing boards had to be useful for something!

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    1. It is working great! I can just sing pop goes the weasel as I work around in circles. I'm really glad I won't have to weave in a ton of ends. A ball winder would have been really helpful though. I had to wind mine by hand.

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  2. Scarves seem to take forever to knit. I can understand your joy at being done with it. It really is a grand scarf too. Good luck on the color work. I too have sons that always can come up with a solution to "mechanical" issues.

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  3. Good luck with all the colors!!!! I want to try just don't have the nerve yet. The scarf is awesome. Look at my projects, the hat I did for my husband and boys is an easy ribbed hat. Great first hat!!!

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    1. I'll take a look at that hat! I'd like to get one done for him fast before he actually needs it - which will be very soon.

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  4. Your husband's scarf is amazing. I can't wait to see how all your colors come together.

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  5. Oh wow - that Japanese Weave Wrap looks amazing and complicated. Good for you and your son figuring out an easier way to work on it. I enjoyed reading about your sons' differences and strengths. The Meandering Rib scarf you finished is just beautiful. A hat with the same yarn will look awesome.

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  6. I can see why your husband likes the scarf as it is gorgeous, well done. And, wow, your next scarf looks like it will be amazing. Funny how your son's each tried to help - lovely! There are so many lovely hat patterns, I'm sure something will fit the bill.

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  7. Wow! What a tree, what a great scarf and oh what a challenging project that last one looks like! LOL! It will be gorgeous though and your husbands scarf turned out so nice. I would like to make several for my sons but hats are faster and easier! LOL! Enjoy your new project!

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  8. The scarf is lovely! I had a look at your new project, wow it is going to be beautiful, I like your way of figuring out a way not to tangle the wools! Your maple tree is magnificent.

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  9. So that is what ironing boards are for, lol, (mine hasn't seen the light of day for a few years). Great job so far on the instarsia wrap.
    Glorious autumnal colours on your dwarf maple.

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