nonaSwatches

28 February, 2007

My 3 day Orenburg shawl sample is completed (day 1 & day 2).  Today I turned the top right corner, knit the top border while attaching it to the body, turned the top left corner and grafted the final stitches together.  All in all, a very satisfying swatch.  Here are the 8 basic steps for knitting this style shawl:

1. Knit the bottom border.  The bottom border is knit vertically and then turned on its side -- if you look closely at the photo you can see that the garter ridges are sideways.
2. Use short rows to turn the bottom right corner 90 degrees counter clockwise.
3. Use short rows to turn the bottom left corner 90 degrees clockwise.
4. Knit across the right border's live stitches, pick up stitches along the bottom border for the body, and knit across the left border's live stitches.  Knit the right edge, body, and left edge simultaneously.
5. Use short rows to turn the top right edge 90 degrees counter clockwise
6. Knit the top border and attach the border to the body as it is knit.
7. Use short rows to turn the top left edge 90 degrees clockwise
8. Join the remaining live stitches using a grafting technique that reminds me of binding off.

Yarn:	Lorna's Lace's sock yarn in cream
Needles:	US 2
Source:	"A Sample Shawl to Knit" from The Gossamer Webs Design Collection, page  5.

Two months down and 10 to go -- Swatch On!

27 february, 2007

In part 2 of my 3 day swatch, I knit the body of my mini Orenburg shawl along with the side borders.  The instructions called for a garter stitch body, but I couldn't resist throwing in a few stitch patterns from the book's Stitch Dictionary.  Tomorrow I get to turn the corners and knit the final border.  Hey, this is fun!

Yarn:	Lorna's Lace's sock yarn in cream
Needles:	US 2
Stitch:	3 stitch patterns used in the body -- from bottom to top: Peas, Mouse Prints, and Honeycomb
Source:	"A Sample Shawl to Knit" from The Gossamer Webs Design Collection, page  5.   Stitch patterns from the Stitch and Border Dictionary in the same book, page 13, 15, & 14

26 february, 2007

While at Stitches West I picked up Galina Khmeleva's pamphlet, The Gossamer Webs Design Collection, which includes a sample shawl to knit.  The shawl in question teaches all the construction principles and techniques used to knit an Orenburg style shawl -- all in miniature form.  This sample shawl just screamed "Swatch Me"!

Since this sample is bigger than your average swatch, I'm going to knit it over 3 days.  Today's installment features the bottom border and the turned right and left corners.  I'm poised to knit the shawl's body and side edges, which are waiting patiently for tomorrow.  So far the instructions are excellent and the knitting fun!

Here are a few observations from today's swatch:

• Orenburg shawls are knit in garter stitch -- you knit every row
• Orenburg shawls are knit in one piece with -- I think -- no seaming
• Single decreases are always worked k2tog, meaning that left and right slanting decreases are not used as design elements in the lace.
• The first stitch of each row is slipped "the Russian Way" -- with yarn in front slip the 1st stitch purl wise, move yarn to back between needles.

Yarn:	Lorna's Lace's sock yarn in cream
Needles:	US 2
Source:	"A Sample Shawl to Knit" from The Gossamer Webs Design Collection, page  5.

25 february, 2007

Mixing 2 luscious colors of Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn in a 2 color, 2 row chevron pattern. Yes, I was at Stitches West today.  And yes, I bought a few things.  Details to follow on nonaKnits -- probably tomorrow afternoon.

Yarn:	Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction; 50% Merino, 50% Tencel in colorways Rooster Rock and Smokey Blue.
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Chevron Pattern in a 2 row, 2 color stripe over 48 stitches Row 1 (Color A): k2tog 4 times, kf&b 8 times, k2tog 8 times, kf&b 8 times, k2tog 4 times. Row 2 (Color A): purl Row 3 (Color B): knit Row 4 (Color B): purl
Source:	Chevron Scarf pattern from Last-Minute Knitting Gifts page 121.

24 february, 2007

I'm battling a case of Knitter's Block over my design for the baby blanket and have decided to stew on it for a few days and shift swatching gears.

I love combining two colors for a simple 2 row stripe -- it's amazing how colors play off each other.  For this swatch, I was looking for two shades of blue that would give me enough contrast without screaming stripe, stripe, stripe.  I'm happy with the results and am comtemplating knitting this quick vest with a few vertical String of Purls added to the back -- just for good luck.

Yarn:	Jamieson's Double Knitting in Admiral Blue and Pacific.
Needles:	US 5
Gauge:	21 stitches in 4 inches over stockinette stitch

23 february, 2007

Experimenting with color combinations, proportions, and construction techniques for a baby blanket based on rectangles of knit/purl stitches.  I still have a long way to go, but know more today than I did yesterday.  It's the process, my friends, the process.

Yarn:	Tahki's Cotton Classic -- still love this yarn
Needles:	US 6
Gauge:	About 5.75 stitches per inch in knit/purl pattern
Stitch:	A variety of knit/purl stitch combinations.  Some based on previous swatches.

22 february, 2007

Several more knit/purl pattern variations knit in Rowan's All Season's Cotton.

Yarn:	Rowan's All Seasons Cotton
Needles:	US 7 & US 8 -- I like this yarn knit with US 8 best Light Pink: US 8, Tan: US 7; Dark Pink: US 7 bottom half, US 8 top half
Stitch:	Light Pink: Basketweave Tan: Baske stitch Dark Pink: Five/five squares
Source:	Vogue Knitting, pages 122-123

21 february, 2007

I'm inspired by the blankets -- here and here -- that Alison has been knitting based on the book, Sarah Dallas Knitting.  I love the simplicity of the blocks of color and the crispness of the knit/purl pattern variations.

For today's swatches I started with the Double Broken Rib stitch pattern -- pink.  Then decided to offset the purl blocks -- yellow.  Then decided to change the scale -- tan.  Click here for a detail.

I can envision a variation on the Modern Log Cabin blanket -- Mason Dixon Knitting -- with the blocks knit in different knit/purl pattern variations.  Hmmm, what is it with me and blankets recently!?

Yarn:	Tahki's Cotton Classic -- love this yarn
Needles:	US 6
Gauge:	About 5.75 stitches per inch in knit/purl pattern
Stitch:	Pink: Double Broken Rib.  Yellow: variation on pink with purl blocks offset.  Tan:  variation on yellow with a change of scale.
Source:	Double Broken Rib is from Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns page 12.  Other variations were unvented from the first, but I'm sure are well known, existing stitch patterns.

20 february, 2007

Today's swatch combines 3 versions of my "Mystery Blanket" squares and 1 of EZ's version.  To join the blocks I followed EZ's directions.  First, the live stitches between the blocks are grafted together and then the center diamond is knit.  I cannot believe I'm going to say this, but the grafting was fun and easy!   

Yarn:	Malabrigo in cognac; kettle dyed merino wool.
Needles:	US 7, double points
Source:	Knitter's Almanac page 43

19 february, 2007

Today's swatch is the correct version of the "Mystery Blanket" square from Elizabeth Zimmermann's blog-like book, Knitter's Almanac.  Yesterday, I misread the instructions and -- to use EZ's parle -- "unvented" a new variation.

Both versions start with 8 stitches -- 2 on each of 4 needles -- and increase 8 stitches every other round until there are 24 stitches on each needle, 96 stitches total.  The difference in our versions is in how the increases were worked: 

EZ marked the first stitch on each needle as the increase stitch and then worked a YO on either side of that marked stitch, causing the stitch surrounded by the YOs to stay constant -- hence the straight, diagonal line.

While I, always worked a YO on either side of the first stitch on each needle, causing the stitch surrounded by the YOs to move 1 stitch to the right each increase round -- hence the spiral.

It's up to you, opinionated reader, to decide which variation you would use for your own Mystery Blanket.  Or would you unvent your own?!   

Yarn:	Malabrigo in cognac; kettle dyed merino wool.
Needles:	US 7, double points
Source:	Knitter's Almanac page 43

18 february, 2007

My favorite Elizabeth Zimmermann book is her Knitter's Almanac.  Anyone who's read it must agree that EZ was the original knit blogger, opting for pen and paper over the not-yet-readily-available computer.  It's only $7.95 and worth every penny.  The April chapter, "Mystery Blanket: Weaving", is my inspiration for today's swatch.  This swatch is almost one of the blanket squares -- almost because I misread the directions and ended up with swirling eyelet holes instead of diagonals.  I think perhaps I'll try again tomorrow

Yarn:	Malabrigo in cognac; kettle dyed merino wool.
Needles:	US 7, double points
Source:	Knitter's Almanac page 43

17 february, 2007

I was browsing through my new book, Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave, when I stumbled upon the 1x1 Rib Cast On at the back of the book.  Holy Cow!  Did you know you can use the long tail cast on and cast on purl stitches in addition to knit stitches!?  nona -- smiling smugly -- now knows how to cast on knit stitches, purl stitches or any combination. 

I refer curious readers to page 120 of said book for an excellent description with illustrations.  In short, it's a mirror image of the standard long tail -- bring your needle up through the index finger's loop, grab the right leg of the thumb loop, and take it back through the index finger.  More information can be found here and here.

Yarn:	Aurora 8
Needles:	US 8
Stitch:	2x2 ribbing worked from 3 different cast ons.  Starting at the top and working counter clockwise -- 1.  Traditional long tail cast on giving me an initial row of knit stitches.  2.  Long tail cast on, but alternated casting on 2 knits 2 purls.  3.  Same as 2, except I also worked the first 2 rows using a special slip stitch thingy-ma-bob that the Embossed Leaves sock pattern calls for.
Source:	Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave page 31 & 120
Techniques:	Purl Long Tail Cast On. Cara -- in her usual fashion -- gives an excellent description, with clear pictures, of the difference between the Knit and the Purl Long Tail Cast Ons.  And Jen -- the lucky gal with an awesome craft room -- provides clear and simple illustrations of this technique.

16 february, 2007

This ephemeral -- here today, gone tomorrow -- swatch is knit with some wonderful hand spun, 2-ply yarn that Sarah generously gifted to me -- details here.  I'll be making the Embossed Leaves Socks with this yarn and will unravel the swatch since every little bit is valuable to me.   

Yarn:	Sarah's hand spun, 2-ply wool
Needles:	US 1
Gauge:	15 stitches = 2 inches in stockinette stitch
Stitch:	Lace pattern for the Embossed Leaves Socks
Source:	Design by Mon Schmidt.  First published in the Winter 2005 issue of Interweave Knits and later republished in Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.

15 february, 2007

I'm tired, feel a cold coming on, and needed a bit of comfort knitting.  There's nothing a few short rows and a touch of orange won't help.

Yarn:	Rowan's 4-Ply Soft and assorted Koigu
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Garter Stitch
Techniques:	Short Rows, Intarsia, Log Cabin Construction

14 february, 2007

Yesterday's swatch conjured a keen curiosity in the double decrease.  I'm well versed in the single decrease, which can either slant to the right when you work a k2tog or to the left when you work one of the plethora of left slanting decreases.  But the double decrease is a sly beast -- it can slant to the right, the left, or line up vertically.

The Clementine Shawlette's lace pattern uses a vertical double decrease to create a strong vertical line up the center of a stockinette stitch patch.  In yesterday's swatch I attempted to foolishly substitute a left slanting decrease to disastrous results.  You see, my ergonomic readers, the vertical double decrease the pattern called for was difficult -- hard on the hands -- to work in my stiff linen yarn.  Hence a quest for an alternative.  After perusing a variety of how to books, I did find one variation on the theme. 

Today's swatch compares two vertical double decreases (details below).  To see the 2 decreases in detail, click here.  Although I think the decrease on the right looks better, the decrease on the left will be easier to work in the linen yarn.  Since I'll have to knit so many double decreases, I'm opting for hand-ease over eye-ease -- Knitter's Choice.

Yarn:	Tahki's Cotton Classic
Needles:	US 6
Gauge:	17 stitches = 2.75 inches
Stitch:	A simple lace pattern incorporating two vertical double decreases.  The two decreases are worked differently to compare the results.  The decrease on the right seems to be the "standard" vertical double decrease and is the one used in the Clementine Shawlette stitch pattern: Slip 2 stitches together knit wise Knit 1 Pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch The decrease on the left is the only alternative vertical double decrease I could find in my knitting books: Slip 1 stitch onto a cable needle and hold in back ** Slip 1 stitch knitwise Return 1st stitch from cable needle to left needle K2tog Pass the slipped stitch over ** Instead of using a cable needle, I simply slipped the stitch off and let it hang in mid-air -- similar to cabling without a cable needle.
Source:	Both of these vertical double decrease can be found in Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook, page 120

13 february, 2007

This gauge swatch is for my Clementine Shawlette.  I vowed -- yes, vowed -- not to start this new project until I finished one of my current projects, but I never said anything about swatching.  Thank goodness for loop holes.

Look closely toward the bottom of the vertical decrease lines.  Can you see where the vertical lines are interrupted?  For a close up, click here.  The stitch pattern uses a double decrease -- slip 2 together knit wise, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over.  This double decrease is difficult to work in the stiff linen yarn, so I tried to substitute a slip 1, k2tog, psso decrease.  No go, my swatching friends.  The pattern's decrease creates a vertical stitch, while my alternative decrease created a left slanting decrease.   This has got me thinking about the different types of double decreases -- hmmm, I feel an experiment coming on.

Yarn:	Louet's Euroflax 100% Wet Spun Linen Fine / Sport Weight in Cranapple.
Needles:	US 4 & US 5.  The bottom half is knit using US 4s and the top half using US 5s.
Gauge:	23 stitches = 3.75 inches (US 4) 23 stitches = 4 inches (US5)
Stitch:	Lace stitch pattern used for the Clementine Shawlette
Source:	Clementine Shawlette, Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits, page 82

12 february, 2007

Today's swatch has been added onto yesterday's swatch.  Day 2 of a multi-day swatch add-along.  Not looking so good, but I'm going to see if I can resurrect this beast tomorrow.  Remember, you can learn just as much -- if not more -- from a swatch that doesn't work as from one that does.  Go ahead, call me an optimist!

Yarn:	Rowan's Cotton Glace, Rowan's Wool Cotton, and a few other random things from my stash.
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Garter Stitch
Techniques:	Short Rows, Intarsia, Log Cabin Construction

11 february, 2007

Day 1 of a multi-day swatch add-along.  Confused?  All will be revealed in time, my patient friend.

Yarn:	Rowan's Cotton Glace, Rowan's Wool Cotton, and a few other random things from my stash.
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Garter Stitch
Techniques:	Short Rows, Intarsia, Log Cabin Construction

10 february, 2007

Another take on the 2 color Brioche Stitch -- click here to see the other side and here to see a close up.  Thanks to Laura for providing me with a link for the 2 color brioche stitch.  I used those for yesterday's swatch, but felt there had to be a better way.  Today's swatch is my own take on the 2 color Brioche that was much easier for me to remember and work.

After several days of Brioche Stitch swatching, the first, simple version was my favorite and think it would make an excellent hat, scarf, or blanket.

Yarn:	Rowan's 4-ply Soft and Koigu
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	2 color Brioche Stitch; even number of stitches. Setup Row: Color 1: *yo, sl1, k1*, repeat between **s Slide stitches to other end of needle Row 1: Color 2: *p2tog, sl1, yo*, repeat between **s Row 2: Color 1: *p2tog, sl1, yo*, repeat between **s Slide stitches to other end of needle Row 3: Color 2: *yo, sl 1, k2tog*, repeat between **s Row 4: Color 1: *yo, sl 1, k2tog*, repeat between **s Slide stitches to other end of needle and repeat from Row 1. Ending Row or Bind Off: *p1, k2tog*, repeat
Source:	The basic Brioche Stitch is from Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 46-47 Also, the Spring 2005 issue of Interweave Knits has an excellent article on the Brioche Stitch.

09 february, 2007

2 color Brioche Stitch.  Click here to see the other side and here to see a close up.   

08 february, 2007

Yesterday's Brioche Stitch swatch worked my mind into a swirling "what if" frenzy -- what if I used 2 colors, what if I cabled, what if I could get vertical stripes, etc, etc, etc.  I'm sure, clever reader, you can guess what the next few days will bring.  Click here for a close up.

Pshaw to those who think swatching is mundane.  On the contrary, swatching is liberating and creatively stimulating. 

Yarn:	Rowan's Cotton Glace in chocolate brown and turquoise blue.
Needles:	US 4
Gauge:	26 stitches = 5.5 inches
Stitch:	Brioche Stitch in a two color, two row stripe. Setup Row: *yo, sl1, k1*, repeat between ** Row 1: *yo, sl1, k2tog*, repeat -- note: the k2tog knits together the yo and the slipped stitch from the previous row. Ending Row or Bind Off: *p1, k2tog*, repeat With Color 1, cast on, work the setup row, and 1 repeat of Row 1. ** With Color 2, work Row 1, twice With Color 1 work Row 1, twice Repeat from ** until desired length, ending with 2 rows of color1. Work ending row or bind off in Color1
Source:	The basic Brioche Stitch is from Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 46-47

07 february, 2007

In her comment on yesterday's swatch, Brenda mentioned she was going to learn the Brioche Stitch, referring to Janet Szabo's winter Twist and Turn newsletter for a basic tutorial and cable brioche scarf.  Constantly curious, I found the Brioche Stitch in Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  This stitch is fun and easy to knit and creates a reversible and -- dare I say -- spongy fabric.  You've got to knit this one for yourself!

Yarn:	Karabella's Aurora 8
Needles:	US 8
Gauge:	20 stitches = 4.75 inches
Stitch:	Brioche Stitch.  The Brioche stitch -- in all its many varitions -- feature a yo and a slipped stitch, which are subsequently knit together on the next row.   The basic version requires an even number of stitches and is worked as follows: Setup Row: *yo, sl1, k1*, repeat between ** Row 1: *yo, sl1, k2tog*, repeat -- note: the k2tog knits together the yo and the slipped stitch from the previous row. Repeat Row 1. Ending Row or Bind Off: *p1, k2tog*, repeat
Source:	Brioche Stitch is from Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 46-47

06 february, 2007

I was attracted to the neutrals today.

Yarn:	Rowan's Wool Cotton & Cotton Glace; Garn Studio's Silk Tweed
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Garter Stitch with a few String of Purls thrown in here and there.
Techniques:	Knitting -- and purling -- backwards, short rows, log cabin construction.

05 february, 2007

There are so many ways to knit, but when all is said and done you really cannot tell from a piece of knitting what knitting style was used.  How nice -- no right way to knit,  no wrong way to knit.

I used this swatch to learn how to knit -- and purl -- backwards.  This technique allows you to knit in both directions without turning your work.  For example, you can knit from the left to the right needle and then instead of turning and purling back you can knit from the right to the left needle.  Why in the world was I interested in learning this technique?  Well, it allows me to work short rows without turning and will be quite useful for my String of Purls obsession and Wonky Log Cabin squares.

Who says you cannot teach an old dog new tricks?

Yarn:	Tahki's Cotton Classic -- this is my favorite cotton yarn.
Needles:	US 6
Stitch:	Stockinette Stitch with a little garter stitch to start and end.
Techniques:	Knitting -- and purling -- backwards.  This entire swatch was worked from the right needle to the left needle, throwing the yarn with my left hand.  I used trial and error to "unvent" this technique and will post a tutorial on nonaKnits tomorrow or Wednesday -- you know how it is.

04 february, 2007

Before Felting || After Felting

Today's swatch was inspired by my inability to stay away from the String of Purls stitch pattern and by my intrigue with Jade's suggestion of knitting a felted rug.

This swatch is huge, I mean huge, really huge!  Click here to see it's size in comparison with my 24 January swatch.  Both swatches were knit with the same number of stitches and similar number of rows.  The Big Wool felted very nicely -- even in my front loader.  This yarn and stitch pattern would indeed make a fabulous felted rug!  Click here to see the felted version of the swatch.

Yarn:	Rowan's Big Wool chocolate brown and green.  This swatch used an entire ball of brown and about 1/2 -> 2/3 of a ball of green.
Needles:	Huge, plastic, and white with green tips.  Not sure the size, but I'd guess US 35.
Gauge:	36 stitches = 20.5 inches; 46 rows = 17.5 inches; Before felting. 36 stitches = 13.5 inches; 46 rows = 11 inches; After felting.
Stitch:	String of Purls; Multiple of 12 stitches; 2 colors; Background knit in garter stitch instead of stockinette stitch.
Source:	A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 91
Techniques:	Short rows

03 february, 2007

Another take on the Ostrich Plumes stitch pattern using a thin variegated mohair yarn.  This is an excellent lace pattern if you're looking to impress friends and family -- it looks complex, yet is simple to knit.  Scarf?  Afghan? Glove cuff?

A bit of lace trivia.  Typically in lace, each YO is paired with a decrease.  The YO adds a stitch and the decrease subtracts one, resulting in a balanced stitch count.  Working the paired decrease far removed from its YO will cause the knitting to curve.  This lace pattern is an example, as is the classic Fan and Feather.

Yarn:	S. Charles Ritratto [28% mohair, 53% rayon, 10% polyamide, 9% polyester];  color: #72 Variegated Greens
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Ostrich Plumes; multiple of 16 sts + 1
Source:	A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 278
Techniques:	YO, decreasing, double decreasing

02 february, 2007

Just a little lace to start the weekend off right.

Yarn:	A mystery yarn from my stash.  It reminds me of Noro's Cash Iron.
Needles:	US 8
Stitch:	Ostrich Plumes; multiple of 16 sts + 1
Source:	A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 278
Techniques:	YO, decreasing, double decreasing

01 february, 2007

Using Cara's wonderful tutorial, I was able to easily -- yes! EASILY! -- fix my error laiden cables from yesterday's swatch.  All you need is a little cutting, a little grafting, and little end weaving, which result in beautifully twisting cables and high self esteem.  I highly recommend that you knit a few wrong cables and then fix them for yourself -- it will make you day.

And for those rule followers who don't consider this a new swatch, I also knit these pedestrian swatches for a finishing class I'm teaching next week :-)

Yarn:	Cascade 220 in the pink of all pinks
Needles:	US 8
Techniques:	Fixing mis-twisted cables using a little cutting, a little grafting, and a little end weaving.  Excellent tutorial can be found here.