A knitter is desperate when..

1. she derives inspiration from a pattern meant for a 1 year old.

2. she sits up till 1:42AM to complete knitting AND weaving in the ends of the project. Despite, is not able to sleep before blogging about it.

3. she throws caution to wind and purchases woolease (lion brand) just coz she's too restless to launch the project

4. she knits swatches that are complete products in themselves

Psst: what you're seeing above is a perfectly usable cozy for my glass.

5. she dives into the deep end of a shark-infested pool by buying 1500% acrylic (tell ya, way too acrylic than just 100%) boucle to be the contrast yarn. If that's not dangerous enough, she knits using double-strands of the main color (woolease) and this God-forsaken boucle into a fair-isle pattern. Ok, if you don't know how horrible a choice this is, let me tell you, you're better off not knowing. To her defense, the poor knitter has only this: "I needed yarn quick and I needed very specific colors. I got desperate" Do you not feel for her? Poor soul knew not better.

6. she gets more excited about knitting ski caps than the trip they were intended for. And feels not an iota wistful when the aforementioned ski vacation gets cancelled. :)

And when a knitter gets as desperate as outlined above, she would have created this:


Perched atop a table lamp is my labor of love (err.... desperation?) . Fits just as I wanted it to - snug, as a ski hat should be. The ear flaps are as effective folded and tucked back in as they are hanging loose (shown in pic). The fair isle color stranding makes those segments extra-thick and consequently extra-warm. It's so soft, squishy and warm that had I a cat, she'd have made this hat her permanent residence. :)

Allow me to name my hat. I'm going to call it 'lemony lime'. Oh, and if this were published by Knitty, would they tag this pattern 'tangy'? Hahaha!!

Ocean Waves

Finished Object: A summer top I'm calling 'Ocean Waves'
Design: original

This top fits a 5 year old.

Yarn: Judy Garland 100% cotton (purchased at the Oakland knitting convention in 2006)
Gauge: 5Sx6R for a 1"x1" square.

Details: Top was knit in the round and has picot edge, seafoam stitch, dimples and eyelet ridges. Rest is stockinette and occassional garter for finishing the sleeves, neck etc.

When swatches become art

If you've read this, you'll know already that I had just so recently busted my backside over some particularly elusive design decisions. Like all noble knitting, the process involved studying stitch patterns and swatching them, in relentless pursuit of the one that would enhance the variegatedness of my yarn rather than fight it. What follows is some documentation of the work.

The decision is still not made. I need a stitch pattern that will go over the maximum %age of surface of the vest. I need a pattern that won't look make the vest boxy. I need one that will have the eye move from one colour to another without it appearing conflicting or too busy.

Scroll down for my picks.

Reference material used:
[1] Vogue knitting stitchionary
[2] 1000 Sweaters


Swatch #1 above has 8 stitch patterns tested on it. From lowest to highest, in order, the stitch patterns are:
1. Peruvian Lace (#232 from [1])
2. Simple eyelets
3. Eyelet herringbone (#46 from [1])
4. Diagonal float stitch (#53 from [1])
5. Simple eyelet diamonds (#73 from [1])
6. Eyelet ridges (#72 from [1])
7. Dropstitch row
8. Stitch pattern from 'Textured Sweater' pattern (Body 20 from [2])


Swatch #2 above has 5 stitch patterns tested on it. From lowest to highest, in order, the stitch patterns are:
1. Zigzag rib (#79 from [1])
2. Dropstitch pattern (#80 from [1])
3. Ladder and rib (#211 from [1])
4. Dimples (#58 from [1])
5. Small herringbone rib (#67 from [1])

I find the diagonal float stitch (swatch #1, pattern 4) and dimples (swatch #2, pattern 4) the most appealing.

Sleuth

Knitting on hold.. yet again! This time, for another stage production, a play in English presented by Naatak. Naatak is a non-profit theater organization in Bay Area which has been presenting plays successfully for the last 11 years. 'Sleuth' is an Indian adaptation of Anthony Shaffer's play by the same name. I worked back stage, as part of production crew, working on sets and special fx and helping with props.

My first experience with theater - to my delight - has been as exciting as I had anticipated. I got to paint 'flats' (wood panels) that are put up on stage as walls. I got to design faux marble finish for the floor. I got to use power tools - saws, staple guns, jig saw. The special fx were as fun to put together. This involves audio/visual input on the stage, on cue.

The audience response in the last 2 shows has been overwhelming. Final show plays today. Good Luck to us!!! :)

Lovely Variegated Yarn..

how I loveth hateth loveth hateth thee!

I'm a little frustrated. I'm forcing stitch patterns on a VY. Now you know why.

I'm trying, I am! My Vogue Knitting Stitchionary (vol 1) is witness to my patience, determination and perseverance. The many swatches lying astray are proof of the endeavor.

I adore the yarn itself. I have a hank of the most gorgeous hand-dyed cotton. It's playful, unpredictable, whimsical and generally NICE.

I struck gold with the seafoam stitch and a vertical version of it. I need more though. I'm not into stockinette and I don't want to venture into ribbing. Both options will have me zzz before the 2nd row of the vest I'm knitting. I also want to achieve whimsy using the stitches coz the vest is for a little girl.

It's been an interesting experiment, I must admit. One year into full-fledged knitting, I'm still amazed by the properties of yarn. It's quite freaky how each one clearly draws lines on what will look good on it and what won't. A mind of its own, no?

I'm tad wiser with VY now than when I started. Judiciously placed eyelets, dropped stitches, floats, rows of garter between rows of pattern - these work better than vines, trellis, smock, weave, brocade, cable, and herringbone to mention a few. Get the eye to follow the colors changing and the stitch will show through. It just so happens that the stuff that works is mostly horizontally aligned.

My New Year resolution? That's simple. Buy yarn and please, no VY.

' I can' is one hundred times more important than IQ

goes a quote.

I suspect every once in a while people face the very limits of their (perceived?) capability. Analyzing such situations with objectivity is certainly possible, but alas, only in hind-sight. On the flip side, it's less about analyzing and more about accepting.

How does anyone ever measure individual capacity? Would you know for a fact if something is possible of you or not? And to what level of excellence? How much learning and practice can get you there? And would a lifetime of attempting suffice?

Is excelling at some interest more important than just plain enjoying it? Does dedication make up for lack of brilliance? Some think so. I'm not quite sure at the moment. Does 'I can' really stand in for IQ??