October 03, 2007
Mail, gloves and socks on two circs.
A couple of weeks ago, Jejune had a competition, and I was one of the lucky winners.
Today my very lovely prize arrived.
A packet of her very lovely Knitting Art cards, and some Lindt chocolate. The lindt is long gone, and I think the cards are far too pretty to write on! Thank you, Jejune!
Em had another dance comp on the weekend. This is becoming aomewhat of a pain in the arse, because they always seem to end up on the last weekend of the month lately, preventing me from attending Stitch n Bitch. But that's not what I'm whining about tonight.
I had a ton of stuff to drag along, so I decided to only take along the gloves that match the cabled beanie for my knitting project.
It was pretty important that I have some knitting to do, because she had one dance at 9.45am, then nothing until 2.15pm, then another big break until 5pm.
After her first dance I sat down and merrily started to knit away on the first glove. I'd started the cuff at home the night before, and was up to the hand. I've got few problems with the pattern. It was written to be knit flat and seamed, and I hate knitting gloves that way, so I'd already rewritten the pattern to be knitted in the round. I was using 3.75mm needles, because it's 8ply (DK) yarn, and I always need to knit 8ply on 3.75mm needles to get gauge.
Can you see where this is going?
So I was knitting the hand, with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was huge. I'm pretty sure she could have got both hands inside this glove. It was only 10.30am. I finished the thumb gusset, and tried it on her.
Huge doesn't even come close. Gigantic. Gargantuan.
When I thought about it, I wasn't really surprised. Her hand is 6.5 inches around the knuckles. The glove is knit at 22sts = 4 inches.
There were 41 stitches in the hand.
Plus my gauge was off. Even without the gauge issue, it was going to be nearly 8 inches around. When I measured it, the glove was coming out at around 9 inches around. So I frogged it in a temper and had to sit, all day long, with no knitting.
I should have taken a backup. I have learned my lesson, I swear.
So when I got home, I went down to 3.25mm needles, and rewrote the pattern again.
It's looking much more realistic now.
And alas, it's not the only knitting difficulty I've had this week.
I'm struggling along on the sock on two circs. I got two 40cm KnitPicks Options circs from YarnsOnline, thinking they'd be easier to use. They're not. Not for me at any rate. the needle portion feels too short. I think I should have gone for the 60cm.
But that doesn't explain my difficulty with this whole 2 circs process.
Today I came up with a new problem. Once again, all my stitches ended up one one needle. But this wasn't Magic Loop.
Need a better look?
I not only picked up the wrong needle, but somehow I also twisted the needle.
Aren't I clever? I'm thinking I need to go back to the DPNS. And soon!
Comments
Always, always knit onto the same needle you are knitting from. Practice! Please don't give up.
Posted by: Chery at October 4, 2007 12:51 AMI've tried 2 circs and did exactly what you did... now I'm a magic loop girl for everything!!
I really like the mitts...gotta love cables, even tho they do slow things down.
Posted by: Vicki at October 4, 2007 01:03 AMI do that EVERY SINGLE TIME I try 2 circs. I keep going back to DPNs because of my lack of patience.
Posted by: Jaimi at October 4, 2007 01:56 AMOw!! That picture of the sock on one circ made my head hurt. Gettest thou some DPN's, pronto!
Posted by: Becky C. at October 4, 2007 02:07 AMdon't give up on the 2 circs, I find the 60 cm are the best size for knitting socks, addi turbo, the metal part is just the right size, and feels confortable in my hands. Could not knit on those 4 needles. On to my 3rd pair of socks now !!
Posted by: Paula at October 4, 2007 10:03 AMOh I feel your knitting glove pain. I once went out to the actual Knitting Coven with 3 dpn for my socks. Luckily someone had a spare needle. Another day I went and bought new needles in town so I could knit while out. The glove looks great though!! I am always a dpn sock knitter. I just like them, but I will defend to the death others' right to knit with other kinds of needles!!!!
Posted by: 2paw at October 4, 2007 12:47 PMoh dear -- I say give it another go, with no distractions, and then make a decision on your favourite technique!!! Of course, that go may be 50 minutes or 5, it's up to you :P
Posted by: Kate at October 4, 2007 12:49 PMOh dear. I haven't tried the circ needle methods for knitting socks yet - been too scared. I think I'll leave it for a while too. :o) On the up side, the glove is looking really sweet. It should be lovely. Yes, I've learned the back-up knitting plan thing the hard way too. Last time I went away camping I took three projects to work on which was just as well as the first one I picked up to do.... I'd left the right sized needles at home! Good thing I had a trusty sock to start (and the vest too just in case!).
Posted by: Terri at October 4, 2007 12:51 PMOuch. I hate it when knitting doesn't behave.
Get those DPN's out , quick.
Posted by: Carol at October 4, 2007 01:28 PMhehehe. i'm bad. i cant help laughing at the twisted needle ^_^
anyway, 60cm are better than 40cm as the needle bit is too short for me too.
Posted by: Michelle at October 4, 2007 01:37 PMheh heh - been there and done that - I like the 80cm for magic loop - makes it all a little easier.
Posted by: Donyale at October 4, 2007 07:21 PMlovely gloves so far! i've tried socks on two circulars and magic loop - but i kept getting all tangled up.... i vowed to give the two circulars another try.....sometime....maybe when i'm on vacation.....
Posted by: debbie at October 4, 2007 07:27 PMoh no! I too feel your pain. I'm a 40cm girl and sometimes find them too small. Lookin' good though.
If there's a very good reason that you need to knit socks on two circulars, then don't give up. If you're just doing it to try something new, then switch to dpns now. It's not worth the frustration.
Glad the mittens are back on track.
The note cards are beautiful. Have you thought of framing them?
Posted by: Wool Winder at October 4, 2007 11:38 PMI have tried to knit with one and two circular needles and I must be circular impaired. I have gone back to dpns every time. I find no shame in this. I have accepted my disability and am going on with my life.
Posted by: donna lee at October 4, 2007 11:51 PMI can't even get my head around that twisted picture! I think I'll stick with dpns.
Posted by: Marlena at October 5, 2007 02:45 AMI can't even get my head around that twisted picture! I think I'll stick with dpns.
Posted by: Marlena at October 5, 2007 02:45 AMSo glad you love the cards - you could frame them if you don't want to write on them, as Wool Winder suggests. If there's the demand, I may consider getting a series printed as small posters... hmmm (plots)....
I found using 2 circs too annoying, needle ends wobbling about everywhere. Magic loop is great, as are DPNS (but you knew that already!). Glad the pink mitten is back on track. I made a giant sock for my beloved once - we now use it as a Christmas stocking! LOL :)
Posted by: Jejune at October 5, 2007 09:59 AMMy eyes are still crossed from trying to work out what happened in the last pic! You just reminded me (as if I needed reminding) how much I loathe sock knitting. Gloves are looking great now and I love the colour.
Posted by: Meaghan at October 5, 2007 05:49 PMI tried knitting socks on 2 circulars but gave up as it was too tedious moving stitches from 1 end to another - I am a confirmed dpns girl!
Posted by: Ann at October 5, 2007 08:18 PMI tried the 2 circular knitting thing too and had the same problem. I don't do well with change.
Posted by: Karen at October 6, 2007 05:14 AMAs a survivor of socks on two circs (and my very first pair of socks, at that), here is something to consider. You have 4 needle points and 2 strands of yarn. I figure this gives one 35 different ways to screw up, and only 1 way to do it "right".
I did persevere, because I wanted to learn the technique (thinking sleeves and other small-circumference things I'd like to knit in the round). I finally resorted to keeping a set of dps in my knitting bag, and when I got too confuggled, slipped stitches onto a total of 4 dpns and then knit them back onto the two circs as instructed.
Aren't we glad we have such a relaxing hobby? ! ?
Posted by: Lynda in Oregon at October 13, 2007 01:14 PM
Oh my! Now I know why I decided to use the magic loop instead of two circs.
How are you enjoying the Slinky socks pattern? I've had it printed out and the perfect yarn for months now, but I always manage to push it back on my list...but now it's sitting on my table. [grin]
Posted by: Michelle at October 4, 2007 12:03 AM