February 20, 2005
Sick o' socks?
~i'm not sick o' socks, but my wrist is~
I have to say that I don't think it was the tiny needles that caused the wrist pain, but I think it was my attempt to make gauge using needles that were two big for my loose knitting prior to purchasing the 00's. I tried to force the gauge on the 0's and 1's that I had to keep from buying a smaller pair and the strain on my wrist was a bit much. I also forgot that another good reason to knit several projects at once is to reduce the possibility of repetitive movement that causes pain and multiple projects on multiple sized needles has always helped me in the past. I guess the variance from 1's to 0's just wasn't enough. So for now this is my new best friend with another pal pictured above hanging out in the freezer to pick up just where the best friend left off. So for now the socks are on hold. Guess I better enjoy these. I have been wearin' them out. And I was so looking forward to using this. I'm definitely feeling orange right now.
And this is leaving me a bit swatchy. Its only the small needles stressing my wrist right now. I'm easing into other needles slowly. So here we have a rogue swatch. The bottom square is how I would prefer to see the magpie knit up, but the top square is knit at gauge. I started with US 3 and ended with US 6. I decided to give it a go using bartlett yarn (that pic was for another purpose but the pics for the swatch didn't represent the color so well and isn't that origami bowl cute). Mini and I had tea at Teasim the other day and the cashier was so kind and made a bowl for her. Mini made her own origami jewel using many folds to return the kind gesture and though it wasn't actually origami the exchange was quite cute. I only wish I had my camera at the time to take picture of her precious jewel. But back to the bartlett swatch. I started with US 5 and ended with US 6. I would prefer a chocolate rogue, but we'll have to see.
Then I picked up some silk alpaca to try Lara. I made some progress on the sleeve and am trying to decide whether or not I want to rip back and try that tubular cast-on made famous by a very helpful oh so knowledgeable skinny rabbit. I was lucky enough to see a tubular cast-on first hand recently and was just amazed by how well it looked in knit (person). It made me want to rip my ribby cast-on just lookin' at it. I have to say that I'm currently not too amused by Lara. I am more excited about being able to use a set of interchangeable bamboo needles that I have had for a while now. I realized after purchasing it that I prefer addis, but since came to the conclusion that yarns demand a particular needles regardless of preference and I do have a few fibers are that more manageable on bamboo. Not 'til now have I knit a project that made use of the cords though. It helps not to have to worry about the possibility of needles being slightly off in size affecting gauge when switching for the proper needle cord length given Lara is knit in one piece (varying widths).
Posted by froggy at February 20, 2005 10:43 AM
It must be rogue swatching time, I'm trying to decide which of my stash to use up on Rogue at the moment. I love that alpaca silk as well, isnt it just so soft? lara is gorgeous..
The color for the alpaca silk is gorgeous...those are some super sassy socks...and lastly..YEAH ORANGE! Orange is my favorite color, so I get happy when I hear someoone givin' my color some love!
Oh no...I hope your wrist heals quickly! I agree with Christie, that color for alpaca silk is beautiful. Just the right color of red.
Wow I've been dying to buy this alpaca silk as it really looks lush. Take good care of your wrist.
Rogue swatch! Yay!
I hope the wrist feels better soon. There's knittin' to be done.
Hope your wrists are pain free soon! I love orangey everything. I made Salt peanuts in orange and thought I would be sick of the color by the time she was done, and I still love orange ;)
Can't wait to see your Rogue!
I've never heard of interchangeable bamboo needles. That sounds good. Nancie Wiseman, in her finishing book, doesn't even describe tubular CO in 2x2 rib because she doesn't like the way it looks. I've been swayed by this and have only been using it for 1x1 ribbing.
I'm actually taking a break from some marathon knitting today - trying to pace myself. I'm liking the orange a lot. Just knit with the alpaca silk and while it was very soft, it felt strangly cold in my hands. You're making some fine progress despite your wrists! Hope they feel better soon!
I have trouble knitting with teeny needles too. The Rogue keeps calling to me too but I am still afraid the hood will be too big for my head.
take care of your wrists. i've never knit on teeny tiny needles before. your knitpicks yarn colors look inspiring.
You look sorta like a kid with those water wings on. Hope you have a speedy recovery. At least you're being productive :)
So sorry about your wrists. I (painfully) understand. Take a break from those toothpicks.
Lara's a fun knit and the alpaca silk is lovely to work with. I wear my Lara all the time. It does shed and pill like crazy, though. Consider yourself warned. ;P
oh look after yourself - I definitely find the bamboos easier on the hands. Loving the origami too!
Oh no! on the poor wrists! Please do take care of them. On the other hand, it definitely provides a good argument for multiple UFOs.
Hope your wrists start feeling better soon. I've never knit with such teeny knitting needles, but I have crocheted with some tiny ones. Take care of yourself.
Buss's Big Book of Knitting (which I believe you have among your books) has great pictures of the tubular cast on. The explanation, alas, is too short, as with most explanations in this book. Good luck with your wrist.
I hope your wrist is better soon. I also love the color of your alpaca silk. I can't wait to see the finished sweater. I also am making Lara at the moment and I tried the tubular cast on - I personally did not like the way it looked - it had a wierd bump and looked too thick for my taste. Just my $0.02. Take care.
ooo, the Knitters Claw definitely seems to be going around the blogs right now! Hope your wrist feels better. I've been fighting w/ my left one all winter, and just seem to be making progress. Of course, socks? pah! out of the question - indefinitely! :-(
Take care of that wrist, Froggy!
And hooray for you trying new things! I don't use Montse Stanley's stockinette stitch tubular cast on for 2x2 rib or thicker yarns; it tends to create bulk so I use it for finer gauge yarns. But I find that Katharina Buss' method (with the yarnovers) creates less bulk AND slant for 2x2 rib. Notwithstanding the method, I like how the tubular cast-on looks with both 1x1 and 2x2 rib, and I've read that Montse Stanley [MY favorite technical guru] would use it with other ribs (i.e. 4x2,etc.) It's a matter of taste and opinion, and being persistent enough to try out different methods in order how to achieve it :-)
P.S. I look at machine knit sweaters in the store, and notice that they all have this tubular type cast-on, regardless of rib pattern. I've always found that interesting.
Sorry to hear about your wrist - I've been there, and it's no fun. :( Hope you feel better and are back on the sockwagon soon!
STOP IT. Making me sick with envy lady!! Rogue, Lara, interchangable bamboo needles (the love of my life are interchangeable needles!)
must go search, think and console self ;) and sniff at a trade in the near future!
I'm so sorry to hear about your wrist. That is a good idea to have several project going on to spare the carple tunnel.
The color of alpaca silk you bought is gorgeous and will be stunning on you!
I'm sorry to hear about your wrist pain - hopefully a mini break from socks will take care of that and you'll be able to dig into your knitpicks stash!
Please take care of your wrist! I think you're right on two fronts -- 1. its important to be working on several projects at a time and 2. keep your natural knitting rhythm, changing needle size to get gauge.
Thanks for the tips on using the tubular cast on. I'm just starting a ribbed sweater and will experiment with the new -- new for nona -- technique.
So nice to meet you, dear Froggy! I hope your wrist feels better soon!
Feel better chickadee! the socks are awesome - no pain, no gain?!
I love the idea of bamboo interchangables!
Chocolate Rogue! I say Chocolate Rogue! I do love the pink too.
oh, i hope you feel better soon!
poor poor girl! i remember a certain someone who was very unsure of her socking ability! now look at you!
ouch! feel better! i'm about to attempt my first pair of socks on 1's(using the same landscape sock yarn, i might add), and maybe i shouldn't venture that road just yet...
please do take care! My wrist got a bit sore after those weasley sweaters! I had to stop knitting (no, knitting??!!) for a few days, ice, take ibuprofen and stretttttch...the icing really helped!
