• About Soknitsome
  • Disclaimer
  • Links and inspiration

soknitsome

~ so knitsome … so knit some

soknitsome

Tag Archives: KAL

Another knitalong

23 Wed Nov 2016

Posted by soknitsome in Community, Projects

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Joji Locatelli, KAL, Knitalong, knitting, lace, shawls, stripes, texture

rear view of woman holding out large black and purple shawl

I have mixed feelings about knitalongs. It is fun to see other people knitting either the same item as yourself or one based on a common theme but it’s easy to get carried away and assume you’ll  finish within the deadlines. (Not that it matters if you don’t, of course, but somehow that feels like failing). Last year I signed up for two shawls as part of Joji Locatelli’s great autumn knitalong, known as the Jojifallkal2015. I completed one-and-a-half. There were so many enthusiastic knitters taking part that the KAL ended up being split up into categories with several threads in the Ravelry group for both ongoing progress and finished objects. It all got a bit overwhelming.

This year things were scaled back a bit on Ravelry. You could cast on, chat or show your finished object. Nice and easy. I was also far more sensible and decided to just knit one item within the ten-week period: a Three Colour Cashmere Shawl. There were quite a few others either knitting this or the cowl from which the pattern originated and it was lovely to see posts filled with yarn selections. I actually knitted all the way down to the third colour because I just wasn’t sure what it should be. Everyone I asked gave me a different answer. Many suggested a bright pink to pick up some of the flecks in the variegated and give the bright contrast stripe the original has. I knew I might not wear it that much if I chose anything too bright so I went for a quieter contrast.

close-up of colours - black and purple shawlThe Three Colour Cashmere Shawl doesn’t use three complete skeins of yarn but I just had to use all the variegated so I made the third and fourth stripes larger and worked the rest as in the pattern. Of course, knitting additional rows on a crescent-shaped shawl (six increases every two rows) expands the shawl immensely width-wise too. So my shawl is well over two-and-a-half metres wide. In fact I had to block it laid out double and then steam press the fold away afterwards.

I’m not sure such a large shawl is always so practical – I can’t just hang it round my neck as it touches the ground. I need to wrap it at least once right around my neck. Wrapped twice and pulled down over my shoulders, it replaces a cardigan. I think it will look lovely over a dark coat in winter, too. (Ravelry project here)

side view of woman wearing large black and purple shawl

woman wearing large black and purple scarf

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Some things get better the longer they take

06 Sat Feb 2016

Posted by soknitsome in Projects

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Joji Locatelli, KAL, Knitalong, Lana Grossa, Ravelry, shawl, travel, yarn

Four months ago, back in the days of spring, I cast on Joji Locatelli’s Ley Lines shawl as part of her Fall Knit Along.

I’ve admitted before I was overly ambitious in aiming to knit two shawls as part of the knit along so won’t dwell on any of that here. Suffice to say, as we draw closer to autumn here, I finally have a springtime-coloured shawl ready!

Ley Lines is a large asymmetrical shawl and the pattern cover shows Joji enveloped by its ribbing loveliness.  I think this is what attracted me to the pattern in the first place. It’s almost like buying into a lifestyle. I also thought it would be the perfect accessory when travelling.

This was a straightforward knit. Lilac-coloured shawlI did have a little trouble making the cast-on point look good so quickly followed helpful instructions from a fellow Raveler. After that it was plain sailing. Knit two, purl two, knit two, purl two, … (you get the picture) with increases or decreases to change the angle of the ribs in certain sections as well as to increase the size of the shawl. Ribbing is often used for its attribute of drawing knitted fabric in. My shawl grew longer and longer. It was far skinnier than I wanted. I was quite relieved to see that knitting friend S’s Ley Lines wasn’t any different to mine. We agreed we’d have to block them aggressively.

Lilac-coloured shawl wrapped on shoulders

So 845 metres of ribbing later, am I happy?

Yes, extremely.

Blocking Ley Lines has worked the magic I hoped it would. My shawl is now a lovely size for wrapping around me.

It’s light and airyLilac-coloured shawl spread wide

But you can still see the texture of the ribbing.

Lilac-coloured shawl wrapped on shoulders

 

I used yarn from Lana Grossa: Cool Wool Baby, 100% merino in 4-ply/fingering weight. Other details and links to helpful projects are on my Ravelry project page

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

New Year’s Resolutions are doomed from the start

04 Mon Jan 2016

Posted by soknitsome in Organisation

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

KAL, knit along, projects, shawls, social knitting

There I’ve said it. Admittedly, that’s a bit of a sweeping statement but how many of the resolutions and good intentions that are made at the start of the year still hold true by the end?

Less is more. Or rather, concentrating on fewer projects at one time leads to satisfyingly quicker results and can be more efficient, too. Especially if you have to ‘find’ your way back into a project that’s been lying dormant for a while. With this in mind, here are my plans for thoughts on project management for this year:

I intend limiting myself to:

something straightforward for social knitting,

a larger or more complex project, and

a small travel project.

When I take part in knit alongs they will be to make one of these items and not an excuse to start another project.

So what happens now?

There are still secret projects to be completed. These will have to count collectively as my larger project for just now as they are unsuitable for social knitting.

My small travel project will be a sock for a knit along (more on that soon).

That just leaves the social knitting. Well, funnily enough, whenever I’ve been at a gathering recently that involved knitting I took my  Ley Lines shawl. It really deserves to be finished. I started it in a moment of folly back in the spring when  knitting two shawls as part of a KAL seemed like a very achievable goal. Then I got distracted by more knit alongs and secrets and…

So here it is, growing longer and longer, and I still have a quarter of the yarn to go. I really hope I can block some width into it. It’s a shame that this shawl has been neglected somewhat since whenever I pull it out of the bag, I’m always pleased to hold it in my hands and knit it again. It should be finished soon, too, if I keep to my plans!  lilac shawl

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

You win some…

03 Tue Nov 2015

Posted by soknitsome in Community, Projects

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Ann Budd, Joji Locatelli, KAL, Knitalong, knitting, mistake, shawl, socks

You lose some. Or so I thought, when I reflected that I had completed and surpassed the challenges I’d set myself for the sock KAL with the Aussie Sock Knitters group, but failed by half a shawl in Joji Locatelli’s Fall Knit Along.

Sometimes I talk (and write) utter rubbish! In my last post I commented that there was only a fortnight left for each of the knit alongs I was taking part in. Apart from waxing lyrical on the joys of the sock KAL, I was a bit too optimistic about finishing my Ley Lines shawl. To make matters worse, I bluntly stated that

It doesn’t require too much concentration (any mistakes stand out immediately) so it’s excellent social knitting, too.

Here’s where pride comes before a fall.

I had the feeling that there was something a bit off with one of my sections. But however closely I looked (and it obviously wasn’t close enough), I couldn’t figure out where I’d gone wrong, so I knitted on. But gone wrong I had. I had forgotten one increase. While that might not sound like much, it disturbed the aesthetics of those lines. And I knew it would always annoy me.lilac shawl with arrow and text

So I looked even more closely and jabbed in a needle to help me count down each row. Sure enough, I’d forgotten an increase in what felt like seventy million rows below. Despite the neat tricks I learnt from Ann Budd at KnitCamp on fixing errors, I decided to rip back. The mistake was in a section which had increases on one side and decreases on the other and I could see myself ending up with something wrong elsewhere.

lilac yarn balls with arrows and text

Now I’m good to go again. And the best part? The knit along doesn’t finish until the end of November so Ley Lines might even be finished in time!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Still knitting along

16 Fri Oct 2015

Posted by soknitsome in Community, Projects

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

darning, KAL, Knitalong, shawl, socks, Wolle Rödel

So we’re approaching the final fortnight of both the knit alongs I’m taking part in.
lilac shawl

Having signed up to knit two shawls as part of Joji Locatelli’s Fall Knit Along, I cast on my second one, Ley Lines, at the beginning of the month. I’ve started the third section and the more I knit, the more I like this. It doesn’t require too much concentration (any mistakes stand out immediately) so it’s excellent social knitting, too.

In a burst of enthusiasm for the The Aussie Sock Knitters group and their current KAL, I decided to knit another pair of socks. The pattern’s by Melissa Deutsch Scott (aka Stranded In Oz) and having seen the lovely pair of Le Maquis that WollombiDreamer made, I knew I wanted to make these too!

Melissa was very generous and gave me the pattern, since I was knitting the socks as part of a knit along. I’m really pleased with how they turned out.

blue lace socksblue lace socks

I didn’t use the heel in the pattern, but the one from Cassandra Dominick’s Early Bird Socks which I also used on my Blue Bark socks. I think this will be My Heel from now on. It fits really well and because the knit 1, slip 1 starts under the heel, I’m hopeful they will be durable, too. I’ve just darned the bottom of the heel on my Fraternals socks. It’s not perfectly executed and I probably shouldn’t wear them too often but  I am loath to discard them, as  these were my Very First Socks Ever. darned sock heel

The colour of these new socks, as well as the lovely lace pattern, makes them very appealing. The yarn is Wolle Rödel’s Sport & Strumpfwolle Classik. A standard 75% wool / 25% nylon 4-ply sock yarn. Wolle Rödel has shops selling yarn, needlework and jewellery-making materials throughout Germany and I bought this when I was teaching an English course in Stuttgart. I had to literally walk past the shop to get to the train!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Imagine…

02 Fri Oct 2015

Posted by soknitsome in Projects, Ravelry

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Joji Locatelli, KAL, Knitalong, lace, Schoppel, shawls, Sydney Harbour Bridge

Late in August I signed up for the Fall Knitalong in Joji Locatelli’s Ravelry group. My plan? To knit two shawls suitable for springtime in the southern hemisphere.

Here’s the first one: my take on Imagine When.

Pink and green shawl hanging on pink flowersPink and green shawl on pink flowersTrue to form, I’ve made some changes. The pattern is written for fingering/4-ply yarn; I’ve used Schoppel lace weight. I also used thinner needles to suit the thinner yarn (3.5 mm instead of 4 mm). Since I didn’t want to end up with a small neckerchief, I used Bondik’s modifications and knitted more repeats in section two. Because the following sections are all shaped by a series of short rows, having additional stitches at the end of section two meant that all following sections naturally increased, too.

There were, however, a few moments of doubt. I was partway into section six and convinced I had too much yarn left. I shared my uncertainty at knit night and even dared to voice my thoughts of re-doing my shawl. Well-deserved snorts of derision followed. Back home, I laid out the shawl and measured it. I realised that with extreme stretching good blocking, I probably could reach the pattern dimensions. So I finished the section and hoped for the best.

Like always, blocking did its magic and my shawl is exactly the size of the original!Woman holding spread shawl in front of harbour

The knitalong runs for two months with plenty of fun and games along the way. The first fun thread was to take your knitting outdoors and post a photo of you and your project. My Wednesday Walking Friend, S, was a great sport and took loads of pictures down at Sydney Harbour and over the bridge to the other side. woman with shawl looking at statue  woman with shawl in front Sydney Harbour bridge

shawl in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge

I think she was even more determined than me to find the picture. woman in front of Strickland House

This week we explored somewhere new together, so naturally my Imagine When came too!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Monogamy? Who am I trying to kid?

14 Mon Sep 2015

Posted by soknitsome in Projects, Ravelry

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

KAL, Knitalong, KnitCamp2015, knitting, patterns, shawls, socks

It’s a well-known fact that you need different projects for different situations.

– Something easy and portable for social knitting
– A more challenging project you can get your teeth into
– Perhaps a garment or blanket that’s grown too large to be taken out and about

From time to time, however, having multiple WIPs is a little overwhelming. So in July I determined to finish off a couple of things, and then focus on one project at a time. It worked. Briefly.

– I knitted my Rye cardigan while it was still cool enough to wear it often (it’s been a perfect jacket replacement).
– I finished my lacy shawl, Gliding, that had been neglected for Golden Rye and for the purple panic (Archibald).
– While I was at KnitCamp, I made pieces for my Lizard Ridge blanket or practised my Fair Isle technique.

Now comes the confession: my good intentions fell by the wayside and I now have four projects on the go! I signed up for a Fall KAL (knitalong) and then again for a sock KAL and then… you get the picture.

Designer Joji Locatelli is having another giant fall knit along in her Ravelry group and I have signed up for two shawl projects. I will knit these consecutively so that only counts as one WIP. I’ve started Imagine When which I’ve had my eye on for quite some time. When it’s finished I’ll move on to Ley Lines.

green and pink shawl

As mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been smitten with the sock pattern Bark. Then I discovered that the Aussie Sock Knitters group, which has bi-monthly knitalongs, was focusing on Australian and New Zealand designers in September and October so instead of just silently lurking, I cast on my Bark and joined in.

Blue textured sock

Finally, I have another shawl on my needles – my KnitCamp Nurmilintu. This is my knitting-in-the-pub project at the moment (at least the garter sections are).

blue shawl

I’m quietly ignoring the Lizard Ridge blanket at present. The separate pieces make it an ideal travel project and it will also be easy to work on when the temperatures heat up here as we move towards summer.

I reckon I’m just meant to be a multi-project knitter!

IF YOU’RE NOT LOGGED IN TO WORDPRESS YOU MAY SEE AN ADVERTISEMENT HERE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT BECAUSE I EARN MONEY WITH A WORD AD PROGRAM, BUT BECAUSE I HAVEN’T PURCHASED THEIR NO ADS UPGRADE.  YOU CAN READ MORE HERE: ABOUT THESE ADS

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

WIP Wednesday – getting back on track

09 Wed Jul 2014

Posted by soknitsome in Community, Travel

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

aeroplane, bus, KAL, Knitalong, knitting, socks, Socks with Sarah, train, WIP, WIP Wednesday

green lace sock on knitting needles and travel pouch

At the beginning of the year I decided to join in with a very relaxed knitalong: KnittingSarah‘s KAL, “Socks with Sarah, a KAL for 2014“. Knit a bit of a sock every day for a year. Sounds easy? Yes. I could work on other projects at the same time so I always had something simple for chatty social knitting as well as a more challenging project on my needles.

Socks make wonderful projects when you’re traveling. Whether you’re crossing oceans by plane, the country by train or just the city by bus, knitting socks works well in a small space.

Because they are such portable projects I keep the sock and the wool in a little pouch ready to pack into other bags for travel. So of course at home this sock is not waving at me, nor jumping around begging to be knitted. It’s sitting there quietly waiting to go on a journey. Out of sight, out of mind? Kind of. We’re halfway through the year already and I’m determined to finish it as I began: knitting a bit of a sock every day.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Hermione upside-down

16 Fri May 2014

Posted by soknitsome in Projects, Yarn

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

FO Friday, KAL, knitting, Ravelry, socks, Socks with Sarah, texture, toe-up

I knit socks toe-up. When I decided to master the art of sock-knitting I was drawn to the idea of being able to try them on as you go. This has turned out to be a good thing. I knit socks on skinny 2mm (US 0) needles and only need 60 stitches to get a snug but not tight sock. Sometimes I have to fiddle with a pattern but most of the time that works out alright. Knitting a pair of Hermione socks upside-down is no big challenge. At first I was going to knit this yarn as plain come-as-they-will stripes but there are plenty of patterned Hermiones on Ravelry. They are textured socks rather than lacy or cable-patterned socks – it’s a kind of expanded moss/seed stitch and I think it works well with these stripes. This time it was particularly serendipitous that I knit my socks starting at the toe. There was a knot in the second ball, so although my stripes began identically, they didn’t finish that way. You can see that my socks are different from the heels up.

Stripey sock - heel Stripey sock - heel

Since I’m quite taken with my sock knitting abilities and love nothing more than showing them off wearing them with T-bar/Mary Jane style shoes I still appear to have a pair of identical socks!

Stripey socks worn in T-bar shoes

These socks are part of the Socks with Sarah KAL

IF YOU’RE NOT LOGGED IN TO WORDPRESS YOU MAY SEE AN ADVERTISEMENT HERE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT BECAUSE I EARN MONEY WITH A WORD AD PROGRAM, BUT BECAUSE I HAVEN’T PURCHASED THEIR NO ADS UPGRADE.  YOU CAN READ MORE HERE: ABOUT THESE ADS

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Will I or won’t I?

26 Wed Feb 2014

Posted by soknitsome in Handknit

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

clothing, jumper, KAL, knitting, patterns, pullover, Ravelry, socks, Socks with Sarah, Stitch 'n' Bitch, stripes, Zitron

On Tuesday last week my knitting looked like this:

Grey sweater yoke on needles

I cast on this top-down jumper/pullover on Sunday and was raring to go at Stitch ‘n’ Bitch on Monday. But my purl m1 stitches were loose and the increases looked very ugly. So I focussed on being sociable and ripped it all back, knowing I’d get on better at home.

I got to spend the greater part of Saturday afternoon knitting and then on Sunday I briefly  wondered whether, if I knitted really fast, I could wear this in Brussels, mid-March! Now the idea won’t let go of me and I waver between wanting to give it a good go and knowing it won’t happen in a million years… So I’ve been knitting like one possessed.

My KAL socks (Socks with Sarah) have been demoted to the bare minimum: a-round-a-day.  And now there’s just a ‘bit’ of the body still to do before I move onto the sleeves. These will be slower; what with the stripes and shaping. After that I’ll just have to finish off the neck and deal with all the ends. Oh, and block it, of course!

Perhaps I’m in with a chance! What do you think?

Blue and grey striped sweater - body

 The pattern is Isabelle Kraemer’s ravello and the yarn is Zitron Patina

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts
Jul 2022
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Nov    

Knitmeter – since 2010

Categories

  • Charity (3)
  • Community (30)
  • Handknit (26)
  • Organisation (5)
  • Projects (84)
  • Ravelry (21)
  • Travel (18)
  • Uncategorized (1)
  • Yarn (31)

Top Posts & Pages

  • Still knitting along
    Still knitting along

Find me on Ravelry

Find me on Instagram

Instagram

Shawls

grey and pink triangular scarf
Lilac-coloured shawl wrapped on shoulders
Ley Lines
Woman holding blue lace scarf
KnitCamp Nurmilintu
turquoise lace shawl hanging in front of window
Gliding
purple lace shawl
Archibald
stripey shawl with ribbed ruffle
European TGV
blue lace wrap with sea in background
Magic Waves
Starry Starry Night
Starry Starry Night
Ishbel's got me smitten
Ishbel’s got me smitten
Looped
Looped
Auf Wiedersehen
Auf Wiedersehen
Heaven
Heaven
Garter Grooves
Garter Grooves
Teardrop
Teardrop
Sorrow
Sorrow
Gala!
Gala!
A little piece of heaven
A little piece of heaven
Cabled
Cabled
Dancing Leaves
Dancing Leaves
Bedtime Bookworm
Bedtime Bookworm
Nightsong
Nightsong
Multnoromah
Multnoromah
Coffee Pimpelliese
Coffee Pimpelliese
Berry Wisp
Berry Wisp
Rainbow Pimpelliese
Rainbow Pimpelliese

Socks

Red striped socks
white lace socks
Sprig
blue lace socks
Le Maquis
Tonal blue socks - on feet
Blue Bark
striped handknit socks side view
These should have been Geek Socks
Stripey socks on feet and left heel
European Jeck
bright striped socks on feet - side view
Socks to Brighten the Doomiest Day
Pink Mix Possums
Pink Mix Possums
Strrripes!
Strrripes!
Stripes for a Mathematician
Stripes for a Mathematician
Munich Traveller
Munich Traveller
Green Apple Clouds
Green Apple Clouds
Upside-Down Hermione
Upside-Down Hermione
A Nice Ribbed Stripe
A Nice Ribbed Stripe
Ruffled Feathers
Ruffled Feathers
Thai Lattice
Thai Lattice
A touch of class
A touch of class
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
A bit of you stays when you go
A bit of you stays when you go
Summer Socks
Summer Socks
Orchids in the Garden
Orchids in the Garden
Berry Stripey
Berry Stripey
Mismatched
Mismatched
Wasabi Waves
Wasabi Waves
Travelling into the Blue
Making Merry
Whirple
Whirple
Midnight in Munich
Midnight in Munich
Summer Fizz
Summer Fizz
Waiting for Sunrise
Waiting for Sunrise
Fraternals
Fraternals

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Blog via RSS

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

© Soknitsome, 2018. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Soknitsome and with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Tags

aeroplane Afghan (blanket) AIWCC Ann Budd award baby bag blanket Blog bus cardigan charity charts Christmas clothing Cologne colour community cowl Craft crafters Crafts Cross-stitch DPNs Edinburgh espace tricot family FAWCO Finished Object FO FO Friday friends frogging garter Germany gift help holiday Joji Locatelli jumper KAL Knitalong KnitCamp2015 knitters Knitters' Guild NSW Knitters Guild knitting lace lace patterns laceweight Lana Grossa learning Liebster Award Lipstick Lizard Ridge loop love mistake Monday Munich Needlework Noro occasion October Pattern patterns plane poll progress projects pullover Ravelry Regia Rhine scarf shawl shawls shop Shopping silk socks Socks with Sarah Socktober Socktoberfest Stitch 'n' Bitch stripes summer Summer Fling Sydney texture toe-up train travel WIP WIP Wednesday Wolle Rödel wool WordPress yarn Zitron

Wordpress Family Award

Liebster Award

The Versatile Blogger

One Lovely Blog Award

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • soknitsome
    • Join 319 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • soknitsome
    • Customise
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
%d bloggers like this: