Things I made in 2009

[vilakins]

I realised that I haven't posted any finished objects since this post. So here are the rest of the things I made in 2009. 2010 will follow.

Finished objects


On the left, a striped scarf, made for Greg. This is such a simple pattern and concept--two different changing yarns in alternate double rows--but I love the way the colours interleave and change, rather like waves. I made myself one in other colours, on the right.


Two "multi-directional diagonal" scarves, the one on the left made from yarn zoefruitcake sent me from England. I'm not sure who will get the one on the right. I love the look and call it the flame scarf, but they're not really my colours.


Hat and neckwarmer, done in the Typographie pattern where a certain colour is chosen and always purled so it stands up.


Chevron scarf. These are in fact my colours. :-)


Entrelac headband.


Woven-look scarf, done in linen stitch. I love this stitch for its look and feel: smooth, soft, and drapey.


I liked it so much I made two more to use up all my scrap yarn. I'm going to make another for my sister in her chosen colours.


Crocheted pumpkin for someone whose nickname is Pumpkin, and some sushi for a friend.


Ribbed striped DW-inspired scarf with matching mitts. I also made some green and blue ones for altariel, plain blue for mraltariel, and some blue and purple ones for zoefruitcake.

Comments

[watervole]

Wow! Some of those are gorgeous. I love the chevron pattern on the scarf.

I'm mostly knitting socks at present - I've so many scarves already that I know I won't use them if I make more.

[vilakins]

The chevron scarf was extremely easy. The pattern (a PDF) is here.

I know the feeling! I'm going to make my sister a linen-stitch scarf but I hardly need any more myself. I'm about to start on socks. I have some gorgeous yarn and I've been researching heels. I've decided to go toe-up magic-loop (I love magic loop) short-row heel. What do you use and particularly like?

[watervole]

I'm perfectly happy working with four double pointed needles and starting at the cuff. (I've no problem with toe up, would use it if I liked the pattern)

I've not tried magic loop, might do so some day, but I'm not convinced that you gain that much.

I intend to try a mixture of styles of heels and toes over time and see what I prefer.

[vilakins]

I tried DPNs and got so frustrated trying to control them, and they kept falling out of my knitting. SO I had a go at magic loop and would never go back. The DPNs are good for i-cord though.

I mainly want to go toe-up so I can do a stretchy bind-off, but OTOH I could start with a stretchy cast-on, and the knitted-on one seems to be good for that. I may experiment too to see what I like best.

[watervole]

Continental cast on gives a nice stretchy edge.

What's i-cord?

Sounds like it may have been a tension thing with the dpns, I don't usually find that to be a problem (I have to consciously stop myself from knitting too tightly)

[vilakins]

I'll have to look that up. Most of the terms I know are US ones due to using Ravelry and Knitty and other pattern sites, but I'll look that one up. I've used several different cast-ons.

I-cord is a round cord done on DPNs where you keep knitting a few (3-6) stitches from the same end, bringing the yarn across the back so it's a tube. Maybe it has another name in the UK. I have no idea whay it's called that.

It probably was tension, but I just found them very awkward to handle and that magic loop worked really well for me. I know other find the opposite.

[pebblerocker]

I love those first two scarves with the way the colours change! What happens with the colour you're not knitting, does it just run up the side? I don't know much about knitting at all -- haven't made anything since I knitted bootees for my niece four years ago and I'm sure I've forgotten it all.

The mitts look very cosy and lovely! They're about what I was trying to make a couple of winters ago for keeping my hands warm at the computer, when I discovered that I may not be good at knitting but I REALLY can't crochet. The wool's still sitting around against the day I eventually decide to learn...

I thought the pumpkin was a hat at first :D I'm sure there's someone who could pull off the pumpkin hat look!

[vilakins]

Yep, it runs up the side, woven in. This works well with two-row changes.

I love mitts because you can still use your fingers. :-) YouTube and the Knitting Help site are good places to learn. :-)

There are pumpkin hats! In fact any hat you care to make, but I wouldn't wear most of them.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

You made a lot of beautiful things!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-D

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

I tried to choose a favorite, but I went 'ooh, the first one with the interleaved color change'... 'no, the second interleaved color change', then, 'ooh, the Typographie' and... they're all winners.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks! Wait till you see the stuff I did this year. I learned how to cable. :-D

I'm going to sell on Etsy. I can't keep making stuff for me and a few friends, though I'm going to do socks and maybe try lace (Amy's scarf) and a jacket this year.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Yay! Definitely Etsy is the place to go when you can make great stuff like this!

[elmey.livejournal.com]

i love the look of that linen stich. I assume the scarf is knit sideways? And knit tamago and wasabi \o/

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It is indeed knit sideways, 300 stitches on a long circular needle.

The sushi was fun, if a bit fiddly. :-)

[muscadinegirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, pretty! All of them.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-D

[azdak.livejournal.com]

These are simply beautiful. I own a couple of woven stitch scarves (shop bought)and I had no idea it was possible to make them yourself.

The flame scarf (perfect name for it!) is wondrous.

You know, looking at these makes me wish I could knit (a wish I have never, ever felt before).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I've worn the flame scarf for its sheer beauty, and it does have blue, pink, and red in it as well as the orange and yellow.

I started knitting a couple of years ago when I made two Doctor Who scarves as part of a community challenge, plus three Liberator bracelets, two of which I gave away. I enjoyed it so much for the relaxing almost meditative nature of it, I taught myself to do more complex things (YouTube is a wonderful resource). I really enjoy the process just as much as having the finished items. I'd like to knit some garments (two particular jackets spring to mind) but I'd have to be certain they'd turn out a good fit. Also, it's often hard to buy the yarn that would suit a pattern as most are designed for ones not available here and I always have to substitute.

[communicator.livejournal.com]

These are great. I got some mitts a bit like that from Secret Santa. Of all I like Greg's scarf the very best I think, though they are all lovely.

I didn't know that style you use for the two other scarves is called linen stitch, though I know what you mean the texture is nice.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Greg gets lots of compliments about that scarf. It was simple to knit, but fun watching how the various colour combos came out.

I love how linen stitch comes out: so soft, and it lies beautifully flat and looks good on both sides too.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Ohhh...amazing things, I love them all, so beautiful! You are really very very good! And your sense for colours is fantastic, fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I do love bright or rich colours! I'd offer to make you some mitts but you'd need full gloves in your winter. What about a scarf perhaps?

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Believe me or not, I am tempted again! I found things for knitting and some ancient yarn ant tomorrow I am going to try knitting after about...(OMG!) 45 years! My mum is here and she used to knit wonderful pullovers and waistcoats and socks and mittens. Now she will be my advisor. Of course she couldn´t believe her ears because I have never did it voluntarily. I told her that I was preparing for my retirement - and she almost fell down from her chair - she was laughing hard!!!:-):-) yes, she knows me too well...
So...if you could give me a chance? Such a scarf might be the best thing for me to start with...and then we can change our work!!!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Your mother will know a lot to pass on. My mother taught me when I was 10 or so but I lost interest as a teenager and only took it up again a couple of years ago. I love it because it's so relaxing whereas I only sew if I have to.

I found YouTube very good for learning new techniques, and the KnittingHelp site (http://www.knittinghelp.com/) is excellent as it usually has both styles of knitting (English/US and continental which you probably use). It also has a glossary of terms (http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary) if you decide to use a US pattern (most are US). Actually, if you like anything I've done, the patterns I used are all on-line; just ask. :-) I'm sure there are lots of good Czech patterns too if you google or go to a yarn shop. :-D

You'll be great at it, you're already so creative and crafty!

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

You are a bad ass knitter. And I shall have to photograph myself with my new goodies so you can have them for your display, too.

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

Of course, if I looked at the *year*, I might guess they will be in your next posts. My apologies, but everyone went nuts with LJ posts today; I hae much to read through.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yay, you got them! Then I'll post the rest tomorrow. I didn't want to spoil the extra little surprise. ;-)

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

woohoo, sushi!
Lots of lovely bits you've made there

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The sushi amused me so much, I had to have a go.

But behold: knitted food I'm tempted to have a go at with leftovers (http://community.livejournal.com/knitting/10583142.html).

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Love them!
I like the radishes, and the pizza slices ;0)
I've got a knitted slice of fruitcake (to represent me) and a knitted cup of tea to (represent Stegzy) that Stegzy bought for me

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

How cool! I'd love to see photos.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

hope this works

http://pics.livejournal.com/zoefruitcake/pic/00250754

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I love them!

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

me too :0)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

The colours are amazing! Until I'd seen those photos, I'd have said that psychedelic knitwear was a contradiction in terms, but know I know better. :) You really are amazingly talented.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I do love colour! There are some amazing things out there that I have yet to have a go at.

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

Wow. So many neat creations!

Love the chevron scarf and the sushi!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I love the chevron scarf too: so easy to make and so effective. It's slightly two short because I was sparing with the expensive Japanese yarn I used and just bought the minimum.

I have recently seen knitted food (http://community.livejournal.com/knitting/10583142.html) which would be a great way to use up leftover yarn, and a friend has a knitted cup of tea and slice of fruitcake. :-)

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, you are totally going to be my official knitter after the revolution, when I rule the world.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I can do pre-revolutionary knitting! I enjoy it because it's so relaxing (I only sew if I really have to) so if you want anything made, just let me know. :-D

[gair.livejournal.com]

Wow. Those are all gorgeous - like entropy_house, I couldn't choose a favourite!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-D I wasn't sure anyone would be interested which is why I didn't post till now.

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

These are absolutely gorgeous! I love the scarf you made for Greg and the colours in the chevron scarf.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Greg gets a lot of compliments about it. :-) The yarn for the chevron scarf was an expensive Japanese one (Noro) I couldn't resist and I'm pleased with how the pattern shows them off.

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

Oooooh those are gorgeous. My favourite is the multicoloured stripy ribbed one and the linen stitch one. So cheerful! I also love the wave patterns one. I stared at it for ages looking for where the colours switch. I do admire your knitting patience :-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The traditional Fourth Doctor scarf colours aren't really good on me so I decided to choose ones I liked better and do it in a scrunchy rib instead of garter so the colour changes look the same on both sides. It came out well. It's just a pity I couldn't find a turquoise instead of the blue that came in that yarn.

It doesn't require that much patience because I love knitting; it's so relaxing and almost meditative. Sewing OTOH I only do when I really have to, like putting side-slits into a tunic I bought last week; the only pleasure lies in the finished object there. You however are a sewing genius!