Things I made in 2010

[vilakins]

OK, here are the things I made in 2010. I don't seem to have done as much as in 2009.

Finished objects


A bi-directional diagonal scarf I made for someone for the Help Haiti auction. It's done with short rows; no sewing.


Long striped handwarmers for zoefruitcake to do her geo-caching in. :-)


A wavy scarf done in two variegated yarns, alternating every two rows, and matching handwarmers like Zoe's, but shorter, alternating every row.


zoefruitcake sent me two natural yarns from Iceland, so I looked around for a pattern to show them off in contrast, and liked this tam. It's blocked by drying it over a large plate. This taught me to knit with two colours, one in each hand, using both English and continental styles.


These are Rose Tyler's Wolf Bay wrist-warmers. I don't like Rose much (at least with Ten; she was great with Nine), but she wore some wonderful knitwear. These taught me cables, and I loved the pattern so much I did them again in bright (rose?) pink.

Another go at a cabled pattern. I love these two for their almost art deco look. And yes, I do like my fingerless mitts. They keep my hands warm in our snow-less winters while letting me drive, type, eat, and drink coffee. And they look really cool, a great accessory. With me, it's mitts, hats, and jewellery not shoes.


Klein bottle hat and Moebius strip neckwarmer for samantha_vimes who wants to wear them in the maths classes she will teach.


Gravity well / wormhole, also for samantha_vimes as a geeky bonus. I made one for me too, to pose my various model spaceships over. It's a bit floppy though.

Comments

[watervole]

My son (who has one knitted by his aunt) says the Moebius scarves are very comfy and warm to wear.

[vilakins]

They are! I made two when I first started knitting, with matching Moebius headbands. I have pictures of the first set here. The other set is variegated brown.

[mab_browne]

Very talented. I particularly like the black and white tam. :-)

[vilakins]

It's actually dark and light grey, I think undyed but I'm not sure. I'm very pleased with how it came out; an effective but not fancy pattern. :-D

Is your icon from a book?

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

These are all so beautiful! You're very talented. The tam is just gorgeous and I love the pattern on those fingerless gloves.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The Wolf Bay ones or the green wavy ones? I can't decide which I like best of those.

[vandonovan.livejournal.com]

Love the Iceland yarn tam. Really beautiful and contrast. I don't know that I'd ever wear something like that, but from a solely artistic POV you did a great job picking a pattern to show off the yarn.

I've really got to learn to knit more than just purls. Have you taught yourself to read knitting patterns or what?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You didn't learning how to knit before you purled? I learned the basics (cast on and off, knit, purl, increase, decrease) when I was about 10, but had to pick it up again when I made the DW scarves and the teleport bracelet. After that, I learned from sites like KnittingHelp (http://www.knittinghelp.com/) (which has a great term glossary and vids) and YouTube since I mainly use US patterns and they have some different terminology from what I learned. Watching videos is extremely helpful. And unlike sewing, I really enjoy the process just as much as the result. It's so relaxing and almost meditative.

Um, you're really not interested in that diagonal scarf any more? Because otherwise I'll knit it up and maybe offer it on Etsy when I get round to setting that up.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

*Thud* Oh lovely, so beautiful and tasty things, gorgeous colours and fantastic patterns- awesome!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm often disappointed when I finish an object because I enjoy the knitting so much. Are you learning yet? :-)

And thank you for the adorable baby otter. I love otters; you must have known that. :-)

[sheenaghpugh]

Love the 2-colour beret. Icelandic yarn is lush.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm very pleased with it; the pattern really shows the colours off well, and I do like berets.

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

THank you again... and I sent the necklace off yesterday.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

[bounce] I look forward to it!

If you stiffen up the wormhole with wire, let me know how you do it. I should have a go with mine which spends all its time upside down.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

To stiffen crochet , for small baskets and other 3 dimensional objects you soak them in a strong solution of starch(sugar works too but attracts ants) then let them dry over a mold. It might work for wool too though I have never tried it. I love the tam.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of threading fine wire round the ends and vertically along the ribbing.

I'm very pleased with the tam. It's a very effective pattern, and the blocking made it just the right size and shape.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Those are great!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

You now have all the skills for making fishermen's ganseys.

Love the wrist warmers.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Or John's cabled jersey from Sherlock, yes! I'll have to ask if Greg fancies one. I do tend to keep away from knitted wool clothes because of the pain they are to wash though. I'm considering a couple of jackets whose patterns I've saved but I suppose I could have those dry-cleaned?

[elmey.livejournal.com]

You do beautiful work. Do you find cabling difficult? I've always shied away from it for some reason.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It gets very easy with practice. I've haven't cabled across more than three stitches so far, but it's more awkward than difficult at the start. I use the cable needle to hold stitches, but slip them back on the needle to knit. There are ways you can do without a cable needle but having experimented, I'd rather play safe than have to pick up dropped stitches. I kept looking at the instructions for the first mitt but after that I had the idea down so I only had to keep track of when to do the side cables (every 5th row). I even reversed the cable on the right edge of both mitts and the middle cable crossover to make the mitts mirror images because it looked a lot better.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

These are wonderful! Almost makes me wish I could knit. Or do anything remotely crafty. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to make you something if you pick a pattern from my knitting tag and colour(s)! I just enjoy actually doing it, unlike sewing which I put off till I have to.

I also plan to make fannish dolls now I'm getting better and more confident.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

a lovely gallery of stuff there :0)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was fun finding the right pattern for that wool.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

They are lovely. I've never mastered the art of getting the tension in knitting right. So I am in awe of successful knitters.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I used to knit very tightly but I've got better once I relaxed. I've always been consistent though, which is good. Have you tried doing the other method of knitting (continental is you de English, or vice versa)?

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

Such a talented lady. They're all gorgeous!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm very pleased with them too, and am enjoying learning new techniques.

[gair.livejournal.com]

Stunning! I love the gravity well, and I love the way you work with colour, which is something I don't do. (I do do cables, though, so also pleased to see you finding the cable-love...)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I enjoy cables: so much easier than I thought they'd be. Next up, a go at socks and lace, though not together.