Friday, March 30, 2012

Tutorial For Corkscrew Square Multi-Color

2012.03.30

Hello!  f1beristas,

This is a short, finished round post of a multi-color version of Suzetta Williams  of Suzies Stuff  wonderful Corkscrew Square.  This is the 6 in. square for the 2012BAMCAL group on Ravelry.  It is a wonderful, quirky, creative square.


I have a detailed tutorial a few posts back, if you want to check that out.  Here I will just post photos of the finished rounds, and how I attached the color changes.


Round 1

Finish with ss, and cut yarn.



Round 1


Round 2

 Begin with ss in any sc.














Finish with ss in bottom of first chain.  Do not change color.

Round 2




Round 3

Finish with ss in bottom of first ch 6.  
Change color.












Round 3


 
Round 4
Do NOT ss up the first ch 6. Instead, attach new color with ss on the top of any spiral in a ss.













Finish with a ss in first ss.


Round 4


Round 5
no changes

Round 5
 

Round 6
no changes


Round 6


Round7
no changes
Finished Square
Round 7




Where in the World is f1bercat?


As I head south towards Oregon, I have hit a stretch of Washington that is very foresty and beautiful, but kind of empty!  So I am stuck on the side of the road again.  But, since I am focusing my knitting-while-riding more on keeping a 12 mph speed, rather than watching the mileage or time, I was able to knit 8.19 miles in 36 minutes today!  My goal was to hit about 7.5 miles.  I am very happy with my knitting.


I have reached a total of 131.93 miles knitted.



View Larger Map



Here is my total progress to date:



View Larger Map



Enjoy the new square!


yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one multi-color corkscrew square at a time

The One Where I Mostly Untangle Yarn Yet Finish My Gorgeous Gloves


2012.03.29


Do you take your yarn from the inside of the ball or the outside?  I always take it from the inside.  And, yet, I know that the ball will collapse, and there will be a tangle at some point.  It happens every time.  But, still I like to take the yarn from inside.  Why?????

I spent most of Sunday winding yarn so I can finally start a lace shawl for my mom.  (still haven't started it )  Then I rewound the yarn for those brown Cobblestone socks for the Doc that I posted yesterday, because the balls had collapsed and were a tangled mess.  Today I spent most of the morning rewinding the balls of red yarn for the Red Hot Sweater for my friend Tony.  I knit 5 rows while riding the exercise bike.  I spent as much time fixing the tangled yarn BEFORE I went to the Y. 

I almost took photos of the balls of neatly wound yarn.  They were my finished objects.  How pathetic.  I do have another really nice finished object.  

 I didn't need to untangle the yarn for these.  








 A few weeks ago, I posted my first glove EVER.  Over the weekend, I finished the mate.   









And again, I am so proud of myself.  Really. I owe it all to LizMarino.  I would never have even tried to make gloves if it hadn't been for her Gift Knits Club.  



Where in the World is f1bercat?

I have decided that, while I am still going to work on increasing my minutes spent knitting (I mean riding the exercise bike WHILE knitting), I am going to try to work my way up to 10 miles, rather than focusing on how many minutes in the bike seat.  I need to increase my speed a bit.  Today, I worked on keeping the speed up to 12 mph and pushing 13 mph as much as possible.  So, I was able to get 7.33 miles in about 38 min. 

Where am I?  I reached Yarn & Things, in Chehalis WA.  This is a tough one to visit virtually, because I can't find a website for the shop.  I can only assume they are still in business, and I am busy virtually peeking through the window.


Good night, everyone

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one PAIR of gloves at a time.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Massive Migraine does NOT stop Bike Trip




Where in the World is f1bercat?
Here I am stuck on the side of the road, 1 mile to go before I hit my next Washington LYS, Yarn &; Things, in Chehalis, WA.  Not only am I stuck in shouting distance (I have a loud voice, I'm sure it will carry a mile), but I have a horrible migraine.  I almost didn't go to the Y.  But, I know if I let this keep me from riding, then, well, that is a slippery slope to stopping my trip.  I WILL make it to California.  So I went to the Y and knit for 38 min. though it did not feel good.

Here I am stuck on the road just North of Chehalis:


Knitting
Because of the migraine, but really because my Daughter #2, S, is home on break and scheduled a hair appointment at 5 and is taking my car!, I will not be able to meet my best knitting Buddies, the Eastside Stitchers, tonight.  I plan on joining the new Thursday group, tomorrow. At least, for a few hours.  Got to have my stitching friends fix.

I was going to save these for Friday, have a "FO Friday."  But, since I won't have any Eastside Stitchers WIP's to post, I have to post my own.

I have finished the Doc's Cobblestone Socks.


If you remember, I made them in Classic Elite Summer Sox, which has a mix of wool, cotton, and nylon, in the color Pecan.  I was not happy with the way the yarn felt at first.  But, I got more and more used to it.  That doesn't sound good, but I am starting to like the yarn.  I just finished a pair of wool/cashmere socks right before I started these, and well, the cotton did not feel like cashmere.  However, I like the feel more and more.  The knit up fabric is much nicer than the yarn itself.  We shall see what the Doc says.  He loves the first pair of socks I made him.  I will put these in his Easter Basket. 

Have a great day.

yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with a huge migraine

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Eastside Knitters Guild (EKG) Meets at Crossroads Mall 2012.03.26


2012.03.27


The Eastside Knitters Guild met at Crossroads Mall for their monthly meeting.  The guild meets on the last Monday of each month (except when that day is a holiday), from 6:30 - 8:30 in the Crossroads Community Room right across from the Hallmark's Stationary Store.

Last night 3 members gave a presentation on the Knitting Guild Association's Master Knitters Program.

It was a great presentation, and I am definitely going to join TKGA, and probably do the Basics Basics Basics program.  Someone, probably my mom, taught me to knit a long time ago.  After that, I used the diagrams and photos in books to help me understand how to do certain stitches, read charts, etc.  Last year (ok, I'm super late to this) I discovered the wonder of the crafting world on the Internet, especially Ravelry and YouTube.  My knitting has improved so much this year, it is simply bizarre. I know there are many "right" ways to knit, and from this demonstration, that is not what TKGA Master's program is about.  It is about how things look.  Participants are encouraged to learn more than one method to make their swatches.  To experiment with other countries' styles, etc.  If I am going to continue on my knitting journey, I want to get good at it.

So... Who was at the meeting, and what were their WIP's? 



Xooberknitter brought a Log Cabin Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting in some Zitron Prisma mohair yarn.











Kerseymere was working on a Wisconsin Winter Hat.













 Betty A. brought some Christmas Stockings for Operation Holiday Stocking.












So, did Linda B.












This is the beginning of a Baby Shoulderette, started by Sue C.










Kim W worked on a newborn hat














Wajio brought a washcloth












Donna D was knitting a Saturday Market Bag












Char was stitching a hat (Lots of hats in this group last night)











Donna 2 brought a hat












AND, Janet was working on a hat










 Constance, just to be different, was working on some socks, BUT, she brought a berry baby hat to show and tell!

 
















and Doris had a lace scarf.

I know I didn't get everyone's work photographed.  I was disrupting the meeting enough, and Chiqueeey, I am indeed sorry about that.  I need to figure out a better way to get to everyone, without being so noisy...






Where in the World is f1bercat?

Today, I knit 7.15 miles and reached 109.32 total miles on my trip.  I am almost to my next LYS, Yarn & Things, in Chehalis, WA.  I should reach that shop tomorrow.


Here I am on the big map. I took out all of the stops except where I reached today.  I can see the progress.  Can you?



I'm thinking of changing the name of my blog to f1bercat .  It wouldn't change how to find me, I don't think, because the URL is in my real name anyway.  It would just change the name in the top of the blog.  And maybe I will look for a cute photo of my cats.  Any thoughts?

yours,
f1bercat
shaping the world with knitting friends

Monday, March 26, 2012

Tutorial for Corkscrew Square



Tutorial for Corkscrew Square by Suzetta Williams of Suzies Stuff

This square is the 6 in. square for the 2012 BAMCAL group  on Ravelry.

This is a truly amazing square.  It is very 3-D, and I have to admit that while I was first hooking it, I kept thinking it was going to look horrible.  Then, I finished Round 6, and suddenly, it all became a square!  I want to thank Suzetta Williams for designing it and sharing it with us.  Please check out her other designs.  She is very very creative.

The original instructions are in black.  Anything I add for explanation will be in BLUE.

Abbreviations:
Ch = chain
Sc = Single crochet
Dc = Double crochet
Ss = Slip stitch
Bl = Back loop

Instructions:
Chain 4, join with slipstitch to form ring. 










                 (Or, make a magic loop)

 


















Round 1:
Ch 1, 16 sc in ring.









Join with ss in first sc. (16 sc)  
(if using ML, pull tail to tighten loop)


Round 1


Round 2:
Ch 12,(it is important that these chains not be too tight, and be consistent in length)







 3 sc in 2nd stitch from hook, 












3 sc in each chain (33 sc), (this will make the chain spiral)
















Sc in next 2 stitches of round 1.  











Repeat around there should be 8 spirals. 















If  your spirals are not twisting, you can "encourage" them by just twisting a bit with your fingers.
The spirals are not hard to make, but they are a bit awkward to work with.
Do NOT attach the final sc with a ss.

Round 2

Round 3:
 Ch 6, (do NOT make these tight)








slipstitch in first sc at tip (spiral should be twisted clockwise) of spiral,







ch 6 (do NOT make these tight)








slipstitch in 2 sc of round 2, 











 
repeat around, 16 chain 6 loops.



(at this point, I was thinking, ok, these spirals are cool, but what is this mess?
If I push it all flat, it looks better.  These chains help to hold the spirals in place.)

Round 3


Round 4:
Slipstitch in chains of ch 6 loop to point of spiral,








slipstitch in slipstitch at top of spiral












[chain 6 (do NOT make these tight)








slipstitch in slipstitch in point of next spiral]









repeat around  [] (8 chain 6 loops) 
(These start to hold the square shape)


Round 4

Round 5:
Sc into first chain 6 loop,










[chain 8  








sc in same loop,  (corner made)







ch 4,










sc in next loop,








ch 4 







sc  in next loop].







Repeat [ ] around. (end with sl in first sc)  (12 loops) 

Round 5

Round 6:
Slipstitch in first ch 8 loop,








(ch1 only the first time, and does not count) 9 sc in loop,








[4 sc in each ch 4 loop, 








9 sc in each ch 8 loop (corner made),] (repeat from [] around)








4 sc in each ch 4 loop, (twice) join with slipstitch in bl of 1st sc. (68 sc)








All of a sudden, the square keeps its shape.  It is like a miracle!

Round 6


Round 7:
Ch 3 (counts as first dc)








dc in bl of each sc around,








working 2 dc, ch 2, 2dc in center stitch of 9 sc for corner.








Slipstitch in top of ch 3. (80 dc)








Finished Square

This should be a 6 inch square. For a 7 inch square work another round of dc with 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in corners slipstitch in top of ch 3 (96 dc) and fasten off.

Where in the World is f1bercat?

Today, I knit 7.01 miles in 37 minutes.  I am trying to work my way up to 40 minutes a day.  This week, I will do a minimum of 37 minutes each day, and next week, I should be up to 40.  See how I inch my way along? 
Anyway, I've reached a total of 102.16 miles knitted!  YAY!  HIP HIP HOORAY!  Really, when I started, I hoped that making myself post on the blog would keep me exercising for the shame of it if nothing else.  Now I am enjoying checking out the LYS's along the way.  I found Angora Valley Fibers


This shop sells their own kettle, hand-painted, and knit painted yarns, as well as sock knitting machines, kits, patterns, spinning wheels, and other yummy knitting equipment.  They are a family run store.  Their yarns are wonderful looking. Remember, if you stop by, say, hi, from f1bercat.

Here I am on the full map:


Enjoy the new Square.  Tomorrow I will post some multi-color photos.

yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one corkscrew at a time