Aran Red update

It seems that talking about a problem might be the first step towards a solution.  After pouring my heart out yesterday, I remembered a piece of equipment which I don't own, but have access to and after figuring out various boring technical details, I am reluctantly back in the photographic saddle.

This does not mean that I have learned to take good pictures or that I suddenly started to enjoy the process, but I can at least show you my progress on the red aran pullover.

It is currently growing at a supersonic rate of 2-3 rounds a day, which may be due to some or all of the following:

a) I'm still recovering from the recent bout of knitting block.  I don't get queasy at the very thought of knitting anymore, but the idea of spending a couple of hours with yarn still lacks the usual appeal.  Feels weird but there you go.

b) While I'm usually fairly confident in my designing abilities, I'm little uneasy about this whole 'I'll figure out details when I get there' attitude.  I'm getting dangerously close to the armholes, where I will have to start counting again and I'm not in much hurry to get there.  Hey, it's the dark time of the year, I am not at my sharpest and brightest. 

c) At this stage, the pullover starts looking dangerously short-ish.  I did swatch and measure etc., but swatches are notoriously fickle.  I have a bit over 30 cm now and only a few rows to go before dividing for armholes if I were to proceed as planned, but I'm more and more convinced that the plan will need serious adjustments.  It is remotely possible that a couple of extra rows will fix the problem (do you think I can count on my luck here?), but I rather suspect it's more complex than that.  You see, the design includes some significant waist shaping and I fear the stubborn shortness may mean that the skinniest part is not where it should be.  I sense some ripping in the air...  We'll see.  I'm not that eager to find out.  Maybe, if I give it enough time, it will fix itself?

I know I had one more excellent reason to take things slowly but for the life of me, I cannot remember what it was.  Obviously, it was extremely important and not a lie at all. 

The yarn is still gloriously red though, and even at my current astonishing speed I should finish the sweater before the winter ends, so all is good, right? 

One more pic for you, this one more truthful about the colour:

Sorry about the weird angle.  I'm only beginning to crack this photography thing. 

How are your Christmas preparations going?  Will I be the object of your envy if I tell you that mine are non-existent, because I cancelled Christmas this year? 

I'll tell you more tomorrow.

Oh, and I just remembered reason d) for knitting in bite size chunks.  Here it comes:

d) I lack any ambition whatsoever.  This, if you were wondering, is a 100% truth. 

Pictures, @&$%)^&# pictures!

I hate taking pictures, and this is a phrase I'm going to repeat at least a couple of times today.  I may have also mentioned this before, but the intensity of the feeling is such that with every single utterance of the above phrase, it feels brand new to me. 

I am also feeling rebellious (which, admittedly, happens often), so I'm going to celebrate this fact by producing an entirely pictureless post today.  Just try and stop me.

The war between camera and me goes far back.  I can count on my fingers the number of pictures that I actually look good on.  Fine, a career in modelling is not something I'm striving for so who cares.  But for this blog thing, I do need images, and lots of them, and my vocabulary fails me when I try to describe what a huge pain in the ass that is. 


Reason number one:  equipment.

You probably won't believe it easily in this tech-abundant age, but I hardly have anything that I could snap a picture with.  My camera is ancient and while I can force it to spit out an occasional good image, I am usually thwarted in my efforts by ever-depleted batteries.  I don't know how it happens, but this piece of junk seems to consume as much electricity as a fair sized village.  The blasted batteries drain even when I'm not using it at all.  Would you like to know the usual photo shoot script around here?  I hasten to oblige.  Here's me, with a brand new FO, wanting to take some pictures.  I reach for my trusty *hear me snigger* camera, and

Option A - the batteries are already gone, which means postponing the photo shoot by some 12 hours which in the real world means 'indefinitely'

Option B - I turn the thing on, I line the shot, snap three pics and watch my screen go dark.  See option A for further steps.

I am also one of the last few people on Earth who do not own a smartphone with a camera.  I am close to the breaking point and I will probably get one in some not-too-distant future*, but I'm not there yet. 


Reason number two:  I am a filthy person

Rejoice those of you whose houses are less than perfectly clean.  If you wonder whether your place is the filthiest spot in the world, stop.  Whatever mess you have on your hands, my mess is certainly bigger. 

99% of the time I am also blissfully not bothered by any of it.  Some people in my life are (you should just hear the lectures my Tidy Sister gives me from time to time) but luckily, I don't share a house with any of them.  My precious Other Half is wonderfully compatible with me in the mess department, so we're living happily ever after in our merry pigsty.  Just don't ask me how long ago my sheets were changed**.

So far so good, but when it comes to taking pictures...  Let's say I'm not too eager to broadcast my mess to the world and when I need some images, I have to either go outside or clean at least the part of the room that is going to be in the shot.  If you know anything about Irish weather, you will know that it hardly ever agrees to outdoor photo shoots and while sometimes I'm vigorous enough to tidy up, too often the combination of cleaning and fighting my camera proves too much for me and I simply give up. 

That, my dears, pretty much explains why my blog posts are so scarce.  Things may change from now on. 

You see, I used to think that a blog post is supposed to consist of many pictures and little text.  That's what all the 'experts' out there are advising, and knowing the media-rich environment we are living in, they are probably right.  Did I mention that I'm feeling rebellious today?  Screw the experts!  Writing comes to me much, much, MUCH easier than taking pictures.  Why on Earth should I torment myself when blogging can actually be pleasant?  If, as a consequence, Stitchsmart will not end up as The Greatest Blog There Ever Was, I can take it. 

I am strengthened in this resolution by a recent development that brings a lot of mirth to my grey existence nowadays.  You see, I've discovered Yarn Harlot.  I'm pretty sure I've stumbled upon her blog before, but for some inexplicable reasons I didn't linger.  The mistake rectified, I've been reading her archives for the last couple of days (yes!  All 10+ years of it!) and laughing myself silly in the process.  I love this woman!  If, by some unimaginable train of events, you haven't discovered Stephanie's chronicles yet, go there now!  You'll thank me later.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised how much pleasure reading her posts gave me.  'Reading' is the key word here.  Not that there are no pics in the Yarn Harlot world.  There are many, and nice ones too, but the blog is word rich and I loved it.  Loved it!  I can't say I forgot how I liked reading because that's impossible, but I did forget that blogs can be read as well as looked at.  The revelation of it!  Oh, the joy! 

So, here's some announcements.  I'm going to steer Stitchsmart in a slightly different direction from now on (and I only hope that my resolution holds and lack of pictures will not reveal itself as an excuse NOT to blog...).  I'm still going to fight the fights and try to get as many images as I can squeeze out of my dying camera, but I am also going to write more.  I may not torment you with long and pic-free posts (as today's) too often, but they will happen from time to time.  The whole re-vamping may result in more posts - I hope it counts as good news.  I will certainly result in this much happiness for me and for that alone it's worth it. 

Oh, if you're wondering about knitting...  Things are happening.  The Ardrum Scarf is finished (although unblocked) and I'm hoping like hell that the transformative powers of blocking on lace have not been exaggerated.  I may not have got back to my usual crafting frenzy, but (touch wood) the knitting block seems to be over and I'm back in business, halfway through the gloriously red aran sweater.  I've designed it up to the armpits, I'll figure out what to do next once I get there.  Not too long now...

I might even snap some pictures and post them here soon.


* As if I could afford it, hahahaha!

**  Seriously.  Don't.

In Defence of Acrylic Yarn

I have attempted this topic once before, for a different publishing platform, but I grew too heated in my arguments and the article was scrapped before publication.  I'll try to keep it polite this time, but I feel quite strongly about some aspects of the subject so please let me apologise in advance if I ruffle some feathers. 

From what I observed, for most of the knitting community 'acrylic' seems to be a dirty word.  Hardly any patterns specify acrylic yarn as suggested material (some baby knits excepted).  'Anything but acrylic' appears to be the obligatory answer when you're asked which yarn is your favourite.  In general, knitting with synthetic fibre is a crime akin to farting in a ballroom - you may not be jailed for it, but it's certainly not something that happens in a polite society. 

Well, I've always had a soft spot for the underdog and I have to confess that I'm often irked by such attitudes.  While acrylic does have some disadvantages, it also has many qualities that more than make up for it.  A knitting book (the title of which I cannot recall just now) once described it as 'low in snob value' and I think this explains perfectly why synthetics are shunned and also, perhaps, why I like them so much. 

Because, let me say it loud and proud, I love acrylic yarn!  Ok, maybe love is too strong a word but I certainly can see nothing wrong with it.  Some 80% of yarn in my stash is non-natural and I intend to keep it this way.  Why?  A couple of reasons.

1.  Ease of washing

This is the big one.  Since I tore my hands bloody many years ago in a washing machine-less student accommodation, I get pissed off when I even think of hand washing.  Why, then, would I want to keep on making clothes that can only be cleaned this way?  I throw my acrylic sweaters to the washing machine, spin the hell out of them and voila, the job is done.  By the way, did I mention that acrylic fibre dries really, really fast?  And doesn't felt?

2.  No need to block

I may not hate blocking, but I don't exactly love it, either.  Acrylic does not need blocking, just the opposite - heat blocking may destroy it.  Off the needles = ready to wear.

3.  Softness

Hair shirts may have been in vogue back in the medieval times, but we've moved on since then.  I can't think of any reason why I would want to spend time making a garment that I could not comfortably wear afterwards.  Obviously, you can have soft natural fibres - fair play there - but I've seen wools that I would not dress my worst enemy in.  So what if it's natural when it's also unwearable?  Acrylics - especially baby acrylics - are almost universally soft and smooth.

4.  Price

I am very against turning knitting into budget-breaking, elite hobby.  Let's be frank - natural fibres are waaaaaaaay more expensive than acrylics.  Sure, I get that hand dying and spinning are work intensive, time consuming crafts.  I'm happy for those who manage to stay afloat in the business and I wish them many loaded, snobbish clients.  In the meantime, can I have my yarn with low price tag, please? 

I could probably think of a few more arguments in defense of the humble acrylic, but this post is already too wordy for comfort.  I hope I managed to convince you that synthetics are not quite as bad as the rumour would have it. 

If you disagree, feel free to voice off in the comments. 

Socks No. 3 and Knitting Block

Remember the Hermione's Everyday Socks I wrote about in the last post?  Well, they are all done and have been done for a couple of weeks now.

The lace shawl is almost finished too.  I only have to knit up the edging at the end and graft the remaining stitches.  Normally I would estimate this to be a 1-2 day job, but the world got a bit crazy and now I suspect it might be a while before I'm done with the thing. 

You see, I'm suffering from a stress-related knitting block.  There's a housing revolution on the horizon.  My 'lovely' landlord renewed our lease for another year, then three weeks later announced that he's selling the place and we will have to move out at some unspecified date.  Just after I finished planting all the flower bulbs for the spring!  We're having crowds of strangers 'viewing' the place and the whole situation plays merry hell with my sense of privacy and security.  I'm a total worrier and my mind keeps tormenting me with all kinds of scary scenarios.  As a result, I found myself unable to even touch knitting needles since the bomb dropped.  It's funny, knitting is supposed to relax people but I feel almost physical repulsion when I as much as think of sitting down with some yarn.  Do you guys ever react this way or is it just me? 

I suppose I will be able to get back to some straightforward projects as I get accustomed to the situation but my creativity is dead and buried until things get sorted out.  I'm truly pissed off about this because I was just about to start designing an aran sweater.

Life, eh? 

Knitting on two fronts

Contrary to my usual habit, I'm working on two projects at the moment.

The first is the result of my recent obsession with Shetland lace.  I saw this video...

...and fell in love both with the northern accent and the fine knitting.

I don't wear scarves or shawls but luckily, my sister does.  The pattern I chose - Ardrum Scarf - may not be 100% authentic Shetland but it's free and it's close enough to what I wanted.  I forked some serious cash out (I could have two sweaters' worth of acrylic for the price of two lace skeins) and ordered this beauty:

It's a lace weight mixture of wool and silk and it will be a bitch to wash but my oh my, isn't it smooth!

I'm some 1/10th into the scarf.  It knits nicely and requires no particular skill, although it DOES require constant attention.  I mean it, brain on 100% focus all the time.  I still have a premonition that I will make a mistake at some stage, focus or not.

Anyway, here's my progress so far:

Of course it looks all crumpled up at the moment, lace needs blocking to reveal all its glory.  A picture against the light shows some of the lacy texture, but even so there's not much to show off with, not yet.

With such a complicated knit on the needles, I needed something simple for mindless knitting when there are too many distractions around.  I still have oodles of sock yarn so I cast on for Everyday Hermione's Socks.  I'm resizing for 60 stitches - I did start with specified 64 but the sock looked huge and I had to rip it all up - but even with the mods it is a very straightforward knit.  I'll be starting the heel flap any minute now.

I'm itching to finish those projects as soon as I can because I want to make a nice, warm sweater and I'm NOT going to cast on a third project to be worked simultaneously.  Realistically though, it will be some more weeks before the scarf is done so I'll probably have my sweater in December, if that.  Oh well...

A Bagful of Yarn

I don't know about you but around here getting the car through a technical inspection is a cause for celebration.  Since my Other Half did all the repairs himself (I'm! So! Proud!), we still had some car money left - rather than giving it all away to assorted mechanics - and I was able to treat myself to a bag full of yarn.

The bag contains enough fibre for two sweaters, which chimes nicely with the changing season.  It's bloody cold around here, y'know?  The gloriously red aran should be just the thing to remedy this. 

Believe me, the image does not do the colour justice.

I'm not a massive fan of aran sweaters but recently I've come across a few nice patterns that I can actually picture myself wearing.  Plus, I've had a curious, aran-themed interaction with a local knitwear supplier which may have (and didn't) resulted in a commission, so I thought it best to be prepared.

You see, I live near Galway and a stone's throw away from Aran Islands themselves.  THE Aran Islands.  There are plenty of tourist-oriented knitwear shops nearby and they inevitably attract my yarnie interest.  I'll leave a detailed analysis for another day, suffice to say that I've come across an interview with one of the local entrepreneurs where the lady (which shall not be named) complained bitterly of advanced age of her knitters.  Aran knitting, she claimed, is a dying art so hurry up and buy your sweater!  Always ready to help out, I emailed the lady and offered my services.  It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, partly motivated by genuine interest and partly a test of her sincerity.  I even offered to knit her a sample garment - hence the yarn. 

The lady never got back to me, so I guess aran knitters are not so scarce after all and the aran yarn I bought will be warming my own back, eventually.

The other yarn is some very soft, very fine acrylic, the same stuff that I used for my opera gloves a while ago.

I got my hands on a copy of Alice Starmore's Tudor Roses book and I fell hopelessly in love with the Elizabeth I pattern.  Seriously, I HAVE TO have this pullover.  My yarn is rather finer than specified and Ravellers warn that the pattern needs some serious mods so I predict a long tech editing session before any knitting begins.  I'll get there eventually.  Possibly next summer, or one after that, but I will have this sweater.  

In other news, the Puppy is as always extremely interested in all my activities, including the photo session.

She's over a year old now, so technically not a puppy anymore, but tell me one thing - doesn't she model like a pro?

Happy knitting, guys!

Socks happen

I'm proud to announce that my first ever pair of socks is finished!

So is the second, actually, and the third pair is already on the needles - it seems that knitting socks really is addictive.

The first pair I did was for myself - I figured that if sock knitting turns out trickier than expected, I should be the one to wear the imperfect results of my efforts.  No need to worry, really.  The first few rounds on DPNs were a bit awkward, but after ten minutes or so I got back up to my usual speed.  A week later I had this:

Rather nice, don't you think?

And I DID knit two of them - here's proof:

I knitted from a pattern (see details at the end of this post), and a very simple one, too.  I needed to understand how a sock is constructed so I could design my own in the future.  I think I cracked it, but I am yet to test this theory. 

My second pair of socks was destined for my Other Half, and as per his request, I used the same pattern again, only somewhat bigger and in more manly colours. 

While he was quite happy with the socks, at first he flatly refused to model for images so I thought I'll be reduced to rather crappy photos on the washing line...

In the end, though, he relented and let me borrow one of his feet for a photo shoot.

Much better!

I had some problems with the second sock syndrome, mainly because both yarns were cut and knotted - a disaster in self-striping yarn!  It's almost impossible to accurately estimate where exactly the thread has been cut and to rejoin it so colour progression is not disturbed.  In consequence, neither pair is exactly identical.  I don't much care with household knitting, but if this was a commission or a gift, I would have been seriously pissed.  It wasn't the cheapest yarn, too, which only proves to me once again that more expensive does not always mean better. 

I will update soon with my works in progress (yes, works!  I finally broke the old habit and cast on two projects at once!): the aforementioned socks no. 3 and a gorgeous lace shawl I've decided to tackle as a result of my recent obsession with Shetland lace.  Also, there is a bagful of new, beautiful yarn waiting to be photographed and bragged about, and a new FO that was gifted away but the new owner promised to produce some nice pictures for me.  Check back soon!

PATTERN:

Nice Ribbed Socks by Glenna C.  A simple yet effective knitting pattern, it is very well written, easy to follow and FREE.  Glenna's blog, by the way, is also worth recommending - my knitting-related reading list is relatively short, but she's made the selection.