tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post6269265516067991043..comments2024-01-23T11:10:44.714+00:00Comments on Celtic Memory Yarns: Sock Hysteria Is Mounting!Jo at Celtic Memory Yarnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783844924689656726noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-72782297684364162922007-03-11T00:27:00.000+00:002007-03-11T00:27:00.000+00:00Deep breaths, Pet. Okay, the vest: I absolutely ...Deep breaths, Pet. Okay, the vest: I absolutely HATE picking up 8 million stitches evenly around anything (because I could pick up all of two and get them uneven) so why not do a clever crocheted edging, with little chained loops here and there for buttons that you place wherever you damn well please? As to toe up socks, I figured out a figure 8 sort of cast on, but it required much profanity and, while I like it, I've yet to find a cast-OFF for toe up socks that doesn't look awful or lead to gangrene of the toes due to the extreme non-elasticity. Hence, I rarely do it. Did you try the toe up cast-on at Knitty? That's where I learned it and, while it did take me some messing around, it did finally get the point across. Good luck, dear. I know your vest will be lovely.Ms. Knitingalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10865381714081276186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-26044174926388709872007-03-08T14:38:00.000+00:002007-03-08T14:38:00.000+00:00What a great post!I love the pictures of the ladie...What a great post!<BR/><BR/>I love the pictures of the ladies at Spin a Yarn. Don't you think they need a blog of their own? The shop looks so cute, I can't wait to see it in person.<BR/><BR/>I am sorry to hear about the last minute discovery of the need to pickup seven thousand eight hundred and 'leventy-two stitches on the vest! A cruel pattern trick to be sure.<BR/><BR/>I have no advice to add to the good tips you've already gotten here, especially since I never get those pesky border stitch pickups right on the first try. <BR/><BR/>But I can provide enthusiastic encouragement! You can do it, Jo! If anyone can whip that vest into submission it's you! I'll be sending lots of positive energy your way!<BR/>(oops, I think I used up my day's allotment of exclamation points there)Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437196445561866076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-91255525324755800032007-03-07T18:07:00.000+00:002007-03-07T18:07:00.000+00:00What a wonderful post, full of excitement and gorg...What a wonderful post, full of excitement and gorgeous pictures--until the last topic!! Elizabeth Zimmerman tells one how to make "afterthought" buttonholes in one of her books. Or, you could use non-button closures. Or, you could apply some three stitch I-cord and simply make buttonholes with the I-cord. Anything to avoid ripping out the edging!gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00388513735575276301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-57739797527040461782007-03-07T13:32:00.000+00:002007-03-07T13:32:00.000+00:00Would a pewter toggle closure, which is sewn onto ...Would a pewter toggle closure, which is sewn onto each front edge, look pretty? Maybe a bit Scandinavian, but you could start "fusion knitting."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-89474466715013032712007-03-06T19:16:00.000+00:002007-03-06T19:16:00.000+00:00Sister Dezdemona at Our Lady of P-H, how strange! ...Sister Dezdemona at Our Lady of P-H, how strange! Your exchange currency is exactly what is required for the Midwinter yarn. It is indeed a happy coincidence that you should have the right moolah in stock. I will prepare the Midwinter skeins for the journey right away.<BR/><BR/>Blessings upon you, my child, and may just some of our rain and wind blow your way. Oh no, I forgot - you get enough of it already, don't you? Cancel that!Jo at Celtic Memory Yarnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00463172440388610300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-228002379767493522007-03-06T18:35:00.000+00:002007-03-06T18:35:00.000+00:00Sister Jo, over here at the Parish of Our Lady of ...Sister Jo, over here at the Parish of Our Lady of Perpeptual Humidity, we have a cone of sage-green linen vintage yarn. How about I send it to you and you evaluate its quality and if it is worth anything to you, I was wondering if, upon evaluation, you might consider it worth trading for any remaining oddments of your wonderful Midwinter yarn? I will also include some fun goodies. <BR/><BR/>Also please send me your snail mail again, as I had a computer glitsch.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/><BR/>DezDez Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786093691926252698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-18298788694135020682007-03-06T05:57:00.000+00:002007-03-06T05:57:00.000+00:00I'll second the Elizabeth Zimmermann advice for pi...I'll second the Elizabeth Zimmermann advice for picking up stitches -- it always works. <BR/><BR/>Another method I like to use, when I have slipped the first stitch of every row (meaning I have 2 edge stitches for every 4 rows) is to **pick up the front AND back loop of one slipped stitch, then only the front loop of the next, repeat from**, all around the edge. <BR/><BR/>Put the buttonholes wherever they please you -- I am a fan of groups of five or seven -- but I always measure my button-spacing (regardless what the pattern says) starting from the widest point of my bust, and then evenly space a button or two above that, and however many buttons you want spaced evenly below. Buttonhole placement on the pattern (designed to fit a sylph with timid little teats) may not fall in as flattering a spot for those of us who wear anything bigger than a training bra, and if you don't make that your Ground Zero button placement, you will end up with an unsightly () directly over your widest bit.<BR/><BR/>I do use a needle a couple of size smaller for the picking up and knitting of the buttonband.Dez Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786093691926252698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-66654109389070256882007-03-06T00:42:00.000+00:002007-03-06T00:42:00.000+00:00Angeluna called me and I gave her all my best pick...Angeluna called me and I gave her all my best picking up tips but I guess she wasn't in a mood to type them? I'll go do a blog post straight away about what I think about picking up.<BR/><BR/>www.soapquiltknit.blogspot.comJerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950369280019881887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-15428052396958690682007-03-06T00:10:00.000+00:002007-03-06T00:10:00.000+00:00were it I...I would finish the whole thing off wit...were it I...I would finish the whole thing off with I cord and then use those great nordic silver clasps. Or if you really like I cord, make double I cord and sandwich the buttonholes in between the two.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-91060796416890794032007-03-05T20:21:00.000+00:002007-03-05T20:21:00.000+00:00holy wool, you've done pitched yourself over the e...holy wool, you've done pitched yourself over the edge and plunged into the deep end, haven't you? LOLRoggeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17549838068624400016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-4803253303093995402007-03-05T20:17:00.000+00:002007-03-05T20:17:00.000+00:00Hi Jo, de-lurking for a moment to say that I love ...Hi Jo, de-lurking for a moment to say that I love reading your blog...especially the lovely pictures of the amazing Irish countryside. I came across a site that offers some beautiful clasps you may want to use for your vest. The URL is www.bymichelle.com/clasps.html<BR/>(no affiliation...just did a google search). I hope it works out for you and enjoy the sock knitting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-73743369998095212272007-03-05T15:22:00.000+00:002007-03-05T15:22:00.000+00:00How about using a pin or a brooch to close it - so...How about using a pin or a brooch to close it - something Celtic would be appropriate (and far easier than all these picked-up stitches). I can never get the count right - not even when I'm doing socks!Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210802749491111809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-46370009953512392942007-03-05T14:28:00.000+00:002007-03-05T14:28:00.000+00:00I hate picking up...how 'bout some sort of toggle ...I hate picking up...how 'bout some sort of toggle or frog type closures applied after the vest is done????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-59049509676155235372007-03-05T00:51:00.000+00:002007-03-05T00:51:00.000+00:00Does it really need buttons, petal? I nice frog cl...Does it really need buttons, petal? I nice frog closure might set off those cables perfectly. Or leaving it open works too. OR get a ribbon that has hooks on one side and eyes on the other and sew that in. (check out the Serrano pattern on Knitty. That's what Laura did)<BR/><BR/>Oh, and I searched for that gorgeous book just after you blogged it. Damn thing's not available in the Colonies yet. Even Amazon UK says it'll take 4-6 weeks to get. Sigh. Perhaps you could bring me a copy When You Come To Visit Toronto Soon in exchange for some Fleece Artist Sea Wool (new sock yarn. very, very yummy new sock yarn)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-18154625324458454272007-03-05T00:07:00.000+00:002007-03-05T00:07:00.000+00:00No advice on the picking-up-of-stitches problem. ...No advice on the picking-up-of-stitches problem. I hatehatehate picking up more than a dozen or so stitches! I look at the diagrams in the books then I look at my knitting - why does it never look the same? Grrr! So my sincere sympathies.<BR/><BR/>As to the socks, try the provisional cast on. I have used the crochet one several times and found it not to be a problem. If I can do it then I know that you can!<BR/><BR/>And I love your photo of the Black Valley and can't wait for you to go on the pony and trap trip and tell us all about it. The next best thing to doing it myself (though that would be marvellous!).KathyRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232371230455661210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-55730292425785668852007-03-04T19:43:00.000+00:002007-03-04T19:43:00.000+00:00Good luck on the picking up stitches. I can certai...Good luck on the picking up stitches. I can certainly relate to your pain and can leave such things undone for quite some time myself. Although I will remind you that the blocking process can do wonders to work out little puckers and such.<BR/>Sock Madness. Jo, what have you gotten us into? I am in your same division and also had the thought of perhaps practicing some toe-up methods since I have never made socksd that way before. I am completely confuzzed and hope I can either figure it out or that we won't have to make any this way (I can hope can't I?). Well, I'll just have to give it a go and hope for the best!Cindy/Snidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08899610721323830021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-2808003430173171662007-03-04T16:21:00.000+00:002007-03-04T16:21:00.000+00:00Oh it's easy, you just GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.H...Oh it's easy, you just GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.<BR/>Hahahahahaha.<BR/>Or put in a zipper. Or knit a really long strip with buttonholes and sew or crochet it to the vest.<BR/>The toe-up article you landed on was likely the one in Knitty written by none other than Wendy, the Goddess of our Group. I read that article and now happily knit all my socks toe up. (Well, happily until I get to the heel, at which point I curse until it's done, and then knit happily to the end of my yarn at the cuff.) Anyway, since the majority of patterns I see are written cuff-down, most of the new ones for SM (sock madness, or sado-masochistic? I'll let you decide) will probably be cuff-down.pacalagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12498703982601315908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-55775942281159960462007-03-04T16:17:00.000+00:002007-03-04T16:17:00.000+00:00My advice for picking up stitches: In most cases,...My advice for picking up stitches: In most cases, picking up three then skipping the fourth works, except for very chunky yarns. Just go all around doing that faithfully and don't bother to count. You can either just poke the needle under the edge stitch from the right side, pulling the yarn through from underneath, or use a crochet hook to pick them up and transfer them to the knitting needle. Then when you have done that, count to see what you have. If your pattern gives you separate numbers such as each front, the neck, etc. so much the better. But if not, just make sure the fronts match, each other, then the front necks, etc. Write any disparities, including any in the over all stitch count, on little pieces of paper and safety pin them to the area where you have too many stitches. In your first row, decrease (or I suppose increase could be needed) to the stitch count you actually want. There is a good one-row buttonhole floating in the collective wisdom, but I'm not sure I remember it well enough to teach you over the internet.Tanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03684385290216686777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-6606654471698713332007-03-04T15:51:00.000+00:002007-03-04T15:51:00.000+00:00So, how was the weather did you get out on the fli...So, how was the weather did you get out on the flight?? <BR/><BR/>You are making me sweat over my little plain vest - I won't even look that far ahead on the pattern - and if it says to pick up eleven million 'leventy thousand stitches it will just not have buttons and will just hang open I think, please, please knitting gods - no pick up stitches .... <BR/><BR/>Be sure to tell the ladies that 2 circs for socks is a super duper option if all those blasted little needles are intimidating - I kept dropping needles and sticking myself and all sorts of other things so I decided that 2 circs are the best!!! <BR/><BR/>Also can't wait to have them over on KR... <BR/><BR/>I. WANT. THAT. LITTLE. HOUSE!!!! I love that little house in the picture I love the fields around it and the hills in the background and the idea that there is water nearby -- perfection. Coming from someone who lives on an island and can't imagine being too far from water ever. <BR/><BR/>Also I will try to get some pics of my vest - but it sure doesn't look like much - a blue back and a rolled up blue left front LOL - Oh mistress of guilt... knitting content on a knitting blog who ever heard of such a thing!?!rhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07857144840375879009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-68099995266754599272007-03-04T12:34:00.000+00:002007-03-04T12:34:00.000+00:00I agree about the crochet edging worked in double ...I agree about the crochet edging worked in double crochetand buttonholes using a couple or three chains and a final row of crab stitch to 'finish' the edge.<BR/><BR/>Can I ask you please to stop writing such entertaining and readable posts because as i sat with my laptop on my lap and my second sock of a pair I am making for Barry, I merrily did the two by two rib of the leg part and lo and behold i have done half an inch too much, wouldn't be too bad if it were the first sock! I use the magic loop technique using an 80cm addi turbo circular kneedle and I love it, looks so complicated but it is easy I promise you. I have only been knitting socks a short while, always put it off because it looked so fiddly with all those needles to cope with AND I knew I knitted on the loose side and worried that the pins would slide out at inopportune moments, this never happens with the magic loop method. Good luck with the edging and I'm so looking forward to settling down to read your next post. Ever thought of writing a book? I'd buy it for sure!<BR/>Happy Sunday School...Mariannepicperfichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17980797616161984187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-17171244452316662462007-03-04T09:08:00.000+00:002007-03-04T09:08:00.000+00:00Now there is a man I'd like to meet , my friend ( ...Now there is a man I'd like to meet , my friend ( a non-knitting man ) also loves to have Kaffe's books which I like to buy him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-3713341723045313342007-03-04T09:06:00.000+00:002007-03-04T09:06:00.000+00:00Yikes !! folks are practising for this competition...Yikes !! folks are practising for this competition , what have we got ourselves into ? I have never done a toe up one either ; as to making a pair in a weekend :0 no way !! Guess I will be weeded out fairly sharpish but hey I will have some fun trying:)<BR/>Your 'mission' trip sounds like a bit of heaven , wish I could take a pew .<BR/>Hope you get to go to Texere & get some goodiesArtis-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08157617283083385412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-31296176719809803002007-03-04T05:59:00.000+00:002007-03-04T05:59:00.000+00:00Ummm Could you just use something like cufflinks ...Ummm Could you just use something like cufflinks to close the vest? You know, the ones that have a little chain or something between front of cuff and back of cuff? Or maybe some other jewelry item. There has to be a way to Not do the pickup allllll the way around. Heck, you could sew furrier hooks and eyes to the inside in such a manner as to close the front invisibly. Best wishes on being inventive!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-69600428678080358512007-03-04T03:31:00.000+00:002007-03-04T03:31:00.000+00:00Oh Jo! I feel your pain, I do. Check out this post...Oh Jo! I feel your pain, I do. Check out this post: http://issueswithknitting.blogspot.com/2006/11/oh-drat.html<BR/>I practically put ruffles on my dad's vest when attempting to do the button band. There's some good advice in the comments to that post. You may want to check it out.<BR/><BR/>Also, I think it was very generous of you to join Sock Madness. Since we both know that you don't have the attention span to stick with one pair of socks for the amount of time it takes to complete them, I'm sure you did it just to give someone else a better chance at winning.<BR/><BR/>I'm kidding Jo! Don't sic Muffy at my yarn!LaurieMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609188211326621400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877720.post-82322053546048161102007-03-04T03:29:00.000+00:002007-03-04T03:29:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.LaurieMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609188211326621400noreply@blogger.com