Link to the Hélène's blog

Just because I forgot to do it in the previous 2 posts...

http://www.icelandicknitter.com

"Don't be afraid, it's just yarn"

That's one of the most useful and encouraging things I've ever heard about knitting. I got this advice on Ravelry, after I said I was afraid to try color knitting. Words "Icelandic intarsia" definitely would have sounded like something waaaay too advanced back then. Today, I'm knitting a coat in Icelandic intarsia with 5 colors at the same time and it's not scary at all (though I'm sure that people on the train think differently).

Blog of Hélène Magnusson has been a huge help so far. The post about basics of Icelandic intarsia is like reading about magic. It doesn't make sense the first time you read it, nor does it the second, but when you start knitting and just trust her and do it the way she tells you to, it all works out.

I'm talking about shifts in pattern. Say, you have 2 blocks of grey and 2 blocks of black. Then the pattern shifts and you have 1 grey and 3 black blocks. Or other way, 3 greys and 1 black. I'm sure that if I had to do that on my own, the wrong side of my knitting would have been a mess. But with tips of Hélène, it's VERY neat. I'm not going to explain it here, just read her blog, if you're curious, it's worth it.

But as with everything, once you get over your fear for one thing, another scary tjing replaces it. Look at this crazy intarsia and you'll see what I mean. That's Dayana's work, who in my eyes is an absolute goddess of knitting. :)

Icelandic intarsia: first experience

A week ago I started knitting a coat in Icelandic intarsia. And while "knitting a coat" sounds like it will take ages, this one knits up rather fast.

The pattern is Flowerpot by Hélène Magnusson and it uses Alafosslopi which is exactly the type of wool we all hated when we were children: thick, rough, scratchy and it sheds. :) But I like knitting with it (except for one thing that I'll talk about later) and I'm sure the end result will be amazingly warm and nice to wear.

The pattern itself, while being very simple and straightforward,  is written with experienced knitter in mind. It assumes a lot and doesn't give super clear step-by-step instructions. But once you read through it a couple of times, you understand it.

It's my first time knitting intarsia (and Icelandic intarsia is knit entirely in garter stitch), so I made sure to read all tutorials on Hélène's website. She does not recommend knitting Icelandic intarsia on circular needles, but I never knit on straight needles (except DPNs), so I decided to give it a try. It's possible, though very fiddly in the beginning, because you have one extra "thread" - the needles cable - to take care of, in addition to all the colors you knit with.

What works the best for me is this:
1. When starting to work RS, make sure your yarn(s) are hanging behind your work, grab the free needle from the left side and bring it to the right across the work on the RS.
2. When finished, turn your work clockwise (the right neddle's tip is moving away from you)
3. Don't untagle the yarns now, even though it will be messy.
4. When starting working the WS (and this took me some time to figure out), let your yarns hang in front of the work (the threads will go under the work to the skeins), pass your right hand under the threads from right to left, grab the free needle and bring it to the right as in step 1. The cord should be under the yarns, not above them.
5. Turn your work counter clockwise now. Normally your yarns should be untangled now all by themselves.

A word about the yarn management. Hélène recommends putting the skeins in a box and pull the thread from the center. It does work like a charm, but... if you plan to do it this way, rewind your skeins to form center-pulled balls. Because: 1. It's very difficult to find the 2nd end without quarter of the skein coming out. 2. There's a chance you'll come across a tangle in the middle of the skein (speaking from experience here). So, to spare yourself some frustration, rewind.

Feeling lazy

I had a huge case of startitis in the beginning of the year. Knit knit knit, the more the better. Might be the reason why I need instant gratification now.

Despite 2 ongoing test knits (ran out of yarn on the first and can't find anything that'll give me the gauge on the second) the only thing I've been working on for the last week is the Drops Delight blanket.

One square takes about 30 minutes to make which means at least 4 squares a day. Perfect! 

Quote of the day

"You can't make the same mistake twice. Because when you make it second time, it's not a mistake. It's a choice."

Test knitting. Again.

Last year, after I failed to finish 2 tests for the Free Pattern Testers on Ravelry, I promised myself that I will never ever test knit again because it's so much stress when you have a deadline.

But then I got an earburn from a designer who launched a test for an adult version of her cute child's cardigan. I just couldn't resist.

I'm making it out of 2 colours of Alpaka Fashion and I will have to frog an FO (another test knit, I used to small needle to get gauge and the fabric is super stiff). Hoping I will have enough because I haven't even finished the ribbing and first skein is already knit up.

This is the swatch (yes, I swatched, and I even washed it and all):

New year, new attempt to revive the blog. :)

The cold sheep year has arrived! As in: poor sheep is cold, let's let her keep her wool and knit from stash this year. :)

I've started with ripping a vest that would have been too small for me anyway and reusing the yarn (Quince & Co. Chickadee) for a Constantine hat and mittens. Both are finished now, even though the hat still needs a pompom.

Now I'm trying to make a cowl or of the 2 remaining skeins, first attempt was frogged 1 already. Think now I'll follow a pattern (Bandana cowl from Purl bee). :))

I've deleted all old blog posts except the one about Fibrex. It gets the most hits, I guess people come via Google. And because there's not much info about the shop online, I'll keep the post for reference.