Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling December slip through their fingers in a way that makes their breathing a little tight? (If you’re wondering, I haven’t nailed my 3.7 hours of knitting even one day while I’ve been in Fort Wayne. It turns out working is as incompatible with knitting as it ever is, even when ones job is talking about knitting. Today I’m going to knock it out of the park though. I’m travelling from Fort Wayne to home – and so far, both of my flights have been delayed. Primo knitting time. I noticed there were lots of questions in the comments, so how about a little Q&A today?
Sue G asks: Do you prefer toe up or top down socks…or does it depend on the pattern?
I prefer top down, because it gives me more choices for the heel and fit, but when I have a special yarn and I want to use every inch, or when it’s a super-stripey yarn and I want the stripes to stay the same through , I’ll do toe up. This yarn (String Theory Continuum) is both, so toe up it is.
Lisa B asks: What pattern do you use for your toe-up socks?
I totally fake it. I cast on 16 with my own version of JMCO, then increase to however many I need (68, in this case) then carry on until it’s time for the heel, then do a short row heel on half (I use the one Laura does) and then carry on until the yarn is almost gone, and then whack some ribbing on there. Done.
Heather: Those are cute sock needles! What brand are they?
Signature. They’re my total favourites.
Labrista: What bag is that in one of the pictures? I love the yellow interior.
It’s a bag from Crumpler, and I’ve had it for years since my genius friend Ken gave it to me for Christmas. I think it’s the "Considerable Embarrassment." It’s fabulous for travelling. Has a laptop sleeve and holds lots of knitting. I both love and hate the way it closes with velcro. (Easy to close, even when it’s full, but hard on yarn.)
Barbara wonders: What bind-off do you prefer for toe-up socks?
I use a sewn bind off, every time. Works a treat and is both super stretchy and neat and tidy.
———————
Gifts for Knitters, Day 3: Paper Goods. If your knitter seems the type (and I bet they do) pretty paper for knitters might just be their thing. Tilly Flop (big surprise brings us our first candidate, note card versions of the Knitting Rhyme poster from yesterday. (I admit it, I love it. I’m actually pretty bonkers for everything from this company.) There’s a collection of greeting cards for knitters here at Buffalo Girls, and I adore these beautiful print cards that are transfers of knitting textures – although you’ll have to contact her to find out how you might get some. I’ve seen them in person, and they’re quite beautiful. These letterpress cards with cables on them are charming (to a knitter, I swear it.)
As always, Knitterella has some pretty amazing cards and tags (and they’re on sale through today, just a heads up) and KnitLove has a set of graphics you can buy your knitter so they can print at will. I think your knitter would love this design journal, if they’re the type that’s always drawing on graph paper. If your knitter loves to make knits for others, how about these great custom tags?
Finally, depending on your particular breed of knitter, or the Christmases you’ve lived in the past, you’ll know if your knitter could use this one.
(PS. Wrapping your knitters present in this paper could get you major points.)
Signature needles are a knitter’s best friend. (I was going to say they’re like crack, but they seem to last forever, unlike crack….that’s the word on the street anyway.)
Safe travels home!
I would have died if your answer to the sock needle questions had been, “They’re totes my fave!” You would have won the internet 🙂
December has sprung out of the gate like a herd of cats whiffing tuna, and it’s not looking good for the gift list. Employment takes such a huge chunk out of hobby time!
I kind of wish December was only slipping by. Instead, it seems to be hurtling. How can I keep adding years of experience and still make the same mistakes over and over again?
Have you tried doing a heel flap and gusset heel when working toe up? I like it better than the short row option.
David’s toe up sock cookbook is a great option for people who aren’t as comfortable faking toe up socks…
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/davids-toe-up-sock-cookbook
Another great list. I love all the cool new stuff you introduce us to.
Yay! Good luck with the flights home – here in Calgary, still wintry cold and LOTS of snow in Southern Alberta – I wonder if any systems have gone through your areas?
I’m chugging away at some show items still, but then I’m going to actually be able to finish my Christmas knitting! Thank goodness I started the sweater back in August…
Katie =^..^=
I thought WordPress stats were messed when I looked at them around lunch time. Why the hell were there as many visits to my blog today as there have been since its creation over a year ago. Weird. Turns out the Yarn Harlot is behind it all 🙂
Luckily Etsy is easy to use, because I realized that a box of note cards sitting in my garage was not very useful, so here it is…
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShipstonDesigns
Thank you Stephanie for giving me a bit of a push off the edge, and for the panic induced adrenaline that may have just ended my migraine much earlier then expected.
Julie Rosvall
Wolfville, NS
For everyone’s information, I’ve just started reading “Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting,” edited by Ann Hood. It’s essays by published writers, some famous, on their experiences with and feelings about knitting. Highly recommended so far. And a good gift for the knitters on your list.
December is CRASHING by way too fast. I have given up the idea of knitting anybody anything for Christmas, with the exception of a simple shawl for my daughter but she actually needs it by the 13th which is far far closer than it should be. I’m still holding onto the fantasy of sewing a few things. Oh, and I have to leave time for shipping, too, as the family is far-flung. Anyone got a paper bag I can breathe into?
I’m definitely thinking about some Signature needles, but I think I’ll have to wait til there’s a fixed circular US 1 or 0 available……
Love the gift listings. Will repost on my blog, with attribution of course, for the non-knitters I’m related to who read my blog but, alas, do not read yours. I’ve told them to, but they’re stubborn & just WON’T. You’re much funnier than I am. :o)
Loving the ideas! I am making my list, for myself, ’cause you are correct, I buy myself the gifts that you recommend.
Thank you for sharing. and that you keep sharing despite some of our random comments. Safe travels!
I was sure your knitting bag was from Tom Bihn! My bags from him are a personal favorite. Especially ones with a clear plastic bottom, and the cork bag.
I love the Q&A. Have copied and pasted them to my ‘Sock Tips’ document.
It does seem like December is whirling by, but really it’s only the 3rd day, and I’m only half way thru that. Strange everyone’s feeling it tho, must be the deadlines.
I’ll trade you the gift that hasn’t been knitted yet with the gift that has been knitted but you’ve changed your mind about the color because the one you picked is just wrong for the person intended.
My best friend gave me a personalised stamp ‘handknit with love by (my name)’, an inkpad and a bunch of labels for my birthday. One of the best presents I’ve ever had. I went and bought one for my son to use this Christmas (‘with love from (his name) and (his baby sister’s name) and it really wasn’t that expensive. Highly recommended.
Do you use the extra sharp signatures? I am thinking of investing in some of these needles, but I don’t know where to start.
I feel your pain – I’ve not even got to the Christmas knitting yet, I’m still working on a tiny someone’s first birthday present for the 12th!
Considering my response when I read your title was…
“Three? Day three? It’s not the 3rd (look down at my date in the bottom corner of the computer screen) OH CRAP it is the 3rd!
I guess I know how my month is going so far!
But to continue the questions…do you REALLY make your beautiful socks one-at-a-time??? I am totally sold on two-at-a-time on two parallel circular needles. It’s only a little faster because it gets a bit tangly, but when you’re done, you’re done…and they’re very, very “matchy”! 🙂
Not only is December disappearing, I have two 12/20 birthdays to knit for that I haven’t yet. Yow.
I do have the perfect present coming to me, though, and it comes and goes on the Gilt site: a total splurge of a Charlotte Ronsen tote bag with a pattern on the front (where there’s a pocket for an Ipad) in the pattern of knitted cables embossed in the leather. I LOVE it. I showed my hubby the screen and then pretended I didn’t know a thing about it as it showed up in the mail and had to be checked to make sure there were no, y’know, flaws in it. That part of December isn’t going past all that fast after all.
(That was two days before we found out the furnace was toast. I’m glad we didn’t know.)
if you’re partial to sheep (and what knitter isn’t?)you will probably like the cards, tags, and art at knitbaahpurl.com my favorite is “lay flat to dry” with sheep on their backs. helps that she’s a local-for-me Iowa,USA artist.
While in Fort Wayne (or anywhere in Indiana or Illinois) you should try my favorite beer in the whole wide world: Three Floyd’s Gumballhead. It’s hoppy and kinda fruty and the main thing I miss about living in Chicago. In fact, there is always a perpetual roadtrip in my family planned to bring back a truck of it to Michigan, b/c for whatever reason, we can’t “import” it here. It would make my heart sparkle if you could even pretend to drink some for me.
While in Fort Wayne (or anywhere in Indiana or Illinois) you should try my favorite beer in the whole wide world: Three Floyd’s Gumballhead. It’s hoppy and kinda fruty and the main thing I miss about living in Chicago. In fact, there is always a perpetual roadtrip in my family planned to bring back a truck of it to Michigan, b/c for whatever reason, we can’t “import” it here. It would make my heart sparkle if you could even pretend to drink some for me.
For sweetpeajenny at December 3, 2013 5:05 PM:
I find the sharp point Sigs are VERY sharp. Do try them before you buy.
I have them in all my favorite sizes and love them, but do have to be careful not to impale myself.
Stephanie,
I hope this makes you smile.
Only four weeks ‘til Christmas, and this is what I see:
A pile of yarn just waiting for me.
Only three weeks ‘til Christmas, and this is what I see:
Three cowl patterns,
And a pile of yarn just waiting for me.
Only two weeks ‘til Christmas, and this is what I see:
Two left mittens,
Three cowl patterns,
And a pile of yarn just waiting for me.
Only one week ‘til Christmas and this is what I see:
One bulky hat,
Two left mittens,
Three cowl patterns,
And a pile of yarn just waiting for me.
On the night before Christmas, this is what I see:
Me knitting madly,
And I hope not badly,
(big breath)
And a pile of presents under the tree.
Written by Debbieamy (Rav ID) on December 4, 2013
With apologies to the unknown author of The Twelve Days of Christmas
If anyone wants to copy this, please give me credit.
Thank you so much for mentioning my collection of greeting cards for knitters. Super cool! Sure made my little online shop busy! Have a great holidays all!
Cheers
Ludmilla
“or when it’s a super-stripey yarn and I want the stripes to stay the same through , I’ll do toe up”
I don’t get this – I’m super picky about striping, and whether you go toe-up or toe-down, your gusset will be more stitches around (which will thin your stripes) and your heel flap will interrupt the striping pattern. The only ways I’ve found around this are (1) extreme luck, (2) a few well placed cuts-and-joins, or (3) fore- or after- thought heel.
wow thank you for all the great shops to visit online!! My hubby and daughter always get stumped when it comes to knitterly gift giving. I have a very good feeling this year will be joyfully knitted! I’ve asked for a yarn bowl I found some(32 pages worth) on etsy.com and I have also asked for a yarn ball winder, I’ve recently bought some beautiful alpaca and the thought of winding by hand gives me the heeby geebies. thanks again steph. happy knitting!
I check into your blog Stephanie from the land where Crumpler bags are made – Melbourne, Australia. They are great bags (I have a couple) and a bit of an icon brand in this town, glad you enjoy them too. I have some Christmas socks on Signatures as we speak – shame though, I have to go to work today and can’t type whilst knitting (yet)! Love the blog!!
I love the tags! I have been knitting more gifts, and it would be awesome to have nice labels or tags for the gifts.
Have you seen these fun clogs?:
http://www.footsmart.com/P-Dansko-Womens-Professional-Photo-Real-Clogs-79732.aspx?SRCCODE=WMGLGSH1&cm_mmc=goog-_-PLA-_-WMGLGSH1-_-012813&kwid=productads-plaid%5E43730266945-sku%5E79732+603+13+039-adType%5EPLA-device%5Ec-adid%5E22955576437
I’m giving them to someone this Christmas!
Quote:
Have you tried doing a heel flap and gusset heel when working toe up? I like it better than the short row option.
Posted by: Mel at December 3, 2013 12:22 PM
That’s the way I do them – have since 2007 – love the fit!
Would it solve your velcro problem if you bought a strip and use only the loop side to cover the hooks while knitting?
I have only seen Signature needles online – never in reality. They look great and I am very tempted. I usually knit socks or fingering yarn type accessories. Any suggestions as to what style or size of needle I should try? I appreciate your input.
Please take pics now so you can show us after Christmas what goodies you have been knitting!
Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.
Millie
Please take pics now so you can show us after Christmas what goodies you have been knitting!
Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.
Millie
Please take pics now so you can show us after Christmas what goodies you have been knitting!
Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas.
Millie
I’ve been trying to find out whether the Signature needles are a bit on the heavy side. I want them but am worried about their weight. I’d love to hear anyone’s experience in that regard, especially the straights.
Thanks SO much for linking to our letterpress cable knit cards!! Yay!
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If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.
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