Tag: Yarn

Blocking, Knitting

Finishing!

sarah

I’ve mentioned before that blocking is not my favorite part of knitting…

…but it is an important part of finishing! It’s been said that blocking is to knitting like ironing is to sewing, and I firmly believe that to be true!

In order for your knitting to look its best, a good blocking is an absolute necessity.

So I recently scrubbed my bathtub good and clean and blocked a couple of large shawls that I had finished knitting a while ago but hadn’t forced myself to block yet!

Alpaca shawl going in for a soak!
Alpaca shawl going in for a soak!

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Wool/silk blend shawl going in for a soak!
Wool/silk blend shawl going in for a soak!

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It was totally worth it because the stitches evened out and opened up, allowing the stitch patterns to be fully seen and appreciated!

Alpaca shawl drying on my living room floor
Alpaca shawl drying on my living room floor
Wool/silk blend shawl drying on my living room floor
Wool/silk blend shawl drying on my living room floor

I always dread blocking, but I’m always so glad that I made myself do it after I’m done!

How do you feel/what do you thinkĀ about blocking? Do you always do it? Never do it? Sometimes do it? Love it? Strongly dislike it?

 

 

pompoms

Making Pompoms

sarah

This week I had the urge to make colorful pompoms…

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… in bulk!

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They came in really handy as festive decorations at the Guild’s Annual Picnic!

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Feel free to share your pompom making escapades in the comments! We want to see/hear!

 

Blocking, Seasons

Spring Sweater Reveal

sarah

Remember this?

The Sneak Peek
The Sneak Peek

No? How about thisĀ …

The Better Sneak Peek
The Better Sneak Peek

A few weeks ago I was so inspired by the beginnings of Spring that I couldn’t resist casting on a new Spring knitting project!

Time has been flying by, and I’ve been doing some lovely outdoor knitting in my favorite outdoor knittingĀ chair…

The Outdoor Knitting Chair
The Outdoor Knitting Chair

… in my favorite outdoor knitting spot…

My Outdoor Knitting Spot
My Outdoor Knitting Spot

… with all of my outdoor knitting gear…

My Knitting Bag, (Cezanne by Jordana Paige), yarn, pattern, and needles.
My Knitting Bag, (Cezanne by Jordana Paige), yarn, pattern, and needles.

… and I’ve made quite a bit of progress!

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All the pieces of my Spring Sweater blocking on my living room floor

Just now, I almost had a heart attack when I looked at the above shot and saw that the right sleeve looks bigger than the left!

Blocking, although necessary to knitting (like ironing is to sewing) is not my favorite part, and it WASĀ rather late…

Front and Sleeves
Front and Sleeves

… but then I remembered that I DID measure the sleeves when I blocked them last night!

And I saw this shot, and realized that they actually ARE the same size. What a relief!

I think the first shot is at a bit of an odd angle and that’s why one sleeve looks bigger than the other…

Front
Front
Back
Back

Have you guessed what my Spring Sweater is yet?

I’m making the lovelyĀ Scoop Neck Pullover by Patty Lyons; its in the Spring/Summer 2014 Issue of Vogue Knitting, and it has been a joy to knit!

Scoopneck

As soon as it is done drying, I’m off to do the finishing!

What fun Spring projects have you been working on lately?