Sunday, August 10, 2008

Still Knitting and Whining

I have been beavering away on my sweater, but as I said, it takes longer to make a sweater for a fat person than a thin one. You would think that it would encourage me to lose weight, but I do love eating. :-) The sweater is looking good, the stitches seem even and smooth and no giant boo boos are appearing. I do think that I will knit the front and back together on the next one and do away with the side seams. It is now time for me to start the top portion, which is on a chart. I have never worked on a chart before so I am a little bit nervous about it. I think I may go ahead and cast on for the front before I start the lace on the top of the back. What a boob (or is it a chicken?). If any of you have any suggestions I would appreciate it.

I am still in a hotel and I am getting ???? (do not know what word to use). Yes, I am whining again. This is not the hardest thing in the world, at least we have a roof over our heads and everyone is healthy, but it is so small and privacy is a thing of the past. We move on the 21st of August and we are all getting very anxious. I think I just need to count my blessings instead of whining so much.

Contests
I found some contests that look like fun. First there is Addicted to Knitting, whose contest is about family traditions, do you like them or buck them. Some of the comments are hilarious, and you can enter here. If you do decide to enter, please let them know that I sent you.

Knitting and Sewing and all Forms of Procrastination has a contest and all you have to do is leave a comment about yourself. Very easy and fun, you can enter here. If you do decide to enter, please let them know that I sent you.

Finally there is Knit and Purr’s contest which takes a little more effort but is still fun. All you have to do is guess the number of pets she has and their names, but she is giving away some great yarn. She says “Lisa Souza Sock!, Dashing Dachs, Lorna's Laces, and maybe some Wollmeise
- maybe. I may even give choices." You can’t get any better than that. You can enter here. And as always, please let her know I sent you.

8 comments:

leah said...

Charts aren't too bad. Read them right to left and top to bottom. I find a sticky note helps me focus on just one line at a time!

smariek said...

Eleven more days, how exciting. You can wait patiently for 11 more days...

I don't knit from charts (it's on my list of things to learn how to do), so what I would do is translate that into row-by-row instructions for me to follow. But in theory, charts are supposed to be easier to read. Still waiting to see the light.

Anyhow, on your chart, the odd numbered rows are the right side rows and the even numbered rows are the wrong side rows. It's beautiful, this means you can "rest" on WS rows and just purl across. (There are lace patterns where you have to do some "needle acrobatics" on the wrong side too, so no resting on those patterns)

Odd RS rows are read from right-to-left.

Even WS rows are read from left-to-right, and you do the "reverse" of what you see. This is the part that is counter-intuitive to me. So on the even WS row where you see the blank white square that means Knit on the RS rows, you would do the opposite which is to Purl. Crazy isn't it?

Your chart has a 12-stitch lace repeat. Your pattern has a 4-stitch beginning section, then you work as many multiples of the 12-stitch lace repeat as you need, and then end with the 9-stitch ending section.

So Row 1 written out would look something like this:

SSK, K2, YO, * K5, YO, K2, S2KP, K2, YO *, K5, YO, K2, K2Tog

(where you repeat everything between asterisks as many times as you need until you get to the last 9 stitches.

So here's what it would look like written out (hopefully without any typos):

Row 1:
SSK, K2, YO, * K5, YO, K2, S2KP, K2, YO *, K5, YO, K2, K2Tog

Row 2, and all even rows: Purl

Row 3:
SSK, K1, YO, K1, * K6, YO, K1, S2KP, K1, YO, K1 *, K6, YO, K1, K2Tog

Row 5:
SSK, YO, K2, * K7, YO, S2KP, YO, K2 *, K7, YO, K2Tog

Row 7:
K3, YO, * K2, S2KP, K2, YO, K5, YO *, K2, S2KP, K2, YO, K3

Row 9:
K4, * YO, K1, S2KP, K1, YO, K7 *, YO, K1, S2KP, K1, YO, K4

Row 11:
K4, * K1, YO, S2KP, YO, K8 *, K1, YO, S2KP, YO, K5

Row 12: Purl

Aunt Kathy said...

hey Georgi

You won my contest last week.

I suppose you want to wait until you are settled before I mail you your prize??

Let me know, OK?

RoamingKnitter said...

Congratulations on your win on Aunt Kathy's Place! Nice yarn & needles to encourage you in a new project.

Jane said...

Congratulations on winning Aunt Kathy's contest! You've been lucky lately!

Monica (aka monnibo) said...

You're brave! I don't want to tackle charts.... much less SWEATERS!

Unknown said...

I think that sweater will be so cute! Don't be askeerd! ;-)

Jr goddess from The Knitting Channel
(no, I am not logged in, so blogger's being a butt!)

Anonymous said...

I've never used a chart but I'm intrigued. Maybe I'll try it out on my next knitting project.