Outdoorsy Stuff

So I've been knitting away and I'm up to row 72 on my second Hemlock. It doesn't look like much yet so no photos. In lieu of knitting pictures, I'm posting other bliss in my life:

I have NO idea what this thing is. It's something in the lily family and I think I planted it last year, but I haven't seen in bloom. It looks like it's from outer space, so this should be interesting.



(Edit 2/13/2009 - It later bloomed and turned out to be a huge white Allium I forgot I had planted there)

Bloodroot! My little patch is slowly spreading and it's such a pretty, interesting flower. I love how the leaves snuggle the stem and don't expand until later. It's so ephemeral, but it's a treat while it blooms. After the flowers are gone, it has these great scalloped leaves that look wonderful in the shade garden.



My pup. She's loving this warm weather and spends a lot of time outside watching the birds. She is such a great dog and I take her with me whenever I can. I'm glad the weather is warm enough that we can drive around with the windows down. The drifts of hair in my backseat have to be seen to be believed, but she's worth it.

A new decrease for the Hemlock

After the first Hemlock Ring, I wanted to try a different double decrease for the flower petals. The original pattern calls for sl 1, k2tog, psso. This leaves a definite slant for the decrease, even though it's removing two stitches from the pattern. It also creates a looser stitch across the front of the fabric. The slanted stitches look good, but I wanted something different the next time around.



I'm working on another one and this time I'm using a double decrease. It still removes two stitches but it's balanced. To do it, slip 2 together as if to knit (like the beginning of a k2tog), k1, pass the two slipped stitches over. The two slipped stitches twist and stay together, so slipping them is easy. It leaves a nice raised ridge that is centered between the decreased stitches. The tips of the petals don't stand out quite as much because the stitches are smaller and blend in. It's a different look than the first.



I have to say, I love the Beaverslide yarn. It's like the granola of the yarn world - minimally processed and contains fiber. It still has lanolin so my hands feel soft and it has a gentle whiff of sheep about it. I come across the occasional bit of grass or leaf but they pick out easily. Some people may prefer a cleaner yarn, but I feel connected to those sheep in Montana and it reminds me that this isn't some mass-produced acrylic. It's such a joy to knit. I can't wait to get this off the needles and block it. So far the stitch definition is lovely.

(http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hemlock-ring-blanket)

Beaverslide Dry Goods

My Beaverslide Yarn came today! I am so thrilled. I bought four colors in the Fisherman weight yarns, three of which are technically McTaggart Tweeds. It's lovely, nubbled, squishy yarn with amazing depth. It looks different depending on the light and the closer you get, the more you see. It still has some natural lanolin so my room smells slightly of sheep - this makes me happy.



Prairie Aster:

This is a glorious, rich purple with deep reds, bright blues, white and lavender flecks. These photos are lighter than it really looks. The photo of all four together is a closer representation.







Prairie Sandreed:

This is a fresh, pale green with flecks of sky blue, yellow and white.





Oat Straw:

If anything, this makes me think of cornmeal. It's a soft yellow with brighter yellow, white and brown flecks.





Cutthroat Trout:

This is a dusty pink with flecks of bright pink, yellow, white and occasionally brown.

Hemlock Ring Blanket Pattern

As already mentioned, the original pattern is here: http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/KnitHemlockRing.html or on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hemlock-ring-blanket.

I've rewritten it for myself below to replace the sl 1, k1, psso's (also known as skp's) with ssk's. I also changed the repeat bracketing so that each round lists one repeat. The original was harder for me to read and this makes sense. Each round repeats the pattern eight times.

Hemlock Ring Blanket Pattern

(Original from Crocheted and Knitted Doilies, Book 184, Canadian Spool Cotton Company, 1942)

If using Cascade 220 held double, use US10 needles.

Cast on 8 sts and spread around three double-pointed needles. Suggest Emily Ocker cast on (http://www.spellingtuesday.com/circular_co.html) using a loose loop around one finger and a crochet hook to form the cast on stitches.

Change to circular needles when dpn’s become unwieldy – easiest on a knit row between rows 15 and 24.

Ssk – slip two stitches individually as if to knit, then insert left needle through front loops and knit them together.
R = Round

** Alternate double decrease: Instead of sl1, k2tog, psso, a double decrease can be used. To do, slip 2 together as if to knit (like a k2tog), k1, pass the two slipped stitches over. This makes a centered decrease instead of a slanting one. See http://minou14.livejournal.com/9139.html for photos.

All pattern rows repeat 8 times unless otherwise noted.

R 1: knit
R 2: knit
R 3: (yo, k1)
R 4, 5, 6: knit
R 7: (yo, k1) – 16 times
R 8, 9, 10, 11, 12: knit
R 13: (k2tog, 2yo, ssk)
R 14: (k1, drop 1 yo, work 9 stitches in next yo [to do - (k1, p1) 4 times, k1], k1)
R 15 – 24: knit
R 25: (yo, k11)
R 26 and all even Rs: knit
R 27: (yo, k1, yo, k11)
R 29: (yo, k3, yo, k4, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), k4)
R 31: (yo, k1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso) yo, k1, yo, k3, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), k3)
R 33: (yo, k3, yo, p and k in next stitch, yo, k3, yo, k2, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), k2)
R 35: (yo, k1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, k4, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), (yo, k1 – twice), (sl 1, k2tog, psso), k1)
R 37: (yo, k3, yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso))
R 39: (yo, k1, yo, (sl 1, k2 tog, psso), yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), (yo, k1 - twice))
R 41: ((yo, k3 – twice), ssk, k2tog, (k3, yo- twice), k1)
R 43: (yo, k1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), (yo, k1 - twice))
R 44, 45, 46: knit
R 47: (yo, k1 – twice), yo, k3, ssk twice, k2tog twice, k3, (yo, k1 – 3 times))
R 48, 49, 50, 51: knit
R 52: ((yo, k1 – 4 times), ssk 3 times, k2tog 3 times, k1, (yo, k1 – 4 times)
R 53, 54, 55, 56: knit
R 57: ((yo, k1 – 5 times), ssk 3 times, k2tog 3 times, k1, (yo, k1 – 5 times))
R 58, 59, 60, 61 – knit
R 62: ((yo, k1 – 5 times), yo, ssk 4 times, k2tog 4 times, (yo, k1 – 6 times))
R 63, 64, 65, 66: knit
R 67: ((yo, k1 – 6 times), k1, ssk 4 times, k2tog 4 times, k2, (yo, k1 – 6 times))
R 68, 69, 70, 71: knit
R 72: ((yo, k1 – 7 times), ssk 5 times, k2tog 5 times, k1, (yo, k1 – 7 times))
R 73, 74, 75, 76: knit
R 77: ((yo, k1 – 7 times), yo, ssk 6 times, k2tog 6 times, (yo, k1 – 8 times))
R 78, 79, 80, 81: knit
R 82: ((yo, k1 – 8 times), k1, ssk 6 times, k2tog 6 times, k2, (yo, k1 – 8 times)
R 83, 84, 85, 86: knit

(Updated 4/21/08) The pattern originally binds off on row 87. Additional rounds below were originally written by Mary White from the Yahoo KAL. I rewrote them in the format above and changed the skp's to ssk's.

R 87: ((yo, k1 – 9 times), ssk 7 times, k2tog 7 times, k1, (yo, k1 – 9 times)) [408 sts]
R 88, 89, 90, 91: knit
R 92: ((yo, k1 – 9 times), yo, ssk 8 times, k2tog 8 times, (yo, k1 – 10 times)) [440 sts]
R 93, 94, 95, 96: knit
R 97: ((yo, k1 – 10 times), k1, ssk 8 times, k2tog 8 times, k2, (yo, k1 – 10 times)) [472 sts]
R 98, 99, 100, 101: knit
R 102: ((yo, k1 – 11 times), ssk 9 times, k2tog 9 times, k1, (yo, k1 – 11 times)) [504 sts]
R 103, 104, 105, 106: knit
R 107: ((yo, k1 – 11 times), yo, ssk 10 times, k2tog 10 times, (yo, k1 – 12 times)) [536 sts]
R 108, 109, 110, 111: knit
R 112: ((yo, k1 – 12 times), k1, ssk 10 times, k2tog 10 times, k2, (yo, k1 – 12 times)) [568 sts]
R 113, 114, 115, 116: knit
R 117: ((yo, k1 – 13 times), ssk 11 times, k2tog 11 times, k1, (yo, k1 – 13 times)) [600 sts]
R 118, 119, 120, 121: knit
R 122: ((yo, k1 – 13 times), yo, ssk 12 times, k2tog 12 times, (yo, k1 – 14 times)) [632 sts]
R 123, 124, 125, 126: knit
R 127: ((yo, k1 – 14 times), k1, ssk 12 times, k2tog 12 times, k2, (yo, k1 – 14 times)) [664 sts]
R 128, 129, 130, 131: knit
R 132: ((yo, k1 – 15 times), ssk 13 times, k2tog 13 times, k1 (yo, k1 – 15 times)) [696 sts]
R 133, 134, 135, 136: knit
R 137: ((yo, k1 - 15 times), yo, ssk 14 times, k2tog 14 times, (yo, k1 - 16 times)) [728 sts]
R 138, 139, 140, 141: knit
R 142: ((yo, k1 - 16 times), k1, ssk 14 times, k2tog 14 times, k2, (yo, k1 - 16 times)) [760 sts]
R 143, 144, 145, 146: knit
R 147: ((yo, k1 - 17 times), ssk 15 times, k2tog 15 times, k1, (yo, k1 - 17 times) [792 sts]
R 148, 149, 150, 151: knit

Bind Off Round: (originally Round 87 but can be substituted on any pattern round (92, 97, 102, etc) if larger diameter is desired) k1, [k2tog, yo, k2tog, TURN, p1, work 5 st in yo stitch (k1, p1 – twice, k1), p1, sl 1, TURN, bind off 7 stitches (k1, k1, pass first knit stitch over)]. One stitch will remain on right needle. Repeat in [] around.

** To make it easier to work bind-off, cap right hand circular needle. Use the left circular needle with a dpn of the same size as the right hand needle.

** If knitting with Cascade 220 held double, work bind-off row with only one strand.

The secret's out!

I had to be all hush-hush about it because it was a gift, but I finally knitted a Hemlock Ring! It took me five evenings to finish and another afternoon to block.

My friend likes pink but Cascade Eco+ didn't come in any nice pinks. I found a lovely pink (listed as "Tutu" on Webs) in Cascade 220, but it's worsted weight. My LYS suggested knitting held double. Well, there's an idea.. knitting a lace blanket with two strands of yarn at once? I've never done that before and wasn't sure how well it would work. It could have been a straight road to insanity. I also needed to order the yarn since they didn't have enough. I had to go home to figure out how much I would need so the LYS loaned me a partial ball of Cascade 220 to play with.

Get this, I actually swatched. I hauled out my needles and swatched it held single and double to figure out what I liked best. I knew the original was done in Eco+, which is rated at 4/inch on 9's or 3.5/inch on 10's. I swatched to get the same gauge with Cascade 220. My results were 3.5/in on 9's or 3/in on 10's. It ended up being a decision between held double on 9's or 10's. The 9's made a squishier fabric, but if I do it again, I'll use 10's, mostly because a tight fabric made with two strands is a little resistant to blocking.

Holding it double was no problem at all. I used a center-pull ball, but pulled from the inside and outside at the same time. The yarn twisted around itself as it came off the outside and other than having twice as many loops on the needle, I couldn't tell. It also blocked very tightly, although I was worried the yarn overs might pull apart a little.

So, for those new to the joys of a Hemlock Ring, the original inspiration was Jared Flood's blog: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/08/hemlock-ring-blanket.html. I want to make almost everything he has knitted because he does such gorgeous work. The blanket it based on a doily pattern by the Canadian Spool Cotton Company found here: http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/KnitHemlockRing.html and on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hemlock-ring-blanket. I changed the slip 1, knit 1, psso's to ssk's because I get loose loops over the front of my knitting when I do psso's. I really like how they turned out.

Needles: I started on size 9 dpn's. I stayed with them until about round 16. Then I switched to a US9 24" circulars. On round 38, I changed to a 40" cable and then on round 59, I changed to a 60" cable. KnitPicks Options don't let you connect cables and 60" is the longest they make. If I had done many more rounds, I would have had to get really creative with the needles. This wouldn't be a problem with a different yarn, but the 220 held double really filled my needles.

Yarn: Cascade 220 color 9477. I bought nine skeins based on yardage, but only used four and a half. I changed yarn at rounds 42, 62, 75, and 84.

Bind-off: Round 87 on the original pattern is the bind-off round. Those who do additional pattern repeats to make a wider blanket will have to work this row later on. It's a trip. For every four stitches "bound off" on the round below, you need to knit 18 stitches. It makes a lovely scalloped edge, but it requires knitting a few, turning the work, knitting back over what you just did, turning back and then binding off all the stitches you just made. Turning a blanket on 60" needles is a lot different than turning a little doily that is supposed to measure 15" in diameter when complete. Someone on the Yahoo KAL group suggested using a dpn, and that probably saved my sanity. I capped off the right end of my circular needle and kept the left needle active. Then I brought in a dpn to work the bind off. At worst, I had about eight stitches on my dpn at any time. It became my new right needle and was a lot easier to support since it didn't have half a blanket hanging off of it. Since I worked round 87 as it was, it only took a few hours. Someone knitting this with a lot of pattern repeats (I've seen them out to round 120) would take so much longer because there will be more stitches to bind off. This is another point where Cascade 220 held double scored big points with me. Most of the ones I've seen using 220 were knit single with more pattern repeats.

I worked the bind off itself with a single strand of 220. It uses a lot of yarn because of the number of stitches and I didn't want a big bulky scallop. I think it turned out perfectly and matches the texture of the blanket so much better than it would have held double. To do this, I cut the outer strand of yarn on the ball before I started the bind off and left enough to weave in. I knit the bind-off with the center strand of yarn.

Final dimensions:
Pre-blocking - 32" diameter
Blocking 1 - 39" diameter
Blocking 2 - 42" diameter

I pinned and steam blocked once to get the wad of bubble-gum that came off my needles to lay flat. I let it rest a while, took all the pins out and fired up the steamer again. While it heated, I pulled and stretched the blanket in all directions to relax the stitches a little. Then I steam blocked it again with a vengeance. I pulled and pinned it with no mercy and ended up with lovely stitch definition and a nice shape. I think it's always going to need a little rough treatment after it gets washed to get it back into shape. Cascade 220 isn't superwash though, so the washing itself has to be gentle or it will felt into a bath mat. That's why I chose steam for this first time.

This was such a fun project! I had to use my new dpn skills and learn how to use circs for the first time. I actually ordered circs just so I could make this. I learned to knit holding double and that Cascade 220 is squishy and lovely. Also, I learned some new circular lace stitches like the scallops that could come in handy on other projects. Two thumbs up!

Photos!

The wad of bubble-gum before blocking:





Pinned and steamed:







Ready to snuggle:

My love affair with Araucania

I am anxiously awaiting a shipment of yarn from Beaverslide Dry Goods in Montana. I keep drooling over photos of other peoples' stashes on Ravelry until I can get my hands on my own. I have several designs I want to use it for and I'm really excited. I am smitten with wool and after all of this sock yarn, it's a switch to use something so chunky.

I'm working on another lace scarf, this time with Araucania Ranco Multy. I'm using a stitch called "Flame Chevron" from Barbara Walkers "Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns". Right now it looks like a mess, as per usual with lace. I can already tell it is going to be glorious after it's blocked. This yarn feels wonderful and I love it even more than Opal. Every stitch is a different color and photos don't do it justice.

This honestly isn't even close to the colors:



Non-knitting content - my crocuses are finally blooming! Right now they are underwater due to all of the rain, but they were blooming when I took this!