If At First You Don't Succeed: Rainbow Top

Sometimes we start off a project with the best of intentions, and it just refuses to do what we want. My Rainbow Top was that sort of project.

I started with a pattern, but soon realised it wasn't going to work properly at all. The pattern was made for the small-busted, and that wasn't the figure I needed.

I... don't like the way the straps work. Way too thin and will dig into your neck, and for a larger bust it'll need more support. Time to improvise. 

-- Project Notes

I was trying so hard to make this top work. Eventually I ended up frogging nearly the entire piece, which is when I started to lose my patience in my notes.

Officially abandoned the pattern and set out on my own. ... The amount of frogging I have done....it hurts to think about how many times I've re-crocheted the same length of yarn.... 

Now for the bottom. I'm thinking single crochet. Also I'm thinking that apparently the way I learn shaping is to cry a lot and frog a lot. Why.

--Project Notes

 I took that photograph just to commemorate how frustrated I was, because I had worked so hard to get this to work, and I was going to make it happen.

And I did! Sure, it took about all night, but the next day I had an update:

All finished except for weaving in ends! Waiting for the steam-blocking to dry.

--Project Notes 

While I don't think I'll ever have this particular project be my favourite, I remember it because it was the product of so much determination, and I learned so much from the experience. Even the most exasperating project can be worthwhile in the end.

Improvement Notes:

Knitting is a constant learning process. These are my notes to help me grow and improve my skills - feel free to ignore, or learn with me!

Crocheting patterns are very sensitive to shape, and while tension around a form can do a certain amount of shaping, there are limits. Pay attention to the proportions of the models used by a pattern designer, because if you're not the same shape, you may have to modify.

Pattern Recommendation: Simple Stylish Market Bag by Regina Weiss

This blog may be called Today's Knit, but a well-kept secret is that actually I can crochet, too! It's harder on my hands, so I don't tend to do it as often, but I still find it incredibly fun. My crochet hero is Morale Fiber, who has an incredible blog with the prettiest pictures.

One of her patterns that I find both simple and versatile is the Simple Stylish Market Bag, which can be found on Ravelry and her blog. The first time I made it, I used a simple cotton and loved the finished project.

Look at how cute this guy is! You can see my little practice coasters as I tried to get back into the crochet mindset.

However, on my second try, I wanted a rounder bag, as I was making an "eyeball" for a friend. I ended up crocheting the body and when I got to the top, I bound off before the handles. I took a simple crochet chain and wove it through the top row of netting to create a draw-string. This worked really well, and I ended up with a small round bag big enough for my friend's figurines!

This little bag made a friend's day!

I really can't recommend the patterns by Morale Fiber enough. Not only does she explain each step in detail, but her blog has lots of tips and tricks for a newbie crocheter. Take a look!

Pattern Recommendation: Blueberry Waffle Socks by Sandy Turner

My mother taught me to knit when I was very young -- I think I started younger than five, though the precise timing eludes me. However, it got rather lost in the midst of growing up, and it wasn't until university that I picked it up again with a serious intent to use it. At that point, I decided I needed a goal, and what better goal than socks? They're classic.

“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

However, once I had a goal, I realised I also had a problem. Which pattern to choose? Ravelry is full of so many sock patterns, and all of them seemed so complex in so many ways! I needed something easy, something that would stretch if I sized it wrong, something that was beginner-friendly.

It turns out, that's not easy to find. After trying several patterns and nearly giving up in despair,  I finally found Sandy Turner's Blueberry Waffle Socks. Thank heaven for the Internet Archive, because this is an amazing pattern. Not only is it stretchy enough to give some leeway for those who struggle with size, it's got simple, step-by-step instructions for those who have never done a sock before, including how to turn the heel and do a gusset.

I had to show off when I finished my first pair!

Improvement Notes:

Knitting is a constant learning process. These are my notes to help me grow and improve my skills - feel free to ignore, or learn with me!

There's a great explanation of the gusset here, which helped me figure out what I was doing. Also, there's an excellent tip for avoiding gusset holes here on youtube, which should save you from adding buttons like I did. 

Today's Knit: Cable Capable

Cable knits always look incredible. It's a simple way to take a piece and give it a... well, twist. When first learning how to cable, I did it with a cable needle, which is how most people learn. However, cable knitting with a needle is time-consuming, and when I found a guide to knitting cables without a needle online, I immediately decided I wanted to learn!

There are so many videos showing how to cable without a needle, so I'm not going to make one. However, once you've had a look at how to do it, here's a wonderful pattern to practice on! I created it for my own practice, so it's simple enough to learn on. The instructions are for cabling with a needle, so even if you've decided to go with the classic technique, it will work.

Cable Capable is a scarf knit from side to side, lengthwise. It's got a lace window option, for more advanced knitters, but it's not necessary for beginners. More importantly, it's got loads and loads of beautiful cables!

Use the code BloggerC and get 50% off the price on my Ravelry store!

Improvement Notes:

Knitting is a constant learning process. These are my notes to help me grow and improve my skills - feel free to ignore, or learn with me!

The next time I make this scarf, I'm going to use a different bind-off. As one may see, I used the classic bind-off on this piece (right side of the scarf) and I don't like how it flattened the edge, instead of showing off the ribbing. In future, I intend to use a binding that can draw the ribbing out. 

Pattern is also available at my Etsy store!