Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Getting my knit on.

Now for the promised pictures!

First off, I am jumping on the fan bandwagon and posting my signed "Knit 2 Together" book. I LOOOVE this book! I'm so glad I got it as my first real knitting book. I can't wait to get started on a project from the book...although it's gonna be probably a month till I do. *sigh*

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Now on to the meat of this post: I did my first blocking! And I took pictures to prove it. I read Eunny Jang's recent post about blocking, and it really helped. My only complaint was how freaking loooong it took to dry! But it's a little thick and I did put a towel under it (on top of a very large, thick plastic bag), so that might be why.

Pre-blocking:
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Soaking (I used no-rinse "Soak" in the Flora scent):

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Draining:

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Expressing the water:

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The pinning process:

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I only blocked the side strip (which will make up the side panels and strap) on the sections that will be sewn to the side.

All blocked and writing the pattern (which I will share when it's all done and I know it looks good!):

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Here it drying the rest of the way on a clothes drying thingy, with the scarf for my mom next to it (don't mind the mess). It's amazing how much better it looks! I can't wait to get it finished.

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And to top it all off....here are my first real cables! I've been wanting to figure out how cables work, and I finally did. Yippee!

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They are attached to my sad looking little tester swatch, but there they are and they are cute :) I put my handy-dandy new cable hook thingys from Knit & Pearl (Clover brand). I really like how they work.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I need to show you how to cable without a needle on Thursday, bring it with you. And isn't blocking fun? You can also do it without all the pins by putting a damp towel over & under the piece to be blocked, using your iron with lots & lots of steam, lightly steam over the entire piece, stretching & pulling it to the size & shape you want. Then you don't have to wait so long for it to dry, that is how I usually do my blocking.
Great job on your knitting!!

Tracy said...

Wow, for being a crocheter, you knit wonderfully!! You need to do it more. And your project turned out wonderful! And I hate to sound like an idiot, but what is it? Chaun is right, cabling without a needle is quick and easy. We will both be there this week. :) I am looking forward to seeing you!

Suzanne said...

Yay!!!!

Cables are so much fun. I can't get enough of them.

Marieke said...

I could cable without a needle if I wanted to, but for now, it's easier for me to keep track of what I'm doing and which direction the cables are going.

I suppose it would help to mention what my project is, LOL!! It's a purse. It still needs sewing, which is why it looks weird.