Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Racked Rib Vest Pattern - Working Notes

Pattern incomplete - still working on it
Back:

C/O 2:2 rib, handle up, FB= 74R:74L, every 3rd needle down, arrange the back bed to match up.
I've been experimenting with the cast on for this rib and this one is:
Attach a weight to the loose end (padlock in my case)
Set needles, blue strippers, rack once left, T2, N/N knit one row,
Change: T4, CX/CX knit one row, set left edge weight (I use yellow/green latch tool with padlock over 2 needles' stitches) knit another row, lock is now at the left (RC3).
Change: rack once right, N/N, carefully knit one row, it will be tight, but goes through. RC000, knit 30 rows.
Change: T5, black strippers.
Rearrange ribs: starting at the centre, 3L:3R have to be on the front bed. 3,2L should be in place, move 1,2R with yellow tool to 2,3R, move 2 stitches from back bed to 1L,1R.
Next move the next 2 FB stitches, one pair each side of your new 6 st set, into the single space on the back bed (new 5 stitch group BB). Continue until you have 6:5 rib all the way, DO THE SAME THING all the way along the front bed. There is an overlap on the same side of the rib configuration, take a good look at which side overlaps (should be on the right) as you will be racking one turn the other way to make an overlap on the other side of the rib on rows 3&4.

The pattern:
Work 2 rows, rack left once, work 2 rows, rack right once. That's all there is to do for the next 150 rows. (except I'm using 50g balls and have to do a couple of joins): I didn't bother with waist shaping, as the ribs should do that for me - not caring if it doesn't either!

Armhole shaping: RC000
Dec sequence, COUNT NEEDLES ON THE FRONT BED, absorb the extra overlap st where it occurs:
-10st x 1 ev 2R (20 st total)
-2 st x 2 ev 2R (4 sts total)
-1 st x 7 ev 2R (10 sts total)
continue to RC 98

Shoulder shaping:
You can do short row shaping if you like OR you can decrease straight from the machine OR you can put them on scrap/decker combs and do a 3 needle cast/bind off. Take your pick.
Dec sequence, COUNT NEEDLES ON THE FRONT BED, absorb the extra overlap st where it occurs:
-6 st x 4 ev 2R
50 sts remaining for neckband.

Left Front:
T4, N/N 2:2 industrial rib, handle down, blue strippers, (+1 FB) L36 / R35 (+1 BB), cast on same of for back, then 30R. RC000.
Change: T5, black strippers.
Rearrange ribs: starting at the right on the front bed. Move 1st and 2nd stitch one needle to the right with yellow tool move 2 stitches from back bed to gap.
Next move the next 2 FB stitches, one pair each side of your new 5 st set, into the single space on the back bed (new 5 stitch group BB). Continue until you have 6:5 rib all the way; the 6 will be on the front bed on the right and the 5 purls will be on the back bed on the left (neck edge), DO THE SAME THING all the way along the front bed. There is an overlap on the same side of the rib configuration, take a good look at which side overlaps (should be on the right) as you will be racking one turn the other way to make an overlap on the other side of the rib on rows every 2nd row. Continue to RC 150.

Armhole and neck shaping: RC000
Dec sequence, COUNT NEEDLES ON THE FRONT BED, absorb the extra overlap st where it occurs: Neck and armhole decreases occur at the same time, the armhole edge is every 2nd row, and the neck every 4th.
Armhole:
-10st x 1 ev 2R (20 st total)
-2 st x 2 ev 2R (4 sts total)
-1 st x 7 ev 2R (10 sts total)
Neck:
-1st x 24, ev 4th row
continue to RC 98

Shoulder shaping:
You can do short row shaping if you like OR you can decrease straight from the machine OR you can put them on scrap/decker combs and do a 3 needle cast/bind off. Take your pick.
Dec sequence, COUNT NEEDLES ON THE FRONT BED, absorb the extra overlap st where it occurs, starting on the armhole edge:
-6 st x 4 ev 2R.

Right Front:
T4, N/N 2:2 industrial rib, handle down, blue strippers, (+1 FB) L36 / R35 (+1 BB), cast on same of for back, then 30R. RC000.
Change: T5, black strippers.
Rearrange ribs: starting at the left on the front bed. Move 1st and 2nd stitch one needle to the left with yellow tool move 2 stitches from back bed to gap.
Next move the next 2 FB stitches, one pair each side of your new 5 st set, into the single space on the back bed (new 5 stitch group BB). Continue until you have rib all the way (from left to right FB has the 6 of the 6:5 and 5 ends on the back bed. There is an overlap on the same side of the rib configuration, take a good look at which side overlaps (should be on the left) as you will be racking one turn the other way to make an overlap on the other side of the rib on rows every 2nd row. Continue to RC 150.

Armhole and neck shaping: RC000
Dec sequence, COUNT NEEDLES ON THE FRONT BED, absorb the extra overlap st where it occurs: Neck and armhole decreases occur at the same time, the armhole edge is every 2nd row, and the neck every 4th.
Armhole:
-10st x 1 ev 2R (20 st total)
-2 st x 2 ev 2R (4 sts total)
-1 st x 7 ev 2R (10 sts total)
Neck:
-1st x 24, ev 4th row
continue to RC 98

Shoulder shaping:
You can do short row shaping if you like OR you can decrease straight from the machine OR you can put them on scrap/decker combs and do a 3 needle cast/bind off. Take your pick.
Dec sequence, COUNT NEEDLES ON THE FRONT BED, absorb the extra overlap st where it occurs, starting on the armhole edge:
-6 st x 4 ev 2R

Armbands:
Make 2: (or do by hand).


Neckband:
Make 2: (or do by hand).

Finishing
Sew seams, and either graft machined bands or cheer as you cast off the bands.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Machine Vest 5ply Working Notes

I'm going to use the 5ply burgundy wool from Wang Mill to make two vests. I thought I'd make up in a simple form, before I do all the cables on the Denim one. I saw one in the shops yesterday and I'm sure I'll be able to make this up in good quality wool and a nicer colour.

Prelim:
This vest: half fisherman's rib, N/EX, purl ribs showing on the outside.
swatch results:
T3.5 1:1 rib 20R
N/EX:
T4: 30S/75R
T4.5: 28S/60R
T5: 27S/65R

Fabric is quite thick, and would be an excellent substitute for polar fleece vest. I've got 625g of the lighter burgundy, there's 10 balls crepe and 5 spiral, I'll use these for all the ribs and leave the crepe for the body, hopefully I'll get a bit of extra length through the ribs, perhaps I'll put a ribbed section through the waist? I'll see what looks best. Buttons to the neck.

Next sample:
racked rib: 5x5 handle down (halfpitch). - lightly stretched.
T4.5: S28/42R
T5: S25/38R

This will work out nicely for the 500G. I would like to be able to use the same schematic as the Denim cable vest. One with V neck and one up to the neck. I won't bother with buttons on this one.

Next sample:

Honeycomb tuck stitch in Wang 2ply remnant:

T : S/ R
T : S/ R
T : S/ R

Sunday, July 19, 2009

1785 km Round Trip to Bendigo Wool and Sheep Show 2009

1785 km - aka Road Trip - to Bendigo and back.

I left at 4.30am, Thursday, picked up daughter at 5. We shared the driving. Next stop, Suttons Forest Maccas for brekkie, filled up the car at Yass and had morning tea. The Hume Highway had it's upgrade going for 125km before the Victorian border from Gundagai, slow going, 40, 60, 80 and 100 through that section, but the Albury bypass was so sensational, too early to stop for lunch, and unfortunately - we "forgot" to get petrol.. oops, we had flashing empty light into Glenrowan Maccas, where we filled the car, then ourselves. Then I managed to drive to Benalla, Shepparton and made it all the way to Elmore before I cracked. Couldn't go any further, so Loz had to drive the rest of the way to Bendigo.

We found mills in Bendi, .. first the flour mill, so we can safely say we certainly found our Bendigo mills alright! The wonderful Wooly wone was on the OTHER side of the railway line. The bargain room had some lovely mohair .. sock wool (family have ordered some) and some luxury - which I was actually wanting and was luck to get on the next day.

Next Day: Friday: We wandered along to the show. We said our Rav names at the main gate and got our Rav discount entry $8 each. First thing was to get a coffee (of course) visit some of the lovely stall holders and consult the map to find Sarah Durrant's stall. She said she was bringing in some Knitpick cable connectors - $3 - must have and I also bought some harmony 3.00 and 3.25mm points - I resisted the yarn, but will keep her in mind for my next sock buy. I also wanted to thank her for the lovely thing she did for her Kinglake customer, who lost absolutely everything in the fires. Sarah got her entire order together and presented it to her. Sarah also told me she is running a knitting group at Kinglake with generous donations from Collinette and some others. A wonderful, wonderful lady indeed.

Then some of the other things I saw: some spinning, drop spinning, an Ashford loom, the Wearable Art fashion parade, with lots of young Aussie designer's woolly goodies - such a lot of talent and so interesting to see. Oh, there's more: the buttons, ugg boots, indie dyers, the alpacas, wool, wool everywhere wool, alpaca, Pear Tree yarns, Sarah Durrant, Wooldancer, drum carder, fleece, roving, Stockpile socks (bought a pair for ex husband's birthday next month). Sheep - the real ones, with woolly legs, sheep, and sheep dogs in the sheep trials - see the movie Babe for more the general idea. Wonderful wonderful wonderful, seeing the dogs, fly across the paddock round up the sheep and put them in their pens.

I wanted to buy something a little bit different, not commercial, I mean, I ended up buying some natural Tandara (I think if white suffolk sheep). It's a lovely soft yarn and I got enough to do a vest. gorgeous and I haven't seen anything like it.

After an exhausting day (for me) at the show, we decided on another trip to the Bendi mill, where I bought some mohair similar to the one Loz got on Thursday, and they had some underweight Luxury out - YIPPEE I got what I actually went for.. oh joy, Oceanic, Lake and Ice. but in 8ply. We took ourselves off to the Foundry pub for dinner. Can't beat country cooking and then an early night.

Off to Wangaratta on Saturday. The Visit to the Mill Shop was great: full to the brim with woolly stuff. We Bought Heaps! quite a bit of remnants for $27.50 a kilo and some messy bits for $10/kilo, some for a bit more. I could have walked out with a lot more, of course, but kept it down a little bit, after all it's a little car and we are big people and we can come back next year for another visit. I particularly liked the 4ply for play with on the machine and I wont have to worry how many times I will need to rip and redo to get myself on the right track. Carol from the shop says they are bringing out some more sock wool soon and also some in 8ply. Goody, I will give her a call in a little bit and see if she has any oddments for me to try. (edit: they are actually making it now - no samples yet)

Last but not least, we got to the motel just before 2. Both of us had had enough - sore assorted limbs, a relaxing time watching DVDs, resting before heading home on Sunday. I drove to Albury, Loz to Tarcutta, me to Yass for lunch then Suttons for arvos, then Loz to her home, then me to mine. It's the furthest I've been able to drive for a long time and now I've posted this, I think it's time to hit the bathtub and have a soak....

I'll just get my tea....

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Bendi 4ply Luxury Vest Working Notes

I can now knit socks, toe up, top down, short row heel or heel flap for my family. Time to get serious about gaining some proficiency for things-other-than-socks.

Working Notes for 4ply Vest

Different styles to experiment with:
  • Big cable ? Susan G's HMSFMK version of short rows? looser stitch size and 4x4 x4 at rest, reversing in say 6 rows time?
  • A pattern out of my Passap pattern book?
  • Incorporating some of the colour samples from the coop buy?
  • A racked zigzag on the front, plain back (seen in the shops?)

I've bought 2 x 200G Luxury 4ply each of Black, Denim Blue and Ghost for my machine to knit. I'm using Caron's Long Cabled Vest as a template and although written for 10ply aran, the schematic is exactly right and I should be able to adapt the patterning to suit.

Swatch stitch sizes tested after a nice time relaxing on the lid of the sample container:
T5 31S/47R
T5.5 30S /44R
T6 28S/40R
T6.5 26s /37R

Going with T6 for stocking stitch,
T4 for 2:2 industrial rib.
Have had a couple of false starts, and it's off the machine and remeasure - too big, I'll recheck all my calculations. 4x4 cable and 4 resting each side, every 10 rows is OK. I changed the spare looped stitches from this swatch so that 2 loops go on the 4 stitches that go behind.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

BMW 8ply Luxury Coop Samples

My samples from the Bendi Coop 8ply Luxury came the other day. I've been trialling different combos to see what colours will go together. I would really love to have the funds to buy one in each colour, of course, but like most.. not going to happen any time soon.

Well here is my sample knit/swatch/what-do-these-colours-look-together: (L-R)
2 rows Oceanic, Lake, Ice mix
4 rows Ghost
4 rows Pink
2 rows Mink, Red Earth, Pink mix
then
2 rows Iris Mist, Purple Storm. Pink

I like the first three.




4 rows Cream
2 rows Barley, Cream, Leaf, Cream.
2 rows Bracken, Leaf, Barley mix