tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post8245079332459476463..comments2023-10-11T04:09:53.564-07:00Comments on materfamilias writes: Adventure in Steeking. . . materfamiliashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-22745483416414094182016-01-06T09:31:06.199-08:002016-01-06T09:31:06.199-08:00Bravo, Cornelius! I have much more experience as a...Bravo, Cornelius! I have much more experience as a knitter, yet didn't manage to pick up fewer stitches, but rather trusted the pattern. Were I to knit it again, I'd either use a considerably smaller needle for the border or pick up fewer stitches. But I doubt that's in my future and like you I love and treasure the one I made, slightly wavy border and all. (Impressed that you already have so many long circs in the right size, as such a relatively new knitter!) Happy New Year to you as well! Thanks for coming back to let me know how your Rams and Ewes turned out.materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-61966787788594732362016-01-05T14:37:59.912-08:002016-01-05T14:37:59.912-08:00Oh and Happy New Year :0)Oh and Happy New Year :0)Kwanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02997742514017435001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-5836140140694490302016-01-05T14:37:10.371-08:002016-01-05T14:37:10.371-08:00Finished and very pleased. I did not in the end ch...Finished and very pleased. I did not in the end change the border but followed the pattern, it is a little wavy but it was satisfying to have completed the project as intended. The only change I made was to use five long circular needles not the suggested two, this meant each time a row was finished it would lay flat. I also blocked the central panel before picking up the stitches for the border, had I have been more experienced I would have realised I should pick up fewer stitches on the sides to minimize the waviness of the final border. I love this blanket and will treasure it.Kwanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02997742514017435001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-60547561398709761522015-07-16T15:52:23.976-07:002015-07-16T15:52:23.976-07:00Hello Cornelius, and thanks for commenting! Very i...Hello Cornelius, and thanks for commenting! Very impressive that you're knitting Rams and Yowes after only one year knitting -- it's a very motivational pattern, though, isn't it?! I'm so pleased with mine, but I can understand why you might decide to change the border. It's a big commitment, although I'd say I found it rather contemplative -- I love the texture of the garter stitch and the way the subtle colour palette unrolls over those inches. It's true that the border is a bit slack and wrinkles a bit -- blocking will help with that, but if I were doing it again, I'd do down at least one needle size, perhaps even two, for the border stitches. materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-33761152997737201962015-07-16T10:59:51.728-07:002015-07-16T10:59:51.728-07:00I am a new knitter, just over a year, granny squar...I am a new knitter, just over a year, granny square blankets to date. My Mum bought me the Rams and Yowes kit for my bday in June and I started it last week, currently near the end of chart B1 first flock of sheep. The steek does not worry me as I tried it out on a piece of colour work from Vogue Stitchionary, I have added a few stitches to the steek just to be on the safe side knowing it will be hidden in the folded over border. However I am not looking forward to the picking up of the several hundred stitches for the border so may adapt that to something more relaxing, perhaps four separate sides and four small corner panels with sheep motif and then sew them together granny square style. I have read some have found the border as it is a little slack and tends to wrinkle, which would be a shame as the body is so lovely.<br /><br />Cornelius in France.Kwanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02997742514017435001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-70922324658832197222014-02-14T18:09:20.409-08:002014-02-14T18:09:20.409-08:00I'm more likely to knit one colour flat, hones...I'm more likely to knit one colour flat, honestly. I don't mind purling...K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-7357227073317842652014-02-14T08:33:26.559-08:002014-02-14T08:33:26.559-08:00In fact, in one place, the reinforcement has wiggl...In fact, in one place, the reinforcement has wiggled free of the stitches, but since there's a 2-row border, very sticky yarn, I'm counting on that not becoming a problem, although I'm a bit nervous given how much work there is on the border (64 rows which go from 780 to 900-something and back to 780, yes, that's true.). <br />The technique is useful beyond fair-isle, btw. It allows knitting a cardigan in one piece, in the round, and then slicing down the centre and picking up button bands or applying i-cord to edges. (of course, said cardigan could also be knit one piece, flat. . . )materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-90401974435005763412014-02-14T08:11:18.265-08:002014-02-14T08:11:18.265-08:00EEEK. It doesn't get any less stressful to wat...EEEK. It doesn't get any less stressful to watch someone do this, even with all of the info about how reinforced the edges are. I don't know when I'll have this nerve but, since I've never done anything fair-isle yet, I think I have some time :-) What a gorgeous piece of fabric!K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-50631175833048978822014-02-13T21:55:58.140-08:002014-02-13T21:55:58.140-08:00You could hear it over there, right? ;-)You could hear it over there, right? ;-)materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-39904502633057808932014-02-13T21:55:38.537-08:002014-02-13T21:55:38.537-08:00Mitts are good -- or a hat (less finicky!) And I a...Mitts are good -- or a hat (less finicky!) And I agree with you that knitting has a fascinating history. I'd love to take some time to read a few of the very good books on the subject. . . someday. materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-80711008065162172232014-02-13T21:54:17.925-08:002014-02-13T21:54:17.925-08:00You're welcome!You're welcome!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-73984689787516322462014-02-13T21:53:57.080-08:002014-02-13T21:53:57.080-08:00Yes, and I've got the impression that knitting...Yes, and I've got the impression that knitting has no attraction for you at all, much as you might appreciate some of its products, right?materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-845992016215431622014-02-13T21:52:47.024-08:002014-02-13T21:52:47.024-08:00Isn't it cool, Lorrie? So many adventures yet ...Isn't it cool, Lorrie? So many adventures yet ahead of you in knitting. What have you been working on so far?materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-81801446974715645072014-02-13T21:52:04.228-08:002014-02-13T21:52:04.228-08:00It's such an ingenious technique -- I love thi...It's such an ingenious technique -- I love thinking I'm guided by those clever knitters of long ago. Wonderful for sweaters, too -- you can knit a pullover on circular needles, so seamless, and then steek it to turn into a cardigan.materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-32267683280327637392014-02-13T21:50:45.247-08:002014-02-13T21:50:45.247-08:00I have different kinds of knitting on the go at on...I have different kinds of knitting on the go at once -- some for just vegging out and some that take more concentration. But I've been knitting since I was 5 or 6, and I can do quite a bit on automatic pilot. Patterns become intuitive after a while, although I need to track for some things as well. You turn out some very nice items, so whatever you're doing works!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-28156129871275532542014-02-13T21:20:51.129-08:002014-02-13T21:20:51.129-08:00I wish I had been in the room when you let out a t...I wish I had been in the room when you let out a triumphant "!!woooohooooo!!" do,write. readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02687240571292516010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-60914861146850160202014-02-13T18:14:55.564-08:002014-02-13T18:14:55.564-08:00I love the design! I have never steeked anything a...I love the design! I have never steeked anything and have never done a color work pattern. I may try the color work with a pair of mitts. The history of knitting intrigues me. Someone actually using two sticks to make fabric! Congratulations on a successful steek :)Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16473198489963801439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-65297642995726804732014-02-13T18:03:14.162-08:002014-02-13T18:03:14.162-08:00That all makes perfect sense, thank you for the ex...That all makes perfect sense, thank you for the explanation - something new to me!Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05504513116873595049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-15061468422649668452014-02-13T10:37:25.236-08:002014-02-13T10:37:25.236-08:00I had to run away from this post because it felt l...I had to run away from this post because it felt like it might involve numbers:).LPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209861350905135093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-4225188992255989132014-02-13T08:47:44.818-08:002014-02-13T08:47:44.818-08:00When you mentioned steeking the other day, I had n...When you mentioned steeking the other day, I had no clue what you meant. I'm so glad you explained it. I'm a total beginner at knitting, so I won't be trying this any time soon. How interesting to learn about it, though. Lorriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653026442945027184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-41863224816307936482014-02-13T07:29:46.218-08:002014-02-13T07:29:46.218-08:00Well done - and thank you for the really good expl...Well done - and thank you for the really good explanation. I don't know if I'd have the courage to do this, though with good photos like this, I just might. I love the idea of a throw knit in one piece, too.Pondsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407539138546412482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-75074776526654811052014-02-13T07:21:54.675-08:002014-02-13T07:21:54.675-08:00I'd be "having kittens" trying to do...I'd be "having kittens" trying to do this ! No wonder it is stressful...but the finished product is amazing. I agree about knitting being meditative. I am not sure how you manage to follow such complicated patterns and still relax though, I need to use markers for pattern changes and a counter for the rows so i can never let myself "go" completely!hostess of the humble bungalowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06453827257671312902noreply@blogger.com