Zimmermania

Monday, November 26, 2007

The Pelerine

From Knitting Workshop out of Unspun Icelandic. I tried Elizabeth's on at camp last summer, and knew that I would have to make one for myself.
I could not resist throwing it on before it was blocked. So, it will look a little better once it is, but I loved working this.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Swatch guage cap

Hi, all! I'm relatively new to Zimmermania and EZ, although not to knitting in general. I'm curious about the EZ concept that I've heard of: knitting a cap instead of a swatch guage. Can anyone give me some more info. about how it's done? Thanks in advance!

Cheers...

Baby Leggings



These are footless leggings from Knitter's Almanac in Araucania Ranco Multy on 2.5mm circulars, 344m on a skein and I still have enough left to do a matching pair of socks. The pattern says to cast on 84sts, I swatched and worked out 120sts, Betsy is 22months and doesn't wear a diaper any more so she doesn't have the bulk of a baby but she is obviously bigger. I was working on the theory of taking off about 10% for stretch, she will be wearing them under trousers or a dress when we spend this Christmas in the Alps but they have also proved to be super snuggly for just lounging about in. Knitting from the top down meant that I was able to keep trying them on her and shaping accordingly. As always, really good directions from EZ, might try a pair in self striping yarn next.
I knit these mostly whilst on a day trip to London for the first official UK Stitch'n'Bitch, on the train journey and in a class given by Jean Moss, interestingly she is going to be designing for this yarn label.
Sarah
didyoumakeityourself.com

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Seizure Shawl



Hi Zimmermaniacs,
It's been a long time since my last post, I couldn't find my log in details! This is the first of three EZ items that I have to show. I took Elizabeths advice for my summer holiday knitting and took along the Pi shawl, little did I know what the holiday would have in store for me. I knit at the airport and on the plane before my 18 month old daughter passed out and went blue, we touched down in Florida and were whisked off the tarmac straight to hospital where they insisted she had had a seizure. We were stuck in there for three days having tests and at many times I could have cheerfully stabbed some of the doctors/nurses looking after us with my new Addi lace needles. But I knit on in the middle of the night knowing that we would get through this and I would one day look at this shawl and remember the trauma. It turned out that Betsy was absolutely fine, thank God, and we now have what will forever be known as the "Seizure" Shawl.
Knit in Claudia Handpainted, Silk Lace 20/2, 100% Silk. I haven't measured the finished size, 1100 yards on the skein of which I have a tiny bit left, to block I used a 6 metre wire - could have done with a little bit bigger. I would highly recommend a shawl as travel knitting, mindless and good in a crisis!
More at didyoumakeityourself.com
Sarah

Seizure Shawl



Hi Zimmermaniacs,
It's been a long time since my last post, I couldn't find my log in details! This is the first of three EZ items that I have to show. I took Elizabeths advice for my summer holiday knitting and took along the Pi shawl, little did I know what the holiday would have in store for me. I knit at the airport and on the plane before my 18 month old daughter passed out and went blue, we touched down in Florida and were whisked off the tarmac straight to hospital where they insisted she had had a seizure. We were stuck in there for three days having tests and at many times I could have cheerfully stabbed some of the doctors/nurses looking after us with my new Addi lace needles. But I knit on in the middle of the night knowing that we would get through this and I would one day look at this shawl and remember the trauma. It turned out that Betsy was absolutely fine, thank God, and we now have what will forever be known as the "Seizure" Shawl.
Knit in Claudia Handpainted, Silk Lace 20/2, 100% Silk. I haven't measured the finished size, 1100 yards on the skein of which I have a tiny bit left, to block I used a 6 metre wire - could have done with a little bit bigger. I would highly recommend a shawl as travel knitting, mindless and good in a crisis!
More at didyoumakeityourself.com
Sarah

Another BSJ



A new grandson meant a new BSJ! This one is knitted in 2 strands of Sassa Lynne hand-dyed medium perle. I chose 2 colours from the Serendipity range (unrepeatable and only available at shows) that seemed to go together and this is the result. I used 6 skeins, and there was enough left to make a hat and a pair of bootees too.

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

Christmas Mittens

I am starting my Christmas knitting a bit earlier this year to try to avoid the mayhem of last minute knitting on Christmas Eve! This year, I'm going with smaller projects like EZ's Norwegian mittens. This is my first pair.




I used the spruce pattern from Knitting Around and just alternated stitches for the palm. I'm a very tight stranded knitter so I had to use a sz 5 needle for these though it seems most people can get gauge on size 3 needles. This post originally saved about halfway thru the post. I didn't realize it until later. Hope it didn't seem to crazy. You can get more details and pics at my blog...wwwDOTknitaddictionsDOTcom/blog

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Provisional Cast-On Question

I'm just beginning my first BSJ, and I think I'd like to use the provisional cast-on. BUT -- I've never used this before! I think I understand how to do it, but my question is:

Do you have to add on later in order to have a finished garment? In other words, when you remove the extra yarn, can it still function as a "regular" cast on?

I won't know until I've finished whether or not I want to lengthen the sleeves, for instance, and I don't want to be left with a bunch of hanging loops at the edges. :-)

Thanks for any help you can give!

BSJ for a Toddler


I made this for a tall 3-year-old. It hangs to her hips but the sleeves only come to her elbow. I think that's because the purple yarn I used was a bit too delicate. Am hoping her mom will send me a picture!

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Monday, November 12, 2007

Baby Yoke Sweater




I've been sitting on this Fo for awhile and am finally getting around to posting about it. It's a baby sized Fair Isle Yoke sweater. I used the modifications from EZ's Knitting Around for the appropriate baby sized dimensions so hopefully this will fit when my little guy finally gets here in March. I think I may have made the arms too short, however, but that may turn out to be ok. This was the first time I'd made button bands and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Previously when I've steeked a sweater and cut it open for a cardigan, I've inserted a zipper and tidied it all up with an icord border instead of button bands but decided this was the perfect time to try buttons.
I'm not super happy with the yarn, it's Knit Picks Swish superwash DK. Although it's very soft and I think it will be great next to baby's skin, it bled like crazy when I washed it and that means the white part of the yoke is now a sort of pink. I'm hoping that will come out with the next washing but we'll see.
You can get more details at my blog.


Baby Yoke Sweater






I've been sitting on this Fo for awhile and am finally getting around to posting about it. It's a baby sized Fair Isle Yoke sweater. I used the modifications from EZ's Knitting Around for the appropriate baby sized dimensions so hopefully this will fit when my little guy finally gets here in March. I think I may have made the arms too short, however, but maybe it will all work out.
You can get more details and pictures at my blog.



Sunday, November 11, 2007

February Baby Sweater


I've just finished my first FBS and I'm so happy with it. What a great pattern this is! The sweater pictured here is for a redheaded baby boy, so I'm hoping the olive green will suit. Thanks to everyone who posts here for inspiration - I'm off to start a tomten next!

More photos and details can be found on my blog if you're interested.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

seamless raglan and 2 tomtens



Hi! This is my first time posting here. I just recently discovered Elizabeth Zimmermann, and here are the first 2 of her designs I've knitted. I did a newborn size tomten, and a dolly one too from scrap yarn; I've also just completed a seamless raglan, which I am very happy with. There are more photos of it, as well as details on how I made it my own, on my blog, here.

Thanks for having me along!

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Finished my Swedish Dubbelmossa





I love it. It is knit out of Icelandic wool that is unspun. I bought it as a kit from School house press. I also got the video for this one because I couldnt figure out how to do the jogless method that Meg described in the book.... Can I just say that she amazing. It is totally jogless. I am in love.






Here are some pics of it..... Thanks for letting me blather.....









between knittings



ever since ms. zimmermann came to my knowledge i have been wanting to knit this specific hat known as the three-spiral hat, the dairy queen or the snail hat (as you all may well know). the grey is knit from one skein of adriafil: diamond that doesn't really show the hat at it's best although i love the yarn.

the cream one is made from one skein of bulky lopi.

when i went out to do the shoot of the two hats i saw these flower pots cut in almost the exact same shape as the hats.

yesterday, after finishing the grey hat, my old friend with greyish dreadlocks paid me a visit. today i though he had dropped a dread. thankfully it was just a scrap of yarn.

i love the hat and it is a really fast knit. elizabeth says it is only good when made of sheepsdown but i think sheepsdown and lopi must share some traits. the lopi makes for a nice sculptural hat as well.

oh how that elizabeth's book has cost me time and money. since last year i have knitted: 3 hybrids, 3 fairisles, 1 raglan, two norgi pullovers, 3 february sweaters, 3 ganomies, 3 watchcaps, 4 tomtens, 5 bsjs, 2 pillboxes, 2 fast caps. mind you some of it in childrens sizes but i feel happy to have been struck by such inspiration and getting directions to make my own designs, as i am sure everybody here do.



happy knitting.

Monday, November 05, 2007

EZ Spruce mittens



In Knitting Around, Elizabeth wrote a chapter called "A Mittful of Mittens". This Winter Spruce pattern was one of which Elizabeth wasn't really fond, but Meg loved! I really enjoyed making these mittens and the afterthought thumb worked fantabulously!
I used size 8 dpn's and Lion Brand Alpaka yarn...almost one skein of white and a little over one skein of brown. I understand the yarn has been discontinued...too bad, it's a nice yarn.
Glad these are finished since we have a goodly chance of snow in SW PA throughout the rest of this week!
I had shown 1 1/3 mittens earlier...see, I really did finish them!
Nancy
http://fibernating.blogspot.com

bluebert


blue tomten
Originally uploaded by knititch
this is a tomten for albert in beaverslide big blue sky hence the name bluebert. it is made from 3,5 skeins on needles no. 5. mm. i have added an i-cord edging and i didn't cast off for the underarm sleeves but knit them together with the sleeve stitches. this gives a beautiful clean seam. this is my fourth tomten and i am sure there will be more. it needs a zipper which i hope my friend will help me with. i am no seamstress at all.
i highly recommend the beaverslide yarn. it is soft when you knit and softens up when wetblocking. and it comes in a whole array of beautiful colours with romantic names that remind me of reading the little house on the prairie, as a child.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

BSJs, of course!

This pattern really is addictive. Don't let the lawyers know or they'll have us putting warning labels on all of EZ's books! I had a ball doing them, and like others am going to have to scour my friend base to find more new babies!

OH yes, there is just one glitch - I hate sewing on the buttons. LOL

This one is cotton/linen blend, and it drapes so nicely!

This is my first woolen BSJ. Do other folks make matching hats for these? I think I'm going to make a few. Babies need hats!

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Thursday, November 01, 2007

I Need to Find More Babies to Knit For!!


The Baby Surprise Jacket is such a wonder of engineering. I would have loved to watch the process as EZ designed this little charmer. How did she figure it all out? Amazing.

My humble contribution to the masses of BSJ's that have been knit, is made from Zitron Life Style in color #1864. There are many more photos on my blog.

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