Apr 30 2008
Colorfull
You know how some people just have their knitting thing? like complete and utter love of lace or cables? like that is all they want to knit all the time? well, I think I found mine. It shouldn’t really come as a surprise considering how much I love the interplay of colors and the simpleness of stockinette.
Could you tell with all of the colorwork projects of late?
I wanted to try colorwork for years, but I was nervous about the technique. I delayed even trying it. I still have a lot to learn, but I am really in love with the process and the results. And for some reason, it really seems to work up quickly! Perhaps it is because I can’t wait to see how the colors will interact on the next row?
The Jacquard Pulli was a test trial - I wanted to see if five disparate yarns from my stash could come together in a Fair Isle pullover. I think I lucked out.
The colors are combining and creating a lovely spring-themed knit. I am using the deep brown as the main color - a nod to Project Spectrum’s Earth element - and mixing in the pink, cream, greens and blues. Each yarn here has lived in the stash for over a year, so this is truly a stashbusting project. And how quickly she grows! I started this project for Project Spectrum, as well as the Lord Stanley Stashbusting KAL on Ravelry. So far, I have knit this much after watching two playoff hockey games. (Go Penguins!) However, when the hockey gets intense, I have been known to put the colorwork down, for fear of messing up the charts… such was the case during last night’s nailbiter between Pittsburgh and New York!
I have found it quite simple to keep the tension in the stranding. My floats don’t pull too much, and with a light blocking, I don’t think there will be any puckering. I am using yarns of slightly different weights (the pink is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, but I have always thought of it as more of a worsted weight; while the green - Knit Picks Andean Silk - and blue -Cascade Lana d’Oro - are a lighter worsted, bordering on DK-weight).
SO, yes, I am quite enamoured with the colorwork… maybe it is just a phase, but I see this one sticking around for awhile. Guess what’s on my shopping list for this weekend?
What’s you knitting thing? is there a technique that you just can’t get enough of?
Your colorwork is fabulous!
Socks! Socks are definitely my “thing”.
Living in a hot, humid environment really limits the need for knitwear, but socks — just can’t get enough of them!
Beautiful knitting and wonderful pictures. Great job!
I really love how your colors are coming together on this one. Bravo!
Colorwork - I love it too! I can’t put it down sometimes because it’s so much fun to see the pattern and colors emerge.
I love lace and single twisted stitches, but love the look of colorwork. I’m just too intimidated to try. Your pullover is looking lovely so far. You’re so adventurous - different weights of yarn even!
My thing tends to change… I was in a colorwork phase, actually, for awhile there… but now that it’s getting warmer out I’m back to socks.
Your color combo is beautiful, btw - and even better that it’s stash yarn!
Ohh! The colors came together nicely. Can’t wait to see it all finished!
Hmmm. I don’t think I’ve got a knitting “thing”.
I don’t think I have a knitting thing yet, since I’m still on a self-motivated mission to learn at least one new technique or lesson with each project I do.
Color-work is one of my big ones that I want to sink into. Any recommendations for a first-timer? I’ve been told a hat in a simple 2 color pattern. What do you think?
I have to agree with you. I have more books on color knitting than anything else. I also happen to think that they work up much faster too!
One thing that I have yet to try but do not honestly think I will is intarsia. What say you?
Cables, cables, cables.
I’m not sure. That’s one to ponder. I know mine is NOT colorwork. I think color work is truly beautiful. I have NO desire to do it or even wear it. Thanks for the creative prompt - I’ll get back to you.
I think anyone in my knitting group would scream that I am the cable queen. Cables are my thing! (They’re right.)
The colorwork is lovely.
Last night was indeed a nailbiter! I was spinning while I watched and kept having to stop, because I found myself threadling but not doing anything with my hands. Fortunately it all turned out okay (with the game and my spinning). Did you hear that Max Talbot may have broken his foot blocking a shot?
Socks are definitely my thing. Can’t get enough of them.
Those colors look lovely together. I really really want to try colorwork, and I think I’ll have to give it a shot soon. Do you have a good beginner’s project you’d recommend? I have the yarn for endpaper mitts, but I’m too scared to try it.
Your love of colorwork made me remember a dream from last night - I dreamed that I was working on my first colorwork project! Your post inspires me to actually try it. In general, I love texture of all types, but lately have been working simple, stockinette pieces because they are doable at Little League games, in carpool lines, etc.
What nailbiter? Grrr…It’s all too damn predictable to this Rangers fan. And, for some strange reason, the sock I was working on is just a wee bit tighter than its mate.
I think my knitting ‘thing’ is buying yarn. That is my favorite part of the knitting process.
I’ve only done a couple stranded projects, but I think they were among my favorite to actually knit. I’m not much of a process knitter, but I really enjoy knitting Fair Isle. It DOES seem to go a lot faster and I love watching a picture emerge. I only managed to make 1 Bird in Hand mitten (sizing issues) but it was by far the most fun thing I’ve knit!
Stockinette, I think. I know it’s boring but I seem to seek it out more than anything else.
Also, what needles are those? They’re pretty!
Colorwork for me, too. Hands-down. But you probably knew that!
Your pulli looks fantastic so far—such even stitches and floats. I think you’re a natural!
Your colorwork is gorgeous! I’ve always been afraid of it, too, so have only watched from afar. Maybe this year I should test the waters a bit…
Beautiful colorwork. I’ve had some serious sock vibes going on for a few months but now the sweaters are really calling my name.
Beautiful! The color combination is great.
What type of needles are you using? I have yet to find needles I really love and those tips look perfect.
Your colorwork is awesome! I love cabled things, the more complicated the cables look the better. And if these cables are on socks, I’m tickled pink!
Those colors are looking great together. You’re going to have another great project!
i have nothing on my shopping list for this weekend. can you believe it? i’m on a yarn diet!
the sweater looks great so far, i love the colors you chose! and a stashbuster as well? awesome!
The colours look fabulous together, I’m always wary about mixing different yarns, you did a great job there!
I’m starting on colourwork too, but I miss lace and cables sooo much!
I can see why the colorwork would be your thing. You have a great eye for it!
My thing is probably socks, at least if we’re judging by what’s in my yarn cupboard.
Looking good! I love colorwork too - I can’t wait to start a Lopi sweater - I just need to decide which one!!
Knitting with tiny yarns and needles and sweater knitting. Really, I love it all. Your colorwork is looking beautiful.
I admire your colorwork skills. I would love to do colorwork, but am not in the “zone” yet! One day when all small hands and distractions are in school full time…
I guess my thing is anything in the round (socks, raglans, etc.).
oh I love the colors you chose - they look great!
My knitting thing is weaving in ends. Heh. You know, I don’t really think I have one. I think I am that sort of process knitter that looks for projects with new techniques, but I am also a bit product oriented too. No, I have a knitting thing. I am spacy about knitting like I am about everything else… I am glad you conquered the colorwork hurdle, because clearly it isn’t a problem for you now. All of these projects look fantastically fabulous.
Gorgeous! I think you have a great eye for color. I love the combinations you choose. They are stunning.
I think my thing is knitting with DPNs. Everything I do, I prefer to do on DPNs!
I love the colors you chose! marveloous!
You more than lucked out, honey. You struck gold! The colors are coming together in such a beautiful way.
You mentioned that you’re getting good tension with the colors. Do you have any tips on tensioning for those of us who why aren’t as consistent? I really want to do colorwork again, but I’m a little scared off after my stockings experience, since my gauge kept changing.
I think my knitting thing is to always try something new!
Cables are my thing. My first cable project was right when I started knitting- I made a red cableknit sweater for my dog
Now I am working on a cabled coat for my daughter. Unfortunately, I have yet to have a cable garment work out for me…. but I’ll be trying again soon, I’m sure!
My GOODNESS is that going to be a beautiful sweater! You have inspired me to take up color work again. I get really frustrated with the mess working with multiple strands of yarn makes. I had an experience knitting a pair of bohus mittens of a roommate who turned out be just a bit crazy. Between the rat’s nest of balls of yarn and her behavior, I kind of got put off color work. Any suggestions for avoiding the headache of untangling yarn?
I’m pretty obsessed with plain stockinette. But I’m also really drawn to complicated cables and lace. I love colorwork, but I haven’t been able to find the perfect project for a while!
I, like you, was intrigued by colorwork but was intimidated by it. That is, until I took a class where we used fingeringweight yarn to make a hat! I LOVE it now! I can’t get enough of it! I have made several hats and a cardigan. With steeks! It was weird to cut the knitting but thank goodness I have a sewing machine! I even purchased EZ’s Opinionated Knitter so I could knit up a less bulky cardi using her pattern! My next book purchase I think will be Estonian Folk Socks (by Nancy Bush?) for stranded sock patterns!
ohhhhhh yes yes yes!! Beautiful combo!! Its going to be wonderfuL!
Simply gorgeous….and very inspiring!
Your colorwork has inspired mine. I tried a Bea Ellis hat shortly after you finished yours. And I’m about to order yarn for an Aftur pullover!
all I can say is WOW. All are beautiful and your new projest has colors to dye for! Great pictures
I don’t know that I have a “thing” yet - I suppose I do knit a lot of socks, but that’s because we walk through them! I am acquiring a love for colorwork, and your projects are certainly helping! The new sweater is fantastic!
I find myself drawn to colorwork, also. I really like it! I also like cables. I’m warming up a bit more to lace. I just like to be challenged in general.
I’ve been in stashbusting mode lately. I feel the need to just knit it all up! Sadly my last project didn’t work out. It was silly of me to think I could get a vest out of two skeins of yarn
I said it before, and I’ll say it again…it’s beautiful!
I don’t see this one as a phase for you either…
oooh those colours are delicious, Lolly!! I have a question though.. I’ve been so tempted to try colourwork, but I knit english style, yarn in myright hand - I’ll need to learn continental style knitting too before I try colourwork, won;t I? So I can hold a strand in each hand? How do you manage your yarns and such when you knit stranded? I’m always so inspired by your knits, I’d love to give stranded colourwork a crack!!
Such lovely work. I’m with you on the colorwork. Although colorwork and cables are often battling it out for needle time. Now that I’m done with Tweedy Aran, however, Autumn Rose can get some more attention.
I’m with you on colorwork. Love it. The colors you put together for that cardi are smashing! Can’t wait to see it finished.
Fabulous! You have a great eye, Lolly. I don’t really have a thing. I’ve tackled cables and socks and am getting ready to try out lace. I’d really love to learn to do some colorwork, too.
Like everything else, you are amazing at colorwork! I love it too. I think I love everything about knitting!
Its funny you should post about colourwork being your knitting thing because this week I have realised that it is not mine! I was looking at my Venezia yarn and I really don’t want to knit it again now. I might try something simpler like a yolked sweater but complicated knitting isn’t my thing. Knitting for me is relaxation and gorgeous yarns!
So lovely when you find a seam of inspiration for projects - love the latest belnd of colours
I think you may be inspiring me to get back into fair isle. It’s been so long since I’ve done color work that it might be just what I’m looking for!
I think my *thing* would have to be knitting sweaters from the top down with minimal seaming. I just love the feeling of lots of knitting in my lap and watching it take shape, and knowing I will only have to weave in ends and MAYBE patch the holes under the arms. Tee hee. I guess I am simple.
Your fair isle just has me in awe. I am afraid I’d get all mixed up!
What needles are you using? They look pink
Wow Lolly, the sweater is looking so fine. I have to admit, I was having difficulty picturing how the colours would work when you posted them the other day, but they look fantastic together.
My thing? Nubbly textures: garter, reverse stockinette, seed stitch, even a bobble or two…
Cables. The more complex and Celtic-looking, the better!
I can’t..stop..knitting…lace! I try to knit other things, but it seems like I end up doing lace even when I’m trying not to. I’ve been getting better about it recently, because I really do love cables and colorwork and knit-purl patterns, but I just really like how lace garments look! They’re so light and airy and feminine, and work so well with San Diego weather. Anyway, Lolly, I’m not surprised that colorwork is your thing, because you’re extraordinarily gifted at it. Your colorwork projects are so beautiful! I’m especially excited about your Lailas - that’s such a great pattern!
Just got the new Interweave, which is all colorwork. you’re psychic! I don’t know if I have a “thing” with knitting. It all just come and goes.
Oooo that’s a good question… Your colorwork is always so pretty. I don’t know if I’ve found my “thing” yet. I tend to go toward simple-stitch patterns with some sort of interesting feature thrown in.
I just had to say that when I first saw your color combo (in skein form), I thought you were nuts! But it’s beautiful! …and…I guess my “thing” is cables.
Lace is definitely my thing right now. I’ve been through a cable phase, and I think someday I’ll fall into stranded colorwork too, but lace lace lace is all I want to knit right now. I have four shawls on the needles!