Dienstag, 26. Februar 2013

The enmeshed Tuesdayquestion

(Die verstrickte Dienstagsfrage)

Wollschaf is asking: 

"Many of my good friends are pregnant at the moment. And what is more obvious for a knitting- and crochet-fan then welcome the babies with a fluffy soft present? Certainly it is getting boring in the long run, knitting masses of little socks and little shoes. Therefore I am on the look-out for recent suggestions. Regardless of whether clothes, toys or cover, what are your favourite knitting- and crochet-things for babies?"

Thank you to "Tee & Kekse" for today's question!

Based on the question I recognize that I am a generation older...
The last years I didn't knit anything for babies, because there was no need. But one of the next things I want to try, is a baby surprise jacket. I will knit it for a doll. I don't really need this jacket, but I am interested in the technics. 
For my own children I knitted a devil cup, because it warms the forehead. A baby allways needs a hat, wool for the winter, cotton for the summer. Most of the heat is lost by the head. 
Little jackets are usefull everytime and more practical then a pullover. Pullovers shall let open on the shoulder. Here is a little jacket - a version with an easy pattern and a woolen cap (knit stitches):




The following jacket has an easy pattern out of knit and purl stitches (unfortunately it is not very clear recognizable, but the picture is so idyllic :-) )



(Both patterns have been in a baby magazine from Burda in the early 90s)

 Gloves are knitted as fast as socks. You don't have to knit a thumb, it is okay if you knit a "little bag".
A patchwork quilt is also very practical: as play rug, for the buggy, as duvet etc.
Which material you chose, depends on the mother. I mostly took new wool  and washed things by hand. The clothes are very small, so they are washed quickly and they do not need lot of space to dry.
By the risk, that everything is washed at 90° C with a normal detergent in the washing machine, I would take cotton. For cotton it is okay. New wool would getting smaller and felt with this treatment.

Washing wool by hand


As well in real as in virtual life there exist many discussions about washing wool the right way. On the ball bands are always advices (anyway in Germany) whether the wool has to be washed by hand. But you can also go wrong, starting with washing agent through mechanic strain, ending with a matted knitting work. 

Beforehand: Wool (animal fibre) doesn't have to be washed every day. Most time it is enough to air the clothes and brush them out, because bacteria which are at fault for bad smell can't survive.

Wool consists of (animal)hairs from sheeps, goats (Mohair, Cashmere), alpaca or rabbits (Angora) and is often mixed with synthetic fibre or cotton.

You should always use a special wool washing agent for washing wool. All other washing agents contain enzymes, which attack the wool fibre. The purpose of enzymes is to split proteins and the wool fibre is lagerly made of proteins. I take an ordinary hair shampoo, that I also take for myself. 
In the washing machine I take a special setting for washing wool (which has every machine, look into the instructions for use) and I just wash wool, which is suitable for "superwash". Unfortunately this wool loses many positive features of the wool fibre. For sockwool, this equipment is justified I think, due to the high load (quite the contrary to any other pieces of clothes).
With the aid of a video I want to show you, how to wash wool by hand the right way. Don't worry, it is very easy, but you should consider a few things absolutely. 
(Unfortunately it exists only in German, but you can also see a few things)



Freitag, 22. Februar 2013

Annual knit-meeting in Salzweg near Passau


The third consecutive year, 
our knit-meeting takes 
place this year
from 3. - 5. October
in Salzweg near Passau.



There will be several workshops with different topics this year again.
I'm looking forward to it!

Dienstag, 19. Februar 2013

The enmeshed Tuesdayquestion (Die verstrickte Dienstagsfrage)


This week Wollschaf is asking:

One day we all started knitting. By choice or we had to at school. 
Do you remember how it was?
What causes most troubles?

When did it catch you?
Thank you to Michaela for today's question!

My mother showed me how to knit before I started school. I remember an increasing number of stitches and a broadering knitting work...

At school I learned a lot of new things from my needlework teacher. Not only beginning a knitting work and knit and purl stitches, I also learned knitting with 5 needles.

After primary school handwork lessons were over for me, because I went to a school, where I was in the first class where girls were admitted.

I started with knitting for my dolls. At the age of 13 I knitted my first long scarf:
Knitted in garter stitches and about 2 meters with fringers, at that time it was modern.

The first bigger needlework was a traditional jacket that I knitted together with my mom. I knitted the back and one sleeve. My mother the front and the second sleeve. So "I" finished the jacket very quickly and I was so proud about my first "real" project.

In the 80s lot of people knitted at school or university. It wasn't really welcomed and of course it aggravated making notes a lot.
My grandmother showed me how to knit socks.

I never really stopped knitting. For me, afterwards for my husband and for my kids.

At the end of the 90s I bought a used Singer knitting machine and knitted almost exclucivley socks. Three years ago, a Silverreed superfine-knitter came in addition.

The family always needs knitted clothes, things are damaged from time to time.

Magic Yarn



Two weeks ago I was at a fair, where I met different yarn manufacturers. I got some free trial.

Today I tried the yarn:



Look what is happening when I go outside:


Due to the UV radiation, the colour of the yarn is changing. Great!

Freitag, 8. Februar 2013

Traditional jacket

Since last year I'd like to knit a traditional jacket for my daughter. I already knitted a gauge with different pattern and different kinds of cuffs.




I'm knitting with filo di lana Australien Merino Klassik, pure new wool. A wonderful fluffy material, which finally should be a traditional jacket.

Liesl Fanderl's books inspired me for the pattern. The books contain a magnificent collection of pattern for al level of difficulty.
For my own design, I changed the pattern a bit.
The beginning has been made, the cuff for the back part is finished:



The cuff is knitted double. Now the pattern with crossed stitches begins.
I'm writing down what I'm knitting, there will be pattern.

Freitag, 1. Februar 2013

For horse-lover

I bought an embroidery data file with horse motives from here.
After my first attempt  I was very disappointed. I didn't use a fleece. But after taking a fleece, I got the same result:


I used a remnant, but I didn't knew the exactly composition. So I tried again with fabric cotton and now I was happy:


I think the first cloth included spandex, so it warped a bit during the embroidering. But it was enough to receive the mistake.
Now I just have to take the cotton fabric and put it into the frame and trying a new data file:



On the back of the cotton fabric I was ironing a fleece.

At last I can transpose my ideas...