Excuses

Okay, okay. So this photo of an old, old finished project (the wall quilt is almost 20 years old!) Is just an excuse to get my cute little granddaughter's photo on my blog.


And speaking of excuses, a quick comment about the recent lack of Masters Monday posts.

• I've been very busy organizing a knitter's group in my area.
• I HAVE done a bit of work on the requirements each week but it hasn't been knitting or worthy of a photo.....(answering questions, researching techniques).
• I've had a migraine headache on both of the missed Masters Mondays (no, really!)
• I've been sidetracked trying to finish a sweater I shouldn't have started in the first place.

Good news though. I bought yarn for the Master Knitter's Level II vest today.

Masters Monday - 2.13

One more swatch checked off the list. This is #16, another swatch where the knitter picks a cable that will fit into the required dimensions with a minimum of 2 multiples and three repeats and then figures out the gauge (by swatching), makes allowances for the differences in density between the cable portion and the seed stitch border, plans an effective way of dealing with the difference, writes a complete pattern and....

.....yes, still must knit the final swatch. This is cable 16.5 in the "Harmony Guide to Aran Knitting".

Masters Monday 2.11

Did you arrive early, find nothing but old posts, and think I was skipping Masters Monday again? Sorry about that. I was fiddling with a video/slide show of birthday pictures for my granddaughter Kaylen's blog instead of getting my own blogging done. If you're up for a round of "Happy Birthday" and watching a wee one discover birthday cake for the first time, pop on over to Kaylen's blog and wish her a happy 1st birthday.

And yes, I did work on my Masters Knitting this week. I worked and worked actually, but this one swatch (and its pattern) is all I have to show for it right now.

This is Level II, Swatch 14, Cable of Your Choice, but with a twist to the assignment that wasn't there for Level I. In this level the knitter has to choose three stitch patterns, do the math, and write out the patterns for each of the swatches themselves. This results in the absurd situation of swatching for the swatches. An initial swatch must be made to determine gauge so that you can not only make the final swatches within the size limits, but also correct for "cable flare" - where the edging bulges and gathers because the seed stitch and the cables are of different gauges.

I actually have more done than shows here as I did my initial "swatching for the swatches" with all three cables on the one practice swatch. I have also begun the rough drafts of the patterns for the other two swatches. I learned with the first one that it works best to write the pattern and then knit from it, rather than the source the stitch pattern was found in. I found and corrected several omissions and mistakes as I attempted to knit from my own pattern. Hopefully now I won't have my patterns thrust back at me with "errata" to be corrected.

Masters Monday - 2.9

Ooops! Getting a little ahead of myself. Once again I've done the swatch knitting but not the labeling and pattern write ups. Maybe getting caught up on the paperwork should be my goal for the coming week?

Swatch 12 - (lace of choice) Spider Stitch

Swatch 13 - (lace of choice) Pierced Diamond

Both of these swatches are from stitch patterns I found in the Barbara Walker Treasuries. I knit them in a coned, superwash wool, fingering weight yarn usually used for machine knitting. I had thought about using another shockingly bright yarn, like last week, but the orange I was thinking of may have been too dark and possibly even a bit too fuzzy to meet the acceptable standards.

So next week's Master Monday report had better be that I have done the write ups for these last three swatches. I will be knitting this week though. I have two non-Masters knitting projects I'm actively working on.

And I'll be weaving. The loom is warped for the next project.

Masters Monday 2.8

My offering this week. Doesn't look like much, but believe me it was a lot of work! In Level II you don't just knit your swatches from a provided pattern. You have to do all the research yourself and come up with a swatch that fits the requirements.

Swatch 11 - (lace of choice) Floral Mesh

For this swatch, and two more lace ones, the requirement is to knit a lace swatch, bordered by seed stitch, and containing at least two multiples and three repeats. And the big challenge....it has to be no bigger than 7 inches! After much experimenting I found that for me that means no more than 8 stitches in each multiple, and no more than 12 rows in each repeat....otherwise it ends up being over sized and would be rejected.

After getting the knitting done then you have to write up a pattern for it including the seed stitch border. All information like needle size, gauge, materials, references/sources, abbreviations, must be included. I've gotten bogged down there a bit. I have a rough draft of the necessary information, but I have to fine tune it. So just the knitting of Swatch 11 this week. I can't say it's finished until all the paperwork is done.

Masters Monday 2.2

Only one completed swatch this week. Much of my spare time has been swallowed up by Christmas preparations.

Edited to add: It has been pointed out that the seam is about half a stitch off, with the tops not matching. Yup. Back to the needles.

This is Swatch 4 - Single Rib (K1P1), a seaming exercise. I'm not all that pleased with it. I seamed it in the manner described in the Seaming article in "Cast On" magazine, and it is not my usual method. The article suggests using an even number of stitches and starting each piece of ribbing with a knit stitch so that you end up seaming a knit stitch and a purl stitch together (leaving the ribbing pattern intact), supposedly hiding the seam "in the ditch" of the two stitches. Because the magazine article so strongly recommended this method I went with it, but I'm having second thoughts.

I normally seam ribbing by starting with an uneven number of stitches, starting and ending both pieces with a knit stitch and seaming up the centre of these edge stitches (leaving the ribbing pattern unbroken). I find it makes a finer seam (less seam bulk, especially at cuff edges) and it still turns out neat and tidy. The "Cast On" magazine article says that the seam turns out messier, but I'm not sure that it does. I think this might be worth a bit of additional experimentation.

For readers' further consideration (are you still with me?), Maggie Righetti suggests a third method in her book "Sweater Design in Plain English". She says to add an additional knit stitch so that your single rib ends in K2 at one end. This lets you seam with a full stitch, but gives you that knit/purl "ditch" seam.

Coachella

Despite an ever growing queue of things I really want to knit (thanks Ravelry!), including a few warm vests I could really use right now, I out-of-the-blue looked through my very limited stash, found a yarn that didn't work for it's original intent, and cast on for a racer-back tank that I won't be able to use until the really warm weather arrives next summer.

A few days later I have a FO. This is "Coachella" which I have knit in Lang Viva, an 86% cotton, 14% polyester blend. I think what attracted me to the pattern was the interesting drape at the front neckline and this lightweight, woven yarn does the job beautifully. I know it looks like crap just hanging there unmodeled, but trust me, it fits nicely. It just requires a specialized bra and I likely won't be acquiring that until closer to summer.....when I can actually wear the top. For now it is getting tucked away in the closet while I start working on......

*drum roll please* ........

...... Level 2 of the

TKGA Master Knitters program!.....

Yes, it is now time to resume my regular posting of "Masters Mondays" as a means of keeping myself motivated and plugging away at this certification. My goal is to do at least something each week. It may not be a big something, but one little step at a time I shall climb this mountain. Drop by to encourage me hey?

Masters Monday - To Be Continued

Friday was a Very Good Day. It was so good in fact that all the good news could not be contained in one blog post. As you may recall, I reached my running goal on Friday. The update on my "running ticker" at the top of my post was the most immediately visible good news, so I chose to focus on that and leave the rest for today.

So today I continue with a "Masters Monday" post according to the tradition I established earlier of reporting my progress on the program in each Monday's post.

Today's progress report:

I PASSED!

My Level 1 submission was returned Friday. ALL of my swatches were accepted, and according to the letter "It is highly unusual for all swatches to be accepted on the first try!". There were a few, very minor comments which I will point out by editing my earlier Masters Monday posts. If you are interested in viewing the suggestions for improvement you should be able to bring up a list of all related posts by typing "Masters Monday" or "swatches" into the blogs search bar.

The written work that I stressed over so much was accepted as well and was deemed "very thorough" and " well researched". In the questions section I had to resubmit PART of ONE of my answers due to a very dumb mistake. I can't believe I overlooked something as simple as a change in stitch count due to some increases. Kicking myself I tell ya, KICKING myself! But for that one small error I would have passed on the first try. Bah.

Anyway, because my only required resubmit was minor and involved a small portion of one answer, I was allowed to send my resubmit via email. I had my correction accepted by the following day.

Woo, hoo! On to Level II.

I won't be ordering that just yet. I have a few projects around here that need attention and I have to buy new glasses. (Have you seen the price of progressive lenses lately!!)

Delivery Complete

I just received an email notification from the post office. My Master Knitter Level One binder is now in the hands of TKGA.

While I'm waiting for the evaluation to be done I've completed yet another project I had on my "to do" list.



It's a simple fitted sheet for a playpen so Kaylen will have somewhere to sleep when she comes to Grandma and Grandpa's. I wonder if she will ever use it. She prefers to sleep like this whenever possible ---



--- upright and in someone's arms.

Masters Monday - 10

Today's Masters Monday post is a little late because I was busy ---



--- FINISHING! I'm done, I'm done, I'm Sooooo DONE!

That's my binder at the top, ready to hand in. I spent nearly the entire day going through the rest of these books and a long list of online resources (for a second time!) so I could write out my reference list and bibliography. I knew about the bibliography and had added to that as I worked on the swatches and questions, but I had somehow missed the fact that my "Blocking and Care of Knits" report had to include my references. I had done all my research, taking notes from each source I could find, and had then compiled the report from my notes --- but I had not written down my sources or page numbers. I had to look everything up a second time. *sigh*

Note to those just starting the program: Every time you crack open a book or magazine, or find a valuable online source, WRITE IT DOWN!

Masters Monday - 9

Do I look bored? Frustrated?



I am.

Torturous work this report writing. *Gag* I've found hundreds of reasons to put it off to the last and my procrastination is coming back to haunt me. All that stands between me and handing in my Master Knitters, Level 1 is this annoying report on Blocking and Care of Knits. I have no problem with the material which I feel I know quite well, it's just getting it all down on paper, in detail, and in a way that makes sense and "flows". Borrowing words from a song, I just need to "Knuckle down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it."

My husband says I like to ruin a perfectly good, relaxing hobby by finding a way to stress myself out.

Having taken notes from every book I own that references blocking or care of knits in any way, and having organized a small portion of that into sentences and paragraphs of some sort, I'm calling it quits for the night.

Stay tuned for more next week. Hopefully it will be news that I have crossed the finish line.

Masters Monday - 8

My commitment to posting about the Master Knitters Program each Monday is the only thing that is inching me forward at this point. With the knitting all done it's just paperwork from here on out. It's a slow process because, like a procrastinating school student, I often don't touch the "assignment" until Sunday night or early Monday morning --- right before it's "due".



I have now finished answering ALL the questions, including a mini essay on tension problems and another on yarn substitutions. All that's between me and my submission of Level 1 for evaluation is a detailed report on the blocking and care of knits and a bibliography. Hopefully this will be in the mail next week.

Masters Monday - 7

The past week has been a very busy one for me. Every single day I had some commitment eating up my time. I wasn't able to give the Master Knitter Program as much time and thought as I would like. I did remain true to my promise to have SOMEthing accomplished this week though.

I went out and bought a binder that will fit in the standard UPS box that TKGA prefers to use. The one I had previously been using, a zippered type, was a bit too bulky. I then transferred all the samples and page dividers to the new binder.



I also finally finished the pattern writing for the Windblown Cable swatch. This was made a little more difficult than it might otherwise have been because the cable I picked was from a "chart only" format so I had to come up with abbreviations and written directions on my own.

I found and printed the Yarn Standards Guide as well. Having a current copy is required but I'm not sure if it must be included in the binder or not.

Anyone else working on the program?

Master Monday - 6

Almost there. All the knitting is complete. Now I have to slog through the report on blocking, write the pattern for Swatch 15, and answer a few remaining questions. Ugh.



On the left, the hat project. Not very attractive, but knit according to the directions.

On the right, Swatch 16 - Color Work. Yes, the blue line at the top is supposed to be one row on the right and two rows of blue on the left. It tests the knitters ability to change colors and hide the tails mid-row.

Edited April 30, 2007 to add: Evaluators noted on Swatch 16 that "right side of ribbing is uneven, possibly due to tail weaving". (I checked, it was indeed the tail weaving.)

Masters Monday - 5

Swatch 13 - Single Cross Cable, on the left.
Swatch 15 - Windblown Cable (knitter's choice), on the right.



Edited April 30, 2007 to add: Evaluators mentioned that the cast on in Swatch 13 may have been a little tight saying "note how the lower edge has rounded corners". And for Swatch 15 that there were "some tension irregularities in the reverse stockinette portion bordering the cable".

The rest of these, and many more attempts that were frogged, are not being handed in. They were just some of the background work that is involved with coming up with a finished swatch. I found Swatch 15 - "Your Choice of Cable" to be particularly labor intense as your choice has to fit within some rather strict guidelines. Finding a cable pattern that had a workable number of stitches, not too many rows, and could somehow be "balanced" on the swatch required a lot of research and experimentation.



At the top of this second picture (unblocked) is a tiny experiment with "Banded Cable" that I decided I didn't like. On the lower left is "Loose Five-Rib Band", which perhaps could have worked but I was having difficulty finding a point where it looked balanced top and bottom. In retrospect, it might have been okay. The swatch on the bottom right is of course, the "Windblown Cable" without the stockinette down the sides. I had it all completely done and blocked when I realized that when the instructions said "Place P2 on either side of the cable" that they might have wanted ONLY two purl stitches on either side, not ALL purl as I had done.

Masters Monday - 4

Swatches 10, 11 and 12

Testing the knitter's ability to form yarnovers correctly, make various decreases, and follow a simple eyelet pattern.



Edited April 30, 2007 to add: The evaluators considered these swatches to be nicely worked with good tension. Swatch 12 had a reminder to "keep decreases on needle tips" (to minimize stretch).



And now that those are knitted, blocked and labeled (and photographed for your entertainment) it's time for me to answer the 4 questions that refer to these swatches.

Masters Monday - 3

Can you see a difference? I can't see a difference.



On the top left we have Swatch 7 - SSK and K2tog Blended Decreases. Next to it, top right, is Swatch 8 SKP and KSP Decreases. I know the photo doesn't give you a close-up look at the details, but really, even with the swatches sitting right here in front of me I can't see much of a difference between the two. Perhaps the SKP decreases on the right of Swatch 8 look a little straighter than the SSK decreases on the right of Swatch 7, but if so, the difference is so slight I wouldn't choose the SKP. I find the SSK much easier to perform.

On the bottom we have Swatch 9 - K2tog and SSK Full-fashioned Decreases. The idea with full-fashioned decreases is that they are supposed to show in a decorative fashion. Meh. I don't particularly care for it. If I was wanting a more visible/decorative decrease line I would incorporate twisted stitches or a cable of some kind.

Edited April 30, 2007 to add: Evaluators noted on these swatches that the decreases were correctly made, but slightly stretched. They suggested working the decreases on the tips of the needles to minimize stretch.

Some of the decreases are shown in a video HERE. The KSP from the Masters program is the one listed as "KRPR".