Honeycomb Hat

It was a challenge, but I was able to get through it. The pattern can be found on Ravelry. It's called DylaniumKnits Machknit Honeycomb Hat.  It cost $5.  Totally worth it.

Took me about 6 hours to make. I didn't sit for the full 6. I'm sure future hats will be faster now I know how to read the pattern and convert it to my machine.

Oddly enough my experience with the Mohair scarf pattern helped me to understand what I needed to do to make the honeycomb pattern with my bulky machine.

Punch Card Smunch Card

I'm rather discouraged as I had a machine knitting brain trust at my home today and they couldn't get it to work either.  All were experienced Brother and Passap knitter, but not Toyota/Studio knitters.  We read through the manual over and over and each time it would do the same thing I was getting on my own.  I'm convince the instructions have left out an important detail.  This was so with my Studio 700 punch card instructions.  Now I just need to remember what it was.  Why oh why didn't I write it down!

Next machine knitting meeting in the Bay Area is specifically for working out problems.  I'm going to cart my machine down there and see if the larger group of knitters has more experience with Toyota/Studio machine.

I haven't given up!

Punch Cards!

When I first heard about using punch cards with knitting machines I thought how wonderful.  Now that I've tried to use them they just make me say, "Grrrr!"

I took my Studio 700 to my machine knitting meeting about a year or so ago and said, "Help, I can't get the punch card to work following the instruction manual ."  A gal there has the Studio 700 and she got me up and running.  I came home and decided to give it a try on my Toyota 650 bulky and have never really got it working.

I sat down last night with the instruction manual and worked through it step by step.  Setting each knob in the correct manner.  Making sure the carriage was going in the correct directions.  What I got was something that would make a spider shake their head in shame.

So, that is my new mission.  I'm going to become a punch card expert before I pick my knitting machine and throw it across the room. :D My book talks about things like "use card 1" or "use card 2" and I don't even know if I have the right cards.  One of them has a teddy bear on it and I know the tuck pattern isn't asking for that card. 

I going to learn how to use the punch card mechanism reliably and do swatches for my cards.

Very interesting, but hoping I won't have to resort to this... "Machine Knitting Fair Isle Without A Punchcard ."

Machine Knitting on Martha Stewart's Show

While at my machine knitting meeting on Thursday one of the gals asked, "Did anyone see machine knitting on the Martha Stewart show?"  None of us had seen it and we were so sad we had missed it.  After a seach on Martha Stewart's website I found a link to that segment.  Just loved it.  So inspiring!  Hope you do too.

Click here too view Karen Allen's wonderful knits.

My 2nd Cupcake Hat Recipient

At first she didn't want her picture taken.  I'm 2 1/2 years old and I'm not in the mood.

I then asked if I could take a picture of her in front of the Christmas tree.  Got to make it fun for them.  And let's face she made it fun for me too.

My Favorite Pattern of 2010

I made many variations of this pattern last December.  I made several of the original pattern.  I then cut the pattern in half and made a beautiful scarf for myself.  But for my mother I wanted to make more of a wrap.  So, I increased the needle pattern.  I wanted one to go around the shoulders, or over the head and around neck and shoulders.  It turned out just gorgeous.  First thing my mom did was wrap it around her head like a babushka.  It was adorable!

The pattern was given to me at my Tuesday machine knitting get together.  A gal at that meeting took notes during a class years ago on how to make this pattern.  I'm told it is a tuck like pattern.  This is done manually.  I wonder if someone can figure out a punch card for it.  One isn't really needed.  It is so simple to do.

I love the way this pattern makes this rolling hump texture through out the wrap.  The yarn I used for my mother's scarf was Amazing by Lion brand. It was the wildflower color. I used 3 skeins.

Click on picture below to get the pattern.  I had to clean up the copy I had which had notes written on it.  I then added the needle setting for the smaller scarf I made.  I made one mistake in that I didn't put the X marks showing which needles are pushed in and out of work.  Looking at the pattern above I think one can figure it out.  If not feel free to email me and I'd love to answer any questions.  For the larger pattern I did above I increased the pattern so that 7 needles were pushed in and pulled out for the pattern.

I typed out the upper pattern for translation programs.  It's the one I use and like. 

Mid-Gauge or Bulky Machine
Rectangle Scarf Using Fine Mohair Yarn
Needle Set-up
(see picture on blog for needle set-up)

If using a bulky machine, cast on and bind off with a rug latch tool. If using a Mid-Gauge machine cast on and bind off with a bulky latch tool.

Be sure to use lots of weight.

Cast on the above number of stitches, making a chain for each out of work needle.

Tension 8 or 10, Knit 2 rows. Set machine for hold. Pull needles marked with X forward to hold position.

Knit 6 rows. Take off hold, and push needles marked X back to work position (C).

Knit 2 rows over all working needles.

Continue in this manner for length required (approximately 354 rows), ending with Knit 2 rows over all working needles.

Bind off loosely making a chain for each out of work needle.


Smaller width scarf needle set-up

(see picture on blog for needle set-up)