My Tools

When I'm using my tools I move the set I want standard or bulky and snap the 3 tiers so it's on the top.

I keep it sitting on a little box I'm using as a make shift table.  It's the perfect height for me to reach the tools and yet they are out of the way of the carriage when it's moving.

The bottom is basically miscellaneous items I use and items I seldom use.

Pool The Tools

This is my new game plan after talking to fellow experienced machine knitters.  I got confused, because I have a knitting machine that has no tools.  Yet I also own that same machine with complete tools.  One is my home machine set up with a ribber.  The other I bought to travel to machine knitting meetings.  I often show up forgetting that it has no tools with it.  Then I can't really use it with no tools.  Fellow knitters are very generous and will lend me tools, but I hate bothering them.  So, I started thinking I'd buy tools for it.  Yet I have a complete set of tools for it at home.  Why buy another set?  "Does not compute, does not compute" would often go on in my brain.

I started taking a poll and talking to fellow machine knitters about how they handled their tools.  What I found out is more knitters than not keep their tools in a tool kit rather than keeping a set with each machine.  This idea kind of bothered me too.  I was worried about loosing the tools I have with each machine.  YET the idea of pooling the tools kept coming up.  I decided to give it a go.  I wanted a tool box where I could have an area for standard tools and and area for the bulky tools.  I didn't want to mix them.  I also needed a tool kit that wouldn't be too heavy to carry.  I also told myself I'd use a Sharpie to label the tools with which machine they go to in case I want to put them all back.

I found the above organizer at Target.  It has three levels and is a very good size for the tools.  I labeled the tools and put them into it.  I carried it to my first meeting.  It worked out great.  It wasn't too heavy.  What I found out later was it works great at home.  More than great really.  I'm very clumsy with my tools when I'm working.  I put them onto the lid of the knitting machine as it sits behind the machine on the stand.  Problem is I don't put them down in the same spot.  They get under the yarn.  Under the pattern.  Who knows where they go sometimes.  I spend more times looking for tools than knitting.  Well, at least it feels like that.  With this new organizer I use tools out of it and place them back into it.  I only have to look in a 6"X 9" area.  It's been such a relief to find my tools when I'm concentrating on a machine knitting project.

Easter Egg Dyeing A Sock

I would love to give this a try.  This video follows a sock blank through the dyeing process to an actual sock.  Several interesting machines used that I would love to have.

What Am I Working On

I found 2 adorable ruffled purses on Ravelry.  Fortunately, one listed the pattern and the pattern was easy to find.  It is in Knitwords Winter 2009 #51 the Felt Like Ruffles pattern.

I started reading through the pattern and was completely confused, but how to get started.  I consulted my experienced machine knitter friend Julia and she was able to walk me through it and get me started.  Once I got going the directions made much more sense.  The ruffle detail takes some concentration as you've got two details you're working on.  One is the tuck to make the ruffled look.  The other is the eyelets to give it a lacy flower like look.  So, I'm moving 4 needles in and out every 4 rows.  I'm then also making eyelets on rows 5, 7, and 9.  This goes on for a total of 12 rows.  I did 5 ruffles per side and 10 in all.  I was an expert by the end.  The first 2 or 3 I got a little confused.  Where was I on the 3 row tuck?  Am I doing eyelets now?  Which needles do I do eyelets on according to the chart?

I did this on my Toyota KS 650 bulky machine.  Pattern does not use a ribber.  Pattern says the level is for a beginner, but I'd say an advanced beginner.

Reading a chart was a new experience to me.  I must say that I messed up on 2 ruffles and made a couple extra eyelets.  I didn't know what I was doing.  Quite frankly I was 12 plus rows past the mistake and didn't go back and correct them.  I did stop after I did it the 2nd time and take a minute to figure out what the heck was a doing.  What I was doing was adding extra eyelets.  On rows 5 and 9 one takes a stitch from either side and moves it to the middle.  On row 7 the middle row one takes one stitch and moves it.  I was doing what I did on rows 5 and 9 and moving 2 stitches.  OK I have a new design element.  Thought about doing it on the other side of purse too to make it match.  But I don't particularly like it and decided that will be the BACK of the bag. :)  I am doing this bag out of some cheaper Paton Classic Wool.  When I get some Noro Kureyon I'll be experienced.

I made one side on Friday and the other side on Saturday.  Today I'm going to take the time to sew up the side seams and weave in all the ends.  Next will be the felting.

blogger has rotated my picture.  Just turn your head and you'll get the idea.

To see this bag done in the Noro Kureyon check out this blog.  It is just gorgeous!

Speed Ripping

I wanted to try speed ripping, but didn't want to try it on anything that really mattered incase I didn't do it right.  So, was experimenting with beading on a small bag on my Studio 700 standard machine then I made a mistake.  Thought if this thing falls off in my lap I wouldn't be broken hearted think I'll try the speed ripping technique.  It worked great!  I had to do it several times, because I was working on a new pattern that I was having trouble understand.  Bottom line it worked great.

Speed Ripping on the Knitting Machine

My jaw just hung open when I watched Diana's video.  I've needed to rip back so many times mainly, because of my perfectionist streak.  I've even taken a project off the needles on waste yarn to rip it back at home, so my fellow machine knitters wouldn't see what a nit picker I am.  The project I speak of is a bag that we had made a mistake on the handle portion.  The teacher said just do the same thing on the other side and all will be well.  Yes, it would have been, but I didn't like it.  I liked the pattern and wanted mine to look like the pattern.  Yes, my bag does look like the pattern and I love it.  Speed ripping would have been a life saver that day.  The thought of ripping back about 15 rows seemed impossible at the time.  At home I took my time and undid every stitch.  I'm going to try Diana's speed ripping technique.

Sacramento Machine Knitters Guild March 10th Meeting

SOCKS!  That was the theme of the meeting.  What shocked me was the interest.  The mere mention of machine knit socks usually scares people, but obviously not us here in the Sacramento Area.  There were 13 people at the meeting and 7 machines set up.



I had brought one of my standard machines and of course it was the one that has no tools.  Made a note to do something about that.  When so many machines started coming in I thought just as well put it away and let another machine get set up.

Marilynn called people and told them to make some ribbing on needles and bring it in.  I knew that most people wouldn't want to or know how to do this.  Only Marilynn and Kathleen... OK me and Julia too came with ribbing.  Mine and Julia's was made with our knitting machines and ribbers.  Julia had brought machine knitting supplies and sock yarn to sell.  I decided that since I had made 3 whole socks that I would help.  :)

Thinking that a few would not have ribbing I brought my laptop in so we could view Diana's Single Bed Sew-As-You-Go Sock.  With it's mock rib option it came in handy.  Erica with Becky's help made Diana's sock.

Kathleen with her ribbing made the sock pattern Marilynn brought in.  I just roved around teaching, learning and just watching.  I really enjoyed myself.  I thought it was a great meeting.

Not everyone worked on socks.  3 knitters were there to learn the basics like how to get their machine working.  Been there done that!  One knitter had her machine working and was learning the e-wrap cast-on and how to cast-off.

What I learned was I needed to figure out my tool situation with my machine.  Should I buy tools?  I have standard tools with another machine.  Should I use that set with both machines?  I really had a big problem sort of robbing one machine to use with another.  So, I quizzed the machine knitter's over at Ravelry.  The consensus was "pool the tools."  Many have a tool box with standard and bulky tools separate, but in the same box.  Though I still have some guilt about doing this it really makes a lot of sense to me.  Why buy more tools when I have a lot of great tools.  What I've decided to do is label with a Sharpie which tool came from which machine in case I ever want to put the tools all back with their machines.