When your hat has over 200 stitches per row, it's not really a a little project, is it?
While in Mendocino, I picked up three balls of Crystal Palace Maizy, two in deep purple and one in a coordinating print.
This yarn is 82% corn and 18% nylon which means it's soft and stretchy. It'd make fabulous socks but since I'm really not much for knitting socks, at least not second socks, I wanted to do something else with it, something I'd actually use.
Maybe winter in Portland, with all it's overcast skies and rainy days, makes me dream in color, but lately, I've just been bitten by the colorwork bug. Instead of working a standard stranded or intarsia design, I decided to give double knitting a go.
Double knitting produces a flat piece of fabric that is knit on both sides. It can be used to make two color pieces that have alternating color patterns on each side and it's none rolling. All good stuff. But even better, keeping an even tension in double knitting is loads easier than other color work techniques. Because of the way double knit is worked, you are never carrying your yarn more than two stitches, and just maintaining one's normal tension is sufficient to produce a relatively elastic and even tension.
The progress is slow going but I'm happy with what I've done so far. This was a great, nearly mindless piece, to work on the road, too. The right side rows (those on the predominantly purple side) progress in a standard pattern, and the wrong side rows are worked exactly as the previous row, so there's little need to refer back to the chart I made.
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Comments (10)
Any particiular reason you're doing it flat rather than in the round?
Posted by bellamoden | January 9, 2008 4:25 AM
Posted on January 9, 2008 04:25
Gasp.. 200 stitches per row!!! Wow!
Posted by Ginger aka Beethoven | January 9, 2008 4:05 AM
Posted on January 9, 2008 04:05
I really enjoy double-knitting, but haven't done it in years - it's very dangerous to see you using techniques, indeed! Hopefully I can stick to the things I'm already doing!
Posted by Julia | January 8, 2008 3:17 PM
Posted on January 8, 2008 15:17
wow, clever and I love it!
Posted by pixie | January 8, 2008 2:27 PM
Posted on January 8, 2008 14:27
I agree with Samm. Now I have to try double knitting. Your finished hat is going to be so awesome!
Posted by Lani | January 8, 2008 11:57 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 11:57
I agree with Samm. Now I have to try double knitting. Your finished hat is going to be so awesome!
Posted by Lani | January 8, 2008 11:48 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 11:48
It's dangerous to read blogs of people who do interesting things. Like you do. Now I wanna try double knitting too! Your hat will be gorgeous, and I can't wait to see you model it. :O)
Posted by samm | January 8, 2008 10:17 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 10:17
I wondered how that effect was achieved.
those are beautiful colors
Posted by j | January 8, 2008 10:17 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 10:17
I've dabbled a little in double knitting. There used to be patterns for double knitted afghans in the old needlework and craft magazines from the '70s and early '80s, and I always wanted to make one. But I haven't quite got the process of moving colored sts around properly in my head. Some day...
Posted by Janice in GA | January 8, 2008 9:26 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 09:26
Fun project, and the perfect souvenir to have of your fabulous trip!
Posted by Nonnahs | January 8, 2008 9:04 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 09:04