Sunday, September 15, 2013

Mocking Bird

The knitters among you know me as Yellowbird on Ravelry.  Well, right now I've decided I'm a mocking bird, because three out of the five projects I have on the needles use Mock Rib!  It's a stitch I like but don't use all that often; I thought it was pretty funny that they all coincided like this.  Here's what I'm working on, in order of oldest to newest.

My second sweater from that fabulous 1958 book I got from my mom, Bernat's "Bulky Knits by Mirsa of Italy."  This one uses the reverse side of mock rib to give a nice texture.  It's done in fingering weight - I have no idea how that made it into a book of bulky knits, and it's not the only fingering weight sweater in there either!


The pattern calls for a tweed yarn, but I'm using this Rowan 4 Ply Soft I've had in my stash for years.  It's heathery rather than tweedy, but I think the fabric is still quite nice.

this is the outside of the sweater

and here's how it looks on the inside

Project number two is my "to go" project.  I made a lot of headway on this last week while waiting in the doctor's office!  This is a nice, free pattern you can link to from Ravelry

it says mock cable, but it means mock rib

it does say mock rib in the instructions though!

the ribbed section of my hat

I'm using the yarn it calls for, Cascade's Eco Cloud - it's the one skein I have left over from last year's BFF cowl.  I thought it would be nice to have a hat to match my cowl!  And this yarn is sooooo soft and cozy.

Lastly, I started something new with a very special yarn.  I'll write about this one in more detail once I've got a little more to show.  I'm blatantly copying Linda and making a Relax sweater in her hand-dyed Islington yarn.  Different color though, so at least I get half a mark for originality!



It's a grey, rainy day here.  A perfect day for knitting, and that is just what I intend to do!



30 comments:

  1. There's something about this time of year that I always come back to knitting. Just last night I pulled out an 8 month old UFO scarf.
    I really like the casual shape of that last sweater. Wouldn't it be divine in a cashmere?!? Please tell me that's your special yarn!

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    1. Yes, I feel more drawn to knitting than sewing at the moment. Fall weather!

      It would be divine in cashmere! My yarn is almost as good: BFL (blue-faced leicester) and silk!

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  2. You always pick the loveliest yarns Gail, I would happily steal all your stuff and stash too! I will have to give mock rib a go at some point, it looks nice. I've already got the mock cable/rib pattern in my library so it may very well be a winter project...

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    1. Hehehe - good thing you live so far away then, LOL! This is a super simple pattern, yet (IMO) very stylish - I say give it a try! Hardly takes any yarn too!

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  3. Ooh, thanks for sharing the pattern! Pretty sure I have a single skein of Eco-Cloud hanging around somewhere...

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    1. I went ahead and finished the hat this afternoon because I was so close to being done, and I like it so much! I think you'd look adorable in this hat! I'd consider buying myself some more Cloud to do it again!

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  4. Ooh knitting! I look forward to seeing how you go with Linda's yarn! :) I've never had to do mock rib. What's the advantage with it over normal rib?

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    1. Yay, knitting! It's always there, lurking in the background - just doesn't make it onto the blog as often as it used to!

      Mock rib is more of a texture stitch, I'd say. It doesn't pull the fabric in like normal rib. I'm actually not too crazy about how it's laying on that bottom sweater, so I'm considering taking it out and using something different, but it is what the pattern calls for.

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    2. A tantalising little tease of the yarn ...can't wait!

      I actually missed the mock rib (by mistake and regretted it a bit), so did a regular rib which works fine on the same size needles - loose enough and doesn't pull in.

      Maybe if you give it a quick steam it might help you decide before you get too far. I have a feeling it will relax (heh) out and you'll be able to see the texture more clearly...?

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    3. You know, I've already ripped it and have started something new! Similar but different. I am a very loose knitter, but I had to go up a needle size to get gauge for the Relax, and I just wasn't happy with the fabric. No problem though - I love looking at this gorgeous color so much that I'm happy to be working with it longer!

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    4. You are so brave with your frogging!

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    5. No point putting a bunch of work into something I won't love!

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  5. I love that hat! I haven't knitted anything in months. I need to get back on that wagon. :)

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    1. You should get back on that wagon! I find it gives one an excellent opportunity to gaze at one's nails . . .

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  6. I like the look of that mock rib! I'm thisclose to getting back in the mood for knitting. And soup. Two things that (apparently) do not go well with the summer to me. Looking forward to seeing your progress. :)

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    1. I hear you on the soup, although I knit all year long. But not with wool or alpaca in the summer, for the most part. I'm always glad to get back to wool in the fall!

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  7. These are two, great patterns! Of course I espcially love that hat one. That tweedy yarn is excellent.

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    1. Ooooh, I think you would love this hat! I finished mine and I really like it!

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  8. Loving the tweedy yarn and the Relax sweater!

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    1. Sadly, the Relax ended up being a no-go. I just wasn't happy with the fabric. But I've already started another pattern with that yarn! I do intend to make the Relax one of these days though.

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  9. Interesting projects you've started. I faved the hat right way - looks simple but cozy.

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    1. The hat is so simple and quick - for me, that makes it a great "to go" project!

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  10. Oooooh these are look lover-ley! It's just warming up for summer here and I'm getting snuggly knitting withdrawals. I'll have to live vicariously through your knitting. Looking forward to seeing the finished projects!

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    1. You can always knit something in cotton!! Or kick up the AC - that's what I do, LOL!

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  11. The Relax sweater looks lovely, I'll have to check that out on Ravelry. Gorgeous yarn you've chosen for it as well.

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    1. This yarn is so lovely - I spent quite a bit of time just staring at it when it first came in the mail!

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  12. great projects, but i especially love the last one! i would live in that sweater during the cold months!

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    1. It's a great, slouchy style, isn't it? Sadly, in my own home, I rarely wear sweaters - this place is so well insulated, it stays pretty warm most of the time!

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  13. Hi Gail. I'm making Relax too but put it away for summer knitting. Guess it's time to pull it out again and finish it. It's a lot of st st which I love!

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    1. This has already been ripped out and it's now on its way to being one of the new Kim Hargreaves patterns! Still lots of stockinette though, which seems to be about all I can handle at the moment, so it's my project of choice!

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