KnitsForGeeks

Nerd Wars

2011-10-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

It should be Geek Wars, but what can I do - I signed up anyways. :)

What is Nerd Wars? It's a 3 month long crafting tournament, in knitting, crocheting, weaving and spinning on Ravelry. You sign up for a team (Team Rangers here! - from Babylon 5) and each team earns points by making something that will answer to one of 6 monthly challenges.You don't have to do all 6, or any, it's for fun and enjoyment. If you can tie your project with your team, you get extra points.
On top of that, you can opt to do dissertation - 3 month long project that will bring lots of points if finished, and even half finished half the points...
Here's the list of categories:
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Category Descriptions
The samples listed below with each of the categories are for demonstrative purposes only, to give a general idea of the type of challenges that may be issued. Actual challenges will be more detailed.
Giving Geeks
This category focuses on challenges that benefit charities, community-building, and other local outreach. This is the only challenge category that will not necessarily require a crafting project.
Past Challenges:

Donate mittens to a mitten tree, donation center, or charity
Finish a WIP for someone who no longer can, through age, injury, etc.
Help the victims of the Japanese earthquake and Pacific tsunami through donation of money, FOs, or other means
Donate a new baby item to a local organization that distributes such items to families
Do something for an animal to make that animal’s life better
Donate something that will bring a bit of comfort (and hopefully joy) to an older person or to a nursing home, assisted living home, similar facility or an organization local to you that accepts and distributes such items to the residents of such facilities

Scientific
This category focuses on challenges of scientific knowledge.
Past Challenges:

Craft something inspired by or resembling a nebula
Craft something inspired by capillary action
Craft something inspired by the environment and creatures of the deep sea
Craft something inspired by lightening or electricity
Utilize the Scientific Method to explore your craft
Create something that incorporates waves as a mathematical model or a natural phenomenon

Nerd Culture
This category focuses on challenges of demonstration of the culture of geekiness - what it is to be a nerd, and the shared experiences of those who consider themselves dorks.
Past Challenges:

Craft something that would be appropriate for a convention
Let your nerd flag fly proudly by crafting in public or yarnbombing a public place
Craft something related to books, the calling card of the nerd.
Craft something inspired by your favorite YouTube video.
Craft something representing a Nerd Wars team other than your own.
Craft something reminiscent of “the good old days” of your fandom.

Intellectual
This category focuses on challenges of demonstration of intellectual abilities. This is where cleverness shines.
Past Challenges:

Complete a project utilizing prime numbers
Inspired by an Anglo-Saxon riddle, craft a literal or metaphoric shield
Craft something inspired by or utilizing pi
Craft something which illustrates or is inspired by a proverb or adage
Craft something which illustrates or is inspired by a myth
Finish your WIPs

Technical
This category focuses on challenges of technical ability. Show off your mad skillz.
Past Challenges:

Inspired by ionic bonding, craft something using two different fibers
Complete a project that uses more than one craft
Using the same pattern, create something at two different scales of size
Craft a three dimensional item
Seek out and find new materials to use as yarn
Craft a project which exhibits a technique you feel is your guilty pleasure

Team Spirit
This category focuses on challenges of showing one’s devotion to their team’s geekiness.
Past Challenges:

Craft a valentine for a character in your nerddom
Craft a creature from your nerddom
Inspired by fools and tricksters in your nerddom, finish your WIPs
Demonstrate what you love about your geekery
Craft an item for or inspired by a villain
Craft an item inspired by a tool or invention

Sewn Bind Off

2011-10-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

Good video tutorial for sewn bind off - you get stretchy bind off for socks, and it's really easy! I am starting to understand why people like Elizabeth Zimmerman so much.

Sewn Bind Off by Knitpurlhunter

First Cowl

2011-08-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

This project was a balm to the wounds after those 4 frogs - it was fast, easy and looks awesome. I think I need one for me now :) It's done in Malabrigo Chunky that's not as soft as worsted but still very very soft and smooth. It doesn't bother my sensitive skin on the neck at all.

Foggy froggy days

2011-08-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

UGH!
It's been a rough couple of weeks :( On the top of everything it's cold and foggy most of the time, in the best of San Francisco cold summer tradition and I had to frog 4 projects!
First one is my attempt to make Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) hat for uncle. He is huge fan of that iconic Belgrade soccer club and I wanted to make vertical red and white stripes hat for him (star is too much for my abilities right now anyways). So I used Boy Hat pattern and did 4 knit in red, 4 purls in white.
Well... first of all, it turned out too small, despite my best efforts to do do fair isle very loosely. It fits me but not uncle for sure :( And second, white stripes (purled) looks thinner and stand out (nature of the beast for colorwork as I've learned). And last, it's so hard to unravel this hat, I did such a good job of weaving ends that I am still struggling with it! Plus, I've just learned that to unravel the hat, you have to start from the top, if you knit from bottom up, you can't frog it from the bottom!!! Ask me how I know :(

Then, I started with longies for DS and was 3/4 done when I checked for the size and realized that I've forgot to change needle size from 5 to 7 so longies are too narrow! I had to go all the way to the waistband :(

Then I was trying to understand how to do short rows heel on socks without making holes and turned out that my socks are way way too loose knitted and will be uncomfortable to wear, so I had to frog them too... I used needles size 1 (2.5mm) and yarn is very light fingering, so I am planning to do them again with size 0.

And the last one was the least painful , just 6 rows of ribbing. I am trying to do Pembroke Vest and pattern is not in the round, so I am still on the beginning, trying to figure out how to convert flat pattern to the one in the round...

Trio of hats

2011-06-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

3 hats in 3 weeks! Not bad for somebody who is not really a hat person. Yes, all knitted up in bulky yarn, but still - I never even wore a hat before I started to knit :) They are not for me - for my DH's uncle, aunt and their daughter who just weathered cold Belgrade winter. I hope that will help with next one.

Lovely yarn, lovely patterns, I hope they will like them. I had fun making them that's for sure.

Top one is Snappy hat in Ember colorway Louisa Harding Rosetti yarn - merino/silk blend, very soft. I was afraid it will be too soft and not grip the head properly but that's not the case. Cables stand our nicely too.

I've used about 1.5 skeins - yarn remainds me of Kyoto from Artfibers - also silk and merino and similar in softness, but it doesn't contain mohair like Kyoto, which is why I like it better. Mohair makes my nose itch for some reason, same as angora.

Left one is The boy hat in Tree Irish Girls Lindon Merino - nice stretchy beanie for DH uncle - he liked the colors when he saw latest longies that I was making for DS. Of course, of all the wool he picked up something I wasn't sure I will have enough! I did - I've made longies and had enough for a hat with couple of decreases skipped but with a foldover brim. When laid flat like in the photo, it looks so skinny - DH tried it on and it stretches very nicely.

Right one is for his aunt -she wanted brown hat, and well, I just had to add some cables, because that brown is very deep brown and I wanted something to make it nicer. Yarn is Valley Yarn Northampton Bulky, very nice springy yarn, excellent for cables. Pattern is Unoriginal hat form Stepahie McPhee, I think it's very original :) Maybe I need one for me :)

So many FOs!!!

2011-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

FO - finished object!
UFO - unfinished object!

If you ever hear knitters talking about UFOs, believe me they are not talking about flying saucers :) They are usually gripping about how many unfinished objects they have on the needles :)

Sometimes it's really just about needles - if you have scarf on size 9 needles, and you need those needles for a let's say a hat, well, either you buy new pair of needles or you finish your scarf :) Some people are more prone to "unfinishitis" then others also :)

I discovered that my treshold for unfinished objects are 5 - if I have more than 3 I get antsy; if I have 5 I feel compeled to finish at least one or I can't work on the new project regardless what it is. That's why I am not too much into sweaters I think - they take long time to finish, even with bulky wool, so they take too much of my UFO list.

So, I did finish bunch of projects lately, because I wanted to shrink my list of UFO to manageable size - I am back to 4 :) - 2 active ones and 2 that are waiting for me to figure out certain things.
Here they are:

1) Butterfly hats - I've made 3 of them, 2 as presents and one for me! I really like that pattern - it's actually very easy once you figure it out, and looks very nice and gives a hat unique look. Plus, it looks good with variegated yarn, what is not usually the case with hat patterns.
Here they are:

First one and third one are done with Purewool colorway Cactus - alas, that colorway is discontinued, so I had to scramble to finish second hat. I knew I will run out of wool so I mixed it with brown cascade to make transition easier, so top of the third hat is mostly brown, but with cactus woven through. End result is very nice, I am even impressed how seamless that transition is.

Second hat was done in Ming, from Artfibers - absolutely gorgeous yarn, 50% merino wool, 50% silk, thinner than Purewool, but so soft! That one will be a present for a cousin :)

Oh and I've finally finished hat for Ivan - he doesn't like hats, but in December, when we had that cold spell, he actually mentioned that it's cold enough for a hat, so I've jumped in and started a hat for him. Unfortunately, I've run out of yarn, so project languished until I've got a skein from a friend since that colorway is also discontinued (Smoke):

2) Then, I've made 2 pair of socks - I've decided to learn how to make socks and I made one pair for me, one for Ivan and they are both awesome :) I've made them in thicker yarn (DK) with big needles so I could see better what I am doing, and that was the right decision I've made - I would never manage this on regular sock yarn with tiny needles. So now I am making third pair on fingering weight yarn and yes, it goes very slowly, but now that I know what I am doing, it's a matter of patience now, not so much issue of new skills.

Mine:

Ivan's dreamsocks:

3) Scarfs - I've finished 3 scarfs :) I could never understood why people think that scarfs are good beginners projects. They are not! They take ages to be finished and beginners do not have that kind of patience. My first project when I learned how to knit was not a scarf, it was a felted bag, and I am still grateful for that! Felting a knitted object erases all mistakes that you make as a beginner, and bag in relatively small project, and something that you can use immediately.

Here they are:

ZigZag scarf:

Ripple stitch scarf - in Kyoto, another awesome Artfibers yarn, present for my friend:

Drop stitch scarf:

Twice the Joy of Winter

2010-11-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

I've made longies and shorties with Winter Joy colorway (Purewool of course).
It's very interesting how different they look side by side, just because longies are done with dark gray trim and shorties with light tan trim - they do look like different colorway almost!

Here they are side by side:

Art Fiber opened in San Francisco

2010-10-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

They decided to come back to the City, and I am so glad that I've gone to the opening! It's a such a incredible store!

Yen from Fog City Knitter was always knitting with Ming from ArtFibers, and while it was nice to touch that yarn, I never understood why she was so into it. Well, now I know! Ming is blend of silk and fine wool, and it's such a joy to knit with. Silk give that wool sheen and color, and fine, soft wool just fly of the needles. Colors are amazing and I am in love with Ming, like 80% of our group :) They were sold out with Ming by the time I finally decided which color I wanted, so I've placed an order for next dying batch.

But, about the store: it's absolutely great place to go for yarn. They manage to make it spacious by using Elfa shelvings undenath the benches, and putting all knitted swatches on the top. Such a brilliant idea! You can actually see how yarn looks like knitted, in different stitches, and since they have big windows on both sides of the place, you can see real colors properly.

Selection of yarn is awesome - I've spent about 3 hours just looking for a yarn for my mom's scarf (and looking and testing everything!). They dye their own yarn, so everything in the store was new to me. Best thing is that you can swatch any yarn right there, and keep the sample :) I've tried :

1) Phyz - very interested yarn, feels cottony, it will be great for a lacy scarf.

2) Yaqui - YAK yarn. Yup, yak yarn. That thing is rarer than cashmire, and usually more expensive, but they sell it for 10c per yard, what is similar to all other yarns there (there are some more expensive ones, but I don't remember them :) It's thin yarn, I think fingering weight, and I've tried just a tiny swatch, and I liked it. I can see making a scarf or maybe socks, something that will be very warm. It feels very airy and soft.

3) Ming, color 21 of course - such a beautiful yarn! I've decided to make next sweater of it, even if this is not bulky yarn, meaning it will take me forever to make it. But I will do it!

4) Kyoto color 23- lovely blend of mohair, silk and wool - it's I think heavy worsted, and blue color is incredible rich and yarn is so soft. I've made a scarf for my mom in 4 days with it! I wish I have a picture, but I was in hurry to send it to her, so I do hope she will take a picture and send it to me.

Cool thing is that they have us on their website now:

And another longies

2010-03-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, another longies! As I said, DS has only 2 pair of longies that he wears, and both are little bit too big (one is way too big, truth to be told), so I made another pair in hope that this time I will get them right.

VOILA, they fit perfectly! I can't believe it yet, but they do fit him so well - perfect around waist, good rise and right legs length. And this was done with different wool - I've used Knitpicks Shamrock (Doyle colorway) heavy worsted yarn. It's stiffer and heavier than Purewool, but drapes nicely and looks like it will not pill much.

I've CO 72 st, as for Medium size, but increased to 84 (half way between Medium and Large). Next time, I will make rise deeper and legs slightly longer, so he will wear those longer. Of course, I've ordered more of that wool :) I'm getting Conolly colorway next :)

I've used 3 full skeins of yarn for those, about 240 yards total...

Another longies

2010-03-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

I'm losing track which number are those (I have to check my Ravelry notebook for knitsforgeeks ) - oh, yes, #9. Did I really made 9 longies so far? Then how came that he has only 2 useful ones? Oh, yes, some were presents, some are too small now, some I made too small :(
Anyways, those are made from 3ply Purewool, Pacifico colorway, beautiful, with trim in Tostados (light tan brown). I love them, except that they are too big on my skinny guy. I've made Large size, because I made 2 pair of longies that ended up being too small, and well, large is too big. Next pair will have to in between, I have to measure him and do the math...
Picture:

FOs

2010-03-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

It's been a while - I need to get into a habit of posting even if I don't have a pictures ready. I did finish several objects but I don't have pictures so I didn't post...
It's so hard to get good pictures of knitting! I don't have good lighting in the apartment, so everything comes out looking very unsatisfactory. I take sometimes 20 pictures to get one that's "good enough". I have lot to learn on how to take good photos of knitting, that's for sure.
Anyways, Steampunk Scarf (Dark side) is done. It's the same pattern (Antlers scarf) as I used for Steampunk scarf, except that wool is dark varigated - it's for my DH, and whole scarf is whooping 72". Well, he is a big guy and I can make even longer and it will fit still, but I run out of yarn (whole 2 skeins of Purewool, I think each is 240 yards). It was done just on time for Valentine's day :) Picture is coming...
And I managed to loose my darning needle, so I tried to buy another one and none of the shops around had any. I really don't understand that - it's not everyday purchase, sure, but those needles are useful in many other crafts! Finally one of them sold me kids needles, I didn't mind that are plastic, but opening is too small to be useful with thicker yarn. Some people don't think when they sell you stuff, I asked will this be ok for regular knitting and she was "Sure" ... So I went and bought set of 3 on www.knitpics.com. That tells you something about local shops in San Francisco, and why I prefer to buy stuff on internet even when it's not cheaper.

Scarf is done!

2010-01-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

Scarf is done - not exactly by New Year's eve, but 2 days after. Final length = 63", whoa. Nice long scarf. Wool does feel different after washing, thinner somehow. But still nice wool....

Neonish turquoise scarf

2009-12-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

I am working on a New Year present for my friend...
I've found a great pattern for cabled scarf, only front cables (left slanted ones) and on every 8th row only! Such gorgeous turquoise color!
I just hope it will be done by tomorrow, I'm about half way through!

Coasters

2009-12-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

I am accumulating lots of leftover yarns (and lots of yarn but that's another story!) that I am saving for something to use for.

Well, I have found this pattern and made 3 coasters so far! Yay! I love to use leftover yarn for something!

I made 2 from remnants of my first soaker and one from Noro I had left over from the bag. I think I will have to felt them more (and to make more of them), but I like how they look like. Perfect for all that varigated yarn remains! And easy to make, even for clumsy with DPN person like me. Pattern is here:

Felted coasters by Berroco

Interesting - skill level is marked as Intermediate. Maybe because of DPNs, maybe because of all those decreases.... I would put it on advanced beginner...

Dusty rose scarf

2009-12-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

My DH's aunt gave me some very nice old yarn when we visited last fall. I think yarn is about 20 years old (at least), and it doesn't even has yardage on the label - meters really, it's old yarn from Macedonia, when Macedonia was part of the Yugoslavia long time ago, in another galaxy far far away ...

Color is very nice, kind of dusty rose, and I had 4 skeins, so I figured it out that I can for sure make a scarf, even if I don't know how much yarn I have. Pink is not my color, so I decided to make a present for the wife of my FIL.

Turned out really nice, I wish I had made it wider, but I didn't have bigger needles, and she is small, like me, so I think it will be good. Pattern is really nice, Sequoia cable scarf, with 2 wide cables going accross each other, and one that intersect before next two start. Easy and very nice looking. Cables pop out and rose has nice sheen:

I just don't like mohair very much, I'm spoiled by all those nice Purewool I have, soft and buttery...

Finished scarf looks very nice, I am eagerly waiting for the package to arrive :)

Steampunk scarf - done!

2009-12-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a while, and yet I feel I haven't accomplished anything. Not true, although I have that feeling because my New Year scarf for DH and friend are nowhere near complete! I have to work on them every night, especially one for DH - it's going to be another steampunk scarf but with different color scheme, of course, he loves dark colors!

But I did finish Steampunk scarf - it's gorgeous, and I love it, and it's MINE, only MINE, and nobody's ELSE! Took me at least 3 weeks of steady work to make it, and worst thing is that my DH likes it, so I'm making one for him now (New Year present hopefully). Those cables take forever!

Somebody at knitting group told me that usually cables are not done on every row (as they are in this scarf) so cables are not so demanding usually... and this pattern was recommended as a good one for cable beginners! Well, I can't tell it's not the truth, you do learn them very well, but the difference between 2 cables on every row, plus 4 cables on every 4th row versus only 2 cables on every 8th row is huge - I have just found great pattern Irish Hiking Scarf for my friend, and I wish I learned cables on it :) It would be much easier... but my scarf is awesome looking, I am wearing it all the time :)

Steampunk scarf Part II

2009-11-19T15:57:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on it! I can't believe how slow it's going, but that must be because of all those cables I'm knitting. I made a peace with cable needle that looks like straight line with a hump on the middle - that was the only one I can use to get those cable stitches knitted after I move them to cable needle. Other ones in the kit are good for holding stitches, but I can't knit off them. Maybe somebody else can, but I'm ok with using one I figured it out - at least for now.
Anyways, it's almost done, I need to figure out how long I really want it to be. Pattern suggested 65" but that's a man pattern, I'm not that tall, so I think it should be less. Right now, I need couple of more inches to add so both sides will reach my pants' pockets, then we will see will I add any more or keep it that long.
And then I have to do it again :( for my DH... eh... plus he is tall, so no short scarf there :(
If I can do it by New Year, I can put it under the tree. :)

Steampunk scarf

2009-10-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Original pattern is called "Antlers scarf" from "Son of a Stich 'n' Bitch" book. I've showed the book to my DH, and that was the only pattern he liked (and robot tie under "interesting" category :). It said in description that this pattern is very good for learning how to make cables, so I decided to try.
After unsucessfull try with robot hat, I've decided to first try this on scarf for myself, just in case :) So I got 2 skeins of Nuts Purewool, and started. Color is actually more rust and metal combination, in my opinion, so steampunk scarf it is! And it's for myself, since DH said he doesn't like red, even rusty red... I love it.
I did 2 repeats of pattern so far, trying to get a feel for how to hold that cable needle...

Baby berry hat finished!

2009-10-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

This is first time that promise of an easy and fast knit is fulfilled for me - everytime somebody says something is easy, usually it's not for such a new knitter such as myself. After all, I've learned to knit just this year!

This time, it was true - it was easy and it was fast - I did it in 2 evenings, because I left I-cord making for next day. It's not my favorite thing to knit, that's for sure. I was thinking about learning to crochet just to be able to faster knit those i-cords. All those longies I've made for DS that I need to make i-cord for (at least 3 right now)...

Geeky? You bet - that green is such a lovely neonish green!

Hat is still damp, but this is how it's looks like (oh, I am so proud :)

Baby berry hat

2009-10-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt to make baby hat. I have lovely Debbi Bliss Prima bamboo/merino in Peach color. My coworker's baby girl is going to be one year next weekend, so I will try to make Baby Berry Hat for her. It's so soft and silky, I'm sure she will love it (if I manage to finish it up).
This pattern is free and very nice because it starts with circular needles, telling you to switch to DPNs only when you have to, what is very nice, because I do try to use circulars as long as possible - DPNs are so hard (still) for me...
Yarn has lovely sheen when knitted - it's not so pretty in the skein as when knitted, what is always a good sign :) And it feels great on hands when knitting. I love bamboo...

Here is the picture of the curly edge - that's it so far ...

Hello world!

2009-10-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is how it should be - it all starts with "Hello world" or this wouldn't be proper geek blog.

No, I haven't knitted anything with Hello world (yet) but I tried my hand on robot hat as a next geek thing :)

Pattern is free, chart is great, although I prefer written instructions than charts, but end result is not fitting, alas. Ah, fair isle knitting is harder than I thought.

So I got 2 skeins of Knitpicks Swish DK (superwash) charcoal wool, since my DH will not agree to any other color there, besides monitor green robots and black for hat; I also bought one skein of Asparagus Swish DK for robots. I was afraid that I will run out of black yarn, because brim was done in different color on the pattern, but it was enough with nice chunk of leftover for something else.

After 3 unsuccessful attempts to do this on Size #6 DPNs (I HATE THOSE) when my stitches just keep sliding off, helpful people on diaperswappers.com suggested to work on circular needles and switch to DPN when I start doing decreases i.e. after robots. That was lifesaver so I started on a ribbing.

Ribbing is done in strange pattern (for me), but since this is my first hat, I just knitted on. k3 p1 looked kind of wide, but since my geeky DH has big head, it was ok; so I hoped. Then we got to the robots part...

One of the tecniques for Fair Isle is to do one color in Contitental, one in English style. Sounds really neat, so I've tried... and tried... and tried. For the same reason I "invented" Continental stitch while my teacher tried to teach me English one, I can't do English stitch. It didn't matter in regular knitting, since Continenal is faster :) but in Fair Isle that meant I had to drop yarn _all _the_time :( Awful. I have no idea why it's hard for me to do English way, but it's so awkward for me, so I always end up doing it other way :(

To avoid long floats on the back, I twisted every 2-3 stitches - it looks really neat on the back! I don't have to worry about DH sticking his finger in the floats on the back! More dropping of the yarn though :(

And thing hibernated there till we came from vacation... I was so proud, but scared to continue and ruin the rest of the hat by making mistakes. It took 3 hints from my DH to continue to work on it :)

So I switched to DPNs... In the meantime, I bought Knitpicks wooden DPNS (Harmony), because stitches will slide less from wood and they are so beautiful. Yes, they did help a lot, but I don't think I can do whole hat on them no matter what. Viva la circulars!

Decreases on this pattern are strange - I remember my teacher mentioning that when we lean decreases, we will almost never do them on row by row; one row of decrease, one row of knit. Looks like this is one of the cases when this is not true. Hmmm....

Took me 2 evenings to get all those decreases to 2 on each needle. This is hard on my hands - when they are cramped for space they hurt, and this is small space for sure. I don't think I am going to be baby hats knitter :( Probably not adult hat knitter either - I never wear hats, and this pattern got me because ROBOTS are there :)

So DH tried it on and what a disappointment - ribbing is floppy, by design looks like, but robots part is too tight on his head! So I will have to frog it :(

According to nice people on Ravelry, stranded work being too tight is normal newbie mistake on Fair Isle :( I wish I knew that beforehand!

I took picture so that I have a proof that I did it, before I frog this offending hat and attempt this again...