sock porn for knitting voyeurs.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Lizard Ridge afghan complete

flat
Lizard Ridge afghan
from Knitty, Fall 2006
Started: October 11, 2006
Finished: November 16, 2006
Noro Kureyon, colorway 116-- 19 balls
Patons Classic Merino, Black-- 1 ball (more than 1/2 of the 100gm used)
US 8 (5.0mm) 24" circular needle, Addi and size f crochet hook for edging

stair

What can I say? :) Checklist stuff first.

Basics:

I used 18+ balls of Noro Kureyon, knitting from 2 balls at the same time and alternating colors as directed in the pattern. I followed the pattern as written, except for the modifications I'll rewrite about below.

I used only one colorway, and knit the entirety in panels instead of blocks. I knit until the end of the skeins and just added a new one in when needed. When adding in colors (or compensating for knots!!) I just spit spliced. I didn't really make an effort to keep the colors the same when adding in a new ball; I took skeins and pretty much worked them in a grab bag way, working a dark or light starting yarn into a dark or light end of skein if I could, but not a big deal if not. When I spit spliced knots that joined non-similar colors, I just went for it and spliced them where the knots were. I didn't switch or change out colors if they lined up to the same color from the previous skeins, so what you see is an example of the kureyon patterning every other row.

seam

seam3

I used mattress stitch to seam it up, and edged it with the black Patons merino wool. On the second row of the crochet edge, I skipped 3 stitches instead of 2-- I think on my sc (1st) row of crochet, I picked up too many and the resulting second row was bunchier than it should have been... my "waves" looked more like peaks, so not wanting to redo the 1st row (I've not crocheted before!!) I went with this. Still a little "peaky" but that's okay.

crochet

flat3

I wet blocked it in Kookaburra woolwash, and just laid it out to dry (first squeezing the water out in towels, etc.) I didn't block it to any measurements, just tried to make the edges even and the panels straight. They're not perfectly straight, but I'm okay with that... neither am I :)

flat2

Mods:

1) I knit garter ridges instead of stockinette for the non-short row rows; so rows 1-3 garter (knit every row), row 4 as written, rows 5-9 garter, row 10 as written, rows 11-12 garter. This made the afghan less shibori like when knitting it; the pieces generally were flat pre blocking.

circle2

I really enjoy the texture of the garter ridges, even though they are less pronounced after the wet blocking. The garter edges also made seaming *much* easier for me... I used the ridges as markers to make sure my seams were straight and even. I think the line of garter ridges across the afghan helps with the horizontal continuity, and also gives a visual "clue" as to when there is a color/skein change as the colorway is darkish and there were overlapping colors between the 2 skeins.

2) I broke yarn and wove in the ends while knitting instead of carrying the yarn up the sides. I actually do consider this a mod, especially seeing the panel where I did carry the yarn up the side compared to the next three where I wove in the yarn ends as I went... the carrying yarn panel was "shorter" (more compacted) than the others, even though the floats were as loose as I could make them without flopping on the wrong side (WS). I was a bit uncomfortable with the loose yarn on the WS (I didn't plan to and won't back the afghan), and doubly so for the panel that would be on the far right edge and edge of the blanket-- so I'm happy those fears were allayed this way.

wsseam2

wsseam

[edit, friday nite... i thought i'd posted too many pics, but here's one of the entire WS of the blanket since some of you were interested in the back (i like it too!)...

wsseam3

btw, i haven't trimmed the ends yet, wanted to take photos first to show how deep they were woven in-- but i will be cutting them down before its given to gma.]


It took a bit more yarn to do this (weaving in ends while knitting), but not much. (I wove in the ends over approx. 2.5-3" where carrying the yarn up the side would take less than an inch, depending on the place in the pattern.) Now, there was no way I would have ever have done this if I wasn't weaving in the yarn ends as I went-- it would drive me crazy as I hate finishing. Luckily I was taught how to weave in yarn ends while knitting from JP Pett-Ridge during a colorwork class (and was accepted to Yarnival! vol 1.3 for showing off the technique! w00t!), and definitely think its a great way to go with this afghan.

elephant
The elephant in the room? What about the Noro Kureyon?

Knots in Noro, who knew?! ;) 17 in 19 balls, most not keeping the color continuous and joining dissimilar colors. Vegetation? Yup, picking out stuff as I knit-- straw, hay, farmland stuff. Even all of that, I loved it. I like the "rustic," not super processed feel of the wool and I didn't mind the knots in this project. It wet blocked softer than it started, and is warm and makes a nice afghan. However, part of the new love I feel for the the Kureyon is how much it makes me think and wonder how they make it-- how they arrange such delicate color transitions while spinning long colors, all in a mass-production way. The knots really detract from that; I wouldn't want to try and guess where stripes will repeat in the Kureyon, but I hate missing out on the gradual color changes when dissimilar colors are knotted together. I'll use it again sometime, but for smaller projects... I don't see myself knitting sweaters anytime soon, but I'm not averse to it. I want to know how they do it though! (Yarn spies, call me!) :)

[edit, November 29... Rachel pointed me to her discussion with Noro/KFI re: knots in their yarns, and her discussion also includes some background on the base fiber and spinning it; very interesting stuff! Also check out the links here 1, 2, 3 from Anne's discussion with Jeffrey Denecke of KFI, Noro's USA distributor, about her Noro Knot Experience. Yes, *that* *same* J. Denecke from yarn recall/no cashmere in Debbie Bliss/Noro fame...]

The Patons Classic Merino was the real eyeopener for me... $5 for 100gm/223yd, comparable to Knit Picks Merino Style but heavier weight, often on sale at craft stores. I've never tried it but I'm glad I did. I stopped myself from getting a few armloads for making toys for the kid (with the current $10 threadless tshirt sale, and my yarn binge last weekend, its for the best anyway!!)

jacklondon
Jack London was a Knitta, yall.
(See the pre-at at's in the background?)

Roundup... I loved it. I loved knitting it, I loved the final product. I'm awfully pleased with it, and think that I may make it a bit of tradition to knit my grandma an afghan every year (and I can start earlier this time!) Maybe the Great American Aran Afghan or Barbara Walker's Learn to Knit afghan... I've batted that idea around before, but I really like the result and scope of this project so I think I'll do it. Need to think about it more after the holiday though!! :)

One last shot for scale...

scale


Previous posts on Lizard Ridge:

October 12, 2006
October 16, 2006
October 18, 2006
October 23, 2006
October 24, 2006
October 26, 2006
October 30, 2006
November 4, 2006
November 10, 2006

83 comments:

sheep#100 said...

I think it is wonderful and so will your grandma.

Allegra said...

Gorgeous! You must be thrilled to have it all put together. What a lovely gift for your grandma

Anonymous said...

Wow, you knit that incredibly fast! Awesome work! I really like the effect of knitting this in one colorway.

Julie said...

Magnificent. You make me want to knit one for myself. The back side looks as good as the front, and the garter stitch rows were inspired. Congratulations on such a great project. Grandma should be thrilled.

MissLucy said...

Stunning! What an amazing job you've done. And I love the photos!!

Alyson said...

WOOO!! Fantastic!!! I so do not want to knit one of these....it looks so.....BIG. But it's pretty! But...BIG. (I have no patience for big. Color me extra-impressed!) Your grandma is going to LOVE it - it's a piece of art!! And I think the statue shot is so great.

(And dang your kid's cute. He gets me every time.)

insaknitty said...

wow. it came out so beautifully! :) you have one lucky grandma!

Kate A. said...

Wow - it's breathtaking! I particularly loved the "for scale" picture. :-)

Lucky my grandma is really unlikely to see this...I'd be on a major guilt trip, otherwise. Are you really serious about doing something on this scale every year??

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeous! I love it. Fantastic job, and thanks for the notes on the modifications, too. :)

Anonymous said...

WOW. I don't think I fully appreciated its size until I saw it in the "for scale" picture. That's a BIG afghan! Nice work!!! It's really something to be proud of.

Anonymous said...

Aw yeah!!!! It looks awesome, especially in Jack London's arms. You have a lucky grandma.

HPNY KNITS said...

a masterpiece! a stunning fabric. I LOVE all the shots of it. can't wait to hear/see how GM loves it.
:-)

Emily said...

It is so, so, so, so beautiful!!!

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

It's awesome! Great job!

Anonymous said...

I love it. I wish I had the time (and patience!) to make something like that myself!

I'm sure your grandma will adore it.

Jenny Raye said...

Hurrah!!!! It's beautiful! I know your grandmother will love it.

Jen said...

aija your lizard ridge is BEAUTIFUL! wonderful job and thanks for showing the wrong side. I'm one of those awful knitters who always looks at the back of the samples in the LYS to see how the finishing is. Yours is great and now I have confidence that the back of a blanket can look just as good as the front if your seaming looks good.

The purl ridges are a great mod and I'll defintiely use that idea if I ever decide to make one of these... not likely due to the sheer SIZE so I'm further impressed..

Sheepish Annie said...

Beautiful...just beautiful! Nice work. And so fast!!

FairyGodKnitter said...

Wow, nice, wonderful, stunning. Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! What a fabulous afghan, and you stuck to it admirably! (says she who is knitting the second sock in a pair that was promised LAST Christmas)

Anonymous said...

Absolutely stunning! The garter stitch ridges are beautiful. I may have to ask for some Kureyon for Christmas.

Anonymous said...

It's absolutely stunning!! Wow!

Alyson said...

Oh....and thanks for the enabling. Just bought five t-shirts at Threadless. (Hey, can you beat cute hip tees for Christmas at ten bucks a pop? I used your link, 'cause I figure that means something. I dunno what, but I did it anyway.)

Unknown said...

FANTASTIC! Your grandmother's going to love it! I'm going to make a second afghan out of a single color a well, pinks and reds. I've been weaving in ends on the current one since you posted your tutorial. Thanks!

Dave said...

Absolutely incredible. Supremely gorgeous. Beautifically amazing. I'm at a loss for words. That doesn't happen all that often. :-) I love it, and I so want to make one just like yours, with those mods, but with blue in it. But dark like that. It looks so rich. Just rich. Your gma is gonna flip!!!!

Rachel said...

Beautiful! I love the colors. It looks like a modern art piece.

Coleen said...

oh my... it's just lovely. What a beautiful gift!

Jeanne said...

Beautiful! And just amazing how fast you knit it. Your grandma is going to love it!

lexa said...

It turned out absolutely beautiful!!! She is going to love it so much!

Briggs & Little yarn is similar in the way that there's all sorts of little pieces of hay and stuff in it. It's all solids and heathers, though, no fancy variagations. It's kinda neat cuz it makes you remember where real wool comes from!

Patons Classic Wool is great for sweaters and for felting. It's what I use almost all the time for felted mittens and hats.

Love the elephant and statue shots! You're so creative!

Jae said...

Beautiful!! You should feel so good about giving this to your grandma. She will love it!

Terby said...

Stunning. I've been eyeing the pattern since it came out. Your mods make a lot of sense, and I'll be using them when I finally get around to this. Thanks for the inspiration. Beautiful photos, too.

Anonymous said...

That is just amazing!! I love that you used all the same color, and thanks for showing the back too. Great pics! And I think the edging looks just perfect.

turtlegirl76 said...

Oh my. That is so gorgeous! I can't believe you're giving it away. But your Grandma will absolutely love it! I've been itching to start an afghan, and I really like the approach you took (knitting it in strips). I'll have to think about this for my afghan project. Gorgeous!

Liz K. said...

Wow. I mean WOW! Thanks for such a detailed post too. Your mods are sure to lurk in my subconscious if I ever knit this or a pieced afghan like it.

Your grandma will LOVE it.

soapy said...

All I can say is 2 words ABSOLUELTY GORGEOUS!

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeous. As I was oooing and ahhing over it my husband came to look over my shoulder. He was amazed because he thought that the garter rows were the seams. LOL! I pointed out the 4 reall seams and he was still impressed. I hope thast your grandma loves it.

Acornbud said...

Oh what a grand project. Noro is magic, no doubt about it.

Alyssa said...

Jack London is so rocking that afghan:) Absolutely gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

It is truly wonderful! I'm working on one now, although more casually. I went back and checked the pattern after seeing the garter stitch in your earlier pics. I'm glad you explained.
Thanks for all of the pictures of the back. I've been nattering about how I'm going to sew this together and I'm getting closer to knowing know. Nice work!

Anonymous said...

So so so beautiful. And inspiring. I love it. I want it. You'll have to tell us what Grandma thinks.

Anonymous said...

Wow, looks perfect to me! Great first-time crochet job too. You've got a lucky grandma.

Sus said...

That turned out wonderfully. I know your grandmother will be so proud to own and use it!

Sherry W said...

BRAVA! What a monster! Pretty and an endurance test!

AT-ATs?! Where do you live again? Must be far, far away...

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous piece of work! I love the single colourway effect. Your grandmother is sure to love it too.

Leah said...

OH MY!!! That is fantastic!!!!

Vik said...

That's so beautiful!
I adore the colours, and the garter stitch ridges!
Your Grandma will love it!

Zonda said...

Fabulous job on it! And you were worried about finishing it before Christmas! Thanks for all the pictures and details and mods! Just lovely! :)

Jerry & Maxy said...

Oh my glory, it's BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Jennifer said...

It's gorgeous! Lovely, lovely, lovely. Your grandmother with cherish it. Good tip about using the Paton's Classic Merino too.

Susan (ZenKnit) said...

Absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for all of the details too!

Anonymous said...

It looks great. I love the garter ridges and the way it all lines up. You did a great job and once again, you're Speed Knitter of the Year!

Re: knots in Noro: I'm knitting a sweater out of Cash Iroha now (their silk/cashmere blend), and I've found 1-2 knots in EVERY 90 yard skein. Surprising for such schmancy yarn...

Anonymous said...

So behind the times, but it's amazing! Your grandma will love it :) It's so classy and elegant.

Anonymous said...

That's AWESOME! I haven't been bitten by the Lizard Ridge bug until I saw yours.

Paisley said...

Oh...... Wow........ Gorgeous..... Full-stop.

Anonymous said...

simply G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S.!!!
sabine

Anonymous said...

gorgeous! What an amazing afghan!

Stacey said...

wow. that is truly a work of art. I love the colors and it is just AMAZING!!!!!! She will treasure it!

Charity said...

This is completely wonderful! You did a really nice job. :0)

Unknown said...

Yay! Congratulations on the afghan, it looks wonderful!

Kirsten said...

Spectacular!! Congratulations on an amazing project. I can't believe how quickly you got that done.

Kel said...

Ahh... so beautiful! Fabulous job!

Knittypants said...

Looks amazing! Your grandma is going to be delighted with it.

Becky said...

Fantastic! I'm just about finished with my frist square, which I think I'll donate and do the rest with the garter stitch in between short rows like you did. Thanks for the great pics and how to's!

Malin said...

Beautiful! Absolutely stunning! I relly like the grey colourway you chose, much calmer than the original, but still full of life and movement. The garter stitch rows are a nice touch of texture. I'll definitely steal that idea if I ever use this pattern (I'm thinking sweater though)

Anonymous said...

So pretty - I haven't seen a bad-looking Lizard Ridge yet, and yours is particularly lovely!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. I've enjoyed following the process with you.

SpindleKnits said...

That turned out absolutely gorgeous! Your gma is going to be thrilled!

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful, and I love the garter stitch rows/seaming trick! This project is on my maybe-someday list, and if I do it, I will definitely use your idea to make my life easier.

Romi said...

Wow! That is *fabulous*! I love it. :)

Chelle said...

Just beautiful! Your grandmother will be thrilled!

Good tip about the garter stitch rows for seaming!

Terri said...

Very Nice Job!!! I love how you staged Lizard Ridge for photos :)

Marsha said...

Beautiful! I love how the pattern is so undulating. I'm doing a multicolor one in blocks. I had several already finished before I came upon your version. If I make another one, I will definitely do the garter ridges, although I have to say I really like the bumps and plan to leave them in. If I do your version, I think I will maybe crochet the blocks or panels together. Your grandma is going to be blown away! Love the shot of Jack London (square) holding it!!

Janette said...

That's gorgeous - I have to knit a Lizard Ridge Afghan!

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

You've blown me away!! What a wonderful gift for your grandma ...

moirae said...

It's gorgeous. If you are on flickr at all, pls join the group.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/lizardridge/

Chris said...

WOW. It's amazing!!

Heh, Noro and the infamous knots - and the damned knots are, of course, worse to have in Noro than in a solid...

Vera said...

Simply gorgeous! I'm loving it.

Tara said...

I'm a little late to the game, but I LOVE it! Great job!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous!! I am planning to make a baby blanket with one colour and was wondering what you thought of the softness of the wool. My other option is silk garden if Kureyon is too itchy - but my daughter picked a courway in Kureyon she absolutely loves. Also, how many skeins do you suggest for a baby size?

Great work - I can't wait to see more!

Anonymous said...

I'm a little late to the party - just discovered Lizard Ridge and am fascinated by it. Rather than investing in a blanket, I'm going to try a scarf. I just did a sample with a skein of Kureyon I had around, using your garter stitch modification, and cutting the repeats down to 2 I also added a 3-stitch garter stitch border at each side, which fits right in with your garter stitch "waves". (Cast on 35.) I think it's going to be very nice. I've ordered 5 skeins for the scarf (4 will probably be enough - but who minds a little leftover Kureyon - in #52 (Cool Blues). It will match a hat I made years ago. I can't wait for the yarn to come. Thanks for the ideas!

Emily said...

I love it! Great work. I hope to make one of my own one day.

Anonymous said...

What a crumptious afghan! Good job! :-)

Sam said...

a belated thank-you for your commentary on it's construction! It looks stunning.

Subscribe Now: Feed Icon





I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org