Sun, 15 November 2009
Video Supplement, Episode 2: Speed Swatch Media Link: Video Supplement 2: Speed Swatch (09:32) ETA: You can now watch it at Vimeo or with the inline player below.
Fiber Beat Video Supplement 2: Speed Swatch from WonderMike on Vimeo.  There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin. Welcome listeners and viewers to our second Video Supplement to Fiber Beat. Once again we pushed the limits of our video editing software and hardware. It really does take an inordinate amount of time to create the simplest and shortest of pieces. It makes me respect that much more the seamless work of Lucy, Meg, Jacey and Cat & Eric. The following books were mentioned in the Video Supplement:
Don't forget about the second Fiber Beat CONTEST I have the Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. All you need to do is tell us what advice you'd like to help face your sock challenges? To enter, please leave a comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say! A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who downloaded and listened to the first three episodes of Fiber Beat. Now that you've had a chance to watch the Fiber Beat Video Supplements, let me know what you think and leave a review on iTunes! We used snippets of the following songs in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artist (links provided for your convenience):
My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat. Comments[26]
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- I picked up knitting socks again after quite some time. The first go round produced 1.5 pairs. So of course I believe that I have 2nd sock syndrome. I\'m hoping that I have gotten rid of the disease (maybe I\'ll try 2 @ a time once I get better at single sock knitting).
I\'m actually using Sensational Knitting Socks and loving the fact that I can knit what I want from any gauge. Just the other day I had gotten to the gusset decreases and noticed that I had dropped a stitch at the decrease several rows down. I figured I had to FROG (horrors) down to the slipped stitch and pick up from there. But I had trouble figuring out how to get the stitches on the right needles (5 dpns) with the decrease stitches. So after much trying (and cursing) I frogged back to the heel flap. Any tips on how to fix a dropped stitch at the gusset decreases? - I saw your announcement of this contest on Twih-uh. (That\'s my cockney accent.)
My biggest problem with socks is just how long they take me--for such a tiny finished product. I\'m not a sock-knitting fanatic, but I would make more--if I could only find ways to make them more quickly. - Challenges? Using up all of this sock yarn, that\'s my challenge. I would like to see different stretchy cast-ons for cuff down socks and stretchy bind-offs for toe up socks. I gravitate towards the German Twisted CO and EZ\'s sewn BO, but have been known to do a tubular CO & BO now and then.
- my sock challenge… I\'m obsessed with sock yarn! Sizing had been my greatest challenge and comparing charts and finding a common size to fit various people is a pain. As I said, I\'m obsessed with sock yarn and I have a TON of it. I want to make more socks but I want a standardized way to just bang out socks. Kind of like the EZ percentage method only for socks.
- So glad I found these videos! So much fun to watch. :) Thanks for sharing them.
My biggest sock challenge is when I do a short row heel. I always get holes on the sides where it meets the rest of the sock, particularly if I\'m doing a contrasting color for the toe and heel. I\'d love to know what I\'m missing. That is my new favorite heel, but I can\'t execute it as well as I\'d like. (Maybe a video? Hint, hint) - My biggest sock knitting challenge is how to use up all the sock yarn I got at the Sock Summit!
A more technical challenge is that I think it\\\'s harder to get a correct foot length with toe up socks than with top down socks, and it\\\'s hard to bind off toe up socks loosely enough. I prefer top down socks. - Great video, now to find some time to get into the podcasts!
My sock challenge: Oh dear, where do I start. I have the usual ones, like finishing the second sock and getting good results with painted yarns. (I recently tried some commercial sock yarn that only had about three color sequence repeats in the whole skein... what a pain to get two socks alike.)
But my biggest challenge is gauge. I can do all the swatches I like but I find that my toe-up toes are much tighter than the rest of the sock. And, generally, my gauge gets looser as I go. I\'ve been experimenting with switching needles after doing the toe, which is a bother. The fussiness of knitting the toe with a bunch of pointy needle ends sticking out all over the places makes me knit tighter I guess. (I use 5 dpns, wood or plastic so I can travel.)
It is a little better with standard socks but I started doing toe-up so I don\'t run out of yarn. I can measure out two half balls of yarn (or buy two smaller ones) and knit until it\'s gone and not worry about it.
- Again an absolutely FABULOUS video episode! I am so impressed your production really is top notch and thanks too for the vimeo, it really is great quality. My biggest issue is when I do toe up socks; which is what I tend to do since I can try on as I go, casting off at the top with an elastic enough cast off to stand up to being pulled on yet not so elastic that it gets saggy. Would love tips and trick on that.
- I enjoy your video supplements sooooo much! The speed swatch was great, but I also loved your post-it notes throughout your books. That\'s yet another great idea!
For some reason, when I\'m making socks, I find wrapped short rows invariably trip me up (concentration?) & I have to start over. I need a tip that makes wrapped short rows fool proof - not sayin\' I\'m a fool or anything! - My challenge is always getting the socks exactly the right length. Too big and they bunch at the heel of my shoes. Too small and I\'m ripping to lengthen.
Thanks for bringing back your podcasts. Nice to be able to see you as well with the videos. Great job! Wish you the best for continued success. - I find connecting the first round on 4 DPNs a huge challenge. Some folks say to just tie the ends together, but others say tying knots is a big no-no. I\'ve also heard to swop the 1st stitch on the left needle over the 1st stitch on the right needle, and then knit together, but I have a hard time with that too. Sometimes it takes me 3 or 4 tries before I get connected without a huge ladder inbetween. I guess it just takes practice. Thanks much.
BTW, I am unable to download your video podcasts. I get a message that says it cannot be played on my iPod. Any thoughts? I can see other vids on my iPod, just not yours. - Is there any way you can embed the videos on your main page for the vodcast? It will make it easier to read both the messages regarding the video, and also watch it at the same time.
I\'m loving your latest work so far, WonderMike! I did miss you terribly with the YKnit change.