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january 20, 2006
kickin' it: the cast on Now that I've kicked my nasty little cold, it's finally time to start those kickin' boots!
I pulled the yarn through the holes with the size E crochet hook, as instructed, and managed to get the stitches arranged on 10 double-pointed needles. I'm knitting size 10 shoes here. Using 10 dpns was kind of pushing it - I definitely could have used 11 or 12 needles - but I only have two sets of US9 dpns, so I was determined to make it work. (This also means that I'm only doing one shoe at a time, rather than both at once as the pattern recommends. Sorry, it just wasn't worth it to me to buy two more sets of dpns!)
After some difficulty (think small holes, small hook, big unspun yarn), I cast on and knit the first two rows. If you want to remember what it feels like to learn to knit all over again, then this is the project for you! With those dpns locked so tight against the shoe, every movement you need to make is a bit tricky and it feels like the piece is sort of working against you. It's hard to get the spare needle angled into the stitches correctly and you kinda have to make these giant arm movements to wrap the yarn. It's slow, slow, slow but I loved every second. And after just one night, the knitting is already far enough to cover the shoe!
Love it! Seriously, how can you not?! posted by alison at 9:25 am | in
these boots were made for knitting
Comments
Wow, with those socks for sure! This is wild! Too bad about that leaf pullover. It does look so pretty in the book... Posted by: Mary deB at January 20, 2006 9:33 AMGlad to hear you are feeling better. I love those SO much more than the scary orange ones on the Show! Go you! Posted by: Scout at January 20, 2006 9:50 AMI love how the shoes are coming along! I've got my yarn, but I'm just ordering my shoes today--I'm very ready to get started! Posted by: katie at January 20, 2006 9:53 AMI love the way the boots are turning out. The orange ones were just awful and I was having trouble picturing other colors. Please keep us updated on these. I am also glad you are feeling better. Posted by: Rhonda at January 20, 2006 10:01 AMI just had an idea that might make the "casting on" of the second boot somewhat easier: thread a thin sock yarn in through the hole, around the yarn, and back out through the hole. Then simply pull on the sock yarn to pull the knitting yarn through. You can still use the small hook with the small yarn (or a yarn needle), but the sock yarn will work better on the big yarn than a small hook. :) Posted by: Andrea at January 20, 2006 10:09 AMthose kicks are looking pretty sweet, alison! and the socks are a nice addition ;-) Posted by: jennifer at January 20, 2006 10:09 AMThose are going to be awesome! Posted by: Jennifer at January 20, 2006 10:13 AMwhen are we going to wild and wooly to get some burly spun....maybe this afternoon? Posted by: lisa b at January 20, 2006 10:13 AMvery very cool boots! So glad that you are feeling better! Posted by: Jenn at January 20, 2006 10:20 AMI would have never thought that you wore a size 10 shoe (I do too). I can't wait to see how these look! Posted by: Amber at January 20, 2006 10:25 AMGlad you're feeling better! I'm aso glad you're doing the shoes I find them facinating but not somthing that I would knit or wear. Thanks for letting us knit vicariously(sp?) through you. Posted by: MommyknitsJen at January 20, 2006 10:29 AMThe boots are looking awesome! It makes me want to knit some! Keep us updated. Posted by: Tania at January 20, 2006 10:38 AMWhoa. I thought you were going to knit it separately and sew it into those holes. 10 dpns is total craziness! Bring them. Please. Posted by: Lauren at January 20, 2006 10:49 AMI love them! And I love your socks! Posted by: Brynne at January 20, 2006 10:58 AMThat is seriously cool. Posted by: Chris at January 20, 2006 11:03 AMThat is totally insane! Cool though, I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment.. Posted by: kerrie at January 20, 2006 11:18 AMLove 'em Alison! Wow! it looks like they may even be done for you to model this Sunday! Kind of crazycool with the socks! Posted by: thea at January 20, 2006 11:38 AMI can totally see yours looking really good as much higher boots than the orange pair from Knitty Gritty. Form-fitting with ribbing at the top? Cable up the middle? Beautiful work, Alison! Posted by: neysa at January 20, 2006 11:44 AMWhat fun! Andrea beat me to the suggestion of a light-weight leader yarn for casting on the second pair. How high are they gonna go? I can't wait to see how they look when you're finished! Posted by: Sarah at January 20, 2006 12:19 PMVery cool. When I saw the first shots with the 10 DPNs I was dubious, but it's working really well. Now here's a dumb question - why not just use a circular needle? At least for the bottom few rows? I know there must be a good answer (and probably an obvious one), but I think that would have been the first thing I tried. Posted by: Julia at January 20, 2006 12:20 PMOh no, now I want boots too! Posted by: cathy at January 20, 2006 12:47 PMThat is WILD. What a nifty project! Posted by: Beth S. at January 20, 2006 1:21 PMHi Alison, Hi Alison, HI! They're looking FAB!! I'm getting my stuff today. The interview with Tina (designer) should be up by tomorrow morning. She recommends double stranding the yarn when you get past the shoe. She said that otherwise the proportions seem a little "off" when actually worn by a person. She is a fascinating person. Posted by: Whit at January 20, 2006 2:22 PMThose shoes are hilarious and crazy and so funny! It's really great to be able to watch your progress! Posted by: Susan at January 20, 2006 2:32 PMOh my WOW! That's insane! (In the best way possible, I mean.) I think I need some. Where can I find this pattern? You mentioned a show, but I don't watch much television, and don't have cable, so I'm clueless on that front. Is there a link? (And I have size 11 feet.) Posted by: Karla at January 20, 2006 2:35 PMLookin' good! Keep the updates coming. (Yeah, we're all living vicariously through your boots.) Posted by: Colleen at January 20, 2006 2:46 PMThey look great! Especially with those socks... Posted by: Kate at January 20, 2006 2:50 PMWow--wicked determination--and they look great too Posted by: Kathleen at January 20, 2006 3:02 PMOh, this is really fun to watch! I agree with all of the others, you chose a great color to do them in and the socks are excellent! Posted by: Trinamac at January 20, 2006 3:15 PMthat is so good!!! i cant wait to see how they come out! Posted by: SQ at January 20, 2006 3:31 PMI was wondering about the circular needle too. I bet two circulars would be easier to manage? Though that might break the no-new-needles rule. Love the color, esp against the black sole! :-) Posted by: susan at January 20, 2006 3:33 PMWhoa! That is just soooo über-cool! Posted by: Elemmaciltur at January 20, 2006 4:39 PMI think you should make them into knee-high boots ;) How funky would that be!? Posted by: Alison at January 20, 2006 6:01 PMIt is such fun for me to "watch" you make these. I remember thinking when I watched it on Knitty Gritty that it looked incredibly awkward to knit these. And that was watching the girl who designed the pattern and had knitted tons of them. So I think you're not alone. Kudos on your progress thus far! Truly -- this is a blast to watch! :-) Posted by: Mary at January 20, 2006 7:31 PMLove the socks!! I finally convinced my DH to drill holes in my shoes. He thought I was kidding until I showed him your pics. :) Posted by: jae at January 20, 2006 9:44 PMIt's so much fun to watch the boots progress. And you couldn't have picked better socks to show them off! Posted by: Susan at January 20, 2006 10:18 PMthose are cool, but the socks are amazing! i suppose my one confusion is what happens with the buckles once you get them knit all the way? doesn't the knitting go above that? do you push the knitting down to buckle them, then pull it back up like a sock? enquiring minds want to know (and is that really burlyspun? and if so, double stranding? god, you'd need broomsticks to knit it!) Posted by: minnie at January 20, 2006 10:44 PMI still can't believe you're making them! This is going to be cool! Posted by: Ande at January 20, 2006 10:53 PMI really like them where you left off - as cute knitted shoes instead of boots! Maybe a little contrast color crochet to trim them and they'd be really adorable as little pumps. Also, so nice to know that someone else has size 10 feet. When I read the directions I wondered if those of us with the big feet (and better balance as a result, of course) could still pull this off. Nice work! Posted by: liesl at January 20, 2006 11:32 PMI didn't much care for the boots on the show, but I must say, yours look so much better. Nice contrast of black and blue. Posted by: Monica at January 20, 2006 11:56 PMWow, that actually looks pretty cool! From the comments it looks like this is a perfect example of "change the color and now everybody wants to make it!" Apparently the orange had about the same effect on most everybody else that it had on me. Now it looks like a neat challenging project. Thanks for having that kind of imagination and ability to think outside of the box Alison! (though don't expect to see me making them no matter what color - do YOU have size ten feet? makes me feel like less of a freak now!) Posted by: Laura at January 21, 2006 9:56 AMHaving seen your first finished boot, I have to say, "CUTE!" I'm excited, too, about all the different things you could do with patterned stitches and whatnot. But I LOVE the "shoe" length -- especially with the stripey socks. Love the stripey socks!!! Your pictures and commentary are always so wonderful, Alison. Thanks! Posted by: Vicki at January 22, 2006 11:23 AMlooks like they would make nice pumps also. |
