"BP" and the Three Needle Bind-off (part two)

I'm now at the very last stages of "BP". So here's a little preview of it, since I can't put up any proper in progress pictures, just in case. I've done the edging for the sleeves, the button I was waiting for has arrived - and yay, it's perfect. All that's left is the weaving in, sewing up, and then the main edging, which I'm now quite happy about tackling. Having done the sleeve edging, I know that going up a needle size for the different yarn is the way to go. See, these things all work out in the end!

Anyway, I did make a decision on the three-needle bind off, and it was actually largely from necessity. BP was knit on 3.5mm needles, and I realised that, oh, I only have the one set of those. Not even a circular or DPN extra. So I had to use a size up for the third needle, and I think it came out very well. Hoorah! It was a bit fiddly to start with, getting the stitch back through both loops, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn't so bad at all. Must remember to take a picture of how the seam came out.

Blogathon 07?

I'm thinking of doing the Blogathon again this year. On this blog, with a knitting sort of theme - I dare say I'll knit as I go, and post pictures or something like that.

Since I'll have my stash back from my Mum's house by then, maybe I could do some stash-busting thing. A blanket in 6x6 squares? I've always meant to get around to one of those, and it would be lots of little things that would give me plenty of variety - different stitch patterns as well as yarn for each one, and so on.

As for a charity, I reckon I'll go for the Manic Depression Fellowship. I'm hardly the only bipolar blogger around, so maybe a few others will do the same. That would be nice.

A knitting meme

As if I didn't do enough memes over on my LJ, I'm now going to inflict one on this blog, too. But it's knitting related! So that's ok. *g*

Edit the list, bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn [O.o - that's a new one on me!]
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch pattern
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit [I'd italicise this, but I don't know any blokes who are curious, so...]
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards [Um, why? Or does this mean through the back loop?]
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting [Wonder what this one is? Will have to google it.]
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair [But I know a woman who does]
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Whew!

Alright, I think I've got this blog looking pretty much the way I want it for now. Yaaaaaaaaay! Mainly, I've been working on the right-hand sidebar. PhpCurrently (which was insecure) has been replaced with Lirae's RightNow. I highly recommend that - very simple to install, set-up, and use, and does exactly what I want! *g* There are also a few other interesting scripts on the same site.

Further down I've also added widgets from LibraryThing and BookMooch. Boooooooooooks! :-)

Finally, I thought it was about time I double-checked all the webrings were still active, and updated those, and also my BlogChalk and Globe of Blogs listing. Now I'm just going to go through my Blogroll to prune out any dead links there, and I'm done. Hoorah!

(Having said that, however, I do intend to upgrade to MT 3.35 soon. I really should get on that, shouldn't I?)

The Three-needle bind off

I should be going to bed. Instead, I'm contemplating the three needle bind off. Or cast off. I can't even remember which is the British term and which is the American any more. The internet homogenises us all! Anyway.

The main project that I'm working on at the moment - we shall call it "BP" for "birthday present" - calls for me to do two lots of three-needle binding off, which I'm now ready to do. In fact, I need to do it, or I can't go any further. All the main knitting is done, there's just the finishing and then picking up to do edging. Plus sewing on the button, which hasn't arrived yet (eep). I've never actually done a 3-needle bind off before, so I've been wondering a few things about it. Might it be better to use a size smaller needle as the binding off one? Or a size larger, even? Although smaller makes more sense to me, since you'd usually bind off normally then sew a seam with a large sewing needle. Maybe it depends on whether you want a tight seam or a more flexible one? Hrrrm.

I think I'll sleep on it.