27 posts tagged “knit”

So, um, I finally return to the world of knitblogs (or crochet blogs, as the case may be).  Curse that newfound addiction to Facebook!  To make up for the looooooong absence, I have project pics.  Completed project pics, even.

My "Denimbrigo Vest", so called because it's loosely based on Julia Vaconsin's Malabrigo Top from Interweave Crochet, but made with Rowan Denim rather than Malabrigo Lace.

Bamboo washcloths, a quickie little gift knit for the sole purpose of using two remaining skeins of Bernat Bamboo.

Two cowls are currently blocking.  I'll get those posted sometime in the next couple of days.  I'm not even going to try to review the knit and crochet magazines that have accumulated in the last couple of months.  We'll start fresh with the fall issues when they show up. 

First, the bad news:  I decided to frog the Gathered Pullover.  Yes, at about 95% completion, I took a good long look at the fabric and how it draped, and decided the Mirasol Cotanani was not the right yarn for the job.  The color was gorgeous, the stitch definition was fabulous, but the whole thing was just too heavy, and I'd have hated wearing it.  So, we took a trip to the frog pond.  However, I did take a picture of it before destruction...

And a closeup of the cabled knot detail:

I'll definitely make this top someday, but with a lighter yarn (i.e. NOT a wool/cotton blend).  Gee, maybe even the yarn the pattern suggests.  Now there's a concept! *grin*  And as far as the Cotanani is concerned, all is not lost:  I have a couple of ideas for the right pattern for that particular stash.

Onward.

The Houndstooth Bag is awaiting assembly:

Assembly involves heavy duty fusible interfacing (not shown) and a zipper.  I have always disliked sewing zippers.  However, I have a new sewing machine:

Which should make sewing a pleasure again instead of the struggle it was as my old machine died a long and painful death.

I only work on Delphine when I can pay fairly close attention; therefore, we're just inching along:

The lace pattern is easy, but it's not mindless.  Gotta watch that stitch count carefully.

And then there's the Denimbrigo, so called because I'm using Rowan Denim instead of the suggested Malabrigo laceweight:

Do you see the problem?  I didn't, at least not until I took this photograph.  Notice the major color variation where I changed skeins, that is.  Checked the yarn...different dye lots!  Damn!  I thought I'd been so careful.  Luckily, only two skeins are different, so I'll use them for the upper bodice.  I already ripped this one out and expect to start over this evening.  As you might expect, given the vastly different weights between the suggested yarn and what I'm using, I'm making some major modifications to this pattern.  Notes will be posted with the finished project.

Of course, the baby blanket is still in pieces:

and the Pom is in permanent hibernation:

Still, the goal of the moment is to finish something before picking up the Cotanani again.  We'll see how well that goes.

....since I wrote an entry?  Guess so.  And now the latest issue of Crochet Today! is waiting for a review as well.

Still working on the Gathered Pullover. I actually thought I was done except for the seaming until last night, when I sewed on a sleeve and tried it on to check the fit.  Not good.  The sleeve is too long.  And too tight through the shoulder cap.  *sigh*  So, this morning I removed the sleeve, ripped it back to where the increases began, and will now re-knit with more frequent increases and a taller sleeve cap.  Lather, rinse, repeat for the other sleeve.  This should be interesting.  I hope I don't have to rip out the main body to redo the armholes too.

The crocheting part of the Houndstooth Bag is done; the lining, interfacing, zipper, and hardware have all been purchased; and the lot of it sits on my craft table awaiting assembly, next to the new sewing machine I had to buy to finish this project.  (Hush: that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.) 

In the meantime, I could not resist casting on for Delphine from French Girl Knits, using Skacel Collection's Urban Silk in 03 Pretty Pink.  Kind of a fussy yarn, but it knits up beautifully with a great sheen and texture.

And, because I needed a portable and mindless project, I decided to adapt Julia Vaconsin's Malabrigo Top from Interweave Crochet's Spring 2009 issue to use the Rowan Denim that's been sitting in my stash for sometime.  I say adapt because the pattern is written for a laceweight wool, which the Rowan most certainly is not.  Also, I'm making it as a sleeveless V-neck cardi/vest, rather than a sleeveless V-neck pullover vest.  Someday I hope to be as comfortable changing and adapting and essentially rewriting knit patterns to suit me as I am crochet patterns.

Right now I'm resisting the urge to pull out the Classic Elite Desert and cast on Stephanie Japel's Thick and Thin Cardigan from Fitted Knits.

Still no pics.  Recently I am most remiss when it comes to pictures.

....too busy knitting.  And crocheting.  And, well, other stuff, like work, laundry, errands, and so forth.

And apparently too busy to take photos of current projects in progress, as well.  So, I'll link to the patterns instead.

• Houndstooth Bag from Crochet Today's Mar/Apr 2009 issue.  The crocheting is all done, using Plymouth Encore Worsted in Black 217 and Soft Grey 194.  Now I have to get the lining made, and find the appropriate zipper, purse feet, and handles.

• Gathered Pullover from Interweave Knits Winter 2007, using Mirasol Cotanani in Turquoise 407.  I've got the body through the center cable detail finished, and am now working on the front pieces on either side of the V-neck.  At the rate this project is proceeding, I'll probably be finished in another couple of weeks, unless...

• ...I give in to the urge to start something new.  The stash, it callz me.  Cast-on-itis, I haz it.

Speaking of Interweave, the Summer 2009 issue of Knits is sitting here on my desk, daring me to write a review.  I'll get to it eventually.

First, I'll show you the pretty one:

Pattern:  Petunia Tote by Katie Himmelberg, from Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Yarn:  Bernat Gloucester Sport (I'd link to it, but it's discontinued) in French Blue, 660 yards
Satisfaction with end result:  I really like it.  It's the perfect spring/summer casual running around town bag. The lining really sets it off, as you can see in the picture below.

In fact, here's the entire bag turned inside out, so everyone can see the fabulous lining fabric.

The fabric is half a yard of a 60" rayon challis purchased from JoAnn.  Other than that, I can't tell you a thing about it.

The only modification to the pattern was making the strap somewhat shorter than the pattern dictated.  I'm not tall, you see, and didn't want the bag to hang down to my knees when worn slung across my shoulder.  Additionally, I'm thinking about adding a magnetic closure at the top.  I'll carry the bag around for a while before making a final decision.

Now, the not-so-pretty one.  I finally finished spouse's Treads socks from Son of Stitch and Bitch.  The cuffs turned out beautifully:

The rest of the socks, not so much:

Yarn:  Cascade's Heritage in #5601 Black, approximately 656 yards (approx. 1.5 skeins)

The foot is so wide you'd think I made them for a hobbit.  My fault totally.  I didn't pay attention to gauge.  If I had, I'd have realized I was using the wrong size needle (a 2 instead of a 0).  Even then I probably could have saved them if I had decreased across the instep when I turned the heel.  Instead, spouse ended up with a baggy, saggy, shapeless pair of socks.  I told him it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he never wore them outside the house.  Note to self: not all sock patterns are created equal.  One must pay attention to the damn pattern while knitting the foot!

At last, I made something for ME to wear:

(Please ignore the fact I'm wearing my yoga togs under the sweater.  Yes, I have a shocking pink sports bra.)

Yarn:  Duo by Järbo Garn, 1.9 skeins (approximately 650 yards)
Size: 42"
Pattern:  Raglan V-neck cardigan from The Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd
Satisfaction with end result:  LOVE LOVE LOVE!

It turned out exactly the way I wanted, and I couldn't be more pleased. In fact, it's so perfect, I may wear it to church tomorrow!

In a previous blog entry, I mentioned something about having too many unfinished objects (UFOs).  Here they are, in order from earliest start date.....

One should always have a spare baby blanket on hand; at least, that's my belief.  One never knows when someone in one's circle of acquaintances/friends/family members is going to procreate.  Although I'm getting to the age where it's now the children of my acquaintances/friends/family members who are doing the procreating.  But I digress. 

I started this blankie on August 17, 2008.  Thus far, I have finished the three squares seen below:

At least they're blocked.  And only 9 more to go...

On August 23, 2008, I had the bright (?) idea to lead a crochet-along for this adorable crocheted Pomeranian.  Didn't have too many followers, so my leadership skills are questionable.  Especially since my version of this project stalled right at its assembly stage.  Yes, I finished all the pieces by September 6, and then it sat there.  And sat there.  And sat there some more.  Today I officially put it into hibernation on Ravelry, and offer you this photo of a dead project:

After all this time, the poor Pom is still in pieces, and I seem to have lost not only one of its legs, but also my interest in finishing the thing. I still have plenty of the yarn left over, though, and I may re-make the leg and actually assemble the poor benighted misshapen creature, or just start the project all over again.  Someday.  Maybe.  But don't count on it.

And then there's the Petunia Tote from Interweave Knits Spring 2007 issue.  I cast on for this sweet shoulder bag October 16, 2008, with the intention of giving it to one of my sisters-in-law for Christmas.  Obviously, that didn't happen.

The knitting bit is done; the bag is blocked; the lining is almost finished...All I need to do to is add a pie-shaped wedge to the lining to make it fit correctly inside the bag, and sew it in.  By hand.  Now, I am no stranger to a whip stitch, but I don't like handsewing anything, unless it's decorative, like embroidery for embellishment.  And so the bag sits there on the project table.  Waiting patiently.  *sigh*

Spouse's Treads socks were begun on December 17, 2008.  They were also supposed to be a Christmas present, but weren't anywhere near finished on Christmas Day.  I wrapped up the two balls of yarn along with the two or three inches of cuff then accomplished and presented that to him instead, with the promise that I would get them done as quickly as possible.  The project went along smoothly enough: I finished the looooong cuffs, knitted the heel flaps, turned the heels, and then the damn socks misbehaved.

Spouse asked me about them the other day.  I told him they were in timeout.  "Because they were bad?" he asked, incredulously.  "Yes, they were bad and I'm mad at them.  Although I'm much less so than I was, and they may be allowed out of timeout very soon."  He shook his head in that way of his which indicates:  "It's a good thing I love you, because you're certifiable and no one else would put up with this sort of nonsense."

On December 30, I was so sick of knitting knitting knitting all those blasted Christmas presents that I desperately craved a crochet hook.  Did I pick up that baby blanket again, or finish the Pom?  Nooooo.  I started the Cable Rerun blanket from Crochet Today!'s Sept/Oct 2008 issue, using my beloved Bernat Berella 4.

I've actually made decent progress:  three of the five strips required are finished and the fourth strip is well on its way.  I have high hopes this will be finished in the not too distant future.

On January 20, 2009, I was ready to pick up knitting needles again and cast on the Duo Cardigan, so named after the yarn (from Jarbo Garn).  The pattern is improvised from Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, with a seed stitch border and plain stockinette stitch for the body and sleeves, the better to show off the self-striping colorway.

The bottom half of the body is done, and one sleeve is partially done.  So we're making reasonable progress.  This is the project I've been spending the most time on recently.  Easy mindless stockinette stitch: no thinking required.

And finally, on February 3, I added one more project to the list:  A shawl.  No, not for me.  I'm not a shawl person, remember?  For a friend.

I'm sort of winging this one without a pattern, and I think I might have made it too wide.  If I run out of yarn, I'll know I made it too wide and have to frog it and start over.  Let's hope I don't run out of yarn.

Seven.  Unfinished.  Objects.  I've told myself I have to finish four of them (the shawl, the cardigan, the socks, and the afghan) before I start anything new.

I don't know if I can do that.  That stashed Mirasol Cotanani has been calling my name for quite a while now, and it's getting louder...

I've been soooo busy knitting that I haven't had time to blog!  But the projects are done, and I sent them off via UPS yesterday.  Yeah, that's late.  And because I wasn't willing to fork over $400+ to have them arrive by Christmas Eve, my family members will receive their gifts sometime around the 1st of the year.  Happy New Year, family!

To recap, I began my Christmas knitting in July, thinking that would allow me plenty of time to make everyone a nice cardigan or pullover.  I finished a cardi for my mother, one for my sister, and a hoodie for a nephew.  I had already given my youngest niece a cardi for her September birthday, so she got a scarf made from novelty yarn. Then all of a sudden I looked up and it was October.  Ack!!  Mad scramble in search of suitable patterns to make for the OTHER people on my list.  The pair of socks I was making for me quickly became the gift for a SIL.  And then I picked up the 2008 holiday issue of Interweave Knits.  Saved!  The ribby slippers were perfect for everyone else!

Well, everyone except my oldest nephew (not the "oldest" oldest, but the oldest who is still under age 18; in my family, nieces & nephews stop getting presents from aunts & uncles once they (a) turn 18 or (b) graduate from high school.  Anyway, he's much too "cool" to get slippers, especially if his dad is getting the same thing.  So, I improvised a skully cap for him.  The cap itself is the most basic cap imaginable: 1 1/2 inches of 2x2 ribbing, followed by several inches of plain stockinette, followed by rapid decreases on the crown, then tied off.  I nabbed the skull chart from a pattern in Son of Stitch & Bitch:

Although I love my Boye interchangeable needles, the cable is too stiff to use the magic loop technique on small projects.  Because the rest of the projects I have planned for Christmas gifts require knitting in the round, and double pointed needles are less expensive than Addi Turbos with a cable long enough for magic loop, I had to conquer my fear of DPNs.

Therefore, I bit the bullet and bought some.  Well, not just some.  A bunch.  In various sizes.  Metal and bamboo.  I don't do things in half-measures.  Michael's and my LYS, The Sew-So Shop, love me.  (ASIDE TO MY SPOUSE:  But, honey, I was saving money.  Do you know how much those Addi Turbos cost?)

With some trepidation, I read various forums and articles on Ravelry and Knitting Daily on how to work with DPNs.  With my courage boosted and believing once more in knitting fearlessly, I picked up the size 6 DPNs and started working the strap of the Petunia Tote from Interweave Knits Spring 2007.  A few stitches later and....Astonishing!  It works!  I can do this!

Thus emboldened, and in search of some immediate gratification, I grabbed the size 11 DPNs and cast on the Ribby Slipper Sock from Interweave Knits Holiday 2008.  Omigosh!  Just like magic, within a few hours, I had one finished slipper, and had started on the second.

(Of course, big yarn doubled up helped with the speed, but still....)

Today is a vacation day, and tomorrow is a Federal holiday, so I don't go back to work until Wednesday.  I'm going to get soooo much done!

And here's a picture of the lovelies:

Details

• Pattern:  "Coquette" from 2 At A Time Socks
  
• Yarn:  Zitron Trekking XXL in colorway 160, 1 skein
  
• Size:  Medium
  
• Satisfaction with end product:  *beam*  I think they're great.  The stockinette foot part seemed to take forever, but that's normal with such skinny yarn.  I'll definitely be making more socks!