Monday, December 03, 2007

In the bag

I'm about done with the body of this Noro bag, and started working the flap this evening while putting the baby to sleep. Then it was Monday night work per usual, so now I'm sleepy and ready for bed.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Elfy Hat


IMG_1737.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
I whipped this up this weekend from some stashed Sugar 'n' Cream. B's most recent hat was her pumpkin hat, and I needed to catch up the seasonality of her headgear.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

NaBloPoMo is complete


NaBloPoMo
Originally uploaded by udge
..and so is the elfy striped christmas hat I started last night for B.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Eve of December

It's cold tonight - I have the laptop on my lap right now more for warmth that to surf. I started a little holiday hat for the Biscuit tonight. We have our company kid party tomorrow, and plan to get our holiday baking and whatnot going this weekend.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Cyber Monday, Thursday, Whatever

I just did about 70% of my Christmas shopping, online, on Amazon. Gotta love the interwebs.

I finished up the Cash Iroha scarf today, including the fringe. I cast on for a Kureyon bag about three times and finally settled on a decent width.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Knitting in the News: Sock Industry Tariffs

I heard this story on NPR yesterday about the sock industry of Fort Payne, Alabama, and the role sock tariffs played in trade agreement decisions. I recommend it.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Happy Accident Scarf Pattern




The mistake rib stitch pattern is very easy but looks more complicated than it is – every row is the same. If it did evolve from a mistake, it was a happy accident that results in a lovely fabric

This stashbuster scarf makes use of all those little dribs and drabs of yarn you probably have left over from other projects, too small for single skein projects but too big to just throw out. For best results, use the same weight of yarn and the same type of fiber. Beyond that, mix colors and styles to your heart’s content. A multi-colored corkscrew fringe adds another element of fun to this design.

Your stripes will be random widths, depending on how much yarn is in each ball. For example, if your stash happened to have several small balls of yarn that are the same colors as the highlighters on my desk, you may end up with something like the sketch. I have a lot of Cascade 220 wool remnants from a log cabin blanket I’m making that will be perfect for this project.

Materials

500-700 yards of aran or worsted weight yarn, random amounts of various colors (see notes above)
One pair size 10.5 needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle

Pattern notes
Mistake Rib: *K2,P2* to last 3 stitches, K2, P1

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in mistake rib pattern

Sizes: Child/SouthernCalifornia (Tween/Central California, Woman/Northern California, Man/Minnesota)

Scarf
Cast on 23 (23, 27, 31) stitches. Work every row in mistake rib pattern. Whenever you come to the end of a ball of yarn, or when the spirit moves you, change to a new yarn.
Work until piece is as long as the intended wearer is tall, or about 42 (56, 64, 70) inches from cast on row.
Bind off in pattern.

Corkscrew Fringe

Make 20 (20, 24, 28). Each corkscrew can be a different color, you can make matched pairs, or all corkscrews can be the same color.

Cast on 36 stitches.
Row 1: Increase by knitting into front, back, and front again of each stitch
Row 2: Bind off, purlwise
Twirl around your finger to form into corkscrew shape.

Finishing
Attach 5 (5, 6, 7) corkscrews to each side of each end of the scarf. Center a corkscrew at the end of each prominent rib of knit stitches.

Weave in all ends. Wear with flair.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Too Many Knits


IMG_1668.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
The girls on Thanksgiving, sporting an array of mismatched things I've made for them.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Mistake Rib Scarf


IMG_1682.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
This is the beginnings of a narrow scarf in Noro Cash Iroha, done in mistake rib over 23 stitches. I plan to put on a fringe on it when complete. It's a bit longer today than pictured, about 18 inches, but probably won't grow too much more tonight, since I have some work to do that I've been putting off for most of this four-day weekend. Monday morning is a scant 15 hours away.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

RIbbed Jacket and Hat


IMG_1679.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
Finished baby set for Shauna's friend. Sarah was down for Thanksgiving and is acting as a courier for this set by taking it up with her on the long bus ride back home today.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Black (purple, brown and green) Friday


Noro #40
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD
I didn't do a lot of shopping today, but I did go in the LYS and buy yarn for two Christmas gifts. I got five skeins each of grey Noro Cash Iroha and some lovely mostly-purple Noro Kureyon (not pictured - this photo is what I think is my first Kureyon ever, from April 2005). The Cash Iroha is destined for a scarf and the Kureyon will become a bag.

I need to get my knitting planned out for the next month, since I have some differing deadlines. In order of when things need to be done:

1. First sweater set for Shauna's friend, baby due in December - done today.
2. TPW ornament exchange ornament - knitting is done, exchange is arranged sometime next week. I need to some finishing and get the send-alongs I've planned.
3. A mid-December birthday gift - not started
4. Some ornaments for us or as gifts - optional, really
5. Big-Foot Bunny for Pumpkin's Xmas - most pieces are done, but lots of sewing to do
6. Kureyon bag
7. Post-Xmas, another sweater set for Shauna's other friend

That's just the deadline associated knitting, I also have other projects for me, like my Tilted Duster already in progress and set aside while I work on higher-priority things. I would like to get that finished while its still cool enough to wear it.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving


IMG_1489.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
Just a photo of what I am most thankful for. Had a very nice day today, but it's 9:30 and I'm already beat. The girls had a great time playing with their cousins, and I made a hat.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Ribbed Jacket in Progress


IMG_1597.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
I have quite a bit more done than shown in this photo from Sunday - I'll finish the knitting tonight, and probably take hat materials with me tomorrow for holiday knitting.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Night Out

We had a work dinner this evening, and though I'm usually not able to make it due to family stuff, I went out with the group and had a nice time. I worked on a Christmas ornament before we ordered, a little stocking that I'm making out of the remains of my Watermelon yarn.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Completed Kimono


IMG_1596.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
Finished up this weekend, just in time tomorrow's baby shower for Greg's co-worker.

I'm a few rows away from finishing the collar on the ribbed jacket, the current baby knit. I need to decide what kind of hat to make to coordinate with it.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Hand-Dyed Yarn


IMG_1594.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
These are my skeins of yarn that I wound up the other night, from my summer dyeing. I'll make some socks with Ziploc (in the upper left), and maybe a Swallowtail Shawl with Heather (front left). The other three are single skeins of worsted, most likely destined to become baby items. I'd like to make something for the Biscuit from Skittles (front right). I'd also really like to do some more dyeing. Maybe I can fit some in during the holiday shutdown next month.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Party Knitting and Books, Books, Books

I took the Ribbed Jacket with me to a birthday party for one of Pumpkin's school friends this afternoon. During the party I got to the point of dividing for the fronts, and tonight I finished one sleeve and front. I don't think I'm going to need as much yarn as the pattern calls for, but I am also planning to make a coordinating hat and it will be nice to have some extra.

I updated my Amazon wish list today with several books, including:


Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume One: Knit & Purl


The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Two: Cables


The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Two: Color Knitting


A Treasury of Magical Knitting


Favorite Socks


A Gathering of Lace


Victorian Lace Today


A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns


Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns


A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns


Knitting Around


Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac

Friday, November 16, 2007

Small Sweater Update

Tonight I sewed the ribbon closure on the Mason-Dixon baby kimono. I think it turned out cute. I'm also increasing for the sleeves on the Ribbed Jacket I started last night.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

New Projects

I cast on tonight for a Debbis Bliss Ribbed Sweater, a cute little pattern that will be a nice unisex piece. I'm using the ecru Rowan All Seasons Cotton that I bought yesterday. I was able to get gauge tonight by moving down to a size 7, from the recommended size 8.

Work is going to be nuts for the next four months. I got another project today that is going to take a lot of attention and patience, and of course it's on top of existing responsibilities.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

False Starts

Finally made it to the LYS today. I bought yarn for the two baby sweaters I'm making for my MIL and a set of size 9 dpns for the second sleeve of my Tilted Duster. I bought some Rowan All Seasons Cotton and some Cascade Luna. I swatched the All Seasons tonight but didn't get gauge. I switched needle sizes and started swatching again, but was distracted by Project Runway (yay!) and went up a needle size when I should have gone down one. I didn't have the right size needle right here in the basket, so I decided to cast on for the duster sleeve. Which, as it turns out, is not on size 9 needles, it's on size 10. Oops. I cast on anyway, and will be Magic Looping it on a circular as I did the first.

During the morning commute I made an inner ear for the BFB and started on the first sole. It's too dark when we leave work now to knit on the way homw.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Ah, Leisure

Even after a long day at work, Tuesday night is usually nicer than Monday night. For one thing, it's as far away from the next Monday night as an evening will be. I took it easy after the kids were asleep, not even knitting, just watching a recorded episode of Top Gear with Greg and reading recaps of a few of my guilty pleasure shows on Television Without Pity.

I didn't get a chance to go yarn shopping today, alas. Will have to try later in the week.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Wind Night

In between updating presentation stuff tonight, I wound up three more balls of Cascade 220 for my Tilted Duster and several skeins of my hand-dyed yarn from the stash closet, to take advantage of having the swift and winder out. I had three skeins of worsted and two of sock weight, one skein in each of these colorways: Berryblue, Old Dirty Jeans, Heather, Ziploc, and Skittles.

Not much actual knitting done today - one inner ear for the bunny. I hope to get a lunch break tomorrow and pop out to the LYS.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Signs of Life

I may live. It's practically been a lost weekend, since I was conscious for about four hours total yesterday and was hardly energetic today. Greg took care of the meals and errands for me, and kept me plied with medicine. Im still snurfly and coughing, but on the whole I am feeling better and will make it through the work day tomorrow.

In another sign of impending recovery, I've started knitting the second ear of the BFB. After this I move on the contrast color for the soles of the feet and the inner ears, then do all the sewing up and stuffing.

mulligan

I was too sick yesterday to eat, knit, or surf the web, so I missed my daily post for NaBloPoMo.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Mason-Dixon Baby Kimono


IMG_1420.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
This is practically done. I'm putting it up today in an effort to shame myself into sewing on the tie closure sometime this weeken, which is all that remains to be completed. It's a baby gift for one of Greg's coworkers.

Yesterday my MIL asked me if she could buy two baby sweater and hat sets from me for two of her work friends adding babies to their families in the next few months. Both are not finding out the gender, so I'm going to do up something unisex for each. I plan to go shopping tomorrow for materials. I've picked out two Debbie Bliss Patterns I haven't made before that look really cute and should be fun to make.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

An Arm and a Leg

Those were the Big-foot bunny parts I knit today.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

WIP update - Big Foot Bunny


IMG_1473.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
Doesn't that look like fun? I don't remember the last time I jumped in a pile of leaves. I don't have an in-process picture of the Big-Foot Bunny yet, so this one of the recepient will have to do. So far I have the body and almost all of one leg done.

I was home with the Biscuit today, since she was booted out of day care yesterday afternoon for a fever. I was hoping to get a little knitting done, but it didn't work out. Greg and I are about to sit together and watch a movie, though, so perhaps I can get some in now.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Spiral Sock


IMG_1472.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
I have this sock going as a traveling project. I'm most of the way done with the leg.

Not much time to blog tonight - the baby is a little sick and I'm probably looking at a frequently interrupted night of sleep, so I'm going to try to relax a bit early.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Endless Log Cabin


IMG_0150.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
I should hardly even be calling this a work in progress, since a few days ago I moved this out of the project caddy in the living room into a drawer in my stash closet. It was taking up too much room in the caddy and making me feel a bit guilty. I've been working on it off and on for a year now. The problem with this log cabin is that as you go on the rows just keep on getting longer and longer. It's been in the closet before and I'm sure it will emerge once again, maybe after holiday knitting is through.

I thought this neverending project was a good topic for a Monday night. Mondays are harsh. I have a lunch meeting every Monday, busy work days, and after the girls are asleep I have to get back online and put together work for an early Tuesday meeting. I have my email up in another window right now waiting for final updates to come in. Oops, here's one now...

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Tilted Duster Update


IMG_1570.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
This project has been slow going. It isn't difficult, but I do need to refer pretty often to the directions, and I can't do that unless the kids are asleep. It's also been less of a priority than the baby gift knitting recently.

So far I have the back and fronts done and sewed together, and last night I finished the first sleeve with about eight inches of yarn left in the ball. I will need to wind up some more before starting the other sleeve. I may pick up the collar and/or sew on the sleeves prior to starting the skirt.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Lullaby Shrug


IMG_1419.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
My in-laws came down to spend the day with us today. We hung around the house for a few hours, walked around the mall a bit, and went out to dinner. They will be visiting my FIL's daughter on the East Coast in about a week, when she is due to have her third baby, a little girl. This photo is a WIP picture of the baby shrug I made for the baby. The pattern is from Debbie Bliss Simply Baby, and the yarn is some Berroco Lullaby from the stash. I also made up a ruffled hat to go with the shrug - the hat may be a little big to wear with the shrug but it turned out really cute nevertheless.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Watermelon + Monkey = Watermelonkey


IMG_1337.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
I made myself a pair of Monkey socks at the beginning of October out of the Watermelon colorway I dyed on some Knitpicks Bare this summer. It was a fun, fairly fast knit. If I make the pattern again I will knit the purl stitches of the pattern, which should make it go even faster.

Today I bought some Bernat Organic Cotton to make a bunny toy for Pumpkin for Christmas (she can read now, but she doesn't read my blog, so I think I'm safe in mentioning it). She saw the pattern in the Knitted Toys book by Zoe Mellor I bought recently, and asked for one, and I think I have enough time to get one done for her before Christmams. I don't other holiday knitting commitments yet, but would like to make some ornaments. First step is to swatch the cotton.

This evening I have been working on the first sleeve of my Tilted Duster from the fall issue of Interweave Knits. I'm working it in the round rather than back and forth, and am just about ready to start shaping the sleeve cap. This is only the second shirt with sleeves that I've made for myself, and the first long-sleeved garment.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Spark Socks


IMG_1414.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
The hardest part of making these socks for the Biscuit was trying to snap a photo of her modeling them. They're made out of some of my self-dyed yarn, and the stitch I used for the leg and upper foot was a simple four-row repeat that resisted pooling and resulted in "sparks" of color in each row. I haven't seen it anywhere, but as with most knitting patterns I'm sure several people have thought of it.

Spark Slip Stitch, over a multiple of four stitches
Worked in the round
Row 1: *K1, slip 1, K3*
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: *K3, slip 1*
Row 4: Knit

To work back and forth:
Row 1: *K1, slip 1, K3*
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: *K3, slip 1*
Row 4: Purl

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Perpendicular Hat Pattern




This comfy, casual hat begins with a simple strip of garter stitch. This becomes the brim of the hat when joined into a circle. Stitches are picked up from the brim and worked upward for the body and crown of the hat.

Materials

Noro Silk Garden (45% Silk, 45% kid mohair, 10% lamb's wool; 100m/122yds per 50g skein); color: 249, 2 skeins

A: Skein #1
B: Skein #2

1 16” circular US 7/4.5 mm needle or size needed to obtain gauge
Set of 4 circular US 7/4.5 mm double-pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker
Scrap yarn (for provisional cast on)
Tapestry needle

Gauge
5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
4 stitches per inch in garter stitch

Finished Measurements
Circumference: 21 inches
Height: 8.5 inches

If possible, measure the head circumference of the intended receipient.

Pattern
Throughout the pattern, you will be working with two balls of yarn at the same time, alternating between balls every two rows. Even if the balls are the same colorway, starting each ball at a different point in the color sequence creates a striped effect. For a subtler stripe, wind balls to begin at a similar point in the sequence. For a more striking effect, choose two complementary or contrasting colorways and use one ball from each.

When changing yarns, bring the new yarn up from under the working yarn to maintain a neat edge.


Brim
The garter stitch brim strip is worked back and forth on two of the double-pointed needles.

With provisional cast on and A, cast on 12 stitches, leaving a 12” tail. The tail will be used for joining the garter strip into a circular brim.

Row 1(WS): With A, knit across.
Row 2(RS): With B, knit.
Row 3(WS): With B, knit.
Row 4(RS): With A, knit
Row 5(WS): With A, knit.

Repeat rows 2-5 until you have 72 garter ridges and piece is about 20 inches long (or equal to desired head circumference), ending with Row 3. Do not bind off.

Unzip provisional cast on and place stitches on another double-pointed needle. Thread tail from cast-on on to a tapestry needle.

Hold the needle holding the last worked stitches and the needle holding the unzipped stitches parallel, forming the brim into a circle. Using the tapestry needle, graft the stitches on each needle together using kitchener stitch. (Note: The graft-avoidant can use a three-needle bindoff instead.)

Body

Hold brim with RS facing. With A and circular needle, pick up one stitch between each of the garter stitch ridges on one edge. You should end up with a number of stitches equal to the number of garter ridges. Place marker to note beginning of round.

Round 1: With A, knit into front and back of each stitch.
Round 2: With B, knit.
Round 3: With B, knit.
Round 4: With A, knit.
Round 5: With A, knit.

Repeat rounds 2-5 until hat measures 8 inches from bottom edge of brim.

Crown

Begin decrease rounds for crown of hat, switching to double-pointed needles when stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circles. AT THE SAME TIME, maintain the two-row color pattern. (Decrease pattern assumes that you have a multiple of 8 stitches. If that is not the case, work a setup row before the decrease sequence to arrive at a multiple of 8, decreasing evenly around the body of the hat.)

Row 1: *K6, K2tog *, repeat to end of round
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: *K5, K2tog *, repeat to end of round
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: *K4, K2tog *, repeat to end of round
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: *K3, K2tog *, repeat to end of round
Row 8: * K2 , K2tog *, repeat to end of round
Row 9: *K1, K2tog *, repeat to end of round
Row 10: *K2tog*, repeat to end of round

Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a 6” tail. Thread yarn on to tapestry needle and pull through remaining stitches to inside of hat. Weave in all ends.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Ravelry Rocks!

Last week I received my Ravelry beta invitation. It is frickin' awesome. It is splendid. It ROXXOR. Other people who love what I love! Yarn and relational databases, together at last! I've added some of my past projects and a bit of my stash to my notebook and am inspired to catalog the remainder of my yarn. I'm finding photos and tips for projects I want to make, all in one place! Just this morning, the famous Kate Gilbert added me to her (extensive) roster of "friends"! I added some of my little patterns to their database, and someone added the flag bib to their queue! My punctuation repostitory isn't exhausted, I am actually this excited! I love it like Greg loves his iPhone.

Whew.


In other news, I started a Titled Duster from the Fall 2007 IK two nights ago, in the Cascade 200 navy wool that I bought a while ago to make the Equestrian Blazer (a pattern by Kate Gilbert, by the way). I halted work on the Blazer when I realized it wouldn't be a good shape for me, and I've had these nine balls of lovely wool kind of hanging over my head ever since. The Tilted Duster is just perfect for putting it to use.

I recently finished my clapotis (another design by my BFF Kate). This is the only photo I have so far, of me wearing it during my night out with Greg two weeks ago to celebrate our eighth anniversary. We went to a great restaurant in Hollywood called the Hungry Cat (where the photo was taken) and saw 3:10 to Yuma at the Cineramadome. In between we visited a huge record store filled with young people with skinny pants and questionable facial hair.



Last night we had rainy weather for the first time in living memory, just about, and after the girls went to bed I sat on the couch with my knitting, and my laptop, and a cup of warm tea that Greg made me and listened to the thunder. Mmmm, autumn.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

I'm currently working on the second sock of a pair in Lorna's Laces Jungle Twist, and a hat to match the sweater vest I made for Pumpkin earlier this week. I've also recently finished a clapotis for myself.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Birthday Cake Hat


Bea's Birthday Cake Hat
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD
I broke my resolve to finish up everything in my finishing drive before starting anything new. In my defense, I had a deadline for this - the baby's first birthday!

The hat is from a pattern in Itty Bitty Baby Hats. I made a few very minor adjustments. I added fewer rows of pink frosting than called for in the pattern. I also sewed the flame and candle together prior to sewing the candle on the hat, so I could run the end of the flame yarn on the inside of the candle. Materials are Cotton-Ease (white) and Sugar 'n' Cream (pink and yellow).

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Finishing Drive - Status as of 8/1

I have resisted the urge to cast on anything new, enabled by a very hectic workload that has cut deep into my evening knitting time.

Childhood, needing half of a front, sleeves, and neck/button bands, plus finishing - All knitting done! Sleeves sewn on and one side seam sewn up. I hereby declare the sewing on of snaps/buttons outside the scope of this finishing drive
Yarn for second sock of current pair (Math #1) - Still working on the leg
Limeade dishcloth - DONE!
Haiku, needing buttons - DONE!
Love Me Al plastic bag bag - DONE! Finished up over the weekend

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Finishing Drive - Status Update

Limeade dishcloth - DONE!
Haiku, needing buttons - DONE!
Childhood, needing half of a front, sleeves, and neck/button bands, plus finishing - Front Done! Sleeves Done! About halfway through button band, still needs neckband and finishing
Yarn for second sock of current pair (Math #1) - Cuff done, working on leg
Love Me Al plastic bag bag - DONE! Finished up over the weekend

I won't have too much knitting time this week, as I am in final cramming mode for my CAPM exam on Friday morning, but the Childhood and Math sock will be getting all of my attention.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Valley Yarn Crawl


Valley Yarn Crawl
Originally uploaded by gldyas
We were over in the Valley a few days ago dropping off the Mini for scheduled service, and checked out a few very nice yarn stores in the area, Le Knitterie Parisienne and Stitch Cafe. I liked them both, but I especially liked the friendly, approachable staff at Stitch Cafe. They have a lovely display of handpainted yarn in the center of the store, much of it dyed on site under their Amore Colore label. They also offer classes. I'll be shopping there again, especially because they are OPEN ON SUNDAYS. You read it right, an LYS actually open all weekend!

Haul from the crawl, as pictured, included three skeins of dyeable sock superwash, my first skeins of Koigu, three skeins of Rowan Summer Tweed, and a gorgeous pair of size 8 rosewood Lantern Moon needles.

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Yesterday afternoon I cleaned out the basket of yarn and abandoned projects in the corner of my bedroom. I moved the yarn worth saving into my main stash, and even got rid of a few small balls. There was a felted bag and a completed hat in there that I put into the bag of garage sale stuff.

The works in progress from the basket came out front and moved into my red knitting caddy of current work. Haiku, which I made for Pumpkin, had been sitting there, only lacking five buttons, since April 2005. The ChildHood sweater, also for Pumpkin, has been dormant since May of 2005.

My log cabin blanket was taking up a lot of room in the caddy, and it's too hot to knit a big wool blanket right now, so I took the needle tips off and moved it into one of the drawers in my stash closet, and cleaned out yarn ball bands and other detritus that had collected in the caddy.

With the log cabin out of the way and the resurrected projects added to the basket, I decided that I want to finish all of my work in the caddy, except for the Snowdrop Shawl, before I cast on for anything new. I've done a lot of yarn shopping lately and I have plenty of things I want to begin.

As of yesterday afternoon, the caddy contents were:

Limeade dishcloth
Haiku, needing buttons
Childhood - need half of a front, sleeves, and neck/button bands, plus finishing
Yarn for second sock of current pair (Math #1) - need to cast on
Love Me Al plastic bag bag - need to make more bag yarn
Snowdrop Shawl - exempted!

Last night, I sewed on the buttons on Haiku. Amazingly, it fits Pumpkin and she'll be able to wear it this fall. I finished the half-done front piece of ChildHood last night and started the first sleeve today. I took Pumpkin to a matinee of Ratatouille this morning and finished the Limeade washcloth.

So as of right now, the status is:
Limeade dishcloth - DONE!
Haiku, needing buttons - DONE!
Childhood, needing half of a front, sleeves, and neck/button bands, plus finishing - Front Done! Sleeve #1 in progress
Yarn for second sock of current pair (Math #1) - Will probably cast on tomorrow, as I'll be carpooling all week and socks are perfect traveling knits
Love Me Al plastic bag bag - need to make more bag yarn

I think I can be strong. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Limeade Bib and Dishcloth Patterns

It was really hot today, and the color of this yarn made me think of cool summertime beverages. I made a bib, but I think the stripes of stockinette and reverse stockinette created by the odd number of rows in the pattern would also be great for a scrubby kitchen cloth, and I’ve included instructions for a dishcloth variation.



Materials:
1 skein Sugar ‘n’ Cream cotton – Hot Green
Size 8 straight or circular needles
One 3/8 inch button (bib only)
Two stitch markers (optional)
Tapestry needle

Instructions:
Seed stitch (over an odd number of stitches): *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row.
When you turn the work to the other side, the pattern remains the same. You will be knitting the purl stitches and purling the knit stitches from the previous row to create the seed stitch pattern.

Seed Border (SB): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

Limeade Bib

Cast on 33 stitches.
Work 3 rows seed stitch.
Row 4: Work 5 stitches seed stitch, place marker, work seed stitch until 5 stitches remain on left needle, place marker, work last 5 stitches in seed stitch. The markers separate the border stitches from the body of the bib. If you’re comfortable with keeping track of 5 stitches on either side as you work, you can omit the markers.

Row 5: SB to marker, knit to second marker, SB to end of row
Row 6: SB to marker, purl to second marker, SB to end of row
Row 7: SB to marker, knit to second marker, SB to end of row

Repeat rows 5-7 twelve times.

Work 4 rows seed stitch.
For straps, work seed stitch to first marker, remove marker, work two more stitches seed stitch. Bind off, in pattern, until two stitches before second marker. Work two stitches in seed stitch, remove marker, and work remaining stitches in seed stitch.

Work straps separately.

Strap A: Work in seed stitch until strap measures 5 inches. Bind off in pattern.
Strap B: Work in seed stitch until strap measures 4.5 inches.
Create buttonhole – Work 3 in seed stitch, bind off 2, work 2 in seed stitch. On next row, work 3, cast on 2, work 2
Work in seed stitch until strap measures 5 inches. Bind off in pattern.

Sew on button. Weave in ends.

Limeade Dishcloth Variation

Cast on 45 stitches.
Work rows 1-4 as for bib.
Work rows 5-7, as for bib.
Repeat rows 5-7 eighteen times.
Work 4 rows seed stitch.
Bind off in pattern.
Weave in ends.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Red, White, and Bib - Flag Bib Pattern

Perfect for a summer picnic, a Yankee Doodle baby born on the Fourth of July, or being kissed by politicians any time of year. The garter stitch baby bib pattern in Mason-Dixon Knitting inspired the basic structure of this bib.




Materials:
Sugar ‘n’ Cream cotton, 1 partial skein each of Red, White, and Bright Navy.
1 ¾ inch button – sample in photo uses a red star
Tapestry needle
Size 8 straight needles

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch in garter stitch

Instructions:

You will be joining new colors when working the public side of the piece. When working stripes, carry the color not in use up the back of the work, wrapping around the active color on the wrong side. Bring the new color up from under the previous color when changing yarns.

With Red, cast on 33 stitches.

Stripes:
Rows 1-8: Knit with Red
Rows 9-16: Knit with White
Rows 17-24: Knit with Red
Rows 25-32: Knit with White

Add field for stars, and continue stripe pattern

Row 33: K20 with Red. Join Bright Navy and knit 13.
Row 34, 36, 38, 40: K13 with Bright Navy, K20 with Red
Row 35, 37, 39: K20 with Red, K13 with Bright Navy
Row 41, 43, 45, 47: K20 with White, K13 with Bright Navy
Row 42, 44, 46, 48: K13 with Bright Navy, K20 with White
Rows 49-56: Repeat rows 33-40.

Begin straps.

Row 57: Knit 8 with White. With Red, bind off the next 12 stitches. With Bright Navy, bind off 5 stitches, then knit to end.

Buttonhole strap:
With Bright Navy, knit these 8 stitches back and forth for 30 rows.
Create buttonhole: Knit 3, bind off 2, knit 3. On next row, knit 3, cast on 3, knit 3.
Work 4 more rows with Bright Navy.
Bind off all stitches.

Button strap:
Return to the 8 active white stitches on the other side of the work.
With White, knit 29 rows.
Bind off all stitches.
Sew button on to right side of this strap.

Embroider stars on to the field of Bright Navy with a length of White threaded on to a tapestry needle. Each star is composed of five short straight stitches radiating from a central point: one vertical, two horizontal, and two angled down and out from the center point.

Weave in all ends.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Movie Knitting

This weekend I discovered that I can knit in the semi-dark, and have a red Grandmother's Favorite dishcloth to show for it, cast on and about two-thirds knit during a matinee showing of Nancy Drew. I finished the rest that evening after studying for a bit. The girls tried it out during their bath last night, and it turned their water quite pink - the bright red Sugar 'n' Cream I used is apparently not colorfast.

Speaking of Nancy Drew, knits were prominent in a few of the characters costumes. Several novelty scarves, a bright green loose gauge sweater with big buttons, etc. In one party scene, Nancy wears a white shrug-capelet with random red squiggly bits of yarn tied on to it, and it gave me an idea for a similar garment (sans squiggly bits).

I have also recently finished my Rapid Fire socks and another little baby hat, this one for a co-worker's little boy due in about six weeks.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

How I Spent My Mother's Day

I mentioned it at the time, but now I have photos of my Mother's Day introduction to hand dyeing. A while back, I ordered some Bare yarn in sock and worsted weights and the starter kit of Jaquard acid dye from KnitPicks, and part of my lovely Mother's Day was the indulgence of my family allowing me to mess around with it.



The first step (according to the directions and some information I cobbled together from the world wide interwebs) was to soak the yarn. I decided to do two skeins of sock yarn in different colorways.



Next, I assembled my crack team of assistants.



I set up an incredibly high-class dyeing area in the side yard using the deconstructed box from our new kitchen chairs, a stepstool, a few plastic baby clothes hangers, three binder clips, several clear plastic cups, Saran Wrap, and a Swiffer handle. The masking tape, also pictured, was not used. The side yard had many advantages to it, the primary one being its inaccessability to preschoolers and small dogs.



This is the part where you'll have to imagine me actually applying the dye, because I didn't want to get any dye on my camera. Pumpkin watched me work from behind the gate.

Next step, steaming for 45 minutes. Nothing like the smell of hot wool to make your tastebuds perk up.



At many points in this narrative, imagine me going in to the kitchen to eat sushi.


After cooking, cooling, and a quick rinse in a very dilute vinegar solution, I hung them up to dry. Drying time began outside.



Pumpkin chose names for the colors - Fire and Blues. Here's a slightly blurry closeup of Fire drying outside.




Later in the evening, I moved them in to the garage to continue drying overnight. Mini Cooper included for scale.



When they were completely dry the next day, I skeined them up and took their picture again. I love them! Not bad for a first attempt.



They're also pretty wound into center pull balls.



I made myself wait to cast on until I finished the pair of socks already in progress. When I did begin, I finished the first sock in about a week, which is far and away a speed record for me. So I have dubbed them my Rapid Fire socks. We'll see how quickly the second sock comes along.

It's hard to self-portrait the foot.



All in all, I had a complete and total blast dyeing yarn. I already have several ideas for what colors I'd like to try next.