Not So Slow Knitting

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Sweater/Jacket is a legend. Clever construction means it's pretty hard to make it look ugly. Recently, a member of the Yahoo group Knitbabysurprise (Meg Swansen is in this group, so it's THE group to be in, LOL), converted the original garter stitch version to stockinette. This changes the ratio of the increasing/decreasing, because garter stitches are nearly square, and stockinette stitches are not. He did a super job, and if you have the original pattern and would like to try this version, email me/leave a comment, and I'll direct you to his blog where he gives his version.



I originally cast on for this in the middle of 'big project boredom' in February or so...oh, just checked....the KAL started in early January and I was determined to actually 'knit along' this time! But I came to my senses and realized I had to finish that big afghan, so this sat in my basket for awhile. When I finally got it out (early May?) I counted the sts to find out what row I was on, and nothing was adding up. So I frogged it, and started over.


It's James Brett Marble, totally acrylic, but still a very nice yarn. This little sweater took slightly less than one (100g) skein. The garter stitch version took more than one skein which is why it got matching hat and bootees. It went surprisingly quick. Baby sweaters always surprise me at how quickly they knit up, it's just the button buying that gets me down.


Just as I got to the button band, the sweater decided it would be a pullover. Okay, I said, no buttons to buy! However, I'm not sure the neck is big enough to go over a baby's head, LOL!

When I did the casting off, I was sure I had figured out how to stitch up the bottom to make it even, but something went wonky, and there's a big scallop at the front middle. Also, I'm not too sure about the section that looks like a buttonband in the middle. I knew I didn't have that result when I made the first version, but not until I got it out did I realize that I hadn't done the extension section, but to make it longer, after I grafted the front middle, I joined the bottom and worked in the round. I'd do that again next time.
(It still needs buttons on the shoulders, and I think I made this one July 2007).


As mentioned, the inc/dec sequence changes for stockinette, and you end up increasing in the same spot for three rows at a time. Usually I do a 'Make 1' by knitting in to the back of the strand, but when you do that for more than one row, it gets too tight (upper right part of the increase line). What I changed to instead was to increase (M1), yarn over, knit center st, yarn over, M1. In the next row, the increase is made in the yarn over (and you do another yarn over). This gives a little more slack for the make one on the next row. For the last inc row, and the next plain row, you don't have to do the yarn overs, as the first of the three inc rows can just use the strand between sts as normal.

I have big issues with seaming up the sleeves of these jackets. I thought, this time, because you're seaming rows to stitches, it'd be like sewing in a sleeve to the body of a regular sweater---three sts to four rows. But that didn't work out, and it ended up almost st to row. And the seam rolls (?) towards the back. But, maybe once on it's okay; I've never seen one actually on a real live baby, LOL.

I'll definately do this vesion again. It shows the colours of self striping yarns better than garter stitch (I think that's why he worked out this version). And it takes less yarn than the garter st version, LOL!!

More Slow Knitting Results

According to a previous entry, I started these socks in early June (the post is June 14 2007).
This is another good example of how if I would just knit 'proper' patterns, with the 'proper' yarn, I might have more projects finished and wearable! And, considering that they've been done since March, another example of how it's not the actual knitting that's slow, it's the blog posting!

The yarn is Kroy Socks, and I wanted a 'fake Fair Isle' type of sock. However, I didn't want much on the foot, so did simple stripes (I really didn't want stranded knitting--a double layer--on my foot). Then I did the heels (these were toe up, if you didn't read the post about casting on with 'Magic Loop'). I realized that the verigated yarn had very short colour bursts, and it wasn't going to give me the look I wanted.

So, I worked on the second sock, and then stopped for awhile. Actually, I had stopped for awhile before starting the second sock too, LOL. I finally picked a motif from "1000 Great Knitting Motifs" by Juise Roberts. I made some alterations to the design. I found that I didn't want many sts together of the coloured yarn because each colour only did a stitch and a half (or two), and I felt that really made it look NOT like Fair Isle. Originally, I thought I would need longer runs of the coloured yarn so it would stand out, but that's not an issue. THe cuffs were alternating rows of the two yarns, I think, to stretch one of the yarns out as it was running short.

Yes, there is a difference in the feet. Creative license. The crazy thing is, when I set them down after being partway through the second foot, and picked them up again, I noticed that one sock had a 3mm circular needle, and the other had 5 dpn....but not all the same size! I couldn't remember what size they were supposed to be, so I never bothered to fix that, LOL (although I suppose I could have read my own blog). Really, there's not much difference between 2.75mm and 3mm. However, I do feel the section on the feet where it is a mini-checkerboard! And, they are not nearly as soft and lovely as the Step socks or the other socks I made recently.

But hey, they will wear forever, LOL. And, I bought the yarn and used it up in slightly over a year!

One Reason I Seem Slow!

Early in the spring, I decided Meg needed a new hat. Something not as warm as a winter hat, but not a sun hat either. Something to keep the wind out of her ears when we walk to the school. We tried a few hats from the 'sale/gift bin' and this one looked so cute, but a little small. It was made using a small version of Feather and Fan (like, a 8 st repeat I think), and many small bobbins of leftover acrylics in pale pinks, peaches and whites. It might have been done using the Helix method (Grumperina recently had a great series of posts on using Helix stripes for socks). I decided to go with blues, to match her coats. But it was a doomed project from the start. I couldn't get the pattern to work out. It was too small. I had brain farts when counting sts and remembering how many I was supposed to have. It's a 4 row repeat, and I was using 4 colours, which meant that the ridge row was ending up showing the same two colours each time. But that suddenly changed for some reason. Then, awhile further, I purposively changed it up again. But it still didn't have the subtle, sweetness of the pinkish hat.
Then the weather got very warm. Can we say it together "Rip-it, Rip-it, Rip-it" off to the Frog Pond it went. Then the weather got cool again. Sigh.

Not Exactly How a Knitting Machine Works....

......but still really cute and funny. I've always liked Pingu, and this video is hilarious in it's stereotypes and ignorance, LOL. I lOVE how the items come out of the machine with pom poms already attached!!!

Thanks!

Thanks Marie for the link. That is indeed the pattern I was looking for. Rob installed something on the computer to 'fix' Vista, and I think the bookmarks are working better now.

Now, I just have to figure out a different upper bodice and sleeves. Oh, and get measurements. Oh, and some 'free' time would be nice. Anyone know where I can get some of that?

What Is This?

I emailed this picture to my mom, and now can't remember where I found the pattern. It might be in my long list of bookmarks, in the "Patterns" folder, but quite often the internet freezes up when we use the bookmark menu. I think the lace pattern/pattern name is something about Daylily. Does anyone recognize it? I might have found it through the Sexy Knitter's Club.

Really, I AM a Fast Knitter

You'd never think so, given how long it takes me to finish projects, but I can knit at a decent speed. It's the little things that slow me down. Like, starting other projects. Designing my own but not keeping notes....

According to this handy blog, I had almost the front done (scroll down, it's after the MP3 issue) in late May, 2007 (from yarn bought August 2006), but ran into an issue with the neckline. I'm not sure when I did the back, but probably before I had done the front (so it would help with planning the neck line). It sat in my basket, just needing the shoulders seamed and the sleeves picked up and knit down, for the longest time. I toyed with the idea of doing the sleeves on the KnitSmart, but if you drop a stitch, you CANNOT see it! Finally, back in March, I got back to it, praying it would still fit Lucy!

The yarn is Bernat LuLu---something I had always wanted to buy for my own LuLu. It's very soft---it looks like Sirdar Snowflake, but feels MUCH softer. You need to use larger needles for it but it knits up airy and loose/stretchy. In reading back in that other post about the front, I see that I had planned to add a hood! That would certainly let Lucy know which is the front and back easily, LOL. She also doesn't care when it's inside out.

I still have 3+ balls left (almost 4 balls, and there might be another 4 ball bag of it downstairs). I could make one for Megan, but really, I've had enough of LuLu. It's nice and all, but once is enough. If it would work better on the machine I'd whip up some blankets, but I'm not sure it'd be worth the hassle of dropped stitches. If anyone likes this yarn, let me know if you'd like some more :)

Updates

Surprised by my mitten find, Rob decided to go back to where he thought he lost a glove and take another look. Sure enough, it was there! However, I will admit to this: I cleaned out the boxes of mitts/hats/scarves, and put together all the matching mitts. There were a few odd ones, which I kept in a bag for a couple weeks (a month or two?). Finally, I knew I'd never find the other red fleece one (my kids had never even worn them; they were hand me downs), so I THREW it out. Uh huh. Guess what I noticed one day last week in the basement? Uh huh.

On another positive find note....Years ago Rob gave me gold hoop earrings, a twisted rope design. Subtle, classic elegance. I wore them all the time, with all sorts of outfits. After being at my parents just before New Year's, I had a shower, and my scrubby cloth got caught in one earring. After my shower I noticed I had only one earring!! We searched down the vent, all over, etc, but it was gone (we thought maybe it flung into the toilet). I was really upset. He gave me new earrings for Valentine's Day, and I REALLY appreciated that as he's not a jewellry-buying type of guy. But they weren't the same :(

This past Friday my parents came to help me re-decorate the bedroom to surprise Rob....and guess what my Dad found on their lawn? Yup, my precious earring!!

So, I can still say that I never really lose things :)



Anyway...more knitting....
This is a machine knit version of the Cameron Cap that I made earlier this winter. I used the same Sean's Sheep Armytage wool as the hat I loved before Christmas. I don't know why the above picture is so bizarre, but the next one is fine. I still have issues with the fact this pattern assumes your ears are located exactly at the 9 and 3:00 positions. Other earflap hats have the flaps moved just slightly to the back. I like the idea/concept of the hat but not the fit. I also changed a little to try to fix this, but wound up with some strange puckering of the bottom of the earflap, out over the knitted hem. When laid flat, it looked like this:


Mmmm....that looks a lot like the top of a FiberTrends felted clog. Although the moving in off sts every 4th row as you decrease up the top of the clog would be annoying, could you not knit the top and soles separately and then join? (The soles are garter stitch, with lots of increasing; not practical on the machine).

Another hat and fingerless gloves in Wooloomooloo (Sean's Sheep). You can't see the gold strand in the photo above, but you can below. The set was made with just two balls, only a few inches left I think. To do that, I made the gloves first because they are very similiar to the turquoise ones I made already so I knew fairly closely how much yarn to use up. They could be a smidge longer over the fingers, if I had had a third ball. I find it hard to fold back the 2x2 ribbing; there's not enough and it's cast off a little snug so it wouldn't flare. The hat I started at the top; it had a couple rough starts and ended up with 7 increases across the rounds instead of 8, LOL. It's a 1x1 rib. Here is one of the Thorpe earflap hats I made. I had to ask on Freecycle for some yarn to do the crochet edge and braids. I couldn't find the same yarn (Patons Portage; discontinued ages ago), so I rigged up some black Homespun (the lady thought), with fine strands of baby yarn in lilac and purple. It blended in quite fine. The Portage is one strand charcoal, one strand that changes from white to lilac to violet.
I forgot I had this wighead in the basement. Meg does NOT like it, LOL. But it sure is easier to photograph than setting the self-timer or asking Lucy to do it :)

Fashion Help

The problem with getting 'old' is that fashion starts repeating itself, and sometimes, you just don't want it too. I see alot of tank tops this winter, worn layered over blouses and t-shirts. I've already done this fashion years ago (okay, a little more than 2 decades ago, gulp). So whenever I try to layer a tank top over something, I feel that I'm either wearing a shirt under the tank because I forgot some personal hygiene that morning, or because my wardrobe is so sad that I'm trying to wear summer clothes in the winter. Anyone have any hints or tips or similiar issues?

But I would really love to wear my Lotus Blossom tank, and this W tank. I'm not overly in love with this though. Remember the great dye misfortune and how this was supposed to be shades of brown? I think I would have really preferred that. The green doesn't 'go' with anything I have. I don't think I can make pants to go with it, I don't wear skirts enough.... it just doens't quite look like I envisioned (I really wanted to be the skinny model in the pattern pictures). If I ever find a better yarn in the right gauge, I might try it again. Or, maybe I should not have a short 5 year old take the picture? Maybe it's the triple chins that are bothering me more than the actual tank top? LOL.

I actually had this all finished and wearable early last fall; that's how you know for sure I'm not in love with it; I hesitated on blogging about it for so long!

No Kittens in this House!

I often say that I never actually lose things. They might get misplaced....often for very long periods of time, but rarely is something gone for good. I was just beginning to think that my plum stripey mittens were gone for good though. I half expected to see someone around town wearing some cozy plum mitts, LOL.

Then, on April 1st---April Fool's Day---I parked in my usual parking spot about a block from the school. The snow was finally melting back from the curbs. As I was getting Megan out of the truck, I noticed something plum coloured in the snow. At first I thought it might be my other tipless glove (the ones that got lost at Wal-Mart), but I quickly realized it was my mitt. I looked around but couldn't find the other one. I got the kids, and had Huey look around. He is VERY good at spotting things (unless you say "Look at the giant white cruise ship on the small blue lake" LOL). He noticed that there was a mitt inside the mitt in the snow! They were very much stuck to the icey snow. We tried again on Tuesday to get them out. The snow had melted all around the mitts, but thanks to the wonders of wool, they were stuck to a patch of ice, LOL. On Thursday, Huey was the only one wearing winter boots, and he was able to kick the ice blob free from the dirt. I've left the mitts on the front porch, but the ice hasn't melted off of them yet (it's shady). I think a gentle wash and they will be good as new. We had some snow today, but hopefully that is it!!

To my non-family knitter friends.....click on the link to my other blog to see what Megan did!

Christmas is Over!!

The long awaited finale to Christmas 2007! I kept postponing posting this because some new photo issues/new computer things have been happening, and indeed, today when I went to download the pictures, the computer suddenly downloaded ALL the photos on the card....over 500 pictures, most of which had already been downloaded. Then, I had to go find WHERE the computer put them! FOr some reason, the computer has been making a new folder in Lucy's 5th Birthday folder, and importing all new pictures there (a new folder each time we try to download). So I decided I might as well sort those folders out right now while I'm here and not too distracted, LOL.
This is the Spring Blossoms Shawl by Fibertrends. Make with 5 skeins (1000 yds!) of Peace Fleece in Antarctica White. By the end, each skein was only knitting up about 15 rows, and the repeat is 16 rows. But the yarn is fairly economical, has a great story, and washes up beautifully. I used 6mm needles, and had to borrow some from a Freecycle friend--in the end, I think I had 4 sets of circular needles in use! In progress, spread out on the mini-trampoline. I was hoping it would only need 4 skeins and I could do other things with the 5th one, but no.....I was basing this on the Hemlock Ring afghan that's so popular. I was going to make it, but I'm just not a fan of Feather and Fan, and it just didn't seem 'right' for the receiver or the yarn.

It also took alot longer than the 30-40 hours reported for the Hemlock Ring!
Lucy's artistic shot while I was trying ot decide if it would block out big enough, LOL.

This is it spread out on my bed just before I blocked it

Rob cut up my styrofoam blocking board when we moved (May 06), so I bought these squares at Wal-Mart. They were supposed to be grey on the other side, but they're not. If they were joined together, it would be 4ft sq. So, I estimate the blanket to be about 51 inches. Is that big enough for an afghan, for someone who's not too tall?

A close up of the pattern. It really didn't stretch out too much when I blocked it; I could have used 6.5mm or 7mm needles, but also, it's not going to lose it's shape as easily either by being knit too loose. It's been done for over a week now, sitting in a box, waiting to be mailed.....I keep procrastinating so much with this blanket!! But now everything for Christmas 2007 is finished!! Is it too late to start on Christmas 2008? LOL.

Don't Let the Green Fool You!

Being that I'm totally not Irish, how am I celebrating St. Patrick's Day? Well, Huey's middle name is Patrick, and after a week and a bit off for March Break, he went back to school today! Yeah! Lucy is there now, and Meg is napping! I'd put some Bailey's in my coffee, but I have none. Bailey's, that is. You'd think I'd actually run out of hot, caffinated beverage items? I keep a 'back up' instant/flavoured-milk already in powdered mix type thing for those days we run out of milk :)

So, still some Christmas items, but some details and pictures!

Remember I talked about making clogs for the family Christmas gift exchange game, and they came out too small? My neice Ally (who is NOT an adult, LOL, I think her mom actually won) is the recipient of custom made clogs. She asked for purple and orange. I was having a hard time dealing with that, LOL, this was about as orange as I was comfortable with. Two strands Headwaters Wool and 8mm needles, size....crap, I've forgotten already! Not the lady's large, but the next size down. The gals have big feet in my family :)


I was concerned that I wasn't joining the soles on right. Because the inside sole, the bumper, and the outside sole are different colours, it's easy to see in pictures. This is ......picking up the sts for the bumper? Why is the working yarn on the left needle? LOL. I think I'm showing it from the 'other side'.


Here's the bumper (orange), with the light purple inner sole showing along the picked up sts. I thought after I did the pair before Christmas, that next time, I'd do the last row of the inside sole in the same colour as the bumper, but it actually doesn't show much once felted. And, sometimes I don't know until the end what colour all the different parts will be :)
Here's the same spot after felting; I had to pry it apart and open to show this much.

That's a handcrafted diaper cover :)
I had these done in early February, and I kept procastinating about mailing them. Then we suddenly decided to go to Oshawa for Family Day, so I got to actually drop them off :) I hear she likes them, but it'd be nice to hear it from her :)

I think there is only one more Christmas item to show! It's not quite finished though ;)

Happy Moment

I found the 'other' pink mitten of Megan's! They are safely rolled up together and in the mitten box. She refuses to wear them, preferring the dollar store red teddy bear ones instead! Rob and Lucy asked at Sobey's and looked in the lost and found, but my mitts are still missing.

Three Little Kittens

What is it with mittens this year? First I lose the tipless gloves that I loved. At least they were spotted in the slush of the Wal-Mart parking lot. Then I lost the plum/orangey/pink striped mitts I made just before New Year's. I think they might be at Sobey's, but I don't get there very often and I doubt Rob would remember to check for me. And now, it's Megan's turn. I made her a pair of little mitts in Patons Classic Merino in bright pink. Oh so cute! Then one went missing! I was just about to knit a new one, when I found the missing one in the back of the truck. I brought it in the house with the groceries....and now there is one pink mitts on the stairs and I can't find the other one. Is the one on the stairs the missing one, or the non-missing one? How long do I look for this time? I KNOW if I knit another one, I'll find the missing one, and then have three.....but do you know how confused that will make me? Especially since these are left/right mitts and I'll have two of one, but of course, will ever be able to only find the two that are the same.

Growth

Often knitters talk about growing as a knitter---trying new techniques, new colours, new ideas. Not very often do we talk about knitters growing.


Megan 'knitting' while lounging under the knitting machines desk, circa Nov/Dec 2006. Note the bag of green stuff between her legs....that's the alligator I just posted about, LOL.

Megan 'knitting' yesterday. She has decided that this green project is hers, and she asks me to sit with her and knit quite frequently. Charming at 4pm, not so much at 10:30pm. And trying to figure out how a non-verbal child is saying "Knitting"? It's a very similiar sign to the ASL for 'Popcorn'. LOL.

The crazy thing is, she's making almost as much progress on it as I am ;)

Happy Birthday to Me

Okay, my birthday was more than 6 weeks ago (and my mom's was last week and I haven't called her yet because it's been crazy here). I got NINE knitting books! Three from my parents, they ordered them and had them shipped directly to me from NABS. I got the box and thought "I'm pretty certain I haven't ordered ANYTHING from anywhere and what is NABS?" Once I opened it and saw the books and the card, I realized it was Needle Arts Book Shop(pe?). I was thrilled, because before Christmas I told my ma that books would be great this year, cause of the Cdn dollar, and I made out a big list, based on NABS website. I got NOTHING at Christmas :( But then just before my birthday the box came :) I'll write about those ones later.

Then, on my birthday, I opened the present from my MIL. It was "Knit Lit, Too". I've read the first one, but my library doesn't have the second one, so this was a nice gift :)

But, the day before my birthday, I got a 're-introductory' offer from Crafter's Choice Book Club. I had been a member, but somehow the address change when we moved never actually went through. I kept thinking that someday they'll find me and send me another great intro offer. Sure enough! And, because I don't buy many knitting books, and it's been so long, LOL, there were quite a few in the little catalogue that I wouldn't have minded getting....for $1 each. Now, usually with these offers they smoke you with shipping charges. Not this time. Take a look at this bounty:

I rarely pay full price for anything, and all 5 books came to $15.13. Total. That's right, under $20 for five knitting books, and they aren't all from the back dusty corner. Okay, sure, I have to buy I think, two more books in the next two years. But I think that's do-able :)
In looking just at these books, and thinking about others I have gotten from CCBC, I notice some small errors in the books. Is this how they sell them cheaper?

I'd love to do book reviews like Grumperina does, but having scanned a few things since getting the scanner, I know how long it takes! So, I'll just do a mini-version.

"Knitting Beyond the Edge" by Nicky Epstein. I have the first book of the series, and this is the third. The first one is a great introduction to life beyond ribbing and garter stitch, but I think alot of people were clueless as to how to use the edgings. This book is divided into more specific things "Necklines" "Collars and Cuffs" "Corners". Many of the designs are a little over-done for me, and often girly-girly. Perhaps it's because pale pink and purple were used a lot. And, alot of the cuffs and collars look like those fake collars you're supposed to put over a plain blouse to 'freshen' it up and update it....ie...they look like they were plunked onto a plain sweater with no thought of how to integrate it. And, if you just open the book to say, page 82, and start knitting....you might be in trouble. It just says "Cast on 82 sts...." Well, doesn't that depend on the yarn, and the size of neckhole, and......yes. You have to go to the back of the book and see the section on 'standard' necklines for the book and how to modify it to fit your gauge/pattern/yarn.
So, I'd say, the book is great for inspiration, but if you need hand-holding while you knit, you're going to be in trouble. If you want to try something, I'd recommend doing the sleeve first to try the pattern, see how to modify it for your gauge, etc, before committing to a big neckline.

"One Skein Wonders" by Durant (sorry, the dog is asleep in front of the bookcase and I don't want to disturb him). I love this book....and it annoys me :) With each pattern, there is a line drawing of the item.....there is a photograph section in the middle of the book for all the patterns. But while the patterns are arranged by yarn weight/type, the photographs are quite random. So, it's easy to get sidetracked! And nothing is modelled on a person, which is both good and annoying. There are lots of hats, scarves, some socks, purses, etc, and a few really neat patterns, like a diagonal wrap front baby sweater. Also, because the patterns are submitted from yarn stores around the US, some of the yarns are rather obscure. But, for small projects, substituting isn't a big headache. There's a few things I want to make for certain. But I have a problem. I used to have a lot of odd balls. I've Freecycled a lot, and lately only buy yarn if I can get enough 'for something'. So, for example, there's a great scarf for Noro Kuryeon. But I have five balls. I don't want to take one away then find a project later on for 5 balls, LOL. Nor do I want to make matching-poo hat, scarf, and mitts. But I do still have enough I think to make some quick projects and use up stash. That's my goal for this year. Cough. Again. Cough.

"The Ultimate Sock Book" by Vogue Knitting. While I wouldn't call this the "Ultimate" sock book, it is quite comprehensive, with a great range of patterns. I wasn't expecting the literature section in the front on the history of sock knitting, and on designing. While I don't see me knitting many of the socks, there are some that I will :)

"The Elegant Knitter" by Gina Macris. First off, I noticed some errors in yardage needed. The patterns say something like 2 skeins, 108yds each. Then, a few lines down, the "total yardage" is given and it's some other number that seems randomly choosen. Two skeins of a 104 yd skein does not equal 334 yds. Even I can figure that out.
None the less, there are some nice patterns in this book! A neat felting technique, sort of like tie-dyeing, a short row scarf that's cute, some mitts, gloves, dog sweaters, etc. Not huge projects, but mostly nice. There's a couple where I shake my head, but perhaps I'm not elegant enough. There is a large techniques section, so even a beginner knitter can use the book.

100 Knitting Projects by...blame the dog. When I got this, I kept thinking that the sweaters on the front looked familiar, especially the model in the background. A LOT of the patterns are from Patons--from leaflets and booklets. A lot of the Patons models are used on the TV show "Cityline" because someone from Patons used to model on CityLine. Many of the other patterns are basics from Red Heart, Sirdar, LionBrand, and Twilley's. Now....I'm happy to have the Twilley's patterns after seeing them for years in the Ram Wools catalogues. However...there are no schematics and usually only one artsy photo, not always showing the whole item. But the biggest pet peeve of this book is how the yardage is given. Say, for a long red scarf in Patons Allure. They'll list "71 1/2 ounces of fun fur, scarf shown in Patons Allure, Ruby Red". Couldn't they even just say 20 1.75 ounce balls? Or give the yardage? I have no idea what 38 1/4 ounces looks like. Especially if you want to substitute--the weight of the yarn is meaningless, you need to know more about the length of the yarn. I can understand generic patterns that don't patronize a specific yarn, giving BOTH ounces and yardage, but the way this book does it is annoying. However, I know ALOT of crocheters substitute like this becuase they seem to work with very simliar acrylic yarns, and 43 ounces of Red Heart Worsted is going to be very similiar to 43 ounces of Patons Canadiana. But I'd just like to know how many balls as well so I don't have to convert first to grams, and then divide.....Oh...and then, back to Twilley's....I wanted to compare two patterns for tank tops using the same yarn. One pattern gave the requirement in ounces, one in grams!!! No schematics either. But, all in all, this is a good solid book with a wide range of patterns that would be great for a new knitter building up a library.

If you have any specific questions about the books, let me know!

Christmas Past, and Past, and almost Past

I started this in July/Aug 2005 for Huey. He knew I was making it, and sometimes asked when I was going to finish. Awhile ago, I thought it was time, and got out all the pieces. Somehow, while hiding in the bottom of the basket, the alligator ate his own leg. I was so ticked, I put him back in the basket. I finally decided to tackle the reptile and show him who's boss, and I finished him as a surprise for this past Christmas. I was really pleased with the buttons, although I'm not sure what the yarn tail hanging out is. Man, it took a lot to stuff this sucker though!!

It's a pattern from LionBrand. I used Homespun for one of the colours and Bernat .....something....I actually bought enough yarn for a slightly different coloured one for Lucy. Anyone want three balls of two different green Bernat yarns?

For new pictures, see here!

Not Christmas, but Winter

Argh. I asked Rob to download the recent pictures off the camera card last night and he did, but he started at one picture newer than the picture I actually wanted. So I wonder if that picture is hiding in some folder somewhere.

This is the 'winter' dress I made for Lucy and Megan. I was going to do a Christmas fabric, but thought they'd get more wear out of a winter fabric. Well, they've worn them to the two Christmas parties, and that's it! Lucy wants long sleeves.
Same pattern as the Hallowe'en dress. These ones actually have the button sewn on though!

This is a diaper cover to go over fitted diapers, made using PUL (polyurethane laminated fabric) and FOE (fold-over elastic) binding. I'm not getting a snap press, so I used very wide hook & loop tape. It's too big, but works good. I've since made two pocket diapers (a cover with an inside lining--one velour, one microfleece--with an opening to put in soaker pads), and a fitted flannel diaper that I'll show later cause I did something really neat with it. I do still knit! I'm just doing lots of little things like mitts, hats, finishing up old stuff....I've got two 'big' projects on the go that I'd like to finish up (okay, one is barely past the first couple inches), but instant gratification is calling me :)

.

Not Christmas, but Still Old

I started working on these pajamas back in the fall (and I finished them just in time for the Chicken Pox in mid-Jan.). I bought a bit more fabric than the pattern said cause FabricLand flannel is not as wide as 'normal' brand flannel. But the cutting lady didn't know A) if I needed extra to allow for shrinkage compared to what the package said to get and B) how much extra to allow because it's narrower. So 'we' guessed. I washed it up right away, and got cutting pretty soon.
However....I knew this was a one way fabric but somehow forgot that when I laid out the pants pieces! Huey would NOT have upside down skulls on his pajamas. Not even when I said that if he looks down, then they're right side up. Argh. I cut more pieces the right way. Then, I laid out the top and found I could use the legs for the sleeves, but I'd still need a bit more fabric for the body of the shirt.

These are raglan sleeves, and from a knitter's perspective, it's done wrong. LOL. There is a seam on the top of the arm, neck to wrist, as well as under the arm. So each sleeve is two pieces. Perhaps this allow for better layout/less fabric when cutting, but it seems silly to add a seam where one isn't needed. You don't notice it in the patterned fabric, but you would on a solid.

The ribbed cuffs were another new thing. The instructions perplexed me, but I muddled through. For the pants, he likes the cuffs snug, so I wrapped the ribbing around and measured it that way. But for the neck (and sleeve cuffs), I just went with the pattern pieces. The neck turned out huge. I re-did it, and it's still pretty loose, but he actually likes that. LOL. I made a size 6-8 (he's 7 1/2), and they fit decently I suppose. He's actually smiling in the picture, and wore the pajamas for more than one night, all through the night, so I guess they're a success?

Pajamas have been a good way to practice sewing AND have an end result that's usable. I don't want to make pillows or purses or aprons; things I won't bother using, so these have been a good option. I highly recommend it for new sewers. The flannel is ALOT easier to work with than the rayon I used for the flowered dress in the fall! OMG, I thought I might never sew again!

More Christmas Stuff

Really, I'm not TRYING to stretch Christmas out as long as possible. Between chicken pox, colds, no naps, an 'import pictures' menu that is now MIA.....

I can't even remember what I"ve shown and what I haven't. I still can't find the awesome warm plum stripped mittens. I might rip apart the matching slightly felted hat and make more mitt/fingerless gloves with it. I made real mitts to go with the turquoise hat/almost mitts (so, I can wear a real mitt on the left hand, and an 'almost mitt' on the right hand, LOL). I've just made two "Thorpe" ear flap hats. I made Huey some mitts out of the black/grey/white yarn below, and a pair of mitts for Megan with Classic Merino in hot pink. And I thought I was being a good mom when I made mitts with 25% wool yarn before! Nothing but 100% wool for my kids now! Me, well, that turquoise was about 50% wool and the lack of wool is okay because the strand of glittery gold makes up for it, LOL.

Every year, the one side of the family does a gift exchange game. It gets very heated and exciting, LOL. I thought, this year, I'll make some clogs. The pink ones went over good on the other side of the family, and this side is even more appreciative. I used the Sean's Sheep Armytage from Wal-Mart, about two balls for the orangey pair, and a little over two balls for the white/grey pair. Uh huh. More for the smaller pair.

Felting is fun. Felting is not an exact science, and not for those who thrive on exactness. I made the orangey pair first, using the woman's large (9-10) size. They were a touch small on me, and although some of the girl kids have almost adult size feet (at age 8?!), the game is really for the adults. So, I thought, I'll make a pair using the man's large size, so they should felt down to be a ladies' large. Right?

Well....felting is fun.....they did turn out VERY thick and substantial. I used 8mm needles, just like I did with the Headwaters Wool pair from last year, and the Lopi pink pair from the other Christmas party. One strand. They aren't too fuzzy, almost a blend of Headwaters and Classic Merino. I'll use the yarn for felting again, but if I'm going to make clogs again, what size?! LOL.

Not Much New

Those mitts I posted two posts ago....so warm and cozy? I can't find them. I looked through our three baskets in the closet, and unless I'm confusing them with the matching hat, I can't find them! But I did get a pair of proper mitts made in the turquoise yarn that I made a hat and the 'half' mitts from.
I'm disappointed you can't see all the colours in that Baby Surprise Jacket photo. The one strand stays grey, the other one changes pink, white and purple.

I'm still really behind in posting my FOs.....even stuff from Christmas! I'm just doing little things for the most part, so they do add up quickly. And I got 9 books for my birthday!

And I really wanted to share more, but I don't remember what and Nina is coming to see Megan who is asleep, so I've got to clean!

Still Playing CatchUp

Did you know that the ASL sign for 'ketchup' is to make one fist, and whack it with the palm of the other? Oh, the things you learn when your kids have developmental delays :)

This here is a little Baby Surprise Jacket, hat, bootees and ball, all made with just under two balls of James Brett Marble. They are big balls, but a good deal at about $5.99. I like the slightly thick/thin texture, and how one ply stays grey while the other one changes colours (pink, purple and white). It is 100% acrylic, but I think in the greys especially, it does have a 'natural' quality to it. The pattern is pretty nifty too, although I'm not a fan of the seam along the top of the shoulder/arm. It makes the sleeves a little stiff.

The sweater had been done for awhile (except for sewing up and buttons), and then I decided to use up the leftovers to make a complete ensemble. It always takes me awhile to do the buttons! I did actually finish everything a little while ago (beginning of January?), but am just getting around to showing the pictures now!

This hat is called Cameron's Cap and is a free pattern. I altered it by using a bulky yarn and making the child's size, and I attached the hem when I got to that point instead of sewing it later. It's a little big on me I think. You do the hem, then shortrow, starting with about 6sts and working out to 2sts from either side of the 1/2 way marker and start marker (so, my size had 100sts, you work to 46st are in work). I was concerned about this because your ears are not placed directly center on your head (which is why after I made this hat, I did that other plum one that I felted a little). While it all works out, I didnt' like the way to works up to a V shape on the forehead, and my glasses get in the way. My mom however, really liked it but it didn't match her coat. I think it needs a little I-cord knot on top or something.

So, I made another one :) This time in Patons Decor. I started with a provisional cast on, but when I got to the row to join the hem, I couldn't get it even--either the front or the inside had 1/2 row too much or too little. Then I did the short rowing, but as I got near the end, I started working two more sts at one end of the shortrow but one st at the other end (and reversed it for the other earflap). This meant of course that there's not quite as many rows in the earflap as it should have, but I couldn't figure out how to get more rows but not go over into the other half of the hat. If someone figures it out, let me know. Maybe start with fewer sts at the bottom of the earflap--although I don't think the hem is flexible enough to bend around a steeper curve. If you picked up sts and did the hem after, that might work, adding in dec/inc around the curves of the earflap. These two pictures show the 'front' and 'back' (one side shortrowed 1 more st each row to almost the 1/2 way mark, the other side shortrowed 2 more sts each row. It's a very subtle difference as it ended up being only about 3 or 4 rows).

Also, the decreases happen rather quickly at the top of the hat (4 double decreases, every other row). Although I don't think this bothered me on the pink one, it seemed too pointy on the Decor one (although it could have been because my sts counts got really wonky). I ended up ripping back and doing 8 single dec on every row for the last few rows.

The first two pictures were taken with much difficulty using the self timer (after the bathroom mirror thing didn't work). This one was a last minute impulse before putting the camera away! I just held it out at arm's length and snapped, LOL. The yarn was pretty neat, it made really thick stripes in the section worked on all sts. The hat starts out going really fast, then you end up in stockinette land for awhile, and then finally you start the decreases, and they happen really fast! I'm thinking it could be done on the knitting machine, perhaps take it off to do the dec. section by hand.

There are still MORE finished object pictures to show!!

Here's the Mitts

Here's the mitts I made to go with the hat from a few posts ago. I'm not loving the hat so much anymore, but I'm loving, loving, loving the mitts. Except for driving and doing up carseats. LOL. Good thing I have more of the yarn to make another hat, and a pair of mitts like the turquoise ones! These mitts are SO warm. I can't believe how much warmer they are than the Decor mitts I make which have 25% wool. I don't think I can make mitts with less than 50% wool anymore!!

The first mitt got done quickly and easily. The second mitt had some issues...put on the backburner, the colour wasn't striping, I cut and restarted the yarn and then there was a knot, I messed up the decreases, etc. Why do I have MORE trouble with the second item of pairs? LOL.

Oh, and a bit more of the Mooloomooloo yarn (what the turquoise ones are) might have followed me home from Wal-Mart the other day....I wanted more of this Armytage that I did these mitts with, but they only had a similiar red/orange colourway, and a boring beige. I really hope they get more stock. They have another one, Malden, that has a high wool content (75% maybe) but it comes in solid colours (including a turquoise like the hat and mitt set), and it just looks so plain, LOL.