I wasn't enjoying using Weebly to make my TracyKM Designs website. I had created a Facebook "group" awhile ago, but realized that wasn't what I really wanted. So, today, I spent quite a while and made a "page" for TracyKM Designs. You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/TracykmDesigns .
And can I say "Wow!"? I am sooooo excited at the thumbs up I'm getting. I sewed up a bunch of mittens that I took into a friend's boutique, "Beadle". I linked to her in a picture of the mitts, and she re-posted it on her store's FB page....and STRANGERS are "liking" my (crappy) picture of the mitts! I wish I had gotten better pictures, but it was late when I finished on Sunday night, so I was a bit rushed on Monday morning. It's one thing for my own personal friends and family to say my stuff is nice, but when people who have no connection to me give a thumbs up? Making my day! Thanks!
And hopefully tomorrow I will get back to regular posting here :)
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Give Away!
Well.....had a little bit of life happen towards the end of last week, just the stuff that keeps things interesting...daughter had an allergic reaction to a drug, I had a migraine while trying to sew up a pile of mittens for a boutique and wasn't supposed to take pain killers because I was going to be having a thyroid biopsy yesterday, but then the doctor wouldn't do it...
But things are back on track now, and it's time for the give away. To be honest, I was really expecting more than 4 comments last week :( However, for the four that did take the time to comment, thank you! And lucky for you, you have a 1 in 4 chance of winning the sewing book! Without further ado, the winner is: Izbthmcmullen! As soon as we link up and I get an address, I'll mail the book off to you! It really is a charming little book :)
Stay tuned for more give aways over the next few months. I really have too many books for my bookcase!
But things are back on track now, and it's time for the give away. To be honest, I was really expecting more than 4 comments last week :( However, for the four that did take the time to comment, thank you! And lucky for you, you have a 1 in 4 chance of winning the sewing book! Without further ado, the winner is: Izbthmcmullen! As soon as we link up and I get an address, I'll mail the book off to you! It really is a charming little book :)
Stay tuned for more give aways over the next few months. I really have too many books for my bookcase!
Friday, November 02, 2012
Ooops! Sort Of!
Just a reminder that I will make a random draw this afternoon, from the comments this week for a copy of "Posh Pocket Sewing Tips"; a handy little book filled with great sewing tips and advice!
I've been communicating with a local photographer about making little hats and diaper covers for photo props. I finally got to meet up with her yesterday and sell her a few things. In exchange for a discount, she will let me use (with the parents' permission) her photos of the items. However, when I was leaving, I realized I hadn't taken pictures for the blog! Then I remembered the deal. Then I realized that I hadn't weighed some of the items! She loved the pink/beige hat with the flower, and I knit a diaper cover to go with it, 30gr. I also made a dark blue diaper cover to go with the soldier boy cap, a little bigger and denser yarn, 40gr. She didn't like the hat, particularly the yellow band. Perhaps if I used proper gold trim....or just take it off. I wasn't thrilled about it either. It does appear though that she doesn't like the bold boy type of hat, she likes more neutral and soft. I also made a long red and white striped stocking cap and striped diaper cover. Going to estimate 100gr for the hat and 35gr for the cover. She wants a few more items, and showed me some pictures of what she likes. Hopefully this leads to even more!
I don't like photoless posts, so here's a little picture (why does it seem smaller than pictures on other posts? I've even set this at "large" when usually I think I do "medium" and that was definitely smaller than usual). Taken on Thanksgiving weekend at my parents' almost a month ago!
Yarn In: 18 141gr
Yarn Out: 205gr + 14 640 = 14 845gr
Balance: 3296 gr more brought IN than used up
Costs: $437.08/313days = $1.40 per day
I've been communicating with a local photographer about making little hats and diaper covers for photo props. I finally got to meet up with her yesterday and sell her a few things. In exchange for a discount, she will let me use (with the parents' permission) her photos of the items. However, when I was leaving, I realized I hadn't taken pictures for the blog! Then I remembered the deal. Then I realized that I hadn't weighed some of the items! She loved the pink/beige hat with the flower, and I knit a diaper cover to go with it, 30gr. I also made a dark blue diaper cover to go with the soldier boy cap, a little bigger and denser yarn, 40gr. She didn't like the hat, particularly the yellow band. Perhaps if I used proper gold trim....or just take it off. I wasn't thrilled about it either. It does appear though that she doesn't like the bold boy type of hat, she likes more neutral and soft. I also made a long red and white striped stocking cap and striped diaper cover. Going to estimate 100gr for the hat and 35gr for the cover. She wants a few more items, and showed me some pictures of what she likes. Hopefully this leads to even more!
I don't like photoless posts, so here's a little picture (why does it seem smaller than pictures on other posts? I've even set this at "large" when usually I think I do "medium" and that was definitely smaller than usual). Taken on Thanksgiving weekend at my parents' almost a month ago!
Yarn Out: 205gr + 14 640 = 14 845gr
Balance: 3296 gr more brought IN than used up
Costs: $437.08/313days = $1.40 per day
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
A Scarf
Just a reminder to leave me a comment about how you found my blog, and how long you've been reading, to be entered into a draw to win a copy of "Posh Pocket Sewing Tips". It's an adorable purse sized book filled with lots of tips to streamline your sewing and keep your creativity flowing.
At the recent machine knitting group I go to, I was having a hard time with a project. I ran out of yarn for a hat. Tried again, a bit smaller, but still not enough. Then I tried another ruffle scarf. I had picked out a grey/black ball (66gr--100gr is a full ball) of Bernat Truffles. This was in the package of ruffle yarns I had gotten at Value Village, and I chose it that day because it's different than the other mesh ruffle yarns. It has the edge with the loops that goes on the needles, then a narrow, silky ribbon like section, then the other edge is a thick chenille strand. It's not very wide.
I thought I'd knit it with some grey yarn as the backing yarn. No way was this happening. I could not keep the thin ribbon down and the loops kept popping off the needles, more weight didn't really help. It was not liking me. Finally, I gave up and knit it over 5 needles, with 3 out of work needles between each. I hung every other loop on the loopy edge on each needle and "knit" each stitch by hand.
Even so, it was a very quick knit. The scarf is lovely, though since it technically is in stockinette stitch, it rolls! The stitches close in, and with the rolling, it's become a very narrow scarf with a neat look. Not so overly frou-frou like the other mesh yarns. Available for $25.
Later in the week, I picked up another ball, in browns, from Wal-Mart ($5.61; 100gr). I thought I'd try handknitting it since I needed a travel project. OMG. I could manage the stitches, but I realized that by knitting every row, the ruffles end up on both sides, and I found maneuvering the yarn at the start of the row very awkward...I kept wanting to knit it heading back towards the ball somehow!! I finally gave up.
Then when I went to put the ball of yarn back downstairs, I realized that the bag I got at Value Village had a ball of it in the browns! So, do I make a double wide scarf (and considering how narrow it is when it rolls, it still won't be wide), or do I make two narrow ones? I'll have to weigh the ball from VV first.
Then, I had to go to Michaels to pick up some yarn to make a matching diaper cover to go with that adorable pink/beige hat, so I had to pick up a few other balls of yarn while I was there (total: $11.27; 300gr). I've got a little stack of itty bitty baby items to photograph and weigh before meeting the photographer tomorrow. So exciting!
Yarn In: 400gr + 17 741gr = 18 141gr
Yarn Out: 66gr+ 14 574gr = 14 640gr
Balance: 3501gr more brought IN than used up
Costs: $16.88 + $420.20= $437.08/311 days = $1.41
At the recent machine knitting group I go to, I was having a hard time with a project. I ran out of yarn for a hat. Tried again, a bit smaller, but still not enough. Then I tried another ruffle scarf. I had picked out a grey/black ball (66gr--100gr is a full ball) of Bernat Truffles. This was in the package of ruffle yarns I had gotten at Value Village, and I chose it that day because it's different than the other mesh ruffle yarns. It has the edge with the loops that goes on the needles, then a narrow, silky ribbon like section, then the other edge is a thick chenille strand. It's not very wide.
I thought I'd knit it with some grey yarn as the backing yarn. No way was this happening. I could not keep the thin ribbon down and the loops kept popping off the needles, more weight didn't really help. It was not liking me. Finally, I gave up and knit it over 5 needles, with 3 out of work needles between each. I hung every other loop on the loopy edge on each needle and "knit" each stitch by hand.
Even so, it was a very quick knit. The scarf is lovely, though since it technically is in stockinette stitch, it rolls! The stitches close in, and with the rolling, it's become a very narrow scarf with a neat look. Not so overly frou-frou like the other mesh yarns. Available for $25.
Later in the week, I picked up another ball, in browns, from Wal-Mart ($5.61; 100gr). I thought I'd try handknitting it since I needed a travel project. OMG. I could manage the stitches, but I realized that by knitting every row, the ruffles end up on both sides, and I found maneuvering the yarn at the start of the row very awkward...I kept wanting to knit it heading back towards the ball somehow!! I finally gave up.
Then when I went to put the ball of yarn back downstairs, I realized that the bag I got at Value Village had a ball of it in the browns! So, do I make a double wide scarf (and considering how narrow it is when it rolls, it still won't be wide), or do I make two narrow ones? I'll have to weigh the ball from VV first.
Then, I had to go to Michaels to pick up some yarn to make a matching diaper cover to go with that adorable pink/beige hat, so I had to pick up a few other balls of yarn while I was there (total: $11.27; 300gr). I've got a little stack of itty bitty baby items to photograph and weigh before meeting the photographer tomorrow. So exciting!
Yarn In: 400gr + 17 741gr = 18 141gr
Yarn Out: 66gr+ 14 574gr = 14 640gr
Balance: 3501gr more brought IN than used up
Costs: $16.88 + $420.20= $437.08/311 days = $1.41
Monday, October 29, 2012
Yay!
We did it! There's now 50 official followers!
When I first started this blog, I thought I'd have a few readers, local friends and family, some fellow knitters from about.com's knitting forum. This was in the pre-Ravelry and pre-Facebook days. I used the blog as a way to journal my family's life, alongside my love of knitting. Mainly, I was going insane looking after three young kids, two with special needs, while trying to maintain a little piece of my original self. I always loved to journal, and to write, and to photograph, so a blog seemed like a good idea.
Over the past couple of years, I've wondered where my readers are. Did I still have readers? When Blogger introduced the Stats info, it was re-assuring to know that indeed, people were reading my posts, but how many were regular readers, and how many came just because they had googled something? Comments have been WAY down in the past couple years. It's like, now that there are the Stats, and the Followers lists, people don't feel the need to make their presence known through the comments. But without feedback, it gets very lonely here. I know I've got a good number of visitors, but how many of you visit with me on a regular basis?
For the give away, let me know how you found yourself here! Do you have a favourite post? Is there something you'd like to see more of? I'll make the random draw on Friday.
My most popular post is the one on the machine knit baby cocoon. It's had over 2300 visits (and yes, I suppose some of those were from me when I'd look up the post so I could give the link to someone else LOL). The next most popular one is about learning the ribber on the Singer 327. Machine knitting blogs are not very popular, and I love being one of the few regular posters about MKing. I'll never come close to Diana Sullivan's expertise, but I enjoy sharing my experiences as a new MKer, and letting others know that it is totally normal to have one session be awesome and inspiring, and the next session involves getting your face whipped with the antennae, yarn wrapped around the brushes, and the whole work falling off. LOL.
And for today's new content:
I remembered I had a ball of Bernat Mosaics in my stash. I had picked it up at Value Village and knew from the weight of it that there'd be A knot, somewhere. Well. There was way more than A knot :( For this hat, I short rowed down to 8 sts on one side and 9 on the other side, to add one more row per wedge. This also meant each wedge started at opposite sides. I'm not sure if that would work with two colours. However, I think I prefer this hat in the self striping yarn rather than two colours. This one is a smidge big on me. I think if I had knit it at T6 instead of T6* that it would fit well. I love that yarn. It weighs 130grams.
I think I'll leave fessing up to buying yarn till the next post. It's already rainy and a Monday, LOL.
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 104gr + 130gr + 14 340gr = 14 574gr
Balance: 3167 more yarn brought IN than used up
Costs: $420.20/309 days= $1.36/day
When I first started this blog, I thought I'd have a few readers, local friends and family, some fellow knitters from about.com's knitting forum. This was in the pre-Ravelry and pre-Facebook days. I used the blog as a way to journal my family's life, alongside my love of knitting. Mainly, I was going insane looking after three young kids, two with special needs, while trying to maintain a little piece of my original self. I always loved to journal, and to write, and to photograph, so a blog seemed like a good idea.
Over the past couple of years, I've wondered where my readers are. Did I still have readers? When Blogger introduced the Stats info, it was re-assuring to know that indeed, people were reading my posts, but how many were regular readers, and how many came just because they had googled something? Comments have been WAY down in the past couple years. It's like, now that there are the Stats, and the Followers lists, people don't feel the need to make their presence known through the comments. But without feedback, it gets very lonely here. I know I've got a good number of visitors, but how many of you visit with me on a regular basis?
For the give away, let me know how you found yourself here! Do you have a favourite post? Is there something you'd like to see more of? I'll make the random draw on Friday.
My most popular post is the one on the machine knit baby cocoon. It's had over 2300 visits (and yes, I suppose some of those were from me when I'd look up the post so I could give the link to someone else LOL). The next most popular one is about learning the ribber on the Singer 327. Machine knitting blogs are not very popular, and I love being one of the few regular posters about MKing. I'll never come close to Diana Sullivan's expertise, but I enjoy sharing my experiences as a new MKer, and letting others know that it is totally normal to have one session be awesome and inspiring, and the next session involves getting your face whipped with the antennae, yarn wrapped around the brushes, and the whole work falling off. LOL.
And for today's new content:
These are MK hats, my "I Love This Hat" pattern (don't go looking for it today, I'm re-writing the instructions, but if you really want it this week, leave me a comment). I was going to supply the MK group with the pattern and help anyone who wanted to work on it. So, I needed to work the pattern again, to see if it needed improving. First thing I did was sit down at the LK150 and read tension T4* or T4** for a larger size. I thought, that's dumb, there is no ** on the LK150, just whole numbers and the *. As soon as I started, I thought, there's no way I knit this at T4, that's way too tight. At some point, I realized that I wrote the instructions for the SK155; a bulky gauge. Well, despite getting the same gauge, this hat (the green one on the left) is like a pre-schooler's size. It's in Patons Decor, and used 104gr--but only one ball, despite the balls being 100gr!
I remembered I had a ball of Bernat Mosaics in my stash. I had picked it up at Value Village and knew from the weight of it that there'd be A knot, somewhere. Well. There was way more than A knot :( For this hat, I short rowed down to 8 sts on one side and 9 on the other side, to add one more row per wedge. This also meant each wedge started at opposite sides. I'm not sure if that would work with two colours. However, I think I prefer this hat in the self striping yarn rather than two colours. This one is a smidge big on me. I think if I had knit it at T6 instead of T6* that it would fit well. I love that yarn. It weighs 130grams.
I think I'll leave fessing up to buying yarn till the next post. It's already rainy and a Monday, LOL.
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 104gr + 130gr + 14 340gr = 14 574gr
Balance: 3167 more yarn brought IN than used up
Costs: $420.20/309 days= $1.36/day
Friday, October 26, 2012
Itty Bitty Hats! And a Give Away!
I've mentioned my love-hate relationship with crochet. When it's going well, I love the speed. I can follow patterns, to an extent. However, I am starting to make props for a baby photographer, and crocheting is the fastest way, and most of the best patterns are crocheted. So I'm sucking it up. Well, I'll still be knitting some of the items, LOL.
This is the Cheri Hat with the addition of a button band to make it more boyish/soldier capish.
It used up all that variegated blue and all a little butterfly of yellow (keep those little bits left over from projects, you never know when you'll need just a little of a colour!). The blue buttons were one strand of sock yarn, in order to get them small enough! Weighs in at just 30 grams.
This precious itty bitty hat was knit sideways on my LK150. I cast on 30st and short rowed down 6st at one end. I can't decide which way I like it most, and the picture below makes it a little smaller. I found a crochet flower pattern on line, and I've put it on a safety pin so the photographer can pick which way she wants the hat for each baby.
The hat weighs 22grams and the flower is 10grams. The flower is done in two colours because I wasn't sure I'd have enough to do it all in the matching colour, and I thought it might make it stand out better if the back row of petals was a solid colour. This hat can easily be handknit too, and I've done many in garter stitch, years ago. But on the machine....15 minutes :)
The hat weighs 22grams and the flower is 10grams. The flower is done in two colours because I wasn't sure I'd have enough to do it all in the matching colour, and I thought it might make it stand out better if the back row of petals was a solid colour. This hat can easily be handknit too, and I've done many in garter stitch, years ago. But on the machine....15 minutes :)
And now for the give-away! Early this year, I received an email from a book publisher offering me free books. I assumed it must be spam, but I did some googling, and the company did exist, and the books listed were soon to be released. I still couldn't believe that someone found my blog and wanted to give me books! Finally, I emailed her back. Indeed, no obligations. Since then, I've received several books, and I'm like a little child when a package comes! LOL. Right now, I'm at 48 followers. When I get to 50 followers, I'll let you know, and you can leave a comment, and I'll make a random drawing from the comments on that post. For the first draw, I'm offering the "Posh Pockets Sewing Tips". This is an adorable little book with tons of great sewing tips. I learned a few new things! So, if you're a casual reader, just add yourself to the followers list, and you might become the winner!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 62gr + 14 278gr = 14 340gr
Balance: 3401gr more brought IN than used
Cost: $420.20/306 days = $1.37/day
Ummm...I was doing good again about not buying yarn, but I grabbed a ball at Wal-Mart, and a couple balls yesterday at Michaels'...the photographer wants matching diaper covers and some more hats!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Oh Baby!
I've got some baby items to show off! I'd have even more if I'd get around to seaming a Baby Surprise Jacket, but I only like to seam during the day, and I don't get much "sit on the couch" time these days! I also need some brighter days to photograph a few other items!
This is the "All in One" sweater done on the LK150. This was a project the MK group I'm in did last....Oh my, I just went back in my emails to see if I had any record of when the club did it, and it was done last NOVEMBER. It sat in my knitting drawer until early this month, all it needed was the ribbing around the opening! So I finally sat down and got to work on that. I was almost ready to cast off when I realized I had forgotten buttonholes! So I decided to knit a flower and I'll sew a hidden snap on.
This is the same unknown yarn that I made the baby cocoon in, that you see in the tutorial from this past spring. I think I have just enough left for a little hat, though I"m unsure of what size to make it. If I have enough, I'll try to make two hats of slightly different sizes. Heads grow pretty quickly. It weighs in at 138gr and is 19" around at the chest.
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 138gr + 14 140gr = 14 278gr
Balance: 3463gr more brought IN than out
Costs: $420.20/304 days = $1.38/day
This is the same unknown yarn that I made the baby cocoon in, that you see in the tutorial from this past spring. I think I have just enough left for a little hat, though I"m unsure of what size to make it. If I have enough, I'll try to make two hats of slightly different sizes. Heads grow pretty quickly. It weighs in at 138gr and is 19" around at the chest.
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 138gr + 14 140gr = 14 278gr
Balance: 3463gr more brought IN than out
Costs: $420.20/304 days = $1.38/day
Monday, October 22, 2012
Clogging
I recently watched a special on TLC about two rival southern US clog dancing studios. That has nothing to do with these slippers, also known as "clogs". The shoes that the dancers wear look like jazz shoes with tap dance cleats. These knitted clogs look more like traditional Dutch wooden clogs.
Anyway. Another pair, 241gr of Classic Wool. I used two colours for the upper main part, changing yarns in the center since it's done with short rows and that's the only spot that works. Also, on this pair, I did the bumper join a little different. I've often found that the bumper seems too big, so this time, I picked up the stitches and followed the instructions for the next row, but cast off at the same time. Oh, and I never bother with picking up the sts with a spare needle (for the sole, the bumper or the cuff).
These are listed in my online store!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 241gr + 13 899gr = 14 140gr
Balance: 3601gr more brought IN than out
Costs: $420.20/302 days = $1.39/day
Anyway. Another pair, 241gr of Classic Wool. I used two colours for the upper main part, changing yarns in the center since it's done with short rows and that's the only spot that works. Also, on this pair, I did the bumper join a little different. I've often found that the bumper seems too big, so this time, I picked up the stitches and followed the instructions for the next row, but cast off at the same time. Oh, and I never bother with picking up the sts with a spare needle (for the sole, the bumper or the cuff).
These are listed in my online store!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 241gr + 13 899gr = 14 140gr
Balance: 3601gr more brought IN than out
Costs: $420.20/302 days = $1.39/day
Saturday, October 20, 2012
No Thanks
I was looking at my stats, and saw an interesting internet address that gave no clue what it was about in the list of referring sites. So I clicked it. My anti-virus software popped up saying that a malicious attack was sent from that site! Here's the address in case you see it in your stats too:
www3.t-8jy1o8pij.trickip.net
Anyone know more about this sort of thing?
www3.t-8jy1o8pij.trickip.net
Anyone know more about this sort of thing?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Manly Scarves
I know it's really easy, as a woman, to focus on the frilly, feminine, cute knitting projects. So often men get forgotten, or get a simple stockinette scarf or hat. I decided last week to make up some men's scarves. Great one ball projects!
The first one was Sirdar Denim Tweed DK, 50gr. It's a combo of acrylic, cotton and wool. The best of each! I made this on the LK150, using the common tuck pattern of every 4th needle in hold, knit 3 rows, put Russell levers to II and knit a row, then put the center needle of the three that had been in work, into hold. And repeat. Crochet cast on and off. Then a good steam!
The second one, I made on my SK155. Yes, I got a new tension dial cam and it seems to be doing tuck now (I have found that the tension dial still rises up and will come off the lever thingy, so I just keep a finger on the tension dial as I knit). This one is Bernat Wool Blend (Natural Blends), 80% acrylic, 20% wool. I used T10 and it was still a little tighter than I would have liked for a scarf, though it steamed out nice. It's 102gr. Interesting. I wanted to use a punchcard to make the same design as the first scarf, but I can't seem to find that one. I tried using a standard gauge punchcard, but it didn't work out. So I used the EON one which gives a ribbed look on one side and a small honeycomb on the back (some people think it looks like moss stitch).
Both these scarves were super quick, even allowing for knitting each one for a bit before deciding they were too wide. I mean, the actual scarf took maybe an hour. Super boring knitting, but at least it's only an hour :)
I've listed these on my other site www.tracykmdesigns.weebly.com!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 152gr + 13 747gr = 13 899gr
Balance: 3842 more yarn brought IN than used up
Costs: $420.20/299 days = $1.41/day
I've listed these on my other site www.tracykmdesigns.weebly.com!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 152gr + 13 747gr = 13 899gr
Balance: 3842 more yarn brought IN than used up
Costs: $420.20/299 days = $1.41/day
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Dark Side Scarves
Yes, I went and did it, I knit ruffle scarves as per the current trend. And, they are adorable. Maybe not quite my thing, but I think I need to make more, of different yarns, before I find "mine".
I did somethings different than the hand knit versions. I had seen on a Facebook group for Ultimate Sweater Machine owners how some people were knitting a thinner yarn and adding the ruffle yarn on every 4th row. Start by casting on around 20sts with the background yarn and knit two rows. Then, using the non-thick edge of the ruffle yarn, hang loops on the needles. Depending on the ruffle yarn, and how thick you want it, use about every 6th loop. I started out with every other loop, but that was not ruffly enough. Once you have those loops on, hold them down with one hand and knit slowly over them with the background yarn, and then knit 3 more rows with the background yarn. With the brows/grey one, I was using a sock yarn (28sts/4") and felt that 5 or 6 rows was better spacing.
With the pink one, I used the thick edge of the ruffle yarn. This was the first one I made, LOL. On the Red Heart Sashay (the scarf on the right), the thick edge has a glitter strand, so I quickly realized I had made the first one wrong ("Starbella" yarn). I also thought it seemed a little wide at the end, so I gradually decreased the width until I was getting low on yarn and then started increasing again. This makes the scarf narrower where you wrap it around your neck. For the right one, I also made the ends more dense with the ruffles, and less dense through the middle.
I like the idea of the background yarn; it'll make the scarf warmer for winter, and perhaps lessen the "growing" issue I've heard about these scarves. It also allows me to vary how wide the scarf is as I go along, as well as how thick the ruffles are. And it uses up some small bits of other yarns!
Pink one: 133gr; beige/grey one: 113gr. The ruffle yarn is 100gr in each case. The pink one is quite a bit longer (and less dense) than the brown one.
These scarves are posted for sale in my shop!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 246gr + 13 501gr = 13 747gr
Balance: 3994gr more brought IN than used
Costs: $420.20 /298days = $1.41/day
With the pink one, I used the thick edge of the ruffle yarn. This was the first one I made, LOL. On the Red Heart Sashay (the scarf on the right), the thick edge has a glitter strand, so I quickly realized I had made the first one wrong ("Starbella" yarn). I also thought it seemed a little wide at the end, so I gradually decreased the width until I was getting low on yarn and then started increasing again. This makes the scarf narrower where you wrap it around your neck. For the right one, I also made the ends more dense with the ruffles, and less dense through the middle.
I like the idea of the background yarn; it'll make the scarf warmer for winter, and perhaps lessen the "growing" issue I've heard about these scarves. It also allows me to vary how wide the scarf is as I go along, as well as how thick the ruffles are. And it uses up some small bits of other yarns!
Pink one: 133gr; beige/grey one: 113gr. The ruffle yarn is 100gr in each case. The pink one is quite a bit longer (and less dense) than the brown one.
These scarves are posted for sale in my shop!
Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 246gr + 13 501gr = 13 747gr
Balance: 3994gr more brought IN than used
Costs: $420.20 /298days = $1.41/day
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Can't Blame this on Marg!
Had to do some thrift store running around with Meg to look for costume parts, and of course, I check the yarns! Value Village had quite a few cones of yarn, including some nice creamy colour, slightly fuzzy. But no label. So I passed it by! I'm so proud of myself, LOL. However, they did have this bag of ruffle/novelty yarns:
259 grams, for $2.99 + 0.39 tax....$3.38! Usually this yarn is sold in 100gr balls, so I'll have to check each ball before I start a project. But with the way I've been doing it on the knitting machine, I can stretch it out further than the HK patterns.
Also, while googling around this weekend, I came across a webpage with instructions on how to make your own novelty ruffly yarn on the knitting machine! I might give it a try, but using the ribber. Otherwise, you will have a very curly edge on the "yarn". It's also going to be more dense than the mesh style ribbon yarns. But it will be very unique!
Yarn In: 17 482 + 259gr = 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 13 501gr
Balance: 4240gr more brought IN than out
Cost: $416.82 + $3.38 = $420.20/$1.43 per day
I do have a few completed items to show next week!
259 grams, for $2.99 + 0.39 tax....$3.38! Usually this yarn is sold in 100gr balls, so I'll have to check each ball before I start a project. But with the way I've been doing it on the knitting machine, I can stretch it out further than the HK patterns.
Also, while googling around this weekend, I came across a webpage with instructions on how to make your own novelty ruffly yarn on the knitting machine! I might give it a try, but using the ribber. Otherwise, you will have a very curly edge on the "yarn". It's also going to be more dense than the mesh style ribbon yarns. But it will be very unique!
Yarn In: 17 482 + 259gr = 17 741gr
Yarn Out: 13 501gr
Balance: 4240gr more brought IN than out
Cost: $416.82 + $3.38 = $420.20/$1.43 per day
I do have a few completed items to show next week!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
It's All Marg's Fault!
I think I can safely blame this latest yarn haul on Marg. She's in the same Yahoo machine knitting groups as me, and I joined the Kawartha Karriage Knitters' Klub because of her. Members of this club like to travel into Toronto to visit a yarn store that also deals with knitting machine stuff. It's not a trendy, come sit on the sofa and chat, type of store. It's not on a convenient commuter train or subway line. For someone like me who doesn't city highway drive, it's not that easy to visit. But the ladies said they'd pick me up on their way in, so how could I refuse?!
I needed a couple parts for my knitting machines, so really, I HAD to go. And since I was there, I HAD to get yarn too. 2000 grams. Oh boy. Some of it was Patons Classic Wool (oops, forgot to see if they had the Classic Superwash Wool DK!), which I try to keep a good stockpile of for felting. Some was sock yarn--one bag is manly camo colours which should make a cool scarf or gloves. One big ball is James Brett Marble Chunky which will make a nice boyish blanket to add to the sell box (I do tend to favour girl colours). Two balls of Patons Lacette in a plum colour to knit with that huge cone of the pink Lacette that I used for ponchos a few Christmases ago and still have a ton left. Six balls of "Tent Sale" ruffle yarns for scarves. I really would have liked to buy more, but I"m trying to behave myself. As it was, I spent $131 in total, but some of that was the parts.
I've got to get sewing in the next few days, and get some mitts done. I'm still trying to find a craft sale that I can rent a table at, but I fluctuate between "I don't have nearly enough stuff or time to make stuff" and "I've got some neat stuff". I've also made a connection with a local photographer who is interested in baby photo props. I feel like I've got so many things happening right now that I can't give enough to each thing, yet I don't want to give anything up. And did I mention that the basement is being renovated and everything is being moved into my studio space?!
Yarn In: 2000gr + 15 482gr = 17 482gr
Yarn Out: 13 501 gr
Balance: 3981gr more brought IN than out
Costs: $317.59 + $99.23 = $416.82/290 days = $1.44 per day
I needed a couple parts for my knitting machines, so really, I HAD to go. And since I was there, I HAD to get yarn too. 2000 grams. Oh boy. Some of it was Patons Classic Wool (oops, forgot to see if they had the Classic Superwash Wool DK!), which I try to keep a good stockpile of for felting. Some was sock yarn--one bag is manly camo colours which should make a cool scarf or gloves. One big ball is James Brett Marble Chunky which will make a nice boyish blanket to add to the sell box (I do tend to favour girl colours). Two balls of Patons Lacette in a plum colour to knit with that huge cone of the pink Lacette that I used for ponchos a few Christmases ago and still have a ton left. Six balls of "Tent Sale" ruffle yarns for scarves. I really would have liked to buy more, but I"m trying to behave myself. As it was, I spent $131 in total, but some of that was the parts.
Yarn In: 2000gr + 15 482gr = 17 482gr
Yarn Out: 13 501 gr
Balance: 3981gr more brought IN than out
Costs: $317.59 + $99.23 = $416.82/290 days = $1.44 per day
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Move Along....Nothing to See Here....
Well. I got bit. By the ruffle scarf bug. I'd been letting those couple balls I bought hibernate in my basement, but after seeing some ruffle scarves done on the knitting machine, I thought it was high time to knit it up, lest it hibernate itself right out of style.
I'll post pictures tomorrow of the first two scarves. Today is about what I purchased to make more. Last week, Michael's had the Sashay and Starbella on sale, $1 off, so I bought a few more balls. On Thursday. On Friday we get the new flyer, and they're on sale for even more off. Argh.
I've gotten some questions about my "Yarn In/Yarn Out/Balance/Cost" blurbs. So, to recap--the week after Christmas last year, I decided to start keeping track of how much I knit and how much yarn I buy. The first few projects were using up old stash and I couldn't figure out yardage, so I decided to go by weight. It's also easier for most people to visualize 100gr of yarn (a ball of Classic Wool, or Decor, or sock yarn), rather than 220yds (Classic Wool) or 420 yds (sock yarn). When I'm fully done a project (trimmed ends, etc), I weigh the project. That's pretty simple. I don't do a lot of swatching, so I generally am not weighing swatches, unless I actually knit something from that swatch and it's using up the yarn. If I'm keeping the swatch because there's more yarn, or I'm not ready to use it, then I'm not weighing it. As for "Yarn In"....I started off the year with a big yarn donation--4820gr. I did NOT add this to my "bought" yarn total. I tried initially to keep separate totals for things I made with donated yarn, but I think it caused too much confusion in later posts where items were made from both types of yarn, but I used only the running total from "bought" yarn. So, I'm going to go back and alter the original posts to reflect TOTAL yarn in (from all sources) and TOTAL yarn out. When I get that done, I will update this post, so I'm not posting my totals for this purchase, except to say it was 600grams and about $45.
Okay, I've updated. For those that are interested, previously, on Oct 4, I had posted Yarn In: 9738gr, Yarn Out: 12 643gr; Balance: 2905gr more used than bought. My new Oct 4 details are Yarn In: 14 828gr; Yarn Out 13 501gr; Balance 1327gr more In than Out. So, my yarn in grew quite a bit, and my yarn out grew a little, and I've still got more new yarn brought into the house, than yarn that has left the stash (yes, much of it has just changed shape and moved to a different part of the house). And now are my new totals including the yarn I bought last week:
Yarn In: 14 828gr + 600gr = 15 482gr
Yarn Out: 13 501 gr
Balance: 1927gr more IN than Out
Costs: $317.59 + $42.86 = $360.45/289 days = $1.25/day
I still think this is quite reasonable; particularly the cost per day. Less than a cup of coffee! And, if you divide the 15 482gr by $317.59, you get 48.7cents per gram. That doesn't sound too bad, though I will admit getting the huge (4829gr) donation early in the year really subsidizes that cost. If I didn't have that donation, my daily cost would still be the same, but my output would probably have been a little lower too as I made at least 4 baby blankets and many hats/scarves with it! I was going to figure out how much yarn I use per day, but some of the "yarn out" was donated, not knit. If I don't buy anymore yarn, and do get more used up...lets say I end the year with 1000gr more brought in than used....times by 17 years of knitting....17 000gr of "surplus" yarn....You really don't think I'm about to get out my scale and weigh all my yarn do you? LOL!!
I'll post pictures tomorrow of the first two scarves. Today is about what I purchased to make more. Last week, Michael's had the Sashay and Starbella on sale, $1 off, so I bought a few more balls. On Thursday. On Friday we get the new flyer, and they're on sale for even more off. Argh.
I've gotten some questions about my "Yarn In/Yarn Out/Balance/Cost" blurbs. So, to recap--the week after Christmas last year, I decided to start keeping track of how much I knit and how much yarn I buy. The first few projects were using up old stash and I couldn't figure out yardage, so I decided to go by weight. It's also easier for most people to visualize 100gr of yarn (a ball of Classic Wool, or Decor, or sock yarn), rather than 220yds (Classic Wool) or 420 yds (sock yarn). When I'm fully done a project (trimmed ends, etc), I weigh the project. That's pretty simple. I don't do a lot of swatching, so I generally am not weighing swatches, unless I actually knit something from that swatch and it's using up the yarn. If I'm keeping the swatch because there's more yarn, or I'm not ready to use it, then I'm not weighing it. As for "Yarn In"....I started off the year with a big yarn donation--4820gr. I did NOT add this to my "bought" yarn total. I tried initially to keep separate totals for things I made with donated yarn, but I think it caused too much confusion in later posts where items were made from both types of yarn, but I used only the running total from "bought" yarn. So, I'm going to go back and alter the original posts to reflect TOTAL yarn in (from all sources) and TOTAL yarn out. When I get that done, I will update this post, so I'm not posting my totals for this purchase, except to say it was 600grams and about $45.
Okay, I've updated. For those that are interested, previously, on Oct 4, I had posted Yarn In: 9738gr, Yarn Out: 12 643gr; Balance: 2905gr more used than bought. My new Oct 4 details are Yarn In: 14 828gr; Yarn Out 13 501gr; Balance 1327gr more In than Out. So, my yarn in grew quite a bit, and my yarn out grew a little, and I've still got more new yarn brought into the house, than yarn that has left the stash (yes, much of it has just changed shape and moved to a different part of the house). And now are my new totals including the yarn I bought last week:
Yarn In: 14 828gr + 600gr = 15 482gr
Yarn Out: 13 501 gr
Balance: 1927gr more IN than Out
Costs: $317.59 + $42.86 = $360.45/289 days = $1.25/day
I still think this is quite reasonable; particularly the cost per day. Less than a cup of coffee! And, if you divide the 15 482gr by $317.59, you get 48.7cents per gram. That doesn't sound too bad, though I will admit getting the huge (4829gr) donation early in the year really subsidizes that cost. If I didn't have that donation, my daily cost would still be the same, but my output would probably have been a little lower too as I made at least 4 baby blankets and many hats/scarves with it! I was going to figure out how much yarn I use per day, but some of the "yarn out" was donated, not knit. If I don't buy anymore yarn, and do get more used up...lets say I end the year with 1000gr more brought in than used....times by 17 years of knitting....17 000gr of "surplus" yarn....You really don't think I'm about to get out my scale and weigh all my yarn do you? LOL!!
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Sweet and Simple
I couldn't wait to share this blankie with you. It's not fussy, difficult, creative, or special (yet) but I think it's because it's not any of those things, that I want to share it. It's nice to get back to basics once in awhile.
I started with the mitered square blanket from Eileen Montgomery. I have made this before (scroll down to the end), but I can't find the original post. With the original pattern, you short row by putting one needle out of work and knit two rows. I found that this doesn't quite make a square (though at a loose gauge, it could probably be blocked fairly close). While knitting the Bill King Boleros, I thought about how the 3 needles in work, 1 out of work pattern gave a stitch and row gauge that were very close to being equal. I wanted to try knitting the blanket using that idea.
The original pattern suggests a giant pie crust trim. I wanted to re-visit a Mary Anne Oger trim that I had done before (Knitwords 41, Summer 2007 and also "Knitting on the Edge"). I was heading to the MK group I go to once a month, so I packed it all up to take. I wish I had had the chance to try the edging before I left as it took me a bit of time to figure it out again. It's not nearly as fast as the worm or pie crust trims, but it is quite cute and perhaps a bit more boy-ish than the loopy trims. It took me a week to finish the trim, but that's only because life got in the way. A good solid day at the machine would have had it done.
Into the sale bin it goes ($30)! I still have more than enough of this yarn to do another blanket, but I think I'll do some clothes for a change.
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 234gr +13 267= 13 501gr
Balance: 1327gr more In than Out
Costs: $317.59/284 days = $1.12/day
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Reversible Mittens
Wow, life is really getting in the way of getting much done! Every time I go out to do something, it takes two trips. One day last week, I was at the kids' school FOUR times.
One problem with knitted mittens is that they tend to not be dense enough, particularly against wind. Yes, you can use thicker yarn, but you still can not eliminate the microscopic gaps between stitches. You can add an inside, knitted layer, but it's still just two layers of knitting. I began thinking maybe I could try "plating" to get a thick pair of mittens without using a thick yarn.
Plating (or, some machines call it "plaiting"), is knitting with two yarns in the carriage. One is held closest to the needles, and one is held further out. This means that the knit side of the fabric shows up as one colour, and the purl side as the second colour. If you were to just hold two yarns together, they twist around each other and appear random on both sides. This is one of the few things that a knitting machine can do that you just can't do in hand knitting. I'd never done anything with it before, but after the seminar I went to in May, I was eager to try.
My first issue...the ribbing. If I plated it, then converted the stitches, you actually get vertical stripes of both colours. I finally realized that I could make the ribbing like a big hem. Start with the inside colour, knit 20ish rows, change to the outside colour, knit another 20 rows, and then convert it all to ribbing. Then pick up the first row (done with an open cast on), and put it on the needles, and continue on. Found out you have to cut the first yarn after it's ribbing though, and re-start it after hanging the hem.
And since the backside is a different colour than the front...what if they were seamed so they can be reversible? At this point, I really wish I had a mid-gauge or bulky with a ribber, and could have knit the hand without needing to seam. The knitting didn't take long (well, not if you don't count the first mitten that I made which I had to unravel after I weighed it and found it took more than half the ball of pink, and I had only one ball). But the seaming...that was a killer.
I mattress stitched the pink/purl side and it looked great. Then I tried several options for the knit/black side. Ended up sort of duplicate stitching. It didn't really even need a seam on the outside, but my conscience told me to do it. LOL.
These ended up fitting about a size 5 (Meg is 6 and a big girl, and they don't fit her). I've listed them for sale in my webstore at $15. Basically, that means I worked for $0.01 per hour, after taking off the material costs. Sorry, not worth it! However, if you'd like a custom knit pair, I'd be tempted to do that, but I won't be knitting these up as "stock".
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 13 201+ 66gr = 13 267gr
Balance: 1561gr more In than Out
Costs: $317.59/282 = $1.13/day
(however, I've bought quite a bit of wool sweaters/fleece in the past week!)
One problem with knitted mittens is that they tend to not be dense enough, particularly against wind. Yes, you can use thicker yarn, but you still can not eliminate the microscopic gaps between stitches. You can add an inside, knitted layer, but it's still just two layers of knitting. I began thinking maybe I could try "plating" to get a thick pair of mittens without using a thick yarn.
Plating (or, some machines call it "plaiting"), is knitting with two yarns in the carriage. One is held closest to the needles, and one is held further out. This means that the knit side of the fabric shows up as one colour, and the purl side as the second colour. If you were to just hold two yarns together, they twist around each other and appear random on both sides. This is one of the few things that a knitting machine can do that you just can't do in hand knitting. I'd never done anything with it before, but after the seminar I went to in May, I was eager to try.
My first issue...the ribbing. If I plated it, then converted the stitches, you actually get vertical stripes of both colours. I finally realized that I could make the ribbing like a big hem. Start with the inside colour, knit 20ish rows, change to the outside colour, knit another 20 rows, and then convert it all to ribbing. Then pick up the first row (done with an open cast on), and put it on the needles, and continue on. Found out you have to cut the first yarn after it's ribbing though, and re-start it after hanging the hem.
I mattress stitched the pink/purl side and it looked great. Then I tried several options for the knit/black side. Ended up sort of duplicate stitching. It didn't really even need a seam on the outside, but my conscience told me to do it. LOL.
These ended up fitting about a size 5 (Meg is 6 and a big girl, and they don't fit her). I've listed them for sale in my webstore at $15. Basically, that means I worked for $0.01 per hour, after taking off the material costs. Sorry, not worth it! However, if you'd like a custom knit pair, I'd be tempted to do that, but I won't be knitting these up as "stock".
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 13 201+ 66gr = 13 267gr
Balance: 1561gr more In than Out
Costs: $317.59/282 = $1.13/day
(however, I've bought quite a bit of wool sweaters/fleece in the past week!)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Warm Feet
I used to make Fiber Trend's felted clog pattern quite a bit, but last year started making the felted clogs on my bulky knitting machine. Those were nice and quick, but only a single layer, done in stockinette stitch. Even done in two colour fair isle, the soles are not as thick as the FT clogs, which are done in garter stitch (much denser than stockinette) and have two layers. They're also done with a bulkier yarn (or, two strands of Patons Classic Wool). I finally put holes in my last pair of the MK clogs, and decided it was time to HK a Fiber Trend's pair!
These were made entirely of Patons Classic Wool this time (sometimes I use Lopi), and weigh 240gr and are the lady's medium. If you make them, keep in mind that the soles use up more wool than the body part.
They took me a little longer than I was expecting, because I haven't made them in awhile and I just don't seem to get "sit and knit in the quiet" time anymore! However, I got started right away for another pair, either for the gift box, or maybe for my "store". What do you call an online store?
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 12 961+ 240gr = 13 201 gr
Balance: 1627gr more In than Out
Costs: 317.59/276 days = $1.15/day
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 12 961+ 240gr = 13 201 gr
Balance: 1627gr more In than Out
Costs: 317.59/276 days = $1.15/day
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I Have a New Website!
I've mentioned here before about starting a business, selling my projects. I've now created a website to showcase/sell my finished items (and maybe patterns). It's a work in progress, but check it out. The link should be over there in my links, or try this: www.tracykmdesigns.weebly.com.
Thanks for all your support, and know that I am still devoted to this blog and am not stopping! I've seen a lot of blogs through the years that start out as a personal web blog, but gradually become just a designer's showplace/market as the writer becomes "famous". No longer do we hear about the project design process, the struggles, the "a ha!" moments, or other parts of their life. I love to write, I love to write about my creative process, and I hope to be here for a long time!
Thanks for all your support, and know that I am still devoted to this blog and am not stopping! I've seen a lot of blogs through the years that start out as a personal web blog, but gradually become just a designer's showplace/market as the writer becomes "famous". No longer do we hear about the project design process, the struggles, the "a ha!" moments, or other parts of their life. I love to write, I love to write about my creative process, and I hope to be here for a long time!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Sew Organized
While browsing the sewing patterns early this summer, at Value Village, I came across one by Simpliclity for a variety of organizers. I thought this would be great for our truck. The girls sit on either side in the back, and Hugh either sits between them (if both parents are going), or he sits in the front. When it's just the girls in the back seat, they tend to take over, and use the seat for "storage", so that the next time Hugh gets in the back, they have to quickly re-locate everything. They have large pockets on the back of the front seats, but it's just one pocket.
I searched through the stash and came up with this combo--the seersucker with gold metallic is the last bit of fabric left from a ring sling made in 2006, and the brown cord is from around then too. I used purchased bias tape. And lots of it. I think I used a little more than the pattern requested, even though I eliminated the CD slots. However, the packages I bought didn't list yardage.
When I got the large yarn donation in the winter, it came with fabric and quite a bit of interfacing. Plus, I had bought some really stiff interfacing to sew fabric boxes (but never got to), so except for the trim, this all came from stash. I did have to piece some of the interfacing for one of the backing pieces, and some pockets have sewn in, instead of iron on.
Sewing this was a love-hate thing. I loved that I was making something useful, out of stash fabric. I hated some of the steps. You start with basting the back fabric, the interfacing, the batting, and the front fabric. I had a hard time keeping the layers together and even. I'd end up with way too much lower fabric left at the top. Tried easing it in. Trimmed some. It just did not go well. I think this might contribute to the curving inwards it does when hanging in the truck. I think next time I would do a few lines on the back fabric to quilt the batting and interfacing, then sew the pockets on just the front, then quilt along some of the sewn lines to adhere it to the back.
In the picture above, you can see that I forgot to sew a vertical line from the flap to the bottom, to divide the open pocket from the flap pocket. Really, I don't think so much detail was needed.
The water bottle pocket (top right) is a little too shallow for most water bottles. I thought about lowering it and making it taller, but realized you need to be able to get into the pocket below it. So, for the bottom pocket, I moved the stitching line that divides it over to the left a little, so the water bottles would fit down there instead. Much better spot.
You were supposed to use webbing and buckles and little loops of bias tape for the top hanging loop. I didn't like the look of the black or white webbing, so I used just the bias tape and no buckles. I take the headrests out and slip these over. For the bottom, there were to be little loops on the bottom, and a long shoelace threaded around the seat. I don't know if it's our seats or what, but that would have been too low. I did loops on the side, and pieces of ribbon instead.
There are some issues though. One is that the organizer hangs away from the seat back a little. The lower pocket, in particular, hangs forward--even with nothing in it!. It makes it even more difficult for Hugh to get into the middle seat. As well, the sides of the organizer curl inwards a little. At first, I thought we'd be able to take these in and out (like when we get to Grandma's and they want to take all their little stuff in the house), so being able to roll or fold it would be handy. But that's not happening, and I wish the backs were of a more rigid material.
While things might be more organized for the girls, Hugh doesn't get anywhere to put stuff, and these actually narrow the space for getting in/out. And Rob thinks the fabric is dull. I wanted it to be "mature" and blend in in case he takes co-workers places. Not sure if I'd ever make these again...SO many little bits of fabric, cutting, sewing....
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Bill King Bolero #4
...and it probably won't be my last!
After the brown one for me, I wanted to experiment with improving the fit, particularly under the arms. I wanted a bit more width across the chest (but not the back), and a bit more length in the center front. The challenge is that the width and length are closely linked with this type of knitting (short rows). Some sections make your rows be the garment width, and some sections make your rows be the garment length. Confused yet? LOL. You can't just add/subtract stitches for the width, as that would affect the length...and once you're done the sleeve, there's no where to add/subtract stitches (although I was thinking one night.....)
This is a 4 wedge jacket, however, it helps to think of it as 8 sections.
The straight bit at the top with the red is the cast on. I cast on 16 groups of stitches, and knit 8 rows without increasing, then I start increasing, one stitch, every other row.
1) Going clockwise from the sleeve, the portion between the sleeve and the first line of holes is the bit on your shoulder (draw, right now, a diagonal line on yourself from your armpit to your collarbone. This wedge is the part above that line). Stitches control underarm to shoulder seam length; rows control underarm to center front width.
2) The next section, from those holes to 1/2 way along that straight edge on the lower right slant, is the part over your chest from that diagonal line you drew, to straight across from your armpit. Stitches control underarm to center front width; rows control length from clavicle to halfway down front.
3) The next section is the upper part of the lower front. The diagonal line of holes pointing to about 5:00 go from your armpit to the front center corner. Stitches control width, rows control length.
4) The next section, from that second row of holes to almost straight down in the picture, is the side "seam" running straight down from your arm pit. Stitches control length (from waist to hem); rows control width from centre front to side "seam".
5) The rest of that lower straight edge, up to the holes, is the lower back, across to the center back seam Stitches control length over the lower back; rows control the lower width.
6 and 7) from those holes at about 7:00, to the next set of holes is the center back seam (you'll actually end it before getting right to the corner. Stitches control width; rows control length
8) the last set of holes goes from the armpit, diagonally up the back to the base of the neck. The section between the holes and the sleeve are the upper back shoulder. Stitches control length from underarm to shoulder, rows control width from center back to upper arm.
Thankfully, what all this means, is that it actually IS easy to add width and length to the center front! More on that later.
I know I've recommended steaming before seaming for this jacket, but of course, I couldn't wait. Strangely though, this time I seamed one half of the sleeve to itself (not pictured). It was an itty bitty little sleeve! If you're having trouble imagining how this all goes together, take your cast on edge, and your cast off edge, and sew the sides that are next to each other, resulting in a deformed hexagon. The cast on and off edges are the sleeve cuffs. You could start/end with ribbing. I'd be tempted though to start/end with waste yarn, then sew the seam, then do ribbing, then join it to the edge. This way you'd get a matching ribbed cast on all across your sleeve.
I got both sleeves seamed, and laid my two pieces out to visualize the rest. Fold them so that the other edge of the cast on/off meet up. Lay it out so you can see the shoulder seam at the top.
Mmmm. Notice anything odd in my picture? I had a naggling little thought as I was sewing up the sleeve of the second piece. Look at the top diagonal lines. I altered the one on the left, during wedge 1 and 2. I altered the one on the right during wedge 1 and 2. But where is the change? Ohhhhh....although the pattern says you don't have to reverse any shaping to make the second side...that's only because there is NO shaping. If you do any shaping, you need to change when you do it! (Except for the sleeve increases/decreases....you do the increases during the first 70 rows, and the decreases during the last 66 rows. Or, turn your row counter back to 000 before starting the four rows after putting the last group into work).
I took apart the seam, and re-knit the second half, straight from the work--I didn't re-wind the yarn. This time I did the adjustment (more on that later) during the 7th and 8th wedges.
Here it, all seamed, and the front edge has a blocking wire through it (I already did the lower edge). Because I made it wider, it extends past the center back seam.
Same thing for the other front half.
Ain't she pretty, all 102gr of her!
Although the bottom edge will steam flat, the center front (in which rows are the length), will still roll inwards. I'm seriously thinking of seaming the next one inside out, so the roll will show on the public side. Rolling inwards makes the sweater look a little smaller than it is. A short ribbed band could be picked up, I suppose, giving you the option of buttons. But keep it as a single band, not a foldover band, to match the lightness of the sweater.
And now, for how I adjusted it! At first, I played around with a swatch, getting the feel for it. I knew I wanted less depth from the under arm to the shoulder---fewer rows making those first 5 or so holes going up from the underarm--but also more width---more rows making the holes near the collarbone/clavicle. At first I thought I still needed the number of rows to add up to what it originally would be so the shoulder seam would sew right and the center front would still have the same length). This affected how I did the math. I did the first 4 groups with knitting only 2 rows for each group. Then I did 10 groups with the regular 4 rows for each group, then I did 10 groups with 6 rows each (this makes the larger holes near my clavicle). It's what you do (number of rows) in that first wedge that affects the width. I ended up with more rows in this wedge then for the back, but I just eased them in as I seamed. I think I could have done even more groups with only 2 rows (making it shorter from the underarm to the shoulder). If you do more groups of 2 rows than groups of the 6 rows section, you can end up with the center front being even shorter than the original pattern. You can compensate for this by making more groups of 6 rows at the lower front corner. Do not also do the groups of 2 rows, or else the side will be too short. You can do this over both sides of the row of holes, or just on the upper side, depending on how much extra length you want.
I hope this helps you play with the design some more. All these mods were made to fit a large bust on a short person, but you could also do the same thing on the back pieces to allow for a rounded back. Or on the bottom wedges on the front to allow for a belly. My next idea is to not increase up to 24 groups on the sleeve, but once done the sleeve, cast the remainder on before starting the first wedge. On the return side, I'd cast those off. Then I'd have a little seam to sew under the arm, but a closer fitting sleeve. You can also do some plain rows in between wedge 2 and 3 (and the corresponding back sections) to add length without width. You'd also have a short seam at the sides.
Get going, and try your own custom fit Bill King Bolero!
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 12 859 + 102gr = 12 961gr
Balance: 1867gr more In than Out
Costs: $317.59/262 days = $1.21/day
After the brown one for me, I wanted to experiment with improving the fit, particularly under the arms. I wanted a bit more width across the chest (but not the back), and a bit more length in the center front. The challenge is that the width and length are closely linked with this type of knitting (short rows). Some sections make your rows be the garment width, and some sections make your rows be the garment length. Confused yet? LOL. You can't just add/subtract stitches for the width, as that would affect the length...and once you're done the sleeve, there's no where to add/subtract stitches (although I was thinking one night.....)
This is a 4 wedge jacket, however, it helps to think of it as 8 sections.
The straight bit at the top with the red is the cast on. I cast on 16 groups of stitches, and knit 8 rows without increasing, then I start increasing, one stitch, every other row.
1) Going clockwise from the sleeve, the portion between the sleeve and the first line of holes is the bit on your shoulder (draw, right now, a diagonal line on yourself from your armpit to your collarbone. This wedge is the part above that line). Stitches control underarm to shoulder seam length; rows control underarm to center front width.
2) The next section, from those holes to 1/2 way along that straight edge on the lower right slant, is the part over your chest from that diagonal line you drew, to straight across from your armpit. Stitches control underarm to center front width; rows control length from clavicle to halfway down front.
3) The next section is the upper part of the lower front. The diagonal line of holes pointing to about 5:00 go from your armpit to the front center corner. Stitches control width, rows control length.
4) The next section, from that second row of holes to almost straight down in the picture, is the side "seam" running straight down from your arm pit. Stitches control length (from waist to hem); rows control width from centre front to side "seam".
5) The rest of that lower straight edge, up to the holes, is the lower back, across to the center back seam Stitches control length over the lower back; rows control the lower width.
6 and 7) from those holes at about 7:00, to the next set of holes is the center back seam (you'll actually end it before getting right to the corner. Stitches control width; rows control length
8) the last set of holes goes from the armpit, diagonally up the back to the base of the neck. The section between the holes and the sleeve are the upper back shoulder. Stitches control length from underarm to shoulder, rows control width from center back to upper arm.
Thankfully, what all this means, is that it actually IS easy to add width and length to the center front! More on that later.
I know I've recommended steaming before seaming for this jacket, but of course, I couldn't wait. Strangely though, this time I seamed one half of the sleeve to itself (not pictured). It was an itty bitty little sleeve! If you're having trouble imagining how this all goes together, take your cast on edge, and your cast off edge, and sew the sides that are next to each other, resulting in a deformed hexagon. The cast on and off edges are the sleeve cuffs. You could start/end with ribbing. I'd be tempted though to start/end with waste yarn, then sew the seam, then do ribbing, then join it to the edge. This way you'd get a matching ribbed cast on all across your sleeve.
Mmmm. Notice anything odd in my picture? I had a naggling little thought as I was sewing up the sleeve of the second piece. Look at the top diagonal lines. I altered the one on the left, during wedge 1 and 2. I altered the one on the right during wedge 1 and 2. But where is the change? Ohhhhh....although the pattern says you don't have to reverse any shaping to make the second side...that's only because there is NO shaping. If you do any shaping, you need to change when you do it! (Except for the sleeve increases/decreases....you do the increases during the first 70 rows, and the decreases during the last 66 rows. Or, turn your row counter back to 000 before starting the four rows after putting the last group into work).
I took apart the seam, and re-knit the second half, straight from the work--I didn't re-wind the yarn. This time I did the adjustment (more on that later) during the 7th and 8th wedges.
Here it, all seamed, and the front edge has a blocking wire through it (I already did the lower edge). Because I made it wider, it extends past the center back seam.
I hope this helps you play with the design some more. All these mods were made to fit a large bust on a short person, but you could also do the same thing on the back pieces to allow for a rounded back. Or on the bottom wedges on the front to allow for a belly. My next idea is to not increase up to 24 groups on the sleeve, but once done the sleeve, cast the remainder on before starting the first wedge. On the return side, I'd cast those off. Then I'd have a little seam to sew under the arm, but a closer fitting sleeve. You can also do some plain rows in between wedge 2 and 3 (and the corresponding back sections) to add length without width. You'd also have a short seam at the sides.
Get going, and try your own custom fit Bill King Bolero!
Yarn In: 14 828gr
Yarn Out: 12 859 + 102gr = 12 961gr
Balance: 1867gr more In than Out
Costs: $317.59/262 days = $1.21/day
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