Down Cloverlaine: 2008

Friday, December 12, 2008

Snowbaby Again....

First of all, thank you, thank you for all the wonderful emails and comments about the latest bib and cloth! I'm just so overwhelmed with the terrific response! That said, I understand that some of you have had problems with the pdf. It seems to work fine for some, but not for others. I'm not sure what's happening, but in any event, I'm posting the line by line instructions and you can just cut and paste.

Snowbaby Bib

Copyright 2008 by Elaine Fitzpatrick. Permission is granted to make and sell items from this pattern provided that credit is given to me as the designer. Permission is not granted to reproduce the actual pattern, or post it, or distribute it, without my express permission. I worked hard to produce this pattern for you, so please respect my copyright and play nice!

NOTE: As of May 26, 2018, I have completely rewritten this pattern. There were a few errors in the original pattern. I've corrected them and have added a chart. Hopefully, it will also be easier to read and follow!

Size: approximately 8.75" from neck edge to bottom and 8" wide

Materials: One skein of worsted weight cotton if you are using the bib for meals. If, on the other hand, you want to use it as a “drool” bib, I recommend using a superwash wool. The cotton has a tendancy to absorb the moisture, whereas the superwash wool will wick the moisture and keep baby nice and dry!

Needles: Size 6
Gauge: 4.5 sts. per inch, not critical

Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
sts. = stitches
dec. = decrease
dpn. = double pointed needle
B5 = seed stitch border

Pattern Notes: The edges of the bib are worked in seed stitch over the first and last five stitches (p1, k1, p1, k1, p1) and are referred to as “B5”. You might find it helpful to insert a marker after the first five stitches and before the last five stitches.

When you reach the I-cords on the bib, it is helpful, but not necessary, to drop down a needle size to make the cords slightly smaller.

Pattern: Cast on 13 sts.

Row 1: k1, p1, across row.
Row 2: Cast on 3 sts., p1, k1 across row (16 sts.)
Row 3: Cast on 3 sts., p1, k1 across row. (19 sts.)
Row 4: Cast on 3 sts., k1, p1 across row. (22 sts.)
Row 5: Cast on 3 sts., k1, p1 across row. (25 sts.)
Row 6: Cast on 3 sts., p1, k1 across row. (28 sts.)
Row 7: Cast on 3 sts., p1, k1 across row. (31 sts.)
Row 8: Cast on 2 sts., p1, k1 across row (33 sts.)
Row 9: Cast on 2 sts., p1, k1 across row (35 sts.)
Row 10: Cast on 2 sts., p1, k1 across row (37 sts.)
Row 11: Cast on 2 sts., p1, k1 across row (39 sts.)
Row 12: p1, k1 for 10 sts.; p19; k1, p1 for 10 sts.
Row 13: p1, k1 for 8 sts.; p2, k13; (p1, k1) 2 times; p1, k2; p1, k1 for 9 sts.
Row 14: p1, k1 for 8 sts.; p3; (k1, p1) 2 times; k1; p13; k1, p1 for 10 sts.
Row 15: p1, k1 for 7 sts.; k2; p1; k9; p1; k3; p5; k4; p1, k1 for 7 sts.
Row 16: p1, k1, for 6 sts.; p5; k1; p3; k1; p13; k1; p3; k1, p1 for 6 sts.
Row 17: p1, k1 for 5 sts.; k4; p1; k14; p4; k6; p1, k1 for 5 sts.
Row 18: p1, k1 for 4; p2; k1; p2; k1; p1; k1; p2; k1; p14; k1; p5; k1, p1 for 4 sts.

(Note: From this point on, the first and last five stitches are the seed stitch border. (B5) It might be helpful to place a marker for these stitches.)

Row 19: B5; k5; p1; k8; p1; k4; p4; (k1, p1) 2 times; k2; B5.
Row 20: B5; p3; k2; p2; k1; p2; k1; p12; k1; p5; B5.
Row 21: B5; k5; p1; k12; p4; k2; p4; k1; B5.
Row 22: B5; p5; k1; p1; k1; p2; k1; p11; k1; p6; B5.
Row 23: B5; k6; p1; k7; p1; k3; p5; k6; B5.
Row 24: B5; p8; k1; p2; k1; p9; k1; p7; B5.
Row 25: B5; k6; p1; k1; p1; k8; p4; k8; B5.
Row 26: B5; p8; k1; p2; k1; p7; k1; p3; k1; p5; B5.
Row 27: B5; k5; p1; k3; p12; k5; p1; k2; B5.
Row 28: B5; p8; k2; (p1, k1) 5 times; p3; k1; p5; B5.
Row 29: B5; k4; p1; k4; (p1, k1) 6 times; p3; k5; B5.
Row 30: B5; p4; k2; (p1, k1) 7 times; p4; k1; p4; B5.
Row 31: B5; k2; p3; k4; p14; k2; p1; k3; B5.
Row 32: B5; p2; k5; p2; k1; p9; (k1, p4) 2 times; B5.
Row 33: B5; k3; p2; k3; p1; k4; p3; k4; p1; k2; p1; k3; p1; k1; B5.
Row 34: B5; p1; k5; p1; k1; p4; k1; p3; k1; p4; k1; p2; k1; p1; k1; p2; B5.
Row 35: B5; k1; p1; (k2, p1) 2 times; k3; p1; k5; p1; k3; p1; k1; p1; k3; p1; k1; B5.
Row 36: B5; p1; k5; p1; k1; p2; k1; p7; (k1, p2) 2 times; k1; p4; B5.
Row 37: B5; k7; p1; k13; p1; k1; p1; k3; p1; k1; B5.
Row 38: B5; p1; k5; p1; (k1, p6) 2 times; k1; p7; B5.
Row 39: B5; k7; p1; k13; (p1, k1) 4 times; B5.
Row 40: B5; (p1, k1) 4 times; p13; k1; p7; B5.
Row 41: B5; k4; p1; k2; p1; k4; p1; k3; p1; k4; p1; k7; B5.
Row 42: B5; p7; k1; p13; k1; p7; B5.
Row 43: B5; k7; p1; k13; p1; k7; B5.
Row 44: B5; p2, k1; p5; k1; p11; k1; p8; B5.
Row 45: B5; k1; p1; k6; p1; k11; p1; k8; B5.
Row 46: B5; p9; k1; p9; k1; p9; B5.
Row 47: B5; k10; p1; k7; p1; k10; B5.
Row 48: B5; p11; k7; p11; B5.
Row 49: B5; k6; p1; k17; p1; k4; B5.
Row 50: B5; p29; B5.
Row 51: B5; k20; p1; k8; B5.
Row 52: B5; p29; B5.
Row 53: B5; k12; p1; k13; p1; k2; B5
Row 54: B5; p25; k1; p3; B5.
Row 55: B5; k16; p1; k12; B5.
Row 56: B5; p29; B5.
Row 57: B5; k29; B5.
Row 58: B5; p8; (k1, p1) for 13; p8; B5.
Row 59: B5; k7; p1, k1 for 15 sts.; k7; B5.
Row 60: p1, k1 for 6 sts.; p5; k1, p1 for 17 sts.; p5; k1, p1 for 6 sts.
Row 61: p1, k1; for 7 sts; k3; p1, k1 for 19 sts.; k3; p1, k1 for 7 sts.
Row 62 – Row 64: p1, k1 across row

Shoulder shaping:

Row 65: p1, k1 for 13 sts.; bind off the next 13 sts. knitwise; work remaining 12 sts. in seed stitch as established. You should have 13 sts. on each side. Place first 13 stitches on a holder and work on remaining 13 sts. as follows:

Work one row even in established seed stitch.
(Right side) Dec. 1 st. at neck edge every other row 2 times. (11 sts.)
Work one row even in established seed stitch.
Dec. 1 st. at shoulder edge every other row until 5 sts. remain.
Work one row even in established seed stitch.
(Right side) Dec. 1 st. at neck edge and 1 st. at shoulder edge. 3 sts.
Work one row even in established seed stitch.
Slip these 3 sts. to a dpn and work an I-cord for approximately 12 inches. Fasten off and run end down through middle of I-cord.
Join yarn to neck edge and work remaining side to correspond to other side.
Weave in ends.

Snowbaby Cloth

Monday, December 8, 2008

Let It Snow, Baby!

Since I started my blog and joined Ravelry, I have made so many nice friends all over the world. It's so much fun to get to chat with other knitters and see what they're working on. I love seeing other people's projects. Anyway, one of my "new" friends just happens to be almost in my backyard (well, in my State anyway)! Nicole has sent me several nice notes and one of them just happened to mention how much she would like a snowman. Well, I was actually thinking about doing it, but I let her think it was all her idea! In any event, here is my gift this season to all my friends. It's really fun to knit and for some reason, this guy just makes me smile. I hope you'll like him too.

And for those of you who aren't into making bibs, I also did a version in a dishcloth. This would be really nice as a washcloth, if it was done in a soft cotton. I used Peaches & Creme for both my samples, light blue for the bib and mauve for the dishcloth.

You can grab the pdf in the sidebar. I usually also post the line by line instructions, but I don't know that anyone actually prefers that method, so since time is short (for everyone) I just did the pdf files.

I hope everyone has a safe, fun filled holiday!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Test Knits for Alli

Alli has her new designs up on her website and they are all really nice (in my totally unbiased opinion). Of course, I got to test knit four of them! This is great as it adds to my own collection, and some of them might find their way into someone's stocking! (I said "might" Emily!) This one is "Flakes'n Snowmen". It has a "short" border so you can start working on the design pretty quickly. Don't we all like to get to the "good" part?!

Following in the same theme, is "Flakes'n Penguins". I'm a sucker for anything with a penguin so this is one cloth that won't be leaving my kitchen!

I love the color of this yarn for the "Trees'n Snowmen". It's from Peaches & Creme and is called "celery". Every time I buy this color, I always seem to use it up right away. I think that the next time I place an order, I'll forget about buying balls and move up to the cones instead!

I saved my favorite cloth to last. "Happy Penguin" was really a fun knit. I love the way the border and background are all incorporated into one. It gives the cloth a little heft too.

Alli has about ten new designs in all. One has poinsettias and candles which is also really nice and there are a bunch with trees too. If you're looking for some really cute gifts, this is the place you should go. This post really sounds like a commercial, doesn't it? You'd almost think I was getting paid to promote it. Actually, I do get payment in the form of friendship! Still, cute is cute and I think Alli's work stands for itself!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

A Hat for Ruby

My brother has a new granddaughter, Ruby, and although she was born this past August, I couldn't decide what to make for her. I have lots and lots of patterns for little girls, but I never have an opportunity to actually make any of them. Usually, I'm pretty prompt with gifts too, but for some reason, I kept putting this one off. Now that I'm going to see my brother for Thanksgiving , I really had to come up with something fast! I decided on this sweet little hat. It's a free pattern that you can get here. I went back and forth trying to decide on the color and then decided to go with a bright red, or a "ruby" red, if you will. I used the Cascade 220 Superwash and U.S. Size 8 needles. It looks just like a little tomato.

It was so much fun to knit and fast. I did the whole thing in about two hours. The pattern calls for k2tog, but I read that someone said the leaves twirl better if you slip one, knit one and then pass the slipped stitch over, so that's what I did. I don't know if this is actually better than the written pattern, because the original is pretty darn cute too, but it worked beautifully, so I can recommend it.

Since the hat was so quick, I decided to do a pair of socks to go with it. I had the idea to try and incorporate the leaves in the toe of the sock, so after a couple of false starts I ended up with these:

I cast on 32 stitches on a U.S. 5. They are really tight and I think they'll be pretty cosy. I'm not so sure that the leaves really work, but they do look cute together. My first version had the colors reversed, but I decided that it looked too much like an olive!

I didn't even bother with a second one. This will probably end up as a cat toy, since one of my cats really has a thing for baby socks!

I'm pretty sure that the socks will fit, but I am a little uneasy about the hat. Babies heads are always so much larger than they look!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

We are the Dinosaurs

My grandson, Jack, just turned 5 and for his birthday, his parents decided on a dinosaur theme, so what's a grandma to do, except knit something with a dinosaur on it! Jack loves orange and I just happened to have some in my stash. A few years ago, I made another sweater for him out of Plymouth's Stone Cotton, which has now been discontinued. I really liked this yarn. It washes well and because it has a little acrylic in it, it can go into the dryer as well without shrinking. When I found out they weren't making it anymore, I started buying it whenever I came across any, so not only did I have the orange, I also had a few other colors. This sweater was based on a pattern by eweCanknit. This is a great line of intarsia patterns which can be found here. The sweaters are so basic so I just used their measurements. This dinosaur is from an old Leisure Arts pamphlet that I found on the ebay. I was contemplating charting my own T-rex, but this one was perfect.

Jack has a little brother who just happens to wear the same size even though he's only 3. Micah was a big help, as he very patiently let me try Jack's sweater on him as I was progressing with it, to check for length, etc. It's only fitting that his patience should be rewarded with a sweater of his own. His favorite dinosaur is the anklyosaurus. Try finding a chart for that one! I had no choice but to chart it myself. If you've ever seen a picture of this dinosaur, he's truly homely. Very spikey. I used some purl stitches to try and make him a little bumpy. I'm not so sure he's as recognizable as the T-rex, but Micah knew him, so that's all that mattered!

Since both Jack and Micah were getting dinosaurs, I couldn't leave out the baby. Marty ended up with the stegosaurus. You might recognize him from the bib pattern. I just tweaked him a little bit to fit on the sweater. Because I wanted the sweater to be easy to get on and off, I put a placket in the back, just like the turtle sweater.

I found these little stegosaurus buttons which fit in with the dinosaur theme nicely. Don't you think?

Three cute sweaters all from the stash. If only they had actually made a dent in it. I still have some red, just enough to make a fourth sweater. Maybe the boys would like a little sister? Hmmm, I wonder if there were ever any cute dinosaurs?

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Turtle Love

I seem to have acquired quite a bit of green yarn so while digging through my stash, I decided to take another stab at modifying the Turtle Butt into a pair of longies. The first pair I made were too small to fit around chubby legs and so they are waiting in my pile to frog and repair. In the meantime, I started a new pair in very "turtley" colors.

The variegated is Cascade 200 Hand Paint in Forest and the solid green is called Palm, also by Cascade. This time, I'm fairly confident that the legs will have a lot more room. Of course, while I was working on the pants, I thought maybe he should have a sweater to go with them and what goes with Turtle legs, but a turtle sweater........

All the patterns that I found called for DK weight or they had raglans, or something wasn't what I wanted, so in the end I came up with my own. I used the measurements for an 18 month size and just did the math myself. I wanted a placket in the back to make it easier to get on and off and I just happened to have these turtle buttons.

The lighting wasn't very good for this picture as it doesn't look anything like the true color and I'm not so sure that the butons really match, but they are on the backside, so I decided to use them anyway. The sweater is knitted with Cascade Superwash as I wanted it to be easy to launder. I charted the turtle myself and embroidered the shell with Cascade Heritage sock yarn. Oh yes, sock yarn:

There HAD to be socks to match the pants. Cascade makes this yarn in the Forest color just like the 220 wool. It was the first time I've used this yarn and I just love it. The socks are so nice and soft and the yarn holds up really well to frogging as I ended up ripping out this pair a couple of times. I wasn't happy with the proportions I was using and since I didn't have a pattern for these either, it took a couple of tries. I made a second version, which I actually like better, but I gave them away before I took a picture! Here's the sweater and pants together. Cute, eh?

I just love the striped longies that I've seen posted on Ravelry, so I decided to make a coordinating pair with this whole turtle theme.

Hmmm, there is a definite trend here with the Cascade yarn. Cascade 220 wool, Cascade 220 Superwash wool, Cascade Heritage sock.....I wonder if the company is hiring?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

A Few Good (Snow) Men

Alli has been at it again! Here are a couple of her latest (and cutest) designs! I'm so lucky to get to be her guinea pig or pattern tester, I mean. This first one is called "Let It Snow".

And this one is called, what else, "Snow Day". Both are available for sale at her website for only two bucks! They're so cute, I can't imagine anyone not loving them.

Because I let it slip how fond I am of snowmen, Alli sent me the following chart from Knitwits Heaven just for fun. This is an older pattern, but it fits right in with the others. I knit it in Peaches & Creme baby green and I wish that I had used a color that wasn't quite so light. I think the design would show up a little more. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make another one. Darn!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

"Boo" Baby!

Halloween around this house is quite something to behold. Last year we had over 350 little trick or treaters and that didn't even include my little grandsons! I have to start buying candy at the beginning of October to spread the cost out over the month. Still, it's so much fun to see the "little" kids. Here then, is a Halloween bib and a wash/dish cloth for the event. I'll post the directions here, but I also have them listed as pdf files under my free patterns.

I used Peaches & Creme in Sunburst and Yellow. I debated about doing one in white, but this is a bib after all. Hmmm, strained carrots, peas, sweet potatoes? You get the picture!

On another note, lately, I've had quite a few inquiries as to what method I use to cast on the stitches at the beginning of the rows. I like to use the knitted cast-on or the cable cast-on. It really doesn't matter which one. I say use whichever one works best for you. You can check out the great knitting videos for all these here. Try them and see which one you prefer!

"Boo" Baby Washcloth

"Boo" Baby Bib

Copyright 2008 by Elaine Fitzpatrick. Permission is granted to reproduce this pattern in any medium, as long as it is distributed for free and this copyright notice remains intact. Permission is also granted to produce items from this pattern for sale.

Size: approximately 8.5" from neck to bottom and 7 3/4" wide

Materials: One skein of worsted weight cotton if you are using the bib for meals. If, on the other hand, you want to use it as a “drool” bib, I recommend using a superwash wool. The cotton has a tendancy to absorb the moisture, whereas the superwash wool will wick the moisture and keep baby nice and dry!

Needles: U.S. Size 6 (4 mm)
Gauge: 4.5 sts. per inch, not critical

Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
sts. = stitches
dec. = decrease
dpn. = double pointed needle

Pattern: Cast on 12 sts.

Row 1: knit across row.
Row 2: Cast on 3 sts., knit across row. (15 sts.)
Row 3: Cast on 3 sts., knit across row (18 sts.)
Row 4: Cast on 3 sts., knit across row (21 sts.)
Row 5: Cast on 3 sts., knit across row (24 sts.)
Row 6: Cast on 3 sts., knit across row (27 sts.)
Row 7: Cast on 3 sts., knit across row (30 sts.)
Row 8: Cast on 2 sts., knit across row (32 sts.)
Row 9: Cast on 2 sts., knit across row (34 sts.)
Row 10: Cast on 2 sts., knit across row (36 sts.)
Row 11: Cast on 2 sts., knit across row (38 sts.)
Row 12: knit across row
Row 13: knit across row
Row 14: knit across row
Row 15: knit across row
Row 16: (wrong side) k11; p3, k10, p3, k11.
Row 17: k8; p2; (k1, p1) 2 times; k10; (p1, k1) 2 times; p2; k8.
Row 18: k8; p2; k1; p2; k1; p10; k1, p2; k1; p2; k8.
Row 19: k7; p1; k2; p1; k2; p1; k10; p1; k2; p1; k2; p1; k7.
Row 20: k8; p4; k1; p5; k2; p5; k1; p4; k8.
Row 21: k7; p1; k4; p1; k12; p1; k4; p1; k7.
Row 22: k7; p6; k1; p10; k1; p6; k7.
Row 23: k6; p1; k6; p1; k10; p1; k6; p1; k6.
Row 24: k7; p6; k1; p10; k1; p6; k7.
Row 25: k7; p2; k5; p1; k8; p1; k5; p2; k7.
Row 26: k5; (p4, k1) 2 times; p8; (k1, p4) 2 times; k5.
Row 27: k9; p1; k5; p1; k6; p1; k5; p1; k9.
Row 28: k5; p5; k1; p16; k1; p5; k5.
Row 29: k10; p1; k16; p1; k10.
Row 30: k5; p6; k1; p14; k1; p6; k5.
Row 31: k11; p1; k5; p4; k5; p1; k11.
Row 32: k5; p7; k2; p2; k1; p4; k1; p2; k2; p7; k5.
Row 33: k14; p2; k6; p2; k14.
Row 34: k5; p9; k1; p8; k1; p9; k5.
Row 35: k13; p1; k4; p2; k4; p1; k13.
Row 36: k5; p7; k1; p4; k4; p4; k1; p7; k5.
Row 37: k11; p1; k4; p2; k2; p2; k4; p1; k11.
Row 38: k5; p6; k1; p3; k1; p6; k1; p3; k1; p6; k5.
Row 39: k11; p1; k14; p1; k11.
Row 40: k5; p6; k1; p6; k2; p6; k1; p6; k5.
Row 41: k11; p1; k6; p2; k6; p1; k11.
Row 42: k5; p6; k1; p14; k1; p6; k5.
Row 43: k11; p1; k3; p2; k4; p2; k3; p1; k11.
Row 44: k5; p6; (k1, p2, k2, p1) 2 times; k1; p2; k1; p6; k5.
Row 45: k11; p1; (k2, p1, k1, p2) 2 times; k2; p1; k11.
Row 46: k5; p6; (k1, p2) 5 times; k1; p6; k5.
Row 47: k11; (p1, k2) 5 times; p1; k11.
Row 48: k5; p6; k1; p3; k2; p4; k2; p3; k1; p6; k5.
Row 49: k11; p1; k14; p1; k11.
Row 50: k5; p6; k1; p14; k1; p6; k5.
Row 51: k12; p1; k12; p1; k12.
Row 52: k5; p7; k1; p11; k1; p8; k5.
Row 53: k13; p1; k10; p1; k13.
Row 54: k5; p8; k1; p11; k1; p7; k5.
Row 55: k12; p1; k10; p1; k14.
Row 56: k5; p10; k1; p9; k1; p7; k5.
Row 57: k11; p1; k9; p1; k5; p1; k3; p1; k6.
Row 58: k5; p2; k4; p6; k1; p9; k1; p5; k5.
Row 59: k9; p1; k9; p1; k7; p1; k10
Row 60: k5; p6; k1; p7; k1; p8; k1; p4; k5.
Row 61: k10; p8; k6; p2; k12.
Row 62: k5; p28; k5.
Row 63: k38.
Row 64: k5; p28; k5.
Row 65: knit across row.
Row 66: k6; p5; k16; p5; k6.
Row 67: knit across row.
Row 68: knit across row.
Row 69: knit for 13 stitches; bind off next 12 stitches knitwise; knit remaining stitches. You should have 13 stitches on each side. Place first 13 stitches on a holder and work on remaining 13 stitches in garter stitch as follows:

Shoulder shaping:

Knit one row even.
(Right side) Dec. 1 st. at neck edge every other row 2 times. (11 sts.)
Knit one row even.
Dec. 1 st. at shoulder edge every other row until 5 sts. remain.
Knit one row even.
(Right side) Dec. 1 st. at neck edge and 1 st. at shoulder edge. 3 sts.
Knit one row even.
Slip these 3 sts. to a dpn and work an I-cord for approximately 12 inches. Fasten off and run end down through middle of I-cord.
Join yarn to neck edge and work remaining side to correspond to other side.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

A Little Stash Enhancement

It seems like we've been taking a lot of little trips lately and just by "chance" they happened to coincide with yarn shops. Here are some little goodies that I've picked up along the way.

The first picture is some fingering yarn I spotted at The Big E. It was in the bottom of the basket and what can I say, I just can't resist green! The Alpaca Sox I got in Plymouth, MA. I think this is definitely headed for my mom. I picked up two skeins and I'm thinking maybe a shawl? The beautiful bronze is bamboo from The Knitting Siren . When this is in the sun, it almost looks like spun gold! She also dyed "Fields of Lavender". It's hard to really get a good picture of the subtle shades of this. (Okay, so I didn't travel to North Dakota for these!)

The malabrigo is the lace that I've been dying to try. Malabrigo worsted is my most favorite yarn of all, so I'm anxious to work with this weight. The next skein is Anne from Schaefer Yarn. It's has a little more purple than shows up in this picture. Finally, we took a trip to New Hampshire and we went to Patternworks . After getting their catalog for many years, it was fun to actually get to visit the shop. Since it probably was a once in a lifetime trip, I splurged on some bulky yarn for hats for the grandboys. It's called "Elaine" by Schaefer Yarn. (No, I didn't realize that was the name until I checked out the label for the yardage. )

It's 300 yards so that should be enough for three hats or so I'm hoping! Finally, I always wanted to try Koigu and this skein came home with me.

It's a free pattern on Ravelry called "Mitt Envy". I had lots of yarn left over, even with making a couple of pattern changes. They worked up so fast, I'm thinking I "need" more of this soft, soft, yarn!

Now, if you've read this far and have paid close attention, you'll remember that I got two yarns from Schaefer Yarn. It was only when I went to snap pictures that it hit me:

Hmmm, I think maybe this should be my new avatar!!

Friday, September 26, 2008

A Little Lace

Okay, so I know that over 1200 people have knitted the Shetland Triangle by Evelyn Clark, so what's the big deal if I made one too? Well, I don't knit lace. I find it difficult and I have to concentrate so hard that it takes most of the enjoyment out of knitting. However, I fell in love with the Swallowtail Shawl and wanted one very badly. I knew I would screw it up, so I didn't even attempt it, but I always had the pattern at the top of my list of things to make someday. Then my friend, Kathy kept posting all these wonderful lace projects on her blog. (She's an amazing knitter.) Finally, I decided to give it a whirl. I decided on the Shetland Triangle but discovered that it was only available in Wrap Style , and this was the only pattern in the whole book that I liked. I didn't want to spend that much money on a book for one pattern and our local library is useless when it comes to knitting books. At last, Interweave Press had a huge book sale on their damaged books and wouldn't you know it, Wrap Style was on sale for only $5.00! That's less than the cost of one pattern! Feeling pretty pleased with myself, I decided to go forward. I saw this gorgeous green bamboo yarn that was hand dyed by Melanie of The Knitting Siren. (Yes, that's the same Melanie of Turtle Butt fame!) The yarn is called "The Grass is Always Greener" and you have to see it in person to appreciate how pretty it is.

This last picture gives you some idea of the sheen. I had never knit with bamboo before. I found it to be a little splitty and I had to pay close attention, but then again, I have to pay close attention when I'm knitting lace anyway!! I have to confess that I think I may be a convert to lace now. The pattern was pretty easy to memorize and I only had to go back to a lifeline once! I'm not sure that I'm ready to tackle the Swallowtail yet, but its prospects of getting made are definitely looking better!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Bad Blogger!

I've been pretty bad at blogging lately. I guess I just would rather knit than talk about it! Anyway, here are a few projects that I've finished since the last time. It's getting cooler here in New England and little Marty was going to need some pants! This is Melanie's basic top down pants . I just used different stitches to change it up a little bit and make it a little more interesting. The yarn is Cascade 220 in Summer Sky.

After I knit the blue pair, Melanie changed the pattern a little by doing a new gusset and I offered to test knit it, since a boy can't have just one pair of pants! I really like this new gusset. It's seems to be roomier, but I'll have to wait until it's actually "test worn". I do know that's it much easier to knit than the other version. I didn't seem to get those holes that always appear when you're picking up stitches in a corner! She is such a talented designer.

Here's a side view picture. This wool is Araucania's Nature Wool, Chunky Multy. I had never used it before, but it was so nice to work with. The pants are nice and thick so I think they'll work really well in the cold winter. I picked up the yarn in a little store I found in Maine this summer and when I went back this Fall, she was having a sale. Great timing. I picked up more in each of the colorways she stocked. (Well, except for the pink!!)

I've also been knitting up some socks for Jack and Mickey. For some reason, Mickey just loves to wear my socks! Every time I make a new pair he sits down and trys them on! It tickles me no end that he's so pleased to get them! Most of these were made with Cascade Fixation. The striped pair in the middle were made with Regia and the little blue striped pair for the baby were made with Knitpicks Felici. This is not a good choice for baby socks as the color changes are really long and you don't get the effect of the changing stripes. The sock on top came out really cute, but the one underneath is just....well, ordinary! I've made a couple of other pairs too, but Mickey grabbed them before I could get pictures! Some have a short row heel and the others are made with a standard gusset. I like the pattern in Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns . I use a U.S. size 6 needle and cast on 36 stitches with the Fixation, so they go super fast. I love this book. I even bring it with me whenever I go on vacation, just in case I want to try a new project. I'm always changing patterns, so this book really is handy for basic templates.

Finally, I got to test knit a brand new pattern that my pal, Alli, is going to be putting up for sale on her great website, Knitwits Alley . She's hard at work on her Christmas patterns, all of which will be for sale soon. I think this set is so nice and what a great gift it would be for a pastor. It's called "O Holy Night". Of course, that might change once it's for sale, but I think it's perfect.

Down Cloverlaine