Knit and Plenty

Everybody needs a belt now and then.

I needed a small project that i could throw in my purse, and since I haven't taken on sock-knitting (yet), my choice was either another coffee cozy, or a belt. Lindsey made a really nice one from Noro Daria, which is a cool cord-like cotton rayon. The pattern was a simple garter stitch for 5 rows and then a wrapping row which gives you that long loopy effect. I used a whole skein which made it a little too long. I should have stopped to measure. Mine has a "crazy fuscia vintage buckle) fa la la la la - la la la la.

And in related news, we're also glad to hear that Whitney is finally leaving the abusive husband. Nobody needs those kinds of belts.

Requiem for a Shawl

{Click picture to enlarge}

W.I. P.

As summer days begin to fade,

And evening skies are early dark,

My lacy shawls are laid away,

And conjoured wools await their start.

How's that for a poetic way to say that I am abandoning 1/2 dozen projects that I started in the beginning of the summer, never got around to finishing, and now have no interest in completing. For now, the morning chill has turned my thoughts to heavier things: like cashmerino cardigans.

But I have learned to not have too much regret or remorse. To everything thing, there is a season. Especially knitting.

America Runs on Knitting

While shawls and vests lay wait, I worked feverishly on a coffee cozy. It wasn't totally frivolous. I learned how to create The Magic Loop,(with the help of Major Knitter) but ended up switching to double pointeds.(I'll tell you why tomorrow.) I also saw this as an exercise in training for what some time this winter will be my first sock.

I didn't use a pattern, but since I wanted a well-dressed styrofoam, I chose Koigu Merino (superwash) and size 2 needles. I measure the circumference (not pi, Reg) and even I could figure out if the cup was 8 inches around and my gauge was 7 st/in, I should cast on 56 stitches. I cast on 50 just so that it would stretch nicely. I also measured the top of the cup which is 2 inches wider so I figured that between the top and the bottom I'd need to add 14 (I made it 10) stitches and I had 3.5 inches in which to do that. (Ok - that was kinda boring - Maybe I'll write up the pattern. )

By the by, for those playing along, I washed out a DD cup and filled it with coffee from my Keurig.

Saved by the shawl.

A friend of Beautiful One is modeling the latest in shawl fashion. I call it the Shruggellah. It started out as a lacy open shawl that I bound off when it was way too short to be a shawl. (Former picture here) So, I figured out a way to seam up the sides to make sleeves, and I added a little picot to the edge of them. ("Add a little picot" is another version of "Put a button on it" - or things we say to try and save knitting gone bad.)

Believe it or not, the good thing about this is that it totally stays on like a shawl without all the muss and fuss. Granted, there is a bit of a pouch in the back (look closely under the arm) but I can always carry apples or something in. I'll have to add "Put an apple in it!" to the list.

From The Ocean to the basin.

My friend Betsy is an amazing knitter. She just completed this incredible shawl. The picture could never do it justice, even without my big yellow call-outs. But I had to make sure you didn't miss the detail in this work. There really are waves, and fish and seahorses and crabs and shells. I am beyond impressed, amazed and dazzled.

Now lets compare it to my latest finish work.

The Chenille Washcloth.

Wow, huh?

Look at the detail in those vertical stripes.

Blue. White. Blue.

Hey, at least I finished something, right?

In it for the long shawl.

I stand behind my work. Literally. In the picture. Can you believe I finally finished something?? The first finished shawl of the summer. And not a minute too soon.  The rule is that in order to have a shawl go around you nicely, its length must be longer than your height.  Good thing I'm only 5'1".

I started this back in the beginning of June. Its made from GGH Sombrero Vicose Ribbon to which I added Trendsetter Flora. I wanted it to have a sort of shabby chic-ness to it, and I'm pleased with the results.

The pattern was simple.

On even # of stitches, k2, *YO K2T"* repeat until last two stitches and K2.

That's it. And keep at it until its taller than you. Then, yes - like a long week:

It's a wrap.

See you Monday.

Cardigan - igan and igan.

Alert the media. I finished a project. Another cropped cardigan. After a few stops and starts, it came together. It's made out of Rowan Tweed and the pattern is from Knit.1. You can't tell from the picture, but I'm actually pretty proud of the seams.

That's Beautiful One in the picture. She didn't have any make up on so she wouldn't let me photograph her face.

Now, some of you might notice the optical illusion that makes it appear that the raspberry border on the bottom left is wider than on the right. Tricky, huh? 

Ok. Maybe I'll have to try igan.

Double Trouble

I came across these cute little sandal cuff "socks" and they just look so sweet for summer that I think I am going to give them a try. The original pattern is in German, but there's now a English translation :Here's the pattern. It's a little scary for a nonsock knitter like myself, but since there's no toe and no heel, I should be able to handle it. I guess if it doesn't have a toe or a heel, I shouldn't call it a sock.

There is one thing about the project that bothers me. You see, it calls for size 3 double pointed needles and I know I bought some at some point but to tell you the truth, it wasn't until recently that I learned that DPNs are not supposed to be disposable. I am not sure why I thought you didnt keep them like regular needles. They just didn't seem that important. I've purchased dozens of DPNs over the last 25 years, but I dont have one whole set. In fact, if I need to start something round, maybe the bottom of a purse, I'll often use whatever I can find: a size 6, an 8, a 10 and a pencil. When I was putting together the Needle Inventory for the Gettin' Knit Together Kit, a friend looked at it and said, "Maybe you should have a column for double pointeds." "You mean the kindling?" I grimaced. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to go to the LYS and start a new collection.

Props for the Crops

I can hardly believe it but I finished my cropped cardigan! It's been so long since I made anything besides an accessory that I wasn't sure I could do it, let alone wear it. But I did it!

I showed you the yarn back in March (March 23).  It's Blue Sky Cotton and it was glorious to work with. The pattern is from Vogue's little KNIT.1 mag.  I wore it today to the Knitting Niche in Greenwich (so that the yarn could visit its roots and to show the shop owner my Gettin' Knit Kit) and Meryl came up with the idea to add a pink silk ribbon. It just made the whole thing POP. And, since I was feeling so good about my accomplishment, and being in a yarn store and all, I picked up another batch of cotton to make a second one. After all, when it comes to knitting, too much of a good thing is...A GOOD THING.

Felted Purses: Not everybody's picnic.

I hate to bore you with yet another one - But I just love making felted bags. Choosing the color for the main body of the purse; figuring out how I am going to incorporate novelty yarn (as a stripe, along the top or on the edge) and then deciding which yarn to use. Then there's the whole mystery of the felting process as you wait with great anticipation to discover the final size and shape. Next comes the selection of fabric and the creation of the lining, which requires a mathematical schema like in the movie, A Beautiful Mind. Once completed, the lining is hand stitched to the bag with surgical precision. Finally, there's the excitement of finding just the right handles - or the fun of going on to a website like UMX or MJTrim (or Goodwill) to buy some new ones. To some folk, this might sound like a lot of work. I guess it feels more to me like how a kindergarten teacher must feel on the day that they give out those little diplomas: "geez, that was a challenge - but gosh, how cute!" I named the bag pictured: Spring Fling. The body is doubled Cascade 220. The novelty is Stacy Charles "Cancun". It reminded me of a field of flowers so I chose a  lining that evoked (as Yogi Bear would say) "a beauty-filled pic-a-nick basket." I can't wait to use it on a warm, sunny day.
I hope you get to enjoy one of those this weekend!
See ya Monday.