Look ma, no pattern

My sister complains that I do not update enough for her to keep up with my projects. Well part of that is sometimes the projects do not give me enough to talk about. I mean what if I was to say just make the same dress pattern over and over again. Oh yeah I did do that. And because I knew I did not have an overwhelming urge to post about the 2 additional versions, I have yet to get pictures of them. Plus it is hard to get a good picture of a dress or even just something on you without assistance. Now why did I make 3 dresses from the same pattern (and why is it likely there will be more)? First the economic value, each dress cost less with the pattern cost being divided by more and the time decreased as well. Second the great fit, this is a dress that looks great on me and is so comfortable. So I made one in a brown pattern that is not as vibrant as the black and white but grows on you. The other I made in a green striped knit I found when visiting my sister for $2 a yard. Since it was striped and the pattern said to get extra for matching patterns, but failed to define what amount extra would be I just went with a lot extra and figured it could be the dress shorted into a top or something else. Turns out since it was 60” I needed no extra, but hey it was not of great cost.

But the dresses are not what I decided to share. What I wanted to share was what I did with the fabric I was stalking. Well I don’t consider it stalking, just visiting to remind myself of what it looked like if I happened to be in the store, but Ashley termed it stalking. When it finally came around time for a coupon, I was ready to buy it. See I loved the pattern and colors, but it cost much more than I had ever paid per yard. The problem was I had figured out what to make to not distract from the pattern on the fabric but could not find a sewing pattern that quite lived up to the vision in my head. So I took the elementary sloper Stacy had helped me make up, and mocked up what I wanted out of muslin. The mock up was of course horribly off, so I readjusted. And then with the trepidation I had when steeking the argyle vest, I cut out the pieces in the much loved material and then sewed them in the same manner of the correct mock-up. I did make a few adjustments after that and then was finished.

Now I’m just looking for excuses to wear it.  I used the Better Than Ezra concert (awesome, about 5 people back from the stage but failed to catch a guitar pick because of my instinct to duck when something comes flying at me) and the Fourth in Baltimore where I got to enjoy a panoramic view of the fireworks throughout the city on a balcony (could not have had a better seat especially since it did not involve getting there before dark).

Pants!

So as the current state of my room indicates, (I’m lucky no one can see it, besides a select few) there has been more sewing. The main reason that there are spurts of sewing is that with the limited space, the machine if always out turns the room into an obstacle course. This time I finished what I believe is my first successful pair of pants. Well pants I would wear out in normal everyday use, there was a pair of drawstring pajama pants previously made.

So this project was started before I moved, and that was back in September. I think the fear of doing all the work and the pants not fitting, terrified me. So about two weeks ago I decided although I had picked up more fabric, I had to finish the undone projects first (if I buckle down and get ambitious, I might attack the only thought of projects that have supplies). And the glaring undone project was the pants.

So I pilfered a spare zipper (nice when you start to gain extra thread and spare notions) and set to work. I had used extra lining in maroon from a dress project for the pockets, since that had also not been bought. Although I did reread some of the directions multiple times I plowed ahead. And when I tried the pants on after finishing, I realized that the pants fit (this is not the case with a more recent project, oh bother)! And now all that remains is to find all the pattern pieces and return them to the envelope.

Great Barrier Gloves

Wow I’ve gotten busy and have not taken the time to post the many projects I have finished. So I figure now is the time to get on that. So what to share first (well I suppose something I have pictures of would be a good thing). 

First I will show the camisole.   Surprisingly the dropping stitches was not as fun and quick as one imagines.  The merino wool liked to stay attached in little tufts, and had to be worked out accordingly.  Instead of ribbon for the stops, I knit with double yarn and dropped the middle stitches to mimic the top.  I think it turned out wonderfully, and it fits.

And the inspiration of the post’s title, gloves!

Once again I have made gloves when the season is not right. Well it may not be right here in the US, but down under the seasons are opposite. (No I never figured out the counterclockwise toilet swirl because with the goal of water conservation the water levels are lower and I did not drink large quantities of water and then watch the toilet flush.)

So as I shared when I was showed the gloves for Matt, Mike also wanted a pair. For measurements I held up my hand to Mike when visiting and made a mental note. I was about the same width as mine but longer fingers. Originally I was planning on a deep red and brown or black, but I could not find that in a alpaca blend of the right weight. So I instead got colors in Plymoth Suri Merino that reminded me of fish from the Great Barrier Reef.

I knit the gloves with dedication to finishing and even on a sweltering Memorial day watching the York Revolution. REVOLUTIIIOOON! What an amazing win they had. And when I am finished, I send him a message asking where to send them. He responds with amazement that I did make the gloves, which I don’t think should be so surprising since I made his brother a pair. But I have been told if I am serious, I could be his favorite cousin (I think the salt water taffy should seal the deal).

I also wanted to share with all the knitters the wonderful knitting bowl I bought from Betsy.  Her etsy site is http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6285366.  My wonderful bowl is blue and has two squiggles for color work.  I used it for Matt’s gloves and it worked wonderfully.

It’s all about the stretch

So something I haven’t posted in a while has been a sewing project. That’s because there has been fabric bought and grand intentions, but nothing constructed. I found a pattern I really liked when I dragged my behind to Joann’s on a goal that was latter jettisoned. So I then went over to G-Street Fabrics to get the material for the following reasons – it called for 60” and there was nothing at Joann’s in 45” that encouraged me to figure out what that would entail (I later learned as I will elaborate on further down). So I found this wonderful print, took it all home and began cutting.

When laying out the pattern pieces on the fabric, I realized because of the placement for the information on the additional type of fabric needed on the pattern envelope I had failed to buy tricot. I also realized I failed to know what tricot meant. So I looked it up, and in my gung ho manner I did not read the whole definition. I read the first paragraph that states:

Often used as a lining material, tricot fabric is a material that can be made from natural or synthetic fibers and has a unique weave that allows it to be smooth on one side while sporting texture on the other.

So I am like hey I have lining material that has texture on one side. I did not get further down the page to the part that stated the knit tendency.

So it all gets cut out, but then I realize I do not want to stay up all hours and I am likely to want to work straight through. So wisely I put it off for another day. But Wednesday I realize, I want to wear my new dress (that is still not made) to an alumni event on Thursday. So I start working on it and have fun with the slippery jersey fabric and sew it all up. Turning the tubes for the ties added to the time and at around 1:30 I have an almost finished project. So before sewing the hem I decide to try it on. And guess what, without give around the waist I cannot get it over my shoulders. And if it cannot go over the shoulders, it is unlikely to go over the behind. So utterly frustrated, I was thinking about how annoyed I got with the wording of the pattern (I kept having to reread things) and how to fix it. I then take a moment to look up tricot again and see the pertinent information about the knit which allows stretch. Ahh stretch would be nice, that would allow me to actually put the dress on.

I admit defeat and go to bed. Doing a little research the next day I find I can get fusible tricot interfacing at Joann’s. So I decide in my madness to make on more attempt to finish the dress for the event. So I go out and get the interfacing and then wait forever because the three women in front of me (all one group) are ordering some fabric from another store and have a million questions. This is how I learned that if it calls for 1 yard of 60”, get 1 3/8 yard of 45”. While that is useful information, considering the constrained time frame, I was not enjoying the wait. So I get back to the house and am furiously ripping out seams, cutting, fusing, and sewing when I hit the deadline for getting ready and of course I was unrealistic and the dress is not. So I throw on another dress and go out.

Some of the people were trying to convince me to stay out longer, but it being a Thursday and already lacking sleep I decided to get home. Of course what do I do when I get home, decide to finish the dress. And I did and got to bed a little after midnight. It was not perfect, the bodice was not overlapping as much as it should, so I work a tank under it. But that is now fixed and so are the pockets and I love it. I love it so much I had to convince myself not to wear it again this Friday, considering it was noticeable.

Dirty Vixen

So as I before mentioned I did not get much knitting done in Australia. And I have not quite gotten back into the grove of it fully, although I did attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend. That helped kick start the need in my fingers to be constantly moving.

Sidenote of amusement: I was so excited on Saturday because I was awake when I woke up and tired in the afternoon from getting up so early. You see I had not had a hard time adjusting to when I should wake up and sleep, but I did feel overly tired in the morning and then hyper right before bed. So it was nice to know I was fully adjusted to being back. But considering I never woke in the middle of the night, jetlag was not that horrible.

So it was not the sunniest weekend, but that was not a surprise since someone said to me today is the sun actually out, are those blue skies. It’s been weather that reminds of my time in Erie, and that is not something I look for in a place I live. But even with the weather we trudged through, and it never rained very hard. That was saved for when I agreed to go back the next day. So I enjoy going to the Sheep and Wool, but I like to think of myself of an efficient shopper. By this I mean, I am not one to go slowly through each stall and such, partly because it gets so crowded and I don’t feel like squeezing in everywhere. So when I was done I would wait at the end and knit until everyone else was ready. I also used the knitting to occupy myself in the bathroom line. That was commented on by one passerby that there was a true knitter. No there was a girl who would have been severely annoyed if she had not been occupied by the knitting. As it was, I was able to patiently wait.

So what have I been knitting? The Vixen Camisole from Sensual Knits. Now the pattern is a lacey one with dropped stitches, however you do not drop the stitches until the band around the top. So currently the camisole looks small, small enough that someone passing by told her daughter it was a cowl neck for sweater, and my friends wanted to be assured it would stretch. I have yet to make anything too small. (Gosh it took a bit to find wood to knock on.) So the pictures show a half finished dirty camisole, dirty because it was my traveling project. In the travels it touched melted Easter candy, and also almost assuredly ended up with sunscreen and sweat on it. I swear I will postpone the need to wear it immediately, and thoroughly wash it first. The blue outline is the purl stitches that will be dropped, and there are many of those.

G’day

So I am back from my travels.  After around 30 hours of traveling I made it back from Australia to my home.  I was not excited at the prospect of returning to the working life (already thinking about the next escape).  So a brief overview of the trip (got some practice): long flight, great weather, welcoming and helpful family members, time on beaches, dove the Great Barrier Reef, held a koala, met plenty of new people, ate some kangaroo, sunburn, exhausting, and took a surfing lesson.  Now that list would bother me if I were to read it again because its not uniform, but I have decided to move on.

So I did not do much knitting when away, because no knitting needles allowed on Qantas flights and most of my downtime was when flying.  I did pull it out a couple of times and got questioned about it.  I remember when I was first in Melbourne I was finishing my cousin’s gloves on the train going into the city and a boy asked his father what the lady was doing.  I also got asked a couple times if the yarn was Australian, and no it was not, except that it was 100% australian merino wool.

So why did my cousin get gloves.  Well you see we are friends on facebook, and when he saw one of the messages I put up about the trip and knitting he told me I could make him gloves.  I responded to that cheeky suggestion back asking him what colors he wanted, and he responded earthy tones.  Then in what I see as amazing comment he said that he prefers alpaca to wool.  I was so impressed with that, I shared it with other knitters who understood my awe.

So the next day I took a trip to Old Town, bought a ton of salt water taffy (which seemed to be appreciated by how quickly some of it was eaten), and went to Knit Happens.  I first wandered the store, and then ended up in the Rowan area looking at the Baby Alpaca DK.  It was so soft.  I picked two colors (brown and pale blue) and the dithered trying to figure out if they were masculine enough.  I finally asked an employee, and was told they would work.

So I had looked around for pattern, but there were not any for gloves that appealed to me and would be worn by a guy.  So I improvised.  And since it was for my cousin I just asked a coworker to hold up is hand and estimated how much bigger it was than mine.  I feared I was going to run out of yarn, but had no time to get more.  When I was finishing the second thumb and had about 10 stitches left to go, I did run out.  So I just used the brown to finish that (you will see it if you look closely at the top one).

So I was hanging out with my cousin Michael and Matt called saying he would give us a ride to the family dinner.  Once we get in the car he goes “So did you bring my gloves (I keep almost writing mittens) ,” and I tell him I did.  I think he was a little surprised (which was part of what made it worth it).  And then Mike wants to know why Matt got gloves, and when he saw them he said he wanted a pair, so I will make another set (different colors)  Matt said he liked them so much he was going to wear them the whole night and put them on.  I like when my gifts are appreciated.

Bum, bum, bumblebee, bumblebee tuna

It should be safe to share this because according to delivery confirmation it has reached its destination. Oh that brings up a tangent I need to share. So a few weeks ago I sent the package of green socks priority mail since they were already late. I also got delivery confirmation because it might not be picked up for a few days and I wanted to know that it had arrived (past mail has not always arrived). By the delivery confirmation I was able to follow its path. Riddle me this post office. Why would you send something from (A)Arlington to (D)Lancaster via (B) Richmond and (C) Swedesboro, NJ. When I used google map for the directions I came up with a 2.5 hour driving trip changed into 8.5 hours. Visually compare the trips. Now I understand it needed to go through a hub, but would there not be a hub in Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Harrisburg. Why first Richmond? When I sent the package to my mother, it went directly to Swedesboro, NJ which makes the Richmond aspect seem like a mistake.

Okay the rant is done.

So back in the fall I got the idea in my head to mimic tartan for a scarf. What I knew from the beginning was that it would have to be knit in the round or seamed because the wrong side was going to be a mess of yarn. Here, I present forecasted mess. I at first attempted in the round, but that ended up too tangled. I then admitted I would have to seam the scarf at when finishing. After some internal grumbling, I proceeded. It still was a hassle and I put it aside to finish some other projects. And failed to go back to it.

Then earlier this year I asked my mother what she would like as a birthday gift, socks? She turned down the socks and asked for a scarf. I had no scarf plan in mind and put the idea on the back burner. Then her birthday gets closer and closer, however I was in the middle of the socks which had their own deadline. Yes poor planning. So I finish the socks and then think about what to do. I decided why not the tartan scarf, since I was basing it on McLeod Dress and my Scottish Heritage does come from my mother, that was one of my maternal grandmother’s clans.

So I dragged out the few inches of scarf and reassessed. I realized I would progress most quickly if I went back to the tiny center pull balls of the diamonds blanket. So I sat down, reorganized, and proceeded. I then thought about continuing this fun for a scarf long enough to wrap around and tie, which would be long because of the thickness from the construction of the scarf. The thought was so frustrating my fingers almost rebelled and stopped knitting. Then in a brilliant moment, I decided on a keyhole scarf.

Now to quickly share how I mimicked the tartan affect. During all rows, I was working with 3 balls of yarn, but there were 4 in total. When I needed a solid color, I would use the 2 of the same color and for the mix I would use one of each. Therefore at all times I was knitting with 2 yarns. Add that to the material being folded and seamed and you have a super warm scarf. Hopefully, not too warm. To add the red stripes, I over stitched the yarn. And the finished project is what I have entitled the Bumblebee Tartan Scarf, because while knitting it I wanted to sing “Bum, bum, bumblebee, bumblebee tuna…” oh and did at some points.

Bye, Bye Love

I realized as I was working on these socks at the Saint Patty’s Day Parade (how have I already been to a Saint Patty’s Parade, well Alexandria does their’s a week early), that once again I was finishing a pair of green socks around the holiday. Of course the fact that probably half of my collection of sock yarn includes some for a green, does make that more likely. Sadly I will not be able to wear them for going to ShamrockFest or next Tuesday, because they are meant for another pair of feet (hopefully they fit). It is very good that I was committed to knitting them for someone else, because I grew to love them.

The pattern is Marilinda by Cookie A.  It was well designed, especially neat to have a pattern altered to continue on the heel. That of course made the usual mindless quick heel flap take longer, but was well worth it. I really enjoyed her knitting pattern and am doing my next pair of socks from another. I hope I love those socks as much as I love these.

The yarn was ShiBui Knits sock yarn in Dragonfly.  It was quite interesting because the darker green pooled around the cuff and on the foot, but for the leg it striped. It was the perfect subtle variation of color to work the pattern in. The subtle changes gave the pattern depth. My friend Rebecca worked a pair of plain socks in the same yarn and colorway and it was fascinating to see the different ways the changes worked. Did I mention I love these socks? What if I sent a mangled up envelop with a hole in the bottom and kept the socks, not that would be wrong.

So when knitting the second sock I encountered a problem. What I encountered has been termed by my knitting group an “Ashley”. This is when somehow a nice skein or ball of yarn becomes a big tangle that requires time and patience to undo. Not I hold to the fact that this was not my fault. I put the yarn skein on the swift and wound it from there with the ballwinder I got for Christmas. The ballwinder I requested to avoid “Ashley”s. After that I proceeded to begin knitting pulling the yarn from the center and suddenly there was resistance. Okay this may be my fault, when I face resistance I simply pushed ahead and pulled harder and then continued on. Here is a picture of me at the parade undoing the tangle so I could get back to knitting the sock.  That is Brynn’s awsome skirt serving as a blurry background.

Well sadly I am sending these out, so bye, bye love.

Okay, okay, no pom-poms

So I never did share the project I made for the baby shower back in January.  Probably because I had already made it, the Teddy Bear Suit – made into a Teddy Bear Cardigan.  The change this time was that I used Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice.  That is an acrylic washable yarn, much more mom friendly then Rowan Calmer.  I feel bad enough giving my sister something that was handwash, I could not do that to an expectant mother. I am uncertain how I feel about the yarn, at first I found it rough on my hands (which may have been dry since it was winter) and given oddly to the seed stitch, but I no longer can claim hatred.  All I’m saying, is that it will get a second chance.  I of course cut this close to the wire, apparently I thrive on that energy.  I sewed the ears on the way to the shower.  I had put the zipper in by machine and made a slip up when backtracking, but had to dry my hair.  So I got my father to fix it, how awesome is it to have a father who can fix simple sewing mistakes and will go to musicals with me, wouldn’t not trade him for a yarn mogul.  So here is the second version of the Teddy Bear Cardigan.

So what I really wanted to share today, was my Ski Bunny.  I decided to name the sweater that based on the picture of the Lace Yoke Pullover by Sandi Prosser in the Winter Vogue Knitting.  The pose and the sweater looked like the model would be called Muffy (that’s Stacy’s contribution) and be delighted to join Biff for a run on the slopes.  Now I am not a skier (been only once and while not a catastrophe, did not grab me), but I figure there always those girls who just spend time in the lodge. I think I could do that.  I’m not sure it would be my chosen activity either, but what a pretty sweater.

What I found out and could have conjectured (used that earlier today in the office and was told it was a SAT word, I was thinking oh its just part of my vocabulary) from looking at the picture was, what an enormous amount of stockinette stitch in white wool, Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Winter White to be specific. What a mind numbing, bean counting excitement amount of knitting.  Did I think this when starting, no I thought look at the yoke and pom poms.

So the great thing was the sweater was knit in the round from the bottom up.  What this means is I only had two small armpit seams to Kitchener stitch at the end. I have been informed by the type of people who pop small children’s balloons that from the top down there would be no seams, but I am happy with what I got.  I may have to work on having less tension in my color work, but it still turned out wonderful.  I am so happy with my Ski Bunny, even though I admit I will not add the pom-poms.

And the hat came back

So I know in previous posts, I have discussed the issue of my mother’s hat. How, she asked for a hat so I knit her one and sent it off. After it arrived she sent me an email and a picture thanking me for the hat, but it was a bit large. Yeah it turns out she was right. The reason this happened was, because it at this point I was old hat at knitting the double knit hats and did not check the gauge even though it was a different yarn. So the hat came back.

The problem with when I knit double knit hats is that the two yarns are twisted between stitches and when ripping out the stitches the yarn (which was wool) kept the twists and was going to be a massive project to undo. Of course by that time I had other projects that grabbed my interest, and then it got to be March. Once it got to be March I did not see much need for a winter hat, so it slipped my mind. Then my mom sent me an email before Thanksgiving that something she would not mind receiving for Christmas was a hat. Now I do not mind suggestions of what I make, but I am not a knitting monkey and will not knit on command. (Also I would like to ask a question of the audience, why would my sister send me a link to what appears to be an easy chefs hat sewing pattern saying wouldn’t Trey like that, when she has her own sewing machine? Just asking my opinion or making a suggestion?).

After I got over the idea of being a knitting monkey, I remembered technically I did tell my mom I would replace the too big hat. So at first I was going to make a new version of my argyle hat, but then I realized I was tired of that stitch pattern. I needed a break, I was not quitting argyle forever. I love argyle. So then I started looking around for patterns and nothing caught my eye. I decided I would like to make my own two color stitch pattern (there was a time when I did not enjoy knitting with more than one color; that has obviously passed). So I decided that I would like a pattern that was similar to a Moorish design. I am fascinated by the beautiful works of art that can be created simply by repeating geometric designs. I began to try to create such a pattern would let to questions like “What are you doing?”, when I was working on it at the knitting group. Some designs were too complex to be translated into the limited amount of stitches, by this I mean that the circles would not look like circles. I finally found a pattern by translating a frieze pattern found on the walls of Alhambra.

After that I began knitting the hat. I used the leftover Knitpicks Merino Style in Fedora and Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry. The difference in weights did not cause a problem. At this time I had recently learned about color dominance and made sure to make the Hollyberry dominant.

However, I got distracted by other projects and kept forgetting to pick the hat up again, because it did not fall under stupid knitting. The socks and baseball hat could be knit without constantly looking at the chart, the hat however could not.  If you like to see the chart of the whole pattern, the pattern is available on the Pattern Page.

Of course my mom after Christmas once again inquired about the hat. I promised her that it would be finished for last weekend when I had to go to my parents house for a baby shower. Of course it ended up that I had a more pressing project, and did not pick the hat up until Saturday night. But I fulfilled my obligation and stayed up late yet again to complete the hat. Then I tried it on. It is a snug hat but definitely long enough and not too wide. I have yet to here about how it fits my mom’s head.