DFSL

So time for another thing I will not wear. In the future I may give something to my sister that I ask for visiting rights on. By that I mean, when I visit I have the right to wear it. Is that considered against the spirit of giving. Maybe. However I will put it this way I am giving 90% of it. Well that is not the case for the project I am currently sharing. Not at all.

I am happy with the outcome of the project. But the feeling it caused during the creation are not soon forgotten, and therefore I have no interest in being in contact again. I cannot even explain why it caused such strong feelings. It started mildly enough, just the tedium of garter stitch. I almost at all times hate garter stitch. The only reason I was so in love with The Dame was the way the texture looked in that beautiful purple. Plus it was seemed tight because of the needle size. This was not the case with DFLS. F for February, L for Lady, and S for sweater. The D will not be defined here.  The February Lady Sweater has been knit many a times over. And while some people whip them out quickly, I had more slow going.

I bought the yarn back in May knowing what it would be (DFLS) and who for (my sister) and when it needed to be done (for her birthday November 2). See how far in advance I was. I was working to be more timely about gifts (working on it, still working out some kinks as you will find out when I discuss my most recent projects). So 6 months should be enough. I started shortly after I bought the yarn, Brooks Farm Mas Acero in what I thought when I saw it was Courtney’s color (read about this at the end of the post), at the Maryland Sheep and Wool. Sidenote – why does noone trust me when I say I’m not going this year. So I started and then after what felt like a while, but was not enough to be done the section, I got distracted by the Andromeda Shawl. And that just made the garter stitch worse. I really loved working on Andy and absolutely hated BFSL. So I think it was the comparison that upped the level of feelings.

So time goes by and I realize I should be working on the cardigan again if it will actually be done on time. So I get back to the garter stitch. I am separating to the sets of stitches to make sleeves and am having a incredibly difficult time at it. It was at knitting groups so finally Ashley agrees to count for me. When she hands it back I look at the directions again. Now the directions have been giving me trouble. Not anything wrong with them, I just was not connecting. Also I kept losing or ruining them by existing in an area where it rained a lot and I had yet to replace my umbrella. I swear I probably went through at least four sets, when two is my norm. So once I was handed back the project and reread the instructions I realized I had neglected to increase properly, misinterpreting the words of others. They just increased without eyelets, both avoided increasing altogether. I believe I was also frustrated by the as necessary to add x stitches between y number of stitches. I like a “add ever xth stitch” better. Now Ashley was also frustrated because I had wasted all her effort counting as a ripped back a portion.

One day I finally knit far enough for the DFLS to reach under my armpit. This is where things began to go more quickly. The lace pattern adds inches in much less time. So soon I was onto the sleeves. Once again I hit a snag. As I was one inch into the first sleeve I realize I was knitting it so the patter would be on the inside. Now when I added the second, you think I would not make the same mistake. Of course, by that sentence I set up the understanding that I did. I only got about two rows before realizing that time. I made the sleeves to the elbow, incase the yarn stretch as much as some of my friends when blocking.

So it comes to the a few days before my sister’s birthday and the DFSL has been done for a week or two. Well it was done, but not blocked, no ends woven in, or buttons on. For that I of course wait for the day I need to send it (well the blocking happened the night before). So at work I am in the bathroom sewing on the buttons, and I get several compliments. But it got there in time and opened early because she claims she thought it might have something wrapped for Trey. Unlikely.

Of course when I came up with the plan was before the pregnancy. And even after it only button at the top. But still pregnancy changes a body and so the sweater does not currently fit. See how my sister ruins everything. I can provide a list if asked. And then I was told by friends that for Christmas I had to knit something that fits and not something I knew was awesome that would not.

But the DFSL is finished and should fit after the baby, so now all that is left is to decide whether I will make one of my own or avoid that and choose another pattern.  Not yet decided, sometimes I think I like torture and insanity because I do like the way it turned out.

Oh yes Courney’s color.  Well one day I left the computer room to either fetch food or go to the bathroom.  I was signed on to instant messanger chatting with my friend Zach.  Courtney then wrote pretending to be me “my sister has found her color”.   She was so excited that she had to share it.  Not that she could show him the color or I think he cared.  It is a light mix of purple and blue.

Another trip to previous days and projects

So I believe I said I would discuss how wonderful my Saturday was. Well I better do it before the days get to the point where I have to specify which Saturday. Not last Saturday but the Saturday before and such. Well its still the case where I can say last Saturday and leave it at that.

Last Saturday, being the first Saturday of December, was the Alexandria Scottish Christmas walk. Last Saturday morning was a day of rain, sleet, slush, and thank goodness finally snow. Do you think I would let miserable weather keep me from multiple bagpipe bands (which I can only see at most twice a year)? I don’t think you did believe that. So I did layers. I had on my knee socks then my biking tights, and then jeans. I had on a long sleeve shirt, then a sweater and then my coat. Sadly only one layer of gloves and one hat on. And an umbrella. That kept it from being absolutely miserable. And although the crowd was sparser than I saw last year, the parade was still respectable in size and quality. I give you this picture so you can imagine the experience.

So the project I finished before The Dame was a sweater for my nephew. I hope he will not be overjoyed when he no longer is the sole recipient of my children’s knitting (especially now that there is to definitely be a long awaited for girl). I don’t know why the thought came into my head but I thought I would make a sweater in the old style football sweaters. When the sweaters were part of the uniform. I was even going to do a felted letter, but then when it came the time I could not get myself to felt something or figure out how big. So I was looking online to try to find a yarn color that was close to the Eagles green. I really was not finding anything and then going into my stash I grabbed found Knitpick’s Wool of the Andes in Spruce which seemed to me the perfect match. So then knitting in the round and using Elizabeth Zimmerman Percentage system I devised a raglan pullover. So simple and quick. I added the cream stripes on both arms, because I knew of no reason why they should be on only one and I love symmetry. And then I repeated on the neck to pull it together. I was told how cute the sweater was, and I put that down to size. I mean it is so simple it must be cute because it is small. I was very happy to hear that it did fit and was showed the results the weekend after Thanksgiving (directly after).

That weekend I also got to help my mother make Trey a bathrobe. Courtney was good enough to cut out the pattern (pinning and cutting out are my least favorite parts, well except maybe ripping out a seam but that is not a guaranteed step). The fleece was bit annoying to work with because of the thickness. Oh and why would I point out that she was good enough, because it was all her idea. As usual, she thinks of the project and then gets others to do the work. I cannot believe I do such things for a person who has at times referred to me as a monkey baby (the picture might explain how such a thought came into head).

That weekend I also made this Gingerbread Apple Upside-Down cake, another recipe discovered through Smitten Kitchen (it’s the pictures that do it). The cake was quite delightful, although not as tempting as the apple pie (two kinds of apple was a new twist which I liked). But a great dessert when not being compared. Now I just need an excuse for the vanilla roasted pears.

The Dame

So its been a long long time. Not for any good reason, so might as well move on and distract you from that thought. What thought you say, well any thought of me in a less than flattering light. Though I am doing pretty well right now because the Whole Wheat Apple Muffins I made and brought to work are getting rave reviews. In fact it was suggested to put one into a squeeze tube for consumption (which I think is a very big compliment).

I have finished a few projects and started a new challenge that is on hold while gifts are made. If you think you are receiving a gift maybe I just decided to give myself gifts for Christmas knowing I would be appreciative. (I don’t want anyone to get beyond their expectations. So I will start with the latest finished project first and work my way backwards because I never took a finished picture of one project which was sent off.

The Dame as I have taken to calling her. What is she? A shawl, the pattern in the Damson by Ysolda Teague. I knit her up in the beautiful purple monochrome of Miss Babs “Yummy” 2ply sock and baby yarn. The pattern calls for the use of Malabrigo sock yarn that comes in a whopping 440 yards. I knew from other peoples stories that it was not a pattern to think maybe it would not use the whole skein. The Miss Babs comes in 400 yards skeins. So I wisely (yes I have patted myself on the back for this) bought two skeins, knowing I would have enough left to make a pair of socks even if I was forced to break into the second skein. There are 109 rows to the shawl and I finished the first skein mid row 107. But the extra yarn was definitely needed, because for the looping border you make double yarnovers and then the next row you knit through the front and back of each yarnover. So you go from in the 300s to 500s for the number of total stitches. That is a lot to bind off, if you were wondering.

I enjoyed the Damson greatly. Surprisingly the garter stitch rows did not annoy me in tedium as with my sisters birthday present, partly because of the increases and partly the beauty of the fabric being worked up. A relatively easy pattern that has a beautiful product. This week I have been using The Dame as work and left Andy to rest.

Well that’s all for now, I will share the joy of the rain/snow in my next post.

Perfect Timing

So this post has been a long time coming. I believe I promised to put it up last week and still it was not started until a moment ago. A moment of my time of course, which is quite different then a moment ago of your time because you probably will not read this the minute I post it and of course it will not be posted until complete – which will be more than a moment from now.

Sorry for the digression, I sometimes get on a through process and feel the need to fully lay it out to see if others appreciate it. So I finished my playoff sweater with plenty of time. I finished it last Wednesday the same day that the Phillies because the 2009 National League Champions. The day that allowed them to play in the World Series, and timewise I did not even need that. I was happy with the way the sweater turned out when blocked. Of course the weather turned to more comfortable and therefore I cannot yet wear it.

Like the previous sweater it was made by knitting two strands at once. This means bigger needles (10.5) and when I started the newest project I felt like size 6 were so tiny. Can you imagine if I tried to make socks, I would be complaining constantly. I knit the entire sweater in the round as suggested by Jared Flood’s article in the Fall and Holiday 2009 issues of Vogue Knitting. I was happy with the process and the second magazine came just as I had gotten the second sleeve to the proper length, so perfect timing. The only issue came about in the appearance of the decreases because of the thickness of double held yarn. Ashley said she thought the seamlike decrease should be about an inch and that is why I thought it looked funny. Also I did not bind off the collar (which is fun and was created through wrapping and turning) loosely enough and may have to try the new technique written up in knitty when I get around to it.

This time I was smart enough to use Lucy my dress form for the blocking and that also made it easier to take pictures.

Right on track

So a little more about the Marilyn sweater before I move on. I realized I talked about the divots but did not show (or attempt to show what I meant). So here goes my attempt.

Also to talk a little more about my favorite new addition to the wardrobe (no I have not worn it twice in one wee, this is just the way I refrain from that.) You will notice the ribbon, which I got because I knew how well a pale blue and maroon look together. I was told it was called salmon when I bought and first thought okay, why? But after a bit of examination I could see why. I love the tinge of yellow on one side. I wore the sweater last Monday and at the bar was told that I probably route for the redskins because I like the color maroon. I said actually I’m an Eagles fan and then I am told because of the green ribbon. And even if the ribbon can be considered green, it is nowhere near eagles green. I can say that definitively. Lets just say instead of arguing with the guy about how idiotic he was, I decided to stop replying to someone I had been trying to avoid conversation with, since I would never choose a team based on colors. At least not since elementary school and my awesome Mighty Ducks Starter Jacket.

So last night the Phillies won against the Rockies and moved on to the National League Championship series. I also finished 13 inches of the sweater body and started on the first sleeve of my playoffs sweater. So currently the timeline appears to be doable. Although this weekend I flirted with a new project, it did not easily flow and I remembered that it was nice to get things finished. So I decided to try this sweater in the round, even though it was written in pieces after reading an article Jared Flood wrote in Vogue knitting. I was annoyed that the article was in two pieces and hope I will get the next issue before I finish both sleeves. But if I don’t, I will figure it out myself or find an alternative source on how to do it.

This sweater is also knit double stranded and on even bigger needles (10.5s instead of 10s). I actually wound two skeins of the yarn at the same time, which was not as genius as I thought. It either stretches one of the skeins more to make it uneven, or they are not close enough in length, or a combination of the two. Over all, it is progressing nicely.

And my Aunt suggested that I was into purple currently, I see it more as maroon.  But thing back to the sweater, we all see colors differently.

Got the rest of the pattern

So I was able to get the rest of the pattern for the sweater and was so very happy. I immediately went to work knitting away. It was interesting because the way I did the decreases for the bust gather (and I’m not saying I did not follow the patter directions, just my execution may be a factor or perhaps my bust may be a factor in the fit) there are two divots. Like when you begin to push a staple remover into a piece of paper before the puncture.

But the sweater knit up beautifully Ialthough I feel thepicture makes it look frump, that is not the case), I was a little sad I could not make the sleeves any longer. I thought about getting another skein. However, there is a problem with the skeins being 560 yards and priced accordingly. After wearing, I have decided that elbow length is fine. Not what I had in mind, but does not lessen my enjoyment of the sweater.

Blocking it was interesting because it was knit in the round, but necessary because the bottom was curling severely. I do not remember blocking anything that was knit in the round previously, and therefore had to plod through that.

Like I said I am very happy with the way that the sweater turned out. I then turned to work on the next project I had recently bought yarn for (although I have many ideas in my head, I am trying to work with what I already have, so that the ideas that have had money spent on them do not languish and die leaving me with large amounts of yarn and no plan. I love plans.

I have indeed started a new project. A project that depending on the whim of the sports deities will be finished before the end of the Phillies season. If not, I will still consider it my playoff sweater. But I will tell you more about that later.

The final thing I wanted to share was I am noticing a trend in my projects made for myself. Anyone else see it?

I want the next page

So sometimes I have projects with deadlines. And as has been shown before sometimes I think about the project far enough in advance, but still do not manage to work on it the appropriate amount of time. That is not currently what is going on. Although I may have gleefully pushed aside a project for the Andromeda shawl (I call her Andy and love her – it’s a pink shawl and must be considered female). But once that once done I set down the law realizing months had elapsed since a project was started, and therefore should get back to it. So I made myself only knit one thing. I was allowed to think about knitting other things, but no cheating.

Of course that rule got amended, and it was once I was done the body I could start one other project. I really thought it would be Nancy Bush’s Kilt hose. I had finally found my new set of dpns. The reason they were so hard to find were that they were not in any of the knitting supplies containers, or the sewing supplies containers, but in the other craft bin. When telling someone about this, they seemed overwhelmed and I explained I have a big closet. The other craft bin holds supplies for quilling and various other ideas of how else to create things.

What I started instead was the Fibrespace Marilyn pattern with Miss Bab’s Yowzza Whatta Skein. I joined friends at Fibrespace on Labor day and when doing my customary wander of the store I saw the beautiful plum colored skeins and then the sweater. Although the pattern was not out yet (it was indicated that it would be in another week or so), Danielle suggested trying on the sample to figure out the size and therefore how much yarn would be needed. Although I was desiring to start the project right away, it was for the best that I could not, since it would break my rule.

Of course I was getting closer and closer to being allowed to cast on another project. So when at Fibrespace last Thursday to knit and watch Dirty Dancing, I went to ask Danielle about the pattern. I tried not to whine, but share how excited I was about the yarn and the pattern. What this got me was the 1st page – up to the bottom of the armpit. Happily I went on my way.

I’m not happy anymore. Last night I was forced to return to the less satisfying project. Which on the one hand is good an all, because it does need to be finished. Also the weather suddenly decided to get into the eighties again and therefore a three quarter sleeve sweater is not quite practical. But I do not hold the infatuation for the other project, I don’t think about knitting it when doing other things. The project crush was brief and quickly replaced by guilt and obligation. So while I knit sleeves I will just be hoping to get the next page for Marilyn who is swankily knit with two strands and you can see in the photo. The photo that does not show the right color (and after many attempts I gave up). The photo of the skein gives a better idea.

Oh and when I shared how I already knew what color ribbon (pale blue) which I know looks great because of the 1980s Phillies, I got a laugh at the store from someone not already acquainted with my love of maroon and pale blue paired together.

Geometric Bliss

So I had said to myself (internal conversation, not external) that I would show greater fidelity to each knitting project. Approximately an indeterminate time later (probably a week, felt like a year), I saw the Andromeda shawl and quickly abandoned the project that was killing my will to live through garter stitch. After I decided to buy the pattern, I then quickly placed an order for shibui. I had loved the way it worked through the socks I made for Karla. The funny thing about the order was the color choice. I love the color I chose, but it surprises even me that I committed to it. Just that it is not one of the normal hues I work in.

So the pattern was written beautifully and had many charts. I would measure the size of the shawl by comparisons, such as, head covering, scarf, skanky top, apron… You only had to work one chart at a time, which was nice, but each chart did get longer. I started with about 4 stitches and before the edging had 301. The problem was that my charts were much longer than my post-its and the post-its would lose stickiness. So I co-opted an idea my friend Ashley had presented of ribbon and Velcro to follow a knitting chart. I made a foldable backing board and proceeded to have some fun with mod-podge and fabric to make this handy creation (various versions available at my etsy shop [http://ashleydg.etsy.com]).

The shawl went along pretty easily until I took a bit of my attention away from it.  I do not know what happened, but at one point I realized that the pattern was a bit off.  At first I tried a local fix, reknitting only a small section of the shawl, but there ended up being large extra loops of yarn that way.  So I thought it through and decided it would annoy me so much that I would end up no using the shawl.  Then I ran a life line (it is the gray yarn) and ripped all the way back.  You would think after that when encouraged to put a life line in, I would acquiesce.  If you think that you may not know me.  Because I did not, but luckily it was not needed again.

So I took the shawl with me on the train ride to New York this weekend to visit friends. LB has taken up knitting (I did a little nudging that direction last year) and looked at it when it was off the needles and seemed hesitant about the size. I then said don’t worry with blocking it will spread out the yarn overs more and be a good size. So when I got home Sunday night I blocked the shawl with regular pins because I could not find my blocking pins (there is going to be a organizing session of all yarn related items and yarn this weekend). These pins are so useless the heads kept coming off when I tried to take it out. I actually realized I could add a little more size and reblocked it last night.

I love my new shawl, perfect to make the office more bearable. And knitting it was so enjoyable compared to the garter stitch madness. I love the pattern and know that was partly for the geometry, and thus I call it geometric bliss. And it makes me so happy unlike the fact that my laptop no longer recognizes certain usb devices. For a bit it was all of them, but of course after cleaning the registry, uninstalling the usb drivers, system restoring, the ipod works once I am at Best Buy – so frustrating. But I should not think about that and focus on the shawl.

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.