Catching up on projects

Jill P.:

Everytime I think about blogging I feel bad that it’s been so long, but then I feel overwhelmed about what I’m going to show.  It becomes this horrible cycle of guilt and continual non-posting.  But finally, I’m getting to it.

I’ve been keeping on schedule with knitting a pair of socks a month.  These are the pairs that I knit in July and August.  First up is the Spot Check Socks from Knitting Socks from Handpainted Yarn designed by Beth Parrott.

Mine are a little more subdued than the ones shown in the book.  I think I like that the look is subtle.  Also, these are the only yarns I had in the stash that worked together.  The blue is Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Navy and the green is Claudia Handpaints in the Jungle colorway.  This was for the Sock Knitters Anonymous colorwork challenge in July.  The pattern is stranded, but alternating every stitch, so very simple.  I used the medium size for my size 8 1/2 feet.  Very comfortable.

Next, were also for the SKA July challenge, but finished in August.  The challenge was knitting a pattern by a SKA member.  I chose the Bacchus socks by Alice Bell.  These were in Interweave Knits, Fall 2008.  I used ShibuiKnits Sock in Taupe.

Being shown with a view of my parents’ backyard in Washington.  I was very happy with how these turned out.  Baby’s first bobbles. I was worried they would be too bulky in shoes, but I wore them with Converse with no problems.  My second skein of yarn was slightly different from the first, even though they were the same dyelot.  It had little spots of brown on it.  When you look at that sock close-up, it kind of looks like dirt.  As always, I find projects with elaborate charts addicting.  You can’t stop at the end of a repeat, you have to keep on going!

I was visiting my parents because I went to my high school reunion.  I was pretty nervous about going.  I was never very popular.  Somewhere in the middle I guess.  I ended up getting kind of defensive and extremely jokey-jokey.  I could feel myself being obnoxious but couldn’t really stop it.  It was good getting back in touch with people I haven’t seen in quite a while.  I reconnected with my friend Trisha who was my best friend in 7th grade/middle school.

I also learned that one of my best friends is 6 months pregnant with twins!  I hadn’t heard from her much in the last year, so this was a real shock.  Since I last talked with her, she’s met someone, gotten married, gotten pregnant and moved across the country.  Crazy.  Of course I am working on sweaters for the babies.  I want to make more than that, but don’t think I’ll make the deadline.

I’ve got more to show, but am getting tired.  The last thing for this post will be the Aeolian Shawl that I finished last month. 

Pattern: Aeolian Shawl by Elizabeth Freeman at Knitty.com

Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Intenso.  I used a smidgen more than 2 skeins.  If I hadn’t doubled the yarn on the bind-off I would have made it with no problem.  Luckily Melissa had just finished her Sweet Lily Shawl with the same yarn and had leftovers. 

I made mine a little bit smaller than the full shawl.  I did only 8 repeats of the Yucca chart instead of the 12 it calls for.  I followed the shawl directions for the rest of it.  7 stitch nupps.  (Anyone else having trouble calling them “noups” like Nancy Bush?  Everytime I have to say both ways.  “I’m doing 7 stitch noups…you know, nupps”)  I used purple Toho silver-lined 8/0 beads throughout.  They are always hard to see in pictures. 

I had a hell of a time blocking this out.  I forgot it had the swooping U shape on the top and tried to block it out in a straight line.  Then I had no room to pin out all the points.  I had to keep readjusting all my pins and by the time I was finishing (2 + hours later) the shawl was mostly dry.  I had to spray it with water again.  I may go back one day and try for sharper points.  Overall though, I am happy happy with it.  Love it. 

I like styling shawls like this, but it seems a little ridiculous.  Why go through all that work, just to wad it up in a ball around your neck.  We’re all fighting the dowdiness of a lace shawl I guess.  Making it all casual, like a kerchief.  It does bother me when it’s the picture for the pattern.  You can’t even tell what the pattern looks like when it’s all wrapped around like that.  Despite this mini-rant, this is totally the way I wear them out on the town.  Like I’m putting on a elaborately knit lobster bib. 

More soon!  Oh, and I need to either find a new roommate, or find a new place to live.  Let me know if anyone has any Los Angeles apartment leads!  Also, I can’t pay very much for said apartment.  Thanks!

Jill B.

Chicken or the egg

Jill P.:

I had another baby event a couple of weekends ago.  My former co-worker Khai’s baby was turning 1!  This is the baby that I had previously made the Yoda Baby Hat for.  He was having a birthday party for her at his yogurt shop.  It’s the TuttiFrutti in Marina del Rey/Culver City, yum!  I decided that I had to make her a birthday present, but I only gave myself a week of lead time. 

I decided to use the Which Came First? pattern by Anna Hrachovec.  I think it turned out super cute!  It looks almost identical to all the other projects though.  I didn’t really give it any individual style.

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Creme, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Buttercup, and some misc. orange yarn from Melissa.

Here it is, starting to crack in it’s flax nest:

My swan costume decided to check in on it as it starts to hatch:

And now it’s a little chick!:

I made no modifications to the pattern.  I hand-felted the pieces in the sink.  Because the Lamb’s Pride is so much thicker than the WotA, it didn’t felt quite as much and was slightly larger.  The way the pattern is reversible, the difference in size didn’t matter.  I put polyfil in between the two layers as directed, but maybe put just a little less because the egg has more volume to go inside the chicken.  I always get excited to knit toys, but then get frustrated by the sewing. 

Here are all my felted pieces before assembly:

They didn’t open presents at the party so I don’t know what the parents thought about my gift.  I hope they liked it!

My new coworker started last week.  I was nervous about having a new person sharing my workspace, 40 hours a week, but we are getting along great.  I even ventured out on a weekday night to see his band perform!  And you know how much I love animals in clothes.  His wife’s company, Ruby & Bee, makes the cutest dog clothes!  This work partnership was meant to be. =)

Halloween is coming up sooner than you think, and I really need to start working on costumes for my cats.  I’ve been debating doing a religious theme and having Paquito be a rabbi, and Olivia being a nun.  But then I don’t know what my costume would be.  Any good ideas?

Jill B.

Swap dyeing

Jill P.:

As you know, I joined a shawl swap on the Anthropologie Knits group on Ravelry.  I knew what pattern I wanted to use (the Percy Shawl) but couldn’t decide on yarns.  I knew I didn’t have anything in the right color in my stash.  We went to a couple of local stores, but couldn’t find anything that I liked.  Twist would probably have had something I could use, but it’s far away and not open the one day I was going to be near it.  You graciously offered to let me shop in your stash.  There were many good options, but we ended up getting super motivated and decided to dye up some yarn and some fiber.  Lucky for us you still had some dye stock in your fridge! 

My goal was orange, so I dyed some merino laceweight and about 6 oz of Optim fiber.  I used a mix of Yellow Sun(right?) and Vermillion.  In hindsight we should have taken step-by-step pictures!  We kettle dyed the yarn in pots.  Here is my laceweight yarn:

I am totally in love with it.  I think the color turned out just like I hoped for. 

The Optim fiber dyed up a little weird.  First when we were soaking the fiber, it wouldn’t sink in the vinegar water.  It felt totally saturated, but it kept popping back up.  When wet it looked like bread dough.  I put in a lot more dye for the fiber, because it seemed to only be dyeing the outside of it, and not the whole rope.  I figured a deeper shade would be better so that when I spun it it didn’t get too pastel.  It looked like hell when we removed it from the water.  Like a big dreadlock.  I don’t think it was felted, but it didn’t look good.  It did fluff up a little when it dried.  (Which took forever!)

I had debated spinning the yarn for my swap project, but I think that I am glad that I changed my mind.  Maybe I will still try to spin some to send along with the shawl. 

Since we had the dyepots out, we both overdyed some yarn that we didn’t like.  I had some Knitpicks Bare sock yarn that I had tried to dye at one of the guild’s Dye Days.  Don’t ask me what happened here, I know it looks awful!  I guess I was apathetic, in a rush, and trying to just use the colors of dye that were already out.  Plus I thought the color had seeped all the way through the yarn, when it really didn’t.  At all. 

I overdyed all of it with Gunmetal.  It took several tries to add enough dye to color all the ugliness.

Some of the old sections still show through, but I think it’ll knit up okay.  It’s not an amazing job, but it is such an improvement that I am ecstatic about it. 

Jill, you overdyed the world’s ugliest Knit Picks autumny laceweight yarn, and got something resembling Mountain Colors.  I don’t have any pictures, and I can’t even guess at what the KP colorway was called. 

All in all, a successful dyeing day.  I’m glad you were there to hold my hand!  Especially since I can’t make my own decisions and I got you to make them all for me! 

Jill B.

Seasonally inappropriate knits

Jill P.,

Yes, I am way behind on blogging about these projects.  (My Mom disapproves!)  It feels like once something is up on Ravelry for weeks there’s almost no point.  But here we go.

My neverending Spring and Summer project was this:

Pattern: Mosaic Yoke Jacket by Veronik Avery.  It was in Color Style and in Interweave Knits Fall 2008.

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Bulldog Blue, Grey Heather, Ink Blue, Medieval Red, Wild Oak, Sunburst Gold and Creme.  It took much more of the Main Color than I thought it would.  That double layer collar and bands really ate up the yarn!

I started it in the beginning of April and it took me until the beginning of July.  Part of the time it was on hold because I needed to buy more yarn or work on baby projects.  There was a large chunk of time where I was stalled out because of the colors.  I ended up buying yarn that looked like the colors of the chart key.  But of course the yarn combinations together ended up being awfully contrasty.

The intial plan had the Sunburst Gold and the Wild Oak next to each other, and the Creme and the Ink Blue together.  The gold and the brown together ended up being very 70s colors and not enough contrast and the white and the blue was too stark of a difference.  I hemmed and hawed about it for a long time, but Melissa helped me figure out a better combination.  When I look at it up close it seems a little bright, but I think it works pretty well overall.  Especially when you stand back from the sweater.

This was my first time doing a slip-stitch/mosaic pattern.  I understood the concept but I got very confused during the yoke pattern.  The way the pattern changes, you will have to slip some stitches more than just two rows.  The chart would show a new color, but I wasn’t working with that color yet.  You just have to slip them and work them on the next set of rows.  The rows will condense down and what was four rows of slipped stitches and knits will become two rows of just knits  (or purls as the case may be).

I had some trouble picking a good size.  I’m about a 36″ bust, or sometimes more.  I thought there should be some ease, so I went to the next closest size and made the 39″.  I think this is a good size for wearing stuff underneath.  But I almost wish I had made the smaller size and then added afterthought button loops for closures.  Let’s not even discuss how I’ve been irrationally making extremely warm sweaters with 3/4 length sleeves!

So, here she is:

I wish I had cropped my face out of that one, but don’t really have the energy for that.

My more recent finished winter project, are these knee socks:

Pattern: Evening Stockings for a Young Lady by Nancy Bush from her Knitting Vintage Socks book.

Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in Chinese Red, about 2.6 skeins.

I made a few little mods.  As written, the socks are a bit shorter than knee highs.  I decided to go all the way.  I didn’t cast on with the yarn doubled.  I had the 5×1 ribbing match up with the 2×1 ribbing.  This didn’t go very smoothly on the first sock, but I didn’t go back.  I just fixed it on the second sock.  I also did the calf decreases in pattern instead of in stockinette.  I kept a little p1,k1,p1 down the back of the leg until the extra stitches were decreased out.  To make the sock fit my calf, I changed needle sizes.  I started with a 2.25mm for the top ribbing.  Went to a 2.5mm for the lower ribbing, then went to a 2.75mm for the lace pattern.  After the calf decreases, I decreased the needles down again for the ankle and foot.  The pattern calls for a longer heel flap.  I made it a traditional height of about 3o rows.  I used the same directions, just picked up less stitches for the gusset and decreased at the same rate back to the original stitch count.  I also used a wedge toe instead of the round toe.

I like them a lot, but have only found one outfit that they will go with.  Maybe when the weather cools down a bit I’ll take them out.

These were my first pair of socks for the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry.  I am currently working on two pairs of socks for July/August.

It’s all socks and shawls for me right now.  I am itching to make a garment but will have to wait.

Jill B.

Olivia!

Jill P.:

Wow, I am super behind.  The most news-worthy thing in my life right now, is that I got a new kitten!  I adopted her almost a month ago from the West LA Animal Shelter.  On WWKIP Day, in fact.  I got a few minutes of knitting done at the shelter vet.

She was 8 weeks old when I got her, so old enough to be spayed.  Seems awfully early to me, but I understand that the shelter wants to make sure it gets done.  She was segregated in my bedroom for the first few days, and had to wear the cone for over a week!

I also had a horrible (to me) flea investation.  I think Olivia’s first dose of Advantage didn’t work, or got absorbed by the gauze that holds the cone on.  I had to reapply it a couple weeks later.  I think that the whole fiasco is finally over, but I am still seeing an occasional flea.  Gross.  Everytime I think about it I get so itchy.

I am hoping that she’s going to be a long-hair, but I think she’ll probably be more of a medium hair.  She’s a lot fuzzier than our other kitties were.

Most of my pictures of her are from the first two days.  There’s a few more on my flickr account.  My battery charger died and I wasn’t able to get new batteries until yesterday.  She’s a bit bigger now, but not that much bigger.  Now that her cone is off, she is very playful and a little bitey.  Hopefully she’ll grow out of that phase!  It makes it difficult to knit at home, since she’s always trying to bite the yarn.  I think she’ll fit in well in my little family.  She’s been playing with Paquito quite a bit.  They haven’t started cuddling or grooming each other yet though.

In knitting news, I realize that I never blogged my Petal Halter.

Pattern: Petal Halter by Olga Buraya-Kefelian in Interweave Knits, Spring 2009

Yarn: Rowan Damask, less than 5 skeins.

Start Date: May 9, 2009

Finish Date: June 18, 2009

I started this as part of the Anthropologie Knits group Tank KAL.  I am not totally pleased with it.  The yarn is a little too busy for it.  And all the finishing really was annoying.  I ended up sewing the tubes together in the opposite direction, so my side seams aren’t exactly at the sides.  I also shortened the straps, and picked up stitches and bound off for a tiny armhole edging.  Before I blocked it, it was curling like gangbusters!  It just looked like crazy tubes.

For next time, two totally winter articles of clothing that I just finished in the last week.

Jill B.

NWRSA Conference

Jill P.:

I have a few things to blog about, but I should do them in order.  The week before last found me in Seattle and Tacoma.  I flew to Seattle and hung out with some friends.

I first stayed with my college roomie Tina for a few days.  She introduced me to the Twilight movie, and I introduced her to a new knitting project.  She has been working on a long stockinette scarf for about two years, since a friend taught her how to knit.  She pulled it out again since I was coming over.  I did have to break the news to her that it will never stop rolling. =(  I was able to drag her to a few yarn stores while I was there.  We went to the Fiber Gallery in Phinney Ridge where I bought some Dream in Color Starry and Tina bought some Silk Garden and fixin’s to make fingerless gloves.  A very nice selection.  The next day we went to Hilltop Yarn on Queen Anne.  I think they are moving across the street, so everything was 25% off.  I bought some Shibuiknits Sock to start some (more?!) knee high socks, and more Noro Silk Garden Sock.  I don’t know why I keep buying it.  I haven’t knit with what I have at home, and most reviews are less than enticing.  Plus sometimes I see the same colorways over and over and get bored with them.  I started the knee-highs as part of the Sock Knitters Anonymous Rav. group’s June sockdown.  Here’s part of one.  It’s the Evening Stockings for a Young Lady from Knitting Vintage Socks.  (I’ll do a full post when they’re done).

I was really proud of Tina and her knitting.  She finished one fingerless glove while I was there.  She learned how to knit in the round, do ribbing, use DPNs, and make a thumb gusset!  I hope she manages to finish the other one before I go back in a year!

I then moved over to my friend Michelle’s place.  I suppose she was a grad school roommate!  I stayed at her cute house in Ballard and spent some time with her pets.  Of course I didn’t take any pictures while I was there.  We went on walks, got yummy crumpets and ate some good meals.  She also had a fun barbecue one night I was there.  Thanks to my generous hostesses!  Oh, also caught up with another friend from high school/college.

My Mom and Dad came up to Seattle and picked me up.  We had some lunch and then my Dad dropped us off at the University of Puget Sound campus.  Then it was 3-4 days of the Northwest Regional Spinners Association conference.  This is my first time going.  I became a member just to attend the conference with my Mom.  Since she was driving up from Camas, she brought both of her wheels.  That way I didn’t have to fly up with my wheel.  I took two all-day classes.  One was Spinning Woolen and Worsted with Anne Field, author of the Ashford Book of Spinning.  I worked on my long and medium draw and using a flick carder.  The next day was Spinning Alpaca with Kaye Collins.  Very informative and a fun class.  She gave the keynote speech of the conference, which was a little more spiritual than my tastes tend to run…

We had meal tickets in the cafeteria, which meant three all-you-can-eat meals within 10 hours.  I felt moderately sick for the whole time.  I just can’t stop myself from eating tons of crap.

My Mom pushed me to enter my Muir shawl (previous post here) into the gallery.  I was a little hesitant about it, because it was my first lace handspun.  I knew the yarn was pretty uneven and was worried about the judging.  But I surprisingly scored very highly!  I got a first prize ribbon!  I never really know what those ribbons mean.  I definitely didn’t get the Best in Class ribbon.  On the last night of the conference they announced that I won the People’s Choice award!  It was very exciting.

Here is a picture of me with the shawl, the ribbon, and the trophy!

The “trophy” is near invisible in that picture.  It is a crocheted heart hanging from a wire stand.  It is a revolving trophy so I need to bring it back next year.  I don’t know if I’ll make it again next year, but I’ll at least send it in.  The woman who had it the year before was very sad to give it up.  I just hope I can display it without a cat eating it. =)  I’ve been sarcastic about the whole thing and laughing at how seriously the other woman took it.  But really, it was quite an honor for me.  I am definitely not as competent of a spinner as most of the people in attendance, and still have a lot to learn.  It was pretty exciting and I’m glad that my Mom brought the shawl and “forced” me to enter it.

I am much more excited for my next post!  Here’s a sneak preview!

Jill B.

Oh, Jill.  Have you seen the Hansi Singh book?  It has the Nessie in it, and a lot of the other patterns she sells.  Right up your alley.

As if I have time for such obsessions….

I’m addicted to a new indie dyer who calls herself Fiberphile.  I hate to even talk about her yarn because since I discovered her a short two months ago, it’s become almost impossible to get.  Gushing about it can only make it worse.  But I so happy for her and her success that I can’t help but spread the love.  So here goes nothing…

First off, Georgia (her real name) is from Vermont.  I triple heart anything from New England, especially Vermont.  Makes my heart cry out with bittersweet homesickness.  Secondly, she’s a lovely and humble woman who takes care of her family and runs her own successful small business out of her home which is such an inspiration to me.  Thirdly, she’s a dyepot wizard.  Here’s the proof…

Knit with Fiberphile Alchemy Super Squish Sock in Low Tide which looks almost iridescent in person!

Project details can be found on my project page on Ravelry.  This is probably my most favorite knit ever!  I was mesmerized the entire time and could barely put it down.  This was also my first time working with beads.  I purchased the size 6/0 sparkle gold lined crystal beads from EarthFaire (who has a small but quality selection and always provides superior customer service, I must say).  I knit this Swallowtail Shawl as part of a KAL that was hosted in the Fiberphile Ravelry group.  Speaking of which, there is another one going on now for June/July which I just cast on for…

Tiger Eyes socks knit with Fiberphile Glimmer MCN in Pumpkin Spice.  (Merino/Cahsmere/Nylon blend seems to be a very popular yarn base with the indie dyers these days.) Now, these need to be finished by the end of July.  A minor miracle will probably have to happen for that reality to materialize, but I’m going to go for it anyway!

Georgia seems to dye up large batches of yarn every three weeks or so.  If you want to fight me for some, the battlefield, I mean website, is at August Lately.  She also has a blog here.

On the massage school front, I just passed the first of three exams for my Anatomy & Physiology II class and I’m halfway through my third level of Deep Tissue class.  The final exam for that is going to be a doozy!!!  Though my regular schedule of classes is taking a lot of time and energy, I’m a glutton for punishment and decided to sign up for an elective taking place this Sunday.  It’s an On-site Chair Massage class.  I’m really excited about this one.  If I love it, I’ll probably buy a chair which I could bring with me to knit night and practice massage on eveyone’s weary knitting fingers, arms and shoulders.  Yay!

Speaking of Knit Night, I’m hoping to show my face this coming Monday, but since it’s going to be such a busy weekend “hoping” is really the operative word.  I fear that if I don’t go this Monday, I won’t see y’all until mid-July at best.  Would you still love me… remember me even???

xoxoxoxxx, JP

aka. oboegoddess

More baby stuff!

Hey Jill P:

I had to put aside my regular knitting once again to make baby/kid stuff.  My good friends Jeff and Morgan are having their first baby!  I have known Jeff since middle school, and Morgan was one of my college roommates, although I am not responsible for them getting together.  So this is a very important baby.  Oh, at some time I blogged about going to their Hut wedding on Mt. Hood, but maybe that was on my old blog.  Anyway, I had a bunch of ideas for presents, but didn’t move on any of them.  Of course, a week ago or so, I emailed Jeff to find out the sex of the baby and realized that the baby was due in two weeks!  I had to get moving!

Here’s what I decided on:

Yeah, not a very impressive display.  But here’s what it looks like hanging up!:

Pattern: Flock by Meg Bakewell in Knitty, Spring 2009.

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes and Lamb’s Pride Worsted.  I used leftovers from my Mosaic Yoke Jacket and my Road to Golden.

I used size 4 needles for everything.  Since I used leftover yarn my only cost was less than $1.50 for dowels.  Of course it took $8 to ship it…

I had loved this when I first saw it, but didn’t even think about making it until a week ago.  I was on such a time schedule that it did start to feel like a bit of a chore.  But I can’t believe I finished it in a week!  I did have to sit at the court house yesterday for about four hours while contesting a traffic ticket.  I did all my I-cord branches and some of my leaves there.  Oh, and I lost my case and got a parking ticket while there.  Bummer.

I had to make a few substitutions on color when I ran out of dark green and when I didn’t want to use the branch color in the birds.  The pattern was very well-written.  Very precise.  The only thing I changed, was to continue the same shaping in the head that I did in the body.  I like having ssks and k2togs to shape the head instead of doing all k2togs, like in a hat.  But that’s it.  I also made the shortest version of the mobile.

Here’s some more shots of it.

I hope they like it!

On a random note, here was the view from the front of my work the other day:

That’s a cell phone picture, so not great.  The Church of Scientology owns that workshop/space and are always doing weird work in there.  I think they were fixing up Ron L. Hubbard’s car in there once.  They are moving what looks to be a zero-gravity simulator/gyroscope onto this truck.  Later in the day when I walked by, they were moving some control panels.  One said Gravitron and the other said Motion Control.  Weird.  Don’t tell me they’re not building a space ship.  Maybe they’re just working on carnival rides for a company picnic or something. =)

I’ll probably have our usual Monday night SnB at my apartment next time.  Let me know if you want to come!

Jill B.

Lace stockings

Hey Jill P.:

I’ve been slogging through a sweater, but it is taking forever!  But I did just finish up another project that I’m eager to show off. 

It is the #31 Lace Stockings by Mari Muinonen/Tikru that were in the Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2009.

The yarn was Knit Picks Essential Kettle-Dyed in Eggplant.  I used a bit more than two balls.  It took me about a month to do the pair. 

There was a bit of a delay initially because Vogue didn’t publish all of the charts in the magazine.  And there was some lag time in getting it up on the website.  They went pretty quickly.  A nice thing about lace socks is there are so few stitches.  I usually use DPNs but I used two circulars for most of these.  The lace pattern on the front doesn’t divide in half easily, so it was better to have them all on one needle. 

If I were going to do them again, I would use a smaller gauge than recommended for the foot and ankle.  I went with 6st/in and the foot was a little loose for me.  I went down a needle size for the ankle and went back to the called for needle for the calf.  It was exciting not to have to make these bigger than called for.  I would also have put in one or two more repeats of the main lace pattern.  I think I would have liked a taller stocking. 

And I thought the Bettie’s Stockings looked trampy!

Yikes!  I imagine I’ll be wearing these with longer skirts.

There were a few small mistakes in the charts.  On the left side of Row 19 on Chart 2, there is, if I remember correctly, an extra stitch.  Also on the left tip of the leaf/flower, it is sometimes a K3tog and sometimes a K3tog tbl. 

I had some difficulty with the elastic at the top of the leg.  I first tried weaving clear elastic bands through the “eyelet rows” at the top of the stocking.  But there aren’t really any eyelet rows, and that just wasn’t working for me.  I ended up using some black elastic sewing thread.  On a non-cabled row, I would thread the elastic through the stitches on the needle like a lifeline.  Then I would knit the stitches as normal.  Except if there was a yo in the row that I thread through, then I knit the stitch and the elastic together.  This way the thread is pulled up with the stitch and is not just going horizontally across the yarnover.  It was too late for the first stocking, so I just thread the elastic through the back of the fabric in maybe 5 sections.  I just knotted the elastic together at the end of the rounds.  I needed to make it quite snug to stay up on my leg.  If there was no elastic, the stocking would eventually just make its way down to my ankle.  And by eventually I mean, like in two minutes.  Here’s a close-up of the first stocking where I didn’t put the elastic in while knitting:

You can still see the elastic, but I decided it was good enough.  I tried knitting the elastic thread in, but I wasn’t able to pull the elastic taut enough to do any good. 

Overall I’m pleased with them.  I hope they get some use.  Other than that I just started my Petal Halter, and am still working on the Mosiac Yoke Jacket.  I also have a baby present to get to really quickly.  It is going to be a girl and she’s due in two weeks!  I have no idea what to make! 

Jill B.

Kid presents

Jill P.:

Here are the projects I had under wraps for a while.  Melissa’s baby Ben was turning 1.  I decided to knit him a present.   But my Mom has always taught me to make something for the older child too so they don’t get too jealous.  So Zach needed a gift too.

For Ben’s present, I made him a pair of pants.

Pattern: Kanoko Pants by Yumiko Sakurai

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Taupe and Violet.  For the stripes I used some bits of TLC Cotton Plus in Cream and Gold.  I used less than a ball of each of the main colors, and not very much of the other ones.

I made the largest size.  They are kind of funny looking on, super wide-legged.  In my mind the colors were less circusy, but I still like them.  I didn’t do anything to combat jogs.  But when working in the ends I kind of smooshed them over into straighter lines.  With the accent colors I made sure to knit a row with the new color before the purl or seed stitch row.  That way you don’t get that weird coloring in the purl ridge.  The most annoying thing with this project was having to do the legs on DPNs and having stitches almost falling off each time.  A fifth DPN would have helped.

I wanted to do a small gift for Zach, but his ended up being maybe more time consuming than Ben’s.  Zach received:

Elefante!

Pattern: Elefante by Susan B. Anderson

Yarn: Wool of the Andes left over from my Road to Golden sweater in Daffodil, Avocado, Evergreen, Lullaby, Mink Heather and Cranberry.

I am super happy with how he turned out.  I just filled him with Polyfil.  I didn’t want to deal with the little weighting beads.  Instead of attempting the crochet ears, I followed the example of KnittingElephant (I think?!) on Ravelry and made garter stitch ears.  Then I picked up all around with a contrast color and bound off.  It leaves the little lines on the other side, but I don’t mind them.

I wasn’t able to get his little feet flat on the bottom.  Maybe if I had done less rounds on the feet, they wouldn’t pucker out so much.  The stripes were a little time consuming, but it was nice being able to just tie them on the inside.  The hardest part for me was sewing the head onto the body.  It was hard to know where it should be sewn to.  Now he has a little cocked head but I think it gives him character.  Kind of quizzical.

I have a lot of projects to blog about, but should try to space them out.  Next up is the finished Drop Collar Cabled Jacket.  And a few WIPs.  I am going to try to knit or crochet some wire earrings for my friend Adrienne.  Wish me luck!

Jill B.