Pisces Camisole

Around this time last year, I was struggling with designing a child's tank dress, and when I encountered struggle with shaping the bodice, I gave up on the design, and morphed that piece into something else. In the past year of knitting, I have done some pattern modification, and eventually some designing, and have gained confidence in my ability to knit beyond the pattern. I took a giant leap as a knitter, and I credit blogging. Besides reading other blogs as an endless source of inspiration and information, this blog has forced me to be more thoughtful, more purposeful in my knitting, and my brain is engaged in my knitting more than ever.

I joined the CAL as a way of committing myself to successfully executing a design, and finishing the project, no matter the frustration or lack of initial success. I wanted to knit through the problems, and frog until I got it right. I wanted to further challenge myself and write up a sized pattern when it was done.

So it is with a little pride that can say that although it took several tries to get the bodice right, but I am finally satisfied with the denim tank.




Pattern: Pisces Camisole, designed by me
Yarn & Needles: Rowan Denim/Elann Den-im-nit - I noticed no discernible difference in the yarns, US 8 needle.

This camisole was conceived as a way to use up some oddballs in the stash. I have tons of leftover lightweight cotton yarns in the 250-350 yd range, perfect for summery tops for my little girl, including denim, one of the Create Along yarns.

My original intent was to come up with a basic tank recipe which I could easily modify in gauge or details, but I got inspired by the fishtail lace pattern and created with this lacy-but-rugged layering piece. It's no standard tank top recipe, but after knitting the bodice multiple times, I have a real sense of how to shape armholes and necklines without a pattern as a guide. I also know to consider edging details and bulk under the arms. So, I am satisfied that I have learned enough about tank construction to begin cranking out more little tops for Rosebud.

The neckline went through several iterations, including the blogged-about applied i-cord which I can only now call wishful thinking. It was a good idea, but in reality, it was way too bulky for the top, and it had no relation to the rest of the piece. I needed something simple, something that would mirror the scoop neck of most of her cotton tanks. The desired rounded look for the neckline of the tank was finally achieved through short-rows. The finish around the neckline was achieved with a simple, decorative bind off, and the armholes have a row of single crochet to flatten them a bit.

I did keep a lot of detailed notes as I made this camisole, hoping to further challenge myself and write up a sized pattern. However, I began to run out of steam (hence the wishful post about the i-cord) and the notetaking suffered at the end. The decreases around the straps are, um, improvised; those beads are not just for decoration.

I also made the i-cord straps extra long so it can be adjusted for growth...

Of course, I could swatch a bit or reknit just a bodice piece and carefully perfect the line of the tank. Sizing would be a piece of cake -- just add or subtract a lace repeat.

I think I'll just be satisfied with the tank as it is. An original design by me.

And the name? First, I used the Fishtail Lace pattern. And my Rosebud? She loves the water, and a Pisces, too.

x-post to CAL

Swim lesson sweater

Instead of waiting on the side of the pool like the other families, we kicked off swim lessons this year with me jumping in the pool with my clothes on and a life guard rescue. Apparently, my little guy lost all his skills since last summer, but not his confidence.

Luckily, he was fine and my knitting stayed dry. I was too shaken up to knit at that lesson, but this little number followed me to all the lessons that followed.

This was my first top down sweater, and of course, I'm hooked. I like the end product so much, I think I'll wear it on my first day of work next week.

Pattern: Bad Penny by Stefanie Japel

Yarn: Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton Color No. 7.

Knit Flix: Casino Royale, Yojimbo, Downfall, The Last King of Scotland, The Good Shepherd. (I think I'm ready for a romantic comedy.)

MDSW Afterglow

Well. I had a wonderful time. Here are my new goodies ...

Clockwise from top left: N's Tess sock yarn (good taste my dear), Terra bargain yarn (2 skeins light indigo, 2 skeins sunflower), a big pile of stuff (1 skein Spirit Trail sock yarn, 4 skeins Green Mountain Spinnery Sylvan Spirit Peridot, 1 skein Brooks Farm Acero), new drop spindle with Spin It book, felting kits from Black Sheep Designs (Jingle balls and birds), and N's dye tops from Springwater Workshop (nice color selection N!).

Most fun was meeting Carol (you totally crack me up), Jody, Erin, Nova, Bridget, and Amy. What a great time! The girls came along and did very well. N truly enjoyed shopping for fiber. Scary. She's only 7. I better up her allowance ...

R dug the animals (and avoided Carol's fate). We were all richly rewarded with festival food before heading to the In-Laws ...

Where the BackBou tried his hand at drop spindling.

Then home again for a photoshoot of our kitchen! Fine Homebuilding is going to feature our kitchen remodel in their kitchen and bath issue (out in the fall). We felt like rock stars!

The BackBou demonstrating the usefulness of the butcherblock. With all the excitement of the photos, I knit an entire sleeve of the Spartan with the wrong needles. Drat.

PS: Auntie Lynn -- Sorry we missed you! Thanks for the yummy shortbread!

Postcard from Maryland

Dear Mo,
I'm having a hard time putting together a post about MDSW without repeating everything every other blogger has said about the day: the long lines, the cute animals, the great weather, and of course, all the amazing yarn.

I took the bus from Rosie's Yarn Cellar, and since I have a "in" with a certain bus captain, I managed to snag a seat on the much-coveted Early Bus. This was a great way to travel, since our bus driver was particularly disinclined to sit in the long lines of traffic to get into the fairgrounds, and well, it was a bus full of knitters, so you know that you'll have something to talk about.

I had sort of planned most of my purchases, and for the most part, I stuck with my plans, and gave myself enough room for impulse purchases as well. It did seem for a moment that I bought an obscene amount of yarn, but the Back Bou was kind enough to point out that I spent less on yarn than Mr. S's and my dinner at Tru, and have no useful garments to show for that!

I was also so excited to meet up with certain bloggers and spend time with my IRL knitting friends. I finally got to meet Minty (and her Mom!), and was pleasantly surprised to see Nova there as well (with her absolutely darling son and hubby, too).

But the true highlight of MDSW for me was getting to spend the day with Ann and her family. I could have been absolutely anywhere for the day with her gang and would have had fun. Hell, I could have even been in a yurt and been totally satisfied with my day. Throwing in the incredible yarn was truly just a bonus to a day with my dear, dear friend.

The only thing missing? The only thing keeping the day from being perfect?

You, of course. We missed you terribly.

So do you want to see the haul?

From Tess Designer Yarns

a gigantic hank of Prime Alpaca

Tess Supersock & Baby

From Brooks Farm

two skeins of Acero for some man-socks

Primero

A sweater's worth of FourPlay

The Bargains of the Day

A ton of alpaca laceweight

Two skeins of Terra from the bargain bin

Do you want to know what we bought for you?

Four skeins of Green Mountain Spinnery's Sylvan Spirit

We each got four skeins for our next XRK KAL. This time, it will be a yarn-along! More matching outfits, I say!

There were a couple hanks of Spirit Trail sock yarn that are not cooperating with the camera, but they are lovely as well.

But now I do think it might be time to reinstitute a Summer of Stash...

Friday Wrap-Up

Black Bunny Fiber Merino/Silk

Just a couple of notes:

- There have been a few posts on the old Summer of Stash blog, wondering if we plan to reactivate. I have not yet decided if I need to take another break -- we'll see how this weekend's binge goes. If any other blogger is interested in taking over admin duties, please e-mail me.

- Holy Mother of All Time-Suck! Ravelry is ingenious and I am hooked. Go sign up to get your invite. Now.

- Ann and I will be at MDSW for our annual XRK Summit, but we will be missing our Mo deeply. We will be at the big blogger meet-up to hook up with some friends, and we'll try not to be too embarrassed when no one knows our humble blog.

The Sock Situation

I do not consider myself a particularly opinionated knitter, but when sock knitting fever hit me with a vengeance last year, I began to develop some decided preferences.

I quickly discovered that I much prefer using magic loop, and that I like a firm, snug sock. My default needle is a US1, and would eat dirt before knitting another pair of socks with a size 0. I have a decided preference for toe-up socks. I am not sensitive to scratchiness in sock yarn. I find equal enjoyment wearing both my Regia socks and my Koigus. I like to knit solid socks, patterned yarn, variegated yarn and stripey yarn. I do not expect fuzz-less socks, but I do expect for my socks to wear well. Holes upset me, darning stymies me.

And as I learned all these things, I began to develop this inner Voice of Experience, my inner sock knitter. This voice of experience began to inform all my decisions about sock making.

"I know that pattern calls for US2s, but you prefer a tighter sock. Shouldn't you just knit with your US1?" she reminded, so I knit at a tighter gauge.

"Remember how much you like toe-ups!" the Voice said, so I knitted most of my socks from the toe up, rejecting Nancy Bush and Cookie A patterns to knit yet another toe up Widdershin.

But the VOE began to get a little more insistent, a little more dictatorial about making socks.

"You hated knitting those socks with Trekking," she chided, so I passed up some great sock yarn.

"Sundara's yarn doesn't have any nylon! It'll wear out! It'll pill, " VOE insisted, so my Sundara yarn languished unknit in my stash.

Eventually, like all opinionated voices, this one really started to bug me, and it was time to defy that voice and assert myself again as a sock knitter open to all the possibilities. Monkey seemed like the perfect pattern to try.



Pattern: Monkey, by Cookie A., from Knitty Winter 2006
Needles: US 2 for cuffs, and US 1 for foot
Yarn: Sundara Sock Yarn, hydrangea, one of the 2006 Petals Collection colorways

The VOE had a lot to say about these socks. "You're going to wear a hole in these socks and you know you will never ever darn them."

"They'll be for light wear, then," I said, calmly, and kept knitting, enjoying the feel of Sundara's purple-ish yarn of unmatched beauty.

"You like a snug cuff on socks! The cuff of US2s will be too loose!" it reminded me. I had to acknowledge that VOE was right. I explained to her that I had to choose between fit and appearance. I started these socks on US1s, but the pattern stretched unattractively around my calves. Although the cuff is not quite as snug as I prefer, the pattern looked better on my legs at a larger gauge, and Cookie's pattern is worth showing off.

The VOE grudgingly agreed, and complimented my beautiful new socks.

So the VOE and I are learning how to peacefully co-exist. I can acknowledge her while doing my own thing. I can let her inform my choices, but can will not allow her to limit my possibilities.

But man, the Voice of Experience is just starving for more yarn. She has consumed so much that the sock yarn stash has truly reached a dire level.



I wonder if there's gonna be any good sock yarn at this Sheep Thing in Maryland this weekend...

One Day Blog Silence

Imagine

Imagine knitting your first EZ pattern ever, a Baby Surprise Jacket. While there is a recipient baby in mind, you mostly knit this pattern for the hell of it, just to figure out the origami of the pattern.


Now imagine making this infinitely fascinating, incredibly clever little garment with leftover yarn from the stash. Imagine knitting it in three days. You are both resourceful and productive!


Now imagine being inspired by the infinite possibilities of such a little jacket, and having knit a prototype, you understand how it works. You know where to add striping and contrasting edging details and you now look at your sock yarn stash in a whole new light. You modify the pattern to suit your needs and your tastes. You write a fascinatingly informative blog post about it, too.


Now imagine having a baby on the way to picture wearing your clever, colorful Baby Surprise Jackets.

No! Not me! You've just imagined that you are Mrs. Frick. Now go read her post, admire her BSJs, and be excited for her bit of baby news.

Another Matching Outfit

I finished my CPH Monday evening. The temperature was 80 degrees upstairs in the study. I didn't even want to try it on; I certainly didn't take any pictures. I just wanted to get the pile of wool off my lap.

Today it's a cool, overcast day. A great day to wear the Hoodie on R's Spring Walk by the river. I received lots of compliments on the sweater (mostly because everyone else was shivering in shorts and t-shirts, but also because I ran around telling everyone "I made this, isn't it great?").




Pattern: Central Park Hoodie by Heather Lodinsky from Knit Scene, Fall 2006
Yarn: Maggi's Aran Tweed, color 03. I used 13 balls (50g, about 100 yds a ball)
Needles: US 5s and US 7s
Modifications: I was worried about the tightness on the arms as I knit the sleeves, so I increased every 8 rows, 6 times and then every 4 rows, 5 times. If this sweater hadn't been so chunky, the strange rate of increasing would have been bad, but it turns out to not be noticeable. I don't think the sleeves would have been too tight if I had followed the pattern. Not being on the slim side, I knit the 44" size and it seems to be just right. I have not blocked it yet, but I will. Maybe. After the weather warms up.

I joined the shoulder seams with a 3-needle bind-off, but didn't do short-row shaping for the back. I should have followed Liz's advice, but it was too late! I simple stuck the stitches on a holder instead of binding off. It worked out just fine. If I knit this again, I would do a 3-needle bind-off on the hood before the ribbed band and then knit the border all in one piece to avoid the join at the top of the hood. Lynda details this here.

No buttons. I may do clasps later. I may not. I kind of like it just open like this.

The yarn: I like wearing the yarn. I did not always enjoy knitting it. It breaks easily when seaming and at random inconvenient moments when knitting which I find very irritating. Its nubby habit is quite nice visually, but does not always allow for the best flow while knitting. I have 7 skeins left so I'll knit again with this yarn, but I need a break for now.

I love my CPH!

Creating Along Update

I briefly posted about a cami I was knitting for my Rosebud, my contribution to the Create-A-Long blog. There has been a long silence about that little cami for a tiny 6 year-old, no?

I hit a road block, and the piece needed its requisite time in the penalty box. The neckline was too low, even for a top meant to be worn as a layer. And I needed to decide on some kind of treatment to neaten the edges up, and nothing was coming.


The denim yarn was tripping me up. There is an inherent challenge when designing with denim -- the shrinkage, of course. See, with shrinkage, you get all sorts of surprises. For example, when I swatched, I discovered that the diagonal lace caused my top to shrink in both length and width, rather than just lengthwise. The significant changes in gauge make it a true guessing game to add unwashed yarn to an already-shrunk piece -- what needle size should I use? What will it do when I wash it again?

I also really wanted to protect the main design element of the camisole, the transitions of the lace pattern up the bodice, and the contouring of the straps around the final lace repeat. They worked exactly the way I intended, and I didn't want my solution to interfere with it. I also wanted to keep the tied straps, so I could have the option of adjusting them on my growing kid.


So I consulted with a brilliant designer over a cup of coffee last week, and we together hatched a solution. I would frog back to the armholes and using my unraveled swatch, reknit a significantly higher neckline , and keep all the stitches live on holders for the application of an i-cord edging that would extend into the tied shoulder straps.



The bad news is that now the neckline is a little too high and, but the good news is that it will work fine for the back, and I will start the neckline a couple of rows lower for the front piece. The other issue is that the strap transition has lost its pointiness, and now has a rounder look around the arm. I think it might straighten out once worn. Either way, I think I am going to live with it.

The wonderful surprise is the eyelets along the neckline created by applying an i-cord to decreased stitches. I love how it echoes the laciness of the pattern. I decided to leave the armholes unfinished for now, with the idea that I may single crochet around the edges once it has all been washed and seamed.

Three Stages of Knitting

Finished

Strawberry Clutch by Kate Gilbert in Spring 2007 Knit Scene. Used Cascade 220. Actually made two. Why not?

Starting

Bad Penny by Stephanie Japel in Louisa Harding's Nautical Cotton.

Frogged

Crazy Freak Out sweater. It was just wrong.

Trendy Me

It's not that I'm not trendy. It's not that I don't want to be just like all the cool bloggers. It's just that I am rarely organized enough to participate in blog trends. But I was determined to jump on the Chevron Scarf bandwagon, even if it spelled destruction for a perfectly wonderful pair of socks.

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Yarn & Needles: Two skeins of Koigu KPPPM (I can dig out color #s if anyone is interested), US 5 needles

Info and Thoughts: I did consider making this scarf longer, but stopped after a few chevron knitters confirmed my concerns about stretching.

I am thrilled with the result. As I mentioned before, I realized this winter that I did not own any handknit scarves. This was an unacceptable state of affairs, and totally worth the sacrifice of the Anastasia socks in order to remedy it. It matches my spring coat perfectly, and I suspect I will be knitting myself more scarves to match all of my coats.



I'll be wearing it when Ann and I go to MDSW. Who else is coming?

Whimsies

I've casually mentioned that I have been on a yarn diet in anticipation of MDSW, and I am pleased to say that since my self-imposed hiatus at the beginning of February, my stash has grown by only 4 skeins of yarn. I purchased one extra ball of Rowan Denim to allow for fearlessly ample swatching for my Create-Along cami (more on that this week, I hope), one skein of Mountain Colors Bearfoot, and received these two beauties in the mail from Minty.


Now, admittedly, I feasted on yarn in December and January, and my stash downright exploded, but I am pleased to say that much of that yarn has already been knit: Cascade 220 CPH, the Alpaca with a Twist, the Vesper and Bearfoot. But I love these periods of famine to allow me to rediscover hidden gems and long-forgotten yarns. They stretch my creativity and give me a feeling of endless resourcefulness, by choosing projects from what I have on hand.

Thus, my latest FO, from what I think might be among the oldest yarn in my stash.

Some oddball of jacquard sock yarn (I'd guess Regia) produced this pair of socks for my Pepe. This yarn was bought long enough ago that I (1) did not know that I would need two balls of sock yarn to knit adult socks and (2) actually threw out the label. I think I ordered it from Herrschners over 4 years ago.

He calls them Season Socks, and he claims their season is winter. A good thing, too, since we woke this morning to snow.


So I find myself without a major project on the needles, but with lots of little things to satisfy my urge to create and keep the stash rotating. Expect to see a bunch more little whimsies from me while I search for the next lace shawl and the next sweater for myself. Something spring-y. That is, if Spring will ever truly arrive...

I Could Be Brown, I Could Be Blue, I Could Be Violet Sky

I've been listening to "Grace Kelly" by Mika repeatedly as I remain in the grey heather world of my CPH sleeves -- dreaming of color ...

I can't wait to dip into my Handmaiden stash! I followed with interest Grumperina's options to knit with a single skein of Sea Silk. I have one skein of Sea Silk and one skein of Lace Silk. I have no idea what to do yet, but I'm having fun dreaming ...

Fern Path Stole by Alpaca with a Twist

Rippling Waters Scarf by Fiddlesticks Knitting

So It Goes

Kurt Vonnegut
1922-2007

Freak Out Sweater

This is what happens when you shop for a pattern and yarn when you are under extreme stress ...

This is Miami from Rowan's Cotton Braid book knit in Maggi's Rag. I'm not sure why I made this sweather other than I was not in my right mind at the moment and on the verge of a minor freak out. Knitting makes these things better even if the final product isn't exactly wonderful. Now, I'll have a huge holey sweater to remind me of this time in my life.

Knit Flix: Tokyo Story; Kinky Boots; Touching the Void; Marie Antoinette; Sherrybaby

A Foot of Foot

I did not just frog a pair of socks this week. I also knit a pair of socks this week.



These socks are for Mr. S. Basic garter rib from the toe up with a Widdershins heel flap. I know, as usual.

Regular readers know that this is usually the place where I complain about knitting things for my Mr S since he is so damn big. His size 13 feet are no exception.

His & Hers

But I have no complaints about these socks, since I knit these in less than 10 days. I cast on for the second sock at Sit N Knit on Wednesday and finished by Saturday afternoon.

Ignore the weird hump on the instep. They bunched a bit in his shoes.

Meet my new favorite man sock yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot, knit on US3 Inox circs. These were an unmitigated pleasure to knit, from the subtle color variegation (this colorway is Steelhead) to the soft feel of the yarn. I didn't even mind my nose tickling from the mohair. They'd be a little thick for me, but for a warm, thick wool sock, this yarn is great. Look for reports for wear as Mr S puts them to good use.


Mr S loves handknit socks, and has been very excited to receive his latest pair. And now that I have discovered this yarn, he will be receiving more, for sure. His father has also requested a pair.

Next up on the sock needles is a pair of socks for Pepe, the only one in our little family without handknit socks of his own.

ETA: I need some advice. My SIL wants a lace shawl similar to Icarus. She likes the mostly stockinette body of the shawl, with a lacy border, rather than an all-over lace pattern. I'd like to knit it in laceweight, as she really liked the weight and feel of the yarn. Any suggestions, anyone? I am willing to purchase a pattern or book for the right one. I do not have a large library of lace patterns, so I could use some guidance.