theraineysisters knitting and so much more

October 31, 2007

From Sally — My Little Assistant Is Haunting Me (and so is a Ballerina)

Filed under: Knitting Tips,Sally's Ballerina — surly @ 10:50 am

Now that the first rush of excitement of our Roslin Hoodie pattern is past, and quick before we find any more mistakes, let’s get back to our regularly scheduled knitting and blogging.

I love Halloween — for some reason it’s always been one of my favorite holidays. Mayhaps it’s the candy. I usually carve a few intricate pumpkins, but I confess that this year’s are a little dull:

Fortunately, someone in the wilds of Colorado has been taking up the slack. Remember my little assistant? Here’s a refresher photo for those who don’t:

He’s been immortalized in a Halloween pumpkin by my daughter’s boyfriend. I think he may have found his true calling; it captures Batman perfectly.

As for knitting, I’ve embarked on another Hanne Falkenberg: Ballerina. I’ve had this kit for some time, and suddenly got interested in it when I finished Mermaid. I needed a portable project — my Kauni skeins are too large to carry around. Well, all I meant to do was get it “started,” but I got carried away. I’m just over halfway finished with it already, although I suspect my progress will now slow considerably.

Here are a few shots. First, Lucy is modeling it and wishing I would provide her with some kind of undergarments:

Here are some other shots that show the color and the pattern a little better. I was surprised, based on the photos I’d seen of this jacket, at just how many stripes there were on the sides. That part was a little sl-o-o-o-w.

For some reason, I’m finding this to be a more enjoyable knit than Mermaid — I’m not sure why. One reason may be that you are forced to knit the sleeves as you knit the body, so I know I won’t be faced with the drudgery of sleeves when the project is almost, but not quite, finished. It’s also a very clever design. As you finish the front, you knit one row of a garter ridge (which is always two rows) from the bottom to the neck edge, quickly (ha!) knit a sleeve, and then go back down the garter ridge and finish it. There is thus no side seam — you just keep going. You are supposed to go back later and seam the sleeves.

My clever sister Susan, who made Ballerina earlier, figured out an easy modification that allows you to join the sides of the sleeve in a three-needle bind off as you are knitting so that you don’t even have to go back later and do that bit of finishing. Instead of doing the sleeve increases as Falkenberg directs (by stitch increases), you do a provisional cast on of all the sleeve stitches and increase using short rows (as you do for the raglan shaping, etc.). Then, as you finish the last row of the sleeve, one side of the sleeve is already on a needle. You remove the provisional cast on from the other side and put those sleeve stitches on a second needle, and do a three needle bind off as you knit the last sleeve ridge. It’s brilliant and easy and eliminates finishing. I’m so glad she knit this first.

11 Comments »

  1. That sleeve modification sounds very clever. Do you wrap or not when turning short rows in garter stitch?

    Comment by LaurieM — October 31, 2007 @ 11:53 am

  2. Happy Halloween! Thanks to Joe, Batman will be haunting dozens of neighborhood children tonight! Spooooookyy

    Comment by Nora (surly's daughter) — October 31, 2007 @ 11:58 am

  3. Just a-maize-ing pumpkins! Happy All Hallow’s Eve!

    Comment by Nancy — October 31, 2007 @ 1:00 pm

  4. Just love your blog, it is my escape during the hectic work day! Your little assistant is precious, too! On the ballerina, I noticed you have basted some of the pieces…and I am curious as to what the purpose is. Thanks, and Happy Halloween!

    Comment by Ann — October 31, 2007 @ 1:52 pm

  5. The sleeve mod does sound very clever! Your little assistant is so darling – hard to believe he can be so terrifying immortalized in a pumpkin.

    Comment by Carrie K — October 31, 2007 @ 2:43 pm

  6. Wow! If those are dull, my pumpkin is downright pitiful!

    Ditto what Ann asked … why the running stitches?

    Comment by Marina — November 1, 2007 @ 6:33 am

  7. You girls have such good taste – your knitting is fantastic, the photography is outstanding and all-in-all, your blog is a real treat.

    I’m de-lurking because Ballerina has really tugged on my heart strings. It’s so unusual, yet it looks like it would be comfortable/comforting to wear. My question is, I guess, mostly for Susan, who apparently already has created her very own Ballerina: Do you find it comfortable? I keep wondering if it would slip back off your shoulders, given that there’s so much fabric in the back and very little in the front (like a button) to hold it there.

    If you say it’s comfortable, I’m in! And I love your idea for handling the sleeve seam. And compliments to Sally for doing such a great job describing what you did that I think I actually understand it!

    Comment by Judi P in Cleveland — November 1, 2007 @ 3:35 pm

  8. I want to do a Ballerina too. I hope you answer the questions on the blog.

    I love your little assistant he is the cutest thing. I can’t figure out who I want the most, him or Wendy Knits’ Lucy. Your daughters boyfriend is bad as hell with that blade,tell him I said so. OMG.

    I ditto on the love of your blog. It is really about knitting (beautiful knitting) and for that I thank you.

    Comment by Thomasean — November 2, 2007 @ 2:21 am

  9. I’m also curious as to why you have the basting. This is a beautiful sweater. I’m always impressed by the projects you knit, you do a beautiful job and are very inspiring to me.

    Comment by Claudia Davidson — November 2, 2007 @ 10:06 am

  10. I like all the jack-o-lanterns, but Batman is the cutest! Ballerina looks great so far : )

    Comment by Octopus Knits — November 5, 2007 @ 4:32 pm

  11. love your ballerina, can’t wait to make mine in Khaki and ivory, but first must finish my Gloria and then on to the butterfly, I want to wear it as a spring jacket. You have to make the Gloria! It’s not as complicated, if you can call it complicated, as the ballerina, it is just straight knitting with increases and decreases. Love yuor site! Was so happy to find something other than a blog about the mermaid. Patty in HOlland

    Comment by pattyp — March 2, 2008 @ 6:48 am

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