theraineysisters knitting and so much more

October 22, 2006

From Susan — Some Knitting for a Change

Filed under: Anya,Current Projects — lv2knit @ 12:15 pm

Have you gotten the latest Vogue Knitting?  It has a red scarf on the cover that is very pretty but looks like a lot of effort for a scarf.  Inside is another in their series of gorgeous white camies.  I fell in love with this one for my daughter:

VogueCroppedLaceSweater.jpg

And started it yesterday:

VogueCroppedLaceSweaterBack001.jpg

What fun knitting — rather addictive, really.  It doesn’t hurt that I am making the extra small, which is tres petite for my tres petite daughter.  I have never made a lace shawl with tiny yarn like this.  This is a great introduction to it and not as difficult as I thought it would be. 

I am using a Douceur et Soie/Kidsilk Haze knock off called Ovation from the SRK Collection.  Absolutely wonderful to work with.  The back got done in one day — how long do you estimate the rest to take me?  You know how it goes: lots of activity and then a rapid slow down.  My hands, arms, and shoulders are in pain from doing too much yesterday.  But I’ll try to keep up the pace.

I also bought some yarn for one of those sweaters that you make to wear — a lot.  The pattern is Anya from Jo Sharp.

Anya.jpg

Her Silkroad Aran Tweed is very expensive but I bought the identical yarn called Katmandu in color Plum (I say identical because it is from the same mill and has the same look, gauge, and composition: 85% merino, 10% silk, 5% cashmere).   I can’t start it until I finish the little lace top for Jena — m  u  s  t    k  n  i  t  !    !    !    !

October 1, 2006

From Susan — All Surgery and No Knitting Makes Susan a Dull Girl

Filed under: Back Story,Great American Aran Afghan,Updates — lv2knit @ 9:11 am

Q: Can you name this afghan from Knitters Magazine? 
A: The Great American Aran Afghan

It started out as a contest in the summer of 1999.  Sister Sally kept telling me that my idea would win, and even though I didn’t believe her, I entered the contest anyway.  The first squares came out in the Winter, 2000 issue, which hit the newsstands in fall of 1999. Because I had not heard anything one way or another, I assumed my square had not been chosen.  Au contraire.  I had actually won the contest.  Sally was right again!  I found out that I won when 20 skeins of Encore yarn was delivered to my doorstep in a large Kellogg’s Raisin Bran box — “Knitters” did not contact me until a few weeks later. 

I was not going to make the afghan, but everyone in my knitting group (which had just started at the time) told me I had to make it, and that they would all make one, too.  Note to self: don’t believe everything you hear at knitting group!  I’m still the only one who finished — mine is made out of Cascade 220:

GAAA008.jpg

The Mini-Sweater square is mine:

GAAA005.jpg

My favorite square to knit was the Janet Martin Fish-in-Net Square:

GAAA006.jpg

This is ancient history, so why do I bring it up now?  I found a large hole in the thing!  Major bummer.  And, what caused the hole is still to be determined.  There are no visible signs of vermin, but??????

GAAAhole.jpg

I am going to try to fix it.  Wish me luck.

Jump Ahead in Time Several Hours

The hole is gone. 

 GAAAholerepair.jpg

And though it looks like a perfect repair, I did indeed cheat.  Miraculous as seems (and if you knew my house and my “organization methodology” you would know that the word miraculous is not used lightly), I found both the leftover yarn I used for the edging AND the instructions I had written out for myself.  So, I re-knit the entire bottom eyelet edge.  I did not want a crummy-looking repair job on this because it was SO MUCH WORK!!!!!!!  Really, one of the biggest projects of my knitting career.

The original pattern edge was created by Rick Mondragon, Knitters Magazine Editor, and took 3.5 skeins of yarn.  It is a lovely braided edge that goes around the entire afghan, but I did not want to add that much weight, plus I did not have enough yarn in the right dye lot.  As you can see, my edging is a much simpler style.  I have placed it under “Free Patterns” if you ever consider making this project.  I used all 24 squares in my afghan, whereas in Knitters they held out four squares and made two pillows. 

Though a lot of work, you really learn a lot about cables, gauge and intricate grafting.  Now can I go out and knit?

September 17, 2006

From Sally — a Quick Post

Filed under: Sunrise Circle Jacket — surly @ 8:13 pm

I flew to Los Angeles on Thursday to watch the Tonight Show being taped. Why? Well . . . I’m impulsive. And Clay Aiken (new cd in stores September 19th) was appearing and a friend of mine in L.A. had VIP tickets and my husband’s in Italy and it was my anniversary and I felt like doing something fun. So I went.

I did a lot of knitting on the plane, almost all of which I had to rip out because I was tired and not paying attention. I was working on my Sunrise Circle jacket and I knit most of the sleeve before I remembered that I had changed the frequency and number of my increases on the first sleeve. This is an example of unmindful knitting. I don’t really recommend it unless you like knitting things twice. I discovered the error of my ways on the flight back. Fortunately I had sock yarn so I could start a new orphan sock.

Le sigh.

I attracted a lot of attention at the airport with my roll-a-bout. Not only that, but my foot and its lovely shoe/cast thing threw security for a loop. I got a lot of “personal” attention from the security personnel if you know what I mean and I think that you do.

I haven’t forgotten that someone asked to see what other Starmores I have on the needles. I’ll give a pictorial update on that tomorrow.

Also — YES! I designed the Trellis jacket. My big claim to fame. I’m not sure why it would have had Susan’s name on the pattern, too but hey — I guess no one can tell us apart. (Hint: She’s the big one.)

PS from Susan — Here is a picture of the Trellis Jacket (featured in Interweave Knits), even though it is also pictured elsewhere on the blog:

Sally's Sweater 2

September 4, 2006

From Susan — Slowly I Knit, Inch by Inch

Filed under: Oregon Cardigan — lv2knit @ 1:44 am

Here is another progress picture of Oregon.  I feel like I got to an important milestone: I am done with a full Chart B repeat. 

Oregon9-3-06.jpg

I am pretty close to gauge — I have about 5″ to the armhole steek. 

So I will knit on…the other big item on the agenda this week is to get ready for my trip to DC.  And get the kids to their first day of school.  And remember to pick up my stuff at the fair. 

August 16, 2006

From Susan — Awaiting Inspiration

Filed under: Back Story,Oregon Cardigan — surly @ 5:19 pm

Again, I settle into the knitting doldrums with nothing to inspire me.  I am slogging away on Oregon, but it progresses so slowly that it does not do much for my knitting mojo.  I have toyed with a couple of new projects, but none of them are quite working out.  I have some designs to work on but that takes too much brain power, and what I really want is something a bit mindless to take along with me.  I can’t design “on-the-go.”   So that is why I have had very little to post lately.  I just don’t have much goin’ on.

Here is a current picture of Oregon — looks strikingly familiar, right?

Oregon8-16-06.jpg

You can see there is a little bit of progress.  It was interesting the other night, though.  I was working on Oregon at a soccer game in the outdoor/natural light, and the colors were spectacular — incredibly bright and vivid.  It was surprising to see the difference.  The yarn really is gorgeous.

Knit Out Update — October 8 at Brookdale

I attended the Minnesota Knitters Guild meeting last night.  Knit Out 2006 is going forward as planned and should be a lot of fun.  Hope everyone within a 50-mile radius will be there!

August 13, 2006

From Susan — At a Snail’s Pace

Filed under: Sunrise Circle Jacket — lv2knit @ 8:44 pm

I finally finished Sunrise Circle.  The buttons are on.  They are made from snail shells and quite pricey, but I think they are perfect. 

SunriseCircleButtons.jpg

And a close up of the button loop.  I did a “faux tatting” stitch instead of the buttonhole stitch I usually use for buttonhole loops.

SunriseCircleButtonloops.jpg

So all my entries are ready.  I’ll do a little steam pressing, but everything is finished.

August 8, 2006

From Susan — A Tree, A Tree!!

Filed under: Oregon Cardigan — lv2knit @ 8:34 pm

I have knitted up to the tree line on Oregon — woo hoo!  I was not lying when I said this was going to be a long haul.  Part of the problem is the non-portable nature of the project.  And as yet I have not found my portable project.  I am bereft and have nothing to take to work with me, or in the car (when eldest daughter is driving).  So, I plug along when I have time at home.

But here is Oregon:

Oregon.jpg

Watching grass grow…….yawn!

July 31, 2006

From Susan — Response to Comment

Filed under: Oregon Cardigan,Updates — lv2knit @ 10:48 am

Wendy, thanks for your question about the ribbing.  It is called corrugated ribbing: 2×2, using one color for the knit sts and another for the purl. The colors change along the way.  AS rarely changes both colors on the same round in order to soften the color changes.  It is terribly slow to do.

July 30, 2006

From Susan — I’m on the Slow Train to Oregon

Filed under: Oregon Cardigan,Updates — lv2knit @ 11:52 am

This looks like the other picture, n’est-ce pas?  You’re wrong!  The trees are starting to emerge!  I’ll keep doing this for 20 more inches with a stop along the way to add armhole steeks and do the neck shaping.

Oregon7-30-06001.jpg

The fabric is very thick, but lightweight.  You can see the nubbiness and multi-colored nature of the yarn.

 

July 26, 2006

From Susan — Mini Update

Filed under: Oregon Cardigan — lv2knit @ 9:34 am

I have been knitting like a fiend because I wanted to get done with the bottom border of the sweater.  I have six inches complete in four grueling days — I am on vacation this week so work has not interfered with my real job!  The pace will slow down now. 

Here is a progress picture:

OregonProgress1.jpg

This sweater will never look as good as Henry the VIII because the gauge is not quite as fine, but I love the rich colors.  The little white things you see in the picture are my expensive stitch markers (cut up drinking straws), marking off each pattern repeat.

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress