I am wearing the Vittadini Top today underneath a pale green linen shirt. It is quite acceptable! I may need to do more summer knitting — a cotton cardigan or something. It is always air conditioned and it’s nice to wear knitting other than in the dead o’winter.
May 3, 2007
May 1, 2007
From Susan — Silk is Finis
I really like Japanese short rows!! Like most knitters, I have never been fond of short rows. I think they cause a tear in the space-time continuum that I like to think of as my lovely knitted fabric. However, Japanese short rows do no such thing, when executed correctly. They create a fabric with short row shaping and minimal short row ick (technical term!).Â
We have posted this link before but it bears repeating: Nona Knits Japanese Short Rows. Use it! Good knitters do not let other good knitters do bad short rows ;).
Anyway, jump ahead a couple of days and the top is finshed:
The color in the top picture is much truer — why is it so hard to get good pictures? Why does it look so BEIGE in these pictures?Â
I am not thrilled with the top — it looks like you could buy it in a store for much less money and effort. No one will think it’s silk, and I think the color should be prettier. However, I do recommend the pattern if you are looking for a nice summer top. It calls for 20 sts/4″ gauge which is very common, the pattern can be sized to any figure, and it is easy to do.Â
Those of you who have been paying attention will notice the absence of bobbles (Mary M. will not be surprised!). Yes, I have an active aversion to bobbles. I had already decided to forego the bobbles on the back — I thought they would cause bumps that looked like tumors growing on my back in perfect alignment. I got to the front and actually knitted the bobbles on the first section, but thought they were way too much effort for the result, so I did a bobblectomy. I substituted some textured knitting instead. Again, another reason to like this pattern for its adaptability.
The timing of this FO is great because I got an email today stating that my PEACOCK YARN IS IN THE MAIL AND WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY. Do you realize what this means!!?? I am mere hours away from starting the project of my [recent] dreams: many hours of aggravation and love to make a shawl I will never wear. Heaven.
Bless me Father, for…….
Okay, I’m not Catholic, but I have a confession. I have never knit a lace shawl before — not in laceweight anyway. The Peacock Feathers Shawl will be my first foray into the mysterious and scary world of actual laceweight lace knitting! Whew. I feel better clearing my conscience. I did not realize it was my first until I started swatching some lace in preparation for the Peacock’s arrival. It felt unfamiliar. I racked my brains for a memory of knitting a lace shawl. Lots of examples in DK+ came to mind, as well as some failed attempts at laceweight. But no shawl. Ever.Â
So, this should be fun!
I am also slowly knitting along on the Mitered Tote — which is PERFECT mindless take-along knitting. I will be totally content: work on lace at home and tote on the road. My world is in order.
April 23, 2007
From Susan — Where am I?
When you have too many things on your needles, it really is hard to see progress, n’est-ce pas? Because I didn’t get much knitting done on Saturday, I felt that life owed me a good knitting day yesterday — and I did get a little bit done on a few things.
I got a start on the Mitered Felted Tote. I am on the second square — and that’s after starting each square 2-3 times! I didn’t like my cast on, didn’t like my pick up, etc. Now that I’ve got those details settled, this should go forward rather than backward. I love the colors and love the yarn.
I also promised a friend that I would help her with her Baby Dale Lady Bug sweater:
These things are absolutely adorable but the patterns are very hard to decipher. They leave a lot to the imagination OR assume you have made them before and understand their construction. I have never made one, but have finished many (I used to do finishing for a shop, but NO LONGER DO — no inquiries, please!!). They are so cute and so much work. I did have a brainstorm: I should make two of these now, one for each daughter, and then just pull them out when the grandchildren start arriving in 10+ (please, pretty please, no sooner than that, please!) years.
And, I have about ten inches on the silk Vittadini top. If I was really smart, I’d be putting all my knitting time into that basket because I’ll be able to wear it soon. But no one has ever accused me of being really smart ;).Â
P.S. From Sally — Have you been wondering where I am? (crickets)
I’ve been in Boulder, Colorado, helping my daughter find a place to live next year. I just got back and haven’t had too much time knit this week. I’ll try to post tomorrow about where I am on Widdicombe Fair.
PPS from Susan — I re-posted my Free Knitted Beaded Amulet Bag Pattern
April 19, 2007
From Susan — A Little Vittadini, Please
My brain has been marinating the last three days in computer training — egads!! I’m in a total vegetative state.Â
One nice break in the computer action is that I took my lil silk top along for the ride. The other night I had to rip the whole thing out. It was 5″ too big around and the knitting was sloppy. It did not look good at all — so much for gauge swatches (“We don’t need no stinkin’ swatches!”). I also did not like the stockinette hem — the roll thing was not attractive. So, I started over and opted for 4×4 ribbing instead. I went down a few sts and a needle size and I think it’s going to be fine. It is hard to tell from the picture but it is kind of pretty in person. The silk has a lovely sheen. I also like the hardiness of this yarn. I ripped it out twice so far and it looks like new. It is much easier to knit on the smaller needles so this has become a great carry around project.
Vittadini Pattern Book 27 (Nicole 1, adapted) in Mulberry Silk, US size 6 needles
I’m still debating about my bigger, at-home project. I started swatching a lace jacket from the recent issue of Knitter’s but it may not be “the one.” There is always the alluring Bohus to think about!
Tonight was Knit Night. Kind of a small group tonight, but great just the same. Several of my peeps are making dishcloths with a US state on them — out of Sugar ‘n Cream. Here is the link for the patterns. They are kind of cute.Â
Tomorrow afternoon Meg Swanson will be hanging out at the Yarnery from about 2-4 pm. She’s in town for Yarnover, which is on Saturday. I’m really looking forward to it, but I have a lot to do to get ready.
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April 12, 2007
From Susan — Doesn’t It Deserve a Second Chance??
What — my silk, of course! I have decided to give my beautiful silk one last another chance. I was thinking of trying the Diagonal Triangle Tank but felt a bit discouraged after reading about Gale’s fiasco. Many of her issues were with the yarn itself (Regal Silk), but a number of the problems had to do with the pattern, the fit and basic construction.Â
I stumbled on this Vittadini pattern (I say that as if the magazine was on my front step and I tripped over it when I went out to get the paper — actually I “stumbled upon it” at a yarn store 🙂 ). I thought it had some of the same cute design elements as the Diagonal Tank, but with fewer potential fit problems and the ability to adjust the size easily. We shall see, n’est-ce pas?
Mine won’t be as snug fitting, but I think this would look gorgeous under a linen shirt. I’ll give it a go. This will be my take-along project as Eris is mere hours from being done and far too big to haul around easily.
Stephanie, the winner of a copy of my “Lace Tam and Scarf†pattern and 2 skeins of Rowan Silk Wool DK, posted a progress picture of the tam. Way to go, Steph! It’s looking good. Let us know when it’s finished.
The yarn gods are teasing me and did not allow my Peacock yarn to arrive today. I actually think they are testing my resolve — will Susan maintain her excitement and enthusiasm for the Peacock Shawl even if days pass, allowing her fervor to cool? I laugh at the yarn gods, I laugh in their smug faces! I shall maintain my resolve, assuming that nothing else intervenes in the next couple of days — and where the heck is my yarn!??!!
PS: I do believe, I do believe — in global warming…despite this evidence to the contrary!
April in Minnesota — ahhhhhhhhh!!Â
PS to LimeDragon — The Vittadini Pattern is called Nicole 1 and is from Issue 27.
