I am doing the raglan shaping, but have been told to ‘put on the brakes’ a bit by my Knitalong Companion. Sally just got the yarn on Monday and has not really gotten started. I will try to hold off a while, though I was thinking I should finish the back and block it so I can get a good picture. In the interim, I’ll work on Ballerina. I think it boils down to the fact that I am a little bit competitive (about my knitting anyway) and like being ahead — I will try to squelch that tendency!!Â
May 24, 2006
May 21, 2006
From Susan — Sunrise Update
I worked a bit on the back of my Sunrise Circle Jacket. I had to play around a little with the pattern. One minor change is that I cast on, knitted the hem, and did the turning row on a size smaller needle than the body calls for. I think this makes the hem nicer. I also did not like the way she does her darts. She has you do a centered double decrease which creates a strong line for about 2 inches (see photo in pattern). I don’t think it looks that good. I substituted ssk, k3, k2tog. For the corresponding increases, I used lifted increases on both sides of the k3.Â
The other thing that is unusual about the pattern is her use of “k2tog through back loop (TBL)” as a substitute for ssk. She is probably trying to account for the larger st that occurs with ssk compared to k2tog. This can be corrected in a couple of different ways, but her method leaves both sts noticeably twisted. I prefer either to do a standard ssk but slip the second st as to purl instead of knit. This twists the second st only and tightens things up. If that isn’t enough, then I purl the two sts the “wrong way” on the row before the ssk is to occur. This is very easy to do with raglan shaping because the location of the sts is known. I used both methods on the back of this sweater: the 1st when I did the darts and the second for the raglan shaping.
My only concern about the project now relates to gauge. Mine is very slightly off — not enough so that changing needle size will help. I am gaining about 1/4 inch per 4 inches, which doesn’t sound like a lot but could matter with the unique construction of the garment. I am trying to tighten up my knitting slightly so the raglan armhole is not too deep. Â
Sorry about all the technical knitting talk! I’m sure it is boring to many of you, but this is the “knitalong” portion of the blog!
From Sally — Icarus Shawl update
As promised, here is a photograph of my Icarus shawl in progress.
As I said, I substituted Rowan Kidsilk Haze for the Suri Elegance alpaca that was called for. (I’m using color 589.) While at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, I saw the Suri Alpaca. It looks as if it may be slightly finer than the Kidsilk Haze and it has less “hairiness.” I think it’s a pretty yarn, but I prefer the kidsilk. It’s light as air and is a beautiful yarn to work with.
I’ve almost completed four of the six repeats of Chart A (the chart you work before the lace border). I’m still on the first skein of yarn. I plan on doing 1-2 extra repeats for a slightly larger shawl. Chart A is so easy and mindless that this is a wonderfully portable project. That may change when I get to the lace border.
May 12, 2006
From Susan — Ballerina Update
As promised, here is a picture of the sleeve in progress:
Someone asked me if I was working on the collar — it does look a bit odd, doesn’t it? I’ll be finishing up the beaded wedding bag today and will place a picture then.  I think it is really turning out quite nicely.Â
I was very sorry to miss knitting group last night. I really wanted to go. Actually, I needed to go! I had such a busy week and really needed to unwind with my knitting peeps. However, daughter Laura had school conferences and two works in the art show. So, I was the the good parent and went to conferences instead of knitting group.Â
I got this in the mail:
Woo hoo — very exciting times! The State Fair is around the corner! Thursdays at Four is sponsoring a $25 Gift Card from Panera’s for the sweepstakes winner. The State Fair is a big deal for knitters in the Twin Cities area so our knitting group decided to get into the action.
May 10, 2006
From Susan — Ballerina Update
I have been working on Ballerina. It is at the “I have to think” stage, which usually is a stalling point. However, I had already done most of my thinking with Sleeve #1 and took copious notes — graphing the entire sleeve on graph paper. It made it so much easier to start on Sleeve #2.
First, you put the side “seam” sts on a holder (why do these pictures look so blue?):
Then you work the raglan sts only:
The waste yarn you see running up the raglan is to mark the activation of the raglan sts — you activate 1 st, then 2, then 1, etc. It is very hard as you are working up the raglan to know if it is a 1 or 2 st row, so I wove a piece of waste yarn around the sts marking 1-2-1-2-1-2- etc. That way no thinking or counting is involved.
The Sleeve: Hanne has you cast on 2 sts at the end of each WS row to build the sleeve. It seemed like a not-so-great method. I did a provisional cast on of all the sleeve sts at once and then I activate the sts as directed. I used this method on the first sleeve and it worked great. I did a 3-needle bind off to join the two sleeve seam edges together and then, in one step, knitted down the side seam (shown on holder above). Sleeve done. Seam done. Sewing none.
I’ll post an updated picture that shows what the sleeve looks like in progress — it is very strange looking. No one would know what it is supposed to be.
May 7, 2006
From Susan — The Voters Speak
Re: Sally’s Icarus Shawl. We heard from Wendy that she opted for the Kidsilk Haze in green for a gorgeous shawl she made. The green is indeed fabulous, but the knitters at Friday’s knitting group liked the grey (it is actually more of a smoky, taupy, lavenderish color) because of the sheen. It looked pearlescent. ALL the colors are absolutely stunning, any of them would be fabulous, Sally’s stash yielded several options without even a drive to the store — so therein was her dilemma. She’ll post a picture soon, so hopefully the full beauty of the color can be seen.
I was talking to some knitting friends and one mentioned that the Aubrey Cap (Simply Shetland 2) is still her favorite hat and that she made several for gifts this Christmas.  I, too, love the hat (if I do say so myself) and have made at least a dozen for different stores in the Twin Cities and even a couple for myself. When Gregory at Simply Shetland asked me to design a hat (in addition to the Rosemary Pullover), I of course said yes. I had never knitted a hat in my life! It is true. Even though I have been knitting for decades, there are certain things I have never made. Up until very recently, I had never made socks and I have only knitted giant felted mittens (not real ones for wearing).Â
So, the first thing I needed to find was a generic “how to make a hat” pattern! I used Nancy Lindberg’s pattern to get the architecture of the hat. Gregory had a very specific style in mind — a cabled watchman’s cap. I made the hat he requested and then designed the Aubrey Cap in addition. They preferred the Aubrey Cap and the rest is history.Â
This cap is knitted up in Cascade 220, Color #I-have-no-idea. The shetland yarn used in the book is a bit scratchy. I’ve knitted this up in various yarns successfully. My knitting group teases me about changing every pattern I ever use, including my own. I did indeed make some improvements to this pattern that are on the Knitting Tips page.
Please also note that the Beaded Mini-Purse pattern has been added under a new category: Free Patterns. The formatting is a bit odd, but hey — it’s free!
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April 27, 2006
From Susan — Naked No More
I bought buttons, and they are now on my sweater — this may be temporary, though. I am rarely thrilled about the buttons I end up with and usually threaten to buy different ones. However, I have never actually changed buttons once they make it onto a sweater. By then I have moved on and don’t really care any more!
I’ll bring this to my knitting group tonight and get the approval I crave and then move on! My knitting group gets me through the week. They are more than just people I knit with — I really like their company. If I can get them to let me take a picture, I’ll post it.
April 21, 2006
From Susan — I’m in shock
I finished knitting the pieces of the ST cardigan, basted it together, and it fits!!!!! The sleeves are the perfect length. The body is the length I wanted. I am amazed, shocked and speechless — in a good way. I started sewing the seams last night and I’ll buy buttons on my way home. It should be done and ready to wear by this weekend (xxxxx — crossed fingers). I will post a picture of the finished garment. Chalk up another one for moi!
April 18, 2006
From Susan — Stalled
I am making progress, but slowly, on the Summer Tweed. Getting stalled like this happens every so often. Well, truthfully, it tends to happen pretty frequently. You get to a certain point in a project and just feel bored. That is why so many knitters jump from project to project. The problem is, if you jump ship, you may not come back to it. I have many UFOs as proof. So, if I really want the end product, I have to force myself to get through the doldrums. I really need to finish this sweater because my spring/summer wardrobe is so pathetic. I’ll keep on plodding.
I’ll leave you with an inspirational picture: From the ‘Avant Garden’ flower show at Marshall Field’s. Spring is in Minnesota
April 15, 2006
From Susan — Summer Tweed Update
I will definitely have enough yarn to make the sleeves as long as I want. I picture this sweater being worn over a very soft cotton summer dress — long and flowy. So, today I bought fabric. Six yards cost me about $13.00! Woo hoo! This picture (from my scanner, not camera) shows the colors much more accurately. So now I have both knitting and sewing to do.
 
I am behind on my knitting because of spring break. I worked through all of it except Friday. So I decided to take my two girls out for a one day vacation. We did all the kinds of things you do on vacation: we went bowling (my girls are “bowlers” in name only!), had our nails done, ate lunch at a fabulous restaurant, and shopped, shopped, shopped. It was so much fun!!! We really had a good time.Â
Tomorrow I will knit on my way to and from Grandpa’s for Easter dinner, so I hope to finish the second sleeve then. Have a happy holiday, everyone!
