theraineysisters knitting and so much more

My third wee FO is my third wee Elefante…it turned out as cute as Number One.  I am so relieved!  If there was one cute Elefante and two daughters, it would not turn out well!

Of course it has to be in her school colors.    And the obligatory “butt shot:”

Cascade 220

And this picture is for Sally — we have the most gorgeous snow falling right now.  The grainy white specks are actually flakes (not the best photo!).  Maybe it will snow while you are here.

We’ve had fabulous snow for cross country skiing which is thrilling my DH to no end!  Yay!

PS — if you have not visited for a while, please scroll down to see Sally’s Bohus and to read about the event this week at the American Swedish Institute.

One way to generate FOs is to knit really tiny projects !  This one I started yesterday upon purchasing the latest Piecework Magazine, and I finished it today.  My mini-FO is certainly no rival for the masterpiece that Sally is working on.  I have the same kit in my stash and need to get going on it.  I feel very behind now!

If you only buy one Piecework, make it this one!  The issue has historical knitting as its focus and it is a small treasure — a fun, fun read with some great information.

Here is the crown of the cap:

I used oddments of Hebridean 2 ply from my stash in very different colors than those called for — I try not to second guess Alice very often, but I thought it was okay in this case!  It was a putzy and annoying knit, but over quickly.  I suspect that Alice is hoping to bring some new fair isle knitters into the fold, and I hope she succeeds!  The cap is small: measuring 5″ from brim to crown with an overall circumference of 14 inches.  I have no idea what I will do with it, or even why I made it, but it is done and I like it.

This week we are giddy in anticipation of the Bohus festivities, and I am also very excited to observe the inaugural from afar.  What a wonderful history lesson for all of us.

Some things you make to wear.  Some you make to give.  And some you make to love.  This lil dude falls into the last two categories.   I swear that Ravelry will be the death of me because I keep getting drawn into new projects!  I stumbled onto this one and started it as soon as the Baby Cables was flopped on the floor to dry!

Elefante by Susan B. Anderson

I made him over the course of a couple of evenings and felted him lightly to soften the stitch definition.  You can see by the soda can that he is a small and lovable creature!   He was knit with Galway worsted wool from my stash using size US 5 dpns — really, any worsted should work fine.  The pattern called for crocheted ears but I knitted mine instead — my crocheting is non-existent!

I was making him (her?) for Person A…until Person B saw him and laid claim.  Person C protested the favorable treatment and placed an order.  Person D (moi) wants her own!!  And now I hear requests are coming in from other family members!  It’s a case of Fetching Glovelets all over again, although these are a lot putzier!  Just knitting four legs each time is a bit off putting.  But he is 2cute4words so what can I do??

PS — I finished the second one and s/he is just not as cute 🙁 .  I think the trunk is too long and the head too small.   This will go to Person A because Person A will never know that it is not the cutest, and Person A does not live with me, so I will not be constantly reminded that it is not as cute.   Wish me better luck with Number 3.

PS2: How I did the ears:
Make 1 = pull up running thread and knit with a twist

Using long-tail method, cast on 12 sts.
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2 (WS): K1, make 1, knit to last st, make 1, k1 (2 sts inc)

Rep these 2 rows until 20 sts total.  Knit 10 rows garter st (10 ridges will be visible on RS, incl. cast on ridge). 

Next row: k2tog, knit to end of row.  Rep 3 more times (16 sts).  Bind off.  NOTE: Bound off edge is sewn to Elefante.

Have a beautiful and Happy Knit Year!

A few of you asked about the pattern for the red socks that I mentioned in my post yesterday:

That is the Lace Cuff Anklet pattern from Hand Jive Knits (maker of Nature’s Palette yarns). They do not sell their patterns directly, but if you google you can find it (and others) easily online.

For those of you who liked the buttons I’m using on Butterfly: They aren’t sewn on yet. I just pinned them in place to get an idea of how they’d look. They’re handmade glass buttons I purchased years ago.

I have yet another knitting snafu.  Homage is totally HUGE!!  The back is at least 2.5″ too wide.  I have about 12 inches done and will have to rip back yet again.  I am starting to feel cursed unlucky.  So I will rip back another day.  I love the way it was looking so I will give it another go, just not today.

I started Hanne Falkenberg Plisse instead.  You begin at the back with the center strip:

I have about 10 inches of the strip done and will show more once I get the back started.  It is supposed to be knit on US 1 & 2 needles, so I automatically went up a needle size — look, Ma, no swatching!  I have done enough Hannes to know how my gauge compares with hers.  The color I chose (#98, Lagoon) is very nice and similar to Sally’s Tangled Yoke:

I am very happy with Lyra once again – I am almost back to where I had to rip out.  The chart itself is very easy to follow; the mistake was all mine.  The Fino Alpaca is really nice yarn to work with.  It is a slow moving project, but nice to work on when you want to focus on your knitting.  I am hoping that Plisse has less mental effort involved so it will be portable.

I am thinking of putting the Modular Tote/purse together soon (maybe this weekend?).  All the main knitting is done — just the constructing and handle to do.  Kauni is not far off the radar either.  It will be very wearable so I’d like to get it done soon.

One of our French readers finished this intriguing knit:

I had already purchased the pattern (Lion Brand!!), but have not found suitable yarn.  This is one of those projects that looks like it could go horribly wrong, so I was glad to see that someone had finished it successfully.  We’ll see if it makes it up the queue! 😉

It’s the weekend, so start your knitting!