theraineysisters

March 7, 2010

From Sally — Blue or Blah?

Filed under: Sally's Damson — surly @ 3:17 pm

I’m still in my “blue period.” After not finishing my Ravelympics project on time (more on that another day), I turned to a quick gift for my neighbor. She’s in her eighties, and one of her presents was a tennis racket. She wanted it and she will definitely use it. I want to be Natalie when I grow up.

Anyway, I decided to make her a Damson shawl — just something to throw over her shoulders or wear almost as a large scarf. I dug around in my stash and found some lovely silk I’d bought at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival a few years ago: Cascade Silk Worsted from Tess Designer Yarns. In blue.

It’s a simple project and it worked up relatively quickly. The yarn was lovely to work with (although it’s fairly soft and I worry it will pill). But I’m not completely pleased with the project. Natalie is very petite, and because I chose a heavier yarn this Damson is a bit larger than it should be. I’m a little worried that the size will be awkward — not quite big enough to be a full shawl, not quite small enough to wear easily as a scarf. I will still probably go ahead and give it to her, but I have doubts.

To answer a question: the last photograph is probably the most accurate in terms of color.

Comments (16)

March 3, 2010

From Susan — The Incredible Shrinking Sweater

Filed under: Tea Leaves — lv2knit @ 9:53 pm

If something does not grow — or rather grows and then ungrows — can we say it is shrinking? This baby cannot get going!

The pattern is called Tea Leaves and is knit in Madelinetosh Yarn. The design is meant to highlight the hand dyed color variation and softness, which it really does. It is a simple pattern, but I can’t get it going!

Tea Leaves shown in Madelinetosh Vintage Worsted, Color Kale

I was well past the point you see here and was ready to split the sweater for the armholes. But my stitch count was off. Not just by a stitch or two mind you, but by dozens! I had missed an entire set of increases which were supposed to be done on the last row of the yoke. Oops.

Okay. Rip back 5 inches of the entire yoke, which represents the back, fronts and both sleeves. I don’t mind. My mistake.

Now I am motoring along and actually get past the armholes and notice…a dropped stitch. Four inches back this time.

Okay. Rip back 3-4 inches of the back and both fronts. I do don’t mind. My %^^&&*^%% mistake.

This sweater is supposed to go fast. I should be done by now! But, it is hard to keep your mojo when you cannot seem to progress. I am not back to where I was and am finding it difficult to be interested. Ugh.

I’ll try to keep slogging, but one more rip may be the end of this one!

PS — Michelle asked, “The pattern said this is knit in the round? Is it steeked?”

The sweater is not knit in the round or steeked. Only the sleeves are knit the in the round.

Comments (13)

February 28, 2010

From Susan — My Own “Olympian”

Filed under: Updates — lv2knit @ 8:42 pm

The Olympics are wrapping up today and I feel like I have experienced them first hand. My hubby is a cross country skier and participated in the Birkebeiner Ski Race yesterday, and he rocked it…for an old man, that is!

The Birkie is not about winning, but about doing your best. John came in ~one minute over his best time ever (and this was his 27th Birkie!). John will be 60 next year. So, he beat all but one of his times since he started in his thirties. Wow.

OK, enough about him 😉 . I had decided NOT to participate in the Ravelympics this year, for reasons already described. Well, I went to knitting on Thursday and two, count them TWO, of my knitting peeps had knitted up the Olympic Reindeer Hat.

The hat was patterned after the ones worn by the US Olympians when they entered the Opening Ceremonies. I had originally started it right after the Olympics started and decided it was the most annoying pattern on earth and dumped it straight away. But after seeing the cute hats at knitting group, I thought, “Hmmm. Could I get this done by Saturday morning so John could wear it after the Birkie?” All I had finished so far was the lining of the foldover band. I got home at 8 pm, had to pack, etc., etc., but stayed up knitting the ^&&***^%% thing instead. I worked on it in the car all the way up to Hayward, WI, and did indeed get it done. He wore it to pick up his bib on Friday night.

Olympic Reindeer Hat, Cascade 220, US Size 6 Needles

So, here are the details:

I worked the hat using intarsia-in-the-round (suggested by Jimmy in knitting group). Annoying. Annoying Squared. No. Make that ‘Annoying Raised to the Tenth Power.’ After I knitted the hat, I went back and used duplicate stitch for the antlers…remember, time was a huge factor!…though I did knit the legs intarsia style as I went along.

John loved the hat and asked if I was going to put a flag decal on it. I said sure, I can put it right…uh oh. Why isn’t the knitted band centered to the reindeer motif????? Yep. Rookie mistake! I noticed that the band was 4 sts off. If I added a decal, it would be even more noticeable. It completely bugged me.

Had to cut it up:

The top photo does indeed show that it is now centered…after cutting, reknitting some rows, and grafting. This project was annoying in so many ways! But it is done, and I consider it at least worthy of a spot on the Olympic roster, if not the podium 😉 .

Comments (16)

February 23, 2010

From Sally — Will I Make It to the Podium?

Filed under: Val — surly @ 7:02 pm

Cue the Olympic theme.

Yes, I’m doing the Ravelympics this year — somehow I’ve always missed it before. For those who don’t know, the Ravelympics is a speed event. You cast on a project during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics and try to complete it by the time the games end. My current medal chances? Cautiously optimistic.

I decided to knit a jacket/cardigan that caught my eye a number of years ago. It’s called Val, and it’s an Elsebeth Lavold design. It’s not a particularly popular pattern from what I can tell — on Ravelry, mine is the sole project. I’m not sure why. I like it.

It’s a short jacket, one button, with cabled front bands that turn into a collar. The sleeves are also cabled. I’m making mine by holding two yarns together: Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze in Hurricane and Miss Babs Yummy Monochrome Sport & Sock Yarn in Denim. I’ve made a few slight changes to the pattern. I’ve lengthened it a little bit and omitted the one by one ribbing at the bottom in favor of a hem. I’ve finished both fronts and the back and will cast on the first sleeve tonight.

Here’s what it looks like after crudely basting the side seams and basting down the collar. I used extra blurring on the pictures because they are definitely not medal worthy. The second photo is probably most true to color.

Close up of the button I plan on using:

Wish me luck!

PS from Susan — Good luck, Surly! It is beautiful.

I for one decided against the Ravelympics this year. Four years ago I did “medal” by finishing Rogue in 12 days. I WORE my sweater proudly before the end of the Olympics at the Birkebeiner Ski Race in Hayward, WI. It felt like a mini-Olympics being at the largest cross country ski race in North America. But this time around, I just could not suffer through something with a deadline. Too many knitting deadlines of late — knitting ain’t much fun if you are always trying to beat the clock.

Comments (15)

February 19, 2010

From Susan — A Small FO from Moi!

Filed under: Updates — lv2knit @ 4:30 pm

In general, my projects of late have been pretty small scale. I have not made a sweater since my Lacy Cardigan last summer. I used to be all about the sweater, and now I can’t get past mini-projects. Surly has been cranking out FOs like hotcakes, so I feel the need to play catch up!

Here is the latest of my mini-projects: the Damson Shawlette by Ysolda Teague. It is made with one skein of sock yarn (Malabrigo Sock is called for in the pattern). Surly generously shared the remains of the yarn she used for her Swallowtail. It is beautiful yarn — a rich mix of all the best of the fall colors. BUT, the skein starts off with slightly less yardage than Malabrigo Sock, and Sally had to dip into the skein she sent me, so I worried a bit about yardage. I shortened my Damson 6 rows and then did a crocheted chain bind off instead of the multi-row bind off shown in the pattern in hopes of having enough yarn. I also added openwork as discovered in this Ravelry project by Linda Butkus. I don’t know if this variation requires more or less yarn, but I DO know that I ended up with only one gram of yarn when I was done. One. Uno.

I like it. It’s pretty. I’m not sure when I’ll wear it, but it is a beautiful way to use up one skein of gorgeous sock yarn without having to knit socks 😉 !

PS: Barb asked, “Looked on Ravelry but no sign of how Linda did the insert, just lovely pics–did you contact her for instructions or figure it out yourself?”

I figured it out myself by looking at Linda’s version and then revising the chart.

Comments (13)

February 18, 2010

From Susan — The Link is Up

Filed under: Surrounded — lv2knit @ 3:22 pm

Thanks to everyone for the kind words about my pattern. I really treasure and appreciate the support of our readers!!

The link to my KnitPicks pattern is up and here it is!

Surrounded Afghan and Lap Robe — KnitPicks

Comments (4)

February 15, 2010

From Susan — Surrounded!

Filed under: Surrounded — lv2knit @ 10:52 pm

Hello! Now that I am back from the virtual dead, it’s time to post! And I do have some news to share.

Last fall, I came up with an idea for an afghan, charity square, scarf — really anything square or rectangular — that would be edged in built-in i-cord. Built in from start to finish, so that when the project was done, it was done. I submitted the design to Knitty — they did not outright reject me, but rather placed me “on hold” for a possible future issue. Okay. I can wait (she taps toe impatiently).

Surly suggested that I check out KnitPicks to see if they accepted design submissions, since I had used their Swish Bulky yarn for the prototype. Talk about crazy timing! KnitPicks had just started an Independent Designer Partnership. And the rest as they say is history!

Introducing my new design, the Surrounded Afghan and Lap Robe:

Surrounded Afghan in KnitPicks Swish Bulky, Color Adobo (now unavailable)

The design is available immediately on Ravelry and will be on KnitPicks by this Thursday. If Sally and I can figure it out, it will also be available for purchase here as well. The price? A measley $1.99. That’s right — not even 2 bucks!

Unfortunately, the color I used had been discontinued SO I needed to re-knit the design. I decided to make the Lap Robe in Swish Worsted so I could actually test knit both items. They take the same amount of knitting, but the sizes are different: 30×42 inches (lap robe), 40×52 inches (afghan).

Surrounded Lap Robe in Clematis Heather Worsted

The Lap Robe would also serve as a baby blanket if the color was right…

Surrounded Baby Blanket in Bok Choy Worsted

Sally made this for her son for Christmas and served as a test knitter for me. Yes, this is the afghan she was secretly working on!! She could not share it at the time. Well, her son LOVES it — he will not take it off. Honest. He wanders the house with his crutches and the afghan draped around him like a cape:

Isn’t he adorable?

And the other gorgeous child of my sissy, shown here “knitting” on it to “help” Sally finish:

And here is my daughter modelling the afghan:

This has really been a family affair! We are all surrounded by Surrounded!

PS: Who is the worst sister ever?

C’est moi! I forgot Surly’s birthday yesterday! Because I had already sent her present (the crocheted “sugar” bowl), I had mentally checked it as ‘done.’ Au contraire, Forgetful One!! I am so, so sorry! Will you forgive me??

In the spirit of not forgetting birthdays: Happy Birthday, Jena! You are the sweetest, most beautiful 15-year-old ever!

PS2: Several of you asked to see the reverse side — it is not reversible, but this is the back of a sample I knit in Pastaza (I have not gotten my afghans back yet from KnitPicks):

Comments (29)

February 13, 2010

From Susan — Out of the Desert…

Filed under: Updates — lv2knit @ 5:03 pm

…and into an oasis! I have been off the grid for over a week now, experiencing pervasive and ongoing computer issues. I am now back on line and LOVING IT! New high speed internet (that finally works as promised), new computer with 4 times the memory of the old one, and new printer (because the old was not compatible with Windows 7). I feel free as a bird, light as a feather, etc. etc. It is great to have joined the 21st century at long last!

Comments (8)

February 11, 2010

From Sally — My Blue Period

Filed under: Refined Raglan — surly @ 5:24 pm

I’m feeling blue. It’s not just our long winter in which I am measuring out my life in shovelfuls of snow. I’ve become seriously enamored of some blue yarns.

First is this lovely Lima by Rowan Yarns in the colorway Amazon:

I seriously adore this yarn. The color is hard to capture; it reminds me of Broad Bay’s color Atlantic for those of you familiar with that line of yarns. It’s flecked with little hints of brighter blue and subtle purple. It’s also incredibly soft. When my husband felt it he looked me in the eyes and said, “This feels expensive.” He was right.

I resisted it the first time I saw it, but when I came across it a second time I couldn’t. And didn’t.

So what did I make out of it? A sleeper pattern from the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave: Refined Raglan designed by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark. I hadn’t really noticed that design when I read that issue back in the day, but I came across it while playing around on Ravelry a few weeks ago.

I made a few modifications. I did more of a funnel neck, added short rows, and opted for rolled hems at the cuffs and bottom instead of the folded hem called for in the pattern. I wanted a casual, comfortable sweater that was really wearable. I’m pretty happy with it, too. The pictures aren’t great but they were the best I could muster after hours of shoveling.

My next two projects, including what I’m going to knit for the Ravelympics, are also blue. More about those later.

Comments (17)

February 8, 2010

From Sally — Snow Day (After Day After Day)

Filed under: Back Story — surly @ 2:23 pm

I know you’ve all been dying to know whether my half of the Rainey sisters survived the weekend storm that hit Washington, D.C. (And yes, for those who have asked — I live in the city itself.) The answer is yes, but it was quite a storm. On Saturday, when it was snowing its hardest, I remembered this stanza from Wallace Stevens’s Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird:

It was evening all afternoon.
It was snowing
And it was going to snow.
The blackbirds sat in the cedar-limbs.

Here are some photos I took of our yard, car, etc. That’s my husband shoveling — he was supposed to be bicycling in Tucson this week but his flight has been repeatedly cancelled and pushed back. He’s hoping to leave tomorrow.

1. Care to dine al fresco?