theraineysisters knitting and so much more

April 15, 2018 Tip of the Week — The Rainey Sisters Ravelry Group

When working top down sweaters, the bottom edge is not the cast on edge obviously, but rather the bound off edge. The standard bind off is very inflexible, unstretchy. We often do a stretchy bind off to mimic the “give” achieved by casting on. Sometimes all that is needed is to go up a needle size or two when doing the bind off, but this tip gives you an addition al option!

We often use our favorite shawl bind off, in whatever stitch combination works best (i.e., rib, plain knit for garter, etc.). Use a smaller needle to make sure the bind off is not ripply!!

Knit Stitch: k2; insert left needle into the front of the 2 sts on the right needle (like you do for SSK) and k2tog through the back loop (1 st bound off, one st on RH needle). Now k1 and cont. as described to end of row.

Purl Stitch: p2; insert left needle into the back of the 2 sts on the right needle and p2tog (1 st bound off, one st on RH needle). Now p1 and cont. as described to end of row.

In the picture you can see a small “dot” in the bind off. That is the extra yarn added by working the sts twice – this gives it the stretch. You can also see in the picture that the finished width of the bind off is the same as the ribbed hem so it does not ripple.

Tip #2: Are your taxes done??!!

Tip #3: Don’t forget to scroll down in case you have not yet seen Surly’s latest FO!

PS to Suzan from Susan:

Suzan commented as follows, “After many less-than-perfect attempts to do a standard bind off using large needles, I decided I should do Jenny’s stretchy bind off instead. And I actually think I can remember how to do it from project to project. Can you elaborate on why your bind off is better than that one for sweaters? Thanks!”

We are not saying this bind off is better than another if that bind off works for you.  In my experience, Jenny’s Stretchy bind off is really stretchy and often “sloppy.”  That can be okay for a shawl when the outer edge needs to be aggressively blocked.  In the sweater above, I did not want the bind off to stretch so much as “give.”  And I did not want it to be wider than the ribbing, which a looser bind off would be.  I also find this bind off to be easy to remember: k1, ** k1, k2tog TBL**  Repeat between **  **

Always it’s Spring and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.  e.e. cummings

I love flowers and yoke sweaters are all the rage, so how could I resist knitting Caitlin Hunter’s Birkin?  I couldn’t.   I did make a few changes because Susan and I rarely leave well enough alone.

A long time ago, I saw another sweater with an intriguing hem:  Colors for a Cloudy Day, designed by yellowcosmo.  I added a similar hem to my Birkin, although I ended up constructing mine in a different way.  (More detailed explanation of how I made the hem is below.)  I also knit full length instead of bracelet length sleeves.  The yarn I used is Brooklyn Tweed’s Loft.  The main color is Fossil, which I already had in my stash.  (Score!).  The other colors I used are Artifact, Flannel, Hayloft, and Thistle.

The photos I have right now are not great.  I’m in Tucson on a family vacation.  When I first arrived, having just finished my Birkin, it was in the 90s.  Too hot to wear wool, even a wool as lightweight as  Loft.  It has cooled off, but it is so windy I can’t get good pictures.  (The hair! the hair!)  At one point my Birkin actually blew away.  It’s a shame because this sweater looks better on.  Unfortunately, my mannequin is back in Boulder, so these photos will have to do.

The fair isle hem in Colors for a Cloudy day was shaped by short rows — the hem itself and the “cut out” curve.  This is a top down sweater.  I made my cutout the way I’d knit a neckline from the bottom up.  I used a slope bind off, eliminating stitches as I worked back and forth instead of in the round.  When the cut out was finished, I had live stitches except where I’d bound off for the shape.  I picked stitches up there and then did an i-cord bind off all the way around.

Here’s a bad selfie that shows what the sweater looked like just before the bind off.

My initial plan was to pick up all the way around for the fair isle part of the hem and shape the inside of the cut out with short rows.  (This was the method used by yellowcosmo.)  I also planned the hem to be a slightly deeper color than Fossil.  I tried my idea with Faded Postcard, a pale purplish pink.  I didn’t like how it turned out for several reasons.  First, despite going down several needle sizes, the knitting looked sloppy — the short rows distorted the fabric.  Second, although Postcard looked nice next to the sweater, it looked too muddy when knit up.  See?

I ripped it out and redid it in the Fossil.  First, I cast on for the widest part of the curved opening with a provisional cast on.  I then worked the floral pattern, shaping it into a curve through decreases at the side.  When it was the right size for the opening, I picked up around the rest of the hem, activating the provisional cast on stitches when I came to them.  I then knit the leaf pattern.  In other words, the floral pattern was knit bottom up and the leaf section was knit top down.  After I bound off for the ribbing, I sewed the curved part of my fair isle pattern down under the i-cord.  Clear as mud, right?

I finally got to the movie (after surviving a ridiculous illness brought home by my husband 🙁 ).  Here is what I wrote on Ravelry:

Finally got to the movie! I loved it. Seeing the shawl on the screen was amazing. I wore mine to the movie, but certainly without the elegance and style of Lupita! She is so gorgeous and looked amazing in the shawl.

I wanted to stand up and scream, but went to the movie by myself…AWKward!!  I really did love the movie!!

I am not sure if any of you noticed, but I received a wonderful comment from Jeff Gillies’ mom – Jeff designed and made the original scarf for the movie!

I am blown away as I read all the comments on Knitting and this particular Infinity scarf!  Being in Sewing – Alterations and quilting, knitting is new to read about. Whereas I know how to knit and crochet, sewing has been my niche. 

I am Jeff’s mother who has been able to watch him create and design, then put those creations/designs into action on the knitting machine and see the finished product.  What an amazing experience! Not because Jeff is my son but just to watch anyone work a knitting machine and put it into action is to me a marvel. 🙂 🙂  

I have a dear friend who has been a knitter all the years I’ve known her, and made many a beautiful sweater for her kids, grandkids, family and friends.   So accomplished!  Remember “Dr. Who” TV show.  He had this loooong scarf of many different colors that Jeff’s younger brother so admired!  So for Christmas Jeff knitted that scarf and Jason still wears it on occasion. That was Jeff’s first knitting experience and began to be hooked into knitting and later sewing costumes. 

I think it’s great when people notice and give credit to those talented in designing costumes and other items for movies, plays, operas, etc. for the enjoyment of the public.  
Love reading the interaction between you who love this craft.  🙂 🙂   
—  Marje Gillies

Is that cool or what??

From The Rainey Sisters Ravelry Group:

April 6, 2018 Tip of the Week

This week’s tip can be summed up in one word: MONOGAMY! Monogamy means sticking with something through thick and thin, through good times and bad, staying true to your one and only. What does that have to do with knitting?

When you stay true to one project, you make progress. You get things finished. Flitting from project to project may seem fun, but the results are sporadic.

Sticking with that boring project through acres of stockinette can be a bore, but the results are worth it.

Are we strictly monogamous? Heck, no! And there is a place for divergence. Some projects are just too big or complicated to drag around everywhere. Sometimes you hit a point in a project that requires a lot of thinking or calculating.  And a portable, mindless knitting project is a must for grabbing as you head out the door to take your kid to the dentist.

A small quick, pretty hat or shawl can be the perfect sorbet to break up that long, boring slog. No one will fault you! It is knitting – it’s a hobby. We do it for fun! If it stops being fun, what good is it?

But, if you want to finish that sweater, keep at it. Slow and steady wins the race!!

From The Rainey Sisters Ravelry Group: March 24, 2018 Tip of the Week

This week’s tip is about sewing buttons onto knitted garments.  Buttons can make or break a garment and are an essential finishing detail.

We use matching sewing thread instead of yarn.  If possible, we prefer to buy buttons with shanks, but sometimes the perfect button doesn’t have a built-in shank, so you need to make your own with thread.  The shank lifts the button off the surface and should be deep enough to match the thickness of the buttonband.  This lets the button rest on top of the buttonband when buttoned, instead of unsightly pulling.

Susan’s Funky Grandpa

You can use anything as a spacer when making the thread shank – a dpn the thickness of the buttonband fabric works well.  Sew the button on using the spacer to create the required gap and then wrap the thread tightly to form the shank.

Because knitted fabric stretches, it is often helpful to attach the button with a backing button.  This is a non-ornamental button attached to the wrong side behind the actual button to create stability.  It keeps the button from pulling when in use.

Is the glass half full or half empty?  Is my Nadia’s Infinity Scarf too long or too short?  I say BOTH!!

I followed the pattern to a “T” but my gauge was off.  You start knitting with Noro Silk Garden, which had a larger gauge than the other yarns, so I think I started out with the correct gauge.  The designer even states that Lupita Nyong’o is tiny and you may need to add width and length.  I am not tiny, but did not add either!  However, Lettie has no arms and I still could not wrap this around her neck (Lettie, you have no arms, but you do have a lovely neck!!).

I did a 3-needle bind off to mimic the chain stitch in the photos.  There were several instructions in the pattern that did not seem to match the photos, so I did the best I could.  I will wear this when I go to the movie this weekend – I tried and failed last weekend.  The theater was old out!

Man, I am fickle…but I knew the detour would be very short!!  The latest Shetland Wool Week free hat pattern launched a couple of days ago, called Merrie Dancers Toorie.  And while it is no Baa-ble, it is a worthwhile knit for those who are serious about Shetland and fair isle knitting.  I used Jamieson’s Spindrift from my ample stash.

PS to Kathy: Kathy asked how difficult I would rate this hat.  I can’t really answer that!  It truly depends on your knitting experience.  If you have done fair isle hats in small gauge, it is not hard.  The top gets tricky because of the stranded colorwork on dpns with very few sts.  There is a little star or flower pattern at the very top, you are stranding on VERY few sts.  Quite awkward but when its done, it looks okay!

PS2: the hat looks a little better after blocking!  Smoother.

Tick…tock…tick…tock.  I am waiting until tomorrow when my last yarn arrives to continue knitting on my Nakia’s Infinity Scarf from Black Panther.

I am finished with the first two sections and ready to start knitting with Plaid Blanket (15% done 🙂 ).  I am loving this!  It is so “un-me!”  I am planning on seeing the movie this weekend, but doubt they will “pause” the movie during the infinity scarf scenes!!  No matter how loud I yell…

I am launching a new spring hat pattern and the introductory price is $1.  ONE DOLLAR!!!  For the first week, the pattern is one buckaroo.

Yoshino Cherry Blossom Hat

Jena agreed to be my model.  She looks so stunning in the hat!!  Beads and stranding, what could be more fun!  Get it now – the price goes up to $6 on March 17!!

I think I have a form of mental disorder.  My younger DD calls it FOMO.  Fear of missing out.  She and I also suffer from FORO (fear of running out – like my obsessive fear of not having enough half and half for my coffee 🙂 ).

What am I FOMO’ing about now?  Nakia’s Infinity Scarf from the movie blockbuster, Black Panther.  Have I seen the film?  No.  But I will once I get going on my scarf!!

Here is what did it for me.  You know how there is knitting in a movie and everyone on Ravelry goes crazy and starts a million discussion threads about reverse engineering the knitted item?  Well, in this case, a bunch of people also directly contacted Ruth Carter, the costume designer for Black Panther, and asked for the pattern for the infinity scarf worn by Lupita Nyong’o.  She contacted Jeff Gillies.  He is the person who actually made the scarf for the movie (with a knitting machine).  He kept detailed notes and was able to recreate the design, and then offered it free on Ravelry.   He used real knitting yarns like Noro Silk Garden, Malabrigo Mechita, and Madelinetosh Merino Light, so now there is a run on all of these yarns.  One has been discontinued, but I was able to snag them all with one acceptable substitute for a zillion dollars!

The colors aren’t even my colors 😉 , but my FOMO has settled down.  The yarns will take a while to arrive because some are back ordered.  I don’t care.  I have them ordered.  I can relax now…until another case of FOMO strikes!!

PS to Alison: I am excited to start on this, but the yarn hunt is still a work in progress!  I have two of the four yarns in my possession, and one more should arrive today.  The last missing link wasn’t going to ship until March 28, but I found a different source and hopefully it should arrive this week!  When I get all of the yarns, I will post a picture.

Just missing the Tosh Merino Light Plaid Blanket…it is ordered and hopefully on its way!