Everyone is writing these great "here's what I did in 2013! here's what I plan to do in 2014!" blog posts, and I want to, but I got sick over Christmas (like, sleeping 12 hours a night, popping Sudafed like candy, can't swallow because it hurts too much sick) and I just can't bring myself to do it. So:
Happy Holidays!
See you in 2014!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
A very loud raincoat.
I have been working on this raincoat for longer than I care to admit, only to finish it in the most ironic way possible- the day before our first giant snowstorm. Then I procrastinated taking the photos of it for long enough that there is no more snow. You'll just have to take my word for it- we had snow. Lots of it.
I'm not sure why I was seized with the desire to sew myself a raincoat, but I imagine it had something to do with the fabric. I bought this laminated fabric at a fabric outlet store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when I was visiting my mother either one or two summers ago. Not sure. It sat in my stash, making me happy, until about two months ago, when it said to me, "Sew me." Normally I would be alarmed that my fabric was speaking to me, but in this case, I said, "Yes. Yes I will." Luckily I had a trench coat pattern in my collection (McCalls 5525), but unluckily, I didn't have quite enough fabric. I managed to get all the pieces out of my yardage except the front facings. I thought about trying to find more matching fabric, but the print is so incredibly loud that I thought a contrast print might be better.. easier on the eyes. Less searing.
So I bought a half yard of this Michael Miller polka dot print, only to realize that a half yard was about half of what I actually needed. There's some creative seaming happening with the lining and the polka dot print in the front facings, but it's a raincoat, and as such, will always be worn closed, so no will know but me. And now you.
See?
I had everything done but the buttonholes for about a week, but having never actually made buttonholes before (I have no idea how I've avoided that, and ironically, I've made bound buttonholes, which are about eight million times harder), I procrastinated like a big baby. When I finally sat down to make them, it took about 4 seconds and required no work on my part, so I have no idea why I waited. Oh well.
For any sewing nerds out there, here's how I dealt with the laminated fabric:
- use small binder clips instead of pins during the construction. I did pin the pattern pieces to the fabric when I was cutting, but within the seam allowance only.
- I don't have a Teflon presser foot, so I just put Scotch tape on the bottom of my normal foot, and it worked just fine.
- when hand-sewing the bottom of the lining to the laminated fabric, I quickly realized that there was no way I was going to shove the needle through that fabric more than once. So I sewed the lining to the stitching only- like actually through each thread loop, then through the lining. I'm not sure how durable it will be, but at least it was easy on my hands.
The pattern is fine- it's not the easiest pattern I've used, but it's not the worst. The fit is good- the only change I made was to slope the shoulder seams down about 1/2" because I didn't want to use shoulder pads. Oh, and I didn't make buttonholes in the epaulets, because that just seemed goofy to me. I sewed the button on through all the fabric layers and called it good.
I'm not sure why I was seized with the desire to sew myself a raincoat, but I imagine it had something to do with the fabric. I bought this laminated fabric at a fabric outlet store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when I was visiting my mother either one or two summers ago. Not sure. It sat in my stash, making me happy, until about two months ago, when it said to me, "Sew me." Normally I would be alarmed that my fabric was speaking to me, but in this case, I said, "Yes. Yes I will." Luckily I had a trench coat pattern in my collection (McCalls 5525), but unluckily, I didn't have quite enough fabric. I managed to get all the pieces out of my yardage except the front facings. I thought about trying to find more matching fabric, but the print is so incredibly loud that I thought a contrast print might be better.. easier on the eyes. Less searing.
So I bought a half yard of this Michael Miller polka dot print, only to realize that a half yard was about half of what I actually needed. There's some creative seaming happening with the lining and the polka dot print in the front facings, but it's a raincoat, and as such, will always be worn closed, so no will know but me. And now you.
See?
For any sewing nerds out there, here's how I dealt with the laminated fabric:
- use small binder clips instead of pins during the construction. I did pin the pattern pieces to the fabric when I was cutting, but within the seam allowance only.
- I don't have a Teflon presser foot, so I just put Scotch tape on the bottom of my normal foot, and it worked just fine.
- when hand-sewing the bottom of the lining to the laminated fabric, I quickly realized that there was no way I was going to shove the needle through that fabric more than once. So I sewed the lining to the stitching only- like actually through each thread loop, then through the lining. I'm not sure how durable it will be, but at least it was easy on my hands.
The pattern is fine- it's not the easiest pattern I've used, but it's not the worst. The fit is good- the only change I made was to slope the shoulder seams down about 1/2" because I didn't want to use shoulder pads. Oh, and I didn't make buttonholes in the epaulets, because that just seemed goofy to me. I sewed the button on through all the fabric layers and called it good.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Like I didn't already have enough to do.
Logic:
We're going to South Dakota for Christmas.
South Dakota is cold.
Cold can only be thwarted with mittens.
New mittens are much better than old mittens at thwarting the cold.
If I don't make new mittens, I'm going to freeze to death in South Dakota.
I don't want to die.
Conclusion:
I must make new mittens now.
Yeah... sound logic. Despite the fact that I have eleventy million other things to do... I spent the entire last weekend making one mitten. Well, really, I made like 2.6 mittens, if you ignore the fact that I ripped them all out. I have no idea why it was a good idea to a) cast on something new when it's nearly Christmas and I'm swamped, and b) if I really had to make the dang mittens, why on earth did I decide to learn a new thing to do it? I don't get me, sometimes.
I'm making mittens from silk hankies, or mawata, as I'm told it's supposed to be called. I bought this silk at Stitches West last March because pretty. I always figured it would be mittens, because like every other knitter out there, I read the Yarn Harlot's post on silk hankie mittens and I wanted some. Disclaimer: it's actually way harder than it looks. First I made the "yarn" way too thin, then I made the mittens way too big, then I had trouble with even-ness, but. I made a mitten. It looks like a child knitted it, but I like the color, and in theory, it will be warm. I think the second mitten will be much easier and (I seriously hope) not look quite so much like a child made it. There's a steep learning curve here. I watched this Knit Picks video on how to turn the silk layers into yarn, which helped a ton. And luckily, the yarn frogs well- and not just well, it's like actual yarn when you rip it out instead of the fluff you were knitting with.
In case you're interested, I did indeed finish the moto jacket (blog post on that later), I'm one foot (not the unit of measure, the body part) away from finishing the socks, I haven't even touched the box of blue yarn, and I did maybe 2 more rows on the sample sweater. I did, however, make all of the Christmas cards, write an ebook I hadn't planned on writing, get half way through an Archer, make that one dang mitten, and finish my Christmas gifting. Go, me.
We're going to South Dakota for Christmas.
South Dakota is cold.
Cold can only be thwarted with mittens.
New mittens are much better than old mittens at thwarting the cold.
If I don't make new mittens, I'm going to freeze to death in South Dakota.
I don't want to die.
Conclusion:
I must make new mittens now.
Yeah... sound logic. Despite the fact that I have eleventy million other things to do... I spent the entire last weekend making one mitten. Well, really, I made like 2.6 mittens, if you ignore the fact that I ripped them all out. I have no idea why it was a good idea to a) cast on something new when it's nearly Christmas and I'm swamped, and b) if I really had to make the dang mittens, why on earth did I decide to learn a new thing to do it? I don't get me, sometimes.
I'm making mittens from silk hankies, or mawata, as I'm told it's supposed to be called. I bought this silk at Stitches West last March because pretty. I always figured it would be mittens, because like every other knitter out there, I read the Yarn Harlot's post on silk hankie mittens and I wanted some. Disclaimer: it's actually way harder than it looks. First I made the "yarn" way too thin, then I made the mittens way too big, then I had trouble with even-ness, but. I made a mitten. It looks like a child knitted it, but I like the color, and in theory, it will be warm. I think the second mitten will be much easier and (I seriously hope) not look quite so much like a child made it. There's a steep learning curve here. I watched this Knit Picks video on how to turn the silk layers into yarn, which helped a ton. And luckily, the yarn frogs well- and not just well, it's like actual yarn when you rip it out instead of the fluff you were knitting with.
In case you're interested, I did indeed finish the moto jacket (blog post on that later), I'm one foot (not the unit of measure, the body part) away from finishing the socks, I haven't even touched the box of blue yarn, and I did maybe 2 more rows on the sample sweater. I did, however, make all of the Christmas cards, write an ebook I hadn't planned on writing, get half way through an Archer, make that one dang mitten, and finish my Christmas gifting. Go, me.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Wearing my crazy pants again.
I have a disease. It's alternately known by "Martha Stewart-itis", "Overachiever Syndrome", or just "The Crazy Pants." It's caused me, over the years, to sew 18 linen napkins the night before Thanksgiving, make my own butter (because if one is having homemade biscuits, one MUST have homemade butter), recreate this cake (seriously.), and make approximately 4 times the amount of food needed for every get-together I've ever hosted.
I'm in the midst of a terrible flare up that has me convinced I can finish (below, from left to right) this pair of socks (1.25 done), this sample sweater (which yes, I've barely started, but both sleeves are done already!), this still in-theory sweater for my husband, and this moto jacket (mostly just needs the sleeves attached)...
along with an Archer shirt, 60 handmade Christmas cards, new Christmas stockings, a tree skirt, 5 new ornaments (hand embroidered ones), and a 3 to 5 knitting pattern collection for babies, because we're going to see my nephew at Christmas, and I can use him as a model. Seriously. In my head, this is all totally doable, with time left over to maybe even make myself new mittens. And possibly a hat. Because in my head, it's mid-November.
I think I need help.
Monday, December 2, 2013
New Pattern: The Clarette Blouse
This one has been on my plate forever. FOR-E-VER. But it's done! Hooray!
I sketched and made swatches for this sweater in, I think, May. I got yarn support from Cascade (thank you!) in July, and thought it would be a quick project, and that I'd have it released before we moved on September 16th. Ha. More proof that I had no idea how hard moving was, and how much time it would take. But... DONE. I release you, Clarette, into the wild.
I sketched and made swatches for this sweater in, I think, May. I got yarn support from Cascade (thank you!) in July, and thought it would be a quick project, and that I'd have it released before we moved on September 16th. Ha. More proof that I had no idea how hard moving was, and how much time it would take. But... DONE. I release you, Clarette, into the wild.
The Clarette Blouse:
This boat-neck blouse is worked seamlessly from the top down with a circular yoke. The asymmetrical bottom of the sweater is shaped with short rows and features welts, meant to look like gathers. A button tab “holds” the gathers in place. A pretty lace panel, knitted in a lighter-weight yarn and an easy, one-row pattern, peaks out from under the sweater body’s gathers. The three-quarter sleeves end in garter stitch trim.
If you'd like to check it out on Ravelry, here's the link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clarette-blouse
This boat-neck blouse is worked seamlessly from the top down with a circular yoke. The asymmetrical bottom of the sweater is shaped with short rows and features welts, meant to look like gathers. A button tab “holds” the gathers in place. A pretty lace panel, knitted in a lighter-weight yarn and an easy, one-row pattern, peaks out from under the sweater body’s gathers. The three-quarter sleeves end in garter stitch trim.
If you'd like to check it out on Ravelry, here's the link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clarette-blouse
The Details:
Sizing:
To fit full bust sizes: 28-32[31-35,
34-38, 38-42, 40-44, 42-46]
Finished full bust measurement: 28.5[31.25, 34.5, 38.5,
40, 41.5]
Yarn:
Cascade Ultra Pima in Deep Coral; 3[3,
4, 4, 5, 5] skeins
Cascade Ultra Pima Fine in White Peach; 1[1, 1, 2,
2, 2] skeins
Recommended Needles:
1 set 4 or 5 US 6 double-pointed needles OR 1 40 inch or longer US 6 circular needle
for magic loop (for sleeves)
1 set 4 or 5 US 5 double-pointed needles OR 1 40 inch or longer US 5 circular needle for
magic loop (for garter stitch trim on sleeves)
1 24 inch US 6 circular needle (for sweater body)
1 16 inch US 5 circular needle (for neckline)
1 set of US 4 straight needles OR 1 24 inch US 4 circular needle for lace panel
Gauge:
20 sts/28 rows over
4” in stockinette stitch
24 sts/32 rows over
4” in lace
Get the pattern on Ravelry (no account required):
$6.00
And gratuitous pictures, because dang it, I was freezing cold when we took these, so you will enjoy them.
(See my cold face here?)
Friday, November 29, 2013
A pattern sale!
From now until Monday, get 20% off any of my knitting patterns on Ravelry (no account needed) with coupon code CHRISTMAS20.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Moto jackets turned baby blankets.
I am obsessed with Rebecca Taylor's cream moto jacket from this fall's collection, most notably as worn by The Glamourai earlier this month. Click that link. You, too, will be in love with this jacket. And her beetle brooch. I also need a beetle brooch.
However, even on sale at $297, it's just not even in the same universe as my budget. So, I decided to sew one. Surprisingly, motorcycle jacket sewing patterns are not easy to come by. I had to order an out-of-print one from Sewing Pattern Reviews. While I was waiting for the pattern to come in the mail, I found the perfect cream-colored fabric at Joann's. Cleverly, I decided to wait to buy the fabric until the pattern came, so I could read the back and find out how much fabric I needed. So smart.
The pattern came. I got really excited. I carved out a whole Saturday to sew. I went to Joann's, picked up the fabric bolt, and looked at the price for the first time, and it was $40 a yard. Shock. I had no idea Joann's even HAD fabric that expensive. 1) Just too much, and 2) I am still a fairly inexperienced sewer, and there is usually about a 40% chance I will ruin whatever I'm sewing. So, that was out.
Since I was already at Joann's, and there's almost nothing I hate more than running errands with no results, I figured I'd just look around and see if I wanted to make something else. I came across this knit patterned with little woodland creatures that I'd had my eye on for awhile, but had never bought. (I have sworn off sewing with knits until I get better at sewing in general. I ruined a ton of knits this year. Like, a ton.) I thought, how can I not ruin this and still make it into something for my new nephew? Lightbulb- baby blanket. Bought a yard of the knit and a yard of matching fleece.
(See those straight lines? Oh yes.)
It's a simple blanket- I basted the two layers together with safety pins, then put masking tape to mark where I wanted to quilt them together. An aside: why had I not done this before? I made actual straight lines, evenly spaced and everything. So much better. So I quilted the two layers together, then I made binding with quilting cotton. I thought it would help the blanket hold its shape over time because it isn't stretchy. We'll see if I'm right. Then I thought, it's a baby blanket. I don't want to hand-sew the binding to the back, like I would on a quilt, because this thing is probably going to get puked on, or worse. So I picked out a decorative stitch on my machine and sewed the binding down. Regrets. There is so much thread involved in loopy, decorative stitches. The binding makes a "plunk" when it hits the table. It's simultaneously hilarious and upsetting. I hope it doesn't scratch the baby or something.
The plan is to give the baby this blanket, a baby henley made from some this soft plaid fabric I have left over from a recent sewing project, and a Davey Crockett coonskin hat, knitted from this incredibly soft furry stuff I got at my LYS. That, or keep the fur just to pet it. Not sure yet.
Monday, November 25, 2013
One whole week.
That's how many days in a row I can wear a different pair of hand knitted socks. I finished my Hermione's Everyday Socks this morning and promptly shoved them on my feet, because dang, it's cold here.
It's difficult to get a picture of your own feet. Have I mentioned that? Because it is. This yarn is Studio Sock from the Neighborhood Fiber Co. It's that super tight twist yarn that all the dyers were using as their base a bit ago, and... I don't like it nearly as much as normal twist sock yarn. Good thing to learn about oneself. I have another skein of super twisty yarn, but the rest of my (admittedly quite small) sock yarn collection is normal twisty.
Here's my pile of socks. Stacking them all up makes me happy. (Also... I did not realize how rainbow-y they are. Hmm.) Ideally, all of my socks will one day be hand knits. In this fantasy world, I'll also have a pet unicorn, my kitchen faucet will dispense perfectly mixed margaritas, and Justin Beiber will no longer be a thing. So, in other words... not likely. But I can try! Or at least cast on for another pair.
It's difficult to get a picture of your own feet. Have I mentioned that? Because it is. This yarn is Studio Sock from the Neighborhood Fiber Co. It's that super tight twist yarn that all the dyers were using as their base a bit ago, and... I don't like it nearly as much as normal twist sock yarn. Good thing to learn about oneself. I have another skein of super twisty yarn, but the rest of my (admittedly quite small) sock yarn collection is normal twisty.
Here's my pile of socks. Stacking them all up makes me happy. (Also... I did not realize how rainbow-y they are. Hmm.) Ideally, all of my socks will one day be hand knits. In this fantasy world, I'll also have a pet unicorn, my kitchen faucet will dispense perfectly mixed margaritas, and Justin Beiber will no longer be a thing. So, in other words... not likely. But I can try! Or at least cast on for another pair.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Hermione's Everyday Socks.
If you haven't noticed by now, I am a great big Harry Potter nerd. Huge. Like, let's have lengthy debates about the merits of Expelliarmus vs. just using a Full Body Bind, or how on earth did Voldemort think the horcrux could never be found in such a widely-used storage room?, or what's better, a Niffler or a Pygmy Puff? That kind of Harry Potter nerd. Latest thought process: If Mrs. Weasley can enchant her knitting needles to make Weasley sweaters, and she has to do no work towards said sweater, is she enjoying it at all? And did she really make it, or did magic make it? If one can enchant one's needles, is there any situation where one would actually knit by hand? Questions, questions.
Anyway. I need more socks. It's cold here in Delaware, and I dislike store-bought socks. They're not pretty, and my feet are often cold in them. I have 6 pairs of handknit socks already, but that's just not cutting it, so I'm on a sock-knitting mission. I have 4 more skeins of sock yarn in the craft room just begging to be socks after this one. See? (And no, I don't know what I was thinking when I bought that pink and green yarn, either, but gosh darn it, it's going to be socks.)
And now to relate my two thoughts, I'm making a pair of Hermione's Everyday Socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. I have learned through trial and error that I far and away prefer to knit fairly simple socks. Not necessarily plain stockinette- that's boring. But something with a simple knit-purl pattern on every other round- I can get behind that.
Here's my socks-in-progress. One done, the leg nearly done on the second. The yarn is Studio Sock from the Neighboorhood Fiber Co. in the colorway Eastern Market. I got it at Stitches West last March. The color is kind of shocking, like it's on fire. I love it.
I'm trying really, really hard to limit myself to one just-for-me knit at a time, what with the design work, Christmas knitting, and Etsy knitting I have going on. It's working, pretty much. I am knitting like the wind on the socks because I cannot wait to make these heart-backed driving gloves. Because I want to wear them. Like, now.
Random side note: Spell checker knows Voldemort, but not Hermione? Come on now.
Anyway. I need more socks. It's cold here in Delaware, and I dislike store-bought socks. They're not pretty, and my feet are often cold in them. I have 6 pairs of handknit socks already, but that's just not cutting it, so I'm on a sock-knitting mission. I have 4 more skeins of sock yarn in the craft room just begging to be socks after this one. See? (And no, I don't know what I was thinking when I bought that pink and green yarn, either, but gosh darn it, it's going to be socks.)
And now to relate my two thoughts, I'm making a pair of Hermione's Everyday Socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. I have learned through trial and error that I far and away prefer to knit fairly simple socks. Not necessarily plain stockinette- that's boring. But something with a simple knit-purl pattern on every other round- I can get behind that.
Here's my socks-in-progress. One done, the leg nearly done on the second. The yarn is Studio Sock from the Neighboorhood Fiber Co. in the colorway Eastern Market. I got it at Stitches West last March. The color is kind of shocking, like it's on fire. I love it.
I'm trying really, really hard to limit myself to one just-for-me knit at a time, what with the design work, Christmas knitting, and Etsy knitting I have going on. It's working, pretty much. I am knitting like the wind on the socks because I cannot wait to make these heart-backed driving gloves. Because I want to wear them. Like, now.
Random side note: Spell checker knows Voldemort, but not Hermione? Come on now.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
A little farmers' market.
One of my favorite little buddies is turning two in a few days, so of course, I knitted him a farmers' market, complete with personalized canvas market bag. Like you do.
Left to right: chili pepper, garlic, French radishes, potato, leek, eggplant, carrot, tomato. I mean, I hope that was all obvious, but.
I totally used these veggies as a bribe for myself over the past few weeks. "If I get x y and z done, I can knit a potato." It worked. I could not wait to knit just one more veggie! Most of them I just made up as I went, but the potato (the first one I knitted... who picks a potato to knit first? I'm weird.) pattern I got here and the radishes are sort of based off this pattern, but I made them French radishes instead of plain ones because Kai's parents are fancy like that.
I actually wanted to make this for him last Christmas, but I think he was just too little. He's old enough now that he can actually play with his toys, instead of just wave them around and chew on them. He may be just a little young for a set of veggies, but he'll grow into it. Provided they don't get lost, felted, chewed up, ripped, or otherwise destroyed. I think that's the risk of hand-made kids' toys, but 1) I can't help it- I have to make all of my gifts by hand, and 2) knitted vegetables are too funny. Had to do it.
I totally used these veggies as a bribe for myself over the past few weeks. "If I get x y and z done, I can knit a potato." It worked. I could not wait to knit just one more veggie! Most of them I just made up as I went, but the potato (the first one I knitted... who picks a potato to knit first? I'm weird.) pattern I got here and the radishes are sort of based off this pattern, but I made them French radishes instead of plain ones because Kai's parents are fancy like that.
This was a great project, because I only used leftovers. My leftovers tub is overflowing. It's annoying. I can't get the lid closed. So... small projects! I think everything is wool except possibly the red part of the radishes. Quite a bit of this is Wool of the Andes and Cascade 220. Despite the fact that I used all of the colors and felt like I knitted a lot, I made no noticeable dent in the leftovers, and didn't even use up anything. Oh well. Eight-color mittens are going to make their way into everyone's stockings this year, I think.
I sewed the little canvas bag from some duck cloth I had leftover from my Weekender bag. Then I just drew out my lettering and painted it with that paints-on-everything Martha Stewart paint. A little fray check on the edges, and done.
I hope he likes it! Or rather, I hope his parents like it, and that the veggies last at least a while before getting destroyed by whatever means a two year old is likely to find. It was a fun project, and super rewarding- a garlic bulb start to finish in 30 minutes can't but make you feel productive.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
New Pattern: Unicorn Hoodie!
This pattern has been kicking around in my head for a very long time, ever since my unicorn-loving friend got pregnant, and I thought... baby unicorn. Yes. I'm so excited that it's finally done! So here it is: A way to make your child look hilarious.
size:
Cascade Sunseeker, Silver; 1 hank for all sizes
Paton’s Metallic, Pewter; 1 hank for all sizes
A big thank you to my test knitters l8tylucky, offbeatchic, and canuckeh. You guys are great.
The hoodie part of the Unicorn Hoodie is a quick knit. You start at the neckline with a provisional cast on, then knit down to the bottom. Sleeves are knitted from stitches you put on holders when you divided for the sleeves, so there are no seams. The sleeves end in cute little hooves. Then you undo the provisional cast on and knit the hood up to the three-needle bind off. The entire edge of the sweater is finished in applied i-cord, then you sew a zipper in by hand. (It's easy. Trust me.)
The horn, ears, and tail are knitted separately and sewn on. The mane is created with fringe.
Look at that face. That's the face of a kid who is thrilled to be wearing a unicorn hoodie, in the homeland of the unicorns: the forest.
And a bonus: the pattern comes with instructions for knitting Unicorn Anklets as well! If your kid is going to have two hooves, he might as well have four, right?
(Yup, that's a hoof anklet.)
Skills needed (or skills you should be willing to learn): Knitting in the round, provisional cast on, i-cord, applied i-cord, short rows, three-needle bind off. The knitting is mostly just stockinette, so once you master these techniques, it's smooth sailing.
size:
6-12
Months [2T, 4T, 6, 8, 10]
Finished
Measurements:
Chest: 21[23, 25, 28, 29.5, 31] inches
yarn:
Paton’s Metallic, Pewter; 1 hank for all sizes
needles:
US 8 24 inch circular needle and dpns
US 6 straight or circular needle and dpns
notions:
Stitch
markers
Scrap yarn for provisional cast on
Tapestry needle
Scrap yarn for provisional cast on
Tapestry needle
Separating
zipper: 10[12, 14, 16, 18, 20] inches long
Toy
stuffing for horn
gauge:
20
sts and 28 rows = 4 inches in St st in MC, CC1, and CC2 on larger needles
Price: $6.00
Get it on Ravelry- no account required.
Get it on Ravelry- no account required.
A big thank you to my test knitters l8tylucky, offbeatchic, and canuckeh. You guys are great.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Deep thoughts with Emily Ringelman
Recently, I've been thinking about peoples' hobbies, and how when you break them down to their simplest form, they sound absolutely ridiculous, and you kind of wonder why people would spend their free time doing these strange things. I have no idea why I've been thinking about this. I'm just odd that way.
For example, I like to make little loops of string with a stick. My mom likes to cut fabric into little pieces and sew it back together. My brother-in-law likes to pick up heavy things and put them back down. My husband likes to go find birds.
When you really start to think about it, hobbies are kind of weird, right? So simple at the most basic level, but so all-consuming and terribly complicated in reality. Anyway.
Look, I'm getting close to being done with my Agnes pullover! I'm trying to limit myself to only working on this in the evenings, and even then only if I've made satisfactory progress on my "work" knitting. And the knitting I've agreed to when I've been drinking, and now feel like I have to do because I'm trying to teach myself to not agree to everything when I've got a cocktail in my hand. I'm looking at you, Yoda hat.
Both shoulder seams are sewn, and one sleeve is seamed and has been set in, and the other sleeve is started. While I was setting in the sleeve, it occurred to me that I'm pretty sure I've never done that before. What kind of knitter am I? I guess one who prefers non-set in sleeves.
Also, I think my yarn estimate is going to be perfect. Started my last ball of yarn partway through the second sleeve. Ideally there will be only a very small amount left over. My leftovers bin is getting out of hand.
For example, I like to make little loops of string with a stick. My mom likes to cut fabric into little pieces and sew it back together. My brother-in-law likes to pick up heavy things and put them back down. My husband likes to go find birds.
When you really start to think about it, hobbies are kind of weird, right? So simple at the most basic level, but so all-consuming and terribly complicated in reality. Anyway.
Look, I'm getting close to being done with my Agnes pullover! I'm trying to limit myself to only working on this in the evenings, and even then only if I've made satisfactory progress on my "work" knitting. And the knitting I've agreed to when I've been drinking, and now feel like I have to do because I'm trying to teach myself to not agree to everything when I've got a cocktail in my hand. I'm looking at you, Yoda hat.
Both shoulder seams are sewn, and one sleeve is seamed and has been set in, and the other sleeve is started. While I was setting in the sleeve, it occurred to me that I'm pretty sure I've never done that before. What kind of knitter am I? I guess one who prefers non-set in sleeves.
Also, I think my yarn estimate is going to be perfect. Started my last ball of yarn partway through the second sleeve. Ideally there will be only a very small amount left over. My leftovers bin is getting out of hand.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
My living room is all kinds of nautical.
My nautical quilt is done. As are two new nautical pillows.
I started the quilt probably two months ago, when we were still in California. In the process of quilting it, I sucked. I figured that the best way to go about it would be to start from the corner and quilt my way to the middle, then flip it and start from the opposite corner. This works if you've made a good, well-pinned quilt sandwich. I did not. I ended up with about an inch of extra fabric in the middle. So I put the quilt in a box, put that box in another box and mailed the box to myself. When it arrived... no just kidding, I packed it in the Uhaul. My new sewing room is quite a bit smaller than my old one, so I'm trying to make a solid effort to not have UFOs around, because they take up space, so I put in some time with my seam ripper and took out quite a bit of the quilting, then re-pinned and did it all again. I bound the quilt in some Coral and Salmon Kona with a bit of whale fabric mixed in, just for funsies.
I started the quilt probably two months ago, when we were still in California. In the process of quilting it, I sucked. I figured that the best way to go about it would be to start from the corner and quilt my way to the middle, then flip it and start from the opposite corner. This works if you've made a good, well-pinned quilt sandwich. I did not. I ended up with about an inch of extra fabric in the middle. So I put the quilt in a box, put that box in another box and mailed the box to myself. When it arrived... no just kidding, I packed it in the Uhaul. My new sewing room is quite a bit smaller than my old one, so I'm trying to make a solid effort to not have UFOs around, because they take up space, so I put in some time with my seam ripper and took out quite a bit of the quilting, then re-pinned and did it all again. I bound the quilt in some Coral and Salmon Kona with a bit of whale fabric mixed in, just for funsies.
The quilted pillow I also started in CA, when I was supposed to be packing my craft room. I used four colors of blue and some white to make four panels, then sewed them together with the darkest blue towards the middle. I did what I think is called matchstick quilting? Or is that even closer together than what I did? Regardless, it took forever to quilt this thing. Can't imagine doing it on a whole quilt. So I finished the pillow front in CA, then did the rest here in Delaware. I put in an invisible zipper in both pillows. AND I finished the seam allowances nicely on the inside. I'm trying really hard to become a legit seamstress who makes nice things.
That sailboat pillow? First of all, love. Got it at Joann's in the home decor section. I have enough fabric left to make at least one more pillow, which I may or may not do... because I was thinking shorts. Would that be too much?
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Knitting: check.
I finally, FINALLY finished knitting my latest design.
Had I been able to knit each stitch only one time, as is usual with knitting, it would have gone so much faster. However, I re-knitted the yoke about 8 times, then the body like 3 times, the lace piece 4 times, and the left sleeve I think had a black hole somehow attached to it.
But now, it's done. I think. I feel like it could use more length in the body, which involves either ripping out half of it and re-knitting (NO, I WILL NOT), or doing some scary magic with snipping a stitch and using the sorcery that is the Kitchener stitch. Or I might leave it as is. We'll see. Haven't decided yet. Pretty, though, right? It's Cascade Ultra Pima and Ultra Pima Fine. Thank you, Cascade, for providing me with the lovely yarn. It's so soft! Like, so so soft! Great to work with.
Had I been able to knit each stitch only one time, as is usual with knitting, it would have gone so much faster. However, I re-knitted the yoke about 8 times, then the body like 3 times, the lace piece 4 times, and the left sleeve I think had a black hole somehow attached to it.
But now, it's done. I think. I feel like it could use more length in the body, which involves either ripping out half of it and re-knitting (NO, I WILL NOT), or doing some scary magic with snipping a stitch and using the sorcery that is the Kitchener stitch. Or I might leave it as is. We'll see. Haven't decided yet. Pretty, though, right? It's Cascade Ultra Pima and Ultra Pima Fine. Thank you, Cascade, for providing me with the lovely yarn. It's so soft! Like, so so soft! Great to work with.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Sweater Quantites
Something terrible has happened. My favorite hand knit sweater was attacked by vicious, sadistic moths. They ate an irreparable hole in the MIDDLE of the FRONT of my lovely wool/silk/alpaca sweater. It was (properly stored!) in an air-tight bin with three lavender sachets with a bunch of other wool sweaters, hats, and cowls. Did the moths eat anything else? No. Didn't even look twice at another sweater. They found my favorite one and chowed down.
Sigh. Trying to move on.
So I'm making a new sweater. It's the Agnes Pullover from the Fall 2012 issue of Knitscene. Normally I'm not a cable person, especially not an all-over cable person, but I loved this sweater instantly. I actually didn't ever plan to make it, but one evening a couple of weeks ago I was looking through past knitting magazines, and saw this pullover again, and thought... "Hmm. Isn't there a sweater's worth of Berroco Vintage upstairs in the craft room? In a color that would be perfect for this fall? What did I buy that yarn for, again?" Ten minutes later... we have started a sweater. This is why I don't normally keep sweater quantities around. I am rash when it comes to knitting choices. I think this is a better use for this yarn than the original intent, which was an all-over lace pullover that I somehow thought I would start AND finish on the drive out here from California. I am clearly a crazypants, because I didn't even wind any of the yarn into balls, much less knit an entire sweater.
And yes... that's a Harry Potter book in the background. It was time for the yearly re-reading.
Sigh. Trying to move on.
Love these squishy cables. The yarn is perfect for it- so soft, and a real joy to knit. However... it looks a little bit fuzzy already (especially in the places I had to rip and re-knit... don't drink and knit, kids), but I think that it will be fine.
And yes... that's a Harry Potter book in the background. It was time for the yearly re-reading.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
And the winner is...
Debbie! Congrats Debbie, I've sent you an email with the pattern.
To everyone else who entered, THANK YOU! If you end up making the Everett Henley I'd love to see it on you.
To everyone else who entered, THANK YOU! If you end up making the Everett Henley I'd love to see it on you.
Friday, October 4, 2013
The last stop on the Holla Knits! blog tour train.
Two Mondays ago (I don't know how many days that is... I am not even totally sure what day of the week today is. The down side of moving and not having a job lined up for when you get there.), we got into a moving van in Davis, California with everything we owned, including our cat. We drove, and drove, and drove, and then just to mix things up, we drove some more. We drove through mountains, through endless cornfields, the bleak desert of Nevada, the lush forest of Pennsylvania, a driving rain storm, intense heat, and far too many rush hours- including Chicago. Edge of my seat. The van overheated. The cat lost her cat cool and nearly had a heart attack. I became all too familiar with truck stops, and quickly learned just how much space one needs to turn around a moving van with a car carrier on the back of it. Towards the end I felt like my whole life had been spent in that van. There was nothing before the van, and there would be nothing else but the van. Luckily, thankfully, FINALLY, there was no more van. And now? Now we live in Delaware, land of strip malls, no sales tax, and cheap lobster. Yum.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because the day we got into that hated van is the day that my first ever sweater pattern, the Everett Henley, was published in Holla Knits. I went through like all of my data checking Ravelry every 2 seconds on release day, just to see how many queues my pattern was in. What I saw made me happy. The Everett Henley did smashingly well. Hooray! I cannot wait to see other knitters' versions of it... which will be easier for one of you if you win my pattern giveaway. Just leave a comment to enter, and I'll pick a winner next Tuesday... provided I can figure out what day of the week it is.
Leave a comment and win a copy!
Everett Henley, shown in Knit Picks Swish in Copper. Size 32"
Shown in Knits in Class Merino Mohair Worsted in Mr. Darcy. Size 40"
If you'd rather not wait to see if you won, head here to purchase the pattern through Holla Knits!
The Everett Henley is a fairly advanced pattern, but the end result is so worth it. All-over lace; raglan, 3/4 sleeves; a curved hem with applied i-cord; killer style. You know you want to make one. I kind of want to make another one.
Curved hem with applied i-cord.
Leave a comment and win a copy!
Detail of the raglan increases and that lovely lace.
And this concludes the Fall/Winter 2013 Holla Knits blog tour. The end.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
New Pattern: Everett Henley!
Look! I have a pattern in the Fall/Winter 2013 Issue of Holla Knits!
It's called the Everett Henley, and I loves it.
It's called the Everett Henley, and I loves it.
Finished Size This sweater is meant to be worn with anywhere from -2 to +2” of ease, depending on personal preference and how you plan to layer it. To fit bust sizes 28-32 (30-34, 35-39, 38-42, 43-47, 47- 52, 52-56). Finished bust measurement 30.5 (32, 37, 40, 45, 49.5, 54.5). Sweater shown in Knit Picks Swish Worsted in 32” and in Knits in Class in size 40”.
Materials
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted, 100% Superwash Merino Wool; 110yds/50g: Copper, 10 (11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 23) skeins.
Yarn: Knits in Class Mohair Merino Worsted, 52% Mohair, 48% Merino; 225yds/100g: Mr Darcy, 5 (6, 7, 9, 9, 10, 12) skeins.
Needles: Size 7 (4.5 mm): 24” circular, and size 8 (5 mm): 30” circular for body of sweater and EITHER a long (40”+) circular, a 16” circular, or a set of 5 dpns for the sleeves. You will also need 2 Size 8 dpns for the applied i-cord bind-off. Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions: Removable markers (m): one matching set of 8 for raglan increases and one matching set of 10 for lace increases; smooth waste yarn; tapestry needle; 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) 5/8” buttons.
Gauge 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st on larger needles. 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Everett Lace pattern on larger needles.
Lace pattern: each repeat measures 1.5” across and 1.25” down unblocked; 1.6” across and 1.5” down after blocking on larger needles.
Buy it now on the Holla Knits website!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Holla Knits! Blog Tour
On Monday, a bunch of stuff is happening.
We're getting in a moving van and leaving my beloved California and driving for 45 hours and 6 days to move to Delaware. Oh man. Also, my first ever sweater pattern is going live on the Fall/Winter 2013 issue of Holla Knits! Bad timing... I think that everyone else will see it before I do. I hope our hotel has free wifi.
Here's the blog tour schedule, with a bunch of awesome giveaways. Check it out each day, then come back on October 4th for my day! Hopefully I'll be settled into Delaware by then, and I'll be snuggled up in an actual sweater, drinking hot apple cider. Yum.
There may be some radio silence on my end for a couple of weeks, but I've got some great patterns in the pipeline for once we get settled. Stay tuned!
Schedule:
We're getting in a moving van and leaving my beloved California and driving for 45 hours and 6 days to move to Delaware. Oh man. Also, my first ever sweater pattern is going live on the Fall/Winter 2013 issue of Holla Knits! Bad timing... I think that everyone else will see it before I do. I hope our hotel has free wifi.
Here's the blog tour schedule, with a bunch of awesome giveaways. Check it out each day, then come back on October 4th for my day! Hopefully I'll be settled into Delaware by then, and I'll be snuggled up in an actual sweater, drinking hot apple cider. Yum.
There may be some radio silence on my end for a couple of weeks, but I've got some great patterns in the pipeline for once we get settled. Stay tuned!
Schedule:
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
New Pattern: Out in the Woods Hat
Oh look! A new pattern.
Out in the Woods Hat: $4 on Ravelry (no account required)
It's an all-over cabled hat- the cables spread out as you get closer to the crown, forming a cool pattern. And there are pompoms. We must have pompoms on hats.
Living in California is hard as a knitter, because it's ungodly hot here up until about November. Once September rolls around, all I want to do is knit for winter, but it's too hot. Today, in mid-September, the high is 100. UGH. Anyway. A hat is a great way to ease into winter knitting, because then you don't have a big wool sweater in your lap.
Out in the Woods Hat: $4 on Ravelry (no account required)
Pertinent info:
Size: Adult S/M (17.5" circumference) and M/L (20" circumference), both sizes 9" tall
Yarn: 200-240 yards of DK weight yarn, shown in Knit Picks Gloss DK in the color Aegean
Needles: US size 6 (4 mm) dpns and a 16" circular
Gauge: 26 sts/30 rows = 4" in cable pattern
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)