Category Archives: Knitting

On the plain side

Posted on 13 March 2011 by Kris

Just so this blog doesn’t turn into all previous years all the time, I’ll be interspersing the FO catchup posts with newer stuff. Today, let’s talk about one of my current WIPs.

Would you believe that I only own one cardigan? Sad but true. (Although I love that one cardigan to bits!) So I figured it was about time I changed that.

These are the front and back pieces of a plain black cardigan. I’ve been wanting to make one for awhile – I even bought buttons for it over a year ago! But I just got around to starting it last month.

The yarn is Brooks Farm Four Play, which I’d bought at Stitches West back in 2009. I’m loving it so far, except it grows a lot after washing. Which I already knew thanks to my swatches, but the back and fronts grew even more than I’d anticipated. So, what you’re seeing above? That’s actually take two on all three pieces, after ripping back to an inch below the original armholes and reknitting.

Because I’m a little worried about running out of yarn, the plan is to knit the buttonbands next and the sleeves last. Luckily I already planned on a short-sleeved sweater!

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Lotus Blossom shawl, take two

Posted on 10 March 2011 by Kris

Remember my old Lotus Blossom shawl?

Nah, I didn’t think so. I have a love/hate relationship with the striping, so I never wear it outside the house. (I do, at least, wear it indoors, which is why I haven’t frogged it yet!)

But I decided to make a prettier version so I’d have something else to wear in public:

Pattern: Lotus Blossom Shawl by Dorothy Siemens
Yarn: Redfish Dyeworks 20/2 silk in color RBL3b
Needles: US2 / 2.75mm Knitpicks nickel-plated circulars

I made a few changes to this one, partly due to necessity and partly because I just can’t leave well enough alone.

First off, the necessary ones: I did two extra stem chart repeats and one extra blossom repeat. My chosen yarn is significantly finer than the DK called for in the pattern, so I needed the extra repeats to get an appropriately sized shawl. (I’d have done even more if I wanted a larger shawl, but I’m on the short side, so…)

Another modification was all the decreases: I started with centered double decreases instead of left-leaning ones, just for kicks. But then in order to keep the flow of those lines, I had to do redo the blossom chart accordingly.

Finally, I honestly tried to do the bobble bindoff this time, but after half a dozen failed attempts, I gave up and just did a k2tog bindoff all the way across.

As for the yarn, this is not the first time I’ve worked with it, and I found it just as lovely this time around. It blocks and drapes beautifully. And it’s a gorgeous color to boot. (And this is coming from someone who doesn’t even really like pink!)

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To the frog pond!

Posted on 08 March 2011 by Kris

Several family members tend to be packrats, and I’ve been known to display similar tendencies. But you know what? I’m kind of tired of it. I’m over having stuff I don’t use or don’t like. So, I frogged a few things earlier this year. “Like what?” you may ask. Well:

My mistake rib hat, for one. I’ve never actually worn it because it’s way too big on me.

The one Fairways sock, for another. This sock was an interesting exercise, but I have no intention of ever repeating it, and what good does a single human-sized sock do me when I have two feet?

Finally, my Shetland Shorty. Which you won’t remember because I never made an FO post about it. Also, I’ve barely worn it, because as you probably can tell, it’s now smaller than I’d like. (Yes, I took this photo right before I frogged the thing, because it turns out I hadn’t taken one before. Oops.)

Yay, fresh slate!

And since I’ve already used some of the resulting yarn and have plans for the rest – yay, future projects!

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Fingerless Farinelli

Posted on 05 March 2011 by Kris

Okay, let’s start looking at my 2010. I somehow managed to go half the year without finishing anything. Until I finally did a quick project, that is.

Pattern: Farinelli by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Brooks Farm Acero, unspecified color
Needles: US3 / 3.25mm Crystal Palace DPNs

I used Ysolda’s shorter, fingerless Farinelli notes as a starting point, but made some additional modifications due to the heavier yarn and gauge. Mostly I recharted the lace, to shorten it by two rows and narrow it by two stitches. Basically, I cut out the very center bits from each main lace repeat.

I also reworked the decreases to better suit my arms.

I probably should have cut a little more out from the lace, or eliminated another plain repeat. If I had blocked these gloves more aggressively, then the lace would stand out more, but the gloves wouldn’t actually fit. I opted for blocking to fit, but the lace suffers a tiny bit.

Oh well, they’re still lovely and more than just wearable, and I really enjoyed the pattern, so I call this project a win!

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Finishing up with 2009

Posted on 03 March 2011 by Kris

I’m going to be posting all my FOs within the next few weeks. There are actually two from 2009 that I never posted, so let’s start there, shall we?

Pattern: Catherine by Kate Blackburn
Yarn: Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Heather in Opal
Needles: US1 / 2.25mm Crystal Palace DPNs

I don’t think this was the best pattern for the yarn, sadly. As subtle as it looks in the photo, it’s even harder to discern the pattern in person. I can’t even get a good closeup photo because of how poorly the stitch pattern shows up.

Also, the socks are a little on the large side for me. Still wearable, but I really should have modified it so that there are fewer stitches around.

Oh well. The pattern itself is pretty nice, though.

I had a fair amount of yarn left afterward, and my hands are frequently cold, so for me, there’s no such thing as too many fingerless gloves.

Pattern: Fetching by Cheryl Niamath
Yarn: Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Heather in Opal
Needles: US1 / 2.25mm Crystal Palace DPNs

I did have to modify the pattern a bit to account for the finer yarn. I knit the cuff as written, since I have tiny wrists, but I increased by 9 stitches once I started the hand. So after the cables, I ended up with 5×1 ribbing instead of 4×1. Then I decreased to 4×1 rib again just before the cables at the top.

Also, instead of doing the thumb as written, I added gussets – I increased every other round on the palm side.

Finally, I skipped the picot bindoff because I’m just not a fan of it.

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