smidgen of garter

I finished this little cardi a little while ago in *ahem* November. I was going to post about it when I was finished, but before I knew it the holidays happened and bam! Its 2009!

I started this little cardigan for Kailey October 24, 2008. After searching around ravelry for a garter yoke cardigan to fit a toddler, I gave up and started my own. Truely I wish that I found the Yoke-u-lator pattern generator sooner, because the sweater I made kinda sucks a little. I lost my notes (really, this seems to be my thing.) so I can’t tell you more than what I jotted down on my ravelry page.Which is I casted on 67 sts using a US 8 (5mm), and increased every couple of rows until I reached just under Kailey’s armpits. I put some stitches on hold for the arms, and CO 5 stitches for the underarms on both sides. I worked the buttonhole about every 2″, the buttons where purchased at Jo-ann’s. Not so helpful huh?

But its sure a sweet little sweater. Even if it came out to wide. Instead of ripping it all out and throwing a pissy like I probably should have I made the width of the body an inch smaller by installing fake seams. Boy, that sounds so fancy pants. Really all I did was used a crochet hook and some spare yarn folded about 1/2″ of the knitted fabric starting so the fold was right under the armpit down to the bottom hem and crochet it down.  I made one on the other sides so it looked planned.

raveled
I used up most of the hank of twisted by Blue Moon Fiber Arts purchased during Rhinebeck ’07, which was the plan. It needed to be used for a little sweater before the little person grew to big. And boy do these kids seem to grow fast.

Kailey turned 2 yesterday! Two! Already! Littlest one is proving the terrible two’s really do exist. Darn good thing she’s cute, because she would rather walk around with no pants on. I believe its because she knows that its killing me. And she knows how much I love a good fight over putting her boots on. Tonight while I was cooking dinner she was playing with her baby doll and was telling her to eat, so cute!

a touch of sunshine

Its been good and cloudy here in Western PA for the past couple of weeks, November can be such a sucky month when it comes to weather. Sometimes we’ve had a bit of rain, others some snow. Overall though the sun hasn’t shown itself very much, and gosh I miss it! Every once in awhile the sun will peak out from behind the cloud and I’m fighting the cats for the sliver of sunshine! Not only am I thankful that our next week forecast is calling for more sunshine (and a bit more warmth) but I finished these fantastically orange socks a few days ago and I’m loving them because they are like a burst of bright orange sunshine!

pattern: Marigold Socks by pamela wynne
size: 54sts
yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Mediumweight colorway: sunstone (birthday gift from Mike 2 years ago)
needles: US1.5 (2.5mm)
started: June 9, 2008, they sat for awhile while my newly reclaimed sock mojo waned
finished: November 17, 2008
raveled: here

mods: because I just can’t make things easy for myself I knit these top down and reversed the chart. Because, well, the pattern was written for toe up socks and I was knitting them the opposite the way! I thought that by reversing the chart they would match the designers socks. Its way too hard to describe on such little sleep right now. I’m sorry, but basically the decreases are upside down then if I where to knit them toe up. (I think. sooo sleepy!) I used a short row heel, and changed the pattern on the foot.

Its darn cold where I live, and socks that have lacy bits on the foot are chilly when I wear them with my favorite shoes. I knit 7 rows then knit a purl row on the foot. I’m not exactly sure how I like it or not.
However. I do like how these socks turned out! Everyone should have a pair of orange socks, really everyone. They are so cheery, like a touch of warm, bright sunshine!

Stitches was lovely, it’s always nice to catch up with old blogging friends. I didn’t get much time at the market, but was still able to pick up a few lovely’s before I made my mad dash to the car. See most of it on flickr. Overall it was a great trip and it was nice to spend some time with Mike sans kids.

dreaming, of knitting

It took 8 hours to get to my parents house yesterday. 2 bathroom stops, 7 construction zones, 1 lunch break, 2 snacks, 5 movies, 1 impromptu Old McDonald song, totaling 8 hours of me dreaming of knitting. Usually, I try to stop for gas in Port Jervis because its cheap, and they pump it for you (one good thing about New Jersey). I was so happy to see the lines for the pump, even though it added more time to our trip. Because this gave me time to knit, something I had been dreaming about for 5 1/2 hours. I started knitting away on my secret project,

and while I was getting fuel my window was down and the guy next to me was watching me knit. He asked me “do you do that when your driving?” I told him “No, but it would be very tempting if there wasn’t the risk of impaling myself with all these needles!”
I didn’t get to knit Wednesday night at all. I had lots of ends to weave in, 6 little tiny crochet loops to create and a teeny little baby sweater to block. Crochet is just too fiddly for me, and those loops totally kicked my butt. It wasn’t so much the chaining, it was getting the stupid loops to stay put.

stats-
pattern: Super-natural stripes by fpea
size: 0-6m
for: Adrian’s baby boy… can’t remember his name… maybe Aden?
needles: US 7 (4.5mm) and a size G crochet hook
yarn: a little less than 1 ball of MC Lion Brand cotton ease in Lime
CC1 about 20 yards of cotton ease in Maize
CC2 about 20 yards of cotton ease in Almond
notions: 4 sweet little wooden buttons that I picked up from the Yarn Lounge in Richmond, VA. While I was visiting Mike at work earlier this week. (I’ve been in the car waaay to much this summer.) The buttons measure 1/2″ (1.5cm) and I placed them about 1.5″ apart from each other.

mods: I knit this pretty much like the pattern stated. However, I did knit the sleeves before I picked up the button band. I have no idea how to explain this but where the pattern says to knit one row of the CC2 before you knit the button band in the MC. I knit the first and last sts in the MC (green) and the rest in CC2 (almond.) Basically I wanted the white to frame it, I didn’t like the look of the white all they way down on the button band, yes it meant 4 more ends to weave in. Also I crochet 6 chains instead of 8. (My buttons where much smaller than the called for button.)
I want to knit this sweater for Kailey now, the stripes are just too darn cute!

On another knitterly note Sunday my mom and I (sans kiddo’s) will be joining my sister at French Park in North Egremont MA for ‘Egremont on Parade’. Since its late, and my brain hurts drop by my sis’s blog for way more information than I’m giving you. If your going to be in the area, drop by. I’m sure its going to be a wonderful afternoon. Personally, I’m looking forward to 4 hours of peaceful knitting and not having to worry about who is eating sand now…

What’s in a name?

Really, what is in a name? If you take a lookie round your stash take a look at all the colorway names. There are lots of names that jump at me from my stash: Aquamelon, Glenwood, mimosa, raspberry bramble just to name a few. Not all yarn’s that I’ve purchased have been purely because of the colorways name, there are lots in my stash that are just romanticized numbers. But yes, there are a few that I have bought just because of the names. Flamingo, hollyday, cheesecake come to mind. Occasionally a colorways name just hits how you feel, or speaks to a part of you. Follow me here,

I was still visiting my parents when the february lady sweater started to invade my ravelry friends activity page. I was just about finished with Missy Miss Marigold, as soon as I got the ruffles right it would be done. Once I saw The february lady sweater was going to be my next sweater, I knew I was going to use dream in color classy. I wanted to use the happy forest colorway, but couldn’t get my hands on any fast enough.

my mum was nice enough to let me shop her stash, as long as I replaced what I took. She had 4 skeins of DIC classy in In Vino Veritas, and the colorway name spoke to me. I love the depth of the deep wine colors, the purple that is thrown in there too. I wasn’t quite sure how well the color worked with my skin tone. In the end I am very pleased. I found the name interesting, and had to find out what it really meant, because all I knew it meant in wine something. After a few google searches I found out that it means “In wine there is the truth.” Veritas was the goddess of truth. There was so much in this colorways name. There is a little bit more here.

This sweater certainly makes me smile. Here are my project stats:

pattern: february lady sweater by Pamela Whynne
size: XXS (35″)
yarn: 750 yards or 306g of dream in color classy, in the In Vino Veritas colorway. When I was finished with the body I had a bit left over from the second hank, but it wasn’t enough for a full sleeve. I hate weaving in ends so I started another ball. Now that I’ve finished the sweater I have 36g left over from the 3 hanks I used. (16g from the 2nd skein that I used on the body, and 20g left over from the 3rd hank which I used for both of the sleeves. Confused? yeah, I’m a little too. )
needles: US 8 (5.0mm) knitpicks options. Conveniently my mom had a US8 I could borrow on a 60′ cable, so I could try this sweater on as I went.
notions: 3 buttons purchased at Jon-Ann’s. They are made by Organic Elements and are #2701
notes or mods: I used the buttonhole tutorial that was recommended in the pattern. My buttonholes are about 2” apart from each other (7 garter ridges). Also I decreased the 7 sts that are picked up under the armpit over the first 4 rows. What can I say, I gots skinny arms!
sweaters measurements before and after blocking:
sleeve length: before 13″, after 13″
body length: before 17″, after 19″
underarm to BO edge: before 12″, after 13.5″
I blocked the sweater by soaking it in a basin with cool water and a bit of soak for about 20 minutes. I then put it in a sweater bag and put it through the spin cycle on my front loader. To dry it I put it on the drying rack in the dyer on medium heat for 40 minutes. It was still a little damp, so I took the rack out of the dryer and placed it over my hampers so air would still circulate. The lace pattern opened up slightly, the lace pattern growing 1.5″ and the garter yoke gaining .5″ from blocking. (yay! Just what I wanted!)
and oh yes, raveled here

I feel kinda sad that its done. I enjoyed the rhythm of the gull lace, the tactile feel of the yarn, even the smell of the yarn. So, I’ve ordered more DIC classy from the loopy ewe to knit Corra a FLS too. Its scary because my sweater… fits her too. Only the sleeves are longer on her.

I need to grow taller. And I see 2 more of these sweaters in my future!

Today is also my big sis’s birthday, go shoot over to her blog and wish her well! Happy Birthday sis! I hope you have a wonderful day, and thanks for putting up with me as a sister. I know I was a lot to put up with! I still owe you a pack of double stuff oreo’s! And is anyone up for cheeseballs? ((hugs))

Missy Miss Marigold

Yesterday I finished my february lady sweater, but I wanted to share this little tank first. After the crap that went on in my life (that I just want to bury and stomp all over) I wanted something to help me heal. I don’t do negativity or sadness well. Its not apart of me, I don’t have the energy for drama or cattiness. I don’t have the ability hold a grudge (er, that should probably read I don’t have the memory to hold a grudge). I fully believe in forgiveness. I needed something for angry knitting for sad knitting, something to make me feel happy. Something I could just knit.
After going through my ravelry queue I found this lovely little tank. It was perfect, had everything I needed. It’s a simple little knit, so I could pour lots of angry knitting into it and not screw it up.

I had the yarn already stashed, and the needles too. I did a gauge swatch and casted on June 1. During a bit of knitting time I was catching up on my recorded shows and I was watching an episode of how I met your mother. Barnie said something that was exactly what I needed “When I feel sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.” After that (and a small bout of angry knitting) I stopped feeling sad, and sorry for myself. Because really, where and what was that getting me? I then started being awesome instead.

Its so much easier being awesome even though my flutters aren’t as ruffly as I wish. (I still think they look pretty awesome though!)

Project stats:

pattern: Ms. Marigold from Zephyr style size small
yarn: Debbie Bliss cathay 5 balls color 12015 from the stash
needles US 5 (3.75mm) and US 3 (3.25mm). Size g crochet hook to for the armholes and sleeve ruffles.
notes: I ripped out the neck ribbing once, because it looked odd on one side. I’m pretty proud of myself for doing the crochet ruffles, even though I had to do them 3 times to get it to look right!
raveled here
more pictures in my flickr account.

Not only did this little top help me heal, but all the lovely comments and emails from you guys helped me heal. We have a wonderful knitting community here, and I’m so very glad to be apart of it. I know I still owe lots of you emails and I’m sorry I haven’t gotten around to it. ((hugs)) thanks again for understanding and being there too.

It was a hat thing…

For some unknown reason (really, do I ever have a reason?) in the begining of March I decided I need a hat, so I cast on for the Cabled Rangoli hat using 1.5 hanks of Noro Cash Iroha in color 24 (from the stash)

(Doesn’t Corra look sweet in my hat?) I used US 6 (4.00mm) needles. I knit 15 rows of ribbing and omitted the bobbles.

I need to put some elastic in the ribbing since its a bit loose. But I love this hat! Finished it in 3 days. Once I was finished with that I thought, I need another hat don’t I? And casted on for the Banana Republic Knockoff hat.

Its almost a knockoff… I casted on (Updated 4/12: I found my notes, and its a good thing I did! Parts of this paragraph have changed.) 110sts 78sts. BO 12 sts for the button flap, leaving 66sts. I had 11sts between 6 markers and I’m pretty sure I knit a few more rows before starting the decreases since I was using a worsted weight instead of bulky. Speaking of the decreases I decreased every other row until 6 sts remained in between the markers then decreased every row until 6 sts remained. The yarn is handspun and was a Christmas gift from my friend down the street Amanda Jayne. She has a etsy shop too, maybe if we nag ask enough she’ll update her blog ; ). This yarn has to be the squishest yarn I’ve ever knit with and I love how it striped up.

but that wasn’t the end of the hat thing, I needed one more hat so the other’s wouldn’t be lonely. And casted on for the Better bucket hat (PDF) I used Manos del Uruguay mulled wine ( 118 ) colorway (from the stash)

I used US7 and started the decreases a few rows early. Its a little loose, but I’m thinking of lining it with some fleece so its extremely snuggly.

The top o’ the bucket, because its nice to know what the top looks like. Now that the hat thing is over, I seem to be bitten by the sewing bug… more on that later. Bryce caught a ball with his face (Coach’s words not my own) tonight during ball practice. Poor kid has a fat lip and his wiggly tooth is a bit more wiggly. I told Bryce that he might want to use his mitt next time, that’s why I got him one. I don’t think he got the joke. If you all could, please keep Mike’s 6 year old niece in your thoughts and prayers she fell at school and broke her elbow. She needed surgery to pin her elbow together. She has a full arm cast and has to keep it elevated all the time. Poor thing is bored out of her mind but will hopefully recover most of the range of motion in her arm. Must rush, little guy needs more ice.