Bolero

AHHHHHH!

Quilting has taken over my life, but since my little cutie has two summery dresses, short sleeved and sleeveless, to make them more useful in a climate that rarely gets to the high 70's, (or 22+ C), I found this CUTE bolero to make.  

Pattern:

Design B - Tie-front Bolero with or without Lace Pattern

by Sirdar Spinning Ltd.

from Sirdar 318, Lazy Days & Holidays

I found this pattern at the Sirdar website.  I extended the ties by attaching an I-cord (not shown in the photos).

Yarn:

Ultra Pima by Cascade Yarns

DK / 8 ply, 100% Cotton, 220 yards / 100 grams

I'm as happy as she is!  AND she learned to tie a bow for the occasion. 

New top - Finch's Wings

A fun pattern, and a fun story behind it. 

First yarn, then pattern, then four months later a change in yarn as my mind imagines something else.

Knitters beware!  The tactile senses of yarn shopping, made me do it...along with 8 other knitters standing nearby, shopping, making encouraging shopping noises, peer pressure for sure...  It was a summer day in Warsaw NY, summer knit camp outing... do you see where I'm going?  The yarn was yummy, and since I had the yearn for yarn, I also had the yearn for a pattern (booklet) that featured that yarn... hence, Finch's Wings was born.  Yet when I opened the booklet, I had other stashed yarn in mind, that I had purchased years before... and now, I'm not totally happy with my choice.  

The pattern looks lovely after blocking, however, to really enjoy it, I will have to crochet a little something around the neckline.  It's a bit too wide, and tends to slip off my shoulders.  And I used up all of the yarn so it will be trimmed with a contrasting complimenting color.

A note about the yarn:

Lace

by Regia

Lace / 2 ply

71% Wool, 29% Nylon

656 yards / 100 grams

Link to my Ravelry page HERE.

My expectations of what the colorway would look like surprised me, and not in a good way, but it is what it is, and I think I will learn to like it.  Just not what I expected.

The Pattern:

Finch's Wings

by Caroline Fryar

from Juniper Moon Farm Findley Dappled Booklet JMF04

Meanwhile, the yummy yarn awaits...plenty of nice patterns in the booklet...

On my needles

Yummy, little stitches... of a pattern I'm making up as I go.  

First, I buy the yarn.  Can't resist:  When at WEBS, most things are yummy.  And the color, "Byzantine", is a coppery red.  It's Madeline Tosh Merino Light, and I bought it having no plans. Then one day, last November, I couldn't keep my hands off of it, so I started a shawl with a beautiful lace pattern.  Other projects got started and finished and in January I picked up a second skein and started this project.  I "was" using a pattern, for the sleeves, but the bodice was too lacy, too open for my liking, and it took a friend asking about a stitch dictionary (which I had forgotten I had) that made me open my Stitch "Bible" and select this motif.  It will need a camisole underneath, and will be perfect for chilly weather.   HURRY!

Two sleeves done, and 1/3 of the back.  One of three projects I have on needles.

Europa Crescent

Indeed, it doesn't look like much until...

The blocking!  No fibers were touched by an iron.  Just wet blocked with pins at the points.  The inner edge held its own without the help of pinning.  A perfect crescent.

I love the color, the crescent shape (it hugs my shoulders), and it's soft.

The nupps are a disappointment, but I've forgotten the angst they created a few weeks ago... and I forgive them.  They are what they are.  

The pattern: Europa  by Kieran Foley  from knit/lab

The yarn: Angel lace by QuilteHuset Lace / 2 ply 70% Alpaca, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere, 1312 yards / 100 grams  (Used 49 grams, like spiderweb silk!)

A Lesson Learned?

Five years ago I knitted an excruciatingly complex shawl.  "Europa" Crescent...tiny needles, lace weight yarn, nupps, double decreases, you name it... it's all there!  And I loved that shawl... even though I wore it mostly bunched up around my neck under a jacket where the lace features couldn't be appreciated.  And I lost that shawl.  I looked for it at the end of last year just as I wanted to pack it with me to Norway,  and I was SURE it was going to shake out of a sleeve or hanger.  But it hasn't, and I began moping...
No more than two minutes after completing my Mosaic Cardigan I went to my stash, and pulled out some lace weight I've had for YEARS, and I cast on---all 643 stitches for Europa Crescent II.

What have I learned from my past teeth-gnashing?  The cast on has to be loose to get "points".  So I dutifully used two needles, and so far...

looks like it worked.  And don't forget the "lifeline"!

After the pointy section of Chart A, I remembered why there was teeth-gnashing five years ago.  (Remember, Pattie?  I had Europa I on the Pacific Ocean.)  Nemesis chart B:  Nupps.  Since then, I attended a class with Nancy Bush, and she patiently showed us the beauty of nupps, and I swear I paid attention and I don't remember saying to myself that I would never do that again... however, trying to stick my needle through 4 stitches and 3 yarn overs to make one purl stitch umpteen times in the first row, I was having flashbacks of throwing a certain project overboard somewhere near the International Dateline.  

By the time I was halfway through the second row of nupps, I recalled that I had resorted to a tiny crochet hook which would "more successfully" do the trick.  I was still picking up stray loops, and picking up new (to me) vocabulary.  But I persevered until the LAST row of nupps.  

(Aside:  Looking at the above photo, I don't have the capability of putting in a giant ARROW to point to the many nupps...and the thought crossed my mind--WHY was I putting myself through this pain when I really didn't see them?  The truth...I remembered thinking the same thing 5 years ago, and when blocked, I could see them.  I don't know if anyone else could but...)  

So back to the last row of nupps.  Another thought... I wonder if "lace" tip Addis are made just for this type of knitting...?  And I went to my closet, pulled out the lace tip Addis, and... DANG!  It worked.  Now maybe, if I had started with lace tips, I wouldn't have thought of this as such an epiphany, but they sure made my LAST ROW of nupps less painful.  Will I remember?  Will I ever venture into nupp territory again?  I hope I'm quicker to use "the right tool".  Needles: 2.5 mm

Nupp:  Into one stitch k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1.
Next row: Purl all 7 together to make one stitch.

A Rough Weekend

It's not Monday, or Tuesday,... but that should tell you that it was a rough weekend.  And to prove it, here's how I handled it:
I cast on:

That was Saturday, and I (partially) blame Ravelry.  I was fooling around, looking at what patterns I have in my library, and suddenly I was clicking and running for needles and yarn, and... and...  now I have a shawl started.  It was stunning in the pictures, I have LOTS of lace weight yarn in my stash, and isn't this interesting?  It starts at one end rather than at the the top or bottom.  It's called Charybdis Shawl.  I'm in love...

Charybdis or Kharybdis Greek: Χάρυβδις) was a sea monster, later rationalised as a whirlpool and considered a shipping hazard in the Strait of Messina.

Then on Sunday,

I guess I was doing the same and feeling like 3 socks on needles wasn't enough, so I cast on, because I could!  And partially because it's from Knit. Sock. Love. and I'm a Cookie A fan.
I call it Summer Hysteria Variety!

Summer Knitting!

It's not really summer, but I'm happy to say, "I'm ahead of the game!"
Not only do I have the next 2 months totally planned, with a trip west, a trip east, and a wedding in between (north), I finished a tank top... Yes!  Something that can actually be used in a few months.  Not for me, but for my daughter, so it's going in a suitcase at the end of May.
I love Elsebeth Lavold patterns.  Yes, they are not very user friendly, but once you've done a few, you catch on.  First off, she doesn't explain details in her patterns, so you HAVE to read her general instructions tucked away in the back of her booklets.  (I have several of the Viking Series.)  The one thing that makes it work is using the correct yarn--her yarn products.  They are pricey and aren't always available, but ... worth it!

It's nicer on bare skin, but the white helps to show off the lace leaf pattern.  The front and back are the same with "interrupted" ribbing.

I was unsure about the length for the straps so I was generous.  The needles show where I had to rip back which brings me to one of those head-scratching directions.  At the top shoulder bind off, there are instructions to make short rows.  I nodded and accepted the need to possibly slope the shoulders from arm to neck, but when I knitted as told, it looked and felt like I was knitting an upside-down U.  Oh well, I say as I blindly follow directions.
It wasn't until I ripped back that I found the reason:

The lace was creating a concave shape (left) and needed filling in to be straight (right).  Brilliant, I tell you!! I didn't discover it until this point.  In fact, as I contemplated "sewing" the tops, I had thought that I'd do a 3-needle bind off without the short rows. When I started ripping out and saw what it looked like, the short rows made sense.
One general modification of the pattern:  I knitted in the round up to the armholes.  And added a faux seam (1 purl stitch) on each side.  
Me LIKE!

Hey!  This may be my first "sweater set!  It's the same yarn as Pas de Valse.

Pattern: Audrey by Elsebeth Lavold from Book Four: The Sophisticated Lady Collection  Yarn: Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold, DK / 8 ply 45% Wool, 35% Silk, 20% Nylon, 192 yards / 50 grams

Giving up?

I cast on last August. Seven months ago I fell in love again. With the Dahlia cardigan. I realize now that I fell in love with the Dahlia pattern back. Not so much the front. The back is knitted first and is so interesting and rewarding... Then comes the stockinette, forever. The top the bottom the sides the collar and the sleeves. Just now I'm pleasantly surprised to find that there's a tiny bit of lace pattern on each sleeve. Yay!

Only after all these months I get to try it on. No way of knowing what's what until the body is completed and the arm holes are opened up. That was the shocker: The front. It looks like ... Crap!

 I convinced myself that blocking will be the answer and solve all the ugliness. So I soldiered on, knitting a sleeve, and not liking the join at the top of the sleeve to the shoulder. How can that fit?
I tried it on again, and then I went to Ravelry to see what others thought and have done. My conclusion is to finish the .... thing and block it and pretend it's fine. If I can't wear it, it will rest in my stash.

 Gosh, I LOVE that yarn. Yummy Drops alpaca. At least that's not gone! Just my time.
By the way, someone used the dahlia back in another long coat-like pattern that looks great! I guess I could rescue the back and start another pattern...

The drappy front.  

And I don't mean to bad-mouth this pattern. I bet it looks great on long lean bodies. Not mine. The pattern even includes three variations of how to wrap the front into different styles. Until it's blocked, I won't know.

Old, New and Finished!

I was very surprised after yesterday's post to discover I had only 10 rows to do, and though that doesn't really seem like it was close to finished, I knitted a few more rows.  THEN I was seeing the end... The last 8 rows are border lace, with 2 rows of beads (which slows down the knitting), and with each completed row I felt like I shouldn't stop.  And I didn't, until...

There I was, blocking!!  Yippee!  And points, just like I promised myself.  Remember I started this in September, and finished in less than 2 month.  But, my cast-on wouldn't let me pull those points out.  After languishing almost 2 months, unblocked, I knitted gifts and this and that.  Finally, December 30, I started to knit a new one from the old one, and made sure I had a super stretchy cast-on, only to rip that one out and cast-on a bit firmer, but still stretchy.  I've been holding my breath since the beginning of the year, waiting for this day!
It's Spring, and I love it.  Thank you, Susanna IC!

 Polaris by Susanna IC from ArtQualia Designs

Yarn:  Hand Paint Lace by Misti Alpaca, Lace / 2 ply
100% Alpaca, 875 yards / 100 grams

I used 60 grams, and 11 grams of beads. 

Two problems solved:

1. The bind off edge instructions: "*p2tog, return st to left needle; rep from * to end of row; a strong non-stretchy bind off is essential in order for the crescent shape to form during blocking."  It was SO rigid, and restricting that I was sure I'd have a circle when I blocked, so I frogged it, and bound off with a simple k2, pass first stitch over.
2. Again, a repeat of Oslo Walk Shawl, I found a hole.  It was made by a yarn over, which increased the whole thing by one stitch, which I fixed when I got to the lace top border.  This yarn over was close to the top tip of a big diamond... about five rows into the short row section.  This time, I didn't have to rip it all out, but was able to crochet it down to the diamond and fasten it with a little extra yarn.  Hardly noticeable, until you LOOK!  LOL  This sort of thing makes it "handmade". Right?

Other posts: 

Better, this time! Tuesday, Jan 10 2012

Resolutions... As if! Monday, Jan 02 2012

Tale of Two Shawls: Part 2 Saturday, Nov 05 2011
Tale of Two Shawls: Part 1 Friday, Nov 04 2011

Good needles, Bad needles Sunday, Oct 02 2011

?? Wednesday, Sep 14 2011

Old and New

Being away the month of February, has caused that month to become the watershed for old and new projects.
This one, is old and new:  My KAL Polaris Shawl.  I presume no one is 'knitting along' so it's all mine now!
History:  Started as KAL, and kept up, finished, but just before blocking I noticed that the cast on edge was not loose enough to accommodate the lovely points that were intended.  I was sure of it because I had recently finished another Susanna IC shawl with exact same result.  NO points.
I decided to keep the first shawl/scarf and I love it - color, yarn, beads, ... all of it.  And I wear it proudly around my neck... with no points.
Polaris... You have to tow the line... Points you will have!
Here's what's left of version 1:

It was once a complete shawl, like this:

And now I have this:

Those points are going to POP! Or else, I'll be having a very bad day...
I have a few more of the short rows, though they are the longest of the short rows, and then the top border.  No deadline... and five other projects on needles, all calling out to me!

Better, this time!

Could I really do it?  Frog a whole lace shawl?  You betcha!
At the top is the first attempt, finished November 1, 2011.  Why, WHY!!  Why couldn't I get points to appear at the bottom edge?  The second attempt which I started December 30, has a purposely stretchy cast-on.  What a difference!
The pins:  In both pieces, the pins in the bottom edge are at every second bead.  Can you see that the top one is pinned at four beads, and the bottom is pinned at "almost" three beads.  That one stretchy cast on!

 In fact, the pattern looks...

 bigger, too!

 But I assure you, I used the same needles... It's the cast on.  The greenish blue needle is the one I used on both projects.  I know because it turned greenish blue from the first knitting.  Here are more needles from the same set to show how they started out.

It was with a sign of relief that I pinned these out and discovered I don't have to cast on AGAIN!    Time to start thinking about a life-line...

Tale of Two Shawls: Part 2

OWS completed!  SO happy with it.  No more holes and this is how I've been wearing it:

 Where did all of that work go? (See Part 1)
Meanwhile, stop me if you can... I finished the Polaris Shawl.  Looks great in this picture, but think how great it will look if I block it!

Then again, I sadly realize that there will be NO points, no double points as in the beautiful pattern picture... I obviously don't know how to cast on loosely.  I've accepted it in the OWS but I'm thinking how much MORE I would love this shawl if I frogged the whole thing and REALLY concentrated on a loose cast on.  OR I could try to cast on loosely and even complete the bottom beaded part without frogging.  I probably have enough to make a second shawl...  Let's not be rash.  Knit night is Thursday... advice before then?

Tale of Two Shawls: Part 1

KAL Mystery Shawl is now revealed as Polaris.

OWS (Oslo Walk Shawl) re-visited.
As I spent my first evening on the couch after 3 weeks of toddler activity, I began work on the Polaris above, examining each stitch, looking for those pesky dropped stitches, or worse yet, a stray yarn over.  Four weeks had passed since I blocked my OWS and discovered a hole MID-CENTER.  I don't know how it could have escaped me until after binding off and blocking!  OK.  Maybe I was a tad excited to finish...  Here's the last blog about it, carefully avoiding mention of a hole:  Blocking link
I've admitted it to all my groups:  Knit night group, exclaiming it won't be noticed when it's around my neck, and I "could" take another piece of yarn and tie it closed, or something.  I even proudly showed it off to my knitting classes to demonstrate that 'stuff happens' and it's not the end of the world.  So there I was: At the end of the world.  And that night I chose to DO something about it.
First I spent a half hour with yarn and needle, trying to make it look, well, ... er,... perfect, and surprise!  It didn't.  Then I took a crochet hook and tried to create an extra stitch from the hole all the way down to... it wasn't pretty.  After an hour of head scratching, I resolved it would have to go.  I picked up a row of stitches below it and bravely pulled out the bind off edge.

I knew what I was getting into:  Short rows are worked into that whole "yarn over" section, and I was ready for much more tink'ing and almost certain frogging the whole project, but I persevered!

One side was indeed not on the same row, so hours later I was satisfied I had found a place to begin.  I re-read the instructions and started to knit, and this was the result.

I commented to a friend how horrible my stitches looked compared to the evenness of the blocked part, and she, insightfully, asked if I had used the same unraveled, blocked yarn to make those stitches, and, of course, she's right. The yarn was trying to hold its shape from the previous knitting. But there's NO HOLE in the center panel.  (Cheering!)

It blocked out nicely, and, AHhhhh, all is well with the world.

 No, Susanna, I didn't frog the 'whole' thing to capture the beautiful points at the bottom (cast on) edge.  And the beads (green) show up very noticeably in real life.

Meanwhile, I found a pesky dropped stitch in my Polaris...  better keep looking for more!

Workshop in lace

A few weeks ago I attended an all day workshop on Estonian Lace with Nancy Bush.
What lovely examples she had with her, even though I have no intention of re-creating anything like them.  She DID inspire me to go to Estonia... to seek out the yarn shops, and look at samples myself.
Lace isn't for everyone, and I've done enough of it to pick and choose what I wanted to attempt that day... Friend, Kay, had a wonderful time.  After 5 rows she threw up her hands in disgust and cheerfully frogged the whole mess when she discovered the wrong number of stitches.
Here she is half hour later, with her same 5 rows, and STILL the wrong stitches...

No, really, we laughed a lot!! Especially after lunch when we decided to pack it in!  And Nancy insisted righting the wrong...

I have this beginning of a sampler to show:

Nupps and stars!  Peacocks and lillies!  Above there are three patterns separated by a single row of garter stitch.

Busy WIP's

Yes, it's been over a week, and I've been scrambling for time.  Time for everything. Somehow I'm teaching again, and it greatly interferes with my knitting,... and blogging, time.
When I've had a few moments, I end up reading everyone else's blog and never getting to writing anything of my own.
Here's what I have to report:
On needles:
Romper, waiting for a quiet moment to start the finishing!  Needs the button bands, buttons and short sleeves.

Very cute with the off-set front opening.  The second leg is finished - they are the same length.
Mystery KAL:  A shawl by Susanna IC which is more fun than I imagined - getting 10+ rows at a time.  It's a mystery, so I'm not supposed to share.  If you want to see the first 22 rows, you'll have to look on Ravelry.
Meanwhile, I have my own little challenge going on.  I decided if I was to KAL a shawl that I should take time to knit my own shawl that has been started (one row) since last March. It's been frogged several times, has beads and all the lace and is also designed by Susanna IC.  So I have TWO shawls simultaneously creeping along...  Here's the Oslo Walk Shawl:

Why, I ask myself, should I be knitting two more shawls.  For the past week by Europa shawl has been my constant companion.  It stays in my bag for cool moments, and accompanies me out of the house in the brisk morning air.  I really like it more than I ever imagined;  it isn't all lacey like the above but many rows of stockinette.  And in 3 weeks I'll be spiffing up my lace techniques with Nancy Bush when she visits Yarn Durango (Colorado). But I digress... there's more:
Like the socks I started side-by-side.  Or not really 'started' at the same time, but they are side-by-side...now.

Then I have another toddler pullover, a lightweight cardigan for myself, and a cow waiting in the wings.  Better put my feet up!

Lacey Socks

I finished!  How long does it take to knit socks?  Ever been asked that one?  Of course, you have.  And there's no good answer, is there.   If I JUST knit socks... they might not take so long, but MY sock-knitting is normally saved for those moments when I'm trying to stave off boredom.  Almost NEVER at home.... until today, when I have the fire lit to start a NEW pair of socks, and yet those others... all they need is the second toe.
They are so pretty, yet I'm ready to move on, so at home, I put in the final time, about an hour and here they are:

They are a bit oddly colored, but you'll have to take that up with Kaffe Fassett!  I like them.  Very quirky with little bow on the back of the leg.  As long as the weather stays below 80º F, I'll be wearing them!

Pattern:  #29 Lace Socks by Star Athena from Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 2009

Yarn:  Regia Design Line Hand-dye Effect by Kaffe Fassett by Schachenmayr nomotta

Light Fingering / 3 ply, 70% Wool, 25% Nylon, 5% Acrylic  100g/459 yards  

How long?  I cast on on June 29 (this year):  2-1/2 months.  Socks number 6 for the year.  Not many boring moments in the past 12 months, I guess.
Happy weekend!

Flying with needles

It's fly home time!  Having completed my one project and handing it off, I'm left with my daughter's scarf.  (Seascape)

I'm always eager to fix and complete projects.  I don't have to make any major decisions... just knit.

As soon as I started the first stitch, and I felt how slippery the needles are (good ol' Aero circulars) I started counting the hours until I could get them home to some needles that would grip better.

And the yarn is so... lace-like... I thought I liked lace but the fuzziness of this is peculiar interesting yarn makes it quite the challenge.

History:
My daughter purchased this yarn in Norway to accompany her on her year long-round the world voyage.  First stop, Spain: cast on.  Second stop:  Colorado:  a few rows,  Next:  Pacific Ocean, Australia, Cambodia, Indian Ocean, Dubai, with little or nothing knitted.  Finally after 6 months  it returned to Norway and was knitted on up to the point you see above.
Now it is in my care.  I'm sure she misses it... ??... and it kept me occupied on my flights from Puerto Rico to New Mexico.
Here's it's status:

Yarn: Golden Line Superior by Filatura Di Crosa Lace / 2 ply 70% Cashmere, 30% Silk 25g/330 yards