Where I at?

Honestly! Not only have I been busy this week, but I also ignore written instructions. My dyslexia kicked in. As I was knitting away on this tank top, I thought to myself... odd, the shaping at the side seams.  I've never seen one that expands the sides and decreases as you get to the arm opening.  I decided to read ahead in the pattern because I had a moment of panic where you find one of those "meanwhile, or at the same time" phrases. No such luck, but what I did find was that I  had reversed the decreases and increases. Not encrypted, plain English:  decrease, increase... yet I chose to read something else. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this top would be perfect for pregnancy, but not boobs. I'm up to about 30 cm and I have to rip it back to 8 cm. (See steam coming out of my ears.)
Head down... breathe.
This piece has a deadline in mid-May, so all other projects are on hold.

Audreyby Elsebeth Lavoldfrom Book Four: The Sophisticated Lady Collection

Blogger problems

A quick fix to blogger last Wednesday ended up with no blogging possibilities until tonight.  Hope the problem is fixed, and I sure appreciate whoever does all of that tech stuff!

In the meantime, I finished my Spring Green T.  It's a beauty but a little too clingy for my curves.

I know someone who will fit into it perfectly.  A picture in a few weeks will be coming your way.
HERE's what I learned while knitting this garment.

Pattern:  Green Gable by Rachel Bishop  from Knit Lulu;  Yarn: Bamboo by Be Sweet, DK / 8 ply 100% Bamboo,110 yards

Incidental Information:  This is the third time I've knit this pattern.  #1 in Lavold's Silky Wool, and #2 in Lavold's Cable Cotton.

Tubular Bind-off, My Friend

Have you been wondering about Yarn and finding that I've been writing about everything else?

I've been knitting.  My beautiful Spring green top-down top.  And I'll never learn...
I'll never learn to:
1.  Try on a garment if I can, MANY times. More times than I think is necessary.
2.  Always knit more than I think is right.
3.  Assume I'm bigger than I think.
4.  Not be so eager to bind off.

What I learned:
1. Tubular Bind off looks great!
2.  Tubular Bind off isn't difficult to rip out.
2.  Tubular Bind off is easier to rip out than another stretchy sewn bind off of which I don't have a name but consists of "through 2 stitches and back through one". (Pattie will know what I mean because she taught it to me.)
3.  I'll use tubular Bind off more often (whenever I need a stretchy edge, like the top of socks).

Will you learn from my mistakes?  I hope so--that's why I'm here!!

Orange marker is where I started my 3-1/2" of ribbing. All of the yarn in balls was knitted and used for bind off.

I'm OK.  It isn't summer yet... in fact, our summer-like weather has turned to winter!  Cruel... Adding another 4 inches to the length will give me a lesson in patience, and I get to do another tubular bind-off.  (And then the second sleeve.)

Next in line:

I have TWO summer tops started.  I'll probably do a little on each one of them, and suddenly be in love with one or the other...  here's the newest:

Lots of yarn-overs and it should knit up fast.  This is a stash buster... one of those 66 yarns I bought ages ago.  Yet impulsive:  Got the magazine last week!

Pattern:  Drop-Stitch Delight by Trish Warrick from Creative Knitting, May 2011;  Yarn:  RYC Cotton Jeans by Rowan, Worsted / 10 ply, 100% Cotton, 82 yards

I've slowed considerably on the top I started first:

 I like this one because I've knitted one before, and still wear it.  This bamboo will stretch in all the right places, with 3/4 length sleeves.

Pattern: Green Gable by Rachel Bishop from Knit Lulu; Yarn:  Bamboo by Be Sweet, DK / 8 ply, 100% Bamboo, 110 yards

Museum knitting this week:

 This is the same yarn as the ugly socks from yesterday, only in nicer colors!  This is going to be my fave!

Drum roll, please...

First off the needles: 2011
The LONG awaited project:  LBD (or Little Black Blue Dress)  Even though I often call it a dress, it's really a pullover/tunic top.  It's just so long at this point, that it seems like I've been knitting a dress.
It's as pretty as I imagined! (IMHO) And not perfect.

I selected this pattern in July 2009 just loving those roses. I was disappointed to find that they are duplicate stitched however I have happily gotten over it.  Duplicate stitch is where it's AT!  They certainly wouldn't be as nice in intarsia. (At least not MY intarsia.) At the time my newborn granddaughter seemed far from wearing the smallest size for this pattern, 1-1/2 years, so I contented myself with other baby projects.  Then I started the lower edge.  It was quite the challenge... in Danish, with a most complicated combination of written and chart instructions, where neither were stand-alone instructions.  It turned out lovely both times.  I frogged the whole thing once and substituted colors and remeasured and gauged blah, blah, blah.  And now it's too big for my 1-1/2 year old so it will wait patiently for her to grow into it.
In my other posts I voiced concerns.
Concern #1:  I picked up a dropped stitch.  Would it even out in blocking?  The answer:

No.  It still looks like this after 2 blockings. So, it's an "original"!
Concern #2:  I used kinky yarn (from the frogged mis-start) and first time yarn.  They looked way different when knitted up.  Would it even out in blocking?  The answer:

Almost.  It's looking much better, and especially with big ol' roses to draw the eye away from the perfect "new yarn" stitching.
Concern #3:  Not previously voiced in a post, but at a meeting of knitters I asked what was I going to do with a garment that twisted.  And I'm still asking all of you, why has it twisted so badly, and how do I get it to straighten out?  Is it because of the circular one-piece body? Will it come out in blocking?  The answer:
(See above pictures.)
Not really.  It's an illusion.  I blocked it with wonderful straight rods down the sides, looked perfect while drying flat, but as soon as I start handling it, it wants to twist.  (What I mean by twist:  the rectangular | | body becomes a parallelogram \ \ .)
It is what it is, and I already have plans to add more trim so a 3 and 4 year old will be able to wear it... until she says, "Gram, would you make me a different tunic?"  And of course, the answer will be:  What color?

Pattern (in Danish): Siksak og Roser by Løve Garn from Løve Garn, Baby og småbørns-strik 2

Yarn: Bomuld 8/4 Merceriseret by Løve Garn Fingering / 4 ply 100% Cotton 180 yards

Princess Top Finale

Officially a Finished Object!
All my worry about the length of the top, and the length of the sleeves, and the gaff on the front (I stitched a flower upside down...) let alone the 3 cast-ons I did to get a suitable size:  Here she is!

An AFO!

Almost...  Needs a button!

This has been a challenge... ever since I cast on with the wrong number (too few), and then too many, but I survived and I think it will be lovely.


It's really a top but I'm visualizing more of a tunic length, and until I see my little one in it, I'll reserve judgement on its size.  The sleeves are hemmed up with the intent that it can be worn as a short top in the future.


Ahem.  About the crocheted edges  (I'm not a fan of the process.): I like the finished edges. 


AHEM.  Embroidery: I thought I liked it, until I took a look at my handiwork.  Let it be known that I'm not going into THAT business!  And I'm really putting myself out there when I post this next detailed picture.

This is the first time that I noticed my MAJOR flub examining the close-up.  Otherwise... the little girl in it will detract from my sewing abilities!

(The back is identical, with a slit and button closure.)

Pattern Info:

Princess by Marie Wallin, The Organic Cotton Kids Collection Rowan Purelife
Size: 12 month
Needle:   US 2½ - 3.0 mm
Yarn:   Filatura Di Crosa Dolce Amore, 100% cotton, 50 g/198 yds
How much?  3 skeins of main color, + 30 g of contrasting colors
Colorway:   lilac, blue, tan, white
Purchased at Purl Diva in Brunswick, Maine
Purchase date  July 5, 2010
Cast on, Bind off:  July 13 - September 2, 2010

Notes:  Me being Contrary Mary, I used a different weight yarn, and knit the body on circular needles.  Pattern instructions are for back and front separately.  Cast on 220 stitches.