What the ? part II

It was time for a new ball of Kid Silk Haze for Belinda, but the ball I fetched was all haze, no silk.

Of course, no ball band, or none that did not say "Kid Silk Haze" on it.

What is maddening is wondering where this came from.  I don't remember buying a ball of roving that was the same color and size as the Kid Silk Haze.  Could there have been a mix-up at the point of purchase?  I am baffled.

Zandloper

I like knitting scarves.  Or, more accurately, I like knitting the first half of scarves.  After that, it becomes a death march.  This Zandloper was no exception, except I also worried about running out of yarn, so once I neared the finish line, I weighed each skein after each pattern repeat, to make sure I had enough for another pattern repeat.  I did not achieve 13 repeats, but at 60 inches, I think it is long enough.

Pattern:  Zandloper Scarf by Nancy Marchant, from Knitting Brioche.
Yarn:  Patons Classic Wool Merino in "Bright Red" and Plymouth Yarns Galway in "9" (black)
Needles: US7 circs
Modifications:  None on purpose.

This was my first brioche project, my first Italian cast on, and my first Italian bind off; I'm not sure I did the latter correctly, but (with the help of YouTube) managed a facsimile.  Brioche creates a double knit stitch which I anticipate will be warm if a bit bulky.  Learning to follow a brioche pattern is like learning a new language, but fortunately one with a limited vocabulary.  The instructions in the book are very complete (even if I could not figure out the Italian bind off from them).

I already have the yarn for four more brioche projects:  Kauni for the Geveldak Scarf and Wissel Scarf, Laughing Tree Farm for the Kromboomssloot Snood, and Plymouth Encore for the Oor-flap Muts (earflap hat).  But before casting on any of those, I want to finish a few baby things.  Really.

The unknown kimono

Sometimes I knit and knit and knit some more, but then completely forget that I have knit something.  Two somethings, actually, from the same pattern, but different.  I did report the one; here is the other:

Pattern:  One-Piece Baby Kimono, from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn:  I forget - I think it is Sugar 'n Cream, in white
Needles:  I forget - US6 or US7
Modifications:  Instead of ribbon, I made the ties from Sugar 'n Cream in "Pastel Print".  I would not recommend this, as the result is similar to a cotton clothesline.

Kimono #1 was knit in stockinette; #2 in garter.  Number 1 has ties; #2 has buttons.  Otherwise, they are the same.  My daughter passed on these, so into the gift drawer they go.

Ugg

It seems like I knit and knit and knit some more, but never finish anything.  But I have at least one thing to show you:

Pattern:  Suede Baby Hat by Candi Jensen
Yarns:  Berroco Suede (brown) and Berroco Plush (white) - I'm not a fan of novelty yarns and knitting with Plush was like wrestling a lhasa apso, but the results are cute
Needles:  US6
Modifications:  There were comments on Ravelry about how large the hat was, so I measured Baby N's head and decreased the pattern by about 10%.  Also, I knit it in the round instead of flat; picked up stitches to knit the ear flaps and brim instead of knitting them separately and sewing them on; and the ties are i-cord.

I was hoping to get a pic of this hat in situ, but haven't had the chance yet.

Sock knitting is going on as well.

This is the Zino yarn that many Ravelers dislike.  The colors are gorgeous, but yes, the yarn is splitty.  I won't say I'll never knit with it again, but I doubt I will choose it willingly.

And speaking of sock yarn, there is a sale going on over at Simply Socks.  I am only telling you because I have already placed my order.

What the ?

I backordered this Kauni 8/2 from Webs, both in colorway EQ ("rainbow").  It arrived yesterday.  My first thought was, This is not what I ordered, but yes, they are both EQ.

But what really has me flummoxed is one skein is 180g and the other 130g when they are both supposed to be 150g.  Is this common?  Good thing this issue should not affect the projects I bought these for.

Another yarn story:  I ran out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in chocolate, but found some at a LYS.  When I started pulling the yarn out of the center-pull skein, a mini center-pull ball popped out.  My guess is it was a return.  I debated whether weighing the skein would just make me madder, but I did and it was 50g as it was supposed to be.  My guess is someone needed a yard or two of yarn, then returned the rest to the store.  No real harm done, but this is something I never do.  I just add the skein to my stash.

I executed my plan on the baby sack and now my granddaughter can wear it in her car seat.

Sort of.  Even though I made the smaller version of the pattern, the sack has plenty of room for growth.

The plan

When I knit the baby sack, I did not take into consideration that baby doesn't go anywhere without a car seat.  And car seats have buckles.  Buckles that the Baby Sack does not accommodate.  Which meant the baby sack was not be utilized much.

So, taking a clue from Baby's First Entrelac (from Entrée to Entrelac), I decided to add a slit for the car seat buckle.  Baby's First Entrelac uses a three-needle bind off, but I tried out Elizabeth Zimmermann's afterthought pocket, without the pocket.

Of course, I did not try this on the baby sack itself.  Instead, I knit up a sample with some left over acrylic.

The bottom edge of the slit is i-cord bind off.  Once the ends are woven in, the edges will hopefully withstand tugging and pulling.  I think I will give the flap an oval shape.  This slit will be in back, as the car seat buckle should fit between the bottom two buttons on the front just fine.

Now I just need to get up the nerve to snip a stitch on the baby sack to get this going for real.  Cutting into knitting just seems wrong.

Last day of xmas...

... and the last pair of xmas socks are done.

These really are the same size

Pattern:  Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn:  Cascade Yarns Sassy Stripes in 715 colorway
Needles:  US1 DPNs
Modifications:  Made the leg about an inch longer than the pattern calls for

Now.  Priorities.  I need to finish up some baby knitting before that darling grandbaby grows any more.

First FO for 2011 (sort of)

Most of the work for this wrap was accomplished in 2010, but I don't consider an object truly done until it has been blocked.

Mr. Manly models

Pattern:  Moebius Ring by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn:  Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, in sable and creme
Needles:  US11
Modifications:  What is there to modify?  It's 60 inches of garter with applied i-cord

This started out as a vest, but after using one skein I realized I would not have enough yarn, so decided rather abruptly that it should be a scarf/wrap/whatever instead.  That meant I had to pick apart the cast-on in order to graph the two ends together.  My garter grafting is not the best - I have yet to get the tension right - and marrying the two ends of the i-cord took several tries before I was satisfied.  That is why it did not get completed last year.

Two comments, one good, one not so good:  1) The wrap is surprisingly warm for not covering much of one's body.  2) The Lamb's Pride sheds.

Speaking of warm, the red, red, red sweater has become my under-the-winter-coat sweater for walking.  It's very warm.  Too bad it does not look very good on me.  And I never have reknit the collar - I think a V-neck would be an improvement.

And speaking of yarn, while looking for a sock pattern for the Zino, I discovered the yarn has generated many negative comments on Ravelry.  I've never used it before, so we shall see if I agree with its listed shortcomings.

2010 recap

What I knit (or at least, finished) in 2010:

• My SO's xmas socks (he has yet to receive this year's socks)
• A blue BSJ (still up for grabs)
• Purple socks 
• A cowl I have yet to wear or gift
• Red socks
• An Every Way Wrap 
• A nine-patch dishcloth (scroll down)
• A garterlac dishcloth
• Lime and gray socks (scroll down)
• A mistake rib scarf
• Pinkish-purpleish socks
• A runner for the back of my running toilet
• A winter set in toddler size
• Pink infant socks (which are too small already!)
• A reversible baby hat
• A BSJ in pinks (with matching infant socks)
• A pink and purple BSJ
• A Clapotis
• A plethora of February Baby sweaters and leggings (three sweaters, two leggings)
• Orange and yellow socks
• A brown and green baby blanket
• A baby sack
• A green infant hat
• An aqua baby blanket
• A pink infant hat
• A purple infant hat
• Red, black and gray socks
• A bog jacket (yay me!)
• Gloves
• Red and navy socks

Whoa.  That's a lot of knitting.  If my counting is correct, it amounts to:

• 8 pairs of adult socks and 2 pairs of infant socks
• 1 adult sweater and 6 baby sweaters
• 1 cowl, 1 adult wrap, 1 adult scarf, 1 toddler scarf, 1 baby sack, 2 baby blankets
• 2 dishcloths and 1 runner
• 5 baby hats
• 1 pair of adult gloves and 1 pair of toddler mittens

I have no knitting resolutions this year, other than use more yarn than I buy.  I would like to finish up at least some of the long-standing WIPs, but don't hold your breath.  SOME DAY, when I have more time, I hope to learn to spin, but for right now, I will just keep knitting.