Dithering

Last night I inspected the work-so-far on the Danish shawl and decided it's not anything a firm blocking won't correct.  So I am NOT starting over.  At least, not today.  Check back tomorrow.

Still wrong

It wasn't the slipped stitches that made the border points on the Danish shawl list to the left; it was the bind off.  Not wanting to take the current work off the circular Addi needles, I worked up a few points on straights, just to see if binding off more loosely would help.  Not only did it make the points straight, I liked the resulting lace better, too.  Usually I think of needles as being interchangeable sizewise, but not in this case.

SO... maybe I will start over.  *sigh*

Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I was wrong about the second half of the Danish shawl border being ssk's instead of k2tog's.  I was also wrong not to take seriously the instruction about keeping the slipped stitch very loose, which is why the points slant.  This would not be so bad if I could figure out how to get the points on the second half to slant in the opposite direction.  The shawl is taking a brief time out while I contemplate and experiment and see what I can do.  One thing I know I am NOT going to do is start over.

Another pair of birthday socks found their way onto the needles, Retro Rib from Favorite Socks.  I have only one skein of yarn to knit a man-sized pair of socks.  This pattern is only 64 stitches around, but they are stretchy stitches, so I decided to give it a try.  Unfortunately, over 50% of those stitches are purl, and a good many of the remaining are ktbl.  Not difficult, just annoying.

Then I purchased Mitered Crosses Blanket Pattern for Japan, because I like the idea of creating a knitted blanket from a quilt pattern and it's pretty and it's big and the money goes to a good cause.  I completely forgot that I don't particularly like to knit mitered squares.  Oh, well, it was only $5.

Birthday socks #2

I was afraid these would be too loose from the YOs, so I knit through the back loop when knitting the YOs. Then I was concerned they would not be loose enough! 

Pattern:  Bluebell Rib (six-stitch sock pattern) from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn:  Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Socka Degradee Color, colorway 104
Needles:  US1
Modifications:  None, except to knit the YOs through the back loop.

They turned out fine sizewise, but the “bluebells” look like bluebells only to the wearer; to others, they will look like tulips.


In case you were wondering, I am still working on Belinda.  I am almost halfway done!

And I am halfway done with the bottom border of the Danish shawl:

The second half of the border uses ssk's instead of k2tog's, so I should have an easier time of it regarding the splitty yarn.  Thank goodness!

Because I'm (half) Danish

My mother's parents emigrated to the US from Denmark, which in my eyes makes me half Danish.  When my mother's brother converted to Catholicism, I went around telling people I was "half Catholic" (I was about ten at the time).  While I was told that was not accurate, no one really explained why.

Because of my Danish "heritage" I always chose Denmark as the subject of history reports, lorded over my friends the fact we opened our xmas gifts on xmas eve, and periodically bugged my mother to teach me to speak Danish.  As an adult, I am drawn to Danish films and knitting.  So when I stumbled across the

Kællingesjal shawl, I had to knit it.

Starting out the border

The shawl dates from the late 1800's.  Mette Rørbech created her "recipe" for this shawl based on one she saw in a museum.  The yarn I am using is some alpaca I purchased at a fiber arts festival from Weavers Loft, yarn I now realize was designed for weaving and not for knitting.  It comes in 8-oz. hanks and is single ply with little twist, which makes it split easily.  The k2tog's are particularly vexing.  But the good news is only the borders are lace; the body of the shawl is garter with stockinette and reverse stockinette bands.  And I like to think the yarn is similar to yarn used 100 years ago - a little roughly spun.  At least, that is what I tell myself each time I have to rework a k2tog, which is almost every one. 

No FOs but she looks good in green

The February Baby sweater and pants:

But I was born in October!

From the back:

Check out the hair!

The full ensemble:

Any more photos and you will have to call my agent!

And who can resist that smile?

Grandma is SO funny!

Birthday socks #1

After xmas, I decided that this year I would knit birthday socks for the usual suspects, then at xmas present everyone with felted slippers.  First birthday is in April, but these are done now, so happy early bday, son-in-law!

Pattern: Twin Rib - one of the 6-stitch rib patterns from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Fortissima Socka Degradee Color in colorway 102
Needles: US1
Modifications:  None

The photo above does not do justice to the subtle color gradations.  The yarn is a blend of wool, bamboo, and nylon, which should be comfortable even in warm weather.  It's a nice yarn to work with, too.