Stuck

At first, I was hoping to name this post "Two steps forward, one step back" because I had to redo the sleeves when I realized I had forgotten to include the decreases.

But after correcting my error and continuing on my way, I RAN OUT OF YARN.

WAH! The sleeves are about elbow length, NOT what I was aiming for. I tried looking on Ravelry for duplicate colorway (8401) and dye lot (9338), but their search feature leaves a lot to be desired. And most knitters don't record the dye lot anyway. So I emailed the store where I purchased it, to see if they have more (because of course I did not purchase it locally). If so, maybe they will be willing to mail me an order. Otherwise, I may have to drag the sweater from LYS to LYS, looking for a match. Unless one of you has a suggestion?

I am also stuck on the mitered crosses blanket, but only because of personal dissatisfaction with joining the squares. The pattern recommends a three-needle bind off, which I am not loving. I tried slip stitching and single crocheting as well. Next I will try a simple whipstitch.

So, I'm stuck working on my baby cables.

It has been a while since I've knitted socks, and it is nice to return to an old standby.

And let's finish off with another pic of Toddler N, this time modeling the Debbie Bliss hooded pullover.

Adorable!

More progress

The Suspender Sweater continues to toot along. I've been alternating sides, and am actually farther along than these photos indicate. In fact, the sleeve caps are done, as are the sides. All that is left are the sleeves.

I'm getting a little anxious about running out of yarn. When I purchased the gray and pink, I did not have a sweater in mind, much less a garter stitch one. I also envisioned using more of the pink.

If I run short, I can repeat the suspender pattern at the cuffs, assuming all I need is two extra inches per sleeve. And I have enough black Cascade 220 to use that to i-cord around the hem. Let's just hope the knitting goddesses look with favor upon this project.

The Mohair Bias Loop is limping along. I can stand to work only a few rows at a time - love the result but hate knitting this yarn (Super Kid Seta by Trendsetter Yarns - very much like Kidsilk Haze).

You would think using US10.5 needles would speed things up, but no. I even have to count each stitch, to make sure I don't drop one. This project will take a while.

And just because she is so darn cute, here is Toddler N, modeling her Debbie Bliss A-Line Cardigan on Thanksgiving Day.

I am thankful for a lot of things, but especially for grandchildren.

Carry on

When it came time to start the suspenders for the Suspender Cardigan, I found myself questioning the instructions, especially the slipping of a stitch wyif on the right side of the fabric. I started, stopped, ripped back, sat and thought, researched online and on Ravelry, thought some more, knitted a sample, then bit the bullet.

In the book, there are photos of several sample suspenders, but no closeups of the one described in the pattern. I contemplated doing something creative, using some oddball yarn, but in the end fell back on following the instructions and knitting with black, dark gray, and pink Cascade 220. I think it works.

Garter stitch orgy

Now that the baby/toddler items are done, all I want to do is knit. No seed stitch, no ribbing, no purling, just knit. The Mason-Dixon Mitered Crosses blanket is perfect for that.

I have all the mitered cross squares done, but am struggling with the joining of them. So I decided to weave in ends first, a Sisyphean task that is easy to put down.

When not weaving in ends, I have been knitting EZ's Suspender Cardigan from Knit One Knit All. Not only is this all garter, all the time, but it incorporates some interesting construction.

First, you knit the back.

Then you knit up one side of the front, and build the collar while attaching the back.

Then it is back down the other side of the front, making i-cord loops along the way.

That is just the center front/back. Once that is complete, you pick up stitches along the sides and knit the "suspenders" and sides and sleeves. Quite clever.

Last week I was on the road, so I do have a pair of baby-cable socks on the needles, but they are not progressing very quickly. And while trying to neaten up the craft room, I grabbed some mohair-silk lace weight (not Kidsilk Haze, but like it) that has been laying around for quite some time, and started a wrap. It's another project that is easy to put down, primarily because of the yarn. I guess I am feeling lazy, want only something easy to work on. Hence, the garter.

Last one

Technically, this project is not 100% finished. I purchased the buttons today but cannot sew them on until Toddler N tries on the pinafore. If I were to knit this over, I might put a series of buttonholes in the straps and attach the buttons inside the waist, to make it adjustable. Not that moving buttons is a big deal.

Pattern: Pinafore Dress from Debbie Bliss Essential Baby
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in colorway 340026 (kind of a blue/green/gray)
Needles: US2 and US3
Modifications: None

The hem was not the nightmare I envisioned because I had the sense to block the pieces before assembly, including the fold for the hem. Some of the moss stitch does not look perfect, but I decided not to inspect it too closely.

Thus ends this year's knitting for Toddler N. At least, that is the plan. I wonder if she needs mittens?

Finally

Last night I took advantage of the small turnout of goblins and witches Yankees and Scarecrows to finish up the hooded pullover for Toddler N. (YES, she is walking now, albeit not very enthusiastically. She's like a new skier, disbelieving her ability to stay upright.) The seams - and there were seemingly a bazillion of them - actually came out halfway decently (eventually - there were several do-overs). Maybe the trick to becoming adept at seaming is to stop avoiding it and to practice, practice, practice. Duh.

Pattern: Hooded Pullover by Debbie Bliss (in Design It, Knit It Babies)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto in colorway 23006 (oatmeal) and Debbie Bliss Rialto 4-Ply in colorway 22015 (lime-ish green)
Needles: US6 and US3
Modifications: None

There are a few errors in the pattern that are published and a few that become apparent as one goes along. The instructions become kind of vague toward the end, but I managed to muddle through. All in all, a success.

My daughter recently returned a bagful of handknits that Toddler N has outgrown. Now that she is a toddler, sweaters and hats will fit her for at least a season if not a year or two. My advice to new grandmas is to refrain from knitting up too many newborn and baby things, sweet as they are, but to save one's efforts for the later stages of growth.

One done

The seams are not the best but they were sewn and the buttons were added in time for Baby N's first birthday party.

Pattern:  A-Line Cardigan, from Debbie Bliss Design It, Knit It Babies
Yarn:  Baby Cashmerino in 340026 (a greenish-grayish color)
Needles:  US3
Modifications:  Several - after all, the book title says "design it"

One obvious modification was substituting ringwood stitch for the stockinette in the body.  This greatly reduced curling.  The sleeves I kept as stockinette, but on Chrisknits advice, added a little ringwood at the cuff.  And I dropped the collar, at my daughter's suggestion.

Using a different stitch than simple stockinette was a bit of a challenge in places, like under the arms, where I reverted to stockinette to reduce bulk.  But apparently I cannot count, because the back and fronts did not line up right.

Fortunately, two wrongs make a right, so while the stockinette is not a perfect match, the back and fronts were the same length.  Whew!

I still have the pinafore to seam up and the hooded pullover to finish.  My best excuse for not having these done is I was sick last week, with an intestinal virus, that laid me so low that I could not even knit.  Feeling much better now, though, so hopefully the rest will be finished anon.

My own "grandma set"

I knit these up a while ago, but per usual, it took me forever to get a button sewn on.  I make these for my agemates as they become grandmas, and decided I should make a set for myself.

Pattern:  Baby Bib O' Love from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn:  Elann Den-M-Nit Pure Indigo Cotton
Needles:  US6 (I think)
Modifications:  None

Pattern:  Baby Genius Burp Cloth, from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Elann Den-M-Nit Pure Indigo Cotton
Needles: US6 (I think)
Modifications: None

They have already been used.  The cotton is very absorbent.  And washable.  A must with babies.

Warm as wool

Parts becoming whole

Parts is parts

Kittyville - the small size

I decided Baby N needed a new winter hat.  Enter Kittyville.  The pattern was for an adult size hat, but using some arithmetic, I determined that knitting it in DK instead of worsted would yield a toddler-sized hat.  Since the width of the seed stitch border and the width of the sides below the crown were given in inches in the pattern, I guessed that a 1" border and 3" sides would be about right.  And they were.

Too bad the seed stitch is barely visible in this craptastic photo

Pattern:  Official Kittyville Hat from Stitch n Bitch (no link - thanks, Blogger)
Yarn:  Valley Farms Valley Superwash DK in 03 (black)
Needles:  US5 DPNs
Modifications:  DK instead of worsted, smaller band and sides

Too bad you can't see the ears in this otherwise adequate photo

Now, a slacker mom like me would view this hat as an opportunity to dress Baby N in a black leotard and tights, add some whiskers, and consider the costume complete for baby's first Halloween.  If anyone asks, she is Hello Kitty's evil twin.

Got yarn?

On our trip to New England, I hit two yarn stores, one scheduled, one not.  First up was Charlotte's Web in Exeter, NH.  As I have done elsewhere, I asked about local yarn and learned that the hand dyers in that area frequent farmers markets and such.  Unfortunately, we would not be around for one.  I did snatch up a couple of skeins of this:

It's from Seacoast Handpainted Yarns; content alpaca, silk, and merino; colorway "Shy as Acorn".  Yum!

I also purchased some Noro Kureyon for the Mitered Crosses blanket I've been itching to start.  Later, at Loom with a View in Newburyport, MA, I added some Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted.  And then when I got home, I could not wait to start.

Swatches

Block one of ten started

As if that were not enough, I also ordered from Webs some Debbie Bliss Rialto DK and 4-ply for a hooded pullover for Baby N (who I will start calling Toddler N once she starts walking).

Oatmeal and lime anyone?

And I could not wait to start that project, either.

Cuffs

In case you are wondering about the other projects for Baby N, they are not being totally neglected.  For one thing, weaving in the ends took forever.  For another, I decided to block before assembling.

A-line Cardigan

The ringwood stitch for the cardigan did resist curling except on the edges, which will be seamed together, so no worries.  The button bands lay flat, much to my relief.

Pinafore Dress back

Pinafore Dress front

The only part of the Pinafore Dress I was worried about was the hem, which suffered from some serious curling.  Dressing wires to the rescue!

Pinafore Dress hem detail

My goal is to have the Baby N projects completed by her birthday later this month.  Then, on to xmas knitting!

Hats off to watch caps

Sorry for the absence.  My SO and I took a week's vacation (more about that later), and I brought home some New England cooties that have laid me low this past week.  I have been knitting, but between the cold symptoms and the OTC meds, my brain has not been very functional.

My son told me he "can't find" (is that a euphemism for "lost"?) the hat I knit him.  So I decided to knit up a couple of watch caps; he can have his pick.  These are both quick and easy.

Pattern:  Watch Cap by Judith Durant
Yarn:  Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in colorway 194 (gray)
Needles:  US7
Modifications:  none

One size fits all

All 1x1 ribbing all the way, and very stretchy.  In fact, both these hats are very stretchy.  And they are long enough to cover the ears.

Pattern:  Classic WWII Watch Cap by Helen Waittes
Yarn:  Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in colorway 999 (maroon)
Needles:  US7
Modifications:  None

Large size

This one starts out with a 2x2 ribbing, then switches to 2x6.  I did not do anything fancy but you can substitute a 6-stitch cable or other stitch pattern for the top part.

Like I said, quick and easy.  Also, each takes less than a 100g skein of yarn.  Good for brainless knitting.  Like when one has a cold and can't stitch two thoughts together.

K1, P1, ouch, ouch, ouch

After all that seed stitch, I decided give my hands and wrists a break and knit a quick hat.  But while seed stitch and 1x1 ribbing may look different, to one's hands, they are the same.

Almost finished watch cap

So then I decided to work on something in stockinette and started this A-line cardigan.  But the stockinette started to curl (and I threatened to start crying because I have been here before).  After a test swatch, I decided to replace the stockinette with ringwood stitch.

Curl up like a snake or lay flat - choice is obvious

Which is two-thirds stockinette and one-third K1 P1.  Maybe I'll make the sleeves stockinette?

Now for the hard part

The knitting is done.  Now it is time for not only the seaming (I think I can handle two side seams) but the HEMMING.

From the back

If I were to knit this over again, I would use a picot cast on instead of something that requires HEMMING.

Over halfway there

The pinafore for Baby N is over half completed.  Last weekend I draped the front half over her, to see what it looked like:

I'm so sleepy!

I'm suffering from startitis, but so far, have managed to fight off the virus.  Must. Finish. The. Pinafore. First.  Babies grow, you know.

Just what I need

My SO and I spent a long weekend in Milwaukee (details here), and while not much knitting occurred, some yarn purchasing did.  First, we visited Fiberwood Studio, where I glommed onto enough gray and pink Cascade 220 to knit myself a sweater.

I was hoping to find a significant amount of local yarn, but all there was was a handful of skeins from Honeypot Yarns, now sadly out of business.  I did purchase a token skein, which I think I will combine with a ribbon yarn for a scribble scarf.

The other LYS we visited (and which is open on Sundays, a rare thing for a LYS) was the Loop Yarn Shop.  None of the yarn there spoke to me, although I was tempted by the Spud and Chloe and some Burly Spun Lamb's Pride.  Instead, I purchased a pattern for a Mohair Bias Loop, to help me use up some Kidsilk Haze.

Once home, I decompressed by making up for the lack of road trip knitting.  The front of the pinafore for Baby N is almost complete.  I like Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and I like the Debbie Bliss patterns, and I achieve gauge for both stitches and rows, BUT somehow I always need more yarn than the patterns recommend.  Glad I have extra for this project.

It must be the weather. And approaching football season.

My knitting mojo seems to have returned - all I want to do is knit, knit, knit. I started a pinafore for Baby N

I love seed stitch!

and have about three sweaters queued up for her.  And I want to knit a Mitered Crosses blanket.  And a Lanesplitter skirt.  And my son needs a new hat.  And there is Kauni yarn for brioche scarves.  And this year's xmas knitting is to be felted slippers.  I even feel like knitting entrelac!  And dishcloths!  And yes, even socks!

Finally, an FO

Usually, when I knit socks, I pick a ribbed pattern for the fit.  "Inlay" is not ribbed, which may explain why the pattern includes instructions for four sizes.  I made the largest ones, but they feel a bit loose, even for my big feet.  However, they have not yet been through the dryer, so that may change.

Pattern: Inlay by Hunter Hammersen, found on knitty

Yarn:  A Piece of Vermont Superwash merino, bamboo, and nylon, colorway 8006, purchased on the Vermont Yarn Crawl

Needles:  US1 DPNs

Modifications:  The pattern is not quite correct as written (see my previous posts) plus I adjusted the gusset so that the decreases were not right next to the instep (personal preference)

The crosshatch pattern looks better in these photos than it does in real life, but they still look purty.  And they are dense.  Should be very wam this winter.  If you plan to knit them, check out the KAL on Ravelry for input.  All my notes on this pattern may be found on Ravelry, too.

And now I am going to take a break from socks.

Slow going

Still working on 'Inlay' but it is three steps forward, two steps back.  I started the heel flap, with its own chart.  The legend said that the slipped stitches should be slipped with the yarn in back.  That did not seem right, so I checked Ravelry for errata.  Nada, so I forged ahead.  After about 6 rows, not only did the slipped stitches not feel right, they did not look right, either.  Back to Ravelry, but this time I checked the KAL for this pattern.  Another knitter asked the designer about these stitches, but described them much better than I would have, as being "wrapped".  It turns out the designer actually meant to hold the yarn to the "private" side of the fabric, or in back on the right side, in front on the wrong side.  I tinked back and restarted the heel flap and now it looks right.

What did we ever do before the Internet?!?

She who hesitates

It is not unusual for me to hit a snag with a project.  Sometimes it's the seams, sometimes it's the pattern, sometimes it's the realization that I am not going to like the result.  A time out doesn't hurt, unless one is knitting for a growing baby.  Then those projects set aside for a moment become hopelessly behind.

Such is the fate of some items I knit for Baby N: the seams on a pair of pants did me in, the curling of the stockinette on a kimono looked unfixable, and the embroidery for Blu was not a pretty sight.  Fortunately yarn allows for do-overs.  I foresee that the chocolate and lavender Debbie Bliss yarn is going to become something like an EZ Tomten, and the Den-M-nit will become something.

I'm still working on Inlay.  I don't consider myself a tight knitter, but I have had to deliberately loosen up when knitting the twisted stitches in the motif.  Once I learned to do that, these socks started not exactly sailing along but at least progressing nicely.

Otherwise, knitting is giving way to gardening and murder mysteries (my favorite summer reading), although I am currently working through Stanley Park.  The main character is a chef in Vancouver, so there is lots of foodie talk, but the characters are complex and the story engrossing.  Worth the effort.

No mojo

The "Inlay" socks are kicking my butt.  In fact, all my knitting is kicking my butt right now.  Most frustrating is that, when I try to knit during a meeting, invariably I drop stitches.  Grrr!  So if you don't hear from me for a while, it's because I'm spending some quality time with my yard and my summer reading.