October (Surprise!) Raglan

Remember how I told you how excited I was to be planning my first sweater in two years? And how it would be nice to make a sweater for my non-pregnant, soon to be non-nursing self? With wonderful merino I bought at a WEBS cone sale for $5/lb? This will not end well, my friends...

I decided I wanted a comfortable, hourglass shaped raglan for the winter. Minor problem? I don't have an hourglass body shape; it's pretty much a curve-free shape, in fact. I didn't think that would matter so much because I wasn't creating a tightly fitted garment, just a roomy weekend sweater. I sat down with my calculator and tape measure to work out the shaping and cast on shortly thereafter.

You see where this is going, don't you? Aaron says the sweater looks like a bell on me. I wanted a sweater for my not pregnant body and I created and knit a sweater that would only fit my pregnant body. *sigh* I'm not exaggerating either. I would show you the picture of me wearing it with a pillow stuffed inside but people, I can't have something that ridiculous looking sitting in my archives forever, can I??? You understand. Seriously, hip shaping for someone without hips? What was I thinking? My hips grew in pregnancy but really, we're talking an inch at best. As far as I'm concerned, that's not even worthy of shaping. I feel so stupid. I'm going to pack this in with the maternity clothes for the next round.

Pattern aside, I've been meaning to tell you about this yarn! I bought several pounds of it a few years ago for an aran sweater for Aaron. (heh) It was still in spinning oil but promised to soften up quite a bit upon washing. I can't say the knitting was enjoyable but it certainly wasn't bad. I was amazed at how my swatch softened and bloomed in the wash. I don't know if you can see the difference here but the swatch is nice and soft while the sleeves are greasy and have some funny stitch definition.

Juno blogged about a similar experience with WEBS coned yarns a few weeks ago, although she lost some important yardage in the wash.

I still haven't washed my new maternity sweater yet because I think I'm going to redo the cuffs to add a hem. When it's really done, you'll get FO pics.

In the meantime, I still need a sweater! I cast on for Kate Gilbert's Sunrise Circle Jacket, which is free from Interweave. I'm using Skye Tweed in Heath that I bought at the WEBS summer sale just like Tiennie, Nova and Katy (did I leave anyone out?) It was $3.29/ball and I've lusted after Jared's Skye Tweed creations for ages so I jumped at the opportunity. Skye Tweed is far more scratchy than I expected. While I love the finished look, I must say that it squeaks like acrylic and smells a little funny.

Row gauge is CRITICAL with this garment and I've had trouble making it quite to 7 rows/inch. I knit the sleeve in the round and made 6.5 but flat knitting gets me 5.75-6 so I'm not sure how I'll work it out for the front sections. Anyone else experience this problem?

The Sewing Machine Ate My Knitting Mojo

Perhaps for lack of inspired knitting, perhaps because of the heat but whatever the reason, my sewing machine has lured me with its promise of quickly finished objects - near instant gratification compared to knitting. I say "finished" but the truth of the matter is that all of my sewn items need buttonholes or trim added so you won't see actual FOs for a few more days. You know what I mean by "finished"...

Here are some previews:

I've also been working on a pair of Anastasias with the Claudia's Handpainted (in Blue Sky colorway) that I won in Minty's blog contest a few months ago.

I think once I clear my knitting plate of second socks and gift knitting, my knitting mojo will come back. Until then, I slog along!

FO: Debbie Bliss Classic Cardigan

I'm so glad so many of you liked the biscotti recipe! Oh yeah and from reading some of the comments from my last post, I think I ought to clarify that I'm up at 4:40 a.m. to shuffle along at a 10:00/mile pace, not to sprint at a 6:00/mile pace. I'm not a good runner, I'm just becoming an early one!


Pattern: Classic Cardigan from The Baby Knits Book by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Berry
Needles: US 7
Modifications: Because Debbie Bliss' baby patterns are notoriously boxy, I made the 12-18 mos size but used the 18-24 mos sizing for length. A few months back, many of you commented that you thought that a long, skinny baby would likely grow into a long, skinny toddler so I decided that it would be best to plan on that for next winter's crop of Beatrix sweaters.

Beatrix clearly has some growing to do before this will fit! This project has been about two-thirds finished for months now and since I didn't have much knitting time this week, I decided to take up finishing it here and there. A simple, shapeless stockinette baby sweater is hardly good blog fodder but at least it's out of my WIP pile.

This sweater pattern is an old standby for me but it is painful to knit. Every time I make it, I remember halfway through that I should have used raglan shaping and knit it all at once to save myself the seaming. I don't particularly care for how bulky DB's sleeves/shoulders are but I'm too lazy to do much math for something as simple as a baby sweater so I'll live with the bulk. The buttons on this sweater are a bit of a disappointment too. While I love these shell buttons up close, I think they tend to fluoresce a bit from a distance so if I could do this again, I would likely choose different buttons.


What do you do when your mom makes you wear a sweater that's too big for you?

You eat it, of course...

FO: Grapefruit Socks

Pattern: Basic Stockinette with short-row heel and wedge toe (CO 64 sts)
Yarn: Woolarina Superwash Sock yarn in Grapefruit colorway

These socks will be packed up this evening and shipped off to Ann, who graciously traded me some beautiful Sea Wool and Lang Jacquard for them! So much for a stash buster project! Ann, I hope these fit!!!

For weeks, I've been meaning to blog about the beautiful stitch markers that my sister-in-law, Xan, made for me. Aren't they pretty? Jewelry for my knitting needles!!! She's so talented. She can knit, crochet, sew, quilt, tile a bathroom floor... I just checked out some good baby knits books from the library so I plan on using these in a baby project that will debut soon. I must finish my socks first!

Speaking of socks, I've finished the first of my mom's Regia cotton socks, although I had to rip and reknit the toe once because I measured incorrectly. These socks are just OK in my book. Their overwhelming comfort makes up for the white ply (I assume that's the cotton part of the Regia blend) that makes them look a bit funny!

I do like how the striping worked out at the toe, don't you?

The crochet project is coming along quite well. I'm adding about one color strip a day so at this rate, it will take me all summer but that's just fine with me. Afghans aren't very portable projects anyway so this will be my at-home project.

After my last post, Maryse reminded me that there's no reason to apologize for crochet. She's right, of course. I know I'll get some heat for saying it but I strongly associate crochet with tacky, acrylic (insert household item here) covers that one sees at local craft fairs. It's because my grandmother used to have crocheted toilet paper roll covers in all of her vacation rentals. As if covering a roll of TP makes it look like anything other than what it is... So if I'm down on crochet, it's because of the toilet paper rolls.

Finally, I'll leave you with a preview of other crafty projects in the queue this summer:

The Perfect Stashbuster

With an organic chemistry exam (they just keep coming) this evening, I've made lots of progress on my study sock and as soon as I weave in ends on Ann's socks, they'll be ready to send. Unfortunately, this is the only progress picture I have for you today.

I can't believe I'm crocheting. *sigh* I assure you hard core knitters that this crochet is a temporary break from the usual sock knitting! I have a few small baby knits in my queue so maybe I'll start those as soon as all of these gift socks are done!

Crochet: The Abyss

I'm shocked that it's been two weeks since my last blog post! I've been collecting little bits here and there but I haven't had any knitting content worth mentioning!

First up, you really must go check out this really cool free sock pattern. It's a great pattern on its own but the designer? Another Elinor. And she spells it correctly. Not like the manufacturer of Sarah's shoes, which are still cool because they're called 'Eleanor', but not as cool as if they'd been called 'Elinor'.

Speaking of shoes, check out what Johanna's been making! I'm definitely going to put in an order for a pair for Beatrix! Where does that mama find the time? I am thoroughly impressed!

For those of you interested in the Woolarina sock yarn I used for my Orchid socks, you should go see Jennie's current WIP with another colorway of Woolarina. She's struggling with the sock heel but the yarn is just beautiful!! I hope Woolarina puts up more yarn soon!

I'm afraid that I've been teetering on the abyss of crochet. (runs around in circles screaming) All thanks to Maryse and her stinkin' Soft Waves Ripple Afghan. You see, I have this huge "stash". I use the term tentatively because I'm referring to partial skeins and leftovers from other projects, which I know many of you refuse to call "stash" (denial must be nice...) Leftovers aside, my stash is tiny compared to some of the ones I've been seeing on Ravelry (I'm lookin' at you JulieFrick!). Nevertheless, I would love to use up my remnants and since I'm not likely to finish any knitted blanket, I thought I'd try to crochet one.

The first problem? I don't know how to crochet. Maryse gave me the rundown on exactly what crochet stitches I'd need to learn and blogless Camille from my knitting group got me started. I've already used up about 5 oz of Cotton Ease remnants making washcloths! I've been giving them away as I crochet them so you don't get any pictures of my wonky "squares".

The second problem? The pattern is from a book that my library doesn't have and I'm just not going to buy a book for ONE pattern. While there are 200 stitch patterns in this book, I thought I'd take my chances on Amazon to see if the book had an excerpt. It does and guess what? The excerpt includes the pattern I want! This just goes to show that you should ALWAYS 'Look Inside This Book'!

I'm planning to make the blanket baby sized and use up lots of Wool of the Andes, Cascade 220 and misc worsted weight wool. I might buy a few more WoTA skeins to balance the colors out but not until I get started! No need to add to stash for a stash buster, right?

Next up, I'm going to have to come clean with you about what I've done with my Grapefruit socks:

Let's just say that there will not be a sock giveaway, although I promise to hold another giveaway (with a good prize) in place of the socks. I am weak. Ann offered to trade me some Sea Wool for my socks and I took her up on it. Please don't hate me (didn't I tell you I was weak?) Besides, you know you would have done the same...

Because Ann is too cool for words, she also threw in some Lang Jawoll for fun! I'm hoping to finish up Ann's socks this week so I can liberate my size 1 circular so I can continue knitting this pair for my aunt. I can't remember the name of the pattern just now but it's a 4-stitch cable pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks.

Even so, I need some stockinette socks to knit while studying! Studying is the only way I'm getting in any knitting these days. This is my new study sock! It's Regia Cotton India. I'm knitting these for my mom who claims to be allergic to wool (I have my doubts about this but I'm compromising).

The knitting is really taking a back seat to organic chemistry and exercise!! I really must carve out some knitting (dare I say 'crochet' too?) time soon! I've been running 3 days a week with my friend's running program, playing soccer 2 days a week, taking exercise classes 3 days a week and getting up for Dog Days, a community exercise program 2 times a week. Since there aren't 10 days in a week, that means exercise twice a day most days of the week. It's been a lot of fun but it doesn't leave much room for knitting. Summer is for getting outside so don't expect prolific knitting in the next few months! I know you're all outside too!

FO: Craftaholic Orchid Socks

Pattern: Craftaholic's Orchid Sock pattern
Yarn: Woolarina Superwash Sock
Needles: US 2 for the first 4 inches, then US 1
Modifications: This is a toe-up pattern but I knit it top down, without reversing the row order. Also, I only used the lace pattern on the front, with extended ribbing followed by stockinette stitch in the back.
Here is a view of the back. The extra ribbing and stockinette in back was inspired by Nancy Bush's Canal du Midi pattern that I knit up in April.


One thing that I love about these socks is the striping on the bottoms of the feet.


I really can't say enough about this yarn. It felt like soft Koigu with similar twist. I love the striping too, although it only striped when I knit on US 1s, pooling a bit on US 2s. Since these are for me, I'll be able to give you a review of how the yarn wears later this year - a bonus!

I'm horribly behind on Bloglines, please forgive me! I've been reading everything but haven't had much time for comments. I'll get back next week when school starts up again and I'm not on full-time baby care. Speaking of which, how do you stay-at-home moms do it? I'm exhausted and crazy from two weeks of sitter-free baby duty!

FO: Flore Hat in Knit Picks Shine Sport

A baby hat in four days, can you believe it? That's like taking a week to knit a bootie! This is one serious hat! Unfortunately, while I was quite sure that B's head was 17", she has apparently grown a bit since that measurement so that hat is too small. No matter, it will go to a baby due in late summer. Nevertheless, Beatrix will be your model because she's all I have on hand. :-)

Pattern: Flore by Knitwhits
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport, remnants from other projects (colors: Violet, Orchid, Blush, Apricot and Grass, I believe)
Needles: US 4
Modifications: Since the suggested yarn was Tahki Cotton Classic which is a bit heavier than Shine Sport, I swatched, made some calculations and cast on 90 instead of 114 sts.


First of all, let me just say how much I love the finished product - it's unbearably cute, cleverly designed and interesting to knit. Baby Kaya has a great one too in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino too. The construction is well thought out and the petals are joined by a k2tog row, which cuts way down on the seaming. With those qualification, I must say that only a really, really, really special baby will receive one of these hats from me because both the knitting and finishing were, as Theresa suggested yesterday, "fiddly". That's nothing against the pattern authors at Knitwhits, it's just the nature of the beast. I can't think of any pattern modifications that would make this less painful to knit, but be forewarned that this is certainly a slogalong project.

To begin with, the pattern calls for two 16" circular needles and a set of DPNs. That's fine if you happen to own all of those needles in the appropriate size but I didn't and there's no way that I would ever buy so many duplicate needles for a baby hat (maybe for a sweater but certainly not for a baby hat). Thus, I was forced to fudge it a bit. I knit each new petal on DPNs and put the lower parts of the hat on a 32" US 0 circular. Why? Because that's all I had - it essentially functioned as a stitch holder, although I admit I spent a lot of time transferring pieces from one needle to another, something that might not have happened if I had not been too cheap to buy more needles. If you decide to make this hat, I guarantee that it will be easier if you follow instructions and use all of the suggested needles.


The finishing seemed to take forever, although my patience for end weaving and the like is minimal. Each layer had six tips to tack down so that the petal would lie flat. Six tack downs multiplied by five... that's a real drag, if you ask me.

So there you have it: an absolutely adorable hat can be yours with a little crankiness and a lot of finishing! Take it for what it's worth!

A Quick Break from Socks: Flore

When I saw Sophia's Flore hat, I remembered how had intended to make one for Beatrix so I quickly download the pattern, collected some Shine Sport remnants, did some math and cast on. I needed a bit of a reprieve from sock knitting and baby hats are fast knits, right? Well, it turns out that this particular hat is not such a quick knit, although it does beat socks. It's like knitting four baby hats in one. (duh)
I'll have a couple comments about the actual pattern when I blog about the FO later this week.

Until then, I'll be enjoying the nice weather (guilt-free) with Aaron and Beatrix. There must be something about the end of the semester and bike rides...

FO: Gentleman's Fancy Socks

Thank you so much for your input about the ribbon on the baby tank. I haven't decided what to do yet but Toni had the bright idea to tack the bow down! Why didn't I think of that??? Of course! I might try tacking the bow down in front first before turning it around to the back. There's something about a bow in back that screams 1986 to me.

I was looking forward to running a 10K last weekend but I woke up on Sunday to thunder, lightning and a heavy downpour. I'm still pretty disappointed about it because there aren't many 10Ks in my area and it's my favorite distance. I'm thinking of running one in Kansas City in early June, although the logistics of getting to the race and dealing with baby care might make that impossible. We'll see. Instead of running this weekend, this is what I did:
That swift and ball winder is addicting!

I finished the Gentleman's Fancy Socks this weekend. I apologize that every picture of these shows a different color - navy blue is impossible to photograph!!!




Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Lang Jawoll in 85.025 (navy blue)
Needles: US 2, US1
Modifications: I don't care for leg shaping so I knit the cuff and the first repeat on size 2 needles and then switched to size 1s for the desired shaping. It worked out very well.

You should see how little yarn I had left over. Maybe I'll get a picture of that for later this week. It was really astounding. Both pairs of socks for my in-laws really came down to the last few yards!
There are two new pairs of socks on the needles, both using Woolarina sock yarn. The first is Craftaholic's Orchid socks in Raspberry. Instead of doing a lace repeat in front and in back, I chose to do it in front with ribbing halfway down the back followed by stockinette stitch like the Canal du Midi socks.
The unblocked version looks all crumpled but check out some of the other Orchid socks on Flickr. That Craftaholic has some great sock patterns!

This yarn is also Woolarina in Grapefruit. I bought this ages ago because I loved the colors. At the time, I must have forgotten my contempt for the pooling that so often comes with variegated yarn. The yarn has been languishing in stash because I didn't know what to do with it. Since the Orchid socks require more attention to knit than I'd like, I thought I'd start a mindless ribbed sock for reading/studying with this yarn. Of course, I've taken every precaution and I'm alternating between skeins to minimize any pooling. It's going well so far, although I'm only a few inches in. Perhaps you'll see some pictures later this week. I think I'll try 4-5 inches of ribbing followed by plain stockinette. I've never made a stockinette sock so this will be a first!

Nancyfest: Gentleman's Fancy Socks and Canal du Midi Socks

Progress continues on the Canal du Midi socks. I've made it down to the heel flap on sock #2 and there's hope that I'll have the pair done this weekend!

In the meantime, I cast on for a pair of the Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. The yarn is Lang Jawoll from Knitsense! Stash knitting too! I can't read and work a twisted stitch pattern very well so I went looking for a good rib pattern. These will be for my stepfather-in-law. My MIL and sFIL spend their summers in Montana so I'd like to have their socks done before they leave in May.

What do you think of the color? Is it too bright to be a manly sock?

Lastly, I made Yarnival! Go check it out! There are some really interesting blog posts in this issue!