Confession: I'm a Big Knitter

That's right. I'm a big knitter. I always knit bigger than gauge and I rarely knit sample swatches (I know, I know...). So, after knitting a ginormous shawl that took a really long time (the Ruana shawl from Oat Couture), I decided to take on a smaller project next.

(It looks huge when it's lying around--you'd think it was an afghan. It looks OK while I'm wearing it because I'm tall):

Another reason for needing a small project was the free skein of yarn I received at our local "Shop Hop" back in September. (The yarn is from Nashua Handknits (Snowbird in aqua), and is verrrrrry nice to knit with.) Thanks to Ravelry, I was able to find a good project that would only use one skein: the hat/headband Calorimetry pattern from Knitty.com.

Because I knew I had to conserve yarn, being a big knitter and all, I took the time to knit a swatch. As is my way, I used needles a full size smaller than called for in the pattern. Turns out, I hit gauge almost on the dot. Hooray!

I forged ahead with my one-size-too-small needles and dead-on gauge. As I knitted, I noticed it looked a bit big. I kept going. When I realized I wasn't even halfway done and had very little yarn left, I decided that immediate action was needed.

Luckily, this is a pattern with a clear mid-point and enough flexibility to fudge things a bit. In addition, the ribbing makes it a bit stretchy. I pulled the needle out and tried on what I had knitted. After wrapping it around my head, I realized that I could cut out about 20 stitches from the cast-on in the new version (i.e., rather than 120 stitches I would cast on 100). Using the new cast-on, I realized that I could mark the half-way point on the yarn and begin the second half of the pattern at that point. I rolled the yarn that I had just pulled out into a ball that was about the same size as the remaining yarn I hadn't used yet. I marked the center with a contrasting color yarn and started knitting.

In the immortal words of John "Hannibal" Smith from the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together.

This plan worked great. I knitted in the pattern (with my shortened cast-on). When I saw the mid-point of the yarn approaching, I finished the row and continued with the second half of the pattern. It came out GREAT, and I had a surprising amount of yarn left over. I'm not exactly sure how that worked out...

Here it is, just in time to finish out the fall and get me through the warmer winter days:

The Nepali Scarf

I think I may be done with kits.

I purchased the Mango Moon scarf kit with recycled silk and ribbon (knit a scarf, help women in need--what could be better?). It was coming along nicely, until I realized I was going to run out of yarn. Of course, the instructions say to knit until you run out, but I was really hoping for a longer scarf.

The yarns came together nicely. Here they are separately:

And together:


In order to demonstrate the length, I fetched the yardstick and determined the scarf as exactly 36". How's that for not trying? It's also too wide--something I should have noticed sooner, but I liked the idea of a wide scarf... if only it were long enough.


Long story short: I ripped it out entirely and I'm starting over with a shorter cast on (instead of 23 stitches, I'm going to use 14). Maybe I'll get another foot out of it.

Translating Patterns into the Round

When I first joined Ravelry, I noticed a lot of knitters include brief statements in their project descriptions about translating patterns to "in the round", as in...

"I don't like joining seams, so I knitted this in the round instead."

or,

"I translated this pattern into the round."

...end of story.

I started to think about HOW exactly this is done. In one sense, it seems simple: just double the stitches you cast on and follow the pattern according. But then... I realized it wasn't that simple. For odd rounds, you're all set. But for even rounds, you'll have to REVERSE the stitches. So, a pattern written like this:

Row 1: k
Row 2: p

Is actually different in the round:

Rows 1-2: k

I tested this out with the Crazy Dress I made for Jordan, and it worked pretty well. Shaping the arms required some adjustment and guesswork, but it came out fine.

Now, I'm doing it with the amazing skirt on the cover of Vogue Knitting (Spring/Summer 2009). I would've been completely stumped had I needed to do something complicated in an odd row (and therefore, "backwards"), but luckily the odd rows are mostly knitted.

Of course--I can't replicate the pattern here (which would be a violation of copyright and therefore, strictly "no-no"), I can make a few recommendations.

This skirt starts from the bottom and is knit upwards--the opposite of my trumpet skirt, which was knit from the waist down. Because it is intended to be knit in two pieces, it's important that the edges to be joined (on the side seam) be consistent. So, each piece is stockingette on both sides.

If you're knitting in the round, however, you don't have to worry about that. So, I just started with lace stripe pattern without the beginning knit stitches. I also made a slight transformation by just starting with k10 rather than splitting the stitches into k5, lace, k5 (if you look at the pattern, this will make sense).

Because this is a lot of knitting and fine yarn, it will be a while before I can report on the other sections. Wish me luck!

Here it is so far. Isn't it pretty? It's just a big, round ruffle.


Ok... maybe not. Here's some detail on the lace after only 13 rows. :)

A Less-Than-Auspicious Beginning

I finally started the A-Line Skirt last night. I decided to adapt the pattern to knit in the round (I've only done this once before, so we'll see what happens), so I cast on 320 stitches in the main color.

Only problem? I was supposed to start with the contrast color.

I realized this after casting on and subsequent making sure the stitches weren't twisted before joining. It took a while to do that, so I just decided to keep the cast-on stitches as is. There's a crocheted border in the contrast color--I'll just try be creative at the end and add a row of single crochet or something.

Here's hoping I don't forget anything else--I REALLY don't want to rip all those stitches out.

The Sack Hat

I purchased the pattern for the Debbie Ware Sack Hat from Threadbear in Lansing (I used Butterfly 10--a great cotton). The yarn I purchased made two hats easily, and I can probably make a couple more if I switch up the colors. I'm making this one for new baby Leah.

I started this hat a few minutes before tipoff of the 2009 NCAA championship game. Even though the Spartans lost, I was able to get a good amount done. This is the brim--work proceeds up toward the top from there.
I made a few fairly obvious mistakes, being interested in the game and all. However, they are probably the kind of mistakes noticeable by the creator and no one else (here's hoping, anyway).

"The Pelt", or "Fun Fur is Actually Not Fun at All".

I received an afghan kit as a gift several years ago. I was very excited, as the afghan appeared quite luxurious and it was knit on Speed Stix, so I knew it would be done quickly (in fact, it took me only a couple of days).

The afghan ended up so heavy that we began to refer to it as "the pelt". It is beyond cozy, and sometimes even too heavy--even in the Michigan winter.

Unfortunately, the Pelt is not wearing well. After only a few months, the fun fur started to break--loose strands are EVERYWHERE... and have I mentioned the shedding? Our dark burgundy couch is frequently covered with strands of fun fur.

Some pics:

The fringe on the ends of the afghan are getting kind of ratty...

In addition, there's a lot of "mystery fringe" appearing. The picture below is actually the SIDE of the afghan. The fun fur is breaking and coming off all surfaces.


This is likely to be my last project with Lion Brand.

To Finish or Start Something New: That is the Question

Because I'm horrible at finishing, I guess I should really get back to that Philosopher's wool shawl. Or the Merry Widow Shell.

But I can't stop thinking about the A-Line skirt from Vogue Knitting. Check it out:

I really wanted to make it in the yarn pictured above (Koigu KPM), but I didn't want to spend $100 on a skirt. Plus, I'd like to change the original pattern from front/back to 'in the round', and I'd rather not experiment with $100 of yarn.

So, I'm going to try out a less expensive yarn (notice I didn't say "cheaper") from Brown Sheep. It's fingering weight (Cotton Fine), so it should take me a year or so to finish this--just in time for next spring!

Since pink isn't really my color, I'm doing the body in sage green, with the same cream/white accents pictured above.

So... maybe I'll get a few more rows done on the shawl while I'm waiting 7-10 days for the Cotton Fine to arrive from Patternworks.

The Crazy Dress is Back!

A few months ago, I finished the Crazy Dress I made for Jordan on some super-cheap, bargain basement yarn I got from Knit Picks. She loved it, crazy colors and all, and she likes to wear it around the house.

Unfortunately, the yarn was a little heavy for the pattern, and it really hung on her.

Eventually I decided to wash it, and since I didn't really care much about its condition, I washed it in the delicate cycle with some of my (non-hand-knitted) sweaters.

To make a long story short, it felted. I'm guessing the agitation of the machine was responsible, because I washed it in cold water.

Anyway, it fits her great. She wore it to see the Lion King today. Sometimes, experimentation works out.

Back to the Merry Widow

Ever have one of those projects you have trouble with, put it down, then can't get up the motivation to get back to it?

I'm dealing with that on Joan's Merry Widow Shell (Knitting Lingerie Style). I had trouble with the chart, but a Ravelry buddy helped me decode the directions. Now I just have to pick it back up again and forge ahead!

Maybe my incentive will be having another summer sweater to wear.

Lacy Tee

This beautiful sweater is from Joan McGowan-Michael's book Knitting Lingerie Style. I love the color, and the yarn is beautiful (Cascade Sierra).

I started this on Valentine's weekend 2009 while my in-laws were visiting. Done in a month! That might be a record for me.

This is another swimming lesson sweater. How would I get any knitting done if not for swimming lessons?

Unfortunately, it's a bit small. If I can get back to exercising regularly and take off a few pounds (which I need to do anyway) it will be perfect. Here's a closeup on the edging:

Fit 'n Flare Skirt

I've said this before, but one of the things I love about knitting is that each piece carries so many memories. Take the skirt at left, nearly finished:

I may refer to this as the "family vacation skirt" from now on.

I began it in the car driving to our Lake of the Ozarks vacation in July 2008. I worked on it during that trip, then it sat for a few months while I made some baby things for a friend.

I picked it up a couple of weeks before our trip to Austin to visit family there. I got a lot done by the time we arrived in town, and was finally able to try it on--it's knitted from the waist down, so most of us probably can't get those 24" circumference needles around our hips until there's some length on it. I was sorry to discover it was about 2 inches too big around the waist and hips. So... I tore it out over Thanksgiving and started over.

(This, children, is an important lesson on checking gauge.)

I've been making good progress, mostly during swimming lessons at the YMCA and at synagogue during Sunday school.


Here's a closeup of the hem (the "flare"):

A Break from Knitting

I needed to put down the needles and write about this--it's been building up for a few months now..

So, a few months ago I finally got around to reading "The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help" by Jackson Katz. His message? If we really want to reduce violence against women, men have to step up. They have to support women, and they have to be outspoken advocates against violence and sexual assault.

For me, the gay rights movement faces a similar crisis. In order for LGBT members of our community to share the same rights that straight people have, we "breeders" need to speak out against hatred, intolerance, and differential treatment. We need to support our friends and family members who are LGBT--people who just want to make a lifelong commitment to each other and enjoy the benefits that so many of us heteros enjoy.

Not so long ago it was against the law for people of different races to intermarry. Terms such as "unnatural" and "abomination" were used frequently to describe interracial couples (in the year I was born-1967-it was still illegal in Virginia for a white man to marry a black woman, or vice-versa. That changed in June of that year). Is this issue really so different?

I certainly understand that there are people who believe that being gay is an abomination according to the bible (they may want to visit http://godhatesshrimp.com). I'm sorry that they feel that way. I respect their decision to believe that, and they can certainly choose not to engage in a homosexual relationship if that is their belief. However, why should those people have a say regarding someone else's lifestyle? If they believe that homosexuals will burn in the afterlife forever... then let them burn. I will never understand why some people think that their beliefs supercede all others, or that everyone should have the same beliefs.

There is too much hate in this world. Let people love each other, for God's sake.

(...and don't even get me started on laws that forbid adoption by gay couples. I am SO glad I don't live in Arkansas or Florida.)