slinkster's blog

Dear Page,

True to my word, I have cast on for your original pattern of the "Step Lively" beret. I have to say that the tubular cast-on is phenomenal! Really, really like it. Before I had read through your directions, I had already gone to Knitty.com to check out the tutorial on it. Then reading your directions, it was easy to accomplish. Here's the morning's progress:

Please note how much you mean to me... I'm using dpns because I don't have a 16" circular #4!

Here's what I found in my stash to use:

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Love,
Mom

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ETA - 2/14/2010

Well, I've finished knitting through the directions you sent and can only assume that I'm ready for the directions to decrease the beret and finish up. Here's where I am now having finished seven pattern repeats (if you include the set-up rows and the first cable row):

Look forward to the next installment of instructions.

Love,
Mom

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ETA 2/15/2010

I have finished the knitting of the beret. Still have to wash and block it. It took under 150 yards (40 grams) of DK weight yarn. Here's a picture of the top:

Can't wait to see it blocked!

Love,
Mom

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ETA 2/15/2010

As requested, here are the blocking photos:

It's drying now.

Love,
Mom

I decided to try the Fresco Fair Isle Mitts from the Fall 2008 Interweave Knits. I had some leftover Zitron Trekking XXL yarn from a pair of socks I made and a couple of balls of Jojoland Melody that I thought would be complementary, both with enough variation to make using only two colors instead of the 5 the pattern called for a possibility. I used two circulars (2.75 mm) for the ribbing which I made shorter than the pattern suggested and two circulars (3.00 mm) for the body.

Here's a picture of the back of the mitt:

And here's a picture of the palm of the mitt:

The pattern called for using 3.25 mm needles for the body and I'm sure it would have made a difference. As you can possibly see by this next picture, the mitt turned out quite a bit smaller than expected:

These are really more child sized than adult. I will have to try again maybe increasing both the needle size and the length.

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Well, thanks to the blizzard I have finished the other mitt:

As you can see, the color came out quite a bit different from the first mitt. That's what happens when you use variegated yarn and in such small quantities that you don't really see where the color changes occur. Altogether, these mitts only took 21 grams of fingering weight yarn. But maybe the difference in color will help my granddaughter tell the right from the left more easily.

One of my goals this weekend was to try to knit the "class" sock from a Christmas gift book, Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I have knit two pairs of socks in my knitting life, one cuff-down and one toe-up but both using the short-row heel method. I wanted to try a sock with a different heel and thought I'd start small. The "class" sock is knit in worsted weight yarn (some leftover Caron Simply Soft) and is only 32 stitches around. I used the two circular needle method ('cause I hate double pointed needles). I'm quite proud of my sock:

It measures 5 1/4 inches from back of heel to tip of toe and 5 3/4 inches around. My Kitchener stitch bind-off still needs a bit of work...there's a bit of an "ear" on one side of the toe.

Of course, I'm showing the best side of it in this shot:

Next to tackle a real pair of socks with gussets! I'm hoping to find a pattern that is toe-up rather than cuff-down because it is easier to try them on as you knit to get the best fit.

I have started a cowl/neck warmer; a little project hopefully only using a single skein of yarn. I'm using a skein of Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in a very pale sage color. The stitch pattern is from a very old Woman's Day knitting magazine that was used for a baby sweater, It creates kind of a "quilted" look. But now that I've got about 6-8 inches knit, I can't make up my mind if I like the right side or the wrong side better. Please help me decide....

Right side:

Wrong side:

What do you think?

Dear Page,

Just to keep you up to date... I finished the OpArt Baby Blanket. Here it is pinned for blocking:

Overhead view:

Side view:

While this was not a challenging project it took progressively more time to knit the rows as each row increased by 4 stitches. On the final rows, there were over 700 stitches! There were a multitude of ends to weave in since each stripe had 4 ends. I find working with the darker yarns difficult as I don't see them well without extremely good light. I chose to use a loose bind-off since the designer of the pattern said it needed to be "heavily" blocked.

I used Knitpicks Swish DK which turned out to be very soft. It should wash nicely, too.

Love,
Mom

Page,

As hard as it is to believe... I have finished the Dale of Norway Baby Violets Cardigan!

I know you have despaired of me ever finishing it!

It took me two years to complete this project most of which was procrastinating doing the steeking since it was a new and terrifying technique for me. It took me at least 6 months to screw up the courage to do the steeking on the body, which, as it turned out, wasn't actually that difficult. Once I did the steeking on the body I couldn't move forward until I steeked the sleeves. It took me another 6-8 months of procrastination to get the sleeve steeks done. Then it went really quickly picking up the stitches for the neckband and then the button bands. The facings were sewn down covering the cut ends of the yarn, the buttons sewn on and it was washed, blocked and ready to present as a birthday gift.

I followed the directions for the 18 month size but it will probably fit up to a six year old! Since it took me so long to finish this project, it's a good thing the sweater turned out as big as it did.

Close up of the Violet motif:

Close up of the buttons which I found at a Joann's Fabric store in Carlisle, PA:

Close up of the interior of the button band and hem:

Interior of the back:

I will admit a certain pride in this project. It is possibly the most ambitious knitting project I have yet undertaken. And judging by the comments from the folks who have seen it up close and personal, it is well done. Most say it will become a family "heirloom" to be passed on to newer generations.

I hope the recipient will wear it in good health for a long time to come.

Love,
Mom

Page,

I have finished the Noro Striped Scarf! It really was a fun and relatively fast knit and the end product turned out beautifully! At least in my opinion.

It is approximately 5.5" wide by over 6' long. It needs a good soak then dry and it will be ready to wear for the remainder of the winter.

Love,
Mom

Dear Page,

I have started the OpArt baby blanket for your expected little boy. It is an interesting knit and I really like the Knit Picks Swish DK yarn. It is soft and easy to knit with. Here is a picture of the start:

More pictures to come of the project. I hope you and our grandson will like the finished blanket.

Love,
Mom

Dear Page,

I was weak when I went to Bryce this weekend. I intended to finish the fingerless gloves, but I was too drawn to the Noro Silk Garden yarn and the striped scarf project. So, I spent the weekend knitting a cliche. But it has turned out to be a beautiful cliche, if I do say so myself! Here's a peek preview of the half done project:

I am calling it my Cheshire Cat scarf because the stripes fade from distinct into barely discernable stripes and then reappear again. I really can't tell you how much fun it has been to make considering that it is 1x1 rib.

More will be posted when it is finished.

Love,
Mom

Page,

I've started the fingerless gloves for your brother and needed stitch markers that would work on size 2 needles. Needless to say, the ones I got from my mother are somewhat too large. So, I decided to try my hand at making my own. Here is the result:

As you can see from the comparison, they are quite a bit smaller than the standard ones. I used a size 8 needle to wrap the wire around and it is about the perfect size for the size 2 needles without stretching the fabric between stitches.

That's about it until I get the fingerless gloves finished.

Love,
Mom