Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Summer Flies by Holly and Ella Knits

Yarn: Shelridge Farms Soft Touch DK in Navy

Needle Size: US 8 (5 mm)

Modifications: I followed the notes on Thetanull's project page to add one additional butterfly section and one additional ridged eyelet section for a larger shawl. I also added three additional pattern rows to the knotted openwork section. My ruffle edge is two rows shorter than written as I ran out of yarn.

Comments: I love this pattern! It's really thoroughly explained and clearly written - it'd make a good choice for someone just starting out in lace. The butterflies are distinct and clear, the ridged eyelet provides wonderful architectural detail, and the knotted openwork is fab. Really, all I could think while knitting was where else could I add some knotted openwork? Maybe in socks?

The shawl knits up very quickly in DK - I started mine of Sunday evening and finished it on Thursday evening! Imagine!  A shawl in less than a week! I hesitated about the wisdom of knitting a shawl in DK weight yarn. The knitted fabric felt really dense and heavy on the needles, butit blocked out beautifully. I was really afraid it was going to more of a blanket than a shawl :o

After knitting a pullover from this yarn last year I had one full skein leftover. Returning it was not an option as I had bought it at a fiber festival. Instead I determined to buy one more skein from the same vendor at this year's festival to make this shawl. Minutes after I emailed Lyn at Shelridge Farms with my dyelot number and a message to explain my plan, she emailed back that she'd snagged the last skein for me and would put it aside. How lucky was that?

With the modifications to enlarge the shawl, I used every inch of both skeins as well as several yards of a tiny leftover ball from last year's pullover. Another game of yarn chicken played and won! While knitting I really hadn't thought I'd be cutting it so close, but the ruffle edge starts with KFB in every stitch, and then that picot bind-off eats yarn!

It's Finished Object Friday over at Tami's Amis. Pinch me - I can't believe mine is finished! WOOHOO! Take some time, click through the links and let's see who else is celebrating!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

Almost from the moment I cast off Cladonia on Sunday evening, I've been working on Summer Flies. You see I'm hoping to complete it in time for my Sister's birthday ... cast off no later than Friday evening, block and gift on Saturday. Seemed like a crazy plan, but now that I find myself more than halfway on Wednesday morning, I think it can be done!

The shawl is written for worsted or DK weight yarn, so it's working up pretty quickly. Because of the larger gauge there are considerably fewer stitches and rows than you'd find in a pattern written for lace weight or fingering weight. I'm using Shelridge Farms Soft Touch DKW - a superwash wool in a colourway that matches the top I gave my sister last year. In fact, one of the two skeins I'm using is leftover from that pullover - luckily I was able to pick up the last skein in that dyelot a few weeks ago at the DKC Knitter's Frolic.

Since Sunday I've completed three butterfly sections and four sections of ridged eyelet. Like so many Ravelers before me, I added an additional section of each for a bigger shawl. I'm just about to start the knotted openwork section, which is written as seven patterned rows but I'll work thirteen before buckling down for the ruffled edge and picot bind-off. With shawls I usually find it hard to estimate my progress. Not this time; I have two skeins, I've knit one, so I'm at least half way.

It's work-in-progress Wednesday, and I can't be the only person knitting as if my life depended on it, can I? Why not take some time to click through the links at Tami's Amis to see what other crafters are doing?!

FO: Cladonia Shawl

Pattern: Cladonia by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: Wellington Fibres 3 Ply (30% Mohair/70% Wool) in Leaf Green and Pearl Blue (these photos were taken in shade as the sun was really glaring and blowing out all the detail in the stitches; the actual yarn colours are somewhat less cold and dark)

Needle Size: US 7 (4.5 mm)

Modifications: Taking a tip from the notes of other Ravelers, for a bigger shawl I continued the stockinette stripes increasing to 35 sts between markers rather than 28sts.

I ran out of MC Blue yarn with 4 rows left of the lace section. If I'd had the energy I should have ripped back, reknit the set up rows in CC and then completed the lace section in MC before switching back again to CC immediately after the 16th row of lace. That might have been a little nicer.

Comments: Cladonia is a very pretty and very easy shawl to knit, although the endless stockinette stripes that make up the main body of the shawl are a bit tedious. The looped picot bind off was painful, but it gives it a light and frilly edge and sets off the lace panel well so it was worth the hours of my time.

There's a second Cladonia shawl on the horizon for me - I've promised one to Linda at work, and I have stash yarn for it. Because Linda is so tiny, I don't think I'll enlarge the striped section. Instead my priority will be getting every row of lace. Because the lace is lovely, isn't it?

This is my first experience knitting with mohair and I've enjoyed it. With 30% mohair content in this yarn there's a bit of a fuzziness evident across the stockinette section but not enough to obscure the pattern or the stripes. The finished shawl is very light and airy, but my goodness is it warm! The yarn had a lot of twist - which maybe helped the stitch definition - but it was at times a bit of a nuisance while knitting. Pretty colours though and what a pleasure to knit locally produced yarn. The angora goats from which the yarn was spun live just a short drive away in Elora.

Year of Projects 2

this Looped Picot Bindoff is taking FOREVER

Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901) • Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904) • Baby's Bootikin (1905) • Little Child's Sock (1907) • Infant's Fancy Silk Sock (1909) • Ladies Useful Stockings (1913) • Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

I haven't bothered with a new photo of my Little Child's Sock because there's not much new to see. There's been precious little time to knit, and what time I have had has been devoted to finishing up my Cladonia Shawl and making small items for the upcoming craft show. Fingers crossed that by the end of the day I can complete the looped picot bind off and block the shawl.

I'd dearly love to have Cladonia off the needles as I want to cast on Summer Flies. My original plan was to complete Summer Flies for my sister's birthday but I'm not sure how likely that is now. Can I start and finish a shawl in six days? I guess we're going to find out. Working in my favour is that I'm planning to knit it in DK weight so presumably it will knit up more quickly than a lace weight or fingering weight shawl. It will, won't it? It just has to!

Fortunately my startititis has subsided and I've been all about finishing the things I've started. Thank goodness. Mindful of the fact that the month end is looming, I'll be happier if I can bash out a bunch of Finished Objects and start June with a reasonably clear slate. I'm not sure how much more of my Year of Projects list will get done. Looking through the remaining patterns in Knitting Vintage Socks, I'm not really keen on what's left. After finishing the socks on needles now, I'm considering going back to Folk Knitting in Estonia to knit a few more patterns before calling it quits on these two books. 

Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Spiral Scrubbie and Topflappen

Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Swimming Pool Ombres colourway (which is more aqua and teal than shown)

Hook Size: G6 (4.25 mm)

Modifications: In both cases I've used a slightly smaller hook to yield a stiffer, denser fabric. Other than that the spiral scrubbie was worked exactly as written. For the dishcloth, the original pattern begins with a ring which I omitted, starting instead with CH2, 3 SC in second chain from hook, CH1, turn.

Comments: Both patterns rely on crocheting in the back loops to create their characteristic ridged texture; together they make a nice set, inspired by this Raveler's project photo.

When I posted that I was taking part in a craft show, several commenters remarked that dishcloths and spa cloths are good sellers. Thinking about how many requests I get for dishcloths, that's good advice. Until now I've been knitting dishcloths but now I think I'm convinced that crochet is the way to go if you want thick luxurious cloths like this. Oh my goodness, do they work up quickly! Good news considering the craft show is just a few weeks away. And isn't the Spiral Scrubbie attractive in variegated colourways?!

Happy Friday everyone and happy Memorial Day to my American friends. If you have a few minutes be sure to check out all the links over at Tami's Amis for Finished Object Friday. That's where I'm headed now!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

This morning I'm working on my Linen Stitch Coin Purse. The purse is knit in two pieces, seamed and then inserted into a 4 inch purse frame. As of this morning I've completed the knitting, seamed the purse, glued the fabric into the metal frame. With my very smallest sewing needle I've started hand sewing to secure the fabric through the pre-punched holes in the metal frame.

I've used Hand Maiden Sea Silk (fingering) left over from a Clapotis knit last year so this is a stash-busting project. The two pieces of this purse used 22 grams of yarn leaving me with enough to make one more. Knitting on 3.25 mm needles has resulted in a nice sturdy fabric in linen stitch.

When I was knitting the pieces I did notice that my overall width was 4.625" rather than 4". Being larger isn't much of a problem at the bottom of the purse below the frame but where the knitted work is inserted into the channels in the frame I had to force the excess width in resulting in some subtle puckering. When I do this again - and I will be doing it again because I have five more purse frames - I think I'll narrow the width by four stitches. And if you're interested, I ordered the frames here.

I used my sewing machine to stitch the bottom and side seams but that was a mistake. My machine struggled with the bulk of two thicknesses of linen stitch and it was hard to keep those seams straight. My bottom corners look a bit pointy but I'm hoping to block it to a more rectangular shape once I've got the purse securely sewn together. Next time I'm going to hand sew these seams. In the designer's photo her seams provide really nice bulk to the sides of the purse; nicer than had it been knit in the round.

On her purse the designer also added a fabric liner. My attempt was an epic fail but it would be a nice touch, so maybe I'll be more successful at this on my second time through the pattern.

I was really nervous about the step where I was to glue the purse into the frame but that ended up being easier than I feared. I used Super Tacky white craft glue - the stuff that dries clear. I thoroughly lined the channels in the metal frame using a toothpick to distribute the glue evenly. Then I jammed in the fabric, again using the toothpick to really force every edge in there. After letting it dry for about 20 hours it didn't look half bad. Once those edges are reinforced by sewing I'm going to see if I can't clean some last splotches of glue off the metal frame with rubbing alcohol.

Overall, there's room for improvement, but my worst fears have not been realized so I'm feeling pretty positive. It's work-in-progress Wednesday - you'll find plenty of inspiration in the links over at Tami's Amis!

Year of Projects 2: Little Child's Sock 02

Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901) • Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904) • Baby's Bootikin (1905) • Little Child's Sock (1907) • Infant's Fancy Silk Sock (1909) • Ladies Useful Stockings (1913) • Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

Here in Canada it's the Victoria Day long weekend, named for Queen Victoria and intended to mark her birthday on May 24th often with fireworks. It's also known as the May 2-4 long weekend by those who celebrate by opening their cottages for the summer season and drinking cases (2-4s) of beer at the dock and around the campfire. For gardeners it's the first weekend considered safe to transplant annual bedding plants that aren't frost-hardy. That's how I observe the holiday :)

I did make a start on my Little Child's Sock, knitting the ribbed cuff and the patterned band, but I'll confess I'm dragging my feet a bit, mostly because I'd like to get the "Tshark Socks" off the needles first. Any charcoal grey yarn leftover there would fit in nicely with the scraps making up this sock! In the meantime my first bit of sock one is in the garden posing with the hanging baskets.

I've also been suffering from a terrible case of start-itis. Or perhaps starting-and-not-finishing-itis. Seems like I'm using the upcoming craft sale as an excuse to try out every cute little tchotchke pattern that catches my eye. Maybe I can find some time tomorrow to finish a few things? Or at least show enough self-control not to start anything new?!

Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Sock Monkey Cup Cozy

Yarn: Briggs & Little Heritage from stash

Hook Sizes: H8 (5mm) and G6 (4.25 mm)

Modifications: none

Comments: When I was in New Brunswick last week I was inspired by similar cup cozies that were being knit by the Thrum Ladies and offered for sale in local craft markets. And then when I found this free pattern I knew I had to give it a try.

It's a pretty simple pattern and really well explained. I've learned a new skill - reverse SC - and I've also learned the right way to work SC2tog. There's a remark amongst the notes from Raveler's who've made this pattern to work the foundation chain row loosely. That's a good tip! The resulting cozy fits the cup snugly but it does need a bit of stretch at that first round.

In fact, after completing this first cozy I've made the pieces for several more. My plan is to have about a dozen finished in a handful of colours in time for a craft show in the third week of June. If I can finish them up this weekend then I can start making some other projects for sale - maybe some coin purses and some dishcloths? It's a long weekend in Canada and the weather looks awesome, so whatever your plans are, ENJOY! As always, check the links at Tami's Amis to see all kinds of great stuff!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

With quieter days at work this week, progress continues steadily on my Cladonia Shawl. "You must knit a sweater a week" remarked the Staples delivery guy yesterday. Some weeks I knit more than others - it just depends on the work.

The pattern directs to continue the increases through the striped section until you have 28 stitches between markers. I'm almost there - I've got 25 stitches between markers - but I think I'm going to follow the lead of other ravellers and lengthen the shawl by continuing to 35 stitches between markers. If work stays this quiet I might manage to reach the lace section by Friday. And then the fun begins!

I've also been working away at my Shark Week Socks but I'll spare you the picture. It's been more knit, rip, re-knit, rip than any real progress. Maybe this weekend I'll find some quiet time to sit down and get myself sorted out on this. The pattern is challenging, but it seems like I screw up the easy parts more than the hard parts, so it must just be me.

Between bouts of frustration with the Shark Week Socks I've been crocheting Sock Monkey Cup Cozies. My friend signed us up for a craft table at a local market in June, so I need to put together a few things to offer for sale. The pattern for these cozies is pretty simple, the finishing isn't bad and they work up pretty darned cute. My thinking was that they'd make a good teacher's gift when paired with a takeout cup and a coffee shop gift card. And it doesn't hurt that I seem to have a good selection of suitable yarn in my stash for them, either. Please don't hesitate to offer any pattern suggestions you have for craft sale items; it's my first sale, so I don't really know what will go and what won't.

That's my week this week. Looks like the weather's about to turn warmer and sunnier too! Don't forget it's Wednesday, and there's lots of great stuff to see at the links at Tami's Amis this Work-in-Progress Wednesday!

Year of Projects 2: Little Child's Sock

Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901) • Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904) • Baby's Bootikin (1905) • Little Child's Sock (1907) • Infant's Fancy Silk Sock (1909) • Ladies Useful Stockings (1913) • Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

I spent most of last week in New Brunswick with my brother, attending the launch of his second volume of short stories set at the McAdam Train Station - Abigail Massey at McAdam Station - and then traveling around the province with him to meet the vendors and do book-signings. It was a ton of fun and it's wonderful to see the money being raised to help restore a building that I think of as a National Treasure.

All the while in New Brunswick I was fighting a cold; by the time I got home I had to admit defeat. So the last several evenings have been spent with a box of Kleenex and a mug of Neo-Citran. I did manage to finish my Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks in time for a finished object Friday post, but little else has been accomplished knit-wise. For my Year of Projects I've managed to pick out my next pattern - Little Child's Sock - and assemble some yarn that I think may work. Nothing cast on. It's a pattern that I think works best with a solid or semi-solid yarn so I'm hoping that I can combine all these shades of grey (and some brown) to make a semi-solid effect.

At the same time I'm knitting away on a shawl at work. My "at home" knitting time is being devoted to "Tshark Socks" - and honestly, the pattern is so mind-bending that it needs my full attention. Could be I'll get somewhere with Little Child Socks when I need a break from shadow-wrapped short row shaping. I guess we'll find out by week's end!

Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel

Yarn: scraps of Mountain Color Bearfoot yarn, Wollemeisse Twin, Wandering Cat MCN, Koigu PPPM, and many other little scraps alternating with the main yarn - Kroy Sock Yarn Stripes.

Needles: size 2 (2.5 mm)

Modifications: none

Comments: Faced with almost two shoeboxes of sock yarn scraps, a vanilla sock pattern like this presents the perfect opportunity to work through some of them. In this case I grabbed 50 grams of self-striping Kroy sock yarn in a purple/pink/blue colourway and alternated with a half dozen complimentary coloured scrap yarns. Even so, it's a big sock with a long cuff, so I ran out of Kroy several rounds past the gusset decreases but maybe it's not too noticeable? Or maybe the colours in combination are so loud that you've gone blind?!

Speaking of the long cuff, this seems to be commonplace in the patterns collected in Knitting Vintage Socks. It's certainly a good idea when the leg is stockinette; this sock needs all the ribbing it can get to stay up. The jury is still out on the Dutch heel. It's fun to work, but I'm still not sure how comfortable it is. Kate Atherley claims it as her favourite heel turn - that's a pretty strong endorsement.

Once again it's Finished Object Friday over at Tami's Amis. Go on, have a look at the links posted there! If you're looking for me this morning I'll be at my nephew's school, taking in the year-end showcase.

Surmount the Stash 2013 May update

Volume 2 now on sale!

accomplished:

• Gentleman's Socks for Evening Wear were knit and then ripped out - should that count as "accomplished"? 
• Another pair of socks - Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks - have been knit from scraps, but more on that on Friday. 
• All the acrylic baby yarn is finished; there is a small pile of hats for my SIL who works in labour and delivery. 
• All the hexagons for my African Flower blanket are done, with ends woven end but I still need to buy yarn for the borders and joining.
• I did start and finish Ensnared Socks and they are gorgeous, even if they are too small.
• Shark Week Socks have been started (and I've only had to rip back once). 

nope:

• My weaving project is still sitting on the loom awaiting my attention. Maybe this weekend?

April was busy - at work and with personal design projects. The artist's portfolio book was printed and delivered in time for the gala reception held by my sister on the first of May, although I was hand-collating the night before! And my brother's second volume of short stories, Abigail Massey at McAdam Train Station Volume 2, was launched at a very successful event at the McAdam train station last Sunday. And finally I was able to deliver my secret Christmas 2012 knitting .... Star Trek socks for my brother and SIL, which were very well received!

goals for May:

• finish one pair of Shark Week Socks for Robin
• knit Summer Flies from 2 skeins of Shelridge Farm Soft Touch DK
• knit Cladonia from 2 skeins of Wellington Fibres 3 ply (that I WON in the raffle at the Frolic!)
• knit Totally Vanilla Socks for a Socktopus KAL that I rashly joined.