September 9, 2005
An All New Shrug
Ok, so it really isn't all new, but it is improved. I got some elastic yesterday and last night after karate treaded that little stuff in the top and the bottom of the Ruffle Shrug according to Grumperina. You gotta love that Grumperina - she really is a genius. Here's how it looks now:
A closer view:
And finally, a front shot with a smiling face, just so you all don't think I'm a complete grouch.
The elastic helped, no? It fits much better across the back - no more gapping. I have to say, I'm happy with this project. I'm headed to my in-laws for the weekend, but hope to have some knitting time while I'm there and on the trip to and from. My goal is to finish the back of Ronnie and the first half of Backyard Leaves. Only then will I allow myself to swatch for Frieda. Have a great weekend and don't forget to relax and knit a bit.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:59 AM | Comments (21)September 7, 2005
Ruffle Shrug
The Ruffle Shrug is finished, or mostly finished.
I'm not crazy about the back, but it needs some elastic ala Grumperina, which I hope will help a little bit with the tendency to be uneven and to bag when I stand up straight. After I put that in it needs a good blocking. I ended up using a three needle bind off, which left a seam, but at least the ribbing matches up.
Pattern Specs:
Pattern: Shrug from Purly Whites
Ruffle: Eyelette Point Ruffle from Knitting on the Edge
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine in Cream - 6 balls
Needles: Size 5 Lantern Moons
Thoughts: Overall I'm happy with this project. I need to fix the back and should have done the three needle bind off at one ruffle to hide it a bit. If I can get some elastic to fix the back and give it a good blocking (I didn't do that because I was anxious to show you), I'll be much happier with it. The sleeves are snug when I first put it on, but the cotton stretches, so I think the fit will be good. I deliberately made the sleeves long because I like long sleeves.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:50 AM | Comments (21)September 6, 2005
Grafting?
I suck at it. Despite excellent instructions from Pumpkin Mama and instructions with pictures from Claudia I still couldn't get it right. I now understand the concept, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why my ribs won't line up.
I tried it twice and it was the same both times - ribs that don't match up. Any of you knitting geniuses out there have an idea of what I'm doing wrong? Any advise is greatly appreciated. The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques suggests knitting a couple of rows in waste yarn and binding off and then using those stitches as a guide for grafting. It's next on my list to try if I can't come up with a better solution.
Backyard Leaves and I had a bit of a trying weekend. Every single time I picked it up to knit on it I made some stupid mistake and had to rip back to fix it. So, I finished the fifth repeat and put it away for a couple of days. I took Ronnie out and am working on it this week on my commute - nothing beats stockinette stitch for mindless, mistake-proof knitting (aka stupid knitting!). Maybe I will be able to finish the back and will be closer to having one Christmas gift finihsed.
My relaxing weekend really didn't turn out to be that relaxing. Travis decided that we needed to paint the trim, front door, and porch this weekend. Super fun. So, Saturday I painted the door, went for a run, and got my hair done (that part was relaxing, but that's where the problems with Backyard Leaves started). Sunday, more painting and then there was some hay hauling, and another run. Oh, and if you haven't made Dani's cookies (the recipe is in the August 10th post), you really should. They're fabulous. Yesterday was painting and knitting (mostly to fix Backyard Leaves and trying to graft that stupid Shrug). All in all it was a very productive weekend, just not the relaxing one I had in mind. Today is Monday on Tuesday, so who knows what craziness will ensue, but you can bet there'll be some. Have a great day, and happy knitting.
Posted by Stephanie at 8:16 AM | Comments (13)August 16, 2005
Thoughts On Grafting
So last night I'm just cruising along on my k2p2 shrug and I'm almost to the shoulder and I'm still on the second ball of yarn. I'm thinking "this is great, I'm totally going to have enough yarn." Then reality crashes down on me. In a moment of clarity I realize that my bicept is 10 inches and the ribbing when stretched is somewhere between 7 and 8 inches (7 slightly stretched, 8 pretty stretched). Dun, da, dun... I need to increase after I get to the elbow length. Crap, crap, crap. So, this morning (after a restless night thinking about how stupid I am) I rip out about 8 inches of ribbing (it's a lot faster to rip it than to knit it - which I'm sure you already knew about) and calculate the "proper" spacing and manner for my increases. Not too difficult - just some M1s at the end of 2 consecutive rows (makes it easier to stay in pattern and you don't have to M1 in a purl stitch - I'm sure this is going to have to change as I add stitches, but I figure I'll work it out when I get there) until I have 2 more inches of ribbing, but now I just have to reknit those 8 inches. I imagine I'll be back to where I started sometime tonight. Lovely.
So, now on to my grafting questions. The ruffle I chose must be knit from the bottom up. This means that I will have to attach it to the ribbing somehow. It occurs to me that grafting might be a better choice than a 3 needle bind off because the first ruffle is knit and goes right into the ribbing - no seam. Now, the questions. 1) Can you graft k2p2 ribbing? Vogue Knitting has directions for grafting k1p1 ribbing, but is the concept the same? (I know, I really should have considered this before I started, but...) 2) Should I graft (if I can graft) at the ruffle or should I make 2 sleeves and graft them together in the middle of the back? Or, would a 3 needle bind off be more appropriate in the back of the shrug? 3) Am I insane for not thinking of these questions before I started? (clearly, yes) And should I admit defeat now before it gets nasty?
Thanks for you help, once again. Have a great day. Tonight we will see how blocking the dickens out of the Zip Cardi worked. Keep your fingers crossed.
Posted by Stephanie at 8:27 AM | Comments (8)August 14, 2005
Rainbow Sherbet
The Sherbet Socks are finished and overall I'm pleased with them.
They almost match exactly - the heel is a little bit different, but pretty good for my first attempt at matching self-striping socks. Doncha think?
Specs:
Yarn - Lana Grossa which I received as a gift from Jenn
Needles - size 1 Lantern Moon dpns
Pattern - MagKnits
Modifications - I didn't add the pompoms on the heels - not really my thing and I changed the bind-off from a purlwise bindoff to the Elizabeth Zimmermann stretchy bind-off. I really don't know how else you'd bind off on a toe up sock and still be able to get it on. Anyone have suggestions? I made an error on the first sock and started with too few stitches on my figure 8 cast-on, so that toe is a bit pointy. I also decreased 8 stitches on the ribbing on the first sock because it was really baggy on my chicken legs. On the second sock I decreased 16 stitches before I started the ribbing, which makes them unidentical, but the second one fits a bit better.
So, on to the Shug. I cast-on yesterday morning and last night I started the second ball of yarn.
I think I might be short on yarn. I have 6 balls, but I think the ruffle used more than I anticipated.
I'm going to see how far I get on the second ball and then if I'm less than a third of the way done, I'll see if I can still get a couple more balls in the same dye lot.
I'm off to do laundry and clean up my messy house (and knit some more on the shrug of course). Have a great Sunday.
Posted by Stephanie at 10:03 AM | Comments (12)
