proof...

I really did finish that ‘antique lace’ cardigan – I finally got to wear it a few weeks back when I went out for dinner. It is really nice and I felt very feminine, comfortable, elegant and sophisticated all at the same time! It’s very lightweight and is really the perfect, warm weather cover-up – just what I was aiming for. When I did the sleeves, I was, at first going to do a short or elbow-length. After thinking about it, I decided that by making a 3/4 sleeve, I could still wear this  year round, especially for a holiday occasion and I’m glad I did.

I got my girlfriend to take some photos yesterday at our local Hillcrest Park, overlooking Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant (although I’ve probably cropped out evidence in these photos, but we also photo-ed two of the garments for the upcoming Fall 2012 POM – I’ll show those off later in the week and make sure to leave in some of  our local landscape!

to clear my name...

Well, I’ve been thinking about this for a while and wondering how to handle it…still not sure, but I think I should say something…the October issue of Knit’nStyle (#181) is out and usually I try not to be too picky – you know, so long as they spell my name right, I don’t really take offense to too much else and even if they miss the ‘e’ off Ann occasionally, I’m not really upset. And the hyphen thing, I just have to look the other way…and sometimes when they hand-knit-ify something, I do grimace a bit.
But I gotta tell ya, I’ve NEVER used the term ‘bind off’. I know that’s a strong word – never- and I have learned that it can be shorter than you’d think so I use it rarely - never, I mean.  I must admit, I don’t always read word for word what they’ve done to my stuff ‘cuz it can make me crazy, but this time, it's hard to miss.
Let me explain…my techniques article in the current issue…oh, let me go back a bit further… I did start a new series of articles back in #178 which I titled W-5 (What? When? Where? Which? Why?) and explained that I would give three or four methods of some technique (the what), then explain when and where to use which one and why and/or why not. I guess they didn’t get my Canadian humour of the W5 thing and they left that out so the articles just ended up with sort of lame titles, like ‘single-bed machine cast on methods’ – oh wow!! That’s a real MAO title (heavy sarcasm)!
So, when I sent in this article (cast-off methods which they shanged to 'bind off methods for mking'), I never thought (there's that word again!) to make sure they didn’t change anything important – I don’t get a final proof copy and I only get to see it when I get my comp copy about 3 to 4 weeks after the subscribers. The reason I’m saying this now - I mostly use a rather specific CAST OFF method that is an important part of my finishing techniques and a very crucial part of a lot of the trims and edgings that I’ve developed. If this MAO-approved method of CHAIN CAST OFF is not used, I am not responsible for whether your trim or edging lays flat or not. I do describe it in each pattern – the last row must be knit loose enough so when those stitches are chained off, it does not restrict the width of the finished edge. Though I have given other methods in this article, here’s the important part and what it should have said:
Chain Cast off
With practice, this is the quickest method and produces the softest, least-bulk cast-off. Basically the final row is knit by the carriage, providing an even stitch size and those stitches are chained off to finish the piece. Knit last row at a much looser tension, 2 to 3 numbers higher (for mid gauge machines) than the main tension. This should give a loose enough row to chain off without making the cast-off row too tight. A looser row can be obtained by removing the yarn from the overhead tension, dialing the loosest stitch size and hand feeding the yarn for the final row. If the main knitting is at a large stitch size and there is not room for the carriage to make the looser row, hand knit the final row, bringing the needle butts back appropriately to achieve the required stitch size. After knitting the row, break the yarn. Push all needles out with the work behind the latches. Beginning at the side away from the tail, with the latch tool, grab the first stitch and remove from needle. Push this stitch behind the latch of the tool and pick up the second stitch from the next needle. Pull the second stitch through the stitch on the tool, casting off the first stitch. Pick up third stitch and pull through second stitch on tool. Repeat across row, being careful not to pull the work off before all stitches are chained off. At end, pull tail of yarn through last stitch to lock. The evenness and stretchiness of this cast off relies on the size of the last row which must be loose enough to prevent unnecessary restriction. It can be used in any application, providing the last row is made in a suitable size. The chain of the final row will lay on the knit side of the work. If it is necessary to unravel this, it is very quick to release last loop and rip out.

blame it on the weather?

It’s been too hot here for too long and I’m not used to that… Or do I just have too much time on my hands? Whatever… I have just finished my next KnS project for the third time…Third time? You say. Yeah, third time and I’m packaging it up right now and sending it off before I have time to change my mind again. Sheesh, this never used to happen. 
But I did learn a few things – the best way to make a buttonhole in a single layer fabric – you’ll see when the pattern comes out – I feel absolutely brilliant – no sewing, no pick-ups, no tails to darn in.
 – when you need to add a new ball of yarn, move the carriage to the other side and start it there so the tails are on opposite sides – if it’s a sleeve, this is like making yarn marks for aligning the seam (good stuff) and if it’s a cardigan front, having the tails at either side means weaving them in at either side instead of having two tails to get rid of in the same place.
I also learned that there is no point in trying to use the garter bar to make half a row of garter stitch – I won’t explain that because it’s just makes more work, trust me... and I learned there is no point trying to have straight hair in this weather…

Update (better late...)

Well, I didn’t fall off the face of the earth – actually I fell off my bike the other day, but that has nothing to do with this…
Guess I just didn’t have much to say – I have been knitting too!
I did finish the ‘Antique’ lace cardigan although it overlapped with my last KnS project. I did the split sleeve, buttoning it over the top of the arm and used another lace pattern – very open, lots of holes with the purl side as the outside. And no, it’s not going to be a pattern of the month – too much stuff happening to write that one up – it will be my own personal one-off. No photo yet, sorry.
For KnS #182 I did a hand-transferred lace tunic – I actually made a prototype for myself, experimenting as I went, of course, and then re-doing it for the magazine in the proper yarn. I used Forsell’s Touch of Silk DK for mine and then used Austermann Alpaca Silk DK in sienna for the magazine – it is a tunic/dress that I picture wearing with leggings or tights – I changed the length twice, re-designed the neckline twice – first had a cowl neck, decided it was too much, ripped it off and just made a roll neck – the mag version has a nice stockinette band finishing the neck - made the sleeves twice, again too much happening; re-designed them again for the magazine version – that one has cute little cap sleeves suitable for younger arms than mine. I was really pleased with both and it will be interesting to see how they photo/style the KnS one. It’s for the December issue which comes out in October I believe and we were supposed to have a bit of a holiday theme to the garment – I thought it would be a nice addition to a wintery wardrobe and have lots of possibilities for accessorizing for the holiday season. With the summer weather here now, it’s hard to imagine wearing either of them but it will be here soon enough!
Oh and KnS (Knit'nStyle in case you haven't been following) has renewed my contracts for another year – guess somebody likes me. And they've asked for small projects as well as the standard garment and article per issue, so, we'll (me and my LK) will be there!
Then I was rummaging through my stash and I found a big cone of cotton denim bouclé that was from the Bonnie Triola Yarn days – I loved that stuff and in fact, made a long, lace skirt (it was in the Sassy Skirts, 2005) that I still wear – in fact, it’s my favourite travelling skirt – I usually wear it when I’m driving long distance – it’s totally comfortable, good for any weather and still looks good when you arrive – what more could you want? It has faded nicely, just like denim should. I debated what to make – another skirt, maybe knee length? Or a summer cardigan of lace – that won out and I love it!! This will be a POM for sure – just need to come up with a suitable yarn…that one was discontinued long ago…

what’s in a name?

Just returned from the Denver seminar – Hi to all my new readers! We had a fun time and they put on a great potluck lunch - I always like seeing what people in different areas bring and I usually call out for some recipes – the desserts were awesome – Hey Ellen, I’m waiting for the blueberry/oatmeal recipe!

I almost finished up that ivory thing - without the sleeves – couldn’t decide what I wanted but thought I’d take it with me and bounce around a few ideas – they really liked it and while I was knitting, I tossed out a few names, like ‘meringue’ and ‘cream confection’ but they thought it looked like a vintage lace sampler so I’m now thinking ‘Vintage’ or ‘Antique’. I had a back-up plan in case the various shades of cream didn’t work – back in the day, when it was very hard to get a nude-coloured bra, I would soak a white one in strong tea, and it would come out a nice skin-tone but everyone agreed that all the shades were fine just the way they are.

I’ll do a elbow length sleeve with an open part at the top - maybe like ‘Lulu’ (No 43) or ‘Best Bib ‘n Tucker’ (No 46) or a combo of the two ideas – you see that on lots of things lately and I’ll experiment a bit first. I’ll make sure and post a final photo, wearing it, so you can see how light and airy it really is.

Happy Mother’s Day!

confessions of a machineaholic....

I didn’t wanna be just a knitaholic – too generic! Anyway, you may not want to hear all this so, be warned, you can quit reading now if you’re easily bored.
So, I had this idea and as ideas go, remember it’s just thoughts, meaning I can go anywhere with it. I’m talking about that last sketch ('what's on deck' - Mar 30/12) I tossed out there, with the 7 ivory yarns. I swatched and swatched and then looked, rearranged and looked some more. I call that percolating…I had wide ribs in WCD (not loose enough); tried adding tucks on the main bed stitches (didn’t like what happened to the ribs); changed the ribs to longstitch (really not right and realized I didn’t like the texture of the WCD); switched to a thinner cotton yarn (Yeoman’s Brittany 2 ply), changed the needle arrangement slightly, played with stitch size and one-row-tuck or not and got a winner for the bottom section – it’s 5 knit, 3 purl with a tuck on the 5 knit stitches – so, on the main bed there is 5 in work, 2 out all across and 3 in work on the rib bed in the place of the 2 out of work main bed needles – swing H, of course, side facing on machine is right side.
Made more swatches with some of the other yarns – that darn Silk Bourette and WCD which were my original first picks  got weeded out - not the right thinness or texture even with lace or slip. Added in some Mini Dina that had previously been hiding (you know how that is) and swatched some more.  Threw them all together, moved them up and down, stood back, held them up – arrrggghhh!!! Then I sat back and thought some more. Honed in on the basic idea and realized what I was really looking for was a loose, airy, lightweight cardigan to use as a cover-up for the coming hot weather. Made a few more swatches and thought I was on the right track.

I got knitting the actual project by making all 4 bottom sections of the tuck rib – the back needed to be made in 2 pieces with a centre seam to get the width I wanted for the hem line – so I took each one off on a garter bar piece to save some time with the rehanging of that. Then I hung 2 pieces for the back, did the hand work of Batttenburg; remove, turn, rehang, reduce and knit the slip stitch, RTR’d again; knit some lace in WCD in the opposing blocks pattern, took it off on waste yarn to have a good look at it and saw where it went wrong.

So, here’s what I’ve got now – the bottom tuck/rib, side facing is right side. Then, I threw in a little Battenburg using the 3 ply mercerized cotton – this is a hand transferred lace (see KnS #180 or Knitwords # 39), side away is right side, so the first section needs to be turned and rehung, decreasing across the row to match the width required for Battenburg – not to mention the fact that the stitch and row gauge of each swatch is different – then next section is a slip stitch with Skinny Majesty (side facing is right side) followed by a little Mazatlan (lace carriage, KW#45) and then some more of that slip pattern with the 3 ply cotton to finish off the top. Did I mention that I’m also switching between using my EC1/PE1 for some stitch patterns and then DAK knit-from-screen for the others? To keep track of the shape, fortunately I’ve got the KR11 and just have to change the stitch and row gauge for each different stitch...

I’ve got the perfect beautiful little shell buttons that I bought years ago in England – will need to play a bit again to decide on the neck/bands – I’m currently favouring the tubular band from Geezer, No 50, using the 3 ply cotton – but it’ll be up to the swatches!

sometimes you don’t have to re-invent the wheel…

I wanted to do a quickie – you know, no fuss, no muss.  I was going to make ‘Gossamer’ for a gift for my daughter-in-law – she tried on the last one, the charcoal Naturell  (see 'rural route') and she really liked it except it was a bit big in the bust and a bit short – she’s much taller than me, like about 5’6 – 5’7 so it would be nice if it were longer and of course, the sleeves should be longer as well – it was starting to sound like a lot of changes and maybe re-drafting the whole thing… I decided to chance it and live on the edge!
I made the smaller size, but set my tension one dot (only one dot, not a full number) higher (looser) than the pattern/gauge called for and it’s perfect!! The finished garment is about 10 cm longer, the sleeves are just right, it’s all good!
While I was rote-knitting this, no thinking involved, I got a better vision of my 7-yarn project and I’m now busy with that  - tell you more, when I’ve finished, later this week!