I did mention (over at wabisabi) that I was currently obsessed with reworking Elizabeth Zimmermann's Maltese Fisherman Hat. This is the latest one to be finished (and there was a lovely purple/blue one before that, just not enough time to photograph it!)
I suppose I shouldn't say it's 100 per cent done, because I do have to find a button for it -- one of the changes I've made is that I can button up the flaps if the day is warmer.
And, of course, I've started Yet Another One:
And although I'm not one for doing any Christmas knitting, I did break down and decide to make a Humpty Dumpty Santa for my sister, who collects Santa Clauses:
Hmm. Thought I'd edited the photo for that, but I must have done something screwy with it. As usual. Photo of the Santa to come.
Apart from that, I've still got all those things listed in my previous post on the go, though I've made progress on a few of them, the socks and the eros shawl in particular.
I sat down the other day and made a list of all my current Works in Progress, as well as a few things I would like to do once I finish some things up. Pictures to follow, I can't seem to get anything co-ordinated these days. It's not jet lag, it's just....Toronto. You know what I mean...
Primo:
Shawl made out of Eros. Knit mesh. My mum bought the yarn and wanted the shawl, but couldn't manage the yo, k2tog in the Eros, so I'm knitting it for her. Colour is black and silver.
Secondo:
A neat stripey sweater for my niece from one of the latest Phildar books for kids. It just needs to be washed and dressed and wrapped for Christmas.
Tertio:
Rowan Caterpillar Sweater -- I've got the back done and the front started. There is a mistake. I mistook a black glitter yarn for a navy glitter yarn. It's hard to see the difference. I'm leaving it as a feature, especially as there was supposed to be too much black called for in the pattern anyway.
I *really* like this sweater.
Fourth-io:
Another Janda sweater. I liked the first one so much, I'm making one in orange...or, more exactly, the body is a variegated orange, and the sleeves and hood are a solid one. I do need to lengthen it a smidge, but I'm not sure if I'll have enough of the yarn -- I'm using a Plassard yarn that I bought days before we moved.
And I never did photograph my first Janda, in the same yarn -- it was made pretty much in the week the move took place, don't think I've knit *that* fast in a very long time.
Fifth-io:
A felted bag using Julie's (BoogaJ) pattern. I'd been interested in making this for a while, but having no immediate access to Kureyon, and having only a front-loading washing machine, I'd just set the idea aside.
We moved into our temporary housing with its top-loader, so I splurged on three balls of Kureyon and made the bag. It just needs grommets, which we haven't found yet. Well, we saw small ugly ones at Micheals on the week-end, but...
Speaking of yarn splurges, I haven't. That's been it. I'm not officially on a yarn diet, but we did buy a house, after all...
Sixth-io:
A sweater for The Other, in a new-this-season wool blend from Plassard, pattern from the first pattern book they've ever produced for men. (Note to The Other: I bet you thought I'd forgotten about this one, eh?)
E-I-E-io:
A pair of socks out of a flashy Opal yarn bought at their factory store in July. Flashy in terms of colour, not glitter. Though I've got some of that in the stash, whenever it arrives.
Green grow the rushes-io:
The Reef sweater by Alice Starmore, also for my niece. I got most of the body done before we moved, and it arrived in our air shipment, though I've been too tired to work on fair-isle lately. I also need to get access to a sewing machine to sew the steeks. I've been thinking of buying a portable sewing machine that I could take to courses, since my machine is just too heavy. If you have a suggestion for a good-quality, not too expensive and very portable machine, kindly leave it in the comments.
Last but not least-io:
How could I have forgotten? I'm making a sweater out of the latest Rowan book -- Yarn is Cork, colour is Sour. A fabbo green. Unfortunately, I'd not counted on the fact that I haven't been able to lose any weight, try as I might. This is the first time in years that I've made something based on the idea that I might fit into it Someday. Stupid, I know. I'll sell it in the end if I have to, or give it to someone it'll fit.
That just leaves my Wish List:
1. The Birch shawl from the latest Rowan book. I bought the yarn in London on the way to Toronto. The only reason this hasn't been started is that I don't have the right size of needles with me.
2. A scarf for The Other. Those who followed my Advent Blog last year might remember my Oxford Scarf pattern, a seaman's scarf variation made with Missoni Oxford yarn. The Other lost the original the first week we arrived, so I've been itching to replace it with the yarn I thought might make a good substitute for the Oxford -- it's College by Filatura di Crosa, and there's a great orange-y colour that would be perfect.
3. A scarf for myself. Silly me, forgot to pack one.
4. A Maltese Fisherman's hat variation for me -- I couldn't find the notes for the version I engineered based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's original, and then I didn't even pack my copy of Knitter's Almanac so I could re-do it from scratch. I refuse to buy another copy. I tried the library, but haven't had the time to go consult the ONE copy that's left, in the reference branch.
It's been kind of discouraging to consult the on-line catalogue and to see all the great knitting books that have gone missing. I'm sure other things go missing, too, but so far in my searches, the knitting books stand out, especially Certain Ones.
Though I managed to place a hold on that copy of Woolcraft that's OP :-)
5. Mittens for me. I have a pattern with me, just need a bit of yarn. Not a priority, but soon, soon.
There are works in progress over here -- the Colinette jacket has its crochet trim, though I'm not happy with the fronts, even though the neck, sleeves, and bottom border is nice. Blocking time.
I've started sewing up the Colinette swing coat -- both shoulders are sewn together, I've almost got one sleeve done. This is a bit fiddly and time consuming, because the sleeve has to be eased into the armscye, without making a lumpy ripple.
I've got the mohair for the fringe on the throw, just need to cut and tie.
I'd really like to get these three done, washed, and blocked before the movers arrive next week. I'm not sure I can do it, but it would be so nice to have these things accomplished.
I suddenly realized there was no ring code on this page, and for the life of me I can't figure out how to get it there.
So I've switched it back to Wabi Sabi, and will try to figure out another solution.
In the meantime, I've been crocheting around the edge of the Colinette jacket (scroll down). I like the colour, I kind of like the look, but I have to smoosh the edges so they lie flat, otherwise they kind of...well...they ripple.
This, though, is better than all the curling that was happening before.
...you were surfing the web ring and expected to see my Wabi Sabi blog, and wondered what happened...
I lose my 'net access in two weeks. Probably less than two weeks, as this also depends on when the movers want to pack up our air shipment, which will include the computer.
In the meantime, I am working away on the projects listed below -- made it to the yarn shop yesterday, found what I needed to take them into the home stretch, so this week they should be done!
Now, I need to decide if it's time to call in Saint Anthony to help me find my knitting notebook, my size 8mm dpns, and the Diva-clone yarn I know is here in the apartment *some*where.
1. Rowan Felted Tweed Sweater: Done, washed, ready to wear!
2. Colinette Jacket: All seams sewn, all ends worked in, just have to get some yarn and a crochet hook to try to do the edging. This means a trip to the yarn shop, when I have a moment.
So, back to the abandoned objects box I went:
3. Colinette AbFab afghan
This is kind of a symbolic project for me. I bought the kit as a kind of reward just before we moved over here. I wound the yarn, and put it, the pattern, and the needle in my suitcase.
It was my jet-lag and get adapted knitting in the early days that we were here.
Why did I abandon it? I don't know. It doesn't fit the general rules I discovered when I sorted through things. I do know I ended up quite sick for close to a year, and a bunch of stuff got set aside then, so I'm assuming this was part of that.
I took it out, realized there wasn't much left to do, and finished knitting it Sunday night.
It just needs the trim. I need a crochet hook for that. I don't have one big enough, the only crochet hooks I have are finer. I can use the same one I get for the Colinette jacket to finish this.
I've also decided I only want it fringed in mohair, so I'm going to buy some plain mohair in colours to coordinate with the variegated mohairs I have leftover from the kit, to make them go a little farther.
I really love this afghan. The colourway is "Versace" -- I'd always been a fan of the late Gianni Versace, and I continue to admire what his sister Donatella does. The colours in this are so perfect, and it seems quite appropriate to be finishing it now, just before we move back to Canada.
The Other wants it put in our air shipment. He likes.
4. Colinette Isis Swing Coat
I bought the yarn for this back in Canada, too (remember, I used to work in a shop, and got a discount!).
It was a bit of a splurge. We'd had a customer order 10 hanks of Isis in the colourway Venezia to make this same coat -- we had it on display in the shop, and she decided she wanted Exactly the Same Thing.
Except, if you're familiar with Colinette, you know that the colours can differ dramatically from dyelot to dyelot. This lot came in, but the customer found it too turquoise.
To me, it looked EXACTLY like venetian glass. Rather than send it back for an exchange, I took this lot, and she ordered again to try to get what she wanted.
The slight challenge with this is that even within this dyelot, there's a variation. Several of the hanks were more red/dark blue. I tried working two slightly different hanks together, but found it just looked blah.
So what I did, and I think you can see this in the picture, is I started with the darker skeins near the bottom, and gradually worked upwards to the more turquoise skeins.
It's more subtle in person than in the photo, but you can still see that happening.
Why did I abandon? I discovered another reason -- I get started on something too close to a major change or happening. I think I was zooming along on this, then made a trip back to Canada, which meant that things were in a bit of upheaval for close to a month. I never seem to get back to things when that happens.
I finished the sleeve last night, so it just needs seaming. Again, a trip to the yarn shop, because I'm NOT going to seem it with the Isis. I'm wavering between cotton and wool. Cotton for stability, wool because the Isis is very drapey, and might need a seem that's more giving.
Over on my wabisabi blog, I wrote about curbing startitis, and how moving has had me look seriously at the projects I abandoned.
I also mentioned that although I'd ripped most of them out, I did keep a few aside to finish. Because I've been dead sick with bronchitis for close to two weeks (well, the bronchitis just this week, but it all started last week), and because I'm still caught up in moving details, I've had very little energy to even knit at all.
But some of these Previously Abandoned Objects (The Other will note that this acronym is PAO :-) were actually perfect for this situation.
The first of these is the "Mandarin Blues" sweater from Knitter's Fall 2002 (K68). I'd knit the front, back, and part of one sleeve. I abandoned it because I couldn't find the rest of the yarn I knew I had, and it didn't turn up until just recently. But I actually kind of liked it, so thought it worth finishing.
I'll declare my bias up front: I'm not a big fan of this magazine, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is I don't find the patterns well written. There are lots of mistakes in this one (actual bits of pattern missing, so if you're not a reasonably confident knitter you might have some problems with it). And I always find that they either recommend either too much yarn or not enough. I made a vest a couple of years ago, and scrambled around to find 3 more balls of the yarn called for -- I had all but 3 balls, and really wanted to make it.
Not only did I not need the three balls, but I had three leftover from what I already had.
In this case, I had 8 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed, as called for in the pattern. I'd bought it for something else, which no longer appealed to me, so it seemed fate was throwing this pattern my way.
Except, I used absolutely every bit of those 8 balls. There are a few scraps left, but other than that, it seemed for a while to be a near thing.
And the problem with that is that the next size up also calls for 8 balls. If I'd made *that* size, I would have run out of yarn. And my gauge is on, the measurements are perfect.
The other thing is, Felted Tweed is a soft, drapey, limp yarn. There isn't enough garter stitch on the edges to stop it from curling, both at the bottoms, and at the back of the neck. I would definitely add a few more rows if I had the yarn to do it.
I'm hoping that blocking the hem severly will help with this, but I'm resigned to the fact that it will probably still roll.
That's okay. It's not a beautiful sweater on me, but it doesn't look bad, and, most importantly, it's *very* warm and cozy. It's too warm for the climate here in Lyon, but it'll be perfect once we move back to Canada. (In a month. Gulp.)
This picture will give you a better idea of the colour -- it's a pretty grey flannel with nubs of white and blue:
2. Colinette Jacket
The reason this is only 90% finished is that I've still got one side to sew up. I'd sewed the armholes to the body bits, then left it.
Why? Because it's heavy. It's supposed to have a collar and a button band, but it's too heavy to wear as a Real Cardigan. It's one strand of Point Five and one strand of Fandango held together.
It's actually really pretty, very dramatic, the picture is close on the colour, but in person, it's quite stunning.
But I was discouraged. It was too chunky as a cardigan. I didn't rip it out though, because I really loved the fabric and the colours.
I finally came up with a solution last week. Instead of a cardigan, it's going to be a little jacket. No bands, no buttons. They only thing I think I'm going to do is to crochet around all the edges to stop them from curling (front bands) and drooping (neck). I hope this doesn't give it a homespun kind of look, but that's the best solution I have at the moment.
The Other also suggested a couple of I-cord ties. I'm not sure I want ties, but I also think he may have an idea there. I'm going to look in Nicky Epstein's book of embellishments to see if there might be a more appropriate solution.
It breaks a bit in the knitting. I'm wondering if that's not how the hole came about.
But the knitting is done, and one of the sleeves is sewn in. It's slow work, the sleeve is kind of a funny set-in dropped shoulder thingee, and the front has two layers where the yoke crosses over, so I've been taking care to try to get it all to sit right.
Hopefully I'll get the other sleeve in tomorrow...
This feels really good, you know. Now, if only the sweater is as cosy and comfortable as the yarn feels.
After the Great Pre-Move Clean-Up, I still can't find a lot of things. I have a little notebook with patterns I've engineered or re-engineered, and it's disappeared into the void. I'd like to find it, because I reworked EZ's Maltese fisherman's hat to, among other things, include a buttonhole, and although I could figure it out again, I don't really want to.
And I still can't find the needles I'd need to make this either. Where in the world could 8mm dpns disappear to?
But in the midst of organizing, I set aside a number of abandoned projects that I thought were worth finishing. One of these was a sweater from Knitters magazine, which I'd set aside because I couldn't find the last two balls of Rowan Felted Tweed I *knew* I had.
I found them in the clean-up, and it's turned out to be a good project. Most of the challenging stuff (and there wasn't much) is already done. I did find a HOLE in one of the pieces. No idea where it came from. This has got me a bit nervous, because I have had an invasion, which I thought I'd dealt with. I'm hoping I just cut it accidently.
Really.
But I decided that since it was in the right front shoulder, and in pattern, that a repair job just wouldn't do. I ripped back, and reknit. It wasn't bad, only fourteen rows, and it was fairly easy to figure out the pattern to finish it off.
I did the neck border yesterday -- I was still a bit concerned about the amount of yarn (this is one of my peeves with Knitters, the patterns either call for far too much or far too little yarn. I had exactly the amount called for, and it's going to be a very near thing in the end...), so figured I could live with 3/4 sleeves if I had to. Fashion Statement and all that.
One sleeve was partway knit -- I started the second one, and as I worked on it, managed to figure out where I was with the first one (yes, of course, all notes have disappeared). I'm back to working on the first sleeve, and when I get them both to the same point, I'll see if I have enough yarn to make the sleeves longer.
I've been Very Ill with a cold and laryngitis this past week, so no pictures until I finish. Hopefully in the next couple of days, and, fingers crossed, after this cold disappears. Please? I don't have time to be sick right now...
FibreFest North A knitting/spinning retreat weekend in October 2008 (date subject to confirmation), being held at the Waterview Resort near Wiarton, Ontario.
Knitterguy Ted's blog; mainly fibre (knitting and spinning) but lots of other topics too.
Recent Comments