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December 30, 2003
Scarf Pattern
Not really a pattern - <a href="http://debcodding.com/myscarf.jpg">it was straight garter stitch</a> which was perfect for the texture and color of the yarn I used. The yarn was handspun/hand dyed wool which varied from sock to DK weight. I used size 11 (US) needles so it would be fairly loose. Cast on 30 stitches, knit each row (garter stitch) until you get it the length you want it. I have found that the length from your shoulder to the floor makes a perfect length for the average scarf (allows it to wrap twice and then hang some).
The edging was a little trickier. I used an E size crotchet hook and made a triangle shaped scallop. The multiple is five so you will end up with six triangles. Single crotchet, chain one, double crotchet, chain one, triple crotchet, chain one, double crotchet, chain one, single crotchet. Repeat five more times. It lays in nice flat triangles but I decided to further add tassles.
Posted by DebC at 04:06 AM
December 27, 2003
How do you spell relief?
D-O-N-E! Unbelievable. I have earned every inch of this scarf and despite all the reincarnations, it turned out beautifully! I never did find an edging I liked, so I invented my own. I was going for a triangle scallop and that is what I got. Woohoo go me! I did have one further disaster right at the very end though. I was trying to stretch out the cast on edge just a bit because I am terrible about casting on too tightly. It snapped. So, I did a fast pull together tie up job and salvaged it well enough that no one but me (and you) will ever know.
Posted by DebC at 01:57 PM | Comments (2)
December 18, 2003
Woo Hoo, check it out!
An online acquaintance tarted up the place. I love it - thank you so much Heather!
You may recognize the bit of knitting in the title bars and banner as "the scarf". I thought it only fitting that it go down in history, not to mention, I just plain love that yarn. By the way, the scarf is now 39 inches long and has been frogged four times. This time is a keeper though. I plan to invent some cool crotcheted edge for it. I wanted to do a really triangle shaped scallop but doncha know, can't find anything in any of my dozen knit/crotchet books. Figures. So what I think I will do is sc, ch, dc, ch, tc, ch, dc, ch, sc, rinse, lather, repeat. That should give me what I think I want. I will model it when it is done. It has to be done ASAP because we just had our first real cold snap. It went from 70's to 35-45 degrees overnight and has stuck.
All three boys have watched me do my scarf and Elenore's scarf and now want one of their own. They will be quick, so I will do them with matching hats. I would really like to try my hand at mitten making as well.
I decided not to do anymore Christmas tree hats though. Maybe next year. I want to find some less scratchy yarn. That is the hardest part of shopping online. No touchie feely.
Oh my. I am trying darn hard not to watch Trista and Ryan's wedding but ... could it possibly be any more vomitous?
Posted by DebC at 08:33 PM
December 07, 2003
Scarf in progress
No, not THAT one. Sigh. I decided to use this fabulous Italian yarn I got while traveling for a Christmas present for my nanny. The second I started knitting it, I knew it would make a fantastic coat. The colors are soooooo warm. The material is coming out almost as though it were slightly felted. It is a boucle called Carezza (Pumpkin) by Filatura Di Crosa. It is 85% wool, but the thread is acrylic. It is super soft - you just want to put your face into it. I am making the scarf on the skinny side because the material is fairly bulky (12 st/ 4 in on size 10), but I will make it long enough to wrap twice if she wants. I am going to put a fairly short, loose fringe on the bottoms too. Here is what it looks like so far:
<img src=http://debcodding.com/elenorescarf.jpg></a><br>
I am hunting around now for some more polar weight yarn or boucle to do a coat - there is a zippered cardigan pattern in the new Vogue Knitting (page 53) that I wanted to do for myself. My apologies to Vogue for lifting the picture but click on it for the link to their homepage.
<a href="http://www.vogueknitting.com/homepage.html"><img src="http://www.vogueknitting.com/vkm/preview/2003/H03/VKH03YOUNG07.jpg"></a>
Posted by DebC at 10:15 PM
December 02, 2003
All finished
Just in time for her baby shower tomorrow. It's amazing how fast the second item goes when you aren't poring through all your knitting books to confirm this abbreviation or that technique. Here is a picture of the whole set.
Posted by DebC at 07:56 PM | Comments (3)
I did it!
Lookie, lookie:
That wrapped stitch business was a total brainbender for me (you might even say that I had trouble wrapping my brain around it hahahahahaha). But thanks to Wool Works, I got a step by step guide.
Now all I have to do is the OTHER one. Ciao.
Posted by DebC at 12:04 AM
December 01, 2003
I'm doing it, doing it
Picking my nose and chew-in it, chew-in it...OH SORRY I mean, I am whizzing through my first ever pair of socks. {secretly wipes fingers on pants}.
Okay, I should fess up and say that they are BABY socks hahahahaha, but hey, they are still socks. I am nearly done with the foot part and anxiously approaching the short row heel thing-a-mabobber. The best part about learning on a baby sock is that they are so dang fast!
Also, I finished one christmas tree hat and it is way too cute (pattern here). It took me about three hours (on and off of course) using size 4 DPN's and an almost chunky yarn (4 st to an inch on size 9). It may have been even faster but I forgot to take my tapestry needle (total joke, as it is a plastic needle from my son's beginner sewing kit but it is oh so perfect for knitting purposes LOL). I had to use a crotchet hook to do the "ornaments" which took forever! The only thing that bothers me is that the 100% wool is a wee bit scratchy. I think it will be okay as long as the baby has hair hahahahahaha (her first baby was a cue ball until two). I figure she will only wear it a few times anyway due to the holidays, so it won't be too bad. On the other hand, this puppy will be warm!
Not happy about the pom pom making skills either. I think I haven't made one since I was in seventh grade or something. I used a ruler to wrap it and was pleased with the size, even after its haircut. I managed to tie it really tightly but if her two year old gets hold of it, it will be in about 100 tiny pieces on the floor.
BUT! Oh my am I in love with my Crystal Palace dpn's!!!!!!!!!!!! I take back all the mean things I ever said about using dpn's. They are only six inches long, which, when I pulled them out of the wrapper, freaked me out. The size is perfect for baby hats and socks and they are not all over the place like the longer ones I have, nor do they just fall out on their own like the Bates silver ones. Agh. I am going right now to throw those nasty things away. I also treated myself to a Brittany Birch crotchet hook (E) for this baby sock pattern. What luxury! It has an end that is turned like a finial. Hmmm. Maybe I can get my dad, the wood turner, to make some heeheehee.
I can't wait 'til this baby gets here (two more weeks or less!). The fun part of knitting gifts is seeing them on the giftee. Don't worry, mama will let me post pictures so standby.
Posted by DebC at 06:40 AM