Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Pattern: Tank with Lace Pattern from Rebecca 29
Yarn used: Cotton Fleece in terracotta, 2 skeins (woo hoo!)
Just in time for summer, Coral hits the town. This was a fun and easy knit, though not normally my style nor my color but what the heck, I wanted to try something different. I did employ a never-before-used-by-me knitting technique here - purling and knitting into the same stitch. I shortened the length of the piece by several inches, and combined with the super exciting yardage of Cotton Fleece, I managed to use only the 2 skeins I had. So total cost (minus labor of course): $16. I love an economical knit.
For the collar I picked up stitches and knitted in the round once, then bound off. But for the armholes I instead did a round of double-crochet edging. It's easier than picking up stitches and binding off with needles, which I don't enjoy too much. I'm definitely not a stickler for consistency. You can't really tell the difference between the two anyway.
Next up: finish up AV Allegra. Maybe. I might put it aside again and hop on the Orangina bandwagon. I've seen some lovely finished O's and its totally my style. Today during lunch break I'll scrounge me some 4-ply cotton. Only 3 skeins needed! How can you resist?
Filed Under: Completed Projects | Rebecca 29
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Many thanks for all the positive comments left about Dianne! Maybe I should give it to one of you so she can be appreciated more. It's true we're our own worst critics, especially if we have it stuck in our minds that it's going to turn out a certain way. I do prefer my tops to be more fitted, the smaller the better, not because there's anything I'd like to show off, but because I don't have anything to show off. If it's loose, if there are one too many air pockets, then I'm walking around looking like a small leafless tree covered in burlap. I can't be wearing anything that looks more like it's wearing me than I'm wearing it, know what I mean?
Anyway I'm hoping my mom will appreciate it more, because that's where Dianne's going.
So here's what I got going on in the project queue:
"Allegra" aka Twist Top, from AV Spring 05
 I started this several weeks ago and have only done several inches. The yarn I'm using is AV Allegra, which consists of cotton with a thread of shimmery nylon running through it. The elasticity the nylon gives is great.
I'm pretty sure the front of this pattern is going to make me wish I never chose to do it, even though it's the very reason why I am doing it.
"Coral Tank" aka Top with Lace Pattern, from Rebecca 29
 I was in the mood for something lacy and started this on a whim. I'm using Cotton Fleece in terracotta, and hoping I will need only the 2 skeins I bought and no more. I'm making this one shorter.
This style I normally wouldn't bat two lashes at, but I've been seeing A LOT of open knits in all kinds of styles - shrugs, ballet wraps, cardigans, belts - and I guess the trend is growing on me. Plus lace is more interesting to knit. Plus it'll look cute with a visible and obvious camisole underneath. Unlike that model, I have nipples. But I'm squinting at the photo now and perhaps she's wearing a nude tube top...which is just as bad as showing your nipples because now you're inviting others to wonder if you are truly nippleless or if you're wearing a nude tube top and already way too much speculating has been done.
Filed Under: Adrienne V | Rebecca 29 | Allegra
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Today I'm wearing the Eyelet Cardi/Bunny Wrap, and my god! The hair, the dander! There's pink bunny fur everywhere, inclduding the back of my throat and underneath my eyelids, and wisps of it floating about my keyboard. This will deter me from using Classic Elite Lush again, even though it's such a nice and soft and delicious yarn.
Filed Under: Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Sunday, April 03, 2005
It's going to be in the mid-60's this week, just in time for the Eyelet Cardi/Bunny Wrap to make its debut.
 
Bask in all its pink glory
Pattern: No.39 Wrap Sweater with Eyelets from Rebecca 29
Yarn: Classic Elite Lush (angora/wool blend) in pink, 4.5 skeins
Gauge: 18sts on 7/4.5mm needles
So I substituted GGH Soft Kid with Lush because SK and I were just not getting along. At all. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough and traded them in for the very aptly named Luuusssshh. Though it made the sweater a real 'knit' piece rather than a fluffy, light-as-air one, Lush was nevertheless a great substitute. Until you got to the sash, then it became seriously inappropriate. I redid it a couple of times, decreasing the number of stitches from 21 to 9 to make it more ribbon-like and less rope-like. Better, but not great. Still can't double tie it. It also curls like mad despite attempts to block and steam the bloody life out of it.
Alas, to no avail.
What I should have done was to knit in garter stitch...or double crochet it...I had also thought about using my one leftover SK skein in HOT FUSCHIA to use for the sash. Could have been a nice accent against the pink. But I couldn't bear to redo it yet again so I'm going to live with it and be happy with the results. And I am. It's very very VERY soft, warm but light, and pink! I don't usually do pink, but every now and then it must be incorporated into wardrobe to remind self and others that despite the boy-like figure, I am actually a girly girl.
I also enjoy the occasional lace
Other notes:
- Substituted yarn, yadda yadda.
- Next time (if there is a next time) garter stitch the sash to prevent unruly curling. Notice I did not say "try using Soft Kid as suggested."
- Did not crochet slip-stitches around the arm cuffs or body.
- Picked up about 140 stitches around the V-neck and back neck, purled one row and bound off the next knit-wise, per instructions. I was afraid I had picked up too little and it would pull in, but it didn't and the end result looked really nice.
- It got a little hairy at times knitting the front pieces, as there were so many things going on simultaneously: eyelet pattern, increase shaping on one side, sloped bind-off on the other, armhole shaping, do this every other row but do this once every 8th row, etc. etc. etc. Groups of tick marks everywhere.
- Mattress stitch as usual for seaming. For the cap sleeves I did the usual combo of grafting/mattress stitch to attach top to body (I think Vogue Knitting calls it "invisible vertical to horizontal" seaming), and then mattress down the sides. I posted to a news group asking about preferred method of attaching sleeve, since my books reference backstitch as the "right" way to attach cap sleeves. But the vote was unanimous: mattress. Less bulky, more flexible, and easy. Awesome. I don't want to do backstitch.
Next up: The famous Apricot Jacket. Finally. Already started it using Cotton Fleece in teal. The instructions are totally confusing, but I got around it, I got around it.
Filed Under: Completed Projects | Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Friday, April 01, 2005
Eyelet Cardi progess: finished ties
Eyelet Cardi deprogress: ripping ties
The sashes are too thick with the yarn I used. There's no way I can double knot, but even draping one over the other in a single knot has me looking like I've got a pink fuzzy tumor on my side. I was knitting this and thinking, you know, I really should decrease the width but then I didn't because I'm lazy and now gaaah.
Pictures later.
Filed Under: Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Friday, April 01, 2005
Today during a meeting I used the word "nipples." I reminded myself of Jeff from Coupling whose biggest paranoia was accidentally blurting out "nipples" or "breasts" or "thighs" in casual conversation. Only difference was I thought about it first, then gave myself leave to say "nipples" outloud anyway, and then we all laughed until we cried. In a strange twist of sexism I don't think I would have gotten away with saying nipples if I weren't a woman and if I weren't the only woman in the room.
(The conversation was about those little buttons on men's shirts that allow them to button down their collars. The guys were comparing who buttoned their collars and who didn't, and if those buttons really served any valuable purpose. Like men's nipples. They're there, one on each side, but why? Such a natural segue, I thought.)
The Eyelet Cardi/Bunny Wrap just won't end. Everything's been seamed except for a small portion of the right side, because I'm waiting to finish the ties before I do that. Knitting the ties is taking ages and ages. Then I still have to give the edges a crochet finish. I want to wear it already. I've been trying it on periodically and it is so freakin soft. Next fall/winter's projects are going to have to include angora because damn I feel all luscious in angora.
Speaking of angora, my cat, whom we call Bunny, has been projectile vomitting again on a semi-regular basis. Projectile because he leaves a trail of mashed up catfood 2 feet long, or he backs up as vomits. It's totally disgusting. Other than that he's a happy healthy kitty: likes to play, likes to chase his brother, likes to swat at my knitting. He just can't keep his food down to save his little cat life.
Filed Under: Cats | Life | Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Blocking the back panel
I have the most ghetto blocking board ever, consisting of an old towel draped over a dismembered cardboard box. Yesterday I broke down and decided to buy a big girl's blocking board from joann.com, because my ruleless board isn't preventing me from blocking my pieces a bit waywardly. This back panel is slanting a bit to the left.
Is it the weekend yet? I am so excited about visiting Webs. Already made a list of materials I'm interested in order to avoid the Overwhelmed-with-All-the-Choices Paralysis upon entering the store. Projects for this spring/summer will include a couple from Adrienne V.'s spring 2005 book, and Webs has the AV yarn called for. If I go for them it'll be the first time I'm not yarn substituting.
 
I'm going to love knitting for summer pieces because none of them will have sleeves which means fast fast fast and finished pieces every week aww yeaaaaah. Knitting is going to make me destitute.
Filed Under: Projects | Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Normally I would be totally pissed at the prospect of more snow, especially on the first day of Spring, but then that also means if I finish my Savanna sweater soonish rather than laterish I can still wear it soonish rather than laterish in the yearish. Today's goal is to re-do a single sleeve, re-attach it to the body and see how that looks before I reconstruct the other.
Meanwhile this week I have been working on the Eyelet Cardi. I really love the Lush yarn. I'm hoping to finish it by Easter when we go visit the in-laws in western mass. OOO I've coerced Duck to a sidetrip to the WEBS store in Northampton, and then to Colorful Stitches (beautiful spacious store) in Lenox. Eeeee!
Filed Under: Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Savanna sweater: had a love fest with tape measure and calculator to come up with new measurements for slimmer sleeves.
Unseamed one of the gigantic sleeves and wept in bitterness as nearly 3 hours of seaming work unraveled.
Eyelet Cardi: returned the ghastly Soft Kid for 4 hanks of Classic Elite Lush, an angora/wool blend, in pink. Girly bunny softness! Have knitted 11 cm of pattern and am in love with Lush.
 New! Apricot Jacket: Been dying to make this
ubiquitous cardigan forever, from Rebecca 27. Finally received English
copy. At same time ordered Jo Sharp Soho Summer as yarn material, in
color that would rename cardigan to Lemon Chiffon Jacket, or Citronade
Jacket. Must have fallen on head prior to order as yarn is 1) wrong
gauge 2) not at all Lemon Chiffon but more Kryptonian Puke in color 3)
stiff as a board 4) splitty as hell. Ducked into yarn shops to feel out
substitutes: Rowan All Seasons Cotton (no), Debbie Bliss Angora Cotton
(no), and discovered all were too inelastic and hard. Returned Soho
Summer. Then ordered Lion Brand Cotton Ease online, in banana cream.
Filed Under: Projects | Rebecca 28 | Rebecca 29
Friday, March 11, 2005
OK. As I sit here thinking about knitting rather than working, I've decided to officially give up on the Soft Kid. Not only that, I officially DESPISE Soft Kid! I officially BAN Soft Kid from my life. FOREVER! I spent another several hours last night knitting pathetically little. The Addi's helped somewhat but, I still could not get under both stitches for k2tog and as result of my man-handling, those stitches split and split some more. It couldn't have gotten any fuzzier and therefore more difficult to see. So I ripped and tried to start afresh but even that was nasty. All the little hairs were matted together and it was like trying to remove it from velcro. I had to cut the yarn instead, tried a few rows again, had better results but noticed all the shedding, and just wasn't at all having fun. When that happens, why go on. The whole knitting credo is all about relaxing and enjoying your work is it not?
I'm thinking of exchanging the remaining skeins for Rowan Calmer. I know I know, not at all the same drape but I think it will still work out ok. Or maybe Rowan Kid Classic? Anything that has more weight and less fuzz.
Filed Under: Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Eyelet Cardi from Rebecca 29 has begun. Also alternatively called the Rebecca Mini Cardi or the Mini Wrap from Rebecca or the Rebecca Wraparound Mini Cardi knit with GGH Soft Kid that is the Bane of My Existence.
I'm officially calling it the Eyelet Cardi. So there.
Look at me, I'm on FIRE.
I knit 5 rows last night and it took me an hour. Murderous. Could not get the needle underneath both stitches for a k2tog to save my life. Today during my lunch break I stopped at Newbury Yarns for a pair of circular Addi's. Hopefully it'll be easier knitting with those.
I've been thinking of substitutions for the Soft Kid, something airy and light and about the same gauge. I think the Peruvian Highland Wool would actually work pretty well, being extremely light and the same gauge the Eyelet Cardi calls for.
There's also Wings from Classic Elite, made from alpaca, silk, and hollow core wool. If that doesn't sound light and airy in a feathery kind of way then I don't know what does. It also has the feel of cashmere so another plus.
I haven't given up on the Soft Kid. Yet. It's always good to have alternatives.
Filed Under: Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi | Yarn Stash
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
For me all hell breaks loose when it rains. Despite being underneath the umbrella my lunch bag became damp enough to rip and thus I had to hold contents of bag (my lunch in various containers) tenuously in my arms while walking to the train. On board the crowded train it was standing room only, my umbrella refused to close, popping open and spraying fellow commuters like a wet dog shaking off its coat. While wrestling with the umbrella to get it closed, the contents of ripped lunch bag clamped in my armpit popped out, and after I retrieving lunch containers from dirty, wet, gritty train floor and finally getting the umbrella shut, my trousers and shirt front were completely blotched in rain water. I looked like I had just given a Saint Bernard his bath. I'll take snow anyday over rain. I hate the rain.
Yesterday on way to grab lunch I stopped at Newbury Yarns for more debbie bliss merino chunky #18, the lights were out and there was an "Be back soon!" post-it taped to the door. What is this, Europe?! America doesn't dooooo lunchtime siestas. I hung around for as long as I could, ducking into Bliss (uh oh saw a tote on sale that I'd been eyeing since the Fall), Fresh, various other boutiques and 30 minuters later the store was still closed. Grrrrrr. I went back a couple of hours later, and wouldn't you know it, she didn't have the yarn! Gave me the "Yeah yeah I have it" brush-off when I tried to give her the dyelot over the phone, and now when I'm in the store she's all, "You should have given me the color number!" Then she proceeded to chastise me for buying it online and it's like Lady, work with me. You don't have the yarn, what am I supposed to do.
After work I visited Woolcott in Harvard Sq. for the GGH Soft Kid. I swear everytime I walk into a yarn store I invariably find myself involved in a very stressful game of Jenga. There has got to be a better way to stock yarn aside from cubbie holes. How about netting? You can see and rummage through it without fear of Every Single Goddamn Ball of Yarn Falling Out.
Luckily in this case Soft Kid was stocked at the very bottom cubbie hole. I came away with 5 skeins in HOT FUSHIA for the Rebecca 29 Minicardi, and now I'm not so sure about the color. It is so HOT, so FUSHIA. Not only am I unsure about the color, I am unsure about the yarn. I tried knitting a row and god. I'm knitting with cobwebs. I'm knitting with unhealthy, weak frizzy hair. Hard to hold, hard to see, breaks easily. Rebecca 29 is coming in the mail today, I'll give it a go and see how one skein turns out...
Filed Under: Life | Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi
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