Yarn Pr0n Friday: STR Pink Granite II

Here's the first Marble Arches sock, made of STR Pink Granite. I think it's the medium weight. The hand is very firm, and will likely be a very warm socks. I'm knitting it with US 2, 12" Boyes circs. The firm hand, my tight knitt ing style, and stiff needle cables all combine to make my hands hurt after a while. Still, it's a pretty pattern and fun to knit. I finally got the PGR heel down. Turns out I wasn't following the instructions to the stitch in my other attempts.



My Huge Swatch

I started my I Have Dream cardi last night with my new Addi circulars. (Thank you, Olga!) Unfortunately, I can't get the right gauge with the size required or the smaller circs, so I cast on with fewer stitches so that I at least get the correct width.

I don't like the severe roll that you see at the bottom. I made a swatch with one purl row to correct this, but at 3 stitches per inch, the purl row was too obvious. Given my experience with re-knitting entire sweaters, I've decided to knit the entire front left segment to see if I my adjustments give me the proper dimension, and to then block it to see if it corrects the roll a bit. If it doesn't work, I'll frog it. There's a bit of a roll in the picture of the finished sweater, but not this big.

Thank you all for your kind words about my MK cardigan!

It's Finally Finished!

The Michael Kors Cardigan is finally finished.



Yarn: Filatura di Crosa, Zara Plus
Pattern: Vogue Knitting, Fall 2004
Needles: US 7 and 9 circs
Modifications: None.
Started: 2005
Finished: January 30, 2007

It is soft, squishy, and warm. I love this yarn. The sleeves are a little long, but not too long. I learned how to do button holes, the backstitch, and after experimenting with connecting the collar, I have kitchenering down. I didn't block it, I just washed it in Euclan and laid it carefully out to dry without pinning. Be warned, this yarn stretches when wet.

Gloves are the New Socks

At least for me! I just finished the thumb and have started the index finger on my very first glove! I feel like I did when I could finally ride a bike without Dad holding the back. WHEEE!!! The holes created by the yarnovers and the not-quite-long enough thumb (don't look too close) are the equivalent of the wavering of the bike as I try to maintain my balance and aim the bike straight.

OK, I know they're just gloves.


(I will probably make fingerless gloves and mitts too. I thought they were interesting and most are very pretty, but not useful. One's fingertips get cold too. In fact the coldest part of my hands are my fingertips! But after walking into the 15 degree night bare-handed after my mani last night, I will probably make them just like everyone else. Ivete pulled a pair of mitts over leather gloves, which I thought was clever and pretty way to wear them.)

These are opera-length gloves that I plan to wear with a Michael Kors sweater set, cardi for which has 3/4 length sleeve. (Don't they kind of look like Frankengloves with all the needles and needle holders stuck out all over the place?) I'm making them out of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, my yarn pr0n this week.



But I don't think it qualifies as genuine pr0n. It's wool, but it's not silky. In fact, it's not even soft as the name would imply. It looks like an old rumpled sweater, and that's fine, except maybe it should be named something else. Still I like it for my first ever gloves, and it will be warm at the bus stop. And I got it cheap on Destash.

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Habu, Silk Organizine, Lace Weight

I intended to dye this silk, but it's too beautiful as is.

Click twice to enlarge.

Seaming

Nona expressed an interest in the seaming method I used for the MK cardigan. I used the backstitch. I got the name wrong in a previous post. You can find the instructions for it in Interweave Knits Winter 02/03's great article on seaming, Perfect Seams, Part II. You can find an excellent illustration on the Thomas B. Ramsden Company, Ltd website. Just scroll down to Backstitch Seaming.

I prefer backstitching because the seams don't pucker when I pull the seaming yarn tight. The major criticism of backstitching seems to be that the resulting seams are relatively bulky and may be difficult to block flat. I can see that that might be an issue for fine gauge yarns, but I don't find the cardigan seams to be objectionably bulky, even when I tried it on. Here are pix of the wrong and right side of the seam attaching the raglan sleeve to the body with the backstitch. I backstitched for my version of Orangina, knit with Rowan Linen Drape (22-24 stitches over 4 inches), and do not find the seams overly bulky.

The author of the Interweave Knits article also says that this technique is good for seams that can't be matched stitch for stitch, and another online article says that it's impossible to match row for row, but I found that careful pinning takes care of this potential problem.
I've completed the seaming and now I'm weaving in the loose ends. What a tedious chore! I kitchenered the ribbed collar, but I'm not perfectly pleased with the results. The instructions simply say "weave open stitches of each collar together." Careful adjustment with a needle will probably help some, and though it will be hidden under my hair, I will leave these ends the last to weave in case I find a better method. Any suggestions?

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Adrienne Vittadini, Rebecca

Turtlegirl76, hostess of Yarn Pr0n Friday, threatened to kill us :) if we don't follow the rules, so here on Friday morning, not Friday night, not Saturday, is Adrienne Vittadini Rebecca.


It's black cotton and nylon tape that I will use to make the Rebecca Jacket in the posting below. It requires (and I have) more than three skeins, of course.

I bought this yarn before I went yarn crazy, i.e. I waited to buy it until I was ready to knit the jacket. As most of you know Vittadini discontinues many yarns after a season or two. I panicked! I dropped everything, turning into an Internet Sleuth to find it. It took several hours but I found half of it at a store in Portland, Oregon, and the other half in another Oregon store clear across the state. And get this, it was all the same dye lot! Mom would say this yarn was just for me.

"I Have a Dream" KAL?

Sistah Friends may host a "I Have a Dream" KAL this month. I was thinking of starting this cardi anyway, and there's nothing like a KAL to make you complete a project. (And forcing me to finish that MK cardi!)
This a Adrienne Vittadini's Rebecca Jacket, from Vol. 18. I've had the yarn for a couple years, so I'd be clearing my stash, like so many others are doing.

Just So You Know that I'm Still Knitting

The body of the Michael Kors cardi is sewn together and the sleeves pinned in, as you can see. There are masses of loose ends to be woven in. At least I won't mind seaming as I usually do. Olga showed me how to do the overlapping whip stitch, which looks so much better than the mattress stitch, and is much more enjoyable to do.

I have to knit the collar a few more inches before I finish. I like using these Clover locking stitch markers to hold the seams together. They enabled me to try on the sweater before I finished seaming.

I saw some knitted jewelry while in New York and have been obsessed with knitting this ever since.
I'm using 28 gauge wire and 4mm faux pearls I bought at Hobby Lobby. I probably should have attached the wire to a clasp before beginning, but I just had to start it. I'm going to frog it anyway because I need to add more pearls.

Here a couple of finished objects. I made a Perdita for a colleague at work,

and a pearl bracelet for my mother.

I Got 'Em!

I got the Pentagon City Norstrom's last bottle of Chanel Noir Ceramic nail polish! I bought the Blanc Ceramic (left) in Texas and can't wait to get a French "V" manicure.
I never thought I'd wear black nail polish, but this just has the right amount of silver so that it's not Goth. Nothing wrong with Goth, it's just not my style. Maybe I'll try to sell my Chanel Black Satin on eBay.

I was going to get my brows done, but Rowan, the Anastasia rep, was booked until March! I couldn't believe it. She did manage to squeeze in an appointment for me in late January. Nordies at Pentagon City is paring down its designer clothing, but it is expanding its accessory collection, including a big sunglass section. I guess no one is buying the clothes. I can't afford designer fashions, but I sure do like to look! They've also expanded their cosmetics section and will open up a beauty salon in late March. Pentagon City is close to work - can you say "lunch time facial?"

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Sundara Yarn, Lenten Rose

Happy New Year!

Though I've been blog lazy lately, both writing and reading, I've joined a couple new things, including The Petals Collection Knitalong, for Sundara's Sock Club hosted by Lauren. Here's the January selection, Lenten Rose:

It's 100 percent hand-dyed superwash merino. I love the subtly variegated lavender color. My favorite. The pattern is open lace work that I'm not certain will show the yarn to its best effect. I think Pepperknit's Anastasia might be better. (I thought that I had made all the socks that I would ever need, but I seem to wear them all, and could have used a spare pair while I was in Texas. And what with knee socks on the agenda, I imagine that when I wear out the store bought ones, I'll likely never buy another pair.)

Project Spectrum's back too. See Lolly's blog for details. Then there's 007 Snap a Dozen Days - no commitment, just aim (no pun intended!) to post at least one photo a month to improve your photographing skills (just what I need and want to do), and explain why it's relevant to the month it was taken. No blog or webring. Both can be combined with other "-alongs" fortunately. I really appreciate that others think of these projects, as I find them very motivating, just the thing for January blahs.

I downloaded pix from Unravel in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They are not as good as the original ones I took, at least I didn't delete them! The staff was as nice as ever, as were the other knitters. They may give a dye class in March, which I have to attend. They were having a sale so I bought stuff - no yarn - that I will photo and post later. Purchases included a drop spindle (yeah, Tonya, I did it! ) and a tiny bit of silk roving that I'm afraid to touch. I have to find someone to teach me how to do it. I saw someone on Knitty Gritty spinning on a drop spindle and it looked easy, but I'm still afraid to ruin the roving. It was wasn't expensive, it was cheap actually, but I'm still afraid to ruin it. Unravel has a drop spindle spinning class in February, but I can't possibly fly back to El Paso in both February and March. I prefer the dying class because they teach how to extract color from plants and objects found in nature to create dyes, then show you how to use it to dye yarn and roving. When we visited the store in November, one of the knitters had the samples she dyed and and they were just beautiful, muted and subtle purples, earthtones and greens, yet rich and vibrant at the same time. The concept even intrigued Mom, who is not a knitter and has no intention of dying yarn. I ought to be ordering seed for flowers and veggies so that I have my own dye (and food) supply in the fall . I've said for years that I don't see the point of dying yarn, but one of my favorite hand-dyers makes beautiful laceweight that's always sold out when I get to her site, so I have to try to do it myself. Not having taken a class yet, I have to admit that I'm stymied by all the methods available: Kool-Aid, food dye, Rit, which? Microwave or stovetop pot? Any advice? What's your favorite?

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Fleece Artist, Basic Merino Socks

Colorway: Autumn, for, well, socks!

Not much knitting here lately. Spent last weekend in New York. No yarn purchases! Can you believe it? I went to Knitty City and bought a bag. I bought an obscene amount of Giorgio Armani and Scott Barnes cosmetics. Saw The Color Purple. Fabulous! I had a seat 3 rows from the stage - could see the whites of the performers' eyes. It wasn't the original cast, or the original Celie at least, but I can't imagine the original was much better. I highly recommended it.


I wandered around Times Square snapping pix then took the subway back to my friend Natasha's. I felt safe the entire time because of these guys:
New York's Finest on horseback. They even smiled and waved after I took their picture. I love New York.

Knit Ready-to-Wear: Alexander McQueen

Cuff-necked merino wool and angora tunic sweater

Alexander McQueen, Neiman Marcus, $765

How do you knit a draped back so that it stands up like this?

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Habu, Kasumi

Habu, Kasumi, 100% polyester, for a simple scarf.

WIPs

Though I've only posted for Yarn PrOn Fridays lately, I have been knitting. Here's the MK Cardi:

The back, front and one sleeve are reknit and finished. Half the second sleeve is finished too. I wish I had remembered to knit the sleeves simultaneously on one needle so that they'd be exactly the same. Next set.

Mom's socks:
I finally got over my disgust that they weren't the same size, frogged, and began again.

And the Lizard Ridge Squares:
I've knit about 27 squares. I only need 24 for the afghan, but they have become such mindless knitting despite all my previous bleating, that I lost count. I've put them aside in order to finish Mom's Christmas socks.

There are otherWIPs too. Like the Adrienne Vittadini diagonal shell I've had on needles for a couple of years. This reminded me of it:

This is scanned from a Bloomingdales catalog. Click on the picture twice to see the stitch pattern. (Have you noticed all the knitwear in the catalogs and magazines lately? There are so many cardis I love that I can't knit fast enough.)

I put the Vittadini project aside because knitting on the diagonal - the pattern I'm using at least - seriously misshapens it. I was discouraged because I couldn't tell if I didn't follow the instructions properly or if the instructions contain errors. I realize now of course that it may just need to be blocked. I'll give it another shot after I've finished some of my current projects.

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Yarns Plus, Tangerine

Yeah, I know it's Saturday. This is Yarns Plus, in Tangerine, hand-painted 2/10 Tencel. Click picture twice for a very close look.


I bought this at Unravel in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I think it wants to be a shawl.

Drat!

ARGH!!!! Mom and I visited the most charming yarn shop in Las Cruces, New Mexico, last week, and I took at least a dozen pix of the place that I accidentally DELETED from my camera. I can't express how frustrated I am! I've taken a few more pix since that I CAN'T UPLOAD to my computer. I'm going to have to take the damn thing in to Penn Photo along with the laptop to get help. It's just MADDENING. The only bright spot will be if I have to return it, in which case I will get a new one with more pixels.

The yarn shop is Unravel. It has a huge selection of yarn and roving(s?), two couches for knitters, and, a jewelry counter in the back. There was a collection of earrings made from very fine wire, which intrigued me. I had pix of those. There were a couple of knitters there, one with some yarn she'd dyed in a class she took there - it was yummy. Another knitter, Nora, frequently visits DC on business. I offered to take her on a yarn crawl the next she comes. Hope she'll call. I had pix of them too. I'll be going back at Christmas time, so I can take more pictures then. I'd like to go back for one of their dying classes too. After we left both Mom and I said simultaneously, "They were such nice people!"

I had pictures of my favorite coffeeshop, Milagro, which makes the best cappuccino in the country, of the sunset over the mesas, and - well, never mind. I'll stop now.

OT: I did manage to upload some pictures of an iPod vending machine in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
I was incredulous that one can buy a $350 video iPod out of a vending machine! It contained a full selection of iPods, Bang and Olufsen earphones, remote controls and the full array of accessories that would be available for iPods in an Apple store. I'm always most impressed by the simplest of ideas, like Netflix for example. Brilliant. You could also buy a cellphone from Motorolla's vending machine. I didn't have time to find out how you get service started. Since I'm off topic, I have to tell you that I also scored pounds of Ethiopian Harrar coffee in El Paso. I haven't seen it here for two years.

Anyway, I'm done with cameras for the evening, even the one that will upload, so I'll post pictures of my swag later.

Oh yes, and knitting: I've re-knitted the back, front, and one and half sleeves of the Michael Kors cardi. I can't believe it. I have to say that the Filatura di Crosa Zara Plus has held up exceptionally well through all this reknitting.

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Lonesome Stone Mountain Feat

Lonesome Stone Mountain Feat, Jingle Berries colorway; superwash merino wool.

I'm in El Paso visiting Mom for Thanksgiving. Found this in El Paso's lone yarn shop, Sarita's Custom Sewing and Alterations. Sarita's started out as a drycleaners with a few balls of yarn and an interesting selection of needles. They have more yarn every time I visit. I also bought needles: some 4" Bryspun Bry-Flex DPNs, some metal Boye DPNs, and some 12" plastic Clover circs. There was full selection of Addis too, but I love really love Boyes. They are a fraction of the cost of Addis and have sharper points. I got some on sale at Hobby Lobby. More about that later. Sure wish we had Hobby Lobby in Virginia.

Hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Yarn Pr0n Friday: Adrienne Vittadini, Nicole

Just in the nick of time! Damn Blogger and my camera!










Adrienne Vittadini, Nicole, 65% acrylic, 35% nylon, to make this.

Yarn Pr0n Friday: STR Lovers Leap

This is STR Lovers Leap, light weight, and very slightly variegated.