Pat's Knitting and Quilting
May 29, 2007 The long weekend was filled with gardening (don't click unless you want to see a pea plant) and birthdays (and a Cam eating cake picture), but I still had time to finish the pullover - and before my June 1 Dulaan timeline too! It helps that there is virtually no "finishing" to this sweater once it is off the needles.
Pattern: Child's Placket-Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Halverson
This is a simple, quick and adorable sweater - I wanted it to brighten up a little child's life and I think "Cherry Blossom" did the job!
May 25, 2007
Pattern: Party Stripes by Robyn Gallimore - April SOTM Red Bird Knits This pattern was an unusual mix of double decreases and lifted increases which made the stripes undulate. Here is a close up of the stitch pattern and my very wide feet . The nice thick turn down cuff is worked in reversible rib. I really like the snugness of these socks - they fit to perfection and even though are off season right now, will make warm wooly winter socks for next year!
I just added the sleeves to the Placket-Neck Pullover.....(knit both sleeves together on 2 circulars...just like socks!)
May 21, 2007 I wish every decision was as easy and as much fun to make as knitting decisions!!
Socks - I wanted a simple, but beautiful sock pattern for my specially hand-dyed by Lotta Tutti Frutti yarn. I didn't want to overpower this gorgeous yarn with a busy pattern so ..... Juta's Stockings by Nancy Bush from Folk Knitting in Estonia was a perfect choice. Dulaan Sweater - Something bright, pretty, and quick to knit since I want it done by June 1 .... Child's Placket Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Halverson in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes - Cherry Blossom seemed just right. and finally .... I have been tagged by Kathy and Shirley for the "Random Things" meme and I am going to be totally lazy - and send you to my "6 Weird Things" that I did back in November...It is sort of the same (6 instead of 7 or 8 and weird instead of random) - close enough! Hopefully not very many of you were reading my blog back then and it will be new to you!!! Click here for the lazy blogger's Random Things...
May 17, 2007 I love my lacy, summery socks... a new favorite!
Pattern: Crosshatch Lace, a 6 stitch pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch, with a garter edge stockinette heel over 60 stitches.
These socks were pure pleasure to knit! The pattern is a 6 stitch, 8 round repeat that is easy and fun and the yarn is soft, strong and has a lovely, gentle sheen. Look at this yarn up close ... and even closer. I've never knit with bamboo before so I don't even know ...is that shiny swirl through the yarn the bamboo??
May 14, 2007 My favorite part of knitting socks! I know that I'm halfway there and it's such a nice change of pace. Both of these heels were turned this weekend .....
These socks will be done soon I hope, since I already have my next 6 pairs of socks planned in my head. I might as well join A Dulaan hat....the pompom used up every last inch of the skein!
I still want to get another Dulaan sweater made....I haven't decided on yarn or pattern...all I know is that it probably won't be a big one since I'd like to have the box in the mail by June 1!
May 9, 2007
Size: Medium - regular length Yarn: Silkie Socks that Rock (81% merino wool/19% silk) in Walking on the the Wild Tide colorway Needles: 2 socks on 1 40" 2.5mm Inox circular Modifications: I followed the pattern as written except I did not increase on the leg - the sock is VERY stretchy and did not need more stitches. click on picture for a closer look
When I started these socks, I did not think there was anyway that I would be able to knit a pair of socks in this mesh - p2tog, YO stitch....no knitting to break it up - odd, non relaxing stitch pattern....BUT, I actually got into the rhythm of this stitch and it became almost mindless (except when I occasionally missed a stitch in the P2tog - no fun to pick up the mess) I enjoyed the new (to me) heel - upside down flap and turn with no gusset stitches to pick up. The socks are very soft ( must be that lovely silk) and they are open and airy which might just make them perfect summer socks! *added later.....these socks have become seriously slouchy after a few hours of wear* There's not much time left for Dulaan 2007 knitting - I want to squeeze in another hat and a sweater between my current projects - better go dive for some yarn...
May 6, 2007 I'm not sure why it takes me so much time to knit a sweater when there are really not that many more stitches in it than in some of these socks! I think it is because it is much easier to just pick up socks on the spur of the moment and knit a few rows (which is how I do much of my knitting). It is much more of a process to get going on a sweater in progress - just size alone makes it more cumbersome! But I have been working on this pullover in the background...slowly and steadily.
I've been gardening for the past 3 days......
May 2, 2007 As most of you that read this blog have noticed, it should be named Pat's KNITTING and quilting.....or Pat's Knitting and Not Much Quilting. If you look back at the old preblog galleries, you can see I had some very intense quilting years, but somehow quilting has been engulfed by knitting over the past several years and I don't see any hint of it returning. BUT if I look over my knitting history which started with a lime green mitten that had a white deer on it made in 1965 (no, I don't still have the mitten, but it was pretty cool), I have had many waxes and wanes with my knitting too. SO this will continue to be Pat's Knitting and Quilting because maybe, just maybe, the quilting will resurface in force at some point in the future. ANYWAY....I have finished a quilt - the 1st for 2007! I started this in the fall when when the nice warm country colors were so appropriate.
Pattern: Paducah Nine Patch from Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth and Charlene Thode
I rarely buy fabric in anything bigger than a fat quarter, so the backs of my quilts are always the leftovers from the front, as you can see above. In knitting news.....I won a skein of gorgeous hand dyed sock yarn! Lotta,who blogs at Knitternutter and is an amazing accomplished knitter and hand dyer (go look at her work.....), dyed a skein of yarn just for me. Here is what she said..." I dyed this with thoughts of fruits and flowers in mind, watermelons, poppies and sunflowers. A color that would make you think of warm sunny summer days, when you wear the socks. I decided to name the color "Tutti Frutti"."
This yarn will be my next pair of socks......and I already have a plan! Now I have some real incentive to get the 3 pair I have going, off the needles. Thank you, Lotta!
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