Audrey's Cardigan, Interweave Knits Spring 2010

When this issue of Interweave Knits showed up in my inbox I knew that I had to knit this pattern. It's gorgeous, unique, and sweet. It also required enough yarn that I knew I'd have to wait until I had the money to order it. As much as I love pink - and you all know that I love pink - I'd knit three projects in a row that were pink so I decided to knit this in a gorgeous teal color. When the yarn arrived from Knit Picks I literally exclaimed "Oooooh!" when pulling it out of the box. I might have sat and petted it for a while, too *g*

The cardgian is knit from the ribbon band up. While I found the construction technique interesting (knitting both sides of the band and then folding it together) I ended up with weird gaps on one side in the first row. Luckily, I could just make this the wrong side.

One thing that I didn't like about this pattern was that the swiss dot pattern and the shaping (increases/decreases) happened on the same row. God, I hate it when designers do that. Then I have to keep track of two things at once. And it wasn't easy to see where the last swiss dots happened in the shrug - they offset each other - even when I held it up to the light. So I ended up knitting an extra row in order to shift the swiss dots to a non-shaping row. Shhh! Don't tell! *g* It worked, the extra row wasn't visible in the shrug, and I didn't have to keep track of two things at once.

While the yarn was silky soft to the touch it was hard to frog, if needed. The yarn really sticks to its shape and the loops are hard to tug out without breaking it. Be aware, too, that if you drop a stitch it may not be immediately visible because the yarn does *not* unravel.

I find that with Interweave's patterns I end up in one of two boats by the time I finish the project. I either have two skeins of yarn leftover or I'm praying I'll have enough to finish the bind off. In this case I had a full skein and a half left. So if you're considering casting this one on but don't quite have enough yarn I'd say you're probably safe.

- D

And here's the link to buy the baby leg warmers pattern!

<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/dena-stoll-designs/161723"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0"/></a>

It's only $1.50 :) 

-D

Amateur Photography Hour

Today I took the camera and two of my designs down to Teeny Bee Boutique and played photographer.  I had an absolute blast, even though our usual child photographer has no reason to feel threatened!  A friend of mine who used to teach at the studio with me - Kristie - opened the boutique roughly a month ago.  It's stocked with some of the cutest baby clothes and brands I've seen in a long time but for my purposes it had something else I needed - a baby *g*

Connor is too big to showcase some of my designs for the younger set and I just finished a pair of baby legs and matching sweater for a twelve month old.  I wanted to get pictures of them to include with the pattern.  Kristie's baby Faye is a little younger than that, so the sweater ended up being more of a dress, but she was still a great model.  She smiled, cooed and kicked in the front store window - a live display at its finest!

The baby legs are obviously too big for her, but I still loved how they looked, especially with the adorable hot pink diaper cover that Kristie had in stock.

Faye rolled from her side onto her back and struck a pensive look for me.  Look at those gorgeous eyes!  And I love the roly-poly legs.  Can you tell I miss having a little baby around? 

Then we put on the matching sweater and she hung out in Mommy's lap.  It's definitely too big for her, but I do like how the ruffle on the bottom turned out and the seed stitch button band.  When I was working on the design I struggled with the puff sleeves and how much material needed to be folded together - I think I ripped and knit three different versions - but the little puff shape I ended up with is exactly what I wanted.  Faye is wearing a little bow that matches the diaper cover and an amber teething necklace, one of Kristie's most popular items.

And one final shot of the cardigan front.  The yarn I used was Sensations Cuddle from Joann's, and it only took one skein to knit both the baby legs and the sweater.  It's machine washable, which is a necessity with baby clothes!

Who can resist a baby nomming on hands?!?!  A great big THANK YOU to Kristie for letting me borrow her baby and her store to take these pictures.  Faye couldn't have been better behaved.  The patterns are called the Sweet Sugar Cardigan and Sweet Sugar Baby Legs and they'll both be going up on ravelry by the end of the week.  On ravelry I'm dmstoll, if you need to find me.  I'm so pleased with how the designs turn out, I hope everyone else likes them, too!

- D

Longbourn Mitts, Jane Austen Knits 2012

When I saw that Interweave Knits was publishing special issues devoted solely to Jane Austen I might have squealed a little bit.  Okay, a lot.  Like most die-hard romantics, I adore Jane Austen, plus I've found that they do a *much* better job with pattern variety in their special issues than in their regular publications.  One problem that I have with their regular issues (I'm a subscriber) is that they focus a lot on larger projects - sweaters, skirts, wraps, etc - that use a lot of yarn and thus cost a fair amount to make.  But in their special issues they'll include more smaller projects that are less expensive and take less time.  Given that I have a toddler 'less time' is a good thing.

This pattern is actually from the third Jane Austen Knits, the 2012 issue.  I'm always looking for some cute mitts and these fit the bill.  The issue's release also coincided with a Knit Picks sale.  Lucky me *g*  Here's the finished product;

As you can see, I didn't go with the i-cord laced through the holes.  I didn't like the way it looked so I went with a satin ribbon instead.  I  really love the way it turned out, and the smaller bows mean that I can wear them while typing and not be irritated by something dragging on the keyboard.

Something else I liked about the pattern was how it continued up the thumb - I thought that was a nice touch.  I recommend putting markers around the lace repeats - don't skip this step or you'll end up ripping out and starting over *ahem*

 All in all I'm very pleased with how these turned out.  The yarn was great to work with - didn't split, felt nice in my hands.  I adore Knit Picks worsted weight yarns, they're never scratchy or uncomfortable and this one had a nice sheen..  I wore them at work in the winter and a co-worker made a crack about Charles Dickens - I told him he had the wrong British author *g* 
- D

My first knitted skirt

There are a few types of projects in knitting that scare me.  I haven't tried Fair Isle yet, for example, or any kind of color work.  Skirts were also on that list.  For one, they're a big investment of time and money (it takes a lot of yarn to make a skirt).  Also, they really don't look good on everyone, but the only way to find out if they look good on you is to make one, try it on, and hopefully find out that it doesn't make you look like a hippy monster from hipsville.

But I finally decided to take the plunge and find out if I liked the look of a hand-knitted skirt.  I fell in love with the pattern - Lace Tiered Skirt - while flipping through Feminine Knits.  This is the third pattern I've made out of this book and the first without errors (seriously, did they even have someone copyedit the translation?  It's riddled with simple arithmetic errors and the like.  Interweave should be embarrassed).  Knit Picks had a yarn sale and - voila! - it was kismet.

I cast on about three and a half weeks ago.  It didn't take me nearly as long as I'd thought it would to knit up, the lace patterns were simple and easy to memorize, and I really liked the way it looked on the needles.

There are four different lace patterns.  Here is the bottom;

 I really like how the pattern makes the wavy hemline.  The next repeat was this pattern;

And then this one;

What I discovered upon trying it on, though, was that the skirt was a lot heavier than it looked it the book.  The single crochet waistband with crochet thread that the pattern called for didn't have a chance in hell of holding this thing up around my waist.

So I added two single crochet rows along the waistband, then a row which alternated four single crochets with a triple (to make holes), and then another single crochet.  I'm hoping that with a stronger and wider waistband it won't fall down around my ankles.  As soon as I can talk Matt into taking a photo for me I'll post one of me wearing it.  I'm still not sure I like the look on me, so I'm curious as to what others think.

- D

My First Free Pattern - Cabled Baby Sweater

*ahem*  This is my first attempt to create and share my own knitting pattern.  Last week I knitted a set of mittens and hat for Connor, as the weather is getting colder here in Minnesota and he needed something fast.  I liked the cable and rib pattern so much I decided that I'd attempt to expand it into a matching sweater.  Plus, I had a lot of yarn leftover.  So here it is!

Because is there anything more exciting than wearing a sweater your Mommy knit for you?  *G*

My son doesn't think so!

Cabled Baby Sweater 

Materials
Size 3 and Size 4 needles
One skein of Bernat Softee Baby Yarn (I didn't use the whole skein)
Six buttons
Needle and thread for sewing on buttons


Left front
On smaller needles, cast on 36 stitches.
For border k2, p2, k2 across the first 6 stitches.
Then *p2, k4, p2, k2, p2*.  Repeat from * to the end of the row.
On WS knit all knit stitches and purl all purl stitches.  Repeat for six rows.  Switch to larger needles.
On the 6th row (RS) k2, p2, k2 *p2, C4, p2, k2,* repeat from *.

Continue in the rib pattern, working the cable on every 6th row, until the piece measures seven inches.  For me this was just over eight cable repeats.

Shape armhole

Bind off 4 stitches on WS.  Work in pattern to end of row.  Work RS in pattern.  Bind off 1 stitch on WS two more times - 30 stitches remain.  Work in pattern until piece measures nine inches.  For me this was two rows past 11 cable repeats.

Shape neck
On next RS bind off 14 stitches.  Work in pattern until the end of the row.  Work WS in pattern.  Bind off 1 more stitch at neckline (RS) two more times - 14 stitches remain.  Work in pattern until piece measures 11 inches (for me, 12 and a half cable repeats).  Slide remaining 14 stitches onto a holder.

Right front
Cast on 36 stitches.
Reverse the knitting for the left front, with the addition of making a buttonhole every eight rows.
To make a buttonhole, knit to the last six stitches, then k2, yarnover, and then p2tog.

Back
Cast on 72 stitches with smaller needles.
K2, p2, k4, p2 repeat across the first row.
Work six rows in pattern.  On row 6, work Cable 4 across each k4.
Work in pattern for seven inches (for me nine cable repeats).

Shape armhole
Bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off 1 stitch at beginning of next 2 rows.
Total of 10 stitches bound off.

Work even until you have 9 inches, 13 cable repeats plus four rows. 

Shape neckline
Work 14 stitches, place on a stitch holder.
Bind off 34 stitches, work remaining 14 stitches.
Work four more rows on those 14 stitches, then place on a holder.
Rejoin yarn to 14 stitches from right shoulder.  Work four rows, place on holder. 

Sleeves, make Two
Cast on 34 stitches on smaller needles.

Work six rows in seed stitch, i.e., knit, purl, knit, purl across the row, then on the WS knit all the purls and purl all the knits. Switch to larger needles

Then set up row, k2, p2, k4, p2 across the row.  On WS stay in pattern, knit all knit stitches, purl all purls.  Work for five rows, on 6th row (RS), work Ca4 across all k4's.
Continue in pattern, working the cable on every 6th row, for three inches.

Then increase 1 at the beginning of the next WS and RS row - 2 stitches increased.  Continue in pattern, increasing every eight rows on both sides of sleeves until you have 46 stitches.
Work until piece measures seven and a half inches.
Bind off four stitches at the beginning of the next two rows, 38 stitches.
Bind off one stitch at the beginning of the next two rows, 36 stitches.
Work one row in pattern.  Continue in pattern until sleeve measures 8 inches, then bind off all stitches on the RS.

Finishing
With right sides together, use the three needle bindoff method to join the two front pieces to the back.  At this point I blocked the sweater because it pulls so tight due to the ribbing.

Sew up side seams using mattress stitch.  Sew sleeve seams and sew into holes.  Then pick up 76 stitches from the neckline.  Work six rows in seed stitch, then bind off.  Sew on buttons.

Put on baby and admire your handiwork! 

Here is the back, with C looking over his shoulder to see why Mommy is taking a picture.

Please let me know if you make the pattern, and I'd love to see pictures.
-D

An Accidental Valentine's Day Sweater

 A few years ago my friend Jaime was selling a lot of her stash on ebay.  Since I've never met a yarn sale I could resist *cough* I bought quite a bit of it.  Into one package she threw four skeins of TLC Macaroon because it hadn't sold, with instructions to make something for my best friend's daughter Lillian.  It was very, very pink.  The yarn has sat in my stash for a while, but this year one of my resolutions is to bust through the pile of yarn that's been sitting in tupperware in my office.  So a few days before Christmas I started this sweater for Lillian;

Um, yeah, did I mention that it's pink? *G*  I was baby-sitting Lillian a few days after I'd started it and she saw me working on it.  "That yarn is very pink, Aunt Dena," she said, sidling up to me.  "Yes, it is," I said.  "I love the color pink."  Bats her eyelashes.  "Do you, now?"  Yes, she's quite the charmer.  When I finished it I went looking for buttons but I couldn't find any that matched the two pinks well enough, and I saw this bag of heart-shaped buttons...so I figured I'd just go with it.  And now Lillian has a Valentine's Day sweater.

I hated working with the yarn - I'm not surprised it was discontinued, because it's coarse and the lighter color pink pulled a lot - but she loves the jacket, and I hope she'll enjoy wearing it on Valentine's Day. 

- D