Skirting issues

 A few years ago, I created a skirt of my own guessing, for my daughter.  She, being a teenager rejected it, so I put it away.

Recently, Knitter's Magazine did a special Skirt issue, which I thought feature some unique techniques, but I've heard different people say "why would you knit a skirt, who would wear a knitted skirt...?"

So, I got this out, it had been years since I looked at it and it being made of cotton had yellowed, so I bleached it, put a grosgrain ribbon in the waistband and took a picture.

I have not decided if I will post a pattern, not sure I can remember what I did to write one, but let me tell you what I like about it:  Being created with a bias has a different kind of drape, sort of clingy.  The ruffle is right at my knee and has a pretty fun bounce to it.  Perhaps because it's a net/lace fabric it's lighter weight than I thought it would be.  Awfully fun to sit in, because it just tucks itself around me in it's own modest way.  I don't have a slip this length, so I've been wearing it with some of my chiffon skirts, which also ruffle at the knee and feels companionable together.  I feel very happy it's summer!

So, my question is:  Why NOT a skirt?  

May 18th, Snake River Fiber Fair, Idaho Falls, Idaho

One of the things that have been the hardest about living in a mostly rural state for me is missing the eclectic artsiness of the big city.  

Recently, we were magically given unusual days off.  This blessing happened to coincide with the occurrence of the Snake River Fiber Fair, happening in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  So, not having a clue what to expect (except for a VERY few details on their website ~ no exaggeration as it didn't even list the times the doors would open), we gassed up the car, put the dogs in the backseat and set off.

Now, a few miles South, just a couple of exits prior to where we were bound, is Dear Superman's birthplace.  This restaurant used to be owned by his grandfather.  The last time we were through this area, I couldn't get a shot of it.  So...

 The day opened with a bit of rain. No worries, we were in the right place.  Vendors included folks from Idaho, Utah and Montana.  The sign over the door welcomes the public to this event.  The licence plate on the SUV from Utah says 'Got Yarn'. Oh, I hope so.

The event was held on a college campus.  Rather than being in one large room, vendors were set up along the hallways.  This particular college's hallway wound round like a rabbit warren or a hobbit hole.  So at every turn was a new rainbow of colors to match the mists outside.

This event was sponsored by a spinners guild.  The desire to learn how to drop spindle at the very least was difficult to ignore with all the lusciousness of alpaca, silk, MILK silk, merino....  Still, I'm determined that, like our hero Elizabeth Zimmerman, I will wait till I'm in my seventies, and I left without buying any batts or fleeces.  The whole event was about the size of the events held at the granges back in Portland.  I'm so glad that I went.

I did meet a couple of very nice ladies I'm hoping to see at the next fiber event in just a few days.  And that will be all the Yarn events until next year in this area.  So, back to searching for reasonable airline prices to take me to the events of nearly international fame, known for their sheer immense size.  I will continue to strive not to whine.

Back to Superman:  

After we'd been on the road a few minutes was a sign for the largest Army/Navy surplus store in the state.  Which meant "Must Stop Here".  

I looked at every back pack in the place, because I've been thinking for a couple of years that I need one and I'm going to be choosy and get the right one.  They had HUNDREDS.  I didn't get one.  You know sometimes too many choices is harder than not enough. 

Superman found this hat:


It brought tears to his eyes, right there in the store.  His father was a soldier in the 101st Screaming Eagles.  Holding the hat in his hands standing in the old family's neighborhood was a bit overwhelming for a man of good heart.  I never doubt his authentic supreme Superman self.

The only other pictures I took were purely to show that sometimes the view is infinite.

Like the song that never ends, it goes on and on, my friends.

Rose City Yarn Crawl 2013

This year I have two patterns being featured in the Yarn Crawl, happening in Portland beginning February 28th and lasting until March 3rd or until all participants fall down.  Knowing the fiber craftiness of that community, they will have to kick everyone out of the shops at the end because they have more go-get-'em-ness there than the Energizer Bunny.  

The theme of this year's event are the many bridges in the area.  The two patterns are featured by two different shops, that are across the Oregon City Bridge from each other.  The bridge has just reopened after extensive repair work, but the story with these patterns was to focus on the original opening of the bridge which featured a wedding of the groom from one side and the bride from the other, which occured in the 1920's.

Wool-N-Wares asked for vintage hat ware.  The Oregon City Arch Cloche starts with the hatband braid, then worked in a texture for crown, then brim which was edged in i-chord for a finished tailored look.      

 

The Blushing Bride Fingerless Mitts being offered by Wynona Studios features the same braid band around the wrist with a faux Lily-of-the-Valley lace for the back of the hand and Diamond lace cuffs.

Both of these patterns, and crochet patterns for a gentlemanly Fedora (but who doesn't look stunning in a Fedora?) and spats to dance in the Oregon rain with stylish grace, are available at these shops during the event.  Later on, they will be available in a book with all the patterns from the shops participating.  Watch their website for that, or get the book for the 2012 pattern collection: www.rosecityyarncrawl.com

That 2012 book includes my Dalia Bag.  

In the meantime, I wish to thank all those who have been supportive of my little designs.  The cloche was promoted on Facebook last week and the fingerless gloves just a couple of days ago as previews for the event ~ and I've been overwhelmed with the positive feedback.  I've also watched my other patterns grow in appreciation, which makes me think of many projects I would like to share.  Which reminds me to get busy, and back to work.

Happy Knitting!

Hip to be a Square RECTANGLE

This is along the same idea as that last post.  My pattern is as follows (approximately 40" X 50" after washing):

With acrylic worsted weight (for donation purposes, or just generally preferred for afghans) size 8 needles.

Cast on 1 stitch, turn.
In that 1 stitch, knit front and back, 2 stitches.  Turn.
Knit the first stitch, Knit front and back of next stitch, 3 stitches. Turn.
Knit the first stitch, Make 1 right, knit the rest of row, turn.  Repeat this row, until 200 stitches. 

Continue increasing at the beginning of each row on one side.  Perhaps place a marker on the side you wish to designate as the different side ~  That side should be worked even once.  Then begin decreasing by Knit 1, k2tog every row.

Increasing on one side, decreasing on the other, maintaining the 200 stitch count.  When you have 10 inches on the decreasing side, begin decreasing the same one on the other side.  Continue decreasing at the beginning of each row, until 1 stitch remains and bind off. 

I did not edge this one at all, intended to i-chord edge it, but completely ran out of the yarn I was using.  Still it has a nice look to it.

Hip to be square Pattern

This is a pattern for a garter stitch square.

The square is knit diagonally, from a corner.  

With your choice of yarn and knitting needle:  cast on 1 stitch.  Turn.  

Row 1:  In that one stitch, knit in the front and back.  (2 stitches)

Row 2:  Knit the first stitch, knit in the front and back of the next stitch. (3 stitches)

Row 3:  Knit 1, Make 1 right (pick up the stitch below the next stitch, knit it, then knit the stitch on the needle = M1r) knit the last stitch.  (4 stitches.)

Row 4: Knit 1, M1r, knit to end of row.  Repeat this row until square edge is desired width or length.

Knit 2 rows even.  Then begin decreases.

Row 1: Knit 1, k2tog, knit to end of row.  Repeat this row until only 1 stitch remains.  Bind off.

NOW, here comes the fun part. 

Option #1 ~ This baby blanket was knit of acrylic sport weight, of one square.  I worked it until it was about 40", then found a lace garter edging that I like and trimmed it using more of the same acrylic.

Option #2: Shawl/lap robe, pretty much the same as the baby blanket, except worsted weight yarn was used.  I really liked this one because the variegated looks very nice as a garter (hides the pooling) was super soft.

Option #3: Stash busting! ~  Adventure Afghan

I like this option a lot.  Sometimes you just end up with bits of things that don't necessarily make enough of anything.  In this case, had a lots of bits of never been used acrylic, worsted weight yarn, of different brands.  I made these squares following that same pattern at the top of this post, until I had 80 stitches, then decreased.  As each square was finished, I put them in a pile, which eventually filed a milk crate in my stash.  The squares I carried with me to work on every time I left the house, riding along while my husband drove us to the store, went to the movies, went camping.  They became my adventure squares, I knew when the blanket was done which one I'd been working on when I saw the last of the 'Harry Potter' movies, the last trip we took our dog on before she died...  When I assembled the blanket, I did the last bit where our grandson was watching my work and told him about the squares, enough for everyone to pick a favorite, which was mine, which was Grandpa's....  about the adventures I worked on while I knitted the squares, my hopes for it with him, that it would keep him warm in winter, that he would take it on his adventures, that he would still be using it when he went to college. 

I am working on another square now.  I think I will do a variation on it, make a rectangle.  One edge will go until it is 48" the other will continue until 60", then decrease.  I'm planning to donate it to the local Linus Blanket project.  It's one of those Pounder skeins from the craft store, in a dark sage.  Hoping some foster boy will know it was made just for him to grow strong and free as the forests.  Stay tuned, I hope to post the finished picture of it here. 

Once upon a time, we were children

Dear Ricky.

   Do you still go by that name, or is it Rick now?  
  
I remember when we were kids, you and your brother were so close, it was as if his and yours were one long name.  I think my sisters were probably that way too, although mostly what people told me was that the one was so shy, they only remembered the other, and didn't realize there were two.

Your name came up the other day, as you can imagine, and made me stop and think about way-back-when.  Made me think I have some things I want to share with you.  Keep in mind, it's been nearly 40 years since we first met, I have no idea what's been going on with you.

I remember your Mother.  She had me over one day ~ something about having a girl around for a day, instead of all those boys.  We made cookies, I think.  I had never heard of Oleo.  Your Mother was a very different person from our Mother.  I didn't really get to know her in the time I spent with her.

It was your Father I learned more about.  Probably because of all the time we listened to him, in the congregation, but the story of our father was sad, so to listen to yours was a comfort that we needed at that moment.  In person he was very kind, genuine and was heartfelt.   I can still hear his laugh.  So many others were too stiff to laugh, but he could and did.  I wonder if your laugh as an adult is anything like his.

I got you in trouble once or I got myself in trouble, I guess.  Somehow I met you and your brother at the mall, looking at 45's.  You guys had a pretty extensive collection at home, I remembered.  We didn't buy records then, unless they were at yard sales or the thrift stores.  I remember one song you guys showed me, I said I'd heard it on the radio before.  You bought it, but it apparently gave one of you nightmares.  Do you remember?  I think it was you that told me about bad dreams, but I don't recall if it was you or your brother that had them.  I don't even remember what song it was, but I always felt bad about that.  One of those recollections that always cause me regret, occasionally a sleepless night, wondering what I could have done differently.  I have a quite the selection of memories that do that, I suppose being human we all do.

What has been going on with you?  I can't even begin to guess.  I'm sure there was some gossip going around about you, I'm sure there is some about me too.  I'm not a big fan about that kind of drama, so I truly have not heard anything.  Life has not gone the way I'd hoped, but my expectations were thin at best.  

If you are where I've heard you are, I'm sure that life has not gone the way you've planned, that you've made every kind of mistake any normal human could make.   I do hope that you, in your heart, still talk to God and know he's listening, like your father taught you, that He truly is the only being you can rely on.  I hope you are standing tall, like your dad.

I also hope that someday, you and I, your siblings and mine, will find ourselves happy to be in each others presence, and make each other laugh and show our children how to be grown ups, that you and I will be close as brother and sister, too, and that in our old age we can be content in each other's company.  

That is the definition of hope, isn't it?  The idea of something seemingly unlikely, but yearned for just the same.  

Ribbed Hat Pattern

I've been making a few hats to donate for charity project, thought I would share my pattern. The great thing about hats is that you can try out something new on a small project PLUS when you're working in the round, you only have to worry about going the one direction!

This is for worsted weight yarn.  Most donation programs ask for acrylic yarn for easy laundering, but how great would it be to make as a quick gift of wool!

Size needles:  I'm using a circular size 6, which is too long so it has a loop at the row end.  If you can find a 16" or dpns, your preference, whichever is easiest.  I find the circular needle most convenient for a take along project, fits into my purse.  For instance, when we leave the house to do grocery shopping, I can get three rows done before we get to the store.

Stitch Markers: at least 4.

Mine takes about two ounces of yarn.  With 2 three ounce skeins of acrylic, I can get three hats, with a tiny bit leftover.

Cast on 96.  

My preferred method is a Tubular Cast on, I learned many years ago from a magazine article written by Lily Chin.  I cannot find a video that does this exactly -- this is pretty close. Creates a Knit One, Purl One rib.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQmkBeKCLSM

For a Knit Two, Purl Two rib, I saw a suggestion (I thought was on Knitting Daily, but of course I can't find it) where you are actually cabling on the first round so that it changes from 1x1 to the 2x2.  So, in this case I always start with a knit stitch in my cast on....  Then the first working round, or the first round after casting on, goes like this:  K1, P1, either put the next stitch which should be a knit on a cable needle and work it after the next purl or leave on left needle and purl THE NEXT STITCH, then knit the first and slip the two stitches off the left needle.  Repeat these four around and you have changed the 1x1 rib you cast on to a 2x2 rib to work with.  This would be a great opportunity to learn a new stretchy cast on. 

Another thing that is very cool, is that it is very easy to see and correct if your stitches are twisted.  You'll notice I did not say, 'Cast on being careful not to twist your stitches'.  At the end of the second row, if your work has twisted, simply untwist it, no one will know.

Knit around in two by two rib for a minimum of 6 inches.  My preference is to go longer, 7 to 8 inches, because less barely covers the tips of the ears, and of course some folks like to fold the hat so a double layer covers the ears, which means knitting for 9 to 10 inches.  

Place a marker every 24 stitches.  This should be in the middle of 2 knit stitches and divides the body of the hat into four sections.

Decrease round:  Slip one, knit, PSSO (or a left-leaning decrease), work to two stitches before next marker, K2tog (right leaning decrease), repeat three more times around.  Decreasing this way leaves knit ribs primary throughout the crown at the marker.  Continue decreasing EACH ROUND until you have two stitches between markers or 8 stitches total.  Cut yarn at about 4" and with a large eye needle, thread tail through all stitches.  Weave in end, block and done.


For acrylic yarn:  I recommend washing on the gentle cycle in the washing machine and drying on low temp with a dryer sheet until mostly dry, to get the most softness and less likely to pill.   I block mine on a Styrofoam head, like you see in my pictures.

Once you've done one hat, play around a bit.  I've done some of the hats with cables throughout, just like how I suggested in the change row to create two by two rib:  knit the second stitch then the first and slip off both. Cable done!  I cable every other rib, every fourth row, then two rows later, cable the skipped ribs.  This way if the cable rows are tight, the alternate ribs keep it from being unwearable.  

UPDATE: 10/27/12
Have just completed a 1x1 rib version of this, adding note here in case there's interest (it turned out nearly reversible!) : 

Same cast on, 96 stitches.  Work for 7 inches in the knit 1, purl 1 rib.  Mark the four sections of 24 stitches.  (Should start with knit stitch and end with a purl, or at least mine did.)
Crown decreases:  K2tog, work to two stitches before next marker, p2tog.  Repeat for each section, around.  Repeat for each row, until you are down to 8 stitches.  Cut about 4" tail, and weave end through all stitches, weave in ends.