Jenny Check

Molly Ringwald

I couldn't keep my hands off the O-Wool Balance. Here's Molly Ringwald, knit in barely 5 skeins. The 5th skein was basically just to do the crochet edging. Instead of a 22 st/4 inch gauge, I was getting 18 on size 6 needles. Instead of going down several needle sizes, I decided to modify the pattern instead. I cast on around 168 stitches, did the waist shaping as written, did the ruching on the center 41 stitches and basically followed the outline of the pattern. The one thing I did not consider was the arm circumference. I cast on too many stitches and the arm edge kind of hangs in midair... I'm just glad I never see myself from the side. I agree with Amanda- the crochet edging is pretty crucial to getting the top shaping to fit well. I'm pretty happy with this top! Two summer tops in a row! Hurrah!

Yohana turns one!

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

My niece turned one, and the whole family trekked to Torrance for the party. Click to my blog to see the whole slideshow! Also- here's a picture of my mom and me in our traditional Korean dresses. I got mine last year in Korea, and wore it for the first time at the party. It came with bloomers, a petticoat type of thing, shoes, and a matching purse! Harold says he doesn't see the point of the shoes since the dress basically goes all the way to the floor. It's too bad that I have no real occasions to wear it. I should just wear it around the house now and then for novelty.

Lotus Blossom Tank Finito!

Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji. I substituted Plymouth Royal Bamboo and ended up using 8 skeins on size 4 needles. I did one extra pattern repeat and made the armhole slightly smaller (knit about 7 inches up the back instead of 7.5). I washed it to block and didn't pin it out. This yarn felt like cardboard when wet and took three days to dry. I was a little worried that the texture would change, but once it dried, it felt like it did before.

This was not the most fun thing to knit- trying to knit the plymouth at a tight gauge was a little hard on the fingers. I initially didn't have enough yarn, and bought three extra balls and had to start over on smaller needles after 2 reps of the lace pattern on size 5 needles. I didn't have much left over after 8 balls were knit up- I was a little nervous when I was knitting the edgings, but it was all fine. I also had anxiety that the variegation in the yarn would look bad with the lace pattern and the whole thing would look too busy and weird.

Despite all of my false starts, anxiety, and discomfort, I'm pretty happy with the finished result. It's a very wearable article of clothing- I love the neckline and the a-line tank shape. The variegation doesn't bother me, and I only wish that it was hot today so I wouldn't have to wear a sweater over it!

The Knitting at the Lake House

5 skeins of Rowan Big Wool gone 'poof!'
Size 13 needles for all. Beret is from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006, inspired by this.

The Lake House

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

John R invited us up for a couple of days at his Fallen Leaf Lake Cabin. It is gorgeous up there! I went, I ate, I didn't help clean up, I knitted and then I left. It was so fun! In my defense, Frank was at the helm in the kitchen, and I did chop some tomatoes and slice some bread. And James wanted to wash every dish for the entire week. I also fell down on the photography front- no pics of Julie, Gigi and Nino. Sorry!

vintage velvet II

When I made my first vintage velvet scarf out of Knitpicks Decadence, Harold said that he would like the same scarf in red. So I bought the yarn and started the scarf. Last year? Earlier than last year? I can't remember, and I never did get a shot of the first vintage velvet when I finished it. hm. Anyway, after diligently knitting on it the last few weeks, it is finally finished!

3 skeins of Knitpicks Decadence, size 10 needle. From Scarf Style.

In other news, I made a red cable hat out of one skein of Knitpicks Sierra, leftover from my sister's cardigan from last year. Size 10 needle, 72 stitches.

And I finished 2 scarf UFO's!

Inspired by LMKG's airy scarf, but wider and with varying lace inserts. 1 skein! A very long scarf on size 9 needles.

2 skeins of Artfibers Bistro. Size 10.5 needle.

button update

Went to Britex and found buttons! Nicole suggested turquoise blue to offset the pink, and she was right!

Giant Baby Sweater

Inspired by Nicole's baby sweater, I decided that what I wanted was a gigantic one for myself. After some recalculating, I came up with this.

I cast on 64 stitches and did the increases according to EZ. I put in about 10 rows worth of short rows to raise the back (5 extra ridges) after the first round of increases. After switching to gull stitch, per pattern, I divided for the sleeves. I should have held 31 stitches for each front, 37 stitches for the sleeves and the rest for the back, but I messed up and only held 25 stitches for the fronts. oops. So my back is particularly poofy (see pic below). I did the sleeves in the round to avoid seaming and cast on an extra 19 stitches for the sleeves. Then when I joined the body, I cast on an extra 16 stitches at each underarm. then I followed the pattern, decreased 10%, did the garter stitch border for 6 ridges and cast off. Next time, I will hold 31 stitches for the fronts, maybe divide for the arms an inch earlier. These pictures are pre-blocking. Now I just need buttons...

I used a cone of School Products merino/cashmere blend. The yarn is bulky weight, and it's very pink. It started with 2426 yards, and I'm not sure how much I used. The cone is still huge, and I think I have enough yarn left for several more baby sweaters.

A dirty little secret- I did not do a gauge swatch before I started. I took the written gauge (3-3.5), assumed I would knit a bit tighter than specified on size 10 needles- a needle size smaller than recommended (10.5-11). After a few rows, I took my gauge in garter stitch, which ended up being about 3 STI. Because it's not a tight fitting sweater, more kimono-bedjacket-like, I think I got away with it. I like the style of it- not just for babies!

tagged

So I just got tagged for a 7 random facts meme by Shamrock Knits.

1. I like to reread books and rewatch movies and tv shows over and over and over etc. Specifically, fantasy/science fiction from my childhood, the 6 hour Pride and Prejudice and other romantic type comedies as well as the Harry Potter movies and the Lord of The Rings, Sex and the City, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (all 7 seasons). It's comforting, what can I say? I feel like I am spending time with old friends.

2. I eat everything, but I don't really like raw bananas or raisins. ?

3. I don't really have a sweet tooth, but I love potato chips and french fries.

4. I have recently become addicted to Fresh  cosmetic products.

5. I have recently become addicted to O magazine.

6. I kind of hate to shower.

7. I am an arachnophobe.

I'm not much for tagging, but Nicole, do you want to take a shot?

Strawberry Shortcake Hat

I wanted to make a hat that poofed a little at the top like those doll hats. I cast on 75 stitches, made three eyelet ridges, increased by 50%, then used concentric circle decreases. I thread a ribbon through the eyelets and made little bows. It's a little odd, but I like it.