Master Hand-Knitting Level 1

Went to my group today, have decided to accept swatch #3 as is after having to purl clockwise to get rid of the extra holes. Started swatch #1. Realized my edge stitches on ribbing are crap. Managed to fix it by purling last st clockwise, knitting first st TBL, continuing on for a couple of stitches and then giving the edge a nice vertical tug. Seems to be working. Will continue on to increasing and the garter ending.

Dallas/Fort Worth Fiber Festival

Managed to slip off from hockey games down in Dallas yesterday to attend the DFW Fiber Festival. It was held at the convention center in Addison, TX a 'burb of Dallas. There were so many beautiful yarns there, as well as projects, books, button, funny knitting t-shirts, and friendly smiling faces. My boys had hockey games and my husband was out of town, so there was no hope for taking a class. The yarns from Brooks Farm Yarn Lancaster, TX were absolutely breathtaking, and pretty reasonably priced for hand-dyed. I will definitely try to attend again next year and hopefully sign up for some classes.

Seamless Top Down Raglan has Earned a Time-Out!

Having so much trouble with the seamless top-down raglan. After trying two other top-down patterns and finally realizing that their formulas broke down with bulky yarn (the Incredible Custom-Fit Raglan and one other that I have since forgotten), I turned to Barbara Walker's Knitting From the Top Down. So far Barbara has not steered me wrong. What's giving me fits is the yarn, or lack of enough.

History of the yarn Shortage

You see, there I was, innocently shopping at Sealed With a Kiss in Guthrie, I don't remember how I managed to dodge the family long enough to make a break for it. I was walking by the closeout area when I was reeled in by some gorgeous multi-color yarn. But it was bulky gauge, and I'm a rather tall, wide-shouldered person and bulky yarn only looks good on non-bulky people. Plus it was on closeout, all sales final, only two skeins. But it was pretty. Then I saw the new Twinkle book, Big City Knits, and saw the cute Best Friend Jacket. I checked the yarn amount. I could just squeak by and make that jacket with the closeout yarn. Kicking myself, I bought it. Got home, opened up the book to thumb through the other patterns, and out pops a slip of paper. ERRATA. Yarn amounts for the BF Jacket and others are WAY SHORT. Screwed.

So that's how I ended up with this yarn, that has tried to be a jacket, a scarf, and is now trying to be a seamless raglan yoke with a contrasting color yarn for the lower sleeves and lower sweater body. It's just not cooperating. Pics later.

Master Knitter in Training

Today I mustered my courage and went to the new Master Knitter meeting that's to be weekly from 1-3 on Thursdays. This meeting I should be able to stick to since my kids will be occupied at school and no sporting events are held at that time. I met up with Jo Ellyn Wheeler and Carolyn Faircloth downtown over Java Dave's. I really expected to be totally lost and out of my element, but Jo Ellyn and Carolyn quickly put me at ease. Unfortunately I didn't read ahead on the TKGA website and brought the wrong yarn and needles. Plan to be prepared next time. Evidently, the scoop is that you should knit your Swatch #3 first, because if you can't get rid of the holes in your seed stitch and have to go down a needle size or two, you'd have to reknit your other swatches because all must be on the same yarn and needle size.

FO: Gull-wing Baby Sweater and Hat

Yep, knittin' for a baby again, one of the husband's co-workers and a real estate customer of mine. This is a quick little sweater to knit, it has various names, Best Baby Sweater, February Sweater, Two-Needle Baby Sweater. It's by Elizabeth Zimmermann, so you know it's good stuff. Variations include lengthening the arms by one inch, and adding the decorative eyelet in the collar, cuffs and sleeves. I was unhappy with the yoke increases, so made them a "feature" by using yarnovers instead. Added them midway in the cuffs and sleeves by K1, *K1, YO, K2TOG* across. The hat is the former Petal Baby Hat which is now named Ripple Eyelet Baby Hat. I've already rewritten this hat for working in the round on two circs, would like to also change the stitch pattern to the gull-wing pattern, but one is a ten-stitch repeat and the other is seven, so it'll take some tinkering to rework the crown decreases and I'd rather be on to other things. Someday.

Oh, and I did I mention that this was STASHED Knitpicks Shine yarn? Woo hoo!

FO: Shetland Shorty using STASHED yarn!

Here's the finished Shetland Shorty, a freebie pattern from Knitty. I resolved to only use stashed yarn for awhile because I really need to pare down the closet space it's taking up. I used Patton's Brilliant on a #6 needle and it turned out nicely. I ran out of yarn, looked all over town for it, concluded that it was discontinued, then found 1 ball of it in a closeout rack at Hancock's for $2! Must have been meant to be. I did still run out of yarn before doing the armhole edgings, but I've decided I like the lace edge better anyway.