Eastlake and Russian Grafting

I just ran across this YouTube video on Russian Grafting and I am so excited to try it on my next pair of kilt hose. I don't like the way grafted toes look, probably because I'm not very good at it. I had the idea of knitting kilt hose top-down, then when you reach the toe, put half the stitches on a holder (the sole), and using the the toe-up method, form a toe pouch, then graft it back together on the sole. This Russian grafting video looks like exactly what I was thinking of, so I guess I'm not the first one to think of it!


Russian Grafting YouTube video


I also finished Eastlake, of course it took much longer than anticipated and there were, unfortunately, many errors in the pattern, some uncorrected despite the errata sheet that came with the pattern book. She also tried this weird neck extension thing that extends like straps from the front and meet together in the back that was a little different. (You can see the seam at the back neck in my photo.) Some Ravelers left it out completely, but I decided to try it. All in all I am very pleased with the way it turned out and I am sure I will wear it often!

FO: Radiating Star Blanket

Finally blocked the Radiating Star Blanket, the eyelet edges curled terribly after washing. I wanted this to be something she could toss in the washer and dryer, but she's going to be unhappy with the way the edges curl. Maybe if it's folded after drying they'll flatten.

Since I didn’t use bulky yarn, I knit rows 1-94, then repeated rows 71-94, ending with row 95, then started the eyelet row. Next time, I would add two rows of garter after the eyelets to give weight to the edge.

Book Review: Seven Things That Can "Make or Break" a Sweater

Just bought a new book, Seven Things That Can "Make or Break" a Sweater. At first I was a little disappointed, because it doesn't have any new, startling, who'd-a-thunk-it information that I didn't already know. But then, I realized, it's all the little things, tips, tricks, techniques, that I've learned along the way all compiled into one book, into one place. I sure wish I'd had this book when I was doing the Master Level Handknitting course, it answers a TON of questions that we looked up elsewhere. So, instead of trying to remember which book has the method for, say, increasing evenly across a row in ribbing, I can just pull out this book. Pretty neat.

I have about 200 irons in the fire right now, including T-shirt and Hoodie orders for our elementary, my youngest son's birthday, Halloween, and too many WIPs.

Oh, and I got a knitting job, a pair of kilt hose for a fellow piper! Yippee!

I'll try to take pics of the WIPs tomorrow. Too much to do today.

Radiating Star Blanket

Cast on for the (Ravelry link) Radiating Star Blanket which I have absolutely no business doing given the other things I have on or planned for my needles. But it's nicely addictive, watching the pattern emerge. I do have a recipient in mind, our neighbors are expecting a new baby girl. I'm knitting on size 7 needles with 5 balls of Cotton Ease in apple green, which is my new favorite baby girl color. Pink gets old.

I've started my Giraffe Jacket design three times and have been unhappy with the results. So it's marinating in my mind, still.

I washed the John Anderson kilt hose, and, as promised in the pattern, they softened up beautifully. I was afraid they'd be stiff as a board. I may even have gotten a knitting job making kilt hose after a local pipe band member saw my hose at the Fair. We'll, see he hasn't called back.