Copper Queen, Attempt Two

Continuing with Copper Queen. I was unhappy with it because it was too short, a little snug, and the bottom kept rolling up and obscuring the colorwork.

Added a 4th round of increases to get to size Large stitch count for the colorwork pattern: K4, [(RLI, K9) 23 times], RLI, K5. 240 sts.

Am also going up one needle size to US10 (moving to Europe so I thought I'd be specific 😁) for the colorwork and changing the hem from reverse stockinette to 1x1 ribbing to help it flare more (regauging).

Partially Frogging Copper Queen

Finished Copper Queen this evening. Its a cute little ponchette with a southwest-themed intarsia border, (I love all things Southwest). It's a little snug and the bottom rolls up like crazy. I should have taken a pic before frogging.

I've ripped back to one row before I want to add the increases, then in the video I'm putting the stitches back on the needle as I rip back the last (bad) row.

But I have a plan. I'm ripping back to add another round of increases to bring to size Large (240sts), then knitting to 12 inches in length from cast on (instead of 9") before starting the colorwork. Also plan to finish with k1p1 ribbing because the reverse stockinette rolls up over the intarsia no matter what you do. (But it IS cute, so I gave it a try.)

4th round of increases: K4, [(RLI, K9) 23 times], RLI, K5. 240 sts.
BTW, the intarsia part took several evenings, because it grew monontonous. (angry face)

Moving to Germany!

Exciting news - we are relocating to Germany for a minimum of one year! I am so excited to not only see and experience Europe, but to immerse in yarn tourism! We'll have to quarantine (f*k Covid) for a week or two, so I'm already agonizing over which projects to take. :)

And even more exciting is the fact that after living in small town Battle Creek, Michigan which has no yarn store, and the state of Michigan, which has about 5 stores spread out all over the state, I am moving to Stuttgart, which has three stores!!! So excited!!!

Thank you gift for the heart surgeon that saved my son's life

In October 2020 my son was involved in a hit and run accident while riding his motorcycle. He was hit broadside by a vehicle that didn't stop, and the driver has never been found. My son arrived at the hospital with a torn aorta, which we later found out was an injury with only a 30% survival rate. At the time of the surgery, we were so shocked and numb with all of his injuries and planned surgeries that we failed to grasp the significance and miracle that he survived the night. We also feel that we didn't properly thank the surgeon because, again, we were just so overwhelmed.

I decided to knit the surgeon a sweater, hoping that he would appreciate something made from the heart and hands, as his skilled hands saved my son's heart. The pattern is Arkansas River Pullover by Irina Anikeeva, published in Interweave Knits Summer 2018. I used the suggested yarn, Blue Skye Fibers Woolstok Worsted and enjoyed knitting it up. I used the Italian Cast On for the ribbing and the Tubular Bind Off for the collar.

Berroco House Cardi Party Knit Along - Finished!

I participated in the Berroco House Cardi Party Knit Along (I may have that name wrong). It was a lot of fun to see what patterns and yarn everyone selected and their reasons why. I was fortunate enough to have some Berroco Vintage Chunky in my stash leftover from another project, and found a free pattern Alpine, that worked.

Here's my Ravelry page for pics.

A funny thing happened after I assembled the cardi. I discovered that I wished I had reversed the inset panel pattern on the front. I like the wrong side better!

I used the Italian tubular cast on for the ribbing, which is my current favorite for 1x1 ribbing.

Cardigan Knitting Hacks

I am enjoying the Berroco Cardi House Party knit along on Facebook. Which brings the question to mind:
What are your favorite sweater/jumper knitting hacks?

Here are two of mine:

When casting on, leave a tail 2-1/2 times the length of the piece's seam on that side. Then you'll already have yarn attached and ready for the seam and it's one less end to weave in. Just pin it out of the way so you won't accidentally knit with it. Look at schematic to determine what that seam length is for the size. Works for back, left front, and sleeves. (Don't bother for the right front of a cardi, that's cast on at the cardi opening not the seam edge.)

When possible, work the edge stitch in garter. It helps tame the curl, makes a sturdy edge, and leaves a visual reference for where to seam. Not good for long cardis, garter stitch has a shorter row gauge than stockinette and will shorten the edge length.

"Stay at Home" Order Gives Extra Time to Plot and Plan

Staying at home has given me some extra time to get back to hobby fun. I have had an idea percolating in the back of my mind for some super cute summer placemats. And now, after our enforced isolation, I think we'll be entertaining family and friends quite a bit this summer to enjoy our relationships. This idea has been percolating because I like to learn something from a design, so I am investigating short rows. I even bought the yarn for it years ago, some I'm also de-stashing! :) Stay tuned!

Also, I have received many questions on the curl stitch in Summerbelle, so I may enlist the help of my kids to video the creation of the stitch (you'll smack yourself in the forehead when you see it). I'm so old that that last sentence was originally written with the word 'film' instead of video.