Fall is in the air!

Well, you can tell by my scarce posts that I have busy with the kids this summer. Today was the start of the school year, and I think we're all excited to get back into the routine. Some of us more than others. ;) I can see bare branches at the top of the cottonwood trees behind my house, they are always the first to lose their leaves. And, my yard is littered with leaves, but my Sycamores constantly drop leaves and bark, so that's not exactly an indicator. I have one more summer top to finish, then it may be time to move on to summer knitting!

Finally finished the #10 Lace Dress from Knit Simple Magazine:






I ended up starting on #4's, then switching to #5's on the two middle charts, to #6's on the 4th chart, and to #7's on the stockinette. I also worked two sizes because I wanted it for a tunic and it flared out huge in my size. I made the smallest size up to the stockinette, then switched to the 38" bust by increasing every RS row until I had the recommended stitches.

I really like it, I'm just scared to wear it because it's a nightmare to block now that it's assembled! Ha.

#10 Lace Dress Continues to Confound

I have been knitting and frogging and knitting and frogging #10 Lace Dress
by Sandi Prosser from Knit Simple Magazine, Spring/Summer 2010. What is the problem, you might ask? Gauge, that old gotcha. You wouldn't think it would be that big of a deal on an A-line dress, but boy has it caused some serious frayed yarn. You see, my substitute yarn, Universal Yarns Summer Linen that I purchased from Herrschner's, is giving me some funky gauge problems. In stockinette, I get the 21st/4" gauge on #7s. But on Chart #1's horseshoe lace, I ended up with a tent. I figured out that the tent-edness (to coin a word) had two contributing factors: gauge and the size I chose. I had to use #4's to get the 22st/4" gauge listed for the lace pattern, but the bottom width for my usual size was still too much. So, I changed to the smallest size on #4 needles, and I was happy with the bottom hem width. No problem, I'll just figure out how to change needles or add increases after I get to the waist, which is evidently not going to be anytime soon. However, after I finished Chart #1 (2-1/2 repeats) and Chart #2 (5-3/4 repeats), I did a sanity check and held it up to make sure it was going to fit. It did not. Chart #2's gauge ended up being 24sts/4". So, I ripped back to the start of Chart #2, and changed to #5's, which is working nicely. At this rate, I shall have to change to #6's for Chart #3, and #7's for Chart #4, which would leave me just peachy for the stockinette bodice at 21st/4" on #7s. I knew this dress would take awhile, but it's killing my summer knitting and I have yarn on the way for another summer top.

Ah, the stress of incoming yarn!