weekend work.

“What’s a weekend?”
 

-The Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 1
 

The weekend seems to be the best time for me to work on my various crafting projects as I usually have some quiet time to myself. It is nice for me to have some small breaks from the routine of the week. And it is even nicer for M to have some catch up time with Tiny and enjoy some father-son bonding that he misses with his weekday schedule! What has sort of ended up happening is that I get a chance to work on my knitting. I thought that going forward, I would continue to share some of this ‘weekend work’ with you as I am able since I tend to mostly share finished projects rather that works in progress.

This weekend, I have been working with some Berroco Remix in my favourite colour: Yellow. The colourway is called Buttercup but between you and I, I don’t think it looks at all like the colour of buttercups. Never mind – I love this yarn! I find cotton really hard on my wrists so I don’t work with it. This recycled yarn is lovely because it contains fibre (like cotton) that I don’t normally work with and I am really enjoying the results.

 

I have been thinking about this sweater for a long time and over the past few weekends, I finally had a chance to cast on. I had written out the pattern back in the summer but I never had the chance to actually start. In my head, I am calling it “Irish Heart” since I love the cabled Celtic sweaters. I only have the sleeves left to work … and I have to find one more button. Can you believe that even though I always buy extra buttons for a project (usually 2 extra) that I am short 1 button? Unbelievable.
 

Have a wonderful weekend!

same same.

I can’t say that the self-induced sweatshop of diaper sewing has finished as I have 8 sitting next to me half done. They only need their leg elastic and top-stitching. The end is in sight! Overall, I have really enjoyed making them. They became very fast in the end as I started to operate on auto-pilot while making them, my mind wandering elsewhere. It was quite enjoyable! I didn’t include in my cost breakdown the cost of thread – this ended up being close to $20 because they eat thread like crazy. I was able, however, to use up a bunch of bobbins that had odds and ends on them since I didn’t care about coordinating colours/matching fabric to thread. Something to keep in mind :)

I have been knitting, though!

Since I really enjoy Ginny’s Yarn Along on Wednesdays, I thought I would share what I’m reading & knitting.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain is an account of both research and experience about being introverted in an extroverted world. I picked it up after hearing her interviewed on Q with Jian Ghomeshi. Her ideas about introverted-ness, along with the research to support many of her claims, captivated me as I am a classic introvert – although I have learned to be quite extroverted when I need/want to be. For anyone out there who is quiet – not necessarily shy as she outlines in the book that this is quite different – it’s a book worth picking up for the sheer joy of reading how to find our ‘sweet spot’ in balancing our natural tendency as introverts to want time alone but also be active in the world around us. It’s also nice to read that it’s not a disease and there’s nothing wrong with us if we don’t absolutely love group work! What a relief!

In terms of knitting. Kelly inspired me to finally try the contiguous method, which I have read/heard is the most perfect fit of all the sweater construction methods. I was curious to understand the method so I bought Walnuss and cast on for Same Same – I know, confusing. You get both patterns when you buy Walnuss and can opt for either method – I wanted it for the contiguous method, hence casting on for Same Same. I have finished the yoke and am currently finishing the armholes. I placed it on my dress form last night & Kelly was totally right – the fit is unreal. I’ll keep you posted. I’m actually thinking about making this a pullover rather than another cardigan – not sure at this point but may join it in the round beneath the bust.

The yarn has been reknit and stashed repeatedly for a long time – it’s discontinued Rowan Purelife (DK) Organic Wool. I absolutely love this wool but I think because it’s my favourite colour and I love it so much, nothing I make is “good enough” in it and I end up frogging it. Hopefully, this will not be another one of those stories.

I’m out into the garden to weed – we have sun here so I want to take advantage! Happy Wednesday :)

yellow affliction.

In an effort to escape from purling, seed stitch, colourwork, lace, and pretty much anything else that resembles any variation of the knit stitch, I decided to go back to my one true love for my next project: Garter Stitch.

Garter stitch is a funny thing.

When I first picked up knitting again, I thought garter was such a simple, ugly and laborious stitch that only beginners were taught because it was ‘easy’. As I have continued on my knitting journey, I have come to appreciate this simple stitch more than anything. There is something about it that is incredibly pleasing – and not just the simplicity of working it – the finished item always looks great too. Clean edges, simple lines and a beautiful showcase of the yarn. Especially when you have some gorgeous madelinetosh in my favourite colour.

Pattern: Audrey by Jane Richmond

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK (formally Tosh Worsted) in colour Olivia (4 skeins)

Needles: 4.5mm circulars

I actually saw Jane from a distance at Fibres West and she was wearing her Audrey. I didn’t get a chance to compliment her on it as I spotted her and quickly became distracted by the above-mentioned project yarn that came home with me – then I didn’t see her again. It looked great on her. As I was driving home, I thought What a perfect project to take a break from the more difficult stuff I’ve been working on lately.

It’s been the perfect escape.

There are a few things about this that I have to admit, I don’t love. I did no waist shaping (I was keeping things simple!) so the back looks like just a big square-rectanglish block. Because I knew this would grow like mad when I washed it, I knew I could do something about it afterwards. I’m actually thinking – especially while I’m pregnant and belts seem to be super cute on my right now – of knitting a 1x1 rib belt. The body is about 20” long, so long enough to belt for sure.

Also, I didn’t do button holes. I was going to do snaps instead fronted by buttons. I found these super cute buttons at Fabricana (just cheap Countess ones). I sewed on 7 but I’m wondering about taking them off and re-spacing them to add more. I have 14 to play with … so at present, the cardigan does not close. But the belt idea would fix that … I will keep you posted as to what I decide and photo it with the belt if I decide to go that route.

Overall, I think this will get a lot of wear as the weather warms up. Already we have had many jacket-less days :) I hope Spring is warming you wherever you are!

solaris.

We’re home.

Being away for the past 3 weeks was great – we visited with close friends and family, had some great weather (and some not so great weather), and generally were able to refresh. The best part of being away, though, is coming home – I was ready for my own bed, our dogs (they had to be boarded while we were in Toronto), and our own food (funny how those little things in our routines become our creature comforts).

Fortunately, I do have some goods to show for the past 3 weeks of relaxation-indulgence!

Solaris by the Berroco Design Team is finished and blocked but it will not be worn for quite some time – it’s way too warm! I agreed with other people’s comments that the collar seemed too wide for the sweater so I too narrowed it. I’m not a big person and all that extra bulk would have just added pounds to my 5’3” frame.

Here are my modifications based on a 4 stitches per inch gauge (in pattern stitch) in Cascade Eco+ 4010 Straw on 5.00mm needles.

General Modifications:

• Worked the length of the sweater to 16” prior to washing and blocking (rather than the 13” suggested in the pattern).
• No waist shaping in both back and front pieces.
• Measurements: Lower Edge & Bust (Front pieces) = 10”, Back Yoke = 9”.

Back Piece:

• Cast on the 87 stitches called for in the smallest size. When I reached the armhole shaping, I continued to cast off every RS row until the armholes measured 5.5” since I knew it would be too wide across the back otherwise.

Front Piece:

• Cast on 49 stitches and worked until 16” prior to starting the armhole shaping.
• Cast off 4 stitches at beginning of armhole shaping (44 stitches), then decreased every RS row 8 times (31 stitches).
• Worked 8 armhole increases (rather than 5 called for) every RS row to finish armhole shaping (44 stitches).
• Worked straight as pattern calls for (11”), then repeated above in reverse.

Sleeves:

• Cast on 32 stitches and increased a total of 10 times prior to cap shaping (58 stitches).
• Knit sleeve cap 8” deep rather than the 4.5” called for in the pattern.
• Shaping for sleeve cap was as follows: Bind off per pattern (first two rows of sleeves). Next row: K1, K2 tog, work in pattern to last 3 stitches, SSK, K1. Row 2: Work back in pattern. I repeated this 14 times for a total of 28 stitches decreased.
• Cast off remaining 16 stitches across top of sleeve.

I hope all of this makes sense – please email me or comment if you have any questions!

While I am pleased with the finished product & I know this will get a ton of wear, I am most proud of the fact that this is my first completely seamed sweater (AND it was super easy!). I love the colour and fit … I think I will play with some belts to see what that looks like too.

I hope you are as happy with your projects this summer!