This blog post is for you. I recently shared with you the pattern, The Trouble with Tribbles, which is a round dishcloth. I knew you’d think it was fun. When it came to the end of the pattern though, we both got confused on how to actually create the circle shape. Guess what? I figured it out. So here goes.
The patten says to sew the two diagonal ends together. And then use the end tail to do a running stitch around the side edge, and the cast-on tail to do a running stitch on the other side edge. I enlarged the photo on the site so I could see what was happening. Basically, the running stitch creates a drawstring effect.
Thread your darning needle with the tail yarn, and “run the needle through” about every other stitch along the side seam, several stitches at a time. So that has the effect of letting the yarn go loosely over and under, over and under. Don’t pull it tight as you’re drawing the thread through. Wait and do that after you’ve caught the whole side edge. Then when you pull it tight the thread sort of acts like a drawstring.
Does that make sense? Let me know. Otherwise I can show you how to do it when I’m in the office on Monday. You know me, I’m the geeky knitting lady, so of course I always have darning needles on me.
So, after the long ordeal with the baby sweater, I was sure in the mood for some instant gratification (get your mind out of the gutter–I mean instant knitting gratification!). What does this mean for a totally slow knitter like me who can’t do a scarf in a day or mittens in a week? Not much. But I can do a bulky knit hat on big yarn and big (for me) needles in about a week.
So, I am taking the plunge with Charisa Martin’s No Swatch Hat Recipe with some Noro Kureyon I got for my birthday. I decided to make a flat top, and I’m still working my way down the crown, then I will flare out the brim a bit and then do a decrease at the very end so it will roll in nice and firm.
This is turning out to be quick and very satisfying to make. My next one will be on slightly smaller needles, so that the fabric feels firmer. Yes, I’m planning my next one already. Can’t wait.
I presented the baby sweater to Lindsey on Sunday at the pool. I think she liked it! I’m proud of myself. Can you believe she’s 8 months pregnant? Only one month to go, and she already has an actual completed object, from me. I didn’t really think I could do it! But I guess I do have it in me sometimes.
Did I go back to one of my many languishing UFOs? Of course not! It would be so unlike me to do something practical like that. So, I started a new hat project. A quickie, bulky, roll brim hat made from Noro Kureyon. Easy. The UFOs can wait just a few more days.
Project Name: Almost February Baby Sweater Source:Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann Yarn Used:Lisa Souza Sock! Merino, Spumoni Needle Size: 2.25 mm Date Started: June 14, 2008 Date Completed: August 30, 2008
Notes: Woo hoo! I’m finally done with this one! For some reason the sleeves are a bit wonkier than I wanted, but hopefully they’ll block out nicer. I used the pattern from Knitter’s Almanac as a guide, but changed it in so many ways! First of all, I used a finer gauge yarn than the pattern recommends, so I had to re-calculate the number of stitches to cast on. Then, I didn’t like the lace pattern in the body of the sweater because I thought it was too girly. So I decided to do the whole body in stockinette, except for the cable and eyelet panels in front. Then, instead of knitting the sleeves flat, as directed, I put the sleeve stitches on holders and knit them in the round at the end.
Overall I enjoyed making this item a lot, but probably won’t do it again in sock yarn because the stitches are so tiny that it felt like it took forever. I’m more of an instant gratification kind of girl!
I guess I should also mention that this was my very first sweater, ever, ever.
Here’s a closeup of the cable detail and the button band:
closeup of cable panels and button band
For the cable and eyelet panel, it is a panel of 15 stitches. The cable in the center is 9 stitches wide, and has a repeat of 12 rows. The crossings happened on row 5 and row 11. The cable is surrounded on each side by a single purl stitch and then the eyelet, and a decrease on the outside edges of each panel to compensate for the eyelet yarnover.
The sleeves were knit in the round to the cuffs, and then knit flat in garter stitch with decreases on the inside edge to form the shaping of the cuff. Since the sleeves are round and I had to knit back and forth on the cuff, for the wrong side rows I ended up knitting in the round from the inside to the edge. I hope that makes sense! I also think I should have been more patient and made the sleeves a tad bit longer. Oh well, I was really worried about not making my deadline! I probably won’t see the recipient very often ever again after tomorrow. (She’s the manager of our swim club and the pool closes for the season tomorrow, and she’s not returning next year because of the baby.)
I don’t know whether the baby who will wear this sweater is a boy or a girl. Whoever you are, I wish a safe and healthy arrival, and I know there are many people who love you and can’t wait to welcome you to this world. I hope someday I get to meet you.
by Elizabeth Zimmermann