Eleven Stitches

Steeked

Today I finished the knitting for my Sorta-Deep V Argyle Vest, and it was ready for steeking!

Since the crochet-reinforcement option did not work so well with superwash wool, I went ahead with a machine-reinforced steek.  It's hard to see the machine stitches here because the teal thread matches the yarn so well.

After I cut it apart (David even helped a little bit), I connected the shoulders and tried it on.  Whew, it fit.

I've started on the neckline ribbing, and I hope I'll be able to have it all finished up soon!

Soothing Socks

Brown is one of my favorite colors.  I remember that I used to think that it was boring when I was little, and I felt sorry for the kids at a neighboring high school whose school colors were brown & orange.  Now, I'd love to have a school sweatshirt in those colors.  But I digress.

Brown is soothing, warm, and it goes with all of my other favorite colors (red, orange, pink and purple).  It looks good in almost any shade, and it makes for very soothing socks.

Pattern: Charade Socks by Sandra Hearts Hearts (formerly I May Be Knitting a Ranch House)
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Terra Firma, one skein
Needles: US Size 1

This is a rare pair of socks for me.  I cast on for the second one within days of finishing the first.  The pattern, with its four stitch / two row repeat was simple yet fun, and it was perfect for all of those stressful days leading up to the wedding.  It was also a great pattern for purse socks.  (Everyone has a sock-in-progress in her purse, right?)

I have to admit that I didn't really look at the pattern after I memorized the stitches, but I think it was kind of designed to be that way.  It's a simple sock that looks really good in so many different yarns, even multicolored ones.  Love it.

I'm certain that this will be a favorite pair come winter.  It goes with almost all of my clothes, and it feels good to wear, too.  What could be better?

Successful Adventures in Steeking

I wasn't going to let a steeking failure get me down-- especially on a test swatch!  I suspected that the crochet-reinforced steek wouldn't work with superwash wool, but I wanted to be certain.  I had intended to try hand sewing (with needle and thread) a steek, but in a fit of laziness I decided to try the method I was sure would work.

This was done with the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine, set to a pretty skinny width, and also to a really fine gauge.  I wanted there to be lots of zigs and zags for each knitted stitch.  I also slightly stretched the fabric when I was sewing it so the edges would have a little more give.

As I suspected, the stitches in this steek ain't goin' nowhere.  I even tried tugging on an individual stitch to pull it loose, and I couldn't free it.  This was definitely a success.

It's a good thing I know what steeking method to use, because soon I will need to use it.  I'm just about to the V for the neck.

Dressed for Success

So I wore a dress I made to an important interview last week, and things could not have worked out more nicely.  I'm going to be changing careers very soon, and go from being a computer programmer to being an elementary school teacher!  I had been wanting to make a change for a while now, and this opportunity is one I'm very excited about.

I'm not saying that the dress was the only reason I got hired :)  But I am quite proud of it, and I know that I felt good wearing it.

Pattern: Simplicity 3833
Fabric: Timeless Treasures Taxi Collection
Time to Sew: May 26 - May 30

I had a terrible time with self portraits in this dress.  Almost all of the pictures were overexposed.

This was a really simple dress to make (much simpler than the last one, actually), and I really like the way it fits.

When I saw this fabric at my local quilt store, I just knew it had to become this dress.  It was such a fun way to put together these contrasting fabrics!

Unsuccessful Adventures in Steeking

I've started a new project.  I was itching for some colorwork, so I cast on for Eunny's Deep-V Argyle Vest. I had some major gauge issues (like most people who start this project), but I was unable to get stitch or row gauge. After consulting with a very technical knitter, I decided that I would basically knit the body to my own specifications and use the gauge I liked best, while consulting the color chart for patterning.  I was already planning to make the V not so deep, so what's another set of changes anyway?  It seems to be working out nicely so far.

Another challenge with this project is that the yarn I'm using (which I bought specifically at Rhinebeck for this project) is superwash wool.  Eunny states at least twice in the pattern that superwash wool is not recommended.  I know, I'm just breaking all of the rules.

I was curious about how much I would need to reinforce my steek because of the non-grabby tendencies of superwash wool.  I started up with a plain swatch.

And then I did some crochet reinforcement with Rowan Felted Tweed (a very grabby yarn).

At first it looked fine.

But if I worked at it, I could worry the stitches loose. 

It did take a little bit of targeted tugging to pull the stitches free, so the steek probably would have been fine if it was hemmed carefully.  But if I count this as a failure, that means I can keep trying other possibilities.

I'm counting it as a failure!  Coming up soon, more adventures that we hope will be a little more successful.

Piedmont Park Hoodie

Now that it's the first of June, I have a woolen sweater to show you!  I knit with wool year round, and while that's not always temperately logical, at least this sweater has short sleeves!

I bought the kit for this sweater at Knitch in Atlanta, when I was visiting one of my bridesmaids a few weeks before our wedding.  It was exactly what I needed when I got it-- both indulgent and cozy.  Even though I had to run three miles to earn this yarn, I thought it was totally worth it!



Pattern: Piedmont Park Hoodie by Nell Ziroli
Yarn: Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran, 7 skeins (1 more than suggested)
Needles: US 7 circulars
Time To Knit: April 3 - June 1

I had some problems with gauge for this sweater.  I had to go down a needle size to get it, and when knitted up the back was becoming impossibly small.  So I went back up to the recommended size and kind of ignored gauge.  Despite having a too-large gauge, I still had to add 3 cable repeats in order for the bottom part of the sweater to be as long as specified in the pattern.  Weird. Adding these repeats, I think, made me run out of yarn, but I was able to find a seventh skein at a LYS. Fortunately, it all turned out very nicely with my modifications, and I'm really happy about the fit!



I liked a lot of the details in this sweater.  The cables pull in the waist, and I really like the way seed stitch looks.  (It also doesn't bother me very much to knit in seed stitch, which I find fortunate.)  Also, there is both a hood and a collar, which I thought was a great idea. 



I'm certain I'll be using this sweater on cool summer evenings, and it will also be a welcome part of my wardrobe this fall!