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Fifi Specs
Begin Date: July 18, 2007
End Date: August 31, 2007
Pattern Source: French Girl
Size Made: 33.5″
Yarn: 4 balls (50g – 175yd – 160m each) Rowan Calmer in Chiffon (#462) – 75% Cotton/25% Acrylic/Microfibre
Needles & Gauge: Size 7 bamboo; gauge very close to the 20 sts = 4″ called for in rib pattern
New Techniques: Cabling without a needle
Total Cost: Approx. $31.00 (yarn cost $6.25/ball + approx. $1.50/ball shipping)
Recipient: Me baby. Me!
Comments: Knit for the Sexy Knitter’s Club (SKC) KAL – Summer 2007. This sweater has turned out to be one of my absolute favorites and I can totally see myself actually wearing this! Did I mention I love this sweater? I did not however, really enjoy knitting it. I found the pattern itself to be somewhat confusing, especially the portion where you are to separate the sleeves from the main body. After reading, re-reading, pondering, and puzzling over the instructions at this point numerous times, I finally just left the sweater on the needles and started something else. When I came back to it, the pattern still didn’t make sense, but since I’d already completed one top down sweater previously, I figured I’d just do what I thought the instructions wanted me to. This was successful, much to my amazement (I expected to have to rip it out completely due to some silly mistake I was sure I’d make). After that, the only difficulty I really experienced was finishing up the sleeves. I found the instructions about beginning the actual sleeve to be a bit unclear, but I again improvised and it looks o.k. I did quite a few more repeats of the bottom ribbing on the lower bodice section than was called for (11 in all I believe) and for the sleeves I did one round in pattern, did the decreases, 1 round of ribbing and then bound off. Other than that, no real modifications other than to add a stitch here or there when establishing the ribbing pattern for the lower bodice portion. I think if I made another one of these someday I would definitely attempt the short-row shaping for the bust area. I think Fifi would fit even better that way. But I do love how it turned out!
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On-Your-Toes Socks Specs
Begin Date: May 26, 2007
End Date: July 26, 2007
Pattern Source: Interweave Knits – Summer 2007
Size Made: Custom – but followed relatively closely the instructions for 9″ foot circumference
Yarn: 1 Skein (Approx. 4 oz. – 400 yds.) Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet Sock Yarn in Shasta Daisy colorway (at least 1/4 of skein left over)
Needles & Gauge: Size 2 bamboo dpn’s; loose sock: 14.5 sts = 2″ ITR; tight sock: 16.5 sts. = 2″ ITR; approx. 21 rounds = 2″ ITR.
New Techniques: Eastern Cast-on; Toe-Up Sock Construction; Sewn Bind-off; Short-Row Heel
Total Cost: Free! A lovely gift from Jeanie :)
Recipient: Me baby. Me!
Comments: Made for the Interweave Knits KAL. These socks were actually great beginner’s socks (these were my very first pair ever!). Other than the cast on, which I was able to fudge on the first sock and actually do correctly on the second sock, everything else was simple. For some reason my gauge changed dramatically between the two socks, so the first sock is nice and comfy and the second is a bit tight as I followed the same notes I made on the first sock for the second sock. They fit great though and I love them! Thanks Jeanie for introducing me to socks!!
Pattern Notes to Self: Followed size 9″ circumference instructions. Foot = 9.5″ length. Knit to 7 1/4″ then turn heel (approx. 56 rounds). After heel is turned, and 13 rows of straight knitting done, work approx. 50 rounds in pattern for an 8 3/4″ sock from sole to top of cuff. At point where pattern states “work an increase round every other round” start with a plain knit round 1st (no increase).
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Rusted Root Specs
Begin Date: April 11, 2007 (?)
End Date: May 10, 2007
Pattern Source: Zephyr Style
Size Made: S (32-35″)
Yarn: 4 balls (50g – 115yd – 105m each) K1C2 Angora Soft in Pale Pink (#218) – 45% Nylon/40%Viscose/15% Angora
Needles & Gauge: Size 7 Denise
New Techniques: First completed sweater; First top-down sweater
Total Cost: Approx. $12.96 (yarn cost $2.24/ball + approx. $0.25/ball shipping)
Recipient: Me baby. Me!
Comments: Knit for the Sexy Knitter’s Club (SKC) KAL – Spring 2007. I love the soft halo that the angora gave to this yarn, but I’m not entirely happy with the nubby appearance that the yarn gives to the sweater. The pattern was insanely quick to knit and easy to follow; no modifications. I do wish I’d knit it a bit longer though (maybe 1 more lace pattern repeat).
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Flower Baby Hat Specs
Begin Date: April 20, 2007
Pattern Source: Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: 1 ball each Rowan Handknit Cotton (50g – 95 yds – 85m each) in colors: Sugar Pink (MC), Shell, & Celery – 100% Cotton; 1 ball GGH Samoa (50g – 104 yds) in White – 50% Cotton/50% Acrylic
Needles/Gauge: Size 6 Denise
Total Cost: $20.43 (but I have enough of the Celery & Shell colors to make quite a few more just by buying 1 ball of the main color)
Recipient: Baby gift for former co-worker
Comments: The pattern called for size 7 needles, but I didn’t like how loose the cotton looked so I changed to size 6. This changed the gauge and though I knit for size 1 year old, it came out the size of 1-2 year old. I figure she’ll grow into it! I also changed the flower petals adding knit rows in between the final decreases as I didn’t like the way they were looking by following the directions exactly. This meant that even though I added a good 10″ for each tail (to sew petal down with later), the slight increase in size of each petal made even a 10″ tail too short to use to sew each one down. I would make at least a 24″ tail to be safe.
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Lion Brand’s Pound Of Love Baby Afghan Specs
Begin Date: Various
End Date: Various
Pattern Source: Lion Brand Pound of Love Ball Band; Can also be found at Lion Brand website as a free pattern
Size Made: One size only; Approximately newborn to 1 year (?)
Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love (various colors)
Needles/Gauge: Size J crochet hook (gauge not important)
Total Cost: $6.99
Recipients: I’ve made approximately 6 of these for: College friends (AR & TR in white), High school friend (KT in lt. blue), Former co-worker (MD in mint), Childhood friend (LH in lt. blue), Former co-worker (BB in white) & My manicurist (KT in pink)
Comments: This pattern is really easy, super-affordable, and can take as little as 3 days to make. All the new moms I’ve made them for have loved them and it’s so nice to be able to give a handmade gift to someone. I love this pattern!