Category: knitting

score o’ the day

Whew, I’m pooped. I spent a couple hours this afternoon working on my veggie garden, which this year is mostly going to be containers. I have to wait until my mum comes back from her vacation so I don’t dig anything up that she’s going to be mad about in the garden proper! I need to clear space for (some of) my zucchini and tomato plants, and while there’s lot of real estate, there’s also lots of very large weedy plants. I did manage to transplant some herbs and things outside, as well as direct seeding some beans and spinach.

And now my arms are all wobbly from lugging bags of soil around. Perfect time to fill you all in on the Textile Museum sale!

It pretty much looked like this:

Crowded! I got there right about 11am, and there were a LOT of people there already. It was madness. There were two tents plus a rather large area right in front of the entrance to the Textile Museum (which I didn’t get any photos of).

This year the yarn got its own tent (the last photo above). The tubs on the tables inside were being refilled as things were bought, but I didn’t really feel like hanging around too long to try and score something good. There was a lot of not great (but very cheap) yarns in there to wade through.

But I managed to score a wee bit of yarn anyway, since Julia gifted me with a skein of red Jaggerspun that she’d bought. And then there was my one big score –

An adjustable dressform! I was standing right at the table when the women behind it were hoisting her up, took a look at the bust dial (to make sure that it was big enough for me) and then pounced right away. Seriously, where else will you get one in this great condition for $25?

I haven’t actually set the measurements properly yet, but close enough for now. And she’s already being pressed into service.

Maybe now I can actually sew some dresses and the like that’ll fit properly!

One more thing, today – a sneak preview of the woven scarves I’ve been working on.

My name on Etsy is cosmicpluto, but there’s nothing up there at the moment – don’t worry, I’ll be announcing here when I put stuff up for sale!

May 31, 2008
when in doubt…cashmere

I needed something new to knit (not like I don’t have piles of semi-knitted project already…but whatever) so I finally cast on for a project I’ve been thinking about for a long time.

A simple, plain, cardigan, out of cashmere.

Handmaiden 4ply cashmere, to be exact! In a lovely natural taupey colour (it’s greyish, right ken?). And because it’s ever so captivating, I started this yesterday and am already done the yoke. Two hours of knitting during the Grey’s Anatomy finale helped!

I used Jody’s yoke from her Unwrapped sweater, and it looks great. There was a bit of pulling in the shoulder increases because of the increases right next to each other (and every row), but it’s only at the very top of the raglan.

I do wish I’d modified the neckline for more of a true angled V rather than a rounded sweetheart neckline – the sudden increases every row make the line a little puckery. I’m sure it’ll work out though.

And check out that cashmere halo!

May 23, 2008
for sale: B-Side Cardigan

A couple of days of intensive editing, and here’s the pattern for the B-Side Cardigan!

More photos in my Flickr set.

Keep your cool with B-Side! The B-Side Cardigan features an easy to knit cable panel on the left front and shoulder, subtle waist shaping, ribbed sleeve detail and ribbed sailor-type collar. The body is worked in one piece to the underarm, then splits for the set in sleeve shaping.

This fun, lightweight cardigan is worked in a kettle-dyed, slightly thick and thin wool-silk blend yarn with lots of character. The sportweight gauge keeps the fabric thin and wearable all year long.

Sizes
A [B, C, D, E]{F, G, H, I, J}
Shown in size C on a 36″ bust.

Finished Measurements
Bust: 32 [34, 36, 38, 40]{42, 44, 48, 52, 56}
Length: 19.75 [21, 21.25, 22, 22.75]{24, 25, 26.5, 28.25, 30.5} inches

Materials
Yarn: Manos Silk Blend [70% merino wool, 30% silk; 150 yd/135 m per 1.75 oz/50g skein]
7 [8, 9, 9, 10]{11, 11, 13, 14, 16} skeins
Shown in colour #3055

Other sport/Dk weight yarns: 1025 [1130, 1200, 1300, 1390]{1500, 1625, 1825, 2050, 2300} yards

3.5 mm/US 4 circular needles, length 24″, 29″, 32″ or 36″, depending on size
Approximately 7 [7, 7, 8, 8]{9, 9, 10, 10, 11} buttons, 3/4 inch diameter
Stitch Markers
Stitch Holders or smooth waste yarn
Tapestry needle

Gauge
24 stitches and 36 rows = 10 cm/4 in square in stockinette stitch
24 sts of Ensign’s Braid Cable = 2 3/8 inches wide

Difficulty
Adventurous Beginner or Intermediate. Skills: cast on, knit, purl, read a chart, cables, shaping, picking up stitches, sewing up, bind off.

Pattern Information

$6.50 CAD

This 9-page pattern contains photos, detailed cable chart and legend, schematics, abbreviations list and of course, the pattern information. 2 MB file size.

Ravelry Download
Just click the button to purchase through Ravelry – you will receive an automated download link, and the pattern will be saved to your library! Payment is through Paypal, credit card or balance transfer.

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

May 19, 2008