Button, Button, Where is the Button?

In a flurry of activity (before the snow flies!) I found some 'lost' projects and sewed on buttons -- 9 buttons to be exact.

First up was the mini wrap from April 2011.  Still disappointed in my yarn selection, I found some nice buttons for it, so let's hope I find a good home for it!

Next up 3 head wraps for my favorite nieces.  They were a very fast knit out of some leftover Brown Sheep Bulky.  And the knitting has been completed for some time.

The flowers are crocheted.  I had only ever done a single chain before, so it took a number of starts (& rips) to get going.  I kept the directions right in front of me the whole time.

The head wrap is a modification of a pattern from T. Matthews and my pattern includes a link to the original.

Misty Alpaca

I started and finished a project in one week.  I think that's a record for me!

Le Petite Echarpe

Referenced in my April 10th post (Misti Alpaca Chunky with a FREE scarf pattern) is finished.  The stitch pattern was fun and produced something rather different. 

I made two adjustments:

• After the cast-on, I was ready for a wrong side, so I did a row of purl.  If I made this again, I might try a different cast-on, one without the right side/wrong side definition of the long-tail method and one that matches the pattern better.
• I was ready for the bind off on the purl side instead of the knit side, so I improvised a bit.  I first tried a straight purl bind-off, but because it was looser and wider than the body, it flared.  The instructions had an alternative for the knit side, but not the purl side.  So I did P2tog, *P2tog, pass the previous stitch over* and repeated across.  It was ok, but then I thought the cast on looked bad, so I picked it out, and did a K2tog bind off to match at the cast on edge.  

When things go wrong . .

This week I finished knitting a project that was disappointing in the end.  It was echo a drop-stitch mobius, the book excerpt in Spring 2011 Interweave Knits. Cowl, capelet or scarf, I really liked the way the stitch pattern looked and the versatility the piece advertised.

I wanted to get to work on this project, so I made a fast substitution. (mistake)  The pattern called for 4 balls of Loop D Loop; it has 55 yds per skein and a gauge of 2.5 sts on a size 13.  I purchased 2 skeins of Mirasol Ushya (114 yds, 2.25 on a 15). The pattern says gauge is not critical, but I was a little small.

The pattern calls for a finished size of 10 x 38.  I have a finished size of 9.75 x 31.

Echo Mobius

I have 3 nieces with narrower shoulders and so I will probably pass it on to one of them.

I checked the Interweave Knits website for errata, but didn't find anything.  I also checked Ravelry for any pattern notes.  No one complained about a yarn shortage, but they did mention the bind-off instructions begin as clear as mud!  (There was also some talk about the buttonholes, but I thought those were fine.)

I did not follow the recommendation for the bind-off exactly.  I had been dropping the stitches in the drop zone all along, so I just dropped during the bind off and grabbed the last stitch to bind-off.  (I know that's a poor explanation, but it made the bind-off match the cast-on!)

I could purchase another skein of yarn and make it longer, but the yarn didn't have the drape and shine I decided the project needed.  So, I will look for someone the project will fit!

Knitting Retreat #15

For the 15th consecutive year, my knitting group enjoyed a great weekend at a B & B with lots of knitting, shopping, and laughing.

Shops this year:
Knitter's Palette
Steven Be
Lila and Claudines
Darn. Knit. {Anyway}
The Yarnery

The first four were all new to me and most of my group.  (The Yarnery is one of our old standbys!)

I spent a little money and added to the stack of patterns I'd like to knit and cupboard full of yarn.  I picked up two different colors of Plymouth Mushishi (but I have three different one skein patterns in mind).

I purchased one skein of Misty Alpaca Chunky with a FREE scarf pattern. I wound that into a ball last night when I couldn't sleep -- it had a knot -- most annoying.

A pink and green Zauberball for fingerless mitts.  I have to rewind and divide it into 2 balls so I can work both mitts at the same time and have my colors go the same direction.  But it is really screaming "Knit ME."  It will probably be on size 1 or 2, while the other yarns are all to be worked on 11 to 13's.

And one book: Viva Poncho.  There are two patterns I liked in it: Eleanor, a raglan poncho with a single cable up the front and back; and Greta with stockinette and reverse stockinette.  Part of what makes that extra funny is that I have an niece Eleanor (Ellie) and a sister Gretta (remember your grade school phonics, long e or short e, my sister's is really the one spelled correctly).

I also carted some works in progress with me.  I didn't finish anything, but I made some good progress on a couple of projects that just need to be wrapped up.  I'm home alone this week, so maybe I will remove something from the UFO pile for good!

Three Needle Bind-Off

My preferred shoulder seam is a Three Needle Bind-Off.  With square shouldered patterns it is very simple.

With shaped shoulders, the pattern is usually written with lots of binding off.  I want to finish my shoulders with live stitches so that I can Three Needle BO.  This can be accomplished with Short Rows.  I have used short rows occasionally, but with very specific instructions.  (Short Rows next time -- it's a lengthy subject!)

Three Needle Bind-Off:

1. Garment parts should be held so that right sides are together. (The Knitty explanation makes this seem much more complicated than it needs to be.)  Occasionally, for a design feature, instructions will suggest wrong sides together. If you want your seam to the wrong side of the fabric, right sides need to be together. 
2. K2tog, with 1 stitch from the front needle and 1 st from the back needle.
   Repeat line 1.
   Pass the 1st st (on the right needle) over the 2nd st for the Bind-Off.
   Repeat lines 1-3.

I watched lots of Video to find one I liked to share with you.  I didn't find one that satisfied me, but I picked two that were close to what I wanted.

This video has no audio, but it was short, to the point, and correct.

Three Needle BO video:
There are some suggestions that I don't do. "Hold both yarns together." I have always just used one and when I am finishing, the other yarn gets sewn in like the other ends.  "..Needle same size or smaller."  I wouldn't use a smaller needle.  I have used a larger needle for binding off, but never smaller.  With most bind-off situations, care should be taken to avoid getting too tight. Finally she frets about a loose loop at the edge of the knitting.  I clean that up that bit if needed when I am sewing in my ends.

A Bead Knitted Bag

This was in my Knitting Daily e-mail today. I had to share because I think it is absolutely gorgeous. I have never tried beaded knitting, although I have friends that have. The pattern is in Knitting Traditions Winter 2011.

I may have to make an additional purchase.

Success with Purl Side Decreases

Here are my 'decrease every row' results:

This is the sleeve opening.

On the left side you can see the left sloping decreases accomplished with an SSK on the knit side and a SSP tog tbl on the purl side.

On the right side, the right sloping decrease is a product of K2tog on the knit side and S(pwise)P PSSO.

These are the same decreases I decided to use last week, but after working with them, I gave them new abbreviations.

Using these sets of decreases worked well for me!