April 27, 2012
My knitting (and crochet): it's giving me a sad
The only project on which I've made decent progress is the Arshile sweater.
I've knit and seamed the body and sleeves, and now have to add the placket and hood. The pattern has its quirks. For example, the knitter is instructed to pick up stitches around the armscye and knit the sleeves down to the cuff. That's fine. But the instructions have you knit the sleeves flat. Say what?!? Also, the recommended sleeve lengths do not take into account that this is a drop-shoulder design. Anyway, I've been making a few adjustments here and there, but sticking to the pattern for the most part. The sweater is coming out quite nice, in my opinion.
The rest of my projects just make me sad.
I have tried every conceiving edging for the crocheted chevron blanket: crab stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, decorative stitches, more stitches, fewer stitches... ETA: and, yes, i-cord, too. It all looks quite crappy in my eyes. The edge of the blanket is very loose and unstable to start with, and adding more stitches doesn't fix that. I love this blanket so much, and it kills me that I can't figure out how to finish it. Can anyone think of a reason why I couldn't enclose the two long edges in some double bias tape, and hand stitch it in place? I'd leave the short edges as they are.
Honeymoon blanket, the third is still not assembled.
The Prairie Blanket I intended to knit in time for Gregory's birth has been in hibernation forever, and he is nearly 11 months old at this point. Sigh.
At least the little boy is a constant source of happiness, makes me forget all my knitting troubles ;). Here he is, displaying some massive bed head.
March 17, 2012
My reluctant model
But mom, this hat is not even for me!
Pattern: Thorpe by Kirsten Kapur.
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage, 100% superwash merino, lepidoptra (less than 1 skein) and lapis (much, much less than 1 skein).
Needles: US 6/4.0 mm
Gauge and finished dimensions: at a gauge of about 5 stitches per inch, this hat is about 18" around and 8" from crown to the edge in the front. I knit the garter stitch brim flat and then seamed it, just like last time.
Not my first time knitting this pattern - I still love it! I adjusted the numbers to fit my yarn, and to make a hat which is about 18" in circumference. The intended recipient turns 1 in a few days, and this hat is meant to fit her next winter, when she's 18-24 months old. Conveniently, I should be able to use the same numbers and the same yarn (what gorgeous colors!) to knit Gregory a hat for next winter, too.
I might use the lapis as the main color for Gregory, I think it looks great on him!
March 11, 2012
Quick question
Any suggestions for finishing a jagged edge of a crocheted piece?
I tried the standard sc along the edge, but it looks really sloppy, in my opinion, and curls towards one side of the work.
I am open to a multi-craft approach: knitting, crochet, sewing, whatever.
Thank you!
