Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Fall for Nederland



























Nederland meets Charlie Brown, with these typical fall colors from the '70's and contrasting color finishing.

Classic Elite Princess

3476 Baronets Brown
3415 Superior Spruce
3425 Tawny Chestnut
3484 Milord's Madder
3416 Natural

On this version I began the color chart just one round after the ribbing, so the fair isle section hangs a little lower than in the grey vest pictured in Knitscene Fall '08. I'm happy to report that Miss Sophia loves the custom design!

Monday, July 28, 2008

In the Shops: Knitscene and Nederland




Summer always takes me by surprise, creeping in slowly then BAM! High Crazy Summer, and my mind is not tuned to blogging I'm afraid.

Knitscene has been out for a week or two now, and in it you'll find the finished vest you may recognize from little bits and balls of yarn I showed a while back. I'm a little curious about the name they chose...Nederland...Low Forehead Vest....still I'm very pleased and in love with the whole issue. Call me crazy, but I especially love the little drawings scattered throughout, and I'm thrilled to be included with a sensational roster of designers. I've a tandem project in the works, but can't spill all the beans yet, natch!





For the vest you will need:
Sizes 34¼ (36½, 38¾, 41¼, 43½)" bust
Yarn Classic Elite Princess (40% merino, 28% viscose, 15% nylon, 10% cashmere, 7% angora; 150 yd [137 m]/50 g):
• #3428 major grey (MC), 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) balls
• #3431 top turq (turquoise), 1 ball
• #3415 superior spruce (green), 1 ball
• #3446 regal teal, 1 ball (the most beautiful color of yarn in the world, I might add, if I could marry a yarn color this would be it...this week anyway)
• #3413 black, 1 ball
Gauge 21 sts and 28 rnds = 4" in St st on larger needle; 22 sts and 22 rnds = 4" in argyle patt on larger needle
Tools
• Size 5 (3.75 mm): 24" and 16" circular (cir) needles
• Size 7 (4.5 mm): 24" cir needle
• Markers (m)
• Stitch holder
• Yarn needle

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Don't

Don't

When you're feeling like Miss Smartypants and think:

"I'll just cut it and graft the darn thing back together again".

Don't.

Really.

Even if you have done it before...

Just don't.

Monday, July 21, 2008

My Desk at the Office

my desk

My wee decorations keep me happy....a sharp eye will notice the fair isle pattern
on the little girls smock.

blowup

Thursday, July 17, 2008

All Work All the Time

work

I'm lucky to have a job where I get to be creative for a good part of the day. But when I'm not at my day job as studio manager for Langley Photography, and Alison's assistant, I'm working at my job. Wherever I may be, in my car, at the dentist and most happily, in the garden; my knitting is always in tow. That girl tottering along lugging two huge bags in the middle of summer...its me, one life in one bag, the other life in the other...squeezing in a little knitting here and there, charting patterns before work....

And then there is The James Brown Collection up for auction as I write this. Damn. I so wanted the Sex Machine belt ....Sold! I really would like the yellow Sex Jumpsuit but the rust one sold for $4000+ so I bet I can't touch it...besides, the Denim Ensemble , which has a lower estimate is much more versatile.

Ok...

its not all work all the time after all.

most of the time its all fun all the time!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Zig Zag Afghan



What would we do without Barbara Walker. Perish, plain and simple. Her Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns contains the code for the scrap-yarn-using afghan loved by Grannies 'round the world. Make one in strips for a portable project easy to lug around where ever you go. Sew it together later when the weather turns chill.

Multiple of 12 sts plus 3. Colors A and B

Row 1 (right side) with A, k1 ssk, *k9, sl2-ki_ p2sso: repeat from *, end k9, k2

Row 2 with A k1 *p1, k4, (k1, yo,k1) in next st, k4; repeat from *, end p1, k1.

Rows 3 and 4 with B repeat rows 1 and 2.

Barbara has a lot to say about colors and yarn choices, so I suggest investing in this book if you don't have it already. I use what ever I can get my hands on, doubling some yarns, mixing and blending others to get about the same heavy worsted weight. Choosing to use very fine yarn results in a feather-light wrap perfect for cocooning in. You can also change the stitch multiple for different widths of zig-zags. Possibilities!

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

The wormy way to swatch



How do I decide which colors to use? I get the balls of yarn I think I'd like to use and set them in a place where I'm sure to see them as I go about my daily business. I rearrange them in passing, and toss out one here and there. When I get a group I like, I sometimes make these quick little i-cord worms to see how the colors work together, knit up. Then I carry the little dears around with me, out and about, so I can observe them in different lights. Sometimes they're wee little things like the ones above...some become long coiled serpents, waiting in my pocket.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

4th of July

IMG_5416toned

In our huge extended family, the 4th of July is the best holiday ever. We load up the lobster boats with kids and dogs and food and head out to a nearby island for a lobster bake. Though it can be blistering hot during the day, it is always cold heading home across the bay. I made this hat up years ago, and one year made 9 during the day....slightly obsessed.

Let it be said I have no wits for commerce...I just give things away. My most miserable times as a Girl Scout were the Cookie Drives... So here you have it, the 4th of July Hat all mixed up in this post I'm afraid.

4th of July Hat
©Mary Jane Mucklestone 2008

Finished Size 20”
Yarn Bartlettyarns (www.bartlettyarns.com)(100% Maine Wool; 210 yd / 4 oz [m/g]):#F-35-S Garnet Heather, (red), #F-20-S Natural, (white), #F-6-S Denim,(blue), 1 skein each.
Needles ribbing size 7 (4.5 mm) and 8 (5 mm): 16” circular (cir). Size 8 (5 mm) set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions marker, tapestry needle.
Gauge 16 sts and 26=4”
HAT
With blue and smaller cir needle, CO 72 sts. Place Marker (pm) and join for working the round. *K1,p1; rep from* around. Repeat last rnd 4 times. Rnd 6 (increase rnd): *k6 inc 1, repeat from * around (84 sts). Rnd 7-11: change to larger needle, with red k . Rnd 12-16: with white k. Rnd 17-21: with red k. Rnd 22-26: with white k. Rnd 27-29: with red k. Rnd 30: (decrease rnd): *k7 k2tog; rep from * end k3 (75 sts). Rnd 31: k. Rnd 32: with blue k. Shape Crown: with blue follow chart, changing to dpn when necessary. Finishing: Break off yarn and with tapestry needle draw through remaining 5 sts. Weave in ends. Wear with joy!



















2 Lobster Boats


Old School 4th of July, Sophie and Siama, with wild strawberries.