Haiti

I haven't updated in a long while, but this is worth an update. I'm going to assume most of you have heard about the earthquake in Port Au Prince by now, and how much it's devastated the people of Haiti. If you're looking for a way to help, I recommend Knitters Without Borders; it's an easy way for us crafty folk to show our support for Doctors Without Borders, who are certainly needed in Haiti right now. Click the picture to find out more.

A new pattern!

I finished a new skirt today (Neta Wechsler's Hypotenuse):



But what's probably more interesting to all of you is that I decided to channel Monty Python with the leftovers and knit exciting undergarments. The pics can be seen on Ravelry (redraveler) - don't worry; they're not modeled! But here's the pattern:

"V"
by Christina Felde

Materials:

1 par US #5 needles

less than 1 skein (50 grams/136 yards) DK weight cotton blend yarn

darning needle

Gauge:

20 sts x 28 rows in 4 inches, stockinette

Notes:

As the sides in this pattern are simple ties, the sizes are really a matter of desired coverage in front. Don't feel tied to your usual size.

CO 25 (31, 35, 41)

Row 1-25: (K 8 for large, 5 for medium, 3 for small, 0 for extra small) Work chart, (K 8 for large, 5 for medium, 3 for small, 0 for extra small). Decrease 1 st at each end every 4^th row. --13 (19, 23, 29) sts

Row 26-27: Work in stockinette

Row 28: Knit, decreasing once at each end –11 (17, 21, 27) sts remain

Row 29-44: Work in stockinette, continuing to decrease 1 st at each end every 4 rows – 3

(9, 13, 19) sts

(S, M, L) ONLY:

Work in stockinette, decreasing 1 st at each end every row (3, 5, 8) times – 3 sts all sizes

ALL SIZES:

Knit even for 44 rows; place on holder.

CO 16 sts, then pick up and knit 25 (31, 35, 41) stitches along top of panty triangle, CO 16 more sts. Knit 1 row. -- 57 (63, 67, 73) sts

Bind off.

CO 27 (32, 37, 42) sts, pick up the 3 from the panty back, CO 27 (32, 37, 42) more sts. Knit 1 row. --57 (63, 67, 73) sts

Bind off.

Loop a strand (or two for extra security) of yarn into the front and back of each side; tie together.

Click the chart to see the ginormous version.

Swallowtail Bandwagon!

This is the longest I’ve ever knitting exclusively on one project. I don’t know what came over me; I just couldn’t bear to start anything else!

My summary of the project:

I don’t really get why everyone’s so excited about nupps. They're just not that exciting.

I can’t believe I stuck to the pattern too the letter. I ALWAYS mod. Something’s wrong with me, I know. But for whatever reason, I didn't alter this pattern in any way. And that's weird.

...and I am ridiculously excited by how much yarn I have leftover.

It's tank season

I finished not one but two projects this weekend; go me! The first is Coquette, from the book Fitted Knits, and the other is a heavy modification of the Anna pattern in Knitty.


I used the recommended yarn for Coquette, and while it knit up all right, it bled like whoa in the wash. It's also taken an insane amount of time to dry. That could well be normal with cotton; I'm not really sure. I used Patton's Silk Bamboo for Anna, and oooh is it luscious. I love the way it feels. I'm so ready for summer break!

So nice

Every now and then I get a stretch of time where I have no knitting obligations. For the first few days I completely panic. I look at every pattern and every scrap of yarn I've ever considered and go absolutely crazy with the inability to make a decision without a deadline looming over me. Most recently, this happened when I finished my Mother's Day knitting:

I queued and unqueued, I started and ripped, and I pretty much went crazy. My bedroom became pretty much impossible to walk in, as there were bit and piles of fiber everywhere. Then there was almost a lightbulb moment where my logic-resistant knitter's brain realized - I don't have to make it all right now. None of this lovely yarn or these awesome patterns are going to disappear if I don't get to them NOW RIGHT NOW!!! And in fact, it doesn't even matter what order I knit them in. They will all. still. be. there. If I don't get to them in time to wear them this summer - guess what. There's another summer next year! So now, I have these two lovelies on the needles:

The first is the Coquette top from Fitted Knits, and the second is Anna from Knitty, only turned into a tank top. They're both moving pretty quickly, although it doesn't really seem like it from the pictures. And they both feel INCREDIBLE next to my skin. Now I find myself looking around for other excuses to use pima and bamboo.

Then, just as I was calming down, we got to the highlight of my knitting week. The lovely and generous Jan, of Jant's Art, sent me this lusciousness:

...and now the possibilities are dancing in my head all over again.

A few goodies

Just a quick update - In the past 2 weeks I've been quite the stash buster, and produced this:
and this:
without buying ANY new yarn! So, to reward myself, I went out and bought yarn for 3 new projects. 0:-)

It's been a while...

But I've been a busy girl! This is going to be a picture-heavy post; apologies to anyone with dial-up! I finished the skirt during Spring Break and wore it to work when I came back. The kids are all fascinated and demand that I teach them to "make stuff".Over the course of the break I also made a little dressmaker's dummy for trying on WIPs...
...finished the Spaghetti Monster that Sean's been asking for...
...and dyed this loveliness, which I'm calling Iris. I think I'll make a few squares for a blanket from it.
Since break ended I've also started two new projects:
The first is based on the Anna pattern from Knitty, but I'm turning it into a tank, because it seems like a waste of pretty yarn to make something I'll never wear in public! The other is a hobo bag I stumbled across on Ravelry. I'm itching to get them finished and take advantage of this burst of inspiration while it lasts...