Clothilde

Pattern: Clothilde by Kristen Hanley Cardozo
Yarn: Butternut Woolens 3-Ply Sport
Needles: US6 Addi Turbo Lace
Notes: I knit two repeats of the Spearhead lace and realized, after I bound off, that I probably had enough yarn for a third. But I'm gun-shy now and didn't want to risk running out of yarn again. I also did the stretchy bind off where you knit two then place the left needle into the fronts of the two stitches and knit them together like an SSK. I've also seen instructions for this where you slip the two stitches back to the right needle and knit through the back loop. I don't know why you'd do this since the version I did saves the tedious step of slipping the stitches but that is how it's most often written.

Doubleknit #31

It's up.

Finishing and Starting

Clothilde is done and blocking so I started Haruni last night. I shuffled my yarn selection a bit and am using Timaru from Lisa Souza that I originally planned to knit Echo Flower with.

Bitterroot

Pattern: Bitterroot
Yarn: Butternut Woolens Super Sock plus Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sport for last two rows
Needle: US6 Addi Turbo Lace
Notes: Knit one extra repeat of Chart A so left out last eight rows of C and first two of D.

Still a Little Bitter

Bitterroot had a lot of drama. There was the whole rip out Chart B to knit another repeat of Chart A. Then when I was knitting Chart C I realized that I was right the first time and had knit one repeat too many of A. But I wasn't going to rip again so I left out the last eight rows of C and the first two of D and kept going. But the yarn was running really low. Then I was stuck at home with a sick kid and didn't have a small enough crochet hook to bead. I used dental floss instead. Thread it through the bead then through the stitch then back through the bead then tug the stitch through the bead. Boy, does that get old fast. I set it aside. I just couldn't stand it anymore.




I started Clothilde. I'm using the other skein I got from Butternut Woolens. It's Superwash Merino. Clothilde is easy-peasy lemon-squeezy. I'm starting Chart 3 which is supposed to be the final repeat for the small size. It looks like I've got plenty of yarn so I might try to get in two repeats. I'll weight the yarn and see how I'm doing when I get to the end of the chart. I wish I had weighed the yarn for Bitterroot before I started.



I got a #10 crochet hook at work on Thursday and finally finished Bitterroot last night. I ran out of yarn with only two rows to go. I thought my Miss Babs 3-Ply Sport was a good match for gauge and color. It didn't fit through the beads as easily making that final row and total pain in the ass. I had to go back to dental floss because the yarn doubled plus the hook could not fit through the beads. It's blocking now and I think that little bit of contrast on the very edge is quite nice. I don't think I'll be adding beads to anything else anytime soon.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

Friends, I tell you, my week has been so mixed up. I got to work today--the first time all week--and realized that it was Thursday! So I apologize for the late post. In an effort to get this done quickly I'll present a single fug that encompasses the full spirit of WTHIT.




Enormous poncho with impossible armhole placement.
Great, pendulous pom poms.
Leg warmers with stilettos.
Fringe.
Ugly purse.
Balls on head.

There you go.

For the Simpsons Fans Out There

Last night at dinner the kids were asking me about when we moved to Seattle. As I was telling them about it my older son interjected, "I had an onion on my belt. It was the style at the time." Smart ass.

More on Plasti-Dip

I just got a great tip on using Plasti-dip to coat slipper bottoms that I wanted to share with you. Kathleen Taylor, the author of The Big Book of Socks, Knit One, Felt Too and I Heart Felt, wrote "There's nothing wrong with your sole coatings (sounds like a poem, right?), but if you wrap masking tape around the slipper where the sole would meet the upper if it was a regular shoe, and then pounce the plasti-dip on with a makeup sponge in a couple of thin layers, you'll have a nice even line for your non-stick soles." So simple a solution.

And Kim wrote, "Great idea from kathleen about putting on the plasti-dip. I've never heard of that stuff before. So, where in the hardware store, would I find it?"

Plasti-Dip is sold as a coating for tool handles. It comes in several colors but our store only had black and...some other color I can't remember. You can order it online too. It smells pretty awful. You should work in a well-ventilated area when you use it. Plus it's pretty stinky while it's drying. Once dry it's not bad at all.

Elf Slippers

Pattern: Elf Shoes by Pamela Wynne
Yarn: Cascade 220
Needles: US10.5 Brittany DPN
Notes: These are very quick to knit and awfully cute. I needed to go to a friend's house to felt them (Thanks Amanda!) because I could not get them to felt thoroughly in my front-loading washer. I got Plasti-dip at my local hardware store to (messily) paint the soles to make them non-skid. It's not too pretty but it seems like it will do the job well. I hope they fit the recipients.

Putting the Bitter in Bitterroot

Bitterroot is a complete joy to knit. I've hit a few snags though. I accidentally knit one too less repeat of Chart A than I should have. I didn't realize it until I had nearly finished Chart B. I ripped it out and reknit it. Then last night as I was nearing the halfway point on Chart C it struck me that I didn't have as much yarn as I thought I should. I weighed it and found that I would not be able to finish at the rate I was going. I decided to cut out the last 8 rows of Chart C and the first two of Chart D. Still doesn't look like I have enough yarn! the label says 6 oz. and 465 yards. I have only 30 grams left and 16 rows to go. I still like knitting it though. I get to start the beads on the next row. Until I run out of yarn...

2010

The new year has been pretty busy so far. We celebrated a quiet New Year's Eve at home with the boys. They got to stay up late to see the fireworks which makes them feel very mature. On New Year's Day we had a brunch at our house with a few friends. It was a really nice way to ease into the new year. On Saturday I went to the St. Distaff Day spin-in hosted by the Northwest Regional Spinner's Association. There was a very big crowd with lots of great vendors. I spent a lot of time spinning and catching up with people. It was very relaxing. I can't believe the kids are going back to school tomorrow. And I am heading back to work.

I've been working on Bitterroot for the the 10 Shawls in 2010 challenge. It flows along so nicely. Not quite mindless but still very simple to knit. The yarn is from Butternut Woolens, one of the skeins Shelly sent to me. It's wonderful and I think very well suited to the pattern. I also picked up some beads at the spin-in that I hope will work well with the shawl.



I hope your 2010 has been treating you well so far.

That's Some Pretty Good Stashbusting

Of course, it wasn't all from stash. And I think that's about how much I added to my stash this year. Oops.