A blast from the past

So, as I was going through a box of clutter in my soon-to-be-lamented craft closet, I ran across an old steno pad with some very interesting notes on it. It is, in fact, the pad where I took the notes for the Silly Monkey, Charlie’s baby sweater, the Abominable Baby Slippers, and many, many other projects from the first days of my designing. There’s one, in particular, that I’ve always meant to write up and share – it’s close to my heart as my very first knitting project ever (barring a square in stockinette to learn the stitches and 1/6 of a basketweave scarf that I bound off and tossed because I detested it so).

As I went to write it up this morning, I realized that I don’t know the amount of yarn I used. I don’t know the gauge. I don’t even know the length I worked it to. As it was a gift, I can’t just go measure it, either. Still, I thought I would put the directions I’ve deciphered up here for anyone who wants them before I go back to the heavy lifting.

Crossed-Stitch Scarf

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn, Main Color (what do you guys think, 200 yards?) plus small amount Contrast Color

Size 8/5.0mm straight knitting needles

Tapestry Needle

Terms:

cross 2 RK = Knit into the front of the second stitch on the left needle, do not drop off. Knit into the front of the first (skipped) stitch on the left needle, and allow the first and second stitch to drop off of the needle together.

patt:

RS: P1, *cross 2 RK, p1. Repeat from * across.

WS: K1, *p2, k1. Repeat from * across.

Directions:

Cast on 28.

Knit all stitches across for 4 rows.

Beginning with a WS row, work in patt. for 6 repetitions (12 rows) ending after a RS row.

Knit across for 4 rows.

Beginning with a WS row, work in patt. for 5 repetitions (10 rows) ending after a RS row.

Knit across for 4 rows.

Beginning with a WS row, work in patt. until total length measures 43″ (OR until total length measures desired length minus the length of the garter-stitch-enclosed section), ending after a RS row.

Knit across for 4 rows.

Beginning with a WS row, work in patt. for 5 repetitions (10 rows) ending after a RS row.

Knit across for 4 rows.

Beginning with a WS row, work in patt. for 6 repetitions (12 rows) ending after a RS row.

Knit across for 4 rows, bind off and weave in ends.

To Finish:

1) With contrasting color, make cross stitches across garter row sections (except for the ones at the very ends) as pictured. (This link should help if you don’t know how. Let me know if it goes dead, ok?)

2) With main color held double on your tapestry needle,  gather the ribs in the section between the cross-stitches as per the diagram.

So there you go! I hope you like it. I’m happy it’s not loitering any more. Speaking of loitering, I’d better quit doing that, myself, and get on the ball. Later!

I promised you some birthday presents

so come and get them!

First we have the pattern for the Spring by the Pacific Hat. I made up a chart for it in addition to the written directions because I’ve been hearing a lot lately about how much people like them.

Next up are some wristwarmers I made in an effort to use up the (mostly full) partial skein of Debbie Mumm Traditions left after my hat and scarf.

Aside from how beautifully the colors flow together (really, the more I use it the more I like this yarn) I really love the gentle flare at the wrist. I’ve long been a fan of bell sleeves. It goes fairly smoothly under a long sleeve, although it does create some bulk in snug-fitting sleeves. See! How pretty!

Unfortunately they only used about half of the yarn I had left.I decided to try and see if I could get an openwork hat out of the fifty-some-odd yards I had left. After a bit of trial and error, I was left with something I think is pretty cute! I absolutely love the drape I’m getting with the larger hooks, by the way. I may never go back, the difference it makes is just astonishing. Anyway – the hat!

I was surprised to see that I had a bit of ribbon in such a nicely coordinating color. (I bought a bag of random ribbon lengths at Joann’s a few months ago. Remember? I never had ribbon when I needed it? Now I do! Or I might. It depends on the project. But this was precisely the right width, as well!) Both of these projects were completed in a matter of hours. Each takes about 55 yards of worsted weight yarn. You might actually be able to get both a hat and a pair of wristwarmers out of a (fairly typical for worsted weight) 110-yard ball of yarn! Which brings me to my next point -

The free patterns are ready for the Cabbage Rose Cap and the Feminine Wristwarmers. I hope you enjoy them, and I’d love to see any that you make.

I’m not sure how much you’re going to see of me for the next week and a half, at least. We’ve only got about a week left in this house, then two weeks in temporary housing before our exodus. I’m going to be honest, here, I’m getting nervous. This is huge. Sometimes I lie in bed and think things like, “What if the movers pack our passports?” and “How many diapers do we need to put in the luggage to get us from Texas to Japan?” and “How will we make it through three major airports with two kids and all of our baggage without causing an international incident?” and “How will we ever get everything done?” In the end, though, I just remind myself that it seems a lot like childbirth: a long, excruciating slide down into pain and screaming mayhem, after which you are exhausted, sore, and more than a little triumphant. At least, I hope we’ll be triumphant. Right now I can’t even find a store that carries winter coats.

Keep an eye on your tv, though. We may make the evening news yet.

Finishing Up

Two projects saw their finish today: first up, the Vestee!

Max is seen here being a tree, which is apparently very serious business. He likes it, though. See?

The shawl collar read a little feminine to me, and I didn’t want to make him a sweater with a hood even if I’d thought I’d have enough yarn (which I might have had…I have a good chunk of the fifth ball left over), so I just picked up stitches and short-rowed some triangular pieces in k1 p1 ribbing to match the cuffs. I’m not 100% happy with how the neckline turned out, but I made this sweater to go with a white shirt and tie on Sundays, and I think it will work just fine for that.

Next up, I made a hat to go with my Tea Scarf!

I used the Pretty Puffs Slouchy Hat pattern by Jessica Suzanne, and I really like it although mine came out a lot bigger than expected. Of course, I used a K hook with my Debbie Mumm Traditions when the pattern specified a J hook for worsted (I already had it out for the scarf). Plus, I had a bandaid on the index finger of my right hand – the finger I control my yarn with – so I was trying not to snag or pull a yarn already hypersensitive to snagging and pulling with a built-in yarn-snagger on the finger I like to slide my yarn along…and I think I just worked it up way too loosely. Here’s one shot of the back before I go, because it’s awesome -

You’re lucky I’m restraining myself. I posted four pictures of this baby in my Ravelry project folder.