Finished At Last

I had more trouble with these socks than any others I have knit. Then, when I was finally done with the second toe, I noticed that I had put an accidental yarn over in the ribbing at the very beginning of the sock! I just eased the extra yarn away so that you can't see it anymore. Even though I didn't try to match the socks up, they turned out pretty well and aren't too glaringly different.

Now I have to choose another sock yarn and get started on another pair. I must be the only sock knitter in the universe who hasn't yet made a pair of Monkeys, so maybe that is what I should do. I have some solid color dark red that would look great for that.

Japanese Knitting Magazine

Here is a peek into one of my Japanese magazines. This one is called 'Fair Isle, Nordic and Lopi Sweaters. The production values in this magazine are excellent, as usual for Japanese knitting magazines. Just looking at these magazines inspires you to knit. I bought this volume at Kinokuniya in San Jose.

Now I will get back to my Trekking sock.

Progress

I finished the apple green sweater back, and I need to hang another ribbing on the machine. There are certain things you should not put off, or at least I shouldn't, or procrastination sets in. You should rip out the mistake you made and fix it, you should cast on for the second sock when you finish the first, and you should hang the next ribbing piece on the machine as soon as you finish one sweater part.

I have turned the heel on the second Trekking sock, helped by watching DVD's. I watched two Ruth Rendell mysteries, but they did not have satisfactory endings and were depressing, so I think I will skip those in the future. I also watched 'The Island', a science fiction movie, and I was surprised to enjoy it very much. In between sessions of sock knitting, I worked on putting the V-neck pullover together. I have finished the neckband and am now setting in the sleeves and doing the side seams. The yarn used in this sweater is Red Heart Fiesta from my stash, and it has a nice drape and lovely colors. It washes beautifully. This sweater only took 4 skeins of yarn with lots left over. I find that lots of the Red Heart yarns knit up very well on the machine, are economical, come in great colors and they wear very well, in addition to the great benefit of being able to throw them right in the washer and dryer.

It has been so grey here that it is hard to take pictures that don't look dull. I will be glad when the California rainy season is over and spring has sprung. Which reminds me that I still have to send in my seed order.

Retro Knit Friday!

Another grey day. Last year at this time, the almond trees were already blooming and the days were sunny, but this year is cold and spring seems far, far away. I have been busy trying to ease cholesterol out of my diet and to eat in more healthy way, which has been not too bad so far. All I have to say about this is that how foolish is it to go have a cholesterol test right after all that lovely holiday eating? As I prepare all this healthy food, I bid a sad and fond farewell to my favorite Pasta Carbonara with its cream and bacon.



This week, I pulled an old book out of my bookshelves for Retro Knit Friday. The book was published in 1948 and has no color pictures, but it has a nice collection of patterns for adults and children, and a chapter on knitting for the home, with coverlets, lace doilies, and lace edgings. I like this first sweater, which is an evening jacket. It is knit at 6 sts/inch of ribbon and silver thread. It is knit in a stripe pattern, alternating the ribbon, which the instructions say is the color Aqua, with the silver thread. All edges are finished with a crochet trim.


The dress is knit of nubby yarn at 8 sts/inch on size 2 needles. The dress is plain stockinette except for the striped front yoke. The belt is crocheted to match the contrast color in the yoke. After the dress is sewn together, the front openings are lined with grosgrain ribbon, then snaps are used as the front fastening.



There is a whole chapter in the book about using space-dyed yarns. These yarns originated to make the knitting of argyle socks easier. The pattern was 'pre-plotted' in the yarn and emerged as you knit. The knitter was told how many stitches should appear in each color space, and adjusted the needle size until the stitch count for each color was correct. In this example, the yarn is used for the fronts of a child's cardigan making an attractive diamond pattern.

Now for two funny patterns. The top is called 'Bathing Suit Bandeaux' and is really a couple of knitted tube tops worn in a different manner. Is it a bathing costume or a blouse? The model is wearing earrings and a necklace, so it doesn't look like she is going swimming. I can't imagine that this would stay on very well in the water.


I am fond of silly hats, but this hat pattern is a mystery. It looks like the top portion is built around some kind of padded ring, but the instructions are only a paragraph long and have you make a square, half the dark color and half the lighter color. It is blocked to a 24" square and there the instructions end. No idea how it was twisted into that peculiar shape. Maybe it is a Forties thing, and you were expected to know all about it.

I have started turning the heel on the second Trekking sock and have the V-neck sweater more than half assembled. Today I will make soup, watch DVD's, and work on the sock.

Apple Green Beginning

I am finally getting back onto the knitting machine. I have hung the green back on the needles and have finished knitting up both sides. Sometimes I put a seam up the center back if there are more stitches than needles. The ribbing is all one piece, and when I hang it on the machine, I add a stitch at center back for each side. I am listening to a book on tape as I knit, something restful with multiple murders, amnesia and kidnappings.

The Trekking sock is progressing slowly, but at least it is progressing. I drove my dad to a doctor appointment today, and I got a lot of knitting done while I sat in the car and waited for him. After I dropped my dad off at home, I went to the library and got a lot of DVD's to watch, so with lots of entertainment, I should get more knitting done on the sock. I did find the two sweaters I still have to assemble, and have joined the shoulders on the V-neck pullover.

We are having the most gloomy week, weatherwise. It is totally overcast, very cold and drizzly. It is annoying because the snow level was supposed to be very low, but it is too overcast to see Mt. Diablo and admire the snowy scene.

New Ideas

I am in the middle of making a batch of tortillas, but while the dough is resting, I am pondering my next project. Several of my recent projects have had fancy borders or front panels, so this time I think I am going to make a plain 3/4-sleeve cardigan (the top sketch). I also want to try to make a pullover for M using one of her design sketches, which would have set-in sleeves, fancy borders on sleeves and bottom, and a deep U neckline (bottom sketch). M asked for a narrower sleeve, so I have drafted one out and am interested to try it and see if it works.

My first job is to clear off the knitting machine and oil it. Then I can hang the first ribbing and get started. I am hoping that in the clear-it-off phase, I will find those two sweaters I need to assemble, since they got misplaced during the big Christmas sewing extravaganza.

I have been pleased at how convenient it is to have sweaters with 3/4 sleeves. I am always cooking or doing something messy and somehow my folded up cuffs always seem to fall down. Now I can be warm and neat at the same time.

Vintage Knit Saturday!

Just thought I would use the work 'vintage' instead of 'retro' for a little variety. I have lots of old knitting magazines in the cupboard behind my sewing table, so I don't look at them often. Getting to them involves moving the sewing table (an old wooden typing table which is the only one I could find that fits in that corner) without a major avalanche, and getting the magazines off the bottom shelf. I have to get to them more often because some of my best old pamphlets are in that cupboard, including the one I am showing today, Spinnerin Warm Weather Knits, Volume #126. This was published in 1954 and highlights the yarn, Coolaire. This yarn sounds like it was pretty fab, being a mixture of 'Irish Linen, Mercerized Cotton, and Rayon'. The booklet has patterns for sizes 12 through 20, though the size 20 is only for a 38 inch bust.

The cover outfit is called a 'Tweedy torso knit dress' and is made up of a skirt and top. It is knit on sizs 1 and 3 needles at 7 1/2 stitches/inch. The top seems to be a shaped rectangle with a little bit cast on for the cap sleeves and some shoulder shaping, but no neckline shaping. The skirt has a pleated look which is formed by K2, P6. I would be intimidated by directions that have you cast on more than 650 stitches.



This pretty dress has a scoop neck and flared skirt. The pattern, which uses k's, p's, and yo's on the same row, widens gradually into the skirt. The sleeves are raglan. It is knit with size 2 needles at 8 sts/inch.

The sheath dress is crocheted with a size 7 steel crochet hook in a star stitch lace pattern. She certainly looks elegant, though look how solidly her eyebrows are painted on.

This page features several blouses worn with the same skirt. The skirt is called 'knitted umbrella skirt' probably because it is knit in panels, in this case in pastels, and joined together with white crochet to look like fagotting. The booklet says that each blouse is a different color to match a different panel color in the skirt. The first blouse has a lace front V-shaped section in the front, set-in sleeves, and a trim collar. It is knit at 7 1/2 sts/inch, while the skirt is a firmer fabric at 9 1/2 sts/inch.

The white blouse is also shown on the back cover. It is a simple top with short set-in sleeves and a front opening trimmed with moss stitch knit at 8 sts/inch. The collar is just picked up from the neck edge and knit up straight for 2 inches, than a row of crochet is done around the collar and opening.

The last blouse to wear with the skirt is hard to see in the photo, but the booklet has a line drawing to show what it looks like. The neckline trim and ties are not I-cord - the instructions have you cast on almost 300 stitches and work for 10 rows, then bind off, and you have to make two of them. This is then sewn to the neck edge. It is also knit at 8 sts/inch.

We are having some lovely sunshine today. I plan to do some house cleaning and a little sock knitting and a little reading. Right now I am off to watch Ina Garten cook.

Poppy Cardigan

Now that I am thinking about finishing up some projects that have been put aside for a long time, I have found the bag with the Poppy sweater in it. This is a short-sleeved cotton cardigan made of Reynolds Saucy, color 133. The picture of the sweater in progress does not do the color justice, because it is a lovely, soft, creamy, butter yellow. I got the yarn at Rumplestiltskins in Sacramento. I was originally making the cardigan to wear in Atlanta during my daughter's graduation week, but I never got it finished in time. I try never to knit to a deadline because rushed knitting is stressful. I just gave up the idea of wearing it to Georgia and found another outfit. It is such a pretty sweater though, from the Patons book that reprints favorites from years past. I lost enthusiasm for the sweater because I was using up the yarn at such a rapid pace that I knew I would not have enough.

I had redrafted the sweater using Sweater Wizard, and when you print out a pattern using this software, it includes a yardage estimate. I had plenty of yarn according to this estimate, but the back was just using up so much yarn. I set the sweater aside in my trusty Trader Joes shopping bag, and forgot about it. One day we went on another drive up to Sacramento, and stopping in at Rumplestiltskins, I saw that they still had the yarn in my color. I picked up about 4 more balls of yarn, so now I am feeling better about the whole thing.

In other knitting news, I have started the second Trekking sock and am trudging through the endless plain sock top.

Retro Knit Saturday!

I am pleased to announce that I can actually see the sun this morning. It is still damp and cold, but there is blue sky up there, something we have not seen in a week or so.

My mom used to get the Woman's Day magazine when she went grocery shopping. The magazine's target audience during my childhood was housewives with children, and it was sold at the magazine stands near the checkout counters of the grocery stores. I recall that it cost about 25 cents an issue. In addition to the articles on food and other things, the magazine had articles about crafts, including an especially good issue in the fall on 100 gifts to make for Christmas. At other times during the year, there would be articles on knitting. Some showed sweater designs, but you had to send away for a pamphlet published by the magazine in order to get the instructions. I never had the money to pay for the pamphlets, so it has been nice to find both the pamphlets and the booklet I am showing today in thrift shops and antique stores.

This booklet, well magazine really, is Number 1 of 101 Sweaters You Can Knit. It sold for 50 cents in 1963. It is a compilation of the articles that appeared in the magazine with some extra stuff thrown in. A lot of the sweaters shown had an international flavor. As I recall, jetsetting was the ultimate in cool during the 60's.

These two sweaters appear in an ad for Diamond Yarn Corp. The striped jacket is called Cha-Cha-Cha and is described as 'a tri-color open jacket spiced with rosebuds which are knitted right in.' The brown coat is knit all of mohair. For obvious reasons, it reminds me of the movie 'Harry and The Hendersons".

These variegated sweaters appear in another ad. I have never seen variegated mohair in real life, but I know that mohair was popular at this time. The sweaters are raglans and were sold in kit form. You got the pattern and enough yarn to make the sweater of your choice for $10.95.

A paisley coat! This coat really has not much to recommend it but the color pattern since it is boxy in shape and has sleeves of indeterminate length. It is the accessories that save the look of this coat, especially the turquoise scarf worn around the head.

The back cover has an advertisement for a Bernat booklet that highlights the designs of Mirsa Of Italy. The jackets have a Chanel look and have raglan sleeves. The coat and strangely elongated hat are crocheted.

Today I vow to cast on for the second Trekking sock and to clear off the knitting machine. And maybe stand out in the sunshine a little.

Back To The Sweaters

There used to be a great yarn shop a few towns down the freeway that I loved, especially because the owner kept a sale bin full of older knitting pamphlets and magazines. Sometimes they were only $1 each, and when that happened, I stocked up on the Sandra magazines, among others. I never intended to use any of the garment patterns, because at that time the style was for the passe and unlamented dropped shoulder, and the sweaters were baggy and unattractive in fit. However, they are a wonderful resource of design possibilities. There are many examples of great panels to put on the front of a cardigan or pullover. I pulled down my stack of Sandra magazines and randomly opened two, one from 1997 and one from 1998 for examples of what I mean. I like the crochet look of the center of this coral-colored panel, and it is framed in cables and a wandering line of YO's.

The yellow sweater has a cable design combined with YO's that give a plant or tree feeling, and the ribbing at neck and hem is very attractive too.

This red one is one of my favorites. I love the way the cable is tucked between the triangle-shaped areas of moss stitch.

So far my new sweaters only exist at the planning stage, but I have the time, and I have the yarn. I have really been using the fuchsia 3/4 sleeve cardigan I made. I find the shorter sleeve length very practical and flattering. And this winter has been very cold. It has been raining for a week now, but the weather gurus say the weekend will be sunny.

First Sock of 2008

This poor sock has been languishing for about 3 months, was ripped out twice, and is now in the home stretch. I only have to graft the toe. This yarn, Trekking XXL 110 is so beautiful that I love working with it, but the striped pattern doesn't ever repeat itself. I think it is impossible to make two socks so that they match up, but A says she doesn't care at all anyway. I am using Size 1 needles (love those KnitPicks needles) and 72 stitches. I am still liking the Yarntainer, and it has stopped my sock yarn from taking unplanned journeys across the floor.

I have been taking stock of my unfinished projects to get them on the track to completion. There is the Ranch Red cardigan which needs seaming, bands, and buttons. Older still is a V-neck pullover that just needs seaming and bands. I also have a short-sleeved cardigan in cotton yarn that was supposed to be worn to A's college graduation in Atlanta, but did not make the deadline and is waiting patiently in a Trader Joe's bag for me to remember it. And, as ever, the Must Have Cardigan. I should start with the V-neck, I think, because I always get energized by finishing something, and that is the easiest.

Retro Knit Saturday!

I am still trying to get back into the knitting groove after all that Christmas sewing, but I am pround to report that I have turned the heel on the Trekking sock! Now I just have to get back to the knitting machine.

I am continuing our look at the Sears Designer Wardrobe from 1965 by designer Lois Holmes of California. The coat is called 'Lady Fair'. The photo shows a coat that is fully lined, but the directions gloss over this fact, only saying to hem the outer coat to the lining if a lining is used. Not too helpful. This is a classic design and goes well with the previously seen skirt and tops. The contrast color collar, cuffs, and buttons are especially nice.


The color-blocked pullover is called 'Cutenik Pullover', which the designer explains is a result of comments of 'oh, how cute' or 'oh, how beatnikish' in regards to this sweater. The sweater also appears on the back cover in another colorway.

The evening outfit uses the 'The Empress' top and a long evening skirt knit in matching yarn.

This evening jacket is called 'Bird of Paradise'. The designer says it can also be worn with the basic shell, skirt or evening skirt. I wonder what this jacket sold for in the boutiques?

The back cover shows some of the wardrobe items in different colors . My favorite garment is the Empress top with the crochet trim. I am accumulating a stash of leftover yarn in knitting worsted weight so these color-block sweaters are giving me ideas for using these yarns up.