Day: April 17, 2007

cats · crafts · finished objects · knitting

FO: Drops Design Bolero

stitchywitch14 Comments

Pattern: Free from Drops design here, size S

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Almond, 3 skeins

Needles: Size 7 and 8 US

Notes: The pattern was very clear and easy to follow.  I did not have any trouble with the English version.  My only regret is possibly the yarn choice.  I like Cotton Ease, and this pattern knitted to the recommended tension on the ball, but I can’t help but think that this yarn would do better knitted on smaller needles.  It has a distressing tendency towards unevenness in places, which I can only blame on the tension being too loose.  I am not happy with one of my shoulder seams, but this is because I changed methods of shaping halfway through – the 2nd method (slipping stitches) was better.  I can live with them.  I do wonder if something other than mattress stitch might be nice for armholes, as I feel there is a quite bulky seam.  I usually seam with the selvedge stitch, but in this case I went 1/2 stitch farther in for a nicer line.  I don’t think I would do that again.  The moss stitch has completely caused the buttonholes to disappear, but I’m happy with my solution of a pin.  I also like this sweater without any fastening.

I wore this sweater to church tonight and received compliments from people who weren’t aware that I make my own clothes, so I am feeling better about it than I was at first.  I think I will wear it often, and it isn’t bad for a week’s effort (I love short sweaters!)

And now, a gratuitous cute cat photo.  Dionne lying on the bed this afternoon.  I think she looks so pretty against those colors!

crafts · Crochet · knitting · yarn

Yeah, I’m making a scarf in April. What of it?

stitchywitch4 Comments

I have to admit that I never saw the point of decorative scarves.  Won’t people stare at me all funny if I wear a scarf in May, no matter how decorative and pretty?  But now I totally understand.  It’s the fun of making them!  And they’re quick too, since they don’t have to be really wide to block out the arctic winter.

Last night I started the Boteh Scarf.

The yarn I ended up going with is Cherry Tree Hill supersock in Green Mountain Madness.  I love it!  This is a really quick project too (isn’t all crochet quick?)  I cannot imagine how it’s going to be long enough to be all lovely and drapey like the model’s though… this is 4 out of 16 repeats.  But I guess it does spiral.  We shall see.  It’s also going to have a border going all the way around.

I spent the rest of my evening swatching, since I’m not sure about my next sweater project.  Some of these swatches are big, some are small (hey, I got bored!) and they should all be clickable

1..2.3.4.5.

1. Berroco Ultra Silk, swatched for Nadine (Berroco pattern)  If you like the stretchiness of Calmer I think you would like this yarn.  It’s really stretchy, and knits to worsted weight on big (size 10) needles.  It fluffs up nicely after blocking.  I really like it, although tensioning the yarn is a little tough.

2.Cascade Pima Tencel, swatched for Sizzle tank – I just plain like this yarn, which knits at 5 st/in on size 6 needles.  It turns out very soft and drapey, with a slight fuzzy haze (and sheds like mad while you knit – blocking reduces this.)

3. Valley Yarns Longmeadow, swatched for a Jaeger pattern – This yarn has a bit more body than I expected.  It is slightly splitty but not excessively so.  I need to practice more on this stitch pattern, you can see so many errors above!  Overall this yarn is just ok.  It didn’t wow me, but I didn’t hate it either.

4. Jaeger Siena, for another Jaeger pattern –  A very “crisp” feeling mercerized cotton.  While I hate heavier weights of mercerized yarns, I do like this one.  It feels nice to knit with.  This swatch was knitted with size 3s.  Size 2s would probably suit better, as this swatch is a bit loose and didn’t block well.

5. GGH Java, swatched for Flair – This yarn is a cotton/acrylic mix.  It was fine to knit with – slightly stretchy and not too splitty, much like other cotton/acrylic yarns.  The yarn blooms with blocking, and it looks much more even than it did before.  Knits to 4.5 st/in on size 7 needles.   Although I did get gauge for the pattern I want to make, I’m not making it with this yarn.  Flair is a swingy, boxy jacket thing, and I feel it needs a yarn with more body – this yarn is a tad too drapey after blocking, I don’t believe the jacket would hold its shape.