Knitting Pharm

Downsizing Diamante

Someone posted on their blog that they were hoping to do Diamante over 60 stitches instead of the 72 in the pattern.

Here is a scaled-down graph for a 60-stitch Diamante.  Do be sure to swatch, however, to ensure you don't take it down way too small!

Pesky Work

I enjoy my part-time job greatly, but it sure cuts into blogging time!  I worked full-time last week and am exhausted.  We also had a horrible 12-hour attempted weekend getaway involving a hotel room, 2 exhausted adults and two wee lasses determined not to sleep.  So instead of enjoying wine and the company of colleagues tonight, we are home, the kids are in bed and I'm knitting up a storm.

Loads on the needles as we speak.

Diagonal striped tote in Patons Classic.  Will be felted.  No pattern, unless you count the jiggly bits in my brain.

 

Austermann Step sock for a work husband.  One down, second started.  I worked an 8x1 rib, so it just pulls in slightly.  I like the effect and the very subtle switch from stockinette.  It's in shade #6 and the most buttery soft sock yarn ever.

 

Hat for a friend about to undergo chemotherapy.  He's already shaved from his recent brain surgery, so he'll need head covers for quite awhile.  This one's in Patons Decor because that's all I had in the stash.  It's Jeannie Townsend's Chain Link Head Hug pattern, originally written for STR but scaled to 96 stitches.  I picked up some soft, lighter weight stuff that I'll mention below.

 

By the way, Craig's prognosis is looking quite good and he's handling it all like the rock star super Daddy he has always been.

CTH Supersock sweater.  I'm almost down to the armpits, and have done the turtleneck.  With the sleeves and the body both on the needles now, my row is hundreds and hundreds of stitches.  I'l post a better photo once I've separated the sleeves from the body, but here's a first look.

 

My foiled weekend away had one silver lining in it.  It's called Have a Yarn and is always worth the 90-minute drive to beautiful Mahone Bay.

The haul?

• Dark red Sisu sock yarn to make Baudelaire the way Cookie intended
• Marks and Kattens Clown sock yarn, in a pretty blue-green-purple stripey colourway
• Austermann Step shade #7 for my mom
• Marks and Kattens Dream (angora blend) in three masculine colours for Craig's headwear (half price, too!)
• Needful Yarns Dubai Stretch in a pink shade that makes me want to squeal!

The Dubai is for a really exciting project.  I had an e-mail the other day from Lark Books, an American publisher.  They are looking for designers to submit patterns for an upcoming book and got my contact information from the lates issue of Knitty!

I realize they likely sent this e-mail to zillions of people, but I'm still beyond excited!

I can submit up to three and am working on #1, a stretchy ribbed tank.  Am swatching it tonight and have already re-worked the stitch pattern several times.  I am not a swatcher, people.  This is a major stretch for me.

Wish me luck!

Off the needles, on the needles

The Pomatomus Project is done!

The details:  Cookie A's Pomatomus from Knitty's Winter 2005 issue.  Toe-up, Magic Loop on 32-inch 3mm Addi Turbo.  Yarn is Knitpicks Dancing, in the Ballet Colourway, which appears to no longer be available.

Next is a pressie for my wee pal Charlie.  Sweet little Charlie.  In a three-way tie for most delicious little boy in the world Charlie.  (I have two heart-stoppingly sweet nephews.)  Charlie is my best friend Nancy's little man.  Here he is:

Charlie turned one this past week, and for that he gets his first sweater hand-knit by Aunt Fun!

The deets:  Top-down raglan pattern from my new favourite template.  Patons Rustic (sadly, no longer available), reclaimed from two projects I opted to frog and restyle.  The beige was a sweater I knit in 1995.  The grey was a poncho I knit when pregnant with my first in 2003.

On the needles:

• A top-down raglan for myself, in a CTH Supersock mill end.  Modified from the magic worksheet, with lacy (yo) increases and a nice, long turtleneck
• Sock #1 in Austerman Step for a coworker's husband.  At work, I've become the source for spousal Christmas gifts.

To come:

• Shawl in Knitpicks Shimmer.  I started the KP Candleflame and didn't like it.  Methinks I'll do a double-stranded Clapotis.

Very cool to see so many blog hits.  Thanks for stopping by!

Upsizing Diamante

Someone commented they were interested in upsizing Diamante not just in length, but in the foot measurement.  My thoughts?

I find the Opal to be a very fine yarn.  I would think using a slightly thicker one, like Cherry Tree Hill Supersock or Socks that Rock, would produce a sock of larger dimensions.  My mom also pointed out that Fleece Artist is similar in thickness.

On a 3mm needle with CTH Supersock, I get 6 sts to the inch in stockinette.

Yay for the big-footed divas who've come out of the woodwork to show their enthusiasm!

Diamante question

Jenifer wrote:

Hi Deb,  I love the socks for Knitty. I have a question for you (and probably a dumb question at that...) Why is it whenever I knit socks (which have been few) my heel flap is just plain-ole stockinette stitch, but when I see others (like your purple beauties) it looks like a rib pattern? Am I reading your pattern wrong or maybe in the wrong spot? The heel flap just looks textured more than the stockinette parts of the foot...
Not hugely important, but very curious.  Thanks

First of all, not a dumb question in the least.

The heel flap is done in heel stitch, *sl1, k1 repeated to end on the right side and sl1, p to end on the reverse.

I think know where you're seeing the stockinette stitch and getting fiddled up.  The first 16 rows of the heel are in stockinette (slipping the first st of each row), as are the shaping rows the follow.  These form and shape a bottom flap.  Heel stitch is them worked upward to give that turned heel that is sometimes missing from toe-ups.

Lastly, the term "purple beauties" makes me indescribably happy.  Thank you!

By demand

I won't say "by popular demand", because I don't think that's my call to make.

Patons SWS tote pattern is up.  Not in pretty Knitty-worthy, Mandy-edited format.  Just in friend-to-friend format.  Again, do let me know if you make one.

It's up!

Knitty is here!  Knitty is here!  Did I mention Knitty?

If anyone opts to dive into Diamante, do drop me a line.  I would love to post a gallery of finished ones.

Gotta scoot, the rest of the issue awaits.  Did you see all of those SWEATERS?

BIG Event!

I am excited beyond words.

My favouritest favourite yarn store, Baadeck Yarns in beautiful Cape Breton, is hosting an event with Debbie Bliss in October.

It doesn't get much bigger than this for a knitter.  If you can make the trip, you will be rewarded by the most fantastically packed yarn store.  Pat keeps more Fleece Artist on hand than the Fleece Artist herself, and no, I'm not  kidding.

When Pat hosts an event, it's an event.  I still pine for the Cape Breton air on the sunny porch of Pat's teaching space.

And hey, the harlot cannot be wrong.  Ever.

Yowza.  My wallet is already groaning.

Who's in?

Loose ends, and lots of 'em

'Twas the eve before Knitty, and all through the...

Meh, I'm not feeling poetic, just excited.  Just got the final mock-up of my pattern, and I'm freaking out.  It looks like a real pattern, by a real designer.

In preparation for the Knitty-ness of this week, I have tried to finish up some stray projects

• Regia consolation sock #2 will be done tonight, and has already found a home with my SIL.  She saw it, said she liked the colours, and I said, "OK, then, they're yours!"  (Lordy, what if she'd said she liked the look of my kid.  "Take her, she's yours.  You want her sister too?")
• The Pomatomus project is about to be DONE!  #14 is just awaiting final bind-off.  I will post pics of the Fantastic Fourteen in the next day or so.
• Started Candle Flame Shawl number 1 of 3 for holiday gifts.  Somewhat slow knit, but pretty and fun.  Shimmer is a lovely yarn to work with.

Projects still to come:

• Alternate baby project for Michelle.  Any suggestions?  (This is the situation where I always defaulted to crocheted afghans.)
• Sweater for bff Nancy's little guy, turning 1 this week
• Seasonal photography for winter Knitty submission.  I'm waiting for ice in the rink, and that's all I'll say.

Get a good night's sleep, my pretties.

Jaywalking on Lombard Street

Jen's Jaywalkers have been frogged.  Again.  I reknit in Lombard Street, from the newest Magknits.  It's not a huge sock, but Jen (unlike me) does not have huge feet.  Really fun pattern, easy and quick.  Here's the first one, in Knitpicks Dancing (Two-Step).  Her mate is also done.

Based on my weekend, I think I'll have to purchase a timeshare in the frog pond.  Spent some pretty serious time there this weekend.

• Regia blanket is history.  Not pretty or soft enough.  I'll make socks with the yarn.
• I knit and frogged an entire Baudelaire.  Loved the yarn.  (Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, a gift from my mom who, unlike me, is really great about sharing her mill ends).  Loved the pattern.  However, the pattern was lost in the colour changes, and the colour changes were lost in the pattern.  We should all go out and get some nice solid yarn to do a pair.

For the first time in years, I found myself without a single project on the needles.  Not a one.  Felt great.  Lasted five minutes.  Cast on a consolation sock in Regia (which I have since finished) and Pomatomus number 13.

On a non-knitting note, we paid our respects to my beloved grandmother this weekend.  She passed away at the age of 92 on September 5, 2004.  This very old photo is a family favourite:

This photo was taken three summers ago and represents four generations of females in our family.  Alzheimer's Disease robbed Grandma of her understanding of this poignant moment, but I will never forget it.

 

We love you, Dede.