Taming the Noro

So here it is: My attempt to tame the crazy colored Noro in hat/beret form. A little retro, but I like it.


Did I mention I'm loving the Alexis Winslow pattern? Really easy. Fewer than 200 stitches on the needles. The work above took about 2 hours. Not bad at all. Here's the hat (free pattern):


And here is the Knitpicks Cashmere cardi I started a few months ago. Currently stuck attaching collar,trim, etc. Pics of my cardi coming soon:

It's a New Year, it's a new you!

Just realized that was my first update in over a year. Many FO (finished objects) to post. Many new UFOs (unfinished objects). A new favorite LYS, plus my first and only Etsy sale.

In other news, I'm moving into a house with two awesome crafty roommates, one awesome crafty turtle, and 5! sewing machines.

Sweet sheep dreams and Noro nightmares

One of my coworkers retired this week, and while I'm sad to see her go, I'm ecstatic to reap the benefits. She left me her learn-to-knit attempt. Christmas in July!

-150g of Italian DK weight merino - black

1 pair #6 12-in Addis

1 pair #6 12-in Crystal Palace bamboo straights

1 vintage learn to knit books with a variety of family vest patterns

A delightful assortment of stitch markers, needles, crochet hooks, and needle keepers.

And so, my first pair of Addis. I've got to say I've been doing just fine with my KP Harmony circulars, and I do prefer the bamboo, but damn, the Addis practically don't even have joins.

To test things out, I cast-on Alexis Winslow's "Op Top" hat with Noro Silk Garden (a super-soft green and pink self-stripe) as the contrast color. This is my second Alexis Winslow attempt -- more on that later, but I'm in love with this pattern. Super-easy and symmetric. Finally an excuse to use that Noro.

Looking through recommended Noro patterns, I'm second-guessing my purchase. It seems like Noro's primary customer is the crazy cat lady and her less-than-appreciative relatives. The following Regretsy-worthy images are not in my queue.

It starts off innocent enough, the youthful Noro Scarf:

Then Steven West adds a little hip-hip-hipster twist.

I don't know if you have cats, Steven West, but I can imagine hundreds of little kitten tears dripping down your scarf. Why pick on such a dapper man? Because you've open the door to this:

And this:

And even this:

Proof of the evolution of Noro, a sweater so ugly it ate itself.

Wish me luck on my Noro journey. I may need it.

New Knitty!

Surprise new pre-Fall knitty today! Their site is slow, but I can't wait to start reading!

Crafting... The new generation

Much to update over the past week or so.
Skirt complete, though I never did figure out how to machine sew an invisible zipper. I put it in by hand and it looks pretty sturdy.
Also the craftiness has rubbed off on the younger generation. I helped my little sister to craft not one, but two awesome 4H projects....and both will be going to State Fair (one in competition and one in window display).

The Necessity of the Seam Ripper

For my birthday I bought myself a sewing machine from eBay. Of course, the feeder dogs were mis-aligned and it cost twice the purchase price to fix them. Still to celebrate, I decided to make a pretty, simple summer skirt. I bought this vintage-looking simple cotton print from the local Hancock Fabrics on super-sale, it's magenta with tiny white leaves. The printing pools a little, I wouldn't use it for a large flat design (a straight skirt, the back of a shirt) but in a pleated design, it's great.
I'm working off Simplicity 2698 Skirt H, Yoke B in size 12. I'm a 4 or 6 off-the rack. To give you an idea, the finished yoke will be about 27.5in. and sit at the waist (when I suck in my breath). The cutting, skirt sewing, even pockets & pleating are very straightforward and easy.

My headache came when I started to fit the waistband. After staring at the instructions for entirely too long, I realized it's a paper-bag waist, the kind where the pleated section fits in front of the waistband. EWWW. Not for cotton print. Not for work-wear. So I ripped out the zig-zag edging on the band, ripped out the basting, and the side seams and started reworking a band that would fit over the pleat lines. Mind you, I was using thread scissors and straighpins as I have yet to invest in a proper seamripper -- only people who make mistakes need seamrippers. So I hand-stitched my now separated waistband over the pleating with a blind hem stitch on top. It's a snug fit, but the stitching feels stiff and secure, so i'm lookin' good. Next time, I might try a frayed waistband, or adding a ribbon or embellishment at the waist.



Tonight I tackle my first invisible zipper. You see the unfinished floppy pocket area on my hip--that's where the zipper will live. Except you won't be able to see it, because it will be invisible.




There's also a lingering question of how to hem it. Regular blind-stitched straight hem would be classy. But a bubble-hem might minimize my pleated butt protruding in back. Hmm...


I'm off to buy a seamripper.

Baby Booties

My coworker is having a baby boy in a few weeks and I needed a quick-knit gift. My aim was to do Angora Baby Booties from Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Unfortunately my LYS only had pink or gray angora, so I started using Luisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool instead The color is #18, a pale baby blue. It's a DK weight, so a little thick. It's soft, slightly fuzzy and really delightful to knit.

These are knit inside out using a double-knitting technique, which is a little tricky with the thicker yarn, but easy once you pick it up. Still I would not recommend this project to a first-time DPN or first-time sock knitter. As promised, bootie #1 took about 1.5 hours. I had trouble following the cuff instructions and reviews say they're a little big in the cuff, so I decreased by 2 stitches and kind of improvised. I started bootie #2 and if all goes as planned should be done in no-time.

You can see #1 is right-side out, and like magic, I'm knitting #2 double thickness on only 2 needles -- Take that kitchener stitch, I don't need you and your kind in here.
The lighting in my living room doesn't do this yarn justice.