Tricotine

Picovoli Top - Continued

Here is my Picovoli Top right now... I am working on the bust part; 198 stitches on circular needle #4US and 4.75 inches to knit even... The boring part of that project I guess... I cannot wait to start the waist shaping!

I haven't tried it on yet... Maybe I should... If it is too small, I will feel even more miserable to rip it off again, right?

I feel a bit nervous though...

... [a little later]... All righty!!! It fits me just the way I wanted it to fit me! Not too tight but not too loose either... WOOHOOO!!! :D

BTW, have you met my new little buddies? I made them few days ago.

Count Your Socks

I just joined Count Your Socks with 7 pairs of socks made (3 adult size & 4 baby size), and I wanted to post the photos here as a Summary of Socks Making.

[Click on photos to enlarge]

My first pair of socks ever was made with Worsted Weight Varigated Acrylic yarn and double pointed needles #5US. I made them 2 years ago as a KAL with a Yahoo Knitting Group I belong. They are more cozy slippers than really wearable socks as they are a little too thick for fitting in shoes.

For my second pair, I used Fortissima Fairisle Sock Yarn and smaller double pointed needles. I still wear these socks... They are warm and comfortable in shoes. And the nice thing is that there was enough yarn left for making a tiny matching pair for my toddler! :)



Pairs #4 and #5 were made for my toddler also, using respectively Baby Sport Yarn and Worsted Weight Cotton. Cotton Socks are less stretchy than wool or acrylic socks but the pattern I used is great and the socks actually stay on the baby's feet! :)

Pairs #6 and #7 were made with Worsted Weight (mashine washable) Wool yarn for Daddy and Son. They are thick but warm in snow boots.

For my next sock project, I think about making the Grumperina's Jaywalker Socks using the 2 circular needles technique ... I have always made my socks with double pointed needles and I am curious to see how different/easier it can be... ;D

New Project on the Needles - Picovoli Top

I casted on the Picovoli Top. I chose to make the dressy version, the one with the picot neck edge and I was pretty excited to learn the Invisible (Provisional) Cast-On aka Looped Cast-On!

With the help of the Knitting Help Video, I was able to learn how to process but my computer was so slow to download that video that I had plenty of time to try and try again and again how it could be, and to finally figure out the cast-on by myself... WOOHOOO!!! Am I good or what?!!

Anyway, it was late but I couldn't just go to sleep without starting the project and going on a little, right?

Well, when my eyes got really tired and I was not able to see clearly anymore, I decided to stop for good and to go to bed... I just took a look to what I had done and the it hits me!!! Right in the face!!!

Now, what is wrong with that picture?

[Click on photo to enlarge]

I guess I was a little too excited and too sure of myself because I didn't take time to check what I was doing... So, I didn't see that I had... A TWIST!!!

A good lesson of humility, isn't it? LOL

The morning after, I took a photo of the disaster before RIPP! RIPP IT! RIPP IT! ... and then I started all over.

And this time, it was much better! I even thought about leaving a long tail of pattern yarn as intructed in the pattern to stitch down the picot neck edging.

My mistake ended up to be a bad for a good! :)

I made the increases and armholes without trouble and I working now on the bust part... I cannot wait to try it on and to make sure that this close-fitting garment is going to fit me at least!

BTW, knitting with the Knit Picks Shine yarn is a real pleasure! :)

To be continued...

Heart Cloth revised

I know I am a little behind schedule but I finally found a way to modify the Heart Cloth pattern, which was designed by Mary Marcontell - and that was on the Knitting on the Net's website initially.

If you remember - read my previous post here - after making that Cloth as instructed in the initial pattern, I realized that it was way too small for being used as a functional cloth - well to me anyway.  I like large cloths.

[Click on photo to enlarge]

 

ADDENDUM (01-20-2007):  Because Knitting on the Net has taken down the Heart Cloth pattern, my changes to the initial Heart Cloth pattern were not making any sense anymore... So, here are the complete instructions for the cloth.

Using straight needles #7 and Sugar'n Cream cotton (or any other worsted weight 100% cotton thread) - color Red, cast on 9 stitches.

Rows 1-3:  K1, yo, K across to center stitch, K3 in center stitch, K across until 1 loop remains on left needle, yo, K1, turn = 21 sts

Rows 4-25: K across to center stitch, K3 in center stitch, K across, turn.

Row 26: K2tog, K across to center stitch, K3 in center stitch, K across until 2 stitches remain on left needle, K2tog, turn.
Row 27: K across to center stitch, K3 in center stitch, K across, turn.

Repeat these 2 rows 5 times. There should be 36 stitches on each side of the central stitch.

Row 37, 38, 39 and 40: (K2tog) twice, K across to center stitch, K3 in center stitch, K across until 4 stitches remain on left needle, (K2tog) twice, turn.

Bind off in knitting loosely the reamining stitches.

My changes make a 9.5 X 8.5 inches cloth.

NOTA BENE: The K3 in center stitch is done in knitting front-back-front loop of the stitch. Here is a tutorial to how to do the Kfbl increase; just do the back loop one more time. Tip: Knitting that central stitch loosely helps.

 

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This is a free pattern. Make as many copies as you like, for personal use. However, you may not reproduce this pattern in any publication, nor can you sell it for profit without prior permission from the author. If you have any question or comment about this pattern, please contact me. 

 

 

*~ More Designs here ~*

 

Mystery Doily - "Vicky" FINISHED!!!

The Vicky Doily aka Mystery Doily (sent by my Secret Pal) has been COMPLETED!

 

The photo on the right shows the doily before blocking. I can say that this project gave me some good sweats! A true Knitting Olympics challenge!

The photo here on the left shows the doily during blocking. It is still drying right now.

 

That first Knitted Doily experience was quite an adventure but I am glad I did it.

 

[Click on photos to enlarge]

It was a long and difficult project but it is definitely one of my most beautiful ones too. I am very proud of it and it taught me a lot.  

 

Progression on Ed's BD1 Sweater...

 

Here is sleeve #2 just before I switched to the circular 16" needle and start to work on the body...






And here is the same left side of the cardigan. The body is about half done now.

[Click on photos to enlarge]

Here are the 2 identical pieces of the sweater after dividing and putting all the stitches on hold. Using yarn instead of stitch holders is recommended in the pattern as it helps to visualize better the shape of the sweater.

 

 

 

 

I also made the two front and the back panels and I am about to put the 2 pieces together in the back, using the Kitchener Stitch aka Grafting aka Weaving (a Knitting Help Video).

 

 

 

 

This is one of the bad side of the Homespun yarn... It gets all fuzzy and damaged and that makes the Knitchener Stitch more difficult to do... But here is the sweater joined in the back finally...

On the following photo, the hood is made (Garter Stitch) and I am about to make the front and bottom edges of the sweater.

I decided not to add Fun Fur on the hood and I am glad I didn't! I think it would have been overwhelming.

And TA DAAAAH!!!!

ALL DONE!!!

 

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HAPPY SECOND YEAR, Babynette! AYA-DYOU!!!

 

New Project on the needles...

After taking a day off from knitting, time for me to recover from the Knitting Olympics, I finally casted on the Yvette's Garter Stitch Baby Sweater, her own version of the Beribboned Eyelet Baby Sweater.

The pattern is for size 6 months and I need to make a 18 months size sweater so I decided to use Homespun yarn - color "Boston Rose" - and needles #10US instead of #7US and worsted weight yarn as called in the pattern...

I am not sure it will be right but it is worth the try...

For now, I don't really know what I am doing though... The pattern says that "the sweater is knitted from the back of the neck to the armholes" but I cannot picture that yet, so it is difficult to see if the choice of yarn and needles I made is going to be right for making the sweater the size I want it to be...

All right! Change of Plans!!!

After casting on and knitting half of a sleeve, I realized that what I am knitting right now could fit a 6 year old!!!

So, RIPP IT! RIPP IT! RIPP IT! And start over!!!

I have decided to make a Babies and Bears Sweater instead because I don't have much time before Ed's Birthday and I need a pattern I am really comfortable with, and I have already made 3 of those in the past.

This is going to be the first time I am making one with Homespun and Fun Fur though...

The photo shows the right side of the cardigan done.

At this time, I am working on the beginning of the left side's sleeve using double pointed needles...

[Click on photos to enlarge]

It is a very interesting pattern that was given to me by one of my Cyber Knitting Friends, Penny, who BTW is a B&B Champ! LOL. It is a seemless cardigan that is knitted in 2 pieces, from wrist to the middle of the back and that requires minimal finishing.

The kind I like! he he he

Click on the picture to know where to get the pattern.

I am a little disappointed though because the birthday party is tomorrow and I don't think I will be done by then...

Olympics... Day 6 & 7 - FINISHED!!!

 

I binded off the last stitch of my Flower Power Shrug (last pattern on the page) for the Knitting Olympics yesterday!!! WOOHOOO!!!

I finished sleeve #2 and ribbed 1/1 the body of the shrug's edge... Et voila!

I must have done something wrong when I did the Provisional cast on (Crochet chain) though because when I pulled out the crochet chain live stitches were not exposed at all! In fact, when I pulled the string, the chain got tight and I had to undo the chain stitch by stich... It took a while as there were 75 stitches to set free but I made it! LOL

After that little "COUAC", everything went smoothly... Ribbing the body of the shrug's edge and binding off loosely was easy... I was very excited though! I felt like a marathon runner in the last mile to the finish line! LOL

Now what is the best way to take a photo of a shrug? LOL

Front & back without the beads

I finally decided to add the beads to the shrug. I am glad I didn't knit them as instructed in the pattern because I picked some 4mm simulated white pearls that are way too small for beading a bulky starnd of yarn... So, I stitched each bead, one at the time, afterward! It took longer to sew the beads that knitting a complete sleeve! But I am very pleased with the way it looks!

Here is a photo showing a close up of the beads... Now, doesn't it look "lucious"?

Click on photos to enlarge

Late last night - or should I say early this morning - I made the flower that goes on the front edge of the shrug (see the pattern's photo here)

As cleverly suggested by my new friend Betty Bea, I made the flower detachable so I can wear it only when I am in the mood. This is what I did...











I added a brooch thing to the back of the flower...

I will take a photo later - at daylight - of the shrug and the flower together.

For now, I really need to get some sleep! The Athlete needs a good rest after such an accomplishment! LOL

I am so glad I am on the  because I am going to need some support today! :P

All right, I am back after few hours of sleep and a huuuuuge pot of coffee! LOL

Anyway, here is a photo of the Shrug with the flower brooch and this is how it fits me... I just love it!

So, to celebrate my Olympic achievements, I made myself a Commemorative Button!

And this is the Button my Dear Secret Pal made for me. Thank you DSP!!! :D

 

Update: HERE IT IS!!! My GOLD MEDAL!!! I almost can feel it in my hand! LOL

Challenges taken:
- First Shrug Ever Made
- First Time Knitting Mohair Yarn
- First Provisional Cast-On (Crochet Chain)
- First Beaded Garment
- First Knitted Flower Ever

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Olympics... Day 5

I am still working on the second sleeve of my Flower Power Shrug... and I am still in the Knitting Olympic Spirit! Watch me going! :D

Coming up next!

I received the yarn I have ordered at KnitPicks! WOOHOOO!!! That was quick! :) Doesn't it look great? I just love the Apricot color! Perfect for knitting a summer top to wear over a suntanned skin... I cannot wait to get started on the Picovoli Top now! Well, not until my Olympic Project is finished though... Still about 30% to go!!!