I'm ready for cooler weather. . .

. . . finished my Clapotis . . .



. . . too bad it's really hot here now.

Pattern: Clapotis from Knitty
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock, 2 skeins of colorway S245
Needles: size 3 bamboo staight
Modifications: I used a much thinner yarn and smaller needles. I knit until I ran out of yarn. Finished size is approximately 13" by 52".

I started this project last winter, but decided to set it aside since I knew I wouldn't want to wear it until this autumn. It was fun to knit, although I ended up doing bit of re-knitting since I wasn't sure when to start the decrease section, and I started it too soon at first and then realized I could do another repeat of the straight part before decreasing. The best part is getting to drop all those stitches, whee!

I did a little bit of cutting and splicing with the yarn to make the color stripes in a slightly different order. I don't know why I always have to do that with Noro, but I do.

I think the kitties would say this project was one of their favorites. The needles I used were often attacked:




And even the pattern was delicious:

The Battle of Cardigan

My Ginny cardigan is finally finished, after a bit of a struggle.

First I had to block the crap out of it to get the "ridge pattern" stitches at the waist and shoulders to lie flat:



Once again I will declare my love for my blocking board.

Then after I had all the pieces sewn together, I realized I should have added short rows at the bust. The cardigan looked okay when I left it unbuttoned, but looked funny and too short in the front when buttoned. I wanted to button it. What to do? Add those f-ing short rows in kind of like an afterthought heel, I decided. Yikes!!! It took me a couple of nerve-wracking tries but I managed to make it work. Maybe if I feel like it I'll write a post about what I did. However, I advise everyone to add short rows as you are knitting the front like a sensible person would do.

Despite my trials and tribulations, I love this sweater and can't wait to wear it next fall!



Pattern: Ginny by Kim Hargreaves from Thrown Together
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed in Paisley
Needles: size 4 and size 1.5 Knitpicks metal
Modifications: Knit size 34 above waist and sleeves and 36 waist and hips. Made sleeves about 1" shorter. Added short rows at the bust.

I have to agree with other people who have made this, the torso is kind of short. Fortunately, so I am. If you are not leprechaun or fairy-sized, I recommend lengthening the body.

Here's a detail of the lovely distressed horn buttons I found at MJ Trim:

Oh Noro. . .

I tried to use some Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn to make some socks, but it didn't feel like something I'd want to wear on my feet. Too lumpy. So instead I'm knitting like it's 2004 and am making my first Clapotis.

More Saturday sewing

With some help from my sewing buddy,



I successfully made the buttonholes for my shirt:




It is done!


(thanks to Jimmy for being my fashion photographer for this pic)

I like it a lot, and I will definitely use the pattern (Simplicity 4077) again.

I wanted the inside of the garment to look nice. I really hate zigzagged seams, so I did French seams for the side seams and darts. For the shoulders and cuffs I used Hong Kong finishes. I made my own bias strips from a light-weight yellow cotton fabric. It was more work, but very satisfying.

Some Saturday sewing

I've been spending the past few Saturdays working on a sewing project. It's a shirt, or blouse, if you will. I'm using Simplicity pattern 4077, which is the most complicated thing I've ever sewn that I think I will actually wear. This one is a test so I'm using some fabric that I found at JoAnn Fabrics for cheap. It's not quite done yet, but I have only one more thing to do, which is to make the buttonholes and sew on the buttons. I'm kind of scared about making the buttonholes. . .

These are the buttons I'm going to use. They are waxed cherry wood, made from tree branches by The Hickory Tree. I wanted something rustic.



I'll show more details when I'm completely done. Even if the buttonholes don't work out (though I'm hoping they will), I feel like a had a sewing breakthrough. This is the first time I made a full bust adjustment to a pattern, so that the shirt will fit properly in the bust but not be too large in other places. Here's my modified front pattern piece, on art-school tracing paper (good thing I saved that stuff after all these years. . .)



A few weeks ago I hardly knew what a full bust adjustment was! Thanks again, you people of the internets!