Matching Matters

Matching does matter.  Especially as relates to seams and such.  All manner of instruction, both written and in video is devoted to making sure that we lonely at home fiber freaks take care and time to match our seams so as to complete a garment that mimics machine made perfection. There is nothing wrong with machine made perfection.  I wear it all the time.  I enjoy it.

But let's be frank.  I also wear, enjoy and adore loving hands creations.  After all, I make all manner of not quite perfect knit or crochet items by utilizing machine made yarn.  And, let me tell you flat out - machine made yarn can be less than perfect!  But it does not stop me from using it to produce my loving hands creations.

So, in my quest for not quite perfection created from imperfection, there are times when getting as close to perfect as possible matters.    Certainly in matching seams or stripes or all manner of things.  This week, I am being a maniac about matching sleeve length.

I know.  There is not much exciting and thrilling about sleeves that are the same length.  Machines make it happen all the time.   But, I'm not a machine and currently my brain is occupied with non-knitting thoughts and "what ifs."  That's why close attention to matching the sleeve lengths really matters.  I've got old lady mind wandering syndrome.

Just look at this row tracking!  This is how my new sweater is going to be matchy matchy on the sleeves.   You need to know that the sleeves are on a top down raglan.  That's why you see the first note about the pick up (PU) round followed by +11 rounds.  That is followed by a fairly simple chart with columns labeled from left to right: D (as in decrease) 1, 2, 3 (those being plain knitting without the decreases).  Then, easy as pie, eight rows appear under and are used for tracking the following decrease/no decrease rounds before beginning the cuff.

On the first sleeve, each round was marked off with a vertical line; the second sleeve is a horizontal line.  Result is a lovely and large + that makes me feel that progress is being made.  It is a little thing, but it makes me happy. 

Oh sure.  Right now sleeve number two is a wadded up mess.  But it is going to match sleeve number one.

Because matching matters.

Poking Through Holes

Bait.  Hook.  Line.  Sinker.

 I've taken it all and am thoroughly hooked.   

Someone, who should remain nameless, gifted me with a gift during the festive merriment that is a family Christmas.  Yeah and verily, beads,  supplies, findings and printed words are now in the stash.

Of course, there is no room in the stash for a new stash.  Something has got to give.  The stash hiding space(s) just might have to expand somehow.   One would think that such tiny objects - beads and all - would not, could not, shall not require very much space.

 Really.  Beads are so small.  Little hooks and bits and rings are so small.  But somehow, it expands so quickly and uses up shelf space and squeezes out the yarn stash.  

OH WAIT.  This is a blog about learning to knit beaded bracelets.  It is not about stash building and stash hiding and stash space and stash organizing.

I learned to knit  a beaded bracelet.  With supplies from my gift.  A new addiction of poking needle and string through beads is born.    

Before the stash digression got me off track, I indicated that someone should remain nameless.    Should.   Not will.

This is Sarah - aka daughter #1.  If you see her, back away and run in an opposite direction.  She might look like an innocent and sweet intelligent adult who has love for her mother.

But she is a sneaky gift giver who blows up your yarn stash with a new addiction.  Oops, I mean obsession.  

I just might demand that she return to the homestead and reorganize the whole stash system to make room for beads, beads, findings, beads, instructions, beads, &tc!

PS - thank you Sarah.  Love, Mama

Under The Wire

It is not a big deal.  But every year I try to complete an afghan.  Last year, daughter #1 benefited from the warmth of my efforts.  Some years, the extended family provides a baby that creates urgency toward completion.  This year - nothing special was on the horizon and no one was planning to redecorate a bedroom to spur me on toward the goal.

I was left to my own sense of plodding along to get 'er done.  Yes, just under the wire the wool is ready to pull over my sleeping eyes.

 Actually - three whole days early! 

But, I may have fudged just a tad.  That's right, I deleted a whole bunch of knitting.  What was planned to be suitable for sofa movie snoozing whilst fully stretched out was not going to happen in 2010.  No way.

You guessed it.  I made a smaller size.  Oh, come on.  Haven't we all done that at one time or another?  

Who needs calf length socks when anklets will suffice?  Three-quarter sleeves are just fine, thank you very much.  And what was the origination of the shawlette?  Exactly, someone who got freaking tired of knitting!  Surely, that is the derivation of the little swath of lace  that barely keeps the neck warm, much less the shoulders and upper back.

The joy of the Modern Log Cabin from Mason Dixon Knitting is that is lends itself so simply to any size.  I wanted to be done.  And by golly I was done.

Bind OFF. 

And it is not even 2011.  Way under the wire in my book.  Yeah me.

PS - I did not cheat.  I did not cheat.

Bottoms Up

 The wonderful thing about a skirt is that so many folks don't really believe that "I made it!" is truth in action.    But it is true.  This is my second skirt and compliments come my way each time I wear a hand knit wonder.

Admittedly, with this color combination, I do look somewhat like an upside down Christmas tree.   And so I wore this ensemble for this most festive of Christmas days. 

Already the skirt is destined to become a favorite.  And the  pattern is one that can be repeated should the need arise or the winds of a  whim waft over.  

My first foray into Berrocco Vintage is successful.  I was concerned about the 50% acrylic and how it would feel for so many rounds.  But the working was quite comfortable and truly the wool (40%)  feels dominate.  My hands did not dry out nor did the yarn feel yucky.   Hopefully that final percentage of nylon in the blend will help with longevity and strength of wearing.

The pattern is Bell Curve which can be had on Knitty if the link is not working.  The increases hidden within the vertical columns of star stitches is brilliant.  Absolutely brilliant.  Because the resulting panels are exactly the same, it is easy to give a quarter turn on each wearing and counteract skirt sag.  And we all know where that can happen!

The way the pattern is written, it was an almost too simple adjustment to shorten for us height challenged women.  

All in all, I am pleased, proud and planning every possible wearing opportunity. 

Oh, Holey Night

Much knitting has occurred.  Some of it on the stealthy side of the yarn, but knitting none the less.  Already one manly man scarf has been delivered - with genuine surprise and delight.   

A few practical home type items are pre-stuffed into stockings.  There is always room for practical - even during the season of impractical indulgences.  

And so it goes.  Hidden (as in not written about here in e-public space) work taking place during both long stretches of time and stolen moments; it all gets accomplished.

 Photos of my gift to myself are yet to come, but in the mean while perhaps you will enjoy this soon to be raglan sweater.  Knitting a top down seems to go so fast - especially at the beginning when there are relatively few stitches per row.  In no time at all the sleeves are divided away to waste yarn and the body zips along just as quickly.

Mr Greenjeans by Amy Swenson has a fun twist on the plain v-neck raglan.  I am really looking forward to getting down to the interesting part.  

Unfortunately, late night knitting during a state of holiday induced exhaustion is sometimes not the wisest course of action.  Witness:

The dreaded dropped stitch.  

Several rows back.   

Discovered over the morning mega mug of coffee.

That's right - you understand.

Oh, Holey Night!