Happy Halloween

BOO!!

Another post so soon? Well I thought that besides displaying this year's pumpkin, I'd best give an update on the backless summer top. Progress is slow now, perhaps because summer seems so very far away.

Anyway, it's a little lumpy. I seem to be tension challenged these days. I do love the look and feel of the fabric though. I was knitting outside one day and it looks gorgeous in the sun. There is a heaviness to the fall of it, so I think it will be quite slinky. Hopefully, the beauty of the yarn will compensate for the occasional oogly stitch.

There is a possibility that it won't be wide enough - a slight miscalculation in gauge. If that's the case, I'll knit a panel to add into the back. It should be quite simple considering the bottom half of this shirt is basically a tube.

Here's a picture of the front and back. I'm in the mood to get back at it but I must finish the laundry and grocery shopping first. After a night of costume sewing, I don't know if I can handle any more glamour!

ebay Rocks My Socks!

I've been coveting this recycled silk sari yarn for quite some time. Inner battle went something like this: You don't need any more yarn! But it's sooo pretty. You have no idea what you'll make with it! But I waaant it! Yesterday, I finally quit fighting it and purchased a lot of 10 skeins on ebay. The picture is from the sellers site. The actual colours of my yarn won't become known to me until the shipment arrives. I'm so excited I could just pee. A special surprise is on the way for me. I think I got a good deal too. It'll come to about $50 Cdn with the shipping. If that's not a good deal, please don't tell me.

Two weeks ago I bought this baby, also on the modern wonder known as ebay. A woman in Scarborough had 5 or 6 1960's Vogue Knitting on auction. I chose this one, 1964, because that's the year of my birth (ouch! personal information). Check out the height of that hair. It doesn't even fit on the page.

My favourite photo is the purple with turban number. This woman oozes cool.

The one I intend to knit is the jacket in the black and white photo. It has an interesting slip stitch pattern that creates the woven tweed effect. And I already have the perfect yarn in my stash so no more purchases necessary!

The daughter, who is sitting next to me, just told me I need to use up all the yarn I have and stop buying new stuff. Hee hee.

Blythe Jacket Done

Ok, above we have what it is supposed to look like as knitted by the wonderful Knitty designer and modeled by a vixenish Blythe. Note the beautiful seams and the way the shawl collar folds out so luxuriously.

Below is my version as modeled by one of the 3 Wee Friends while she hangs with Bogey & Bacall. Lumpy, lumpy arm seams and my collar inexplicably curls in. I think that has something to do with the way I pick up stitches. I always have trouble with that particular skill. Not my best work but I do like my substitution of a cute button for the suggested snap at the waist.


Regarding the Wee Friends. Who is familiar with them? They always come as a set (blonde, redhead and brunette) and in a theme (winter, ballet, etc.). They're made by Mattel and are smaller and more realistic than Barbie. The daughter and I quite like them. The problem is that there do not seem to be any clothes sold separately so, you're stuck with just what comes in your set. Barbie clothes don't fit them (although, those are Ken's shoes in the picture). So, I'm knitting tiny outfits with lumpy seams. I made a delightful cable sweater last spring but the innocent looking grey cat of my previous post chewed it to bits.

Does anybody know of any commercially available clothing for these dolls?

No Camera, AARGH!

I was in the mood for doll clothes so I knit the Blythe jacket from Knitty this weekend. You may have noticed from past posts, that I enjoy making doll clothes. I find that they are great when I feel like accomplishing an entire project over a weekend. Also, the patterns can be played with so easily. I feel a bit like a mini fashion designer sometimes mixing and matching dress skirts and tops, playing with different colours and textures, adding beads, fringe etc. The problem is, I fear that soon my daughter and her friends will be too old to want the fruits of my efforts. Then, what will I do?
Anyway, the pieces were all finished and pinned to the board for blocking. I went for the camera and it's not there! It turns out that my husband took it to work for whatever reason and it's still sitting on his desk. Objects have a habit of slipping into the Twilight Zone at his office. I'll need to harass him to bring it home if I ever want to see it again.
I've started to sew the pieces together and the seams look fairly pathetic, particularly around the underarm. I don't know if I'll ever get the hang of that area. It's especially difficult with such teeny tiny stitches. I may have over estimated my patience on this one. Pictures will follow asap.

In the meantime, here is a picture of Francois and Malcolm who are the best of friends.

A couple of days ago the daughter was helping me wind yarn when she said, "I'm glad I have a Mommy who knits. Really. You're different when you knit."

Is It Brown or Gray?

Yesterday it was the ugliest brown/gray man's sweater ever. Today it is approx. 1200 yards of fresh clean cotton yarn drying in the miraculous October sun. Someday, it will be the Mermaid Mesh tunic from Interweave.
So pretty, I just had to take a picture!

A Holiday

Yes, I actually took a holiday. Life has been extremely stressful lately and I found myself physically and emotionally exhausted, so I announced to the significant other that I was going away for the weekend. Lest you think me frivolous, let me just say that I have been with my partner for 17 years and I have never done this before! So off I go to Kingston where I plan to knit, shop, read, and hang out by the lake.

Knitting Story #1: I plan to spend the 2 1/2 hour train ride there, working on a lacy shawl thing with my Kikki. About 2 hours in, not only does it look terrible but it's obvious that I don't have enough wool. RIP!!! Now I have two days ahead of me and no pattern! My first stop in town is the LYS where, with the help of the the owner, it is decided that I have enough yarn to make the backless top in Rebecca. The pattern calls for a thicker yarn and 6mm circulars. I have with me 4mm straights. So, we'll knit the largest size, back and forth and life should be fine, right? I purchase the pattern mag for $23.00! Ouch!

Knitting Story #2: After a great weekend with beautiful weather I'm feeling calm, relaxed, and it's time to go home. (BTW, I highly recommend a mental health holiday if you can manage it. What a difference.) Anyway, back to the station I go to hop aboard the west bound train that will return me to the arms of my loving family. I even arrive early to avoid line ups. It turns out that there was a de-railment outside Montreal and no one is going anywhere. There are many cranky people in the station so I go outside, plunk my butt on the one bench and pull out the knitting. There have been a few snags in the progress, but more on that another day. Above mentioned bench is right beside the giant ashtray where the cabbies hang out waiting for fares. One by one, the taxi drivers arrive. The oldest of them gets his lawn chair out of the trunk and starts chain smoking the Export A's in the dark green pack. They have no passengers as the trains are all stuck, but everyone seems happy enough to hang out and chat. I spent over two hours hanging with these guys breathing second hand smoke and talking about the rail line, Kingston, food, and even knitting. One of them used to own a yarn store! The time flew by and I got tons done on my sweater as well.