Lacking reliable Internet access, it is hard to update faithfully here. It’s not that I’ve been negligent with my knitting!
- About three weeks ago, I made a Big Mistake on my shawl. It was on a row with—yes, with the dreaded S1K1PSSO. I looked back at the row several inches before where I didn’t even try to correct it, gulped, and prepared to think backwards, hard. I could at least make a valiant effort not to have another row like that. And you know what? I figured out how to unravel it! (Don’t think I’m going to post a tutorial, though.) I’m no longer deathly afraid of messing up on S1P1PSSO rows! Just in time to finish this thing. No pictures available, but I have about six and a half inches to go. That’s about four more pattern repeats, and I typically do one per day. Still don’t know who the recipient will be (my grandmother’s birthday has, um, come and gone), but my mother-in-law seemed to like it a lot when she saw me working on it. . .
- Speaking of my mother-in-law, her grandmother-in-law (if I understand correctly) was an avid knitter. Guess who inherited her comprehensive stash of needles? Yes. I don’t think I’ll ever have to buy a pair again, unless I am really just craving bamboo (which is possible; these are all aluminum). There’s even a huge, I don’t know, size 23? plastic one. One—? Not really sure what that’s for. But in case I should ever want to knit socks (HAH), there’s a wide range of tiny needles, too.
- I also made a headband (the decorative, not the winter-wear sort) a few weeks ago. It was modified from a pattern by SheKnits, which I made in a type of cotton that really didn’t work so well. I also don’t like wide headbands. So I used the lace pattern from a bookmark I’ve made several of, which I don’t have a link to.
It’s already stretched, but I’m wondering if a run through the washer and dryer (in a mesh bag to protect it) wouldn’t help a bit?
That’s it. I know of two friends, one rather distant and only through my husband, who are expecting, but I’m not inspired by any of the baby patterns I have in stock. (The poncho patterns are cute, Lauren, just . . . I’m not there yet.) Any suggestions? They cannot involve socks, cables, picking up stitches (I have a totally useless tutorial), or extremely complicated lace. Or the like. Think mostly mindless. 
4 responses so far ↓
Lauren // May 9, 2008 at 9:32 am |
Laura, welcome back from the internetless realland.
Congratulations on your inheritance, though I do think you’ll want bamboo. Also, metal DPNs will be frustrating for socks because stitches tend to toboggan right off of them–again, hardwood (love my Brittanys) or bamboo will prove much more kind.
I thought I sent you a baby cap pattern worked on two needles and the seam sewn up–if not, I will. I like to make caps on DPNs because there’s no seam to sew–are you game for trying that?
Once cotton stretches and its shape changes, there may be no reclaiming its true contours, alas…but take the valiant try.
Laura // May 10, 2008 at 11:25 am |
I would LOVE not to have to sew a seam. I do have some bamboo DPNs in size 6; got any patterns for that?
Lauren // May 10, 2008 at 12:28 pm |
I meant also to congratulate you on tinking off the PSSOs–mega kudos!
As for the cap, you need to know how many stitches per inch you’re knitting with your yarn and needles of choice.
A newborn’s head should be 14-14-1/2″ circumference.
Knit a gauge swatch of 24 sts by 3″. Measure your stitches per inch. Multiply the sts/in by 14.5 and cast on that many stitches and follow the pattern. I’ll send it to you if you get that far.
I finished my peacock socks today and got a photo, but WordPress’s image uploader is on the high-tech fritz, so I’ll have wait till Monday–if they get it fixed by then–to post it. Argh, fie, and alack.
Janet // May 11, 2008 at 8:03 pm |
Laura,
There is a yarn called Blossom that makes a great baby blanket – very squishy and soft…and washable. It’s kind of fuzzy and comes in soft baby colors. All you have to do is cast on some stitches and knit garter stitch until you get the size you want. It is wonderful cuddly soft, the kind the baby will love.