Tag Archives: knitting

FO: February Baby Sweater in Pistachio

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Friday evening I finished the February Sweater on Two-Needles from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Almanac.   The light spots are the reflection from the sun. 

FBS Pistachio 2010

 

I couldn’t find buttons that I liked so I ended up making some out of polymer clay.  Only my second attempt but they worked.  I need to play with the clay more so I can get some buttons made ahead of time and not at the last minute…like I did this time.  

Buttons

 

The sweater fit my granddaughter!  I was so afraid it would be too small.  These photos were taken at the birthday party after the cake.  Jayne’s hair style courtesy of some icing mousse.  

FBS Pistachio Jayne 2010

 

FBS Pistachio Jayne with baby

 

I used US 8 needles and worsted weight yarn (Caron Simply Soft).  (I know EZ would be unhappy with me for not using wool.)  I knit the sleeves on dpns (double point needles) to eliminate seaming the sleeve.  I did have trouble joining the yarn as I had a gap where the body and sleeves met.  I’d really like to know how others do this.  I’m not happy with the join but it worked.

I went over to Ravelry and checked to see if others had trouble with this pattern, particularly the sleeve join.  Some people were very upset when one questioned the pattern.  I knew the pattern was vague and allowed for individuality but coming down one someone for not liking the pattern and lack of direction was just nasty.

It’s Friday already?

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Really, I have been knitting on the FBS.  I’ve just got a lot of other things that have been taking my time away from knitting this week.  I have only half a sleeve left to knit on the February Baby Sweater.  I really need to get this off the needles tonight as it is a gift for my granddaughter’s first birthday.  The party is tomorrow.  I still have to find buttons for it as well.

When faced with finding buttons last year, I decided I would make my own from polymer clay.  I bought a little oven, pasta machine, roller, blades, extruder, and a few other things that I have someplace.  I made buttons for sweaters for E&Z.  I think they are on one of my FO pages.

Can I make three buttons tonight after I finish the sweater?  Or will I have just the right thing in my button box?

And pictures!  Yes, I must remember to take pictures!

Gap closed

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So Mr. Aitch and I went for a longer than planned motorcycle ride yesterday.  We left around 10:00 am and got home around 4;30 pm.  The weather was P.E.R.F.E.C.T.   We made a loop from our home near the Potomac River, over the Allegany Front, through Mountain Lake Park, Oakland, Terra Alta, Kingwood, Reedsville, Masontown, and finally to Morgantown.  The return trip was a straight line on I-68 east.  When we stopped for lunch in Morgantown, I stuck my gloves in my jacket pocket and discovered a swatch for the sweaters I knit for E&Z (the twins) last December.  Why was the knitted swatch in the pocket of my motorcycle jacket?  I have absolutely no idea.

I got on Ravelry to see if I could find a good way to close the gap on the February Baby Sweater at the sleeve join.  When I got to the “gap”, I picked up more stitches than called for.  It took some help from a crochet hook after the first few rows but I have no gaps.  I hope I can get the rest of this sleeve finished today and the other one finished tomorrow.

If I can get my card reader to work, I will post pictures.

Almost there

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Well, I tinked the February baby sweater Friday night and started the whole thing over.  Deciding how I was going to make it my own was the time-consuming part.   (Pictures if I can get my card reader to work.)  In the end I decided on the garter stitch yoke then stockinette for the body with a horizontal rib row evenly spaced.

I’m now ready for the sleeves on circular needles to avoid sewing any seams.  I need to figure out how to do the underarm join so I don’t have any gaps.

Technical question:  How do you avoid gaps when joining thumbs and/or fingers in gloves or mittens?  It would be the same technique when joining the sleeves.

Please leave a comment on your favorite technique.

Mr. Aitch and I are getting ready to head out on the Harley for a little ride.  We’ll be back by mid afternoon.  Now if I could figure out a way to knit while on the back of the bike…