Sue's Christmas Mitten

This is a Norwegian snowflake design on a child's mitten knit in the round using stranded knitting.  

I have to say I am pleased with the way this turned out.  Overall, I would change only 2 things.  This was my first attempt at stranded knitting and it worked out fine for something that was only intended for display, not wear.  However, if I were to do this again, I would concentrate on keeping my strands loose.  The part of the mitten with the snowflake on it is definitely tighter than the rest of it, and would not be comfortable to wear.  I would also make a shorter cuff on the mitten.  I think the long cuff that the pattern called for is very practical on a mitten to be worn, but it didn't really look right for display until I rolled it.

Details:

Pattern:   
1.  Snowflake motif adapted from Donna Druchunas pattern for Norwegian headbands (free download from the craftzine.com podcast website).

2.  Mitten from "the knitter's handy book of Patterns" by Ann Budd.  How much do I love this book?!?  All you need to do is make a swatch of any yarn, measure it, and the book will provide you with a pattern for socks, gloves, hats, mittens, scarves, vests, and sweaters.  Genius!

I thought the 6-8 year old child size would be good for an ornament - small enough that it didn't look like a grown-up's lost mitten, but large enough not to disappear on a tree.  It was also important to choose a pattern with enough stitches across the hand to accomodate the snowflake on both sides.  Using my test swatch to estimate size, the 6-8 yr old was the best fit.

Yarn:  Zitron Polo (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic), from my stash.  

Color:  A variegated blue (420) and a pure white

Needles: Size 2 DPNs (it looked much better this way than with the recommended size 5s)

Extras:  Ribbon for hanging loop, goodies to stuff in the top (who says stockings should have all the fun?)

aoljurlAdd, aoljurlAdd_1

Spirit Trail Socklets

I was paging through my patterns trying to decide what project to start next when I came across the instructions for knitting a picot edge in the knitter's handy book of patterns.  I love the way picot edges look and for some reason always assumed that it was difficult to knit.  Once I read the instructions and saw how easy it would be, I decided to try it out.  I thought that I might have enough of my Spirit Trail sock yarn left to make a pair of socks for my 3 year old niece, and so I did (barely).  Hope they fit!

Details:

Pattern:  Sock from Ann Budd's the knitter's handy book of Patterns

Size:  Child 2-4 year

Gauge:  knit at 6 sts per inch

Needles:  size 1 dpns inside of picot edge; size 2 dpns rest of sock

Yarn:  Spirit Trail Fiberworks Superwash Merino Sock Yarn

Color:  (TR-06-05-03) hand dyed blues, violets and teal variegated

Yardage:  probably about 50 yards each - just a guess

aoljurlAdd, aoljurlAdd_1

Spirit Trail Socks

After a somewhat frustrating experience making my first pair of socks, it took me a while to get back in the mood for another pair.  I did have some pretty yarn from the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival that was starting to whisper to me.  So I  started fresh.  I began with a swatch and Ann Budd's the knitter's handy book of Patterns.  Her instructions for a basic sock are based on the gauge of the sock yarn and the wearer's foot circumference and length.  My feet are a little wider and a little shorter than average.  My actual measurements translated to the large women's basic pattern with a shorter length - easy to set up.

I decided to use the double rib leg variation because its greater stretch seemed like it would be forgiving if I got the gauge wrong.  I also felt that the simple rib pattern would show off the variegated colors without competing with them too much.  

Overall, I am pleased with the results.  They are very wearable socks and look nice on.  I made some mistakes which were minor enough to leave in (a few twisted stitches, a couple of stitches picked up in the wrong place).  So I'll wear them and I'm sure no one will notice the flaws, but I wouldn't give them as gifts.  

I will definitely work off this pattern again.  It's pretty cool to have garments that are custom fit to my own proportions.  

The next time, I intend to make the following improvements:

- Modify the pattern to have a slightly blunter toe and slightly longer foot to compensate.  Perhaps a 6 3/4" foot and 12 or 16 stitches at the end instead of 8.

- If making a ribbed leg, step down the needle size by 1 compared to the gauge swatch.  The wider circumference for the foot means the leg is wider also.  My leg needs a more average circumference.  

- When I picked up stitches for the foot, I did not pick up and knit along sides as instructed, but just picked up stitches (oops).  It turned out fine, but I'll try to do it correctly next time.

- I think I would like a little more length on the leg, maybe an extra inch.


Details:

Pattern:  Sock from Ann Budd's the knitter's handy book of Patterns

Size:  based on 8 1/2 in foot circumference  (women's large), but length of 6 1/2 to beginning of toe (women's small)

Gauge:  knit at 6 sts per inch

Needles:  size 3 dpns top 3 inches of leg; size 2 dpns rest of sock

Yarn:  Spirit Trail Fiberworks Superwash Merino Sock Yarn

Color:  (TR-06-05-03) hand dyed blues, violets and teal variegated

Yardage:  200 yards per sock, some left over

aoljurlAdd, aoljurlAdd_1

Boy or Girl? Cardigan

I have two sisters-in-law that are expecting babies this spring.  When I found out, I couldn't wait to start knitting!  The only problem was that I didn't know what the sex of the little ones were.  I had some nice pale brown DK weight yarn that would be great for either.  

After having some problems in the past with overly small head holes on pull-over style sweaters, I resolved to only make baby things with adjustable closures - cardigans or button-shouldered pull-overs.  Don't want baby's head to pop off!

I debated the pattern for a few days.  The one I really wanted to make was a cardigan with lovely lace panels in the sleeves and front sides.  I was assured from many sources, however, that this was not something people would want to dress a boy in.  So I went with a plain crew-neck cardigan that would be good for either a boy or girl.

And, as if by magic, right after I finished the last seam, we got a call that baby #1 will be a girl.  Still don't know about number two yet, but I think I will dust off that lace panel pattern after all.  As for the sweater, it might go to baby #2, or it might just wait around for the next boy to come along.  It's pretty cute and would go with just about anything.

I was a little surprised how large the cardigan was when completed.  I would guess it would fit about a 6-9 month old baby, maybe even a 1 year old.  I was actually trying for a newborn size.  My gauge matched the pattern's, the smallest size was billed as "preemie," so naturally the next size up would fit an average 0-3 month old baby.  Right?  Hmm....

Details:

Pattern:  Peter Gregory 7156, Round Neck Cardigan

Size:  To fit chest size 16 ins

Yarn:  Plymouth Encore D.K.  75% Acrylic 25% Wool

Quantity:  2 50g balls (almost exactly)

Color:  240 (lot 31331)  "Natural" (kind of an oatmeal heather)  

Needles:  Size 3 and Size 6 Addi Turbo circulars

Care:  Machine wash and dry 80%F

Extras:  7 x 1/2" beige plastic buttons

aoljurlAdd, aoljurlAdd_1