Turnabout is fairplay

I was perusing the stats for my blog and came across a visitor from an unfamiliar URL, so I checked it out. Turns out a reporter from The News and Observer in Raleigh-Durham, NC is working on a Capecho and linked back to my version, as well as some others.

So turnabout is fairplay and here's a link to her articles.

I should point out, though I knit the thing, it was Dianne who came up with how to wear it, that got the article recognition.

And I am inspired to try something different on the Mom Capecho...I just don't quite know what, at the moment.

More knitting

Here's another picture of the cape/poncho/shrug/bolero.


Ekeby
I have three of Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton's Noro books, and bought the Iro yarn to knit the Ekeby vest from book one last year. Sunday I knit it up. Were it not for the invariable mistakes because I don't mark rows on the pattern as I knit them, it would have been done in a few hours. Still, it was quite a quick knit and it even fits, having knit the smaller size on one size smaller needles.

Cabled Shrug/Bolero redeemed

I think I'll probably knit it again. After the small turned out to be too large on me, I was a little disheartened. So I decided to gift it to someone. I gave Dianne the right of first refusal. It seemed so large, I really thought it wouldn't fit her either, but I was wrong. It looks great on her.

"Capecho"
I completely missed this reference until Janet commented on my finished version. I guess I was so taken with the coolness of the garment, that I didn't even read the description, I just headed for the instructions (which I also didn't read through) and my stash (which I didn't look through completely). So it's a cape/poncho/bolero/shrug.

Next time I'll knit the smaller version and may even knit at a smaller gauge, now that I know how the puzzle is put together and know where to measure.

The VK Cabled Bolero/Shrug experience

When I took my first home ec class in 7th grade (or was it 8th?), we were given a test that began "1. Read all instructions." I "failed" the test because the last instruction was "Don't so anything." Perhaps, if I'd done that with this pattern, I might have waited, emailed VK, and waited for full instructions, which, IMHO are not included in the magazine.

The key is the end of the pattern. Making the pentagons was pretty easy, and they went very quickly. The hardest part was making sure each succeeding pentagon was attached to the correct side. I say that because after attaching (and completing) the first sleeve, I realized, I had whatever is one side less than a pentagon (quadrilagon or tetragon, according to info.please.) But that was not-so-quickly corrected and off I went to finish sleeve number two.

In Tacoma, I finished that second sleeve and thought, "I'm on the home stretch only the collar to complete." But the instructions provide the pattern for the collar and say to make it and attach it to the neck of the bolero. Therein lies the issue. There is no schematic with the size for the collar piece or any information on how to attach it. The finished neckline is 35" for XS. Proportionlly how big should the collar be knit?

I started by thinking I'd be clever and picked up stitches along the neckline knitting and attaching as I went along. Then I realized, looking at the photo, my collar and how much more I had to go that it was much, much too large. Next, I picked up stitches, but a third fewer—still too big. Finally, I decided to just knit the collar till it fit around my neck and sew it on. For every selvedge stitch, I attached 4 or 5 neckline stitches. In other words, I had to gather the neckline for it to fit the collar.

One more thing I did that I think should probably be included in the instructions: The first three stitches of the right side row are picked up; on the wrong side they are purled. It creates an attached I-cord. I tighted up the I-cord by picking up as if to knit.

And now it's done
On the whole, it was an interesting experience, that I'm glad I undertook, but I didn't take into consideration the inability to adjust for length and I really should have gone with the smallest size (will I ever learn?). The collar is on correctly and to my eye is a good size, but it clearly is for someone taller than I am. I tried attaching a band like on My Knitting Island but when there's too much fabric, there's just too much fabric.


Time to move on.

"Found your match..."

Dianne pointed me to a blogger who has already finished the VK Cabled Bolero. Actually, I finished mine, but now it's not finished because, I've have taken off the collar for reasons I'll explain when I get the collar reattached.

In any event, I would have to agree with Dianne—and then some—because the knitting on My Knitting Island (and in her album) is pretty awesome.

Almost...

I really had plans to get more done before we head up to the Madrona Fiber Arts retreat, but the fiberly gods apparently had other plans.

A shirt
I was going to finish Tom's first shirt of the year. The fabric was cut before we moved (so what was my excuse for not making it earlier, I wonder), so it should have been a breeze. Hah! I think my Baby Lock ellegante has need a tune up since I got it, but yesterday, it was just being a pain. It was like a car engine misfiring, so off to the dealer it went. But, thought I, all is not lost, there's that cute little Xscape; it makes buttonholes. It did on samples, but when I put the shirt under the presser foot, it didn't seem to like the weight, so it was time to just give in and wait for the big machine.

Notice the shirt left side (or right side as you look at the picture). See the pocket? I just thought I'd point it out. I've always matched the pockets patterns and I thought I'd share my "secret." I've cut out the pattern piece in clear overhead film. I place the clear template on the shirt where the pocket goes and then use overhead markers to roughly outline the pattern. Then I find that pattern on another piece of fabric, et voilà! matching pocket. The markings can then be cleaned off with cleaner. (I tried dry erase markers, but they don't do so well on the overhead film.)

A cable shrug
I have made progress. One sleeve is attached, but somehow I just didn't seem to have the time to finish the second sleeve, so it goes with me to Tacoma. I'm going to have more knitting stuff than clothes...and that's probably how it should be.

The Shrug - or is it a Bolero?

I tend to use the terms "shrug" and "bolero" interchangeably and it turns out (at least according to dictionary.com), it's because fundamentally, they are the same. So I've been calling this thing I'm working on a "shrug" but VK calls it a "bolero."

In any event, it's coming along swimmingly, thanks to Judith, Royal Mail and the US Postal Service. Judith posted the yarn on Tuesday and I had it in my hot little hands on Friday. Can't beat that!

Now I wrote Judith that I thought I'd have it done this weekend, but that hasn't happened. It probably would have helped if I'd have attached the first sleeve to four pentagon sides instead of three...But never mind. I was hoping it would be done to take to Madrona Fiber Arts, but with a sleeve and a half and collar to knit AND washing (since it's wool and a bit scratchy), I'm making no promises.

It's an odd duck. I took a picture of the first seven (of eleven) pentagons. Tom was taking pictures of a radio knob and saw the picture before I did. This was his impression. He's just silly.
 

Got yarn?

So Saturday, I obsessed about the Winter VK—mostly the multidirectional cable shrug, so I went the stash to see if I had any yarn at the weight and volume for the pattern. There was a time when I put stickers on a ball of a particular yarn to say how much I originally purchased and on the Tivoli Bainin Tweed, it said 15. "Yes! That would definitely be enough." I'm sure you know what's coming...

I trusted the sticker—not remembering using the yarn for anything. But after the first ball was used I went back to the stash and there were only 11 balls. (I'm clueless what I made, but having reorganized the stash 6 months ago—and scoured it Saturday—I know I must have done something.)

Yesterday, I had two options:
  1. Frog the thing and find another yarn
  2. Find 3 or 4 balls of this long discontinued yarn

This morning I came up with at third:
  3. Make it into a vest.

 


Based on my current rate of knitting, I think I have enough to make the body sections, but probably not enough for the sleeves or collar.

So my questions to you, dear readers are:

1. Do you have in your stash 3-4 balls of Tivoli Bainin Tweed in shade 745 that you might be willing to part with?

2. If I don't find the yarn should I:
  a. Frog it
  or
  b. Make a vest?

BTW If you're considering this, it really is an easy knit. Five triangles are created by K2togs and SSKs, and there are only two cable turns per triangle.

Update 01/15/07: Yarn found! Thanks to a Google search and Judith in the UK, who is trying to destash her store of Tivoli Bainin Tweed, I will have four extra balls and can finish what I started. And we both win because Judith's stash will be four balls lighter and ultimately, mine will go down by eleven.

Have you seen the latest VK?

For a couple of years, I didn't subscribe to Vogue Knitting because for a while I didn't see more than a pattern or two that appealed. But things have changed. The past two issues have been, well, dangerous. With so many projects I want to do, VK is only adding to the list.

Time being what it is, I probably won't get to all of the projects, but those I would seriously consider include:






I love the Norah Gaughan's multidirectional cable shrug. Next to lace, cables are my favorite things to knit. Add in the multidirectional aspect and I'm there!











I'm sure someone needs a nice wool coat—maybe even me.













Lace using fat yarn and a cute bolero to boot. Maybe that's my next instant gratification project.










I'd love to knit this for Tom, but I'd have to substitute a non-wool yarn for my always-warm husband to wear it. I'll have to do some research on this one.











Shrugs are just fun and the stripes on Shir Mor's version is very appealing.






Actually most of the patterns in this issue were really intriguing. Heck, if I were a proficient crocheter, I'd even make the A-line dress...but I'm not (and that's probably a good thing...).