Doll Sweaters

A question was asked of me, "where did I get the pattern" for the doll sweaters. Well, I am going to make a long answer to that question. I always start at KnittingFool.com for the Simple Worked-From-The-Top Raglan Pullover Pattern Calculated by the Percentage Method . I use the guage as listed on the ball band, or if using a smaller needle, do a swatch. Then measure the dolls chest, and punch in the numbers. This will give a basic sweater. Then I modify the sweater from there. Things like an open front for a cardigan and color changes. One thing to keep in mind is that you want to make it easy for the child to get the sweater over the dolls head. So one can make the colar opening a bit bigger, or keep it open for about an inch before joining in the round and later add a button or two. Or simply make sure to use a stretchy cast-on.

You can basically do anything with a small sweater, copy from a picture or from a full size sweater you have made for yourself. My Mom has a few good books where ideas have come from. The heart pattern came from a book by Charlene Schurch called Knits for Girls & Dolls. She also recently purchased Matching Knits for Girls & Dolls by Eileen Adler.

It really is simple, quick and fun! And of course, the doll doesn't care if there are mistakes, so I rarely frog, and I use these opportunities to learn more about knit patterns in general.

I have also used up left over yarn from many things like socks. In this picture you can see the sweater and shorts from left over sock yarn from Pat. The shorts are a bit too short, lol, but I really did run out of yarn on them! I practiced my first cabling on those shorts!

Hope that answers your question Paulettel. :-)

MomofTwins

Just an FYI, I got my Ravelry invite and I am MomofTwins. What a fount of information! Although a bit overwhelming ;-).

Another gift Done.

I Love these socks. They were so much fun to make that I look forward to making another pair for ME! As my husband says "It's all about you isn't it?" Ummmm Yeah! Except when it is all about the kids, oh yeah and you too. LOL. It is funny how children come into our lives and just take over, absorbing all of our energy, love, thoughts etc. Then I found knitting. I do quite a bit of knitting for my kids, but mostly knitting IS all about me. Well, I digress - back to the socks at hand.

Pattern: Wendy Knits Double Eyelet Sock pattern.

Yarn: KnitPicks Essential Tweed in colors Inca Gold and Flint.

Needles: One 2.5mm HiyaHiya 40" circular steel

Construction: Mostly followed the pattern, but changing colors for toe, heel and cuff. I also used my new favorite bind-off for a nice looking, stretchy cuff, the Kitchener cast off. Also called the Tubular Bind Off.

These are a matching gift for the lovely friend who is also getting the Endpaper Mitts. And the yarn went along way! I still have plenty left over for another pair of socks!

I wanted to do more Christmas knitting, but I think I am out of time, I am hopping on a plane for the UK in just 2 weeks. Although I think I will make a pair of Fetching and see if I think my Sister-in-law might like them, that would then be a nice little under the tree gift.

I also need to download some more books for my flight, any suggestions on good reads lately?

Have to share one funny comment: My daughter said " Ooh Mommy I like these, but I don't like the bubbly colors, can you make mine with just the brown one?" I must say I am not crazy about the tweedy look either. I loved working with the essential yarn, and have more to use, but I won't be tempted to buy more of the tweed style.

Mom's are GREAT!

What's better than a $70 swift? A Mom who collects antiques and is willing to share! Check out the way I wound this skein of yarn. COOL.

What an insane day. The girls had half day and I needed to pick up a few things at Whole Foods. I thought we could all go and have lunch together and shop. What a relaxing afternoon.....NOT! The crowds were incredible and grumpy as all get out. All errands ran today were faced with grumpy last minute holiday shoppers. Lastly, I dropped everyone at home and said "honey I need to pick up some scotch". And what a cheerful place to be (the liquor store)! It cheered me right up (without even a sip). I wonder what that says....

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the parade, the football, the food and of course family and friends!!!

It's SNOWING!

First snow of the season, I get all excited! I love the snow. It looks beautiful and refreshing. So you will see some flurries on the Endpaper Mitts. Pre-Blocked Mitts.

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang

Yarn: KnitPicks Essential Tweed in Inca Gold and Flint

Needles: 3.0mm (Addi turbo) & 3.25mm (knitpicks Harmony) circular.

Notes:

- I had a bit of trouble with the Italian cast-on, There must be a better way.

- Loved the tubular cast-off, especially after finding the best summarized instructions here.

- I think these came out a bit loose, but I think the person intended to receive them has slightly large hands than I.

- I think the pattern could be done with about 3 less repeats on the arm. I can't immagine trying to shove these long arm covers under the long sleeves I would be wearing. Although they do look elegant without sleeves.

- I would not recommend using a tweed to do color work. The tweedy nubs tend to take away from the design.

- All in all, I am quite happy with the end result of these! They seemed to take forever, as just 4 rows would take about an hour, but should be a nice gift.

Mom's Socks

Pattern: Plain foot, purled gusset, 2x2 ribbed leg

Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes. (Mom bought this at 60% off)

Needles: 3.0mm Addi Turbo 40"circular

Just your basic sock, but I bet these will be nice and warm!

Getting There

I am getting close to finishing some of my projects. I'm just so excited I had to post! I'll find time to get photos tomorrow, I finished my Mom's socks, and the Endpaper Mitts (although they still need blocking). Next up, the collar on my Blue Cardi and the ribbing on Mom's Cardi. Woo Hoo! Have a good night!

Nothing like a quick knit.....

to keep you going on the rest. I had a lot of fun making these leg warmers for Catherine. Next up, a pair for Sarah. Due to a shortage of models I had to make do with some card board strips. But you get the idea.

Pattern: A 4 stitch cable with P2, K2 ribbing.

Yarn: Rowan Classic Cashsoft DK in color, Bella Donna

Needle: US 4 HiyaHiya 40" circular needle

Construction: Two at a time, in the round, starting and ending with a 1x1 rib

Now if I can only finish those Endpaper Mitts, they are taking so very long!!!! But since they are targeted as a gift, and I don't have time to frog them and start something new....I better stick it out.

A free minute

The kids grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and ran out to the neighbor to see if they want to play. So I am grabbing this minute to blog my finished socks.

Pattern:Crest of the Wave (pg.101) from More Sensational Knitted Socks.

Yarn: striped using 1 skein KnitPicks Essential in Ash, and 1 skein ka hand-dyed in color Vintage (which I found at a LYS near me).

Needles: Foot and ankle US1 (2.25mm). Leg US1 1/2 (2.5mm).

Construction: Toe up. One circular needle.

This was my first attempt and "winging" my own socks. Learned a few things, but am quite happy with the end result. In the Wave pattern I used the first purl row as row1 and knit both colors together each time on this row. I like the effect. Alternated colors for each 12 row sequence carrying the colors up the side. My first try at a K2tog type of bind off. It is nice and stretchy, and has a nice look to it. Can be done more snuggly if necessary, but these socks hold themselves up in the snug patterning. Therefore a looser bindoff adds a nice contrasting look and feel.

I also changed the number of stitches. I often find the Schurch patterns to be too big for me, so I reduced the number of stitches to 60 (instead of 72). With a 12 stitch repeat this was fine. I rearanged the stitches on the top of the foot to fit in 30 stitches. Then when I got to the leg I moved stitches around to work 2 sets of repeats on the top and 3 on the bottom (circular needle). This worked perfectly and the fit is great.

Finally a completed project! Wave Socks.

Sometimes it just seems like so long between finished projects, and it has been about 3 weeks. I guess I just have too much going on at once. And trying to do at least a few rows on each when given the opportunity to knit, makes it seem slower. Also things are getting quite busy as a family. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas with so much preparation to do, as well as all the days off from school this time of year. This week the kids are in school full day Tues and Friday only. And half day on Wed & Thurs. Is the matter of fact the kids are demanding my attention NOW! So, I will have to present you with the sock details later tonight. Happy Remembrance Day!

SockWars and other knits

It's time to talk about my SockWars experience. Mom keeps asking me everyday, so here goes Mom.

I really enjoyed the hype of the sockwars prior to beginning. I enjoyed the excitement of knitting socks quickly. I really enjoyed the pattern and was quite pleased with the pair I made. I sent those of to my target, who like them. In the mean time I was getting "pressure" from my Assassin via anonymous messages, about that she was almost ready to mail my socks. The pressure spurred me on. But it was quite a while before I received my socks. Above you can see a photo of those socks. I'm not sure if you can see in the photo, but only one sock has a heel flap, one has the heel turned right at the ankle. The socks ended up being too small, there are knots in some quite uncomfortable spots, and the knitting technique used on creating the "scars" were not consistently used throughout the sock. I was not too pleased. But I do like the yarn and color, so I frogged them and will use them to make something nice for myself.

I have a couple of other projects I have started to work on. One is a pair of socks for me. The colors seem to be difficult to photograph, but they are grey striped with a lovely colorway of soft lavenders, greens, and yellows. I love them! And a patter from "More Sensational Knitted Socks"

I have also started a pair of Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang, and am having a hard time with them. First it took me about 3 trys to get the Italian Cast-on just right. Then I reallized that I was knitting the colors backwards *ribbit*. Then found that I had dropped a stitch *ribbit* etc. I seem to be doing a lot of frogging on this one. But I am determined to stick it out, especially after all the time and effort alread put in.

Oh, and one last photo, the socks I am making for my Mom, modelled by my husband. Coming along quite well now, just going to continue the leg until I run out of yarn.

Halloween sugar low...

Hope everyone had a great halloween. Ours was crazy but great fun. so crazy that we forgot to take photos. Then after the girls went to bed, my husband and I had a nice dinner, wine and ALL the left over candy. So needless to say I am exhausted today. Can't wait to go to sleep. Arghh another knitting night lost to fatigue. And today I spent all afternoon turning the heel on my grey socks (photo tomorrow), then realizing that the turn was off center so I frogged one heel turn and one heel flap + heel turn. Hmmmm probably should have done a nap today instead!

But for today's photo (left), I got some Elann.com Peruvian Highland Wool in the mail yesterday and swatched it last night. It is very nice to knit and doesn't seem itchy scratchy. Although, hard to tell, till actually worn. It made lovely cables and I am going to use this Butterscotch color for my cabled sweater (pictured right).