Yellow Ishbel

Much to my own surprise, I finished the yellow Ishbel in time to give it to my friend Jennifer at her graduation party yesterday. I chose the color yellow for my own reasons, but it doesn’t hurt that it fits with Project Spectrum too!

I’m really pleased with how it turned out, and happy that I could get it done so fast. I went to Sit-n-knit in Wethersfield on Wednesday on a mission to find the perfect yellow yarn. The ever-enthusiastic and helpful woman there helped me find all the yellow fingering and lace weight so I could choose the shade I liked best. Online yarn sources are great, but I was really glad I had an LYS nearby so I could talk to a live human.

Malabrigo sock (in Ochre) really was the perfect yellow yarn. There was enough variegation to make the stockinette portion interesting, but it didn’t detract from the lace portion at all. It also has great yardage – I was able to make the large size (turned out to be 61 inches across the top) and have 8 grams left over.

The yarn is also super soft and it blocked into the lace pattern nicely.

Speaking of blocking. What do you do when you cast off for a lace project less than two hours before you need to get in the car to go give it to the recipient?

I’m sure speed-blocking wouldn’t work for every project, but it worked for this one, anyway.

I’m really happy with how it turned out. No wonder it is such a popular pattern!

Exchequered

Pattern: Exchequered by Alice Bell
Made for: Caroline
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa 501

I started it in the fall and vowed to finish it as part of finish-or-frog. I did finish on February 1, as promised, but it has taken until now to set up a suitable photo shoot with my sister. I guess we’re both really busy.

I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I didn’t use the chart in the pattern because I didn’t feel like printing it, and I like that the two halves don’t match.

It ended up being about 6.5 feet long, long enough for her to wrap around her face as many times as she wants.

I think she likes it too!

Fishy!

Pattern: Fish Hat (Dead or Alive?)
Yarn: Noro Kureyon #150, Cascade 220 in Navy for fins and lips (buttons for eyes)
For: Elizabeth

My best friend from college, Elizabeth, is already in posession of a squid hat made by another knitting friend of hers.  So when I saw the Fish Hat pattern I immediately thought of her and knew I just had to make her one.  (I went to visit her and present the hat this weekend, but sadly forgot my camera, which is why you see it modeled by little old me).

I haven’t seen any other fish hats in Noro Kureyon, which frankly shocks me, since I found the yarn to be so perfect for it.

When Elizabeth put the hat on, she remarked that the fins made it look like a Roman helmet. I didn’t really see it, but when I saw the (fairly ugly) photo below I thought it looked familiar.

You be the judge.

How to darn an elephant

You remember Elijah.

Eek, what’s that on his side?

A hole!

I noticed it when we were doing the photo shoot with Otto.  My mom and I were horrified, so I took him home for repairs.  I’m not sure what caused the hole (moths?) but it was about three stitches wide and five rows tall.  It look me a few weeks to work up the courage, but I finally fixed it.

First, I duplicate stitched over seven or so stitches two rows down from the hole and started working up, to shore up any areas that might have been weakened.   When I got to the hole, I left loops for the three missing stitches that I needed to recreate.

Then I tightened the stitches over a needle.

I continued duplicate stitching two or three stitches past the hole, then went up to the next row, making new loops in the stitches on the needle and then tightening those stitches on the needle. I went on like this until I had closed the gap, then grafted the loose stitches back into the body.

It left a bit of a scar, but I think it’s not too noticeable.

I’m so happy that Elijah survived the surgery!

Otto

Pattern: Otto by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Cascade 220, approx. 3/5 of a skein
Made for: Mom
Worked on: January 3, 2009 – January 6, 2009

My mom’s birthday is this week, so I made Otto for her. For some reason I always end up doing toys in last-minute marathons, I think because I underestimate how long they take. I finished it though!

Otto was a hit, and now Elijah has a buddy!

It’s really amazing how much the cuteness is enhanced with a little leftover black yarn. I embroidered the face when I was still knitting the legs, because I thought it looked a little creepy without a face.

That worked out just fine, but it made me feel a little bad to stab him in the head as I was sewing on his ears

ouch!

As Ysolda notes, Otto’s legs are constructed differently from Elijah’s. Otto’s legs are a continuation of the body, and Elijah’s are picked up and knit from his rear end. You can see the difference here:

I felt very rude taking this picture.

Now that it’s been a couple of days, I think that the legs were equally fiddly to make, and that there is really no way around it. The effect of the legs is different, and if I made Otto again I might use the Elijah legs.

As you can see, Elijah’s legs are floppy, and Otto’s legs are stiff.

As a result, Otto can stand if propped up. The downside is that he can only sit if propped up, and Elijah can sit on his own. I tried to stuff Otto’s thighs very thinly so it would make it easier for him to sit, but that was nowhere near as effective as the natural hinge formed by picking up Elijah’s legs in a triangle arrangement. Depending on your intended use for one of Ysolda’s knit toys, I might suggest swapping the leg styles.

I salute Ysolda on yet another clever and adorable knit toy, and I would highly recommend it.

Vestee

Pattern: Vestee by Marjorie Brigham
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Bunny Hop Print in “Blue Jeans” (3 skeins)
Made for: Baby Nate
Worked on: December 13, 2008-December 24, 2008

I finished it before Christmas, but between all the snow we’ve had and leaving town for a few days, I didn’t have a chance to deliver it until last night. Baby Nate is not a year old yet, but he’s pretty big so I knit the 12-month size. It fits him perfectly! I’m very pleased with the fit, since I don’t have much experience at all with babies and I was flying blind, having not seen him for a couple of months.

I think the yarn works well with the pattern. The texture still shows up, and the mottled look will hide stains better than a solid color would have.

There was a tiny bit of pooling, but nothing major. I’m very happy with how it turned out.

Back from Illinois

I had a very nice trip to visit my grandmother in Illinois. When I was there, I spotted the full-grown Hemlock Ring blanket in its natural habitat.

This prompted me to ask Grandma to do the obligatory hand-off photo with me, since I was not there to actually hand it off in April.

Grandma made me a beautiful basket for Christmas. The vertical pieces are a really neat blend of green, pink, purple and blue.

It has one handle and a hole in the bottom. Any guesses as to what it’s for?

I couldn’t guess right either. It’s for hanging next to where you knit, and putting a ball of yarn inside so it doesn’t roll around and get tangled. Isn’t that neat? I’m not sure where I want to put it yet, but I’ll probably put it near the TV since the other basket she gave me is in my other knitting location.

It was a very nice visit, and between the travel and the relaxing at Grandma’s house I was able to do six inches of the bottom ribbing for my own Pinstripe Pullover. I am snowed in today, which is perfect for finishing a couple more things in 2008 and working on that year-in-review post.

Ahhhh…

I had my last exam on Thursday night, so (assuming I passed them all) I’m halfway through law school.  Craziness.

It started snowing early yesterday afternoon, and there is nothing more delightful after exams than being snowed in with nothing to do.  It’s also very pretty.

I’ve been knitting, of course. My friends had a baby in July, so I started a Vestee to give him for Christmas.  I bought the yarn the week he was born, but I had a hard time deciding what to make with it.  Now that it’s winter, a sweater would be appropriate.  He’s a big baby, so I’m just making the 1-year size with the knowledge that he’ll fit into it soon enough.

A couple of weeks ago, some exam-induced fever dream made me think that it would be a good idea to start Cathode.

I knit the ribbed collar part at the top of the photo at least two years ago, probably three. I bought the yarn (Artful Yarns Circus) at Woolcott & Co. the first year we lived in Cambridge. It was way way way on sale, and my very favorite colors, so I figured I’d find a good use for it. I started Cathode at some point, and in a conversation with my husband the words “muppet pelt” came up, so I decided to figure out something else. It sat idle for years, but as I said, I decided to start it again. I’m not sure how long I would want that collar part to be, so this time I started with a provisional cast-on so I can add the collar later.

I tried it on, and it isn’t terrible, so I might actually finish it this time. Once I’m done with my holiday knitting I’ll find a way to pull it off with flair.

Quick Holiday FO

I made these Christmas ornaments for some friends of mine.  Aren’t they cute?

These friends had a “naked tree” holiday party, and they asked us each to bring an ornament to start their collection. When I got home from my Evidence exam on Wednesday, I didn’t want to study, I wanted to knit. So I decided to make them some ornaments.

I got this far on Wednesday night, leaving the couch only when absolutely necessary:

As you can see, they were sort of lumpy and had huge holes where I turned the heel. The embroidery really makes it, I think.

Sheldon

The Hemlock Ring blanket was for my grandmother, and the trusted couriers who delivered it were my parents. While they were in Illinois they also visited my cousin and her new baby. I made a Sheldon for him, and they delivered that also.

I’m surprised that it took me this long to make Sheldon, considering the fact that I read Ruth’s blog regularly and I’ve made my share of knitted toys. It’s a great pattern, and I would encourage anyone to make it. I’m particularly impressed at how the relatively easy pattern on the shell captures the look of a real turtle shell.

I used Mission Falls 1824 cotton, which was a good choice. I think the rustic texture is particularly suited to a toy reptile, and I had plenty of it around the house. It did come out a bit bigger than called for as a result, but that was not a problem.

Thanks Ruth, it’s a great pattern.  I hope baby Walter likes it!