tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176297492024-03-07T19:53:16.348-05:00Crisis of PraxisWhere plan and action in creativity meetAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.comBlogger449125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-19677016614029219322016-02-05T12:43:00.000-05:002016-02-05T12:47:02.466-05:00How to Turn Root Beer into a Sock in 4 Easy Steps<b>Step 1:</b><br />
Drink root beer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvobOTJtV7canum1JCtgXVkV1Wd8VLaxYIMTpLnEbdEL6gZeXOmKqW2O0ncIh4NDqL6m8H_wPm9p-nsXq11riixTMm3-qLyW3wlfWwySCXfhhK8qCh-s0i1FKIapTLFN_w2Ugnw/s1600/WP_20160204_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvobOTJtV7canum1JCtgXVkV1Wd8VLaxYIMTpLnEbdEL6gZeXOmKqW2O0ncIh4NDqL6m8H_wPm9p-nsXq11riixTMm3-qLyW3wlfWwySCXfhhK8qCh-s0i1FKIapTLFN_w2Ugnw/s400/WP_20160204_001.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<b>Step 2:</b><br />
Place old sock on root beer bottle.<br />
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<b>Step 3:</b><br />
Darn old sock.<br />
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<b>Step 4:</b><br />
Admire completed sock. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-67323566358992079522016-01-22T10:38:00.000-05:002016-01-22T10:38:29.818-05:00Book Review - MacKenzie's Magic by Debra DierI wrote a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show?id=1482157101" target="_blank">quickie book review </a>over coffee this morning. I hope you enjoy! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-16965109210953202672016-01-14T13:03:00.000-05:002016-01-14T13:03:39.619-05:00Vintage Thursday - The Owl CableFor the past couple years I have noticed a surge in the popularity of knitted <a href="http://www.chemknits.com/2012/03/search-for-free-owl-knitting-patterns.html" target="_blank">owls</a>, especially cable owls. Recently I was asked to make <a href="http://www.knitculture.com/our-blog/wise-old-owl-hats/" target="_blank">this owl cable hat</a>, but the cable owl is so versatile and easy that it's found in sweaters, mittens, gloves... just about anything. But, this being Vintage Thursday, I feel compelled to point out that (like many clever motifs) the owl cable is not a new innovation.<br />
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Enter Workbasket and Home Arts Magazine (Number 3, Volume 37, December 1971):<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBTy5n12Xj77ECvyrV_tR3DExPyYywKqctAlyAVR6Czsy2GuO3RBT_jPH-N3pCAY-pXYNm4D2mCXBJkxefG9AZRptejO1IxMb6R86gEkOQVAr1M-hf8VO0t_gFJYPcmeuURMlOg/s1600/DSCN4357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBTy5n12Xj77ECvyrV_tR3DExPyYywKqctAlyAVR6Czsy2GuO3RBT_jPH-N3pCAY-pXYNm4D2mCXBJkxefG9AZRptejO1IxMb6R86gEkOQVAr1M-hf8VO0t_gFJYPcmeuURMlOg/s400/DSCN4357.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This volume has been well-loved</td></tr>
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I received a slew of old Workbasket magazines from my grandmother a couple years back, mostly for the early part of the 1970's. They are a real study in changing domestic fashion, addressing everything to husbands making comments about your thighs being like saddlebags, to growing violets and making granny square ponchos. (I'm definitely going to write more about them in the future, especially the granny square fad.) One of the interesting things about this issue is the Owl Snowsuit, which my grandmother has noted in her scrupulously neat handwriting on the tattered cover.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLVjtgvZozys0ArAPnHM52BJwfiqURlOkDjfkA6fJWFBCADIxuyJ8tEZMS3zJZj9XI8m_tBOCVbFGTQyLhunwctWVQPYjit24A7h0TrhI8o8htwMOpqE8m-fDyfgYrLdTo3bo1g/s1600/DSCN4351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLVjtgvZozys0ArAPnHM52BJwfiqURlOkDjfkA6fJWFBCADIxuyJ8tEZMS3zJZj9XI8m_tBOCVbFGTQyLhunwctWVQPYjit24A7h0TrhI8o8htwMOpqE8m-fDyfgYrLdTo3bo1g/s400/DSCN4351.JPG" width="270" /></a></div>
Do you see those googly eyes? Yes, those are owl googly eyes!<br />
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Unfortunately, this pattern only comes in size 1, 2 and 3. But there's the sweater AND mittens with owls! I'm really tempted to make the mittens, but with a modification: instead of sport weight yarn on US #3 dpns, I'd use worsted weight yarn, just like the plan mitten pattern from 1944 I use calls for to keep the chill out. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-72400526756064282252016-01-12T11:09:00.000-05:002016-01-12T11:09:13.830-05:00Buy Handmade! (VERY Handmade!)Recently I have begun collaborating with a friend of mine who dyes and spins yarn. You may remember her - she was the same person who comissioned me to knit<a href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-problem-with-orange.html"> I don't know how many</a> earflap hats from her handspun yarn one Christmas. We've taken it one step further and are selling things now at craft fairs and on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TantivyHandmade">etsy</a>.<br />
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I know quite a few people make a living or augment their income with selling hand knit or crocheted goods. I am trying to be one of them! But what Wendy(for that is my cohort's name) and I are doing takes that a step beyond. Wendy does not buy her yarn, then dye it. She spins it herself on an actual spinning wheel, in an actual crowded and chaotic craft room, not very unlike my own craft room. She has a hand cranked wheel for carding wool that may some day give her tennis elbow. She stinks up her place soaking and washing and drying fleeces. When we say we are making these things by hand, we mean from the sheep to the shelf.<br />
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Wendy usually gets fleeces from <a href="http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/cvm">Romeldale sheep</a>, an American breed which is critically endangered. I even have the<i> names</i> of the sheep she gets the fleeces from SOMEWHERE in my craft area. They produce a very soft and springy wool that dyes up beautifully, as you can see in the image below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BgYY-b12aqZZASJ0uymhPgVBvj3v8wOGZ8B2Mo0HYP0wyXJ8cYFmSEDIM5KzcfrRCyuJTxqsBq1VhB4YnmPxU3OyekhwYCtFXdtv4wMkvMk_V7oww2xLI4GLMmbhQaY_mEqUyA/s1600/DSCN4255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BgYY-b12aqZZASJ0uymhPgVBvj3v8wOGZ8B2Mo0HYP0wyXJ8cYFmSEDIM5KzcfrRCyuJTxqsBq1VhB4YnmPxU3OyekhwYCtFXdtv4wMkvMk_V7oww2xLI4GLMmbhQaY_mEqUyA/s400/DSCN4255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sometimes want to keep this hat for myself.</td></tr>
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Some of the fleece Wendy uses is what we call Mystery Wool. A friend or an acquaintance says, "Oh? You spin? I have a fleece for you!" and then the next thing she knows, she has a fleece with an unknown provenance, with characteristics yet to be discovered. And other times she just happens on a good deal.<br />
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On my end, it's a bit of a challenge. I never know what yarn I will be working with next. The gauge changes, the texture changes, the style changes, according to Wendy's whim. This means everything is unique, and that I am really never knitting or crocheting the same thing twice. It keeps me on my toes, and I am constantly developing patterns which incorporate versatility to keep up with the yarn.<br />
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But what does this all mean for you, Gentle Reader? It means you can get handspun, hand knit/crocheted stuff from us! Stuff that will last! Stuff that is so removed from big box store yarn that it doesn't even know what a box is! Imagine!<br />
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Do check out our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TantivyHandmade">etsy shop</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-65292983318833646042015-11-18T09:29:00.002-05:002015-11-18T09:29:53.485-05:00Earflap Hat - ModifiedA while back I made a plethora of earflap hats based on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-basic-bulky-ear-flap-hat">Very Basic Bulky Ear-Flap Hat</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/anne-carroll-gilmour">Anne Carroll Gilmour</a>, and now that winter is coming (yet again!) I am revisiting the pattern. I was digging through my stash and I found a ball of yarn that has been sitting around forever and decided to make use of it. A couple people asked about the pattern, so here's what I did:<br />
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<u><b>Pink Toddler Ear-Flap Hat</b></u><br />
<b>Materials: </b><br />
Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) - 70% wool/30% soy - 1 ball (100 m/110 yds) "Natural Geranium"<br />
1 set of US #8 (5 mm) dpns<br />
H (5 mm) crochet hook<br />
Darning needle<br />
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Gauge: 4.75 sts = 1" and 6 rows = 1" (4 sts = 4 cm and 5 rows = 2 cm) <br />
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The pattern I modified to get this hat can be found as free download at Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-basic-bulky-ear-flap-hat">here</a>. I am not going to reiterate what it says, just note my modifications. Please reference it for clarification.<br />
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<u>Earflaps:</u><br />
I followed the instructions for the earflaps EXCEPT that I worked it in garter stitch, not stocking stitch. This makes it noticeably shorter. If I were to knit this version again, I might increase every 3rd row, rather than every 2nd, to make them longer.<br />
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<u>Brim:</u><br />
I did an e-loop cast on of 10 sts for the back and 20 sts for the front, just as the directions called out for the smallest size. (Total: 64 sts) I joined to work in the round and did 4 ridges of garter stitch.<br />
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<u>Body:</u><br />
After the garter stitch brim, I switched to stocking stitch and worked it until the hat was 4 inches (10 cm) deep, rather than the 5 inches called out in the original pattern. I based this measurement on the sizing in patterns I have for toddler beanies.<br />
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<u>Crown:</u><br />
64 sts divides by 8 nicely, so I decreased by *k6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round, then knit one round, and *k5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round, etc. I decreased in this manner (every other row) until 8 sts remained, then I used the darning needle to cinch the stitches together.<br />
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<u>Finishing:</u><br />
Using the crochet hook, I joined the yarn at the bottom of an ear flap (where the ties will hide it). Since the earflaps are begun by casting on 3 sts, I made the 1st and the last stitches like corners, ie. I 2c in one st, 1c in the middle, then 2c in the third. Everywhere else I just worked a single crochet (c). The ties were made by cutting 6 strands of yarn approximately twice the length of my arm. I connected them to the earflaps by hiooking the middle point of the yarn through the center single crochet (the one between the two 2c's, or "corners") and making a slip knot. I added one to either side on the corners in the same manner, and then braided them together, being careful to keep an even tension on preventing the strands from twisting. This produces a nice flat braid. I simply tied a knot at the end when it seemed long enough, and then trimmed the loose ends.<br />
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I blocked it, and that was that.<br />
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If you have ay questions, please leave a comment. I hope you enjoyed this explanation! <br />
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<u><b><br /></b></u>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-46388488111937322542015-11-04T14:57:00.000-05:002015-11-04T14:57:05.250-05:00More Fair Isle-ish<div abp="40">
I find Fair Isle-type knitting fairly addictive (no pun intended), hence the hat below.</div>
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<a abp="770" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7AIqXeqTNTOSslvR1DycuXcCa0pJAxn7lUZy_ytWAzz0zdKmtuF4d0QPnyn5gDRPPxuGdHcOtv31ybVw5-USzNO7YwRU8uWbM9lJkSmZ875fpsYjDZQXP579eUCP7nQHXreFBw/s1600/il_570xN_861848213_9lbm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="771" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7AIqXeqTNTOSslvR1DycuXcCa0pJAxn7lUZy_ytWAzz0zdKmtuF4d0QPnyn5gDRPPxuGdHcOtv31ybVw5-USzNO7YwRU8uWbM9lJkSmZ875fpsYjDZQXP579eUCP7nQHXreFBw/s400/il_570xN_861848213_9lbm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's a toddler hat with added ear flaps. Do I have a toddler? No. But it's so cute!</div>
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Generally speaking, I like working in fine gauge yarn because I find it more economical. About $20 of yarn will keep me busy quite some time, especially if there is more than one color. </div>
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<a abp="774" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF3ecpZlbCXpaIq3sXeMf3nujiq_rgTk-hg1-auF6GlFvVo6p9TgtEZWD7v2_7ixplf0jPEhf1RtOUNZZdf-OeToIn0vsS5SPreax-TVGEDbzaRnwJrEXbbPba-WkYLx2btKevA/s1600/il_570xN_861848385_n6tf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="775" border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF3ecpZlbCXpaIq3sXeMf3nujiq_rgTk-hg1-auF6GlFvVo6p9TgtEZWD7v2_7ixplf0jPEhf1RtOUNZZdf-OeToIn0vsS5SPreax-TVGEDbzaRnwJrEXbbPba-WkYLx2btKevA/s400/il_570xN_861848385_n6tf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And I just love how it looks. You'd think I'd make one for myself, wouldn't you? Well... I've been thinking about it. I lost my favorite winter hat (a Peruvian beanie in alpaca I got at the thrift store for $1. I know, I know... I do all this knitting and wear something from a thrift store!) and started a replacement during the early spring, which is now sitting in one of my work baskets, totally neglected. It's an ACTUAL Fair Isle hat, in ACTUAL Shetland yarn, but... I have to frog it back because I changed my mind about one of the color combinations. But I'll no doubt be getting on it soon, because winter will eventually arrive, and I am on the East Coast.</div>
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<strong abp="124">In Other News</strong> </div>
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It looks like I will be getting off my <a abp="126" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tukas">tukas</a> and doing a table at <a abp="182" href="http://gowestcraftfest.blogspot.com/">Go West!</a> this December 13th. Yay, me!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-16143743429121412562015-11-02T10:32:00.002-05:002015-11-02T10:32:49.393-05:00Pika-who?<div abp="84">
I hope everybody had a swell Halloween! As usual, V. got thrown into a last minute costume, a character of her own choosing:</div>
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Well, ok, this did take a little planning, because I ordered the fleece weeks ago. But I DID wait until Saturday afternoon (a.k.a. Halloween Day) to sew it.</div>
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<a abp="808" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEM2XmHG-4ZOEuRAM1ja4IddQd303ZIl4oKqQJnKX3eQnCfPDKAWBqgvaAJ3B1pcw_Jd2qVP1SQHcT9Ci8RrGttxsQ3FFixdffKvKU3n2rcp31-3jX8R4M5_e8gk4GJg4YOEu_A/s1600/11249403_10207850999531599_4669861711913321940_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="809" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEM2XmHG-4ZOEuRAM1ja4IddQd303ZIl4oKqQJnKX3eQnCfPDKAWBqgvaAJ3B1pcw_Jd2qVP1SQHcT9Ci8RrGttxsQ3FFixdffKvKU3n2rcp31-3jX8R4M5_e8gk4GJg4YOEu_A/s400/11249403_10207850999531599_4669861711913321940_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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I based it loosely on the Jaguar costume she wore last year, but instead of a hood with a face, I made her a hat with just the ears. The ears and tail were fabric covered pizza box, and the only closure was some Velcro under the chin. All in all, I think it turned out great, and she got praise everywhere she went. Naturally, I was in medieval clothing (yet again), but instead of wearing my 1400's Flemish clothing and posing as a plague victim, I wore my new <a abp="97" href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2015/10/getting-medieval.html">toque</a> with my new blue wool dress (no photos yet, but soon!). Last year I was asked several times if I was a zombie Pilgrim. Um... no.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-62493706954167175092015-10-29T12:37:00.003-04:002015-10-29T12:41:47.867-04:00My Camera Hates Me<div abp="52">
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I knit V. a really lovely, simple cardigan recently, and just got the buttons on it this weekend. It's from a 1965 pattern for a girl's raglan sweater in fingering. However, as the title of the post says, my camera hates me. Here is a terrible photo of the book:</div>
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<div abp="53" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="54" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMehRjxrqvUXRPyqEL19RjshF9RDvs5VmfLhXrSBog5n0iQ4IFD67xhKVpQ0SoEgThDCe7RG3RHy8pqY-fAUZbOf_n8CWHB22tsU_DxVwN_dit9GTcUPKBBqWwtwhW0_1PkGQRA/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="55" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMehRjxrqvUXRPyqEL19RjshF9RDvs5VmfLhXrSBog5n0iQ4IFD67xhKVpQ0SoEgThDCe7RG3RHy8pqY-fAUZbOf_n8CWHB22tsU_DxVwN_dit9GTcUPKBBqWwtwhW0_1PkGQRA/s400/114.JPG" width="306" /></a></div>
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And here is a terrible photo of the pattern in the book:</div>
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<a abp="787" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholRLM-k-umze42jT1Czv0fG_RE9NWIzrM8bVmq1zseZNreCmaZP-zpVurILOCDonYsbyhqlpCb3F1UoRJc1On-xr_Ao6cPBtYyFCRJww_aZm5K-3MTL0Qjqf-SPDGvkTVQF71nA/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="788" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholRLM-k-umze42jT1Czv0fG_RE9NWIzrM8bVmq1zseZNreCmaZP-zpVurILOCDonYsbyhqlpCb3F1UoRJc1On-xr_Ao6cPBtYyFCRJww_aZm5K-3MTL0Qjqf-SPDGvkTVQF71nA/s400/115.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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And here is a truly horrendous photo of my finished project:</div>
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<a abp="63" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DCaBYdDFxK58gBtqNkAEvCHIS43_LZZQ7HvAcu1rvhIRX5n2hj8P8g5iM5daH6NNzbVfg6y1sqvWnTb77GMrp0z3UL1oEJrg5GY0dP6eIC-lPlhT77csuAE2E6pXFRC6pCQG4g/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="64" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DCaBYdDFxK58gBtqNkAEvCHIS43_LZZQ7HvAcu1rvhIRX5n2hj8P8g5iM5daH6NNzbVfg6y1sqvWnTb77GMrp0z3UL1oEJrg5GY0dP6eIC-lPlhT77csuAE2E6pXFRC6pCQG4g/s400/141.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I swear, this really is a nice sweater, but I'm experiencing a profound level of <a abp="66" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistentialism">resistantalism</a>. Photos I took last week on this camera (set to Auto) came out just fine (you know, if you like pumpkin patches):</div>
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<a abp="136" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8Eauo5oqHddSYYIYHlpfCvQAgvcsvkxHxW_K-qTzjLxyr3ymiVoA0EeaO1DoUI5oisGzAn9lpJfbVMQKn1IWJP4jxQyEI-f2W__20La0qRJyXPvVc1QTpzUTeHKM0AIi7zEJqA/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="137" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8Eauo5oqHddSYYIYHlpfCvQAgvcsvkxHxW_K-qTzjLxyr3ymiVoA0EeaO1DoUI5oisGzAn9lpJfbVMQKn1IWJP4jxQyEI-f2W__20La0qRJyXPvVc1QTpzUTeHKM0AIi7zEJqA/s400/130.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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But try to photograph a sweater I spent about two weeks knitting? Noooo. </div>
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But anyway, here are the fun facts:</div>
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<strong abp="226">Child's Raglan Sweater (1965)</strong></div>
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Needles: US #1 & #2 </div>
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Yarn: <a abp="228" href="http://www.knitpicks.com/">KnitPicks</a> <a abp="232" href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Palette_Yarn__D5420132.html">Palette</a> in Navy (about 4.5 balls)</div>
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Notions: 7 5/8" navy plastic buttons</div>
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I could not tell you the gauge, because I did not check. Probably about 7 sts = 1 inch in the stocking stitch body, which was on US #2 needles, because that's a typical size for me to use and it usually runs about that. </div>
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I'm fairly certain I have almost this exact same pattern in another vintage book that is seamless, but I was too impatient to dig it out. (By the time I did, V. would probably have been size 7, instead of size 6.) V. complained at first try-on that it was itchy, so I gave it a good soak in conditioner, which seems so far to have solved that problem because she hasn't complained again. I ironed on a name tag I usually put on all her outwear so that the sweater won't get lost at school. This is a real problem. Six year olds are not known for remembering where they put their cardigan, much less anything else, unless you don't want them to have it. Last year she had a store bought navy cardigan very similar to this one which she lost on the first day of wearing it. This cardigan cost me roughly the same, if not a little less, than the store bought one, so I am not losing it. </div>
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I actually like this pattern well enough that I'm considering making her one in another color, such as Kelly Green or yellow. A simple pattern like this has a lot of potential, because if I wanted, I could make it Fair Isle, or anything else I want. We'll see. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-86948819509334277902015-10-28T12:03:00.001-04:002015-10-28T12:03:09.274-04:00Slip Slip Skull Fingerless Gloves Sale!<div abp="154">
Halloween is almost upon us again! To celebrate, I'm running a <a abp="218" href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slip-stitch-skull-fingerless-gloves">10% Halloween Sale on my Slip Stitch Skull Fingerless Gloves</a> pattern. </div>
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<a abp="107" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc864j-9oO4ym7DiYEV6Ikphwr6MCRo1UcTLqI5-vrm1w3OGriSwWUd2B4LAFbc_IBiaUx2HMYOfZazYsePUTlY331X92xHmU8IQMuLnlkaOGUGxzUe75c1UZN0yPUT07YHa4Ihg/s1600/skull1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="108" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc864j-9oO4ym7DiYEV6Ikphwr6MCRo1UcTLqI5-vrm1w3OGriSwWUd2B4LAFbc_IBiaUx2HMYOfZazYsePUTlY331X92xHmU8IQMuLnlkaOGUGxzUe75c1UZN0yPUT07YHa4Ihg/s400/skull1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div abp="109" style="text-align: center;">
<strong abp="288">Slip Stitch Fingerless Gloves specs:</strong></div>
<div abp="109" style="text-align: center;">
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One Size Fits Most</div>
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Needles: US #2 (2.75 mm) dpns</div>
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Yarn: light fingering</div>
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Gauge: 11 sts = 1 inch in skull pattern</div>
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<a abp="111" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwiVe8tKRWwH4FvVJl1KJwvi-Y4WAKisfLO0_W3R7jgP_pvqc4QK79Jcasw8jOqQBaj2MWwtG6kMneDQy1_IrvEfPLpT26kgFrcToo49ovJgCasIORShyphenhyphen6_j-HTYN9cTklYMRAg/s1600/skull2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="112" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwiVe8tKRWwH4FvVJl1KJwvi-Y4WAKisfLO0_W3R7jgP_pvqc4QK79Jcasw8jOqQBaj2MWwtG6kMneDQy1_IrvEfPLpT26kgFrcToo49ovJgCasIORShyphenhyphen6_j-HTYN9cTklYMRAg/s400/skull2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div abp="164">
I have updated the pattern this year to include written instructions for the skulls as well as the chart.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-92205112028773448302015-10-26T12:42:00.000-04:002015-10-26T12:47:51.656-04:00Say What -?<div abp="182" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Belding Bros. & Co.'s <a abp="184" href="http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/BeldingSelfInstructor.pdf">The Self-Instructor in Silk Knitting, Crocheting and Embroidery</a> (1886) gives very precise instructions as to what method to use when casting on. It is, according to them, "the only one admissible in silk." They are as follows:</div>
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<div abp="186" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="187" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZM38XEDlsULcMzZbdjZ8JpCWlrFpJt3dxsAM5Hp4ddVfQT_6ACzXIZRILCeR-nzsZVhf8Q5Uc_9nYwUm0jg5WW-y8Re7jfrFWm4lKJz0PWyMLERQbuWXYEcjypII_uHrgjQZhw/s1600/Capture1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="188" border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZM38XEDlsULcMzZbdjZ8JpCWlrFpJt3dxsAM5Hp4ddVfQT_6ACzXIZRILCeR-nzsZVhf8Q5Uc_9nYwUm0jg5WW-y8Re7jfrFWm4lKJz0PWyMLERQbuWXYEcjypII_uHrgjQZhw/s400/Capture1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a abp="191" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLLRv42j1sp5jb2vIZ-FPw9l0IOMoKpcZB4bT52xvPc9s_gvoOkAO3HtHKTLq96AqYS_x761BFl0vjcQgEHsFlNo1H2H7RVrBm_cNDfalTzCEywYRl75JB15pwBcQJEzfv_akfQ/s1600/Capture2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="192" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLLRv42j1sp5jb2vIZ-FPw9l0IOMoKpcZB4bT52xvPc9s_gvoOkAO3HtHKTLq96AqYS_x761BFl0vjcQgEHsFlNo1H2H7RVrBm_cNDfalTzCEywYRl75JB15pwBcQJEzfv_akfQ/s400/Capture2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, now, that was truly illuminating, wasn't it?</div>
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After a bit of pondering (wherein I probably formed brand new frown lines), I deduced that it is very likely the <a abp="270" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waUELvSlU3M#t=153">Knit Cast On</a> method. If I am wrong... well, I hope I'm not.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-43185071324417020832015-10-23T12:43:00.002-04:002015-10-23T12:45:57.429-04:00Hodgepodge Hat<div abp="660">
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I had this idea in my head for a while to make a tam style hat out of mitered squares. Sort of like the <a abp="745" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=knitting+mitered+square+blanket&biw=1354&bih=586&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAkQ_AUoA2oVChMI4vvjtILZyAIVCXs-Ch3VXQs9">ubiquitous mitered square blanket</a>, but in a hat. And in the round. It seemed like a viable solution to small scraps of yarn, or a pathological need to do intensive knitting. The opportunity finally came along when I scratched a baby sweater project in Noro fingering weight yarn. </div>
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This was the result:</div>
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<table abp="794" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="795">
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<a abp="662" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28Tnhc8VJuicCHAeucJZ_v5cmXF0gBGu8UwhHkoN19nTaaMxtW_FcUu9M3CMVCwdnrCX5QiwJP1GHAkhMMkyP0CSIpP61gMdQ2UhqrCqNvcG424PRANSIgqjEP_kwRhMDHOEq0g/s1600/1515050_10202828497692192_530178060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="663" border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28Tnhc8VJuicCHAeucJZ_v5cmXF0gBGu8UwhHkoN19nTaaMxtW_FcUu9M3CMVCwdnrCX5QiwJP1GHAkhMMkyP0CSIpP61gMdQ2UhqrCqNvcG424PRANSIgqjEP_kwRhMDHOEq0g/s400/1515050_10202828497692192_530178060_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr abp="801"><td abp="802" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="803">
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My blurriness is in direct proportion to my <strike abp="1234">fussiness</strike> fuzziness.</div>
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<div abp="804">
<div abp="1236">
I call it my Hodgepodge Hat, not because it resembles <a abp="873" href="http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/hodge-podge_(soup)">mutton soup</a>, but because "Patchwork" would have been too trite. </div>
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I began by knitting the brim, and once it was long enough,, I then worked the mitered squares along live stitches until I'd come full circle. At the last square of each round I had to pick up the edge stitches of the first square to join it. This became a very fussy thing to do once I was decreasing for the crown. I was really wondering what I was thinking in doing it this way. Originally, I was going to write the pattern up, but after I was done I swept that right out of my mind. Plus, I think the ribbing is too loose!</div>
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<table abp="664" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="665">
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<a abp="669" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFizAZcFblnFFigeiqcJNthd6MNDAHqkiqFzyV8xHDl7UrkzwiDwbR05EEjAyRA_5p54HuFw3pdI0bqmcP5TUX0-0dCYFwkeXeiZA0G41B9GlKI7k5wYoIwtY4AUCG7yF3MIrGA/s1600/1511171_10202828506692417_1348828910_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="670" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFizAZcFblnFFigeiqcJNthd6MNDAHqkiqFzyV8xHDl7UrkzwiDwbR05EEjAyRA_5p54HuFw3pdI0bqmcP5TUX0-0dCYFwkeXeiZA0G41B9GlKI7k5wYoIwtY4AUCG7yF3MIrGA/s640/1511171_10202828506692417_1348828910_n.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
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<tr abp="671"><td abp="672" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="673">
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An excellent view of my Sherpa-wear</div>
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But all-in-all, I think it's a nice hat. Maybe I'll knit it again someday in a sensible manner that is easy to convey to others in writing, as opposed to a video of knitting contortions.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-66100551103638336492015-10-22T07:13:00.002-04:002015-10-22T07:13:46.850-04:00Getting MedievalWhat do you do over the weekend when you don't feel like knitting?<br />
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Do you say... make medieval headgear?<br />
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No?<br />
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Well... ok. But I do.<br />
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<b><u>The Toque</u></b><br />
Some time back - a year or so ago - I started a medieval garb project that was centered around the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1200%E2%80%931300_in_European_fashion">1200-1300's</a>. I had a wimple, but no period appropriate gown to go with it, and in my quest for something that looked comfortable and simple, I settled upon the <a href="http://www.caitlinsclothing.com/cyclas.html">cyclas</a>. A <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/gbertholet/medieval-garb-sideless-surcote-cyclaspellote/">cyclas</a> is basically a loose gown with no sleeves, worn over an under gown, which is probably worn over another gown, over a chemise. (No central heating!) The appeal - aside from the ease of construction - was the ease. I could smuggle monkeys, or a band of jugglers, under a cyclas, because it doesn't have a fitted waist. This is a plus, because nothing is truly sadder than being five pounds too heavy to wear a gown you hand stitched, and only finding out right before you intend to wear it, except, of course, then having to wear the wrong headdress or hat altogether.<br />
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The most popular hat for this period in Western Europe seems to be (aside from the coif) the dubiously-dubbed "coffee filter hat", or<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillet_%28clothing%29"> fillet</a>. It's essentially a <a href="http://joanofarcparade.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Fillet-instructions.pub_.pdf">pleated or ruffled linen crown-shaped headpiece</a>. There are no extant examples, and while I wouldn't exactly say it looks silly walking around looking like you have a paper coffee filter on your head (I've considered <a href="http://www.flickriver.com/photos/archeon/tags/woman/">much sillier</a>) the general effect I've seen with these hats (once made) doesn't appeal to me greatly. So, I opted for a less common style, the toque, or what we these days call a "pillbox."<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGicdaWQUfraFh3yJvF4R18xYmc8EqDrM7igd1nyxw_xU8P_jo4OR1SvFPKyimEpux9WxdUiPfBGV_WUC1CDIAnmYQ7HxbfIthfkMSa-YDDU3wK_VMzLJEwPIi8cEpTzFplh_zA/s1600/11351352_10206751621927846_3408664341456398516_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGicdaWQUfraFh3yJvF4R18xYmc8EqDrM7igd1nyxw_xU8P_jo4OR1SvFPKyimEpux9WxdUiPfBGV_WUC1CDIAnmYQ7HxbfIthfkMSa-YDDU3wK_VMzLJEwPIi8cEpTzFplh_zA/s400/11351352_10206751621927846_3408664341456398516_n.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scantily clad in my kitchen in a half-made toque. You know, a typical Saturday.</td></tr>
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It all begins with some millinery wire and stiff canvas. There re no extant toques that I know of, so for all I know, they did use wire. Or at least I like to think they did, because certainly plenty of wire got put in headdresses through the medieval period in Europe. (How else do you think that "flying nun" look keeps staying up? Starch will only get you so far!)<br />
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I zig-zagged the strips of canvas I had by machine to make the crown of my toque, but everything else, including attaching the wire to the canvas, was done by hand. I used a medium weight bleached 100% linen to cover the toque, which I had to use 100% cotton thread on, because the linen thread I do have just seemed too bulky to get the polished effect I'm looking for.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA1-r5HvPZR7BHfD9c5ww-QQpFN9IcidIena-EfDlCeAXt1-BhxTTAnplLgkZ9SqCUZ9udQrD9TplXrPsgyz0SgY56CgWrsr4jR-oH2uVn8uu_PLy7mmqHuS-Op52DgIsAaP4Rw/s1600/10408609_10206755167016471_4417056095369946090_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA1-r5HvPZR7BHfD9c5ww-QQpFN9IcidIena-EfDlCeAXt1-BhxTTAnplLgkZ9SqCUZ9udQrD9TplXrPsgyz0SgY56CgWrsr4jR-oH2uVn8uu_PLy7mmqHuS-Op52DgIsAaP4Rw/s400/10408609_10206755167016471_4417056095369946090_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used recycled lightweight linen for the lining.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK1mHjd8hKWeswbViEI1oP4jzuffQ5DmEkN1P0sbdc3vMsjQ5T3vcfGhZvdcwhBVrhnJoo4m03prA33zxduykR0REYivtT6ynhITrrjrIsE7VnN_efTeCI4zXbPBMHTwWZMHkTg/s1600/11392776_10206755174936669_6255389819286523239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK1mHjd8hKWeswbViEI1oP4jzuffQ5DmEkN1P0sbdc3vMsjQ5T3vcfGhZvdcwhBVrhnJoo4m03prA33zxduykR0REYivtT6ynhITrrjrIsE7VnN_efTeCI4zXbPBMHTwWZMHkTg/s400/11392776_10206755174936669_6255389819286523239_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Center back seam of the finished toque</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, I took some very blurry photos posing in the toque, but I think the photos will at least give you a general idea of how it turned out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqBgc73VKt6_u8tWxo-XpQVETGIvOwWfOSmf8jAPMR7Bj2OQuA8d63oHqx27bDdN6vk5KYrLLHaafwzG7jA6sBxUC1wn2GXWvWqNiMS2uyEUKx5y1dziWuc855OfuLXeSIovSIA/s1600/10649853_10206752917680239_126071104489780308_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqBgc73VKt6_u8tWxo-XpQVETGIvOwWfOSmf8jAPMR7Bj2OQuA8d63oHqx27bDdN6vk5KYrLLHaafwzG7jA6sBxUC1wn2GXWvWqNiMS2uyEUKx5y1dziWuc855OfuLXeSIovSIA/s400/10649853_10206752917680239_126071104489780308_n.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With barbette</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWhcMRKYbjkAa0x9An2zJ_9VZGTZEP9KL5k0u1k0gCjV3vuara2iMh_aOKiERV47_zC-eUNY029uOcs5g8U43w3WvZ7h-uTkZAF2GEwx3PYsE9liVPbwi7nQIDf3Dmqw75Am4GA/s1600/10629713_10206752885519435_6623316411553193254_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWhcMRKYbjkAa0x9An2zJ_9VZGTZEP9KL5k0u1k0gCjV3vuara2iMh_aOKiERV47_zC-eUNY029uOcs5g8U43w3WvZ7h-uTkZAF2GEwx3PYsE9liVPbwi7nQIDf3Dmqw75Am4GA/s400/10629713_10206752885519435_6623316411553193254_n.jpg" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With veil</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-24932253298325491382015-10-21T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-21T00:00:03.223-04:00Wash, Block, Repeat.<div abp="80">
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I like striped hats. I especially like striped beret type hats. Witness below, the dk weight hat I knit for V. a couple years ago:</div>
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<a abp="201" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpUa7WeexNEscLVjnaWiObVRX5dNoIBUuseCpTgjIYHlGsNHMNXgZNL311cGeIyx5HozcuoVETZHWmtuNRfg37nRvXo7XFfHMPkxj7Dq68Vc8aIC3IBXhTNwyHDh5smk9QzWKog/s1600/25061_10200140709459166_2008959741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="202" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpUa7WeexNEscLVjnaWiObVRX5dNoIBUuseCpTgjIYHlGsNHMNXgZNL311cGeIyx5HozcuoVETZHWmtuNRfg37nRvXo7XFfHMPkxj7Dq68Vc8aIC3IBXhTNwyHDh5smk9QzWKog/s400/25061_10200140709459166_2008959741_n.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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KnitPicks came out with some neon colored yarn not long ago and I got the wild idea to combine the two. I started with yellow and gray:</div>
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<a abp="87" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BeaKgpbPtDFpRtMqDLw7vXIKI6NLOvVTbv2yEMNAv7iVv4srQlRX16YE2EVNjNpsX6RDjl2Z0jffcgerKf0nTU-6lnxccxU0FqJri7v_6esKhMKl7ORVP4cw4e1yiYX1Ty0iJg/s1600/11665535_10206969738500624_642487332189771232_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="88" border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BeaKgpbPtDFpRtMqDLw7vXIKI6NLOvVTbv2yEMNAv7iVv4srQlRX16YE2EVNjNpsX6RDjl2Z0jffcgerKf0nTU-6lnxccxU0FqJri7v_6esKhMKl7ORVP4cw4e1yiYX1Ty0iJg/s400/11665535_10206969738500624_642487332189771232_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is fingering weight yarn. No surprise there, coming from me. Here's how the top of this version looks:</div>
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<a abp="91" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjtTJq0pZGPUXPo6MHoRjhzu54VfYwAhQ6oGnXRQuJ6ByNkRbrC9QGuyz2LlST5OQKuBehBKeAV3IuaAbsxJZ57M47DKZ2QVnU9cwbC1UJ94XagXHFOb2Td_0xZ5Hy0D71ODe9Q/s1600/11403076_10207024264463739_3508127821621042200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="92" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjtTJq0pZGPUXPo6MHoRjhzu54VfYwAhQ6oGnXRQuJ6ByNkRbrC9QGuyz2LlST5OQKuBehBKeAV3IuaAbsxJZ57M47DKZ2QVnU9cwbC1UJ94XagXHFOb2Td_0xZ5Hy0D71ODe9Q/s400/11403076_10207024264463739_3508127821621042200_n.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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I like it, but the sizing wasn't quite right, especially after I blocked it on a plate. Yeah, yeah, I know - I should have run a piece of yarn around the base of the hat ribbing and pulled it on so that the ribbing wouldn't necessarily be blocked as well, but that strikes me really as just a short term solution. I know from experience that hats stretch out with wear. So the ribbing has to be a little tight, even if it's blocked with the hat, IMHO. So... I knit it again, but in navy and tan, which is what I had on hand in the same yarn.</div>
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<a abp="301" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoq8h-g-eSPUjw63tyRdYt8lRrV29ZjHqTI6Parad-BnO3LMSPxB0lyjc9SHNLjJJCXit0DQpmw3JuWzh9y88lWQQPoRdNnFt8kM-jAnmjaqMWeIqezAUO_r78ckQtOsO8bUM1g/s1600/11693945_10207179910834801_6454729154884057109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="302" border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoq8h-g-eSPUjw63tyRdYt8lRrV29ZjHqTI6Parad-BnO3LMSPxB0lyjc9SHNLjJJCXit0DQpmw3JuWzh9y88lWQQPoRdNnFt8kM-jAnmjaqMWeIqezAUO_r78ckQtOsO8bUM1g/s400/11693945_10207179910834801_6454729154884057109_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I finally got the fit perfect, even after blocking. However...
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I was knitting this as a publishable pattern, and waiting all this time for my yarn support. I was feeling as clever that I had it all worked out to perfection before the yarn came for the sample... and then the yarn came. In <em>worsted</em>.<br />
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Which, alas, is really nobody's fault. At no time did I specific yarn weight. I had completely forgotten that the neon yarn came in more than one weight. Urgh!<br />
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Now I'm starting the process all over again. I recalculated for worsted and knit it up. Same problem: the band is too loose. I have to do some swatches of ribbing, wash and measure them, and then recalibrate, and re-knit. <br />
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This kind of stuff is one of many reasons I never seem to get the dishes done. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-70183109524158217632015-10-20T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-20T11:28:45.406-04:00Belding Bros. Lady's Mitts<div abp="489">
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So, I was browsing the <a abp="1211" href="http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/main.htm">Antique Pattern Library</a> one day, looking for WWI patterns (as one does), and came across Belding Bros. & Co.'s <a abp="491" href="http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/BeldingSelfInstructor.pdf">The Self-Instructor in Silk Knitting, Crocheting and Embroidery</a> (New York, 1886, 80 pgs.), and paused. I was intrigued.</div>
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I am not a silk knitter. Some random Noro is the closest I've been to silk yarn. And while I also tend to gravitate toward knitting fine, I usually stop at size US #0. I have some lace weight yarn in my stash, but I have never used it. Ever. I tried lace one time and came to the conclusion that I couldn't count, or follow directions. (The latter, if you've read much of this blog, will not be much of a revelation to you.) However...</div>
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Not long ago I was reading an article about Victorian knitting. There was an emphasis on much of it no longer being useful (who needs a silk opera cape these days? etc.) and I found myself bristling a little at that. Admittedly, we have become a very casual society, as the millinery industry knows only too well. And I have definitely been known to spend my entire weekend in pajamas, and to leave the house in mismatched socks. But just because we are no longer required in most instances to meet the formal standards of yesterday does not mean we <strong abp="957">can</strong> not. </div>
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So I decided to knit something in silk. This is what I chose:</div>
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<a abp="430" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRadlGCIXqYeBeZavffXqqkY2zhAiptw0KWTeqFsDwj2FYMN8dfbClUiCfNgcgA228EVbh7dlNfaGEmojCuvP67r14NJallkdpFlAR6Mr_reSmF3da9fMMM30BdNVVtk-eQpi_mw/s1600/Lady%2527s+Mitts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="431" border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRadlGCIXqYeBeZavffXqqkY2zhAiptw0KWTeqFsDwj2FYMN8dfbClUiCfNgcgA228EVbh7dlNfaGEmojCuvP67r14NJallkdpFlAR6Mr_reSmF3da9fMMM30BdNVVtk-eQpi_mw/s400/Lady%2527s+Mitts.JPG" width="400" /></a>
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I have a friend who does Dickens Faire, and this seemed like an appropriate gift to pawn off on her, especially since I recall some mention in the past of needing fingerless gloves for her costume. She was probably thinking filet crochet, but one also shouldn't look a gift <strike abp="967">horse</strike> Victorian silk fingerless mitt in the mouth, so to speak. She acquiesced.</div>
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Now, it is just my luck that I was drawn to just about the only pattern in the pamphlet that doesn't specify needle size. What precisely, in this context, are "ordinary-sized steel needles"? The other patterns in the book for mittens and such for Ladies call for needles anywhere from No. 17 to No. 20, and have about 20 more stitches cast on. So, no joy with a comparison there.</div>
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The yarn in the pattern is Belding's "Superior" Knitting Silk. I tried very hard to understand what "Superior" Knitting Silk is - I even have an eBay alert going for anything that has the words "Belding + Silk" - but still no joy. There might even be tears. This image is what I have to go on:</div>
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<a abp="1065" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f9bwabbrZIhWhZIUwQphpGc42Kx8DbmvWuOvvEUNWA5YuHJx979zOYH1y40PmVgrbGCOC-CxEev9ByUhdEkBSDXOsI56noQv5vqXmyl_ZBlFt7vf_6RtYFJhTUy26P85onJS3Q/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1066" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f9bwabbrZIhWhZIUwQphpGc42Kx8DbmvWuOvvEUNWA5YuHJx979zOYH1y40PmVgrbGCOC-CxEev9ByUhdEkBSDXOsI56noQv5vqXmyl_ZBlFt7vf_6RtYFJhTUy26P85onJS3Q/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Isn't that edifying?</div>
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Not especially.</div>
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I do know it is finer than fingering weight. Assuming the average hand to fit these gloves back in the Victorian times wasn't so very different from my own - quite an assumption, I know, but I'm also petite - then for this pattern I am casting on 66 sts for a 6.5 inch hand circumference. That's roughly 10 sts per inch. So, we are definitely looking at something smaller than a US #0 (2mm - 1.5mm), because US #0 needles do not get me 10 sts = 1 inch. In Victorian times, that could be anything from a 13 to 17 steel needle. And how they decided which minute fraction of a mm made a difference, I'd really like to know. I'm taking a bit of a risk here, but I'm going to shoot for size 18 needles, known in modern times as 5/0, or 00000. That's 1mm.</div>
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As for the yarn? I did what I normally do when I need to substitute for wildly discontinued yarn - I got weaving yarn. Above you can see one of the cakes I wound up from the skein of <a abp="1155" href="http://www.paradisefibers.com/paradise-fibers-20-2-undyed-spun-silk-yarn-skein.html">Paradise Fibers Undyed Silk Yarn 20/2</a> I purchased. It comes in 1000 yd skeins. I highly suspect this little project will not take up that much yarn, so I am going to (maybe) dye the project after it is knit... carefully. If it goes all wrong, well... I still have more yarn left to try again.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-71605428833264189102015-10-19T09:25:00.002-04:002015-10-19T09:25:49.074-04:00Too Broke for Blue - see me in my kitchen!I'm trying my hand at video podcasting, or whatever it is called. I am so hopelessly square!<br />
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I hope you find this entertaining, and forgive me for the poor video quality. I think my laptop has too slow of a processing speed for the webcam I was using.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-21486636211756915672015-09-11T13:14:00.001-04:002015-10-20T11:44:29.998-04:00The quest for thread<div abp="929">
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Yarn substitution can be a tricky process. If you are lucky, you will not find yourself substituting yarn for a project that calls out discontinued yarn. The more time passes, the higher the likelihood of this being the case. Fashions change, as well as resources, so what may have been considered a common yarn 20, 30, or even 80 years ago may not be as common now. It may be so uncommon that serious research is involved just to find out what it really is. (<a abp="1592" href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2015/10/belding-bros-ladys-mitts.html">More on Victorian knitting later!</a>) </div>
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The <a abp="727" href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2015/09/daffodils.html">Daffodil Doilie</a> project I have been crocheting calls for discontinued yarn. Specifically, either <strong abp="77">J. & P. Coats</strong> or <strong abp="78">Clark's O.N.T. Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet</strong>, Size 30. </div>
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I consider myself fortunate that these brands at least ring a bell. J. & P. Coats and Clark's is now more commonly known under the name Coat's and Clark's. According to their <a abp="140" href="http://www.makeitcoats.com/en-us">website</a> (which has a fairly entertaining <a abp="84" href="http://www.coatsandclark200years.com/timeline.html">timeline about their history</a>, if thread history interests you) O.N.T ("Our New Thread") is a special six cord, soft finished thread for sewing machines first marketed in 1860. </div>
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Now, I don't know about you, but I'm fairly certain this pattern from 1949 is not asking me to crochet this doilie out of sewing machine thread. I gather that O.N.T. has become a trademark, having made a big splash back in Victorian times. A straight Google of O.N.T. Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, Size 30 gets me more in the realm of what is typically thought of when we say "crochet thread" - that is, <a abp="196" href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/clarks-ont-best-six-cord-mercerized-crochet-size-30">this discontinued thread</a>. 1949 really wasn't very long ago, and if I was die-hard about it, I could probably set up an alert on eBay to purchase the exact thread this pattern calls for in vintage yarn. </div>
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I opted for something manufactured within the past decade instead, and for several reasons. I didn't really want to wait to find the thread <em abp="251">and</em> wait for it to be shipped. Who knows when it would turn up? Waiting during shipping is hard enough. But impatience aside, I've learned the hard way that cotton just doesn't hold up as well over the years as wool or other fibers. I've had many a strand of vintage embroidery or crocheting thread disintegrate on me as I worked it, but have never had it happen with wool. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-81581384592299612252015-09-10T13:31:00.002-04:002015-10-20T11:46:44.898-04:00Daffodils<div abp="404" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Every now and then, such as when spring arrives, I get the overwhelming urge to make something <strike abp="659">crazy</strike> challenging. This spring, it's a doilie.</div>
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I've been spending a considerable amount of time researching vintage and antique patterns this past year. One of the fruits of my labor is a newfound appreciation of mid-century handicrafts. Handicrafts, like fine arts, sometimes require a person to become familiar with the genre they belong to before they can be understood, if not liked. In a fit of spring fever, I decided I liked floral doilies, such as the one featured below in <a abp="120" href="http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/FloralDoilies258.pdf">"Floral Doilies, Book No. 258"</a> (1949) from The Spool Cotton Company.</div>
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The pattern is also available <a abp="206" href="http://freevintagecrochet.com/free-doily-patterns/coats258/daffodil-doily-pattern">here</a>.</div>
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One of the first things I noticed about this pattern (aside from it using Size 30 yarn, which is not available at the corner drug store, <a abp="1303" href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-quest-for-thread.html">let me tell you</a>!) is that it uses a shade of green called "Nile Green," which is very similar to sage green. "Nile Green" was very popular during this era. I see it over and over again in household crochet patterns, and I'm very curious as to its origin and if it crossed over into knitting as well. </div>
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Size 30 crochet thread is, admittedly, a tad wee. There were times when I thought I might go blind, or at least experience debilitating eye strain. I can't recommend a good task light highly enough, especially since I don't have one and had to rely on leaning toward the sunlight at a window like a desperate houseplant. </div>
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Daffodils deconstructed</div>
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The actual design is rather simple. You make the trumpet shape for the center, then make a loop with the petals that then gets sewn onto the trumpet. Easy, right?</div>
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The center of the doilie - the "Nile Green" portion - I got done in about 4 hours. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-49322334633328453412014-04-09T16:09:00.003-04:002014-04-09T16:10:03.309-04:00The Yellow-Haired Doll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been a busy bee, although that does not mean I have finished my beehive sweater (the influx of tepid as opposed to freezing weather nipped the sweater embellishment bug in the butt). Instead, I'm working on the dolls. (And trying very hard not to think about Argyle socks, especially of the knee-high variety. Let's not even say the name of the project.)</div>
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I just finished this 18 inch doll this week. I very creatively call her The Yellow-Haired Doll. </div>
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I keep the expression kind of neutral. My daughter, V., has a doll bed and it's frankly creepy when dolls stare up at you with bright-eyed, bushy-tailed expressions. No wonder they figure into horror movies. I find the slitted-eye look could be interpreted as closed eyes. And that's supposed to be the point of this kind of handmade doll, anyway: the child emotes whatever feelings they desire on the doll's expression. It's about open creativity, not spoon-fed feelings.<br />
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Does she look a little self-satisfied?<br />
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The Yellow-Haired Doll is hidden button jointed. That means the buttons that allow her arms and legs to move freely are inside the limbs, rather than outside. This took a bit of fussing; I find I prefer my button-joints with pillows, so that the button stays in the center of the limb, not against the covering fabric.<br />
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She was originally going to have a purple dress but it ended up all FUBAR (that darn learning curve!) so in the end, she got this outfit, which I am actually darn pleased with. I reflected the red flowers on her dress and bloomers in her shoes by making them red. The shoes took me TWO DAYS. They were also a part of the vicious learning curve, but I am older and wiser now and used some cheap felt for the first four drafts before making these final versions out of real wool felt. They are<i> soft,</i> and I adore them.<br />
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Of course, despite how it whiled away the hours, I didn't do this for my own amusement. This doll is for sale. It can be found at my etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheConceptCat">The Concept Cat</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-12867446802461193502014-02-24T10:04:00.001-05:002014-02-24T10:04:16.021-05:00FrazzledRemind me to never again make pseudo-Argyle stockings.I don't know if my housemate just is big-boned or what, but I had him try on the stockings again and her couldn't get it all the way past his heel. I should have frogged it back to almost the start of the calf shaping. I'm not even sure what to say about this, except, doesn't V. look peaceful and carefree?<br />
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She has no knitting conundrums, or bills, or laundry to do. OK, she does have laundry to do, lots of it, because she is four years old, but being four years old also seems to exempt her from having to do it herself. By proxy it becomes my laundry. If any of you have a solution to this, aside from nudism, (did I mention it's still cold?) I'd be glad to hear it. In the meantime, much like with sweeping and doing dishes, I am having her apprentice to me daily in the hope that one day she will be able to practice independently. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-3785072866532819402014-02-07T13:35:00.001-05:002014-02-07T13:43:42.304-05:00ButterfliesI've addressed my <a href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2014/01/moths.html">moth problem</a> somewhat before, and how it caused me to do some drastic repairs to a handknit sweater. Those pernicious moths also attacked my collection of well-worn lightweight store-bought sweaters. I have quite a few of these. They are close to literally being a dime a dozen, since they are partially shrunken, mass-market brand sweaters in neutral, inconspicuous colors, and I easily mistake one of them for the other. So I don't blame anyone who thinks I don't change my sweater from day to day. But now they will not be indistinguishable: they will have names even. Today, I introduce the Butterfly Sweater.<br />
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It began sadly enough. Witness below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMAP_bM1jXZWqP2PtETfo5s3EFghyphenhyphenyCP0xu6sEKhgv37pwpO_eao8KsBSOzvlhghU9oYtOjgkoWwFNKG_hLIL0wMl5SzEmlh0Kz04JzIbVOW8jgWUD2surhTbUA81eR38WA2pWw/s1600/035+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMAP_bM1jXZWqP2PtETfo5s3EFghyphenhyphenyCP0xu6sEKhgv37pwpO_eao8KsBSOzvlhghU9oYtOjgkoWwFNKG_hLIL0wMl5SzEmlh0Kz04JzIbVOW8jgWUD2surhTbUA81eR38WA2pWw/s1600/035+(3).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I gave up on the hoop after a while.</td></tr>
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Moths took a few bites out of this heathery brown sweater at just about my left shoulder blade. I happen to have wool felt so I got the grand idea of appliqueing something over the holes after I mended them. (Not <a href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2013/11/flapping-away.html">Godzilla</a>. He needs to be on the front of a sweater.) I decided on butterflies. I have really no idea why. I tried to improvise the first couple butterflies that went over the holes, and then I submitted to the potato chip principle: you can never have just one. Or two. Aw, shucks, let's have a swarm!<br />
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I looked up images of butterflies on my smartphone for better verisimilitude, did some quick sketches, then made templates to guide me in cutting the felt. Took me about ten minutes, if that. I think I spent most of the time trying to find a working pen. (Four year olds are not known for their felt pen conservation skills.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took me a while to find the pencil sharpener, too.</td></tr>
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I grabbed some gaudy fingering weight wool yarn and set to it. I didn't bother with a pretense of making it look professional. I like the homey look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oCHgfRKtL-S8xEudRiJZCkmkB0EzvtBcG2BXQ4ifska49C2UMspBHFoDPtynLo5HxQE3gv8JGadT3TuyTiIgTuNrUYtMK59QRD1Cj5UukYoAGZoHQqif1B0sF6Q6ZkhiITfAug/s1600/020+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oCHgfRKtL-S8xEudRiJZCkmkB0EzvtBcG2BXQ4ifska49C2UMspBHFoDPtynLo5HxQE3gv8JGadT3TuyTiIgTuNrUYtMK59QRD1Cj5UukYoAGZoHQqif1B0sF6Q6ZkhiITfAug/s1600/020+(3).JPG" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left shoulder blade</td></tr>
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The light blue and lilac butterflies in the above photo are on the moth hole damaged area of the sweater. All the others are just for company. My skill at making butterflies really improved by the time I had a dozen done; the copper and yellow one on the top of the photo was one of the last stitched, as was the yellow butterfly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitmlL8E2GNfjcV9JDBDkG0-5ip_vE997TOMbKJ5kCKNrvrjKems73qhE0e7-i9wnLeczZCqmGebftDsTAEYebRWqzoW1eXvtLEkcxjfl-eUY0BbQqDV1oF-TOaOnRuF-8cdIOkw/s1600/014+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitmlL8E2GNfjcV9JDBDkG0-5ip_vE997TOMbKJ5kCKNrvrjKems73qhE0e7-i9wnLeczZCqmGebftDsTAEYebRWqzoW1eXvtLEkcxjfl-eUY0BbQqDV1oF-TOaOnRuF-8cdIOkw/s1600/014+(4).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of sweater</td></tr>
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I was intending to put all the butterflies only on the left side of the sweater, but the lilac one on the right got away. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of sweater</td></tr>
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Some of the butterflies are dramatically different than others. I like the whimsical effect they lend an otherwise eminently practical and blah sweater.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrYCe3yHhtV9n8GdHHhc4j4g4joz0jvL1Z5kk9GYqeLMKktcwcdTHzun52sIcLPRALYaaQzdfdzJEeD5iID96fNCi_h9posT8DmRTFI0fv4WHtenRqCTiML8QelFWzEMTpIxTuA/s1600/035+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrYCe3yHhtV9n8GdHHhc4j4g4joz0jvL1Z5kk9GYqeLMKktcwcdTHzun52sIcLPRALYaaQzdfdzJEeD5iID96fNCi_h9posT8DmRTFI0fv4WHtenRqCTiML8QelFWzEMTpIxTuA/s1600/035+(4).JPG" height="283" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front shoulder</td></tr>
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When I made the templates I traced them from these quickie ink drawings I made. If this project looks like a fun idea to you, and you need some butterflies for your moth holes, too, feel free to print the ink drawing below and cut it up and resize it and whatnot for your own templates. Go crazy! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduB0byZ1AsdwRWNhOPRFLt4C1Fl8Z72uxaXTXCkwQHSsuWx5HIpMdSYi4imlafMRpGlOJVaWAtSU_4oTosuBef7L3p7H6goREOgdNCyJ2sdblrHOA1EAOa2KMBs0PEdv8TSIP4w/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduB0byZ1AsdwRWNhOPRFLt4C1Fl8Z72uxaXTXCkwQHSsuWx5HIpMdSYi4imlafMRpGlOJVaWAtSU_4oTosuBef7L3p7H6goREOgdNCyJ2sdblrHOA1EAOa2KMBs0PEdv8TSIP4w/s1600/029.JPG" height="337" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on photo to enlarge.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-39442132421938259422014-02-06T13:42:00.001-05:002014-02-06T13:49:01.801-05:00Vintage Thursday: Argh-yle StockingsI have been struggling all week with the <a href="http://www.crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2013/09/not-for-faint-of-heart.html">Men's Argyle Stockings</a>. I'm learning the hard way that it is very, very important to not have too much tension on the yarn you are carrying on the back of a colorwork piece. I already sort of knew this, but I didn't know it in such shocking technicolor as I do now. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hyphenhyphenST7nd2cKPE73930zp0-SPxd5KftB4TvasAxGn2AZ7vdlSRNpkm4j5-i5PbcjRf_IBsruiS0_SV-cXxPuNvEmLVsXYsR2zsqNF2H2Hzi5PzzzzENAU-YgFld9bLP8LYUUZMqg/s1600/004+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hyphenhyphenST7nd2cKPE73930zp0-SPxd5KftB4TvasAxGn2AZ7vdlSRNpkm4j5-i5PbcjRf_IBsruiS0_SV-cXxPuNvEmLVsXYsR2zsqNF2H2Hzi5PzzzzENAU-YgFld9bLP8LYUUZMqg/s1600/004+(4).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The puckering is my tension problem. Which causes a tension problem. In my temples.</td></tr>
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This pattern conspired against me. The colorwork goes all the way around the stocking, and when I got to this point I had my housemate try it on because of some kind of subconscious fear I was having. And as it turns out, my fear was justified. It didn't fit. It didn't fit spectacularly. He could only get his foot half way down the stocking, if even that far. The colorwork area just didn't stretch much, and the pattern has one reduce to about 76 sts just before the ankle. That's not exactly giving one a lot of room on US #1 needles to begin with. My entire stocking (well, OK, 2/3 of it) was FUBAR. And that wasn't even addressing my issues with the foot.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He fit it until about <i>here</i>.</td></tr>
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I did have the foresight to work the heel with the additional thread that Jawoll sock yarn has in its skeins just for that purpose. I was feeling pretty good about myself at that point, but then I looked at the directions for the colorwork on the foot.<br />
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I was expected to <i>simply carry the red on the back of the black all the way across the sole</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oXoTSzKBw9ADDZtCLHeUSmHB5busXV0UOAvHRIaUl6B3-pIZi1Gla8DEcvu1UKMdCBAn6mW-0GjAdRxXTTO2Cp1WeYpQQILSJWcv7fPmV_CWOwUoRyuJUnMFx-BzZsQ5vHOycg/s1600/007+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oXoTSzKBw9ADDZtCLHeUSmHB5busXV0UOAvHRIaUl6B3-pIZi1Gla8DEcvu1UKMdCBAn6mW-0GjAdRxXTTO2Cp1WeYpQQILSJWcv7fPmV_CWOwUoRyuJUnMFx-BzZsQ5vHOycg/s1600/007+%25284%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my loose ends.</td></tr>
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And I did. I tried. It lasted about two inches, and then I noticed my tension problem. So I cut the red yarn and knotted it at the end of every row. Not a pretty solution but it seemed workable at the time. Another inch or two in and I had the housemate try the thing on. And as I have already mentioned, I had problems. I had to backtrack a considerable distance.<br />
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Of course, all that cutting and knotting on the foot means that unraveling becomes complicated. I took a breath and just chopped the foot off. </div>
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This was Tuesday. Or Wednesday. It all just kind of blurred together in my head, as these kind of things do. I may have a kind of knitting trauma, since I have practically knit this stocking twice already. Plus, it is just so darned<i> cold. </i>I don't fare well in these East Coast winters and reknitting a hundred or so rows on US #1 dpns didn't exactly warm my hands any. Somehow, I carried on.<br />
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I started unraveling the foot and using the yarn from it to knit the rest of the stocking leg again. I kept changing my mind about what kind of join to use, but at this point, does it really matter? It will probably block just fine. Or else.<br />
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I began at around where you see the safety pin, which coincidentally marks Row 100 of the colorwork. I am not decreasing from this point on, and I'm being much more careful about my tension. Right now, I'm at about Row 145 of the colorwork, and have about 20 more rows to go before beginning the heel flap all over again. Contemplating that ridiculous carrying business (Part of why Argyles are worked flat, dagnabbit!) has me cunningly considering other approaches, such as a sole worked separately, or modifying the pattern to work it flat. I'm on the fence about it. All I'm really certain of is that I am certainly<b> not</b> doing it the way they say to do it in the pattern.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-52817348935007257242014-01-31T15:00:00.002-05:002014-01-31T15:00:42.103-05:00RummagingOff and on this week I have been plugging away at the <a href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2013/11/vintage-thrusday-hats-hats-hats.html">Men's Argyle Stockings</a>, and I have only needed to rip it out an inch or two every now and then. Not so much as to be going backwards; the progress is forward, overall. Especially now that I've gotten past the tricky bits of the calf shaping. (The instructions basically told me to wing it the first couple rows! The gall of some of these old patterns!) I'm now in a rather happy place with these stockings, somewhere around Row 80 of the color work portion. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl9owPcojz2djVHjBxcshyphenhyphen7GW1QIjfmUcChYzihSKfCUFu9h3rwRYVSSRLGh0E6cKUMYe1sZ5Vij_BRJkFUi8JOhvbyPy1N-7LBDqAZf35BXkQFCxwFtO8RvQREtTFyll7UQzqg/s1600/025+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl9owPcojz2djVHjBxcshyphenhyphen7GW1QIjfmUcChYzihSKfCUFu9h3rwRYVSSRLGh0E6cKUMYe1sZ5Vij_BRJkFUi8JOhvbyPy1N-7LBDqAZf35BXkQFCxwFtO8RvQREtTFyll7UQzqg/s1600/025+(2).JPG" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safety pin marking Row 70.</td></tr>
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Since I have vintage things on the brain lately, I've been digging about in my collection a bit. A while back I happened to come into possession of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Susan-Bates-Presents-Improve-Knitting/dp/B002YV7AII">Susan Bates Presents 101 Ways to Improve Your Knitting</a> (1968). I've had this little book before, back when I was learning to knit. I can't recommend it highly enough for beginners, because while it wasn't actually the book that taught me to knit, it certainly reinforced me in times ahead. Generally I recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Without-Tears-Easy-Follow/dp/0684135051">Knitting Without Tears</a> to beginners, but it doesn't have ton of hand-holding pictures to help the novice along in moments of insecurity, and you really have to read through it to find what you are looking for. 101 Ways augments it perfectly, because it has a lot of pictures and (most importantly) has a very clear table of contents. It won't give you clever ideas or a knitting philosophy, or address advanced topics, but it will get you out of a jamb and clear your head.<br />
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I'm thinking about 101 Ways at the moment because in the back it has a pattern for Plain Socks and a pattern for Argyle Socks. The stockings I'm knitting are Argyle-ish, and not true Argyles. This pattern in 101 Ways is true Argyle. There is even a chart for making the diamonds.<br />
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Now, I have never actually made a pair of Argyle socks. I've wanted to for years, but just never got around to it. I'd probably be happiest making a pair from a pattern around the 1940's, when it seems hand knitting them was en vogue among college girls and just about anyone else with a pair of knitting needles to rub together, but this might do. So perhaps there will be Argyles in my future soon.<br />
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Among other things I found during my rummaging was this pattern, which came to me wedged between some vintage sewing patterns from my grandmother's.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5T1Yj2pT0zoUjGSerGlUBXRhEGNsI9HhbBubVkDi8KzLeG11yztXpXhh1tRMOkqYLL0DWovjJZYIRhxjKPkC4WBfqCnHuOQAujNesdvFXZQXDVzXg6_0TsjWom-STsR0Yk3U2g/s1600/026+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5T1Yj2pT0zoUjGSerGlUBXRhEGNsI9HhbBubVkDi8KzLeG11yztXpXhh1tRMOkqYLL0DWovjJZYIRhxjKPkC4WBfqCnHuOQAujNesdvFXZQXDVzXg6_0TsjWom-STsR0Yk3U2g/s1600/026+(2).JPG" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1960's? 1970's? I don't know.</td></tr>
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It's a pattern for a knitted vest, on a large sheet of paper that folds out like a map.<br />
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I've seen this kind of thing before in mail-order patterns, etc., but I couldn't say what exact decade this pattern is from, except to say that it doesn't reflect vanity sizing. As you can see below, a 34 bust is a Size 12 in this pattern.<br />
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<br />The illustration gives one a reasonably vivid idea of how this knit would look. It's pragmatic, and not overly flattering. Nevertheless, I'm tempted to make it. But perhaps if I'm going to make a pattern at random, out of sheer curiosity, it should be one of the hand written mystery patterns I have. You know the kind; they're in your grandmother's or great aunt's sewing room, stuffed between the pages of a book or in an envelope somewhere. Someone, at some point, wrote down a pattern that someone else told them about. It might have been passed around the neighborhood, or passed around the family. Sometimes it's origins are very clear because it's titled "Aunt Violet's Cardigan" or some such. Well, I have a quantity of them, just as I have a quantity of hand written recipes that I've found in thrift store cookbooks. And maybe I'll make one of them. Right after the Argyles.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-42346546110125280642014-01-30T11:10:00.000-05:002014-02-07T19:41:45.898-05:00Vintage Thursday: The Little Princess Baby BooteesDon't let the name dissuade you; the Little Princess Baby Bootees are great unisex baby booties. There's none of the funky feminine frills found in some of the other vintage booklets I have. (And believe me, there is quite a bit in those. I may have to work some them up to prove it.) I knit a lot of bootees when I was expecting V., and these became my favorite. They are now invariably my go-to gifted bootees - virtually everyone I know who has had new baby around me has a pair of these from me. The perks to this pattern, aside from it's comparative readability, is the simplicity of the design and the fact that V. could not wiggle or kick them off. (That in itself was worth any amount of knitting fuss.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKZbdp7wpInEXdiXGNBO_pdeXO2d8T7ZL45Uvc2o7G7VqFrz51zzIrxXJNUGoaGuIT8naMqACrvePhf3YsQvhVwy887f4r_cC8rU836-MlaW1crlDoLcG9m9zyPAy8KloxVe8og/s1600/009+%282%29.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKZbdp7wpInEXdiXGNBO_pdeXO2d8T7ZL45Uvc2o7G7VqFrz51zzIrxXJNUGoaGuIT8naMqACrvePhf3YsQvhVwy887f4r_cC8rU836-MlaW1crlDoLcG9m9zyPAy8KloxVe8og/s1600/009+(2).JPG" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knit with Regia sock yarn on US #1 (2.25 mm) dpns</td></tr>
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I love these bootees SO much, I am passing the pattern on to you. It is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Brand-Bucilla-Baby-Book-Volume/dp/B000NF2SQG">Bear Brand-Bucilla Baby Book Volume 328</a>, last copyrighted in 1944, so it is now in the public domain. I could just scan the pattern and try to sell it to you, but that somehow feels cheap to me. No offense to those who have done just that - I am grateful to you, since I use those patterns! But being the perfectionist I am, I don't feel like I'm working for it enough if I do that. However, in future I will offer for sale vintage patterns, with the catch that I will also include my interpretation of the pattern and knit a sample up myself, if possible. That seems far more appropriate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8ehfY5jKdsgbdboYD-MSLPHJmrdfz9R9TYcuEHmdn-Xv5kOdo50O7RlPNVHcEPHqCUzbTbI9EhtgXd1I1aRIsLBjUPe_3NbNrp8TdH7d4ArqLC34WTiXxiv_riJK5P3ysQZjtQ/s1600/012+%283%29.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8ehfY5jKdsgbdboYD-MSLPHJmrdfz9R9TYcuEHmdn-Xv5kOdo50O7RlPNVHcEPHqCUzbTbI9EhtgXd1I1aRIsLBjUPe_3NbNrp8TdH7d4ArqLC34WTiXxiv_riJK5P3ysQZjtQ/s1600/012+(3).JPG" height="321" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The much loved (a.k.a. falling apart) cover of my copy.</td></tr>
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And now, on to the pattern!<br />
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<b>Little Princess Baby Bootees #1874</b><br />
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The Little Princess Baby Bootees are part of a set, but I've only included the bootees here. <br />
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I find that just about any fingering weight yarn will do. I've knit these bootees in everything from the coarser sock yarn like Regia or Jawoll to very soft, all merino yarn that has no added nylon. I used US #1 (2.25 mm) dpns, and found that the the sizing is pretty much correct: sometimes the bootees fit an infant, and sometimes a 3 month old, sometimes older. Kids vary.<br />
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As far as working the actual pattern is concerned, when it came to decreasing the sole I worked "k2tog, ssk" rather than "k2 tog twice," simply because it's more symmetrical, and I used the three needle bind off inside of a conventionally bound off and sewn seam. I also didn't make tassels; those instructions were not included anywhere in the booklet. I suppose knitters in 1944 just <i>knew</i> how to make tassels. (Along with argyle socks.)<br />
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I hope you enjoyed these bootees! Please feel free to comment with any questions or remarks.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-11414027354633679052014-01-29T19:37:00.000-05:002014-01-29T19:54:21.909-05:00Stalking the wild robinSince we survived going outside yesterday, V. and I tried it again today. After all, there are errands to run, and snow to eat. (You can guess which one of us was doing which. Or at least, I hope you can.)<br />
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Right away we ran into a slew of robins who were very busy picking through some recently thawed lawn. Today was in the twenties for the most part, so you can understand their enthusiasm. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unrequited love.</td></tr>
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V. is unconvinced that wild birds will not come and feed out of her hand like park squirrels, even though her margin of success with squirrels is in the 1% range. 1% fed, therefore it's a fact that all those other 99% might feed, too, if she just keeps at it. Such is the probability calculations of a four year old. Perhaps they would even like to be pet?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V. and the robin discussing their boundary issues.</td></tr>
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The robins were hungry enough that they really didn't want to do much more than hop out of arm's reach. They may have been in much more peril if V. hadn't have been so encumbered with winter clothes, but they'll find that out for themselves in the spring.<br />
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The hat that V. was running around in today (and which oddly enough matched the robins) was a UFO I found this morning in my box of UFO's. (Yes, there's a BOX.) Originally, it was just a simple Malabrigo yarn beanie, but then my philosophy on children's hats evolved and I added a kind of earflap/scarf hybrid. All that was left to do this morning was finish binding the scarf off and weaving in ends. I rather like it, and I may work up a pattern very similar to it.<br />
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I was very glad to have it, because V. seems to be as much of a Weather Wimp as I am. Any time either of us had our mittens off, we were kind of freaking out, and half way through errands she was ready to be carried home. Just like yesterday, she had to be bribed with hot cocoa.<br />
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Ok, we both had to be bribed. Is this the face of someone enjoying an outing?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the bold use of <a href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-problem-with-orange.html">orange</a>.</td></tr>
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On the bright side, I found a weird little shelf in somebody's recycling while we were out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The snow was free, too.</td></tr>
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I find all sorts of things while out walking about, and I probably should show more of them. But in the meantime, this shelf will make a nice little project. I'm going to sand and paint it, then hang it like a little curio cabinet. I've had my eye out for something like this for quite some time, so my enthusiasm level is pretty high. Especially since it's small enough to be an indoor project.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629749.post-165517886770479382014-01-28T20:58:00.000-05:002014-01-28T20:58:36.316-05:00Cabin FeverToday V. and I did the unthinkable and ventured out into The Weather. There comes a point when even the steadfast Californian must trek out into the snow, despite having a plentiful supply of canned and dried goods to consume through the long winter. That point is when 1) the sewing machine has to be dropped off for a repair, and 2) all the clean underwear has been used up. We donned our mittens and our respective wooly or puffy coats and tried to remember how to unlock the front door.<br />
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This is what greeted us:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a good thing I'm over my pink issues.</td></tr>
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This might not look too bad to you, but that's because you are likely in Maine or Canada. If it does look bad to you, we're on the same page. It's 15 degrees outside <i>before</i> the wind chill factor. I was reminded as a trundled my laundry and a 1961 Singer sewing machine down the icy sidewalks of that epic first day in Boston that I often speak of, whereupon a simple walk around the neighborhood for a place to dine resulted in a painful wind burn that I had to aloe up for days and days. Cold is not my friend. (And neither is a heat, wet or dry. I know. I'm a wimp.)<br />
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This is what my back stoop looks like:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our impression of sparrows.</td></tr>
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There's a serious bird feeder just outside the kitchen window (Squirrel TV has graduated to Squirrels vs. Sparrows TV), so there was much sparrow action. Apparently the local hot spot - our three tube feeder - gets really jumping when there's snow on the ground. <br />
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When I am managing to stay shut in, I'm mostly working on dolls. The sewing machine going caput in the middle of everything has been a hindrance, but I almost have one done. It's an 18" girl doll with hidden button joints. I rather like "un"-hidden button joints, because they seem to stay tighter and move better, but I worry about them being chewed off. So I put them inside. This is my fifth Waldorf inspired doll, so I am developing some technique, and I am not too humble to state that they are getting progressively better. One innovation as I learn the process is a button pillow.<br />
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I have never seen anyone else do this, but for all I know it is being done. I did it because it gives the joint a better foundation, almost as if it were outside the limb, and on the grand scale of things it's barely any extra work. (Although as someone totally willing to unravel a sweater to make another sweater, I suppose that statement is highly relative.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's not really this bow legged.</td></tr>
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I'm very pleased with #5. The limbs are a vast improvement over <a href="http://crisisofpraxis.blogspot.com/2014/01/mossy-doll.html">#4</a>'s limbs, not just because they are "pillowed" now, but because I completely refashioned them. The proportion and stance of them strike me as being more realistic.<br />
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And here we have #5 so far. Her hair is very yellow, her eyes green. The dress is a prototype based on a vintage doll dress pattern my grandmother recently gave me. The final dress for the doll will be of the same fabric, but the pin tucking will be different, and I think I'll add a Peter Pan collar. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02425554097061286483noreply@blogger.com0