Ruffles

Introducing Ruffles ... the perfect cover-up when we go to the beach.

Pumpkin Girl has been asking for a knit skirt for a while. I had a pattern in mind that would be perfect to work on while lounging around in front of the TV. She wanted some tweaks ... we compromised on some ribbons that could be switched around with no fuss and minimize some wardrobe malfunctions. Once the color was all decided, the project commenced.

I still need to sew in the garter and go buy some ribbons.

Bounce
Pattern: Wendy Bernard
Yarn: 3 skeins Lion Cotton-Ease in Popsical Blue
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #6
(06/18/07 - 06/30/07)
Modification: Added 2 eyelet rounds to slip some ribbons in.

Thoughts: This project is cheap! Yarn cost was $6.00

Rusted Root

It was a gorgeous day. We decided last minute to throw some hotdogs on the grill for dinner. I realized that this was the perfect moment to take outdoor pictures of Rusted Root.

Poofy sleeves? check
Full spread
I did not bother throwing on a cami so excuse me if my bra peeks out through the lace panel.

Rusted Root
Pattern: Zephyr Style
Yarn: 3 skeins Lion Cotton-Ease in Terracotta for size S
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #5 and #7
(05/26/07 - 06/11/07)
Modifications:
1) Knit an additional 2 st before starting lace pattern. Knit 12 pattern repeats for body.
2) Added 12 st to sleeves (63 st).
3) Lengthened sleeves: Knit 6 rounds in St using larger needle. Switch to smaller needle and K2 P1 rib for 6 rounds. Bind off in larger needle.
4) Pick up stitches in collar using smaller needle. K2 P1 rib for 5 rounds then bind off.

If When I make this again, I will make the CO number divisible by 3.

Turtleneck Tube Vest

I finally convinced my 8 yo daughter to take a picture of the finished FO.

I really enjoyed knitting this project. Since this was the only project I was working on, it did not take too long. The inspiration came not only from the flowers. It also helped that the color of the yarn was so yummy. It constantly reminded my of this delicacy.

Perfectly Periwinkle Turtleneck Tube Vest
Pattern: Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits
Yarn: 2.5 skeins Lion Cotton-Ease in Sugarplum
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #5 and #7
(05/11/07 - 05/18/07)
Modifications: I shortened the neck ribbing to 3.75". I could not get the RLI/LLI to look right so I used with M1R/M1L instead.

I love it! It will be worn a lot this summer. I can see myself knitting more in different colors.

Pumpkin Girl's Hoodie

As soon as Pumpkin Girl saw progress on Little Man's Hoodie (aka Cabo Hoodie), she requested one in blue. I needed to stay on top of this to keep boredom at bay. Tsk. Tsk. I still haven't sewn the pocket on Little Man's hoodie but he's wore it to school already. Yay!


Both knits were similar yet different. One wanted long-sleeves, the other short. I used the same yarn (stash Cotton-Ease) but different colors. Somehow, the Popsical Blue was easier on the hands (but still not as sproingy as the Orangeade) than the Cherry Red. One was size 6 and the other was size 12 and yet I used the same amount of yarn for each.

Cabo Hoodie
Pattern: Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic
Yarn: 4 skeins Lion Cotton-Ease in Popsical Blue for size 12
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #7 and #8
(04/20/07 - 04/30/07)
Modifications: I made the neckline bigger by deepening the V. I lengthened the hood using one of her hoodies as a comparison.

And at the very last minute, Nicks decides to be part of the shoot.

Little Man's Hoodie

Little Man likes wearing hoodies. He wears one everyday when he goes to daycare. He actually wears the hood. When he saw me looking at the Cabo Hoodie pattern, he asked for one in blue. We headed up to my closet and pulled out the CE stash. His options were Popsical Blue or Candy Blue. When he saw the RED, he quickly claimed it - "I want mine red with a pocket and long-sleeves". Thus began the saga of Little Man's Hoodie.

My boys
The pocket was the first piece knitted up but as you can see I haven't sewn it on yet. Can you tell I have issues with sewing? I started knitting on Pumpkin Girl's hoodie last night while I was watching TV with Little Man when he inquired about his sweater.


Little Man: "Hmm. Mom, Where's my sweater?"
Me: "It's upstairs in our bedroom but I haven't sewn in the pocket."
LM: [goes upstairs] "Where in your room? ... Nevermind I found it. Can I wear it because I'm cold?"
He comes down the back staircase and I just had to take some pictures.

Double thumbs up

Cabo Hoodie
Pattern: Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic
Yarn: 4 skeins Lion Cotton-Ease in Cherry Red for size 6
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #7 and #8
(04/06/07 - 04/18/07)
Modifications: I made the neckline bigger by deepening the V. I lengthened the hood using one of his hoodies as a comparison.

Technique Learned: Grafting garter stitches.

Eventually I'll sew the pocket and add a picture of it.

Cabaret Raglan

I had my eye on this pattern for awhile but did not know how to substitute yarn. Then I saw Bron's version. Sold! I had some LB Cotton-Ease in the stash but was not ready for the lace chart. Things were put on hold.


Fast forward to March 2007 and I saw this on the Interweave KAL. I was ready to bite the bullet with the lace charts. For a pretty straightforward pattern, I still manage to rip/re-knit the lace part 3 times.

Cabaret Raglan
Pattern: Interweave Knits, Summer 2004
Yarn: 4 skeins Lion Cotton-Ease in Icy Blue
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #7 and 8
(03/09/07 - 04/03/07)
Modifications: Added shaping - I started with the size 40 1/2 to fit my caboose then narrowed for the waist and increased back to a size 36 1/2. The instructions have you knitting the neckline flat but once I picked up all those stitches, I did it in the round.

Techniques Learned: Deciphering lace chart. It helps to enlarge the charts!

If I make this again, I will do the entire sweater in the round (ala Hourglass).

Here's a photo of the culprit gnawing on my arm during the photoshoot:

Wouldn't you drop everything, too?

Remember this sweater I knit for Little Man last year? A few weeks ago, Hubby asked for an identical cotton sweater in his size. In all the excitement, I somehow forgot to mention it on this blog. I'm using the same yarn and the same color (his choice) so no need to make a gauge swatch. I used the gauge from the sweater and just cast on. Since I do not have an actual pattern to follow, I am using this and this as a starting point. I have 1 sleeve done and about 4" of the body. This will be loads of fun. This has been the perfect project while watching TV ... round and round of stockinette all the way.

P.S. - Chocolate yarn for Ariann arrived today.

Piercings and a Finished Sweater

Piercings! Nope, not me!
Last year, Pumpkin Girl decided she wanted her ears pierced. We took her to the mall, picked out the earrings and took our turn. The worst thing happened - the gun misfired! We left the mall. She was in tears and we had nothing to show for it.

Here we are a year later and she was determined to get her ears pierced when she turned 8. I found out from her that most of the girls in her 3rd grade class have their ears pierced. No pressure from me. However, Grandma kept telling her "if you don't have pierced ears, I won't buy you earrings".

Grandma, this one's for you.
When I bought the School Spirit Sweater pattern a year ago, I had envisioned knitting it for Pumpkin Girl. Pumpkin Girl is a tough one to knit for. She rarely wears long sleeves and when she does it is usually a cardigan. When I was going through patterns, Little Man saw this and immediately requested one in orange and blue. He picked a winner!

Air guitar pose
School Spirit Sweater
Pattern: Knit and Tonic
Yarn: 2+ balls Lion Cotton-Ease Icy Blue and Orangeade for trim
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #6 and #7
(09/17/06 - 09/30/06)

Beach bound

I'm still here. Visitors arrived at Casa Bear Knits on Aug 5th and stayed until the 13th. During that time, I must have knit all of 3 rows on my ChicKami. To top it off, sprinkler guys accidentally cut our cable access so no Internet access at home until cable guys fix it on the 21st.

After I dropped off the visitors at IAD on Sunday morning, we turned around and packed up the car to head off to our yearly beach trip.

Mondo Cable in action
Once we were settled in and everything, I pulled out my project only to notice that I had to rip out the last 8 rows as I had an extra stitch.

ChicKami on the beach
All is well now and I will have a FO to post soon. Pictures to follow later.

Mondo Cable

It all started as a stashbuster project. What to do with some Orange Cotton Ease? I kept looking at the Chic Knits site. Lo and behold, I saw Bonne-Marie's pattern in orange no less. A new project was born!

This will be a perfect tank to wear at the beach in August.

Mondo Cable
Pattern: Chic Knits
Yarn: 2 balls Lion Cotton-Ease in Orangeade
Needles: Addi Circulars in US #8, #9 and #10
(06/17/06 - 07/01/06)
Modifications: I added a purl ditch in the back. My row gauge was off so I had to add a fourth cable. I knit everything else as specified. Once I seamed the sides, I could not figure out how to seam the bound-off stair-stepped straps. Out came my lifesaver, I ripped back a few rows from the back/front and did some short rows and a 3-needle bind off.

New Technique learned: short row shaping

Child's Placket Pullover

This was a fun pattern/color to knit. Easy-peasy for a beginner like me. The only modification made was to omit the buttons for a more relaxed pullover. It would've been finished earlier but the siren call of lace (Branching Out), cables (Irish Hiking Scarf), mittens and this pink project (Molly) distracted me.

The verdict is still out whether I like the discontinued LB Cotton Ease. It was a little bit rough on my hands during knitting. However, it will be overlooked because of its ease of care (machine wash/dry).


The recipient is really happy with his new sweater. All in all, it was a perfect stashbuster project plus I learned how to knit plackets. Woohoo!

Child's Placket Pullover
Pattern: Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: LB Cotton Ease in Pineapple
Needles: Addi Circulars in US 6
(October 3 - November 12, 2005)

My First Cardi

Here she is ... Sitcom Chic. I stalled on this project a few times (sleeves and button bands). I got quite confused with the sleeves instructions so I emailed the designer, Bonne Marie Burns. To my surprise, I got a response back very quickly with some clarification. Talk about Customer Service (and this is a free pattern). Thanks Ms. Burns!!!

This project has a lot of firsts for me. I learned a lot! Let's mention a few:
1. Knitting sleeves in the round since I actually started this project before the Hourglass Sweater.
2. Now I know how to create eyelets.
3. Picking up stitches for button bands and collar.

All I need now is the perfect button.

Sitcom Chic
Pattern: Knitty Spring 2003
Yarn: Lion Cotton-Ease in Cherry Red
Needles: Addi Circular in US 5 and 8
(July 5 - September 26, 2005)