Wendy Knits

Didja see the new Critter Knitters Coalition website? Liz blogged about it being up and running yesterday. She did a fabulous job and I think it’s a beautifully designed and executed site.

I also love what it’s all about. Go read it, and then come back here. I’ll wait.

Okay.

You all know what a bleeding-heart animal lover I am. This is a cause that really tugs at the ol’ heartstrings for me, because when I read about shelter animals needing warm blankies to lie on, I think of Lucy when she was in a shelter (before her rescue), shivering, injured, alone, and scared.

I look at her now, sleeping in my lap, purring in her sleep, and wish I could give a loving home to every poor creature in a shelter. But I can help by knitting and donating blankets to the Critter Knitters Coalition.

What do you guys think about a Critter Knitters Knit-along?

Liz and I are going to cohost this event. We are still in the planning stages but we’d like to give everyone a heads-up and see what you think. We’re going to have a raffle, like I did with the Mouse-a-thon, so there will be chances to win some great prizes.

There are guidelines on the Critter Knitters website on what they need, as well as links to patterns for blankies. Those of you with knitting machines could whip them out pretty quickly, I think. The blankets must be machine washable, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got some Plymouth Encore Chunky at home left over from another charity project, so that’s what I’ll be knitting my blankets with. Plymouth Encore is my favorite machine washable yarn. Mostly acrylic, but has enough wool in it to feel good.

I’m very excited about this! Liz and I will post details on our blogs as we figure them out.

Cross-Stitch

I think it’s very cool that both Michelle and Anne recognized and had started or made the cat and basket cross-stitch I featured yesterday.

Did either of you make this one?

Anne, I believe you are correct — the magazine was “Cross Stitch and Country Crafts” at that time, and I agree — it was good.

Frida

I did complete Frida’s first sleeve and started the second one.

Oh by the way, I’m not the only person who has noticed that Dale of Norway’s yardage requirements in their patterns are often inaccurate. It’s been discussed on the Norgeknit list (over at Yahoogroups).

A question yesterday on how much extra yarn to buy if your making the largest size of a design and there’s no next size up to guide you.

Well, you sort have to play it by ear. Look at how much the amounts needed go up for each size and just estimate. And by the way, the amounts needed for Ingeborg may be exactly correct as written in the pattern. I’m just pointing out that it’s been my experience in the past that Dale underestimates yarn amounts. So I always buy a little extra so I don’t have to think about it.

Your mileage may vary.

Apple Butter Socks

Finished the first one.

March Contest

It’s that time again, ain’t it? I’ll announce the March contest on Monday. Keep your eyes peeled!

Here she is, with her neckband completed. And a close-up:

When I finished the body, I cast off 4 stitches at each side, as well as all the steek stitches for the fron and back neck. Then I put the shoulder stitches on holders, and machine stitched the armhole steeks and the neck steeks. Then I knitted the shoulders together. Cut open the neck steeks, picked up the neckband stitches, and knit the neckband. Presto, chango.

Ingeborg Knit-Along

Sounds like a few of you are interested. Cool!

Question from yesterday’s comments:

Will you be mentioning on the blog the times that you vere from the pattern? For instance in one of the archive notes you state you do the neck steek differently from the pattern [can't find the reference right now]- will you be explaining how you the neck differently?. And the Ingeborg pattern seems to have a 4-stitch steek for the front. I know you say you use longer length steeks but I’m not sure if there is a good reason for a small steek in this instance. Seems like the longer version would be better.

The short answer is “yes.”

I will undoubtedly do neck steeks when I knit Ingeborg, and I’ll talk about them when I do them, and how I altered the pattern. I’ll do a larger steek for the front bands, because I find it much easier to work with a larger steek. All will be documented in nauseating detail. I promise!

I don’t expect anyone to make the same changes to their Ingeborg that I will make to mine, but I’ll give you the rationale for what I do, so you can decide what you want to do.

From the same question:

Should I do something first like your Fearless Fair Isle [where you go into more specifics regarding details and I could improve my technique] before I tackle Ingeborg?

The Fearless Fair Isle documents fair isle steeks, so it won’t be of much use here. I do have a Norwegian steek article that appeared in Knitty a year ago. Check it out here.

Because I Know You Wanna See

Here’s Xena, parked in her parking place in my garage. Isn’t she pretty?

Lucy Sez:

I’m prettier!

Okay, I’ve gotten several email questions about whether I would consider hosting an Ingeborg Knit-Along.

Anyone wanna play?

Ingeborg is not next in the line-up for me. That’s Flora. But I’ll make Ingeborg the project after Flora, if anyone’s interested in knitting along with me.

Just for grins, I made a button.

I’m thinking a start date sometime the first two weeks of May? Opinions, anyone? Ingeborg, in three colorways, is available in Dale Book 126.

A Sock Question

What cast off do you use for your toe-up socks? I’ve tried the EZ sewn cast off and it’s not quite what I’m looking for. Have you ever seen instructions for a tubular cast off in k2 p2 ribbing?

I’ve used the sewn cast off. But what I do more often is increase my number of stitches, by either 4 or 8, as I start the ribbing. Then I cast off lossely in whatever rib pattern I’ve used.

I’ve not tried a tubular cast-off in rib, but Flor has instructions for it here.

Speaking of Socks . . .

Here’s L-B’s sock:

Here’s my sock:

I haven’t worked on mine since lunchtime Friday. I was looking forward to knitting on the train going home Friday, but started feeling icky Friday afternoon. Sinus congestion, et cetera.

Frida

So icky did I feel that I did no knitting at all on Friday evening. But I did finish the body of Frida on Saturday:

And got some done on one sleeve over the weekend:

But my knitting time was curtailed because I spent Saturday afternoon buying this:

That’s a 2004 Honda Civic EX Coupe.

In case anyone wants to know, I bought her at Bill Page Honda in Falls Church, VA, and had a very pleasant car buying experience. And got a very good price. I recommend them.

Go See!

Betsy finished HoJo! It’s wonderful! Go see!

Lucy Sez:

It’s Monday! Get down to business!