As you know I failed at the February Fitted Pullover – my lace looked very moth eaten, but I was determined to master the lace pattern.

I decided in the round was just too complicated at this stage – I just wanted a simple flat pattern – a scarf!

This is a scarf of my own design (it’s a scarf not too hard!).

I’ve got a border of garter stitch and then four repeats of the gull lace pattern.

For the more pattern minded of you …

 CO 38 stitches

Knit five rows

K5, *K1, K2tog, YO, K1, KO, SSK, K1 , repeat until there are 5 stitches left, knit these remaining stitches

K5, P until there are 5 stitches left, knit the remaining stitches

K5, *K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, repeat until there are 5 stitches left, knit these remaining stitches

K5, P until there are 5 stitches left, knit the remaining stitches

Repeat the previous four rows until the scarf is the desired length

Knit five rows

Cast off.

K2tog is knit two stitches together 

YO is Yarn Over.

SSK is Slip Slip Knit

 and tension is irrelevant (it’s a scarf!). If you use chunkier yarn, then have less lace repeats and more repeats for a lighter weight yarn.

Slowly, slowly. The lace pattern is reasonably easy to remember – although the girls are home on holidays at the moment and like to ask me questions while I’m trying to concentrate (I think I managed to fix/cover up this morning’s mistake).

I really want to knit socks though … I am determined to finish.

]]> http://sewwitty.com/2012/04/13/progress-report/feed/ 0 http://sewwitty.com/2012/04/05/february-jumper/ http://sewwitty.com/2012/04/05/february-jumper/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:37:12 +0000 SewWitty http://sewwitty.com/?p=1544 Well my third attempt is faring a bit better.

I’ve made it to knitting the lace!

This is my third attempt at starting this top – I kept twisting it when I joined the round (despite my best efforts). I referred to Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop and knit the first 5 cm flat and then joined the round. I think it’s OK now, but this is my last attempt. If this doesn’t work I’m starting something else.

This seemed like a lovely idea, but cutting the squares and rectangles is very time consuming.

The other project is this one by Amy Herzog…

 I’ve cast on three times so far …

Above is the first time and you can see it’s twisted – like a mobius strip. It might all end badly.

I finished the second sock! These came together very easily and I might be a convert to toe up construction.

There are some great instructions here.

I finished my sock. I cast off using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sewn cast off, which worked a treat – I should have used this method on this – it might have stretched over their heads!

Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Sewn Cast Off

 Cut your yarn so the tail is about three times as long as the knitting and thread it onto a blunt needle.

*Insert the needle into the first 2 stitches on the knitting needle as if to purl and draw the yarn through.

Reinsert the needle into the first stitch on the knitting needle as if to knit, draw the yarn through and slip the stitch off.*

Repeat from * to *.

You can find instructions for this method in Knitting Without Tears  and I am sure there are a few youtube videos demonstrating it as well.

Now I just need to do the second sock.

The first sock is practically complete. I just have to cast off – apparently there is a good method in Knitting Without Tears..

I’m onto the leg! There’s a bit of a hole where I rejoined the heel to the instep, so I might need to do something else on sock two.

The pattern on the instep and leg is a cross stitch rib (see below)

Cross Stitch Rib – Multiples of 3 stitches

R1:  *Skip 1st stitch, knit into second stitch, knit into skipped stitch and then slip both stitches off the needle, P1, repeat from * to end of round.

R2: *K2, P1, repeat from * to end of round

I’ve turned the heel on my sock and now I’m knitting the heel flap (opposite to when you knit from the cuff down).

So far so good – although I think I am in a bit of denial as to how big this sock is going to be! Also, a fifth needle would be really handy – why don’t they come with a fifth needle bamboo needles do?

]]> http://sewwitty.com/2012/02/01/more-sock-progress/feed/ 1