Round Dish Cloth

That last project has got me thinking. I need to rethink how I approach starting a project. I just want to crochet or knit so bad, I just jump right in most of the time. Well, I think I'm going to start to do more planning. I'm going to do more than just a test swatch.

While I do this, to feed my fettish, I'm going to make some dishcloths for the house. We are in dire need. See, I've been ignoring the basics. That last sweater was a wake up call.

Why do I talk about my crafting like it's a major life decision? Because it is, that's why! What?!?

Here' the dishcloth. Done in Peaches and Cream Cotton. The project is simply called Knitted Round Dishcloth. It's very easy, only took a couple of hours, and I only have one seam to sew. How grand!! It's about 8 inches in diameter. It's my first dishcloth and I don't know why I waited so long to make it. No more rags for us, we're kicking it up a notch!

Kelso, First Try

Call me Miss Piggy, cause the only sounds you could hear coming from my bedroom night after night were rip-it, rip-it. I ripped this strange green creature back so many times I lost count. No really, I lost count. The sizing is just not right. The gauge of my test swatch was right on. I had problems with the raglan decreases the entire time trying to figure out which method to use and wondering why I still had so many stitches left on my needles. I ended up decreasing way more aggressively than the pattern recommended and it was still too big.

The neckline and shoulder shaping are not positioned right.

I had to knit an extra 3 sets of the horse shoe lace pattern to make the raglan decrease and neckline merge. Those raglan decreases are supposed to rest on my collar bones not caress my lady lumps.

The neck is too big.

That corset tie is supposed to be placed where the neck shaping starts and be lying across my chest. Yet, you see where it is.

It's way too loose and I had to stand very still so that it wouldn't fall off, I had to pin the collar to my shirt so that you could get an idea of how it's supposed to fit.

I'm going to make it again 2 sizes smaller. Maybe I'll get a better look next time.

Instead of the continuous complaints about this pattern full of ambiguity I'll just conclude my naming this joint an official.

Hot Mess!!!!!

Ravelers click here to see how it's supposed to look.

Ballet T-Shirt, A quickie

This is a real quickie. Took all of two evenings in bed after the kids had gone to sleep. If you want to experiment with manipulating sizes of patterns, this one would be great to get you started. Teddy Bear measures 23" around the chest.

Unfortunately, this top won't make it into the school pictures. Teddy Bear woke up with a horrible "crook" in her neck. I thought she had a sinus infection or meningitis or something. The doctor said that there were no major knots in her neck and recommended Motrin and warm compresses. Let Teddy Bear tell it, someone was trying to decapitate her. She had me very scared with her crying. She was inconsolable. She's doing better now, I had to come into the office for a little while.

Can you tell which side hurts?

FRONT

BACK

Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, Held Double. Not even two full skeins were used.
Color: Ya'll know I have a hard time keeping track of this for some reason.
Needles: Size 11
Size: Made to fit chest size 23". One extra increase included to eliminate cropped look.

Ballet T

Kelso is not going well. The pattern is too confusing, not clear. The author has answered whatever questions I have, and that's great. But, isn't it best to have a pattern that requires no further communications with the client? I'm going to finish it, because I love the sweater. I want one of my own.

I worked half way up the neck line and realized that I had chosen the wrong type of raglan decrease for a particular row or forgot to omit a YO when I was supposed too and ended up with an odd looking lace repeat. I considered just moving on, but no. Won't do it. I may even rip back past the life line so that I can incorporate the waist shaping that I forgot to earlier. I believe waist shaping is oneof the differences between frumpy and sexy.

Needless to say, I have to step away from the Kelso for a while. Nope, it's not going into the abandoned pile. But in the mean time, for some instant gratification....

Got the notice in the backpacks yesterday that picture day is Friday. Thank for the heads up...NOT!!!! But since I love to torture myself, I'm going to whip up a hand made top for TeddyBear (whose grown 2 whole kids sizes since I last posted a picture of her) by Thursday night. It will be done. I will also be taking those tiny 2 1/2 week old braids out from the other half of her head.

I can do it.

See.

8:46 PM - 11:00 PM

Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece held double, size 11 circulars. Ballet T-Shirt Pattern from the Loop-D-Loop patterns book.

Kelso Lace Cardigan

Yeah, long weekends are for catching up on chores around the house. There was plenty of yard work, not enough, but plenty. Laundry as usual. And Jesus, can you please send a miracle for these floors? A coupon or something, Lord.

But, no long weekend would be right without starting a new project. I know, I know, I need to just go into those projects in dormancy and just work those out. But, we all know, this is not how my yarn fetish works. I would have loved to start this in a bamboo or bamboo cotton blend but the funds just aren't loose like that this month. So, good thing the pattern calls for Cotton Ease.

Kelso @ 7:20 AM

Kelso about 12 hours later.

The sleeve increases are driving me nuts, so I started on the body. I'll need to finish the sleeves before I can continue. Still on the first sleeve, still going crazy. Hope this one doesn't end up in the hybernation bin before the end of the week. Yes, I have a special place for those projects.