Gyspy Mesh Pullover

This pattern almost drove me crazy when I first started. The lace alternates rows, with one odd row having a YO and a K2tog, and the next odd row having a SSK followed by the YO. I kept on getting them mixed up until I started hanging a stitch marker to keep me on track, and then I was able to zip along. I just love this yarn, it reminds me of my favorite Mandalay that has been discontinued.

I'm chagrined to admit I haven't been able to do much stash reduction; instead it has all been stash enhancement. I have even more bags of yarn begging to be knit up, and I just ordered some Quince and Co Tern...

Year of the Stash

I'm resurrecting my blog. I want to chronicle my attempts to knit down my embarrassingly huge stash. I began last week with an inventory. It has taken me 3 days to do this, and I am stunned at how much yarn I have accumulated. It would be even larger, but over the years I have sent some to the Prison Project at Knitter's and XRX. And to embarrass my conscience even more, I still have two batches of sock yarn and one batch of Mandalay still to arrive.

Corset Pullover

The Corset Pullover, by Robin Melanson from Interweave Knits Summer 2003. I finally made this when Sandi Wiseheart did the Gallery on Knitting Daily. Thanks to the tips from the Gallery, the Corset fits perfectly. I narrowed the central panel and the shoulders, and shortened the torso a bit. I made only one set of waist ties. I love the yarn I made it in, Rowan Calmer. I may add the little sleeve ties later. It's cool like cotton but stretchy at the same time. I'm thinking about the Ingenue Blouse by Phoenix Bess in this yarn...but the weight is a bit different.

Picnic in the Park

My Picnic in the Park, from Knitter's Summer 2007; in Rowan Calmer. I made the sleeves longer since I always freeze from the air conditioning vent over my head in the office. The Calmer feels so luxurious and for a mainly cotton yarn is nice and stretchy.

Earth Stripe Tunic

Earth Stripe Tunic, by Kaffe Fassett from Rowan 42, in Kid Silk Haze, many colors. I modified the pattern to make the sweater in the round, so I wouldn't have to match the stripes on the front and back. I also shorted the length and abbreviated the ribbing. I fiddled with the collar a bit. I finally went with rolling in over in thirds and tacking it down. After I was done, when I tried it on, the sleeves were huge, almost batwing-like. They got into everything. I ran them in on my sewing machine and trimmed off about half the width. They are still big. I should have looked at the picture more closely!

Some Knitted Purses

I love frogs. From the book Knitted Purses by Nicky Epstein
Crocheted! It took a weekend. From the Vogue Book Crocheted Bags
So much fun! I modified the patterns a bit. A free pattern from the Berroco Website