Ultimate Flexibility

Knitters have it and enjoy it -- ultimate flexibility.  We can begin a sweater at the neck, at the yoke, at the end of one sleeve (and knit 'across') or the traditional way, from the bottom up.

Top down is the appropriate adjective for this one.

This KAL is proceeding nicely.  It's the Lapis Yoke Pullover from Interweave and is the subject of their KAL.   You will have to purchase the pattern; look for an Interweave special or coupon.  Reliable patterns, always.

Start this one at the neckline with a US6 and a few rows of
knit and purl in the round, to make it look like garter stitch.
Then move to 1x1 ribbing.  After a few rows, increase to
create 1x2 ribbing.  Follow this pattern for a few rows,
increase again to 1x3 ribbing. . . etc.

The yoke expands and the 1-stitch knit in the ribbing is on display.  Here's a close-up.

For my size I ended the yoke with 1x5 ribbing.
The body of the sweater, and the sleeves are knit
in stockinette stitch.  1x1 ribbing at the end of the sleeves
and around the bottom of the sweater.
Some shaping at the waist.

This one allows me to report several items of good news -- 

• I'm knitting up stash;  bot this Cascade 220 Superwash when they wound the skeins as part of manufacturing.
• I'm already at the body of the sweater, which means I'm keeping pace (I think) with the KAL.
• I'm knitting with one of my absolute favorite colors.
• I'm knitting with size US7 needles and in the round so things are smooth and easy for knitting.

Can't get much better than that!

No, wait!  The SUN is shining in Lakewood.  Now that is something to see and celebrate and enjoy.

Matched Set

As it says in the pattern intro for these fingerless gloves, they will keep your hands warm while you are "typing or knitting."  These are Andean Silk from Knit Picks, alpaca, silk and merino.  This yarn is just splendiferous -- there's no other word for it.

Finished one.  This is a test -- now that the discovery is complete (new pattern, new stitch combo, etc.) will I be an adult knitter and cast on for the second one.  Will I knit to the completion of a second hand-warmer?

The thumb hole was simple.  Bind off 4 stitches and then
cast them on again in the next row around.
Challenge is to keep with the wavy pattern, an offset rib.
Background is the mohair scarf in Darliss' yarn, pattern
from Whit's Knits at Purl Bee.

Pattern from One Skein Wonders, by WEBS, in NH.  This is a another favorite site for me.  I like the extensive offerings of yarn from practically all makers and all weights and styles.  The sales are really good if you follow them on Facebook.  WEBS

Yes, the second hand warmer IS on the needles, along with a matching scarf.  Here's all three together with the elves (who, sadly, do not knit . . .)

Completed handwarmer at the top (with the nutcracker in
the thumb spot.)  On the gray needles a scarf.  Santa is
resting in the beginning of hand warmer 2.

Love this scarf pattern and have made it once before.  It works well on variegated or solids.  It looks good from either side and the selvedge (edge) stitches keep it flat so it doesn't curl up into a tube.  It's the Universal Scarf from Interweave.  Free pattern.

Use any needle size suggested by the weight of the yarn.
I'm using US10 (6mm) with a worsted weight that's
just a bit fluffy.

The magic of the pattern is that 18 stitches will get you a scarf that's wonderful.  I wanted something just a bit wider so added stitches in groups of 3 (the repeat part of the pattern.)

The collection will keep the recipient warm, even in a cold office while typing or phoning.  And texting will be easy since fingers are available.  The hand warmers work up very quickly since they are on a larger needle (US8/5mm) and the thumb hole is just a big buttonhole.  Bind off 4 stitches and on the next round put them back on.  Nothing elaborate; the wavy stitch pattern speaks volumes.

Details show the wave.  Clever stitch pattern:  P2, K4 for 4 rounds.
Then offset the same stitch repeat by shifting things just one stitch.
Works very nicely in the round.

In between wool knitting I returned to the pima cotton white shawl and added another repeat of the initial pattern over the shoulders.  It's even more satisfying than I remembered.  It's moving along nicely; another couple of pattern repeats and I can begin knitting from the second chart of delicate lace.

Celebrations!  I found my favorite little ruler.  Yes, it was stuck in a book as a place-holder.  I think it was in the Sowerby Victorian Lace.  See, there's a great reason to keep multiple projects on the needles:  when you return to one that's been idle for a bit, you discover you're close to a next fun pattern and you find an accessory that you suspected of having run off with the missing needles.  Some people's knitting stuff . . .

Crochet Lace Scarf

What is it with me and lace?  Lace knitting and now lace crochet.  I like watching the pattern develop and I like the delicate look at the end.  This one is a long, long center panel (1 row repeated row after row after row), with borders crocheted around the long skinny rectangle.

Variegated yarn worked out just fine, though I was a
bit on edge about it at first.

The pattern is from Interweave, but not free.  It's called Emerald Scarf because it's shown in -- wait for it -- emerald green.  Designer Tracy St. John lives in Montana and I'm betting some reader out there knows her.

Stage by stage you can get an idea of the structure.

First the long skinny rectangle, crocheted back and forth across the short side until the long side is either a) as long as you want it or b) as long as you think you can stand to do another row or two.  Lots of yarn required so I made this one shorter and eliminated a couple of borders.

By this point the rectangle is about 4 1/2" wide.
I didn't count the rows but there are at least 160.   The final
interior base rectangle is about 48" long

Don't break off the yarn, because at the end of the last row of the base you turn and crochet up the long, long (and getting longer?) side of the rectangle.  This process takes you all the way around to the point where you began the journey . . . so you can begin again.

Here I am just finishing the second trip around the rectangle
base.  First round was a series of loops (the darker stitches
to the left of the hook.)  The second round is hdc (crocheters
will 'get it') in the loops.  These stitches appear on the left
edge and to the right of the hook.

And because I do not have enuf yarn for all 6 rounds around, I decide round 3 will have to be the fini of this scarf.  I begin -- and then I have to stop.  About 1/3 the way up the first long side I just know I won't have enough for even this border.  But I don't like the scarf with only the two borders.

I've been crocheting almost as long as I've been knitting (one of those "combined experience of 137 years,"  or something) so I pull this section back to the corner and devise a final border that takes much less yarn.  It's a nice finish, though perhaps not as elaborate as the original design.

This picture shows off the variegated thread, the lacy pattern
used for the base rectangle and 3 border rounds.
The last one made little open shells that resulted in a
'fringe' of scallops all around.

Packing this one into wrappings after I put it on the blocking board for overnight.  A bit of steam to even things out.  Sure wish I had a steam button for life.  Don't know about your life but sometimes a roller coaster with more gentle slopes and slides might be nice.  Well, I don't know -- boring probably.

Bundle up with your own crocheted or knitted scarf if you're a resident of the Northern Hemisphere.  If you live below the equator, add something cool and flowing around your waist while you stroll the beach or sit by the pool.  

Cold or warm, the Coming Guest will find you if you open your heart to Him.  Blessed 4th Sunday of Advent to all.