slipped stitch – Page 2

What I’m Knitting Now

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Laura Kate

I can’t describe this post as a cast-on, because I started this project immediately after I had cast off and kitchener stitched my last Christmas gift item.

My inspiration for this project is a slipped stitch pattern used in a shawl design.

https://www.i-knt.com/product/3879940/co-zzy-shawl-eng

The two yarns I chose are Rowan Felted Tweed (purple) and Tosca Light by Lang (multicolor.)

The Rowan was acquired in Madison at Sunset Yarns, although it is readily available from many on-line sources. The Tosca Light? Honestly, I can’t remember, but it was probably found at a Wisconsin yarn store. It is no longer available (according to Ravelry, the yarn is “dyed and gone.”) I’m in love with the long color changes that unfold as I knit.

The thing is, I don’t want to knit another shawl. There is simply no more room in my “shawl drawer” for another one, no matter how beautiful. Instead, I plan to knit a sort of serape/poncho kind of thing based on this design from Cheryl Oberle.

This jacket is knit in two matching rectangles that will be seamed together at the center back. I simply replaced the arrowhead lace section with the slipped slip pattern from the Cozzy shawl. Next I filled in the rows between pattern sections with alternating stripes of the multi and purple yarns.

Oh, and I threw in a few rows of eyelet lace for good measure.

It’s all going pretty well so far, as you can see in the first photo. The tricky part will come next, as I finish up the first half and start knitting the sleeve down.

I’ll have an update in a few weeks. Until then, happy knitting!

knitting

Baggy Saggy Socks

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Laura Kate

Despite my efforts to apply my best knitting skills, I frequently end up with saggy socks. They droop around the ankles, and scrunch around the in-step. It annoys me to no end when they are on my feet.

All you knitters out there are probably thinking, she didn’t get gauge, or made the wrong size. She just needs to adjust the number of stitches cast on. Well, that might be in some cases. Most of the time, it is because I forget how much superwash wool yarns can lengthen after the finished socks are washed. Even when I make a meticulous swatch AND block it.

So, I decided to try something new. Why not use a slip stitch pattern on the areas of the sock giving me the most sag?

I turned to one of my stitch dictionaries ………

……..and selected a pattern called Woven Stitch.

In essence, it is a stockinette pattern with a bar of yarn across every other stitch, every other row. The result is a firmer fabric with a little more lateral pull. If made with sock yarn that includes a bit of nylon, the fabric is stretchy enough but returns quickly to its former position. In other words, it ‘hugs” the foot.

I like it!

**Sock swatch in Ewetopia’s Wisco Sock.**

After working one inch of 1 x 1 ribbing, I knitted the ankle in the Woven stitch. I kept the instep in pattern while I continued along the heel and foot. Upon reaching the toe shaping, I switched to solid stockinette stitch.

When worked in a tonal yarn, the slipped stitches break up the color transitions slightly. This results in a sort of pebbly look.

Looks and feels like a perfect fit. I will be interested to see how well these socks perform over time.

knitting

Finishing the Baby Fern Sweater

Posted on August 20, 2019August 21, 2019 by Laura Kate

I had stopped working on this project until I could verify the baby’s arm length. My original design allowed for an 8 inch sleeve. To learn the truth I took a tape measure to the lake house. While she attempted to evade measurement by considerable wriggling, I won the battle, and determined her arms were 7 inches long. In the interests of planning for growth, I made the sleeves 7 1/2.

Finally moving on to the yoke. Remember, Elizabeth Zimmerman’s battle cry: Knit body to underarm, sleeves to underarm, unite! Here is the sweater after the yoke was worked as far as the first round of decrease.

My plan to keep the stockinette stripes evenly spaced worked out well. As I began to run out of yarn I added the white and pink stripes. The blue ribs were carried through by slipping those stitches in the white and pink stripes.

Yoke worked to 4 inches in depth. Per the EZ method, three rounds of decrease happen at 1/2hf, 3/4th and 4/4th of the yoke, or in this case, 2, 3 and 4 inches.

After sewing up the sleeve seams and grafting the underarm seams, I decided to use single crochet to finish the front edge including six button holes – 2 in the yoke, 4 in the body. Here is the sweater, knitting complete.