I've always relied on the kindness of strangers

DSC_0023, originally uploaded by jwhassjr.

Everyone, this is Blance, sister of Stella. I adoped her from the Greater Kansas City Humane Society back in August 2008. She is a great joy, and I have decided to make her yet another Darling Darby Sweater posted on Ravelry.

I have made this in three previous versions, all of which have not quite fit her just right. I have combed through several forums and everyone who has made this for their dogs have nothing but praise to offer for it's custom fit. I however can't tout such praises. I recently posted my woes on a group forum and got a timely reply from the sweater's designer giving me some recommendations. I took those recommendations and studied the three sweaters and see what she is talking about and believe this incarnation is going to be the one to post as a finished project on Ravelry once it's done.

I've decided to make it in knit two, purl two ribbing for the neck and chest, with rope cables along the back. The color is a very bright coral, which I believe will provide a nice contrast for her black and tan markings and cute little nub of a tail.

Here's what I have completed so far.

I am fairly familiar with this pattern from the other sweaters, so I should be able to finish in the next couple of days. Once I do, be prepared for the cutest, most fashionable dog in Leavenworth--with the exception of Blanche's sister, Stella, who sports a nice fair isle hand knit sweater that is befitting any hound dog this side of the mason dixon line.

February Jacket Proress Report

I am making good progress on my February Jacket. It looks like my idea of casting on the additional body/sleeve stitches and continuing to knit the body of the sweater instead of knitting the sleeves is going to work.

That being said, I have still continued to stew on how to prevent picking up those 28 stitches.

I thought back to an old KPS neck down pattern for a raglan sleeve sweater and think I have another alternative to this jacket. I believe I can further increase the yoke of the sweater to accommodate 8 additional repeats of the gull stitch pattern and simply place the sleeves on a holder without having to pick up and knit the 14 (or 2 pattern repeats). The reason it will require 8 additional repeats instead of 4 (2 for each sleeve) is due to the 14 stitches cast on on each sleeve are knit for both the body and the sleeve, essentially the sweater is sharing the cast on row to create 8 repeats (4 for the sleeves and 4 for the body).

But I digress, the math is thus: 8 repeats equals 56 stitches. To increase the yoke, I will have to go from 140 stitches to 196. That's a ratio of 140/196; factor by 28 and you get a simplified ratio of 5/7. That means I need to increase every 5 stitches of the original 140 yoke stitches to 7. I plan to do this by *k2,m1,k3,m1; repeat from * to last 4 stitches of the garter stitch border. This will likely require I knit an additional 4 ridges of garter stitch for the yoke, but that shouldn't really have too much of an impact on the finished jacket.

Overall, I believe this modification will give a more flared body with the sleeves being a little less perpendicular. I will be sure to post pictures once I cast it own and also share results. The worst that could happen is it won't work, and if so all is not lost: we still have Elizabeth Zimmermann's original design that we know works.

EZ February Baby Jacket

Okay, I have been really trying to be more mindful of keeping on top of blogging. Yesterday I backslid, but I'm moving onward and not letting that set back keep me down.

I have spent the past week working on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Tomten Jacket. It's a knit along this month for the Ravelry group "Zimmermanics". I was making great progress: I have the body and part of the hood completed, but alas I didn't buy enough yarn for the project and had to order more from the LYS where I purchased it.

In the interim, I decided to begin working on another pattern, the February Baby Jacket, from her book Knitter's Almanac. I have completed the yoke of the sweater and have made my way to the sleeves on this neck down pattern. EZ suggests that the knitter cast on 7 stitches at each end of 28 stitches and knit the sleeves on this little gem flat.

Now for someone who really doesn't vary much from the instructions given by the designer (hey I figure they designed it, so they would know best), I have trouble with her instruction for a couple of reasons: 1) I hate, no detest, seaming anything and 2) I think this is going to cause a really wonky join on the sweater. Even though the join will be under the arm, it's just the idea of it that makes me a little crazy.

I know I am no where near Mrs. Zimmermann's caliber when it comes to knitting, but I just don't see why she chose this type of construction on the jacket. Therefore I began researching other options for this. I have seen several people who knit the sleeve in the round, and I decided this is likely the best alternative to knitting the sleeve, however I have only found instances where knitters knit the sleeve in the round on both sides and then picked up the stitches and continued knitting the remainder of the body of the jacket. This seems easier than EZ's technique, but I think there's a better way yet and decided to post it.

I decided to cast on the entire 14 stitches using a backward loop cast on, while placing the other 28 stitches for the sleeve onto a piece of waste yarn.

Once the 14 stitches have been cast on, I am continuing to knit around the body to the other sleeve and following as established for the other sleeve. Then knitting to the end of the row on the other side of the jacket.

Where my plan varies is in the order of working the sleeves and the body. I am going to leave the sleeves on the waste yarn and finish knitting the body of the sweater. Once the body of the sweater is finished, I will then pick up the held stitches along with the 14 stitches cast on and knit the sleeves in the round. I have visualized in my mind, and my mind seems to believe it will work. I will keep you apprised of my progress...hopefully by posting the finished jacket.

Wish me luck!

Noah's Baby Surprise Jacket

EZ Projects 007, originally uploaded by jwhassjr.

Your mind isn't playing tricks on you. It's actually another post in two days!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have made two Baby Surprise Jackets, designed by Elizabeth Zimmermann. This is the second, and it's made for my neighbor's Dave and Jen, who are expecting Baby Noah April 5, 2009. I'm about 98.5% finished with it: I have to sew buttons on. I had yarn left over, so I'm working on a pair of booties, which are too cute.

I never wanted kids of my own, but I sure do enjoy making baby things. I think it's the "mininess" of it all. Hope you enjoy.

Baby Surprise Jacket

BSJ 003, originally uploaded by jwhassjr.

Here is my very first Elizabeth Zimmermann project. The very esteemed and much made Baby Surprise Jacket.

I love the way it looks and can't wrap my mind around its simplicity. All I can say is that EZ was very gifted, and I hope some of her knitting mojo rubs off as I study her more and make more of her designs.

I SUCK AT BLOGGING!

Okay, it's not like anyone is reading this anyway. Really how would anyone find the few poorly written hit or miss entries worth keeping track of, but I really have the best intentions of writing a blog.

In several ways, blogging for me is kind of like knitting. About six months ago, I began organizing my yarn stash. I pull out all of the yarn I could find: most of which was still in the bags from when I had purchased it. What can I say? I love a good deal, and of course I have every intention of knitting something with it "one of these days". After pulling out all the yarn that I could find, I began finding UFO's (unfinished objects for those who don't fully know knitting speak), so I pulled out a rather large Rubbermaid container and began placing the UFO's which I really wanted to finish into it and pulling out needles and frogging those that I really knew had a snowball's chance of ever getting finished. I ended up with about 20 to 30 sets of needles from the objects that I frogged, and I even managed to wind the yarn into cakes. I had to get a second Rubbermaid container because one was not enough for all of the projects I was planning to finish. Can you tell I'm a man with commitment issues with his knitting?

After that was finished, I set out to placing the yarn into containers by fiber, e.g., wool, cotton, thread, synthetic, etc. I managed to get most of it sorted and into a container, but there is still about two containers worth to finish yet, which are still sitting on top of the packed containers: all in the middle of the den in my basement. In the interim, I've cast on "several" more projects since I have so many free needles, and have actually ended up placing a couple of those UFO's into the second container. I have no idea why the hell I bother, but Lord knows I try.

At any rate, I do manage to finish quite a few projects and have them posted on Ravelry and Men Who Knit. I've actually began an obsessive love affair with Elizabeth Zimmermann and have made two of her Baby Surprise Jackets, and am about half finished with the Tomtem Jacket. This woman amazes me and really has kind of made me somewhat more reverent with my knitting. Time will only tell how reformed I am. Oh and so will the span between this and my next blog entry.

Back from a loooong hiatus

Well it's been way too long since I last posted. I've finished up work in Minnesota and have worked in Nashville since June. I've spent the entire month of October working from home and am waiting on my next project.

Knitting wise I've been in dog sweater mode. I've made two sweaters for Blanche and finishing a third. She's a little difficult to fit because of her small size and barrelled chest, but I believe I have gotten her measurements parlayed into a pattern that fits her well. She came from the Greater Kansas City Humane society back in June. She has been such a bundle of joy, and she and Stella have tolerated each other very well. Since I've been home, the two have slowly bonded and have started getting along very well.

I have spent a lot of time baking, reading, and studying for work. It's getting down to the wire for Christmas, so I'm gearing for a redirect in some areas and begin cranking out some holiday projects. I have completed several knitted hats and plan to knit up a few scarves, more hats, and some dish clothes. I should have plenty of time to complete my holiday knitting list, but I say that every year and always seem to end up behind the ball. We'll see if this year proves any different.

Voted today; I'm anxious to see tomorrow's outcome. Everyone who is registered please be sure to exercise your right and go vote!