Row Counter Bracelet

Yesterday, I was reading the posts on one of my Yahoo Groups. Someone asked about using row counter bracelets. I have never used one but I have seen them on other blogs and internet company sites. The retail price on the bracelets is about $10. Well, I decided that I could make one. After all I do have lots of beads from making stitch markers. Today I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased the cording, crimps, and lobster claw clasps. Presto, change-o, here is a Row Counter Bracelet!

I'll have to make more for some friends. How about one for a door prize for the knitting guild (with matching stitch markers, of course!)?

BTW, I decided the sleeves on my Perfect Tee Sweater are too big. So...rippit, rippit.

Busy Summer

Well, I don't have much knitting done from last week. My oldest son started Band Camp and I ended up driving 100 miles a day to take and pick him up from school. The school gave the students 2 breaks a day for a 1 3/4 hours each. My son wanted to come home for the breaks and he can't drive so ........
Here they are learning the marches. My son is the tuba player with the black hat.

And another shot. The band is fairly large with around 100 kids. They actually have 8 tuba players.

On to knitting:

I received my order from Carodan Farm Wool Shop. It is a kit for the cuddle animals with the pattern and yarn. I started the cat in lavender, but I didn't like how the increases looked. So this morning I frogged it and will start again.

July Mid-Month KAL

I am behind on the Monthly Dishcloth KAL current cloth, but it is finished. It turned out very nice. This cloth should have good scrubbing power because it uses mainly seed and garter stitches. I didn't block it, so it's not square.

Some of the KAL members had problems with the "knit in the back loop", but that is fairly simple to learn. ( Especially with all the tutorials out there in internetland.)

I liked this cloth, I'll have to knit it again.

Pattern: Bamboozled
Source: Monthly Dishcloth KAL
Yarn: Sugar N Creme
Color: Country Brown Ombre
Needles: US 6

Perfect Tee

I am busily knitting Ann Norling's The Perfect Tee. I started it back in May using Peaches N Creme Cotton Worsted in white. It was finished except for seaming the sides. I basted the side seams & tried it on. Because I used the shaping instructions, the sweater did not suit my build. Too Tight for me! It was promptly frogged. (ie. rip it, rip it) That was okay with me, because I had used the less expensive yarn to make a trial run anyway. (It is tiring to make a sweater and not have it fit properly).

I then started over using the yarn I purchased for this project. I am using Plymouth Yarns - Fantasy Naturale, a larger size and NO SHAPING. We shall see how this works.

I have finished the back and am almost up to the arm hole shaping on the front. When I knitted the first sweater, the arm holes had the "stair step" ladders around the curve. This made it very hard to sew in the sleeves. I decided to research the problem and I found the best tutorial on Knitty.com. Check out the smooth arm hole curve now! I'll see how it works on the neckline.

New Socks and Old Pictures

Hot off the Needles:

I finished the Colinette Jitterbug Socks this morning. I really liked working with this yarn. It has a nice "springy" feel to it. It sort of reminded me of Koigu. The colors pooled some, but not in an unpleasant way. There is a faint odor of vinegar in this yarn. Probably from the dyeing process, it should fade when washed.

I did modify my pattern to accommodate fingering weight yarn. The cast on was 64 stitches and I used 5 needles.



Pattern: Thuja (modified)
Source: knitty
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug
Color: Mardi Gras
Needles: US 1


Everyday Cardigan

Here is the picture of my Everyday Cardigan from Peace Fleece. I finished it in March and actually wore it a couple of times before it became too hot. I must admit that wool yarn is very warm. I have never had a wool sweater before now. This can be worn as a jacket. The yarn is a little scratchy but not too bad. It really blocks the wind. I will probably modify the pattern the next time I knit this sweater. The arms are too long (did you notice that I rolled them up?) and the body needs lengthening for my taste.


Pattern: Everyday Cardigan
Source: Peace Fleece
Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted Weight
Color: Blueberry Borscht
Needles: US 6 & US 8

More Pictures

Here is another pair of socks knitted for my daughter. I finished these about 2 months ago, but never posted a picture.


Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Childrens Sock Pattern
Yarn: Regia Silk
Needle: US 2
Color: Pink

I modified the heel using my favorite:

Row 1: slip 1, knit 1 across the heel
Row 2: slip the first stitch then purl the rest
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for the length of the heel flap