Earthtones Girl

Before the arrival of Ravelry, one would find a project, buy supplies and cast on.  There was the occasional consult with fellow knitters and staff at the LYS but aside from that you just knit the project.  Since the inception of Ravelry many of us research, research, research.  What yarn was used, needle size, and most important what modications where added to improve or alter a pattern more to our liking.  I’m one of those knitters.  Almost to the point of taking weeks to actually start a project because I spend so much time reading about what everyone else did. 

That is called, “letting your head get in the way”.  Many times that can be a big problem but in the case of the Go-veralls it served me well.

So here is a detailed write up of what I did, per request…it’s very chatty… I apologize in advance.

My gauge was a bit off.  I was getting 4.25 to 1 inch so I knit the 12-18 month size even though my girl is only 9 months.  The math just worked and I wanted it a bit big.

GUSSET

On the Leg:  Follow directions up to last increase.  On rnd 8 after the last increase begin the gusset as follows.

Rnd 1: M1P between the first and last stitch.  Mark as the center stitch.

Rnd 2: Increase on either side of the center stitch in purl.

Rnd3: Knit even up to the 3 increased stitches and work as P, K, P

Rnd4: Increase on either side of the center stitch, keep the end stitches in purl, ie: p ,m1,k,m1,p

Rnd5: Knit even

Rep rnds 4 & 5 up to 9 gusset stitches or wider if necessary.

Then work even to the desired leg length.  Repeat for the other leg.

Once the legs are the desired length, put the gusset stitches on a holder, join the legs as directed in the pattern but knit 3 rnds  even then work the first decrease.

RISE/SHORT ROWS

On the second rnd of each set of decreases work a short row as follow:

Set 1: Knit to 6 stitches before the side “seam”, wrap and turn the 6th stitch.  purl back to  6 stitches before the side “seam”, wrap and turn the 6th stitch, knit back and continue the rnd.  Remember to knit/purl the wraps with the respective stitch.

Set2 Knit to 8 stitches before the side “seam” on each side

Set3: Knit to 10 stitches before the side “seam” on each side.

If you need a higher rise start the short rows closer to the side “seam”

FINISHING

When I “kitchenered” the gusset I picked up an extra stitch on each end.  So you’re actually working over (in my case) 11 stitches.  That closes any remaining holes.

I’m so sure that all could have been said with half the words.  My intention is to be helpful…hope I have been.

Since I’ve been “gone” for a little while I wanted to fill you all in as to my “where abouts” but I thought, do you really want to hear about that?  Probably not…so why don’t I show you my first finished project of 2010.  I couldn’t be more excited with how well it turned out.   No I haven’t forgotten about my socks but I saw this on Ravelry and thought Kira needs these overalls.  Actually they are called On the Go-Veralls.

Pattern: On The Go-Veralls (a free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn: Mt. Colors, Weavers Wool Quarters, 100% wool, (2 strands held tog)

Colorway: Indian Corn, 2 skeins, 350 yards each

Needles: #8 for the body, #6 for the shoulder straps

Modifications: see below.  Overall, no pun intended, it’s a great, quick little pattern, super warm and highly functional. 

Great shaping.

I found those buttons in my Mum’s button bag.  I love rummaging through that old thing, but beware the straight pins (that she refuses to remove).

Here’s my first one row-button hole.  Why in all my years knitting hadn’t I every done one of those.  It’s a thing of beauty.  Neat, tidy, firm and functional.  Love it.  No more YO button holes for me.  I found the link above after a very quick google search and per the suggestion of the pattern.   One more simple reason to love knitting.

This is my favorite part, the crotch gusset.  Doesn’t sound very  nice but soooo necessary in a garment like this.  The original pattern just said “cinch up the hole in the crotch” but you could see it was going to be a big ugly hole and I thought there has to be a “cleaner” way.  After reading the comments by people on Rav who’d knit this pattern they all complained about the same thing. The big hole.  So I pulled out Knitting Ganseys by Beth Brown-Reinsel looked up the instructions for the underarm gusset and there you go.  I then did a little Kitchener-ing and ta da!!

So I couldn’t post this without the required action shots…Here’s my girl.

The other mod, I worked in was making the legs a bit long.  When I carry her in the sling or Ergo, the pant legs always creep up and in cold weather that is not good.  So the  longer pant legs keep her warm and I just fold them up so she can move around and not trip.  I also added 3 sets of short rows across the “butt”.  Not in the original pattern but again so necessary.  I tried it with out and the fit was awful.  Too much pulling and stitch distortion.

That’s my foot, and no I didn’t knit those socks, but I needed something super bright and colorful to get her to sit still for a moment.  3 days shy of 9 months…there is no sitting still for this girl.

Ok, off the write a post about my 2nd finished project.

Yes, I can still knit.  Though until very recently there wasn’t much of that going on around here.  I will tell you all the story later because I honestly think it’s worth telling but in the meantime…This is for Kira for Christmas day.  I’m hoping to have a pair of pants to go with it.  We’ll see… The knitting mojo has me by the throat and there is nothing I can do but yield and knit away.

Quick, simple and beautiful…just what I needed!!  It’s sized for 6-12months.  Kira is now 7 1/2.  So, I will certainly be making one or two more of these.  Maybe a hood next time.  Add some color, etc…

Just needs buttons, some blocking and it’ll be ready to go…

Pattern: Garter Yoke Bay Cardi by Jennifer Hoel

Yarn:  Karabella Aurora 8, color #1350, 5 socks.

Needles: #6

No major mods just moved the button placement up a bit. Starting about 2-3 stitches from the neck and then about every 10 stitches until I had 5 buttons holes.  Oh, and I added some short rows across the back of the sweater.  Other than that, I knit as directed.  Great pattern, super easy.