Weekend Dress

 

 

I finally fixed my sewing machine after two months of

tangled thread and frustration

and went to work and learned some new skills.

I learned to set in sleeves, use a real pattern and then modify it

when I didn't like how it was coming out,

what to do when you are really short on fabric

and gather (that was the part I didn't like and altered -

 the top is supposed to be gathered at the bust and neckline)

The end result is my fun and funky weekend dress of many colors._

 

Mitts that are Fitz for a Queen, or a mom.

 

Mitts inspired by those worn by Mrs. Fitzgibbons in the Outlander series.

C/O 30 stitches
(long tail, doesn’t seem to have a problem with rolling over)
R 1 knit
R 2 purl
R 3 knit
R. 4 purl
R 5 kn.st 1-17, decrease 1 (knit two together) knit rest of row
R 6 purl
On knit (odd rows) decrease 1 with center stitches
(even rows purl straight across)
Until there are 19 stitches left.
Three rows of stockinette
On the 3rd row (purl side) knit first 3 and last 3 stitches..
Garter stitch first and last 3 stiches on each row for seven rows
(For thumbs)
Stockinette for last 5 rows
BO on purl row.
(Seems to eliminate rolling)
Seam up sides. Leaving space for the thumb at the garter stitch section. You don’t have to do the garter stitch but it keeps the thumb opening lying flat and nicely defined, especially if you use a yarn that doesn’t block well.
I usually leave a long enough tail when I bind off and cast on to stitch up the seams.
I wear a US size 16….if you are small you may want to go down a needle size, or start with fewer stitches…..to compensate and preserve the length just knit more rows of stockinette before the thumbs.

 

Very comfy and toasty warm on cool evenings.

A Fine Day In May

 

Today was the test run for Gabe's bus run to his new job.

 

Which is in downtown Pawtucket,

 

Across the street from Slater Mill

 

the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America

and also the birthplace to many Canadian Geese.

 

 

We took the bus back to Providence for some lunch and window shopping

 

Insider and Outsider Art

 

And narrow alleyways that are spontaneous galleries

 

Amazing vintage clothing stores

 

And more amazing vintage architecture

 

 

Do yourself a favor and go here for lunch and to check out what is going on in the local

music and theatre scene.

 

Really, look at all of those shows.

this is AS220

Providence's premiere arts community and home to great eats

 

 

Gabe helps a man feed the pigeons,

he was just there feeding the pigeons, saw Gabe and said

"come on, help, you just rip the bread up like this and throw"

 

 

the pigeon master

 

It was a good day to end the way....

 

 

Outlander's Need a Hug Shrug

Outlander’s Need a Hug

Shrug

Lion Brand WoolEase Chunky – Redwood

US 11 (8mm) needles
Cable Needle
Tape Measure
Gauge 10 Stitches, 8 Rows = 4”x 4”
Cast on 60 stitches with long tail cast on (or preferred)

Row 1 K2, P2 across

Row 2 P2, K2 across
Row 3 K across
Row 4 P across
Continue Stockinette stitch for 6”
On purl row, purl 16, place marker, purl 28, place marker, purl 16
Knit row starts the Cable pattern on the edges of the shrug, this will become the neck and waistline..
Continue Cable pattern for 25” (9 repeats of cable pattern)
Stockinette Stitch for 6”
K2, P2 Rib for last two rows

Bind off.

 Cable Pattern

Row 1. K3, P2, K9, P2, Knit to the next marker (28 stitches),  P2, K9, P2, K3
Row 2.K5, P9, K2, Purl to next marker, K2, P9, K5
Row 3 (Right side of row) K3, P2, slip three to cable needle, hold to back, K3, K3 from cable needle, K3, P2
 Knit 28
 (Left side of row) P2,slip 3 to cable needle, hold to back, K3, K3 from cable needle, K3, P2, K5
Row 4. K5, P9, K2, P28, K2, P9, K5
Row 5. K3, P2, K9, P2, K28, P2, K9, P2, K3
Row 6. K5, P9, K2, P28, K2, P9, K5
Row 7. K3, P2, K3, slip three to cable needle, hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle P2,
 K28,
P2, K3, slip three to cable needle, hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle P2, K3
Row 8. K5, P9, K2, P28, K2, P9, K5
                  


                                                                                            

I am more Mrs. Fitz than Mrs. Fraser in size….

I wear a US 16 and this is very loose on me,  my friend tried it on, she is a size 20 and it fit her snugly and still looked nice,  if you are smaller or would like a more snug fit it would be easy to cast on fewer stitches in the center section…..

                                    

Violetta - a spring shrug

I wear shrugs all summer long at work, just enough to keep chilly airconditioning off my shoulders, small enough to stuff in my bag at the end of the day

They are also quick knits and use a relatively small amount of yarn so they are an opportunity to get fancier that usual yarns for me.

This is my first of the season, named Violetta for the wild violets the little bit of purple in the trim brings to mind, they are just in bloom after an exceptionally long and snowy winter.

the black yarn was an unlabled gift, the varigated yarn was leftover from another project several years ago…. 

The shrug is knit side to side…you can decide how much arm coverage you want and try it on as you go, put point protectors on the needles so your stitches don’t slip off (or in my fancy world a couple of hair elastics wound around the ends) 

The cable on my needles was 16” long and just worked, you could use dpn’s but that would make trying as you go more difficult. 

I cast on 50 stitches on size 10.5 US needles with a long tail cast on, knit row one and row two then joined in the round, knit until the sleeve measure from halfway up my arm. 

The back section is straight stockinette stitch, for the first few rows after the knit in the round sleeve I turned it inside for the purl rows to make handling it easier and too avoid stretching the armhole. 

Once it measured across my back I rejoined the edges and knit in the round until the sleeves matched, just don’t forget to purl the second to the last round, knit one more round and bind off. 

This was super simple and easy to try on as you go…

The inside edge is trimmed with two rounds of double crochet to keep it from rolling and to be pretty, Violetta comes from the purple in the shrug and the wild violets now in bloom

    

 And as with all of my knits it has been inspected and approved by the quality control kitty, she found it soft and snuggly and especially like how the black showed off her light gray fur.

this is the fallen tower

 

Spring has finally come to New England

 

This mill has been on this corner for more years than I count

 

and is about to fall to progress

 

it has broken windows

Broken skylights

 



 

and missing doors

 

the trees are overgrowing

 

Its neighbors have fallen

 

and left

 

 

but I love it and wish progress would repair

 

and make something beautiful

 

out of something old and loved

but......