I am still trudging along with the feather & fan socks...ok well I am when I get a chance to. I have been busy with school work so I haven't really been focusing on them. They are going great though, and I am just at the point where I will be turning the heel.
Also, when I go to one of my classes (a nearly 3 hour one on Monday evenings) I tend to bring a small project along so that I can knit some before class (I am there about 15 mins early) and during the 15 minute break that we get. With this, I had been working on a simple garter stitch scarf, but last week I was working on the second of the socks from the pictures in the previous post. Since I find it distracting there with quite a few students (nearly 50) I didn't want to take the feather and fan because I didn't want to mess up. So, I started a new pair of children's socks in the same simple easy pattern I've been using all along. I am only on the cuff of it so far, and didn't get much accomplished on it last night.
And, it just wouldn't be me if I didn't have something else on the needles to go along with the socks! So, I have started a children's cardigan sweater from the January issue of Creative Knitting. It's the Let's Party Cardi on page 72. I went to the site but they are only showing the current issue and I couldn't find anywhere to link to any previous issues.
Anyway, I don't have a lot done, but so far it's an easy pattern. When I made my practice swatch, I tried different size needles to get the right gauge. I used the size that the yarn called for and it did match up. However, now that I've got enough of it started that I refuse to frog it and start over (I'm a little stubborn that way) I measured again and I am about 1/2 an inch shorter! Sheesh!!!! I am wondering if I made the front a quarter inch bigger on each side if that would make up for it...but I think that would throw that part off. My only other thought was to add a quarter inch garter stitch up each side. I thought that might not make much difference because that would be the area that would get sewn up and be the seam right? If I keep it the way it is going, and keep the front and the sleeves the same (assuming all will be half an inch shorter like the back is) it won't have the right fit will it? It is supposed to be a size 4 (it's a children's sweater), so would it then maybe fit a size 3? Or will it just be a waste? Keep in mind, I don't want to frog...is my best option to add the quarter inch to each side (by picking up the and knitting like I would if I were adding a border with the stitches going the different way - which is fine because there is a border where you do this on the front using a different colour...if you have the magazine you can see what I mean, providing I am explaining this right).
Anyway, this is what I've been up to when I haven't been doing papers and stuff for school. I'm glad there is only just a bit more than a month left of school, then I don't have to worry about getting papers done and studying, etc.
Oh, and also, I got a bit of good news this week. Last month I applied for the Bachelor of Education degree, and I have been granted an interview for it! I am that much closer to getting accepted. Just because you apply, does not mean that you are granted the opportunity for an interview. So, I have my interview on April 24. I am excited, but of course nervous as well. But, I don't have to worry about that for a little while, so I won't. I'll just do what I can to prepare for it by talking to some of the education students I know and see what I should expect and what kind of questions they are likely to ask.
Happy knitting!
10 comments:
Hi,
I am just home from a few days of vacation, catching up on blog reading and noticed your request for help in changing yarns for a pattern. A few months ago, I came across this formula on the net - can't remember where now or I would link. Do a swatch, and determine YOUR gauage. Divide your gauage by pattern gauage to obtain a factor. Then everywhere the pattern states a number of stitches, multiply that number by your factor. IE: if the gagage with your yarn is 4 stitches per inch, and the pattern is 5 stitches per inch, divide 4 by 5. You get point 8. That is your factor. If the pattern states to cast on 100 stitches, multiply that by point 8 and you get 80. Cast on 80 stitches. You can also do the same for rows, if row count is important to your pattern.
Hope this helps.
Congrats on your interview! I hope it goes well -- at least you have a nice long time to prepare.
In terms of your question, you say your knitting is "a half inch shorter" -- do you mean the width (as opposed to the length) of the whole thing is off by a half inch? If that's the case, I don't actually think it'll make that big a difference. What you can do, though, is look at the pattern and see which size your measurements best match up to (that is, perhaps the size smaller indicates that the width of the back should be the width you've achieved) and then use some of those measurements (for example, use that size to determine the length, thus keeping things proportional). I hope I'm understanding your question and that this makes sense.
I'm glad about your interview Shelley, good for you! THANK YOU!! for the knitting helps, I'm sidetracked with painting etc. But, I'll be trying again soon...I've started the cuff again so its a start.I'll be looking forward to seeing your cardigan. How exciting...smile. Really!
Brenda, thanks for that tip!
Rachel, yes the size is 1/2 inch sorter in width. The smallest size that the sweater instructions are for is a size 4, and that's the size I'm attempting to make.
Maggie...I do hope you continue the socks. They are fun! See if you can find a pattern where there is no increase...the ones I'm using (off a yarn wrapper) only has the decrease and no increase and they are pretty simple to do.
oooh, congrats on the interview!! yea, sounds like april will be busy for you too! i agree on the idea of taking a nice knitting break after graduation. you definately deserve it. =)
You do know that you can never have too many projects on the go ;)
I have more than I would like at the moment but my excuse is that I am knitting for a stall.
http://www.ptyarn.com/babycardiganset.html
Here is where you can find the pattern I used for the purple sock, and the 2 Knit Pick striped yarns, the Lion Brand sock yarn sock I used the garter rib pattern from the Sensational Knitted Socks book. For the Knit Picks Sock Memories sock, the littlest on, I just knit a 1x1 rib till I had finished my gusset decreases, then I knit the rest of the foot plain. Thanks for your comments on my blog. Have a blessed day. Karen
Trying to get back in the knitting mindset and coming by to see if you'd posted any knitting news...smile.
I know what you mean about school/knitting ... I wish I was knitting rather than working [but then I'd be short on money right] Oh dear, it's a terrible cycle ... knit work knit work, can't do one without the other. *sigh*
Congratulations on the interview! I'll pray for u to get accepted.
oh good luck! what a great steap forward...getting that interview ;) i will be glad when school breaks for you, so you can get a bit of a break:) p.s. i hate to rip out stuff too, darn it all!
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