I won't even try to fully explain my way out of why it has been so long since I last updated. How about this, I will partially explain. Two children under three ... lots of cold, lots of snow ... trapped indoors for long periods of time ... lot's of going to big box stores to walk around and get some sort of exercise ... and finally, the creeping crud illnesses that WILL NOT STOP ... oh, and Little Boy is getting EIGHT TEETH all at once. Yes, all 4 eye teeth, and all 4 molars AT ONCE. 'Nuff said.
I have been productive, though. I got both baby sweaters done, and gifted. The first went to my friend's baby.
I love this pretty little sweater. It looks more complicated than it is (bonus!). I changed the pattern a little bit so I could knit it in the round (bonus! bonus!), which made the whole thing seamless (BONUS, CUBED!). I loathe sewing up seams. The only thing to sew on this was the picot edging around the neck and hem, and that was not too bad.
And now, for the BSJ...
US 7 / 4.5 mm
Plymouth Encore Colorspun DK
Plymouth Encore Colorspun DK
Isn't it amazing how 100 different people can read the same words, and 100 different interpretations can be derived from the same words? Everything (and especially written instructions) can be subject to interpretation. All I can say is that I had trouble processing the written instructions for this pattern. I ended up having to figure out a way to place, and maneuver stitch markers so that I could actually SEE what was happening with each row. The markers actually provided a way for me to count the stitches on my needles, as they are written in the pattern. This was not possible for me before I placed the markers.
If you are coming here from my Ravelry post, some of this will sound familiar. I love the finished product ... BUT ... I had a HELL of a time with this pattern in the beginning! I think I tore this out almost 4 times! Every single time, it all seemed to go to hell between rows 9 and 13. When I would go to count my stitches, I could not tell which were the worked SK2P stitches, and then I could not tell if I made a mistake (especially when adding those M1's nine times on row 11). Things started to get better when I found this post http://autumnblossomknits.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/baby-s... which lead me to BSJ notes written by Dawn Adcock http://www.3gcs.com/adcock/BSSNotes.pdf
what I ended up doing was this...
CO 160 and placed a marker between stitches (sts) number 34 and 35, 37 and 38, 86 and 87, 89 and 90. So, once you are casted on, you needle stitches look like:
Row 1: 34sts (marker) 3sts (marker) 86sts (marker) 3sts (marker) 34sts.
The three sts between the markers are not counted when working the 34, 86, 34 (left, center, and right sections) of the pattern.
So, getting down to business, say we are on line 3 ...
K33, pm, SK2P,pm, K84, pm, SK2P,pm, K33.
Once you are finished with row 3, and you are about to start row 4, remember that the SK2P reduces three stitches to one, and you will need three stitches to perform the SK2P on row 5.
Okay, so when you go to work row 4 (the even row side), knit until you reach one stitch before the marker (knit 32 stitches),
** place a new marker, k1, remove old marker, k1, remove old marker, k1, place new marker**.
There should now be 3 sts between the markers. Now continue knitting (knit 84 stitches) until you are one stitch before the next old marker, and go back up to **. When you finish the even row, and you look over what you just knitted, there will be a marker on either side of three stitches. These will be the stitches that you will be SK2Ping on the next row.
Now you will be able to keep track of the stitches on each side of the SK2P stitches, and you will be able to keep track of the number of middle stitches. Do this "marker thing" all the way to row 46, when the Dawn Adcock instructions tell you to place the markers in a different way because of the new increases.
I have probably confused so you so badly that you are running from you computer, yarn trailing behind you in a tangled mess. Sorry. I hope not. All I know is that I was getting really frustrated with this pattern, and I know that there were a few folks out there beating their heads against the wall with me. I am just trying to throw a "rescue ring" out there for any others who may be at their wits end.
Now, for the BSJ FO details. The contrasting edge on my BSJ was actually out of necessity as I ran out of yarn at ROW 110! Yes, four rows from the end! I thought I would DIE. Luckily I had some matching yarn laying around to finish up. I was shocked to find that I actually liked the way this jacket looks with the contrasting edge! I did an I-cord edging all the way around, including the neck. I then joined the sleeve tops with a three-needle bind off … both techniques I found on knitty.com. After I got it all done, I wished I could keep this for my little guy! Maybe when I finish some more projects, I will make him one for next year. The only thing I will change with the next one I make are the type of decrease stitches I will use - I am not a huge fan of the way the SK2P’s look (just my personal opinion).
If you are coming here from my Ravelry post, some of this will sound familiar. I love the finished product ... BUT ... I had a HELL of a time with this pattern in the beginning! I think I tore this out almost 4 times! Every single time, it all seemed to go to hell between rows 9 and 13. When I would go to count my stitches, I could not tell which were the worked SK2P stitches, and then I could not tell if I made a mistake (especially when adding those M1's nine times on row 11). Things started to get better when I found this post http://autumnblossomknits.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/baby-s... which lead me to BSJ notes written by Dawn Adcock http://www.3gcs.com/adcock/BSSNotes.pdf
what I ended up doing was this...
CO 160 and placed a marker between stitches (sts) number 34 and 35, 37 and 38, 86 and 87, 89 and 90. So, once you are casted on, you needle stitches look like:
Row 1: 34sts (marker) 3sts (marker) 86sts (marker) 3sts (marker) 34sts.
The three sts between the markers are not counted when working the 34, 86, 34 (left, center, and right sections) of the pattern.
So, getting down to business, say we are on line 3 ...
K33, pm, SK2P,pm, K84, pm, SK2P,pm, K33.Once you are finished with row 3, and you are about to start row 4, remember that the SK2P reduces three stitches to one, and you will need three stitches to perform the SK2P on row 5.
Okay, so when you go to work row 4 (the even row side), knit until you reach one stitch before the marker (knit 32 stitches),
** place a new marker, k1, remove old marker, k1, remove old marker, k1, place new marker**.
There should now be 3 sts between the markers. Now continue knitting (knit 84 stitches) until you are one stitch before the next old marker, and go back up to **. When you finish the even row, and you look over what you just knitted, there will be a marker on either side of three stitches. These will be the stitches that you will be SK2Ping on the next row. Now you will be able to keep track of the stitches on each side of the SK2P stitches, and you will be able to keep track of the number of middle stitches. Do this "marker thing" all the way to row 46, when the Dawn Adcock instructions tell you to place the markers in a different way because of the new increases.
I have probably confused so you so badly that you are running from you computer, yarn trailing behind you in a tangled mess. Sorry. I hope not. All I know is that I was getting really frustrated with this pattern, and I know that there were a few folks out there beating their heads against the wall with me. I am just trying to throw a "rescue ring" out there for any others who may be at their wits end.
Now, for the BSJ FO details. The contrasting edge on my BSJ was actually out of necessity as I ran out of yarn at ROW 110! Yes, four rows from the end! I thought I would DIE. Luckily I had some matching yarn laying around to finish up. I was shocked to find that I actually liked the way this jacket looks with the contrasting edge! I did an I-cord edging all the way around, including the neck. I then joined the sleeve tops with a three-needle bind off … both techniques I found on knitty.com. After I got it all done, I wished I could keep this for my little guy! Maybe when I finish some more projects, I will make him one for next year. The only thing I will change with the next one I make are the type of decrease stitches I will use - I am not a huge fan of the way the SK2P’s look (just my personal opinion).
I am reaching the end of my brain power for the night, and I can already hear my thought processes powering down. Next time, I might have finished Vogue Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Cardigan (#19) by Shiri Mor to share with you!
Until then, happy 'nittin.
Or unhappy, whichever you choose.
