Repair, Before and After

For some reason I've obtained a reputation at the store as the go-to girl for repairing knitted stuff. On one memorable occasion an employee of another NYC yarn store brought me a repair she felt was beyond her ken. I really wish I had thought to take photos of that hot mess. So I've decided from this point forward to document my extraordinary ability to fix other peoples fuck-ups.

Today's subject: a couple of moth holes marring a chic hand-knit alpaca poncho.Moth hole #1:Picking up stitches:
Knitting in the missing bits:
Ready for grafting (Kitchener stitch):
Grafting completed:

And, done!
Moth hole #2:
Skipping right to the pay-off this time:

Circle Obsession, Volume 2: Fun with Blocking

Oh what a blocking can do. Once upon a time this little lacy thing most resembled a discarded banana peel:

Four letter knitting - not for the squeamish

My latest knitting travesty.
Photos courtesy of the lovely Leia.

Girly Tie

Materials:
- 1 skein Schulana Sojabama (55% Bamboo, 45% Soy, 120 yds)
- Size 6 US needles

Gauge: 5 sts = 1 in in stockinette

Skill Level: Easy-Peasy

Terms:
stockinette: Knit every st on the right side, purl every st on the wrong side
k2tog: knit 2 sts together as one st
kfb: Knit in to front leg and then the back leg of of the same st, creating 2 sts from 1.

Cast on 60 sts.
Work in stockinette for 18 rows, ending with a purl (wrong side) row.

Begin decreases:
Row 1: k2tog to end (for 30 sts)
Row 2: purl
Row 3: k2tog to end (for 15 sts)
Row 4: purl

Work remaining 15 sts in stockinette until your piece measures about 25" from the point where you decreased. End with a wrong side row.

Begin increases:
Row 1: kfb to end (for 30 sts)
Row 2: purl
Row 3: kfb to end
Row 4: purl

Work in stockinette for 18 more rows.
Bind off loosely.
Weave in ends.

Wear proudly!

original pattern by ErinRuth

Yarn on my head.

Because you know that's where it belongs.

Circle Obsession, Volume 1

Lately I'm all about knitting in circles. Lace, cables, big yarn, small yarn . . . right now they all want to be circles. There's a certain amount math involved that just gets me hot.
I've got a roomful of fantabulous Triple G Romney dyed just for me set aside for this project. It will (one hopes, and hold me to it please) eventually be a sweater. You're currently looking at the center back. No plan, no pattern - and there will never be one, not for this. It's very freeing to be able to make it up as I go and not having to interrupt my knitting to plan or record what I'm doing.



.

It has a name. and I will rest.