Sable Stasher

The Takhi Pullover in recycled Donegal Tweed

Or, Some progress on the Takhi Pullover

 

Everyone seemed to like this pullover.  And so I have begun to knit the body.  I will have to say, the design around the  banding was done in 3 colors at once.  Dragging 3 colors of worsted weight yarn around wasn't too much fun.  I did modify the pattern a bit.  Like eliminate a bunch of gray dots on the top of the flowers.  I did it in the Fair Isle stranded method but wove each stitch.

 

This color on this picture is not good but --- here is the start of the body.  I have 15 inches to knit.  The band is not that red.  It is a about 2 shades lighter than the dark Donegal.  Just the way the flash showed it up.

The Donegal is not the same thickness throughout. I find since I stretched it out on those hangers, (which I found was a no no), Some of my stocking stitch isn't as even as I normally would knit.  Sort of adds to the texture.  Gads, I went to Webs and Donegal Tweed is now 14.95 a hank.  However, I found some Knit Picks Tweed - a new offering, that is 9.99 a hank.  I think the put ups were 164 yards.  I would check it out if you plan to knit a tweed garment or even this Free Takhi pattern.  Thank you Takhi and Dale Garn. This Free pattern thing is great all of us.

I think the best news is that I found all the Dale yarn For that lovely yoked Pullover by Dale of Norway that you see on the bottom of the previous post.

Stay Tuned for Updates

                        

 

ReCycling 20 year old Donegal Tweed

Or, How to reclaim expensive, lovely Donegal Tweed and beat the high prices of yarn. (if you wish to 'borrow' pictures, just ASK, and you shall receive).

The sweater below is the one I am planning to knit.  In order to this, I must frog and wash 20 years of kinks out of the yarn 5 250/ yard knitted hanks. All in cable and stocking stitch so, the yarn was pretty kinked up.  I  paid 9.50 a hank for the yarn which is $13.95 now. This color was long discontinued. The pattern is a free pattern on the Takhi website. Designed with Donegal in mind, I chose this one. I had evidently run out of yarn without yarn for sleeves & I gave up on that project.  I chose the design below because I thought it would be a perfect fit for the yarn. Two balls are drying on an ancient pant racks my Mom had in her closet. This sweater doesn't have a name. I think I can find cream and some contrast for the spokes in the yoke.  I have some first generation Beaverslide yarn, odds and ends that will work.  If not, I will grit my teeth and buy a hank of Donegal.

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Drying yarn.  Still 2 more hanks to wind, wet and dry.  Ugh, but it is worth it. I hope you can see the orange flecks in the yarn. Click on the tumbnails and enlarge the pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay Tuned....always something going on. How do you like this ancient Dale Pattern.  That will be my next try at yokes.  I have ALL the yarn, purcahsed years ago at Bandon Wool.  Pretty isn't it? 

 

Sarah Lund Sweater

OR, I finally finished the Killing Sweater!

This took awhile.  I puttered around with the sweater since the 1st of the year.  Finished it last week but haven't washed and blocked it yet.  The color of mine is not red but more of a fuchsia - or blue/red. 

I used Valley Yarns (Webs) Northhampton yarn.  At $5.95 a ball with a 247 yard put up, it took 3 1/2 balls of yarn.  I knitted a medium sweater but with this pattern, it is really a small.  I have laid it down to photograph it.  Hopefully, I can get someone to take a picture of it on me this weekend.  Not that I am a great model but it does look pretty good on.

The construction was new to me.  The bottom is knit in the round, up to the armholes, then set aside. Fortunately, I have Knit Picks Options and lots of cords with ends.  I left the bottom on the cords with stoppers KP furnishes.  Then the sleeves are knit and set aside.  After the sleeves are both done, the three pieces are gathered together with the beginnings of the yoke and all 4 pieces are knit together on up through the neck ribbing.  This was interesting - for the design is knitted as you go.  It is one of those, count and recount before you start type of knits.  The only sewing is under the arms and that is were I ran into trouble. 

 There were no directions to know that one was is supposed to Kitchener the underarms.  If that is the usual way of handling this type of knit, another bind off should be done rather than the usual one usually  knit two, slip 1 stitch off etc. That normally leaves a sort of stretch of knit stitches on the top edge and that is not what a person needs.  Rather leave the stitches all threaded on waste yarn or on a small KP cord to Kitchener. I ran into bulky problems and didn't think to undo the cast off and  place the the stitches on waste yarn. 

This type of yoked sweater is no doubt old news to most of you.  It was new to me.  ALA the Danish way.  I believe the yoke will smooth out when this is blocked.  I am quite pleased with the more form fitting sweater. 

I am embarking on another pattern  with the same construction - this one will use some lovely old Donegal Tweed that is at least 15 years old.  It is a Tahki  free pattern.  I have to pick up a couple of different balls of tweed for the yoke.  I like the raglan sleeves.  If I were better at top down knitting, I would give that a try for the yokes are the most fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 STAY TUNED......

Happy New Year 2012

  Lola, Gader and I wish you all, a Happy New Year !

Sarah Lund Killing Sweater

 

Hi KBTH Gang and ALL:

This is lovely.  I  have this red jumper from the first season's called the scandinavian Sweater with Textured Star Pattern On Yoke. I rather stumbled onto it form the yarn store.  You lucky folks in the UK that can get the BBC at will.  I have Direct TV and only see a select few programs and no schedule for them.

Gundren & Gundren of the Faroe Islands   Thought I would post this in case anyone has the USA Direct TV schedule for the coming season.  Evidently the yarn store is giving away three sweater kits of Sarah's first season. The red Sweater;  knitted from Scarlet King Cole Merino Blend and knitting on 4mm and 4 1/2 mm needles or anything that will yield and 18 x 24 swatch of 10 x 10 cn in stocking Stitch on 4.5mm needles. 

Since this shade red is awful on me, I am considering a medium blue merino or a red with a blue tinge. Go to  http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-11-18/the-killing-knit-your-own-sarah-lund-jumper

 

Hope I have given enough infor to track this down.

Stay turned...

 

THE SHEEP - HEID HAT with POM-POMS

OR,  HOW CUTE IS THIS?

Looking good with the POM I think.

 

The scarf is done but needs some fringe.  I'll add the scarf tomorrow.  This time, you can see the ribbing.

The scarf is a rib 6 row 3x3 rib and  it has fringe,  It really looks sort of a non-knit here but in person,  it has the sheep's brown boucle.  It is rustic enough to work with the hat but also with other colors.  I knitted the long way and it is quite long. At least 60 inches. I bound off with a knitted Cast Off which is very stretchy.  Mom's Lamp is modeling once more.

Stay Tuned for more exciting knitting adventures with Gader and me!

 Hi everyone.  At least I am awake this time. 

Have a Merry Christmas.  I am hoping for a new stuffed toy I can take the stuffing out and chomp on the squeeker. That way I'll know am a great hunter.  Doggy xxoo to all, and to all a goodnight.

THE SHEEP - HEID HAT

OR, THE SHEEP ON THE LAMP:

There are pictures of designer Kathie Davies's Sheep - Heid Hat on her Ravelry pages. Please visit Katie Davies Ravelry site for pictures and pattern.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sheep-heid

As far as my Sheepish Hat, here it is, perched on the top of my inherited lamp.  My Mom loved this glass shade.  I love everything that reminds me of my family, all of whom are knitting rainbows, while sitting on clouds.

I have had oodles of trouble trying to get Typepad to accept my photos and words these last few days.  What a pain and many hours lost trying to figure out what the heck is wrong.  My laptop just freezes up - the Firefox refuses to respond and so we shall begin again. 

Here is a picture of the sheep on the lamp!

I used stash and Knit Picks yarn substitutes for Jamieson & Smith shetland wool.  It is ALWAYS wiser to use yarn called for if you are uncertain of exactly what will work, or if you are not willing to take chances with the results of your knitting. 

My middle name is "Chance" so, I am willing to settle for what I get from my adventures in changing patterns or swapping yarns and substituting them.  I have had many disastorous results doing this. For instance, Beadwork and Cape Cod come to mind.

 Other times with good results, remind me of Lismore, (both pattern and yarn) changed and the sweater is used on Ravelry as are Fern.  I was the first person to turn Fern into a cardigan with POCKETS.  Yes, I am a Chancy Changer. I know a great many of us who make every project, their own. 

My yarn list is as follows. I had 9 substitutions out of 9 different shades of shetland yarn.   I purchased 8 balls of yarn and didn't use some of them. They were too close in shade. This amount of yarn will no doubt produce at least 3 more identical hats.

1. Elann ancient Angora (SHEEP FACES) didn't work out very well (stash)

2. eBay hand dyed, tonal boucle of at least 12 years old. (SHEEP BODIES) didn't work out too well and was a B%@X* to work with (stash) MOORIT was called for.

3. Rowan lt wt DK on a cone in dark brown. for MOORIT shetland.  Good choice of 20 year old yarn.  

4. ALL other colors were purchased from Knit Picks Wool in sport weight

Four of the choices were their least expensive $1.99 a ball standard Peruvian wool. The Fifth choice was a light gray and the $1.99 wool was out of stock - I used a ball of Andean alpaca which I promptly fell in love with.  GREAT YARN to knit with. Not too fuzzy and nicely priced.  I had a ball of Stroll black sock yarn on hand from Knit Picks (stash) I spent 20.00 including shipping and I believe that was with the Alpaca being $4.99 I think. 

Oh, here is the lamp shot. There is a ribbed band on the bottom of the hat in a shade of tan.  I don't care for the ribbing and if I did this over, I would have sheep horns around the band on a white background. I would knit the facing 1st on a smaller needle, knit a purl row for folding inside and tack it when the stranding colors is over - (I don't strand, I weave all the floats.)  Be much classier looking.  I hope someone tries that before I plunge in.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sidekick, Gader, proved himself as bored as his predessor, Darth Invader, or my Vader boy, just alike.  BORED!

GADER VOM TANNHAUSER (who will be 2 on Jan. 25th)

Stay tuned...

 

 

 

 

Ain't it the Truth?

Gader Again...

Gader Vom Tanhauser born, Jan 25, 2010.

The sunset was lovely and Gader was running about, hooked to a swivel. I can't let him off leash for fear I have to go throught the trick of raising the garage door, opening up the rear of the SUV. He comes running as soon as he hears the garage door. He hops right inside, but eventually, if my trick too much, he might catch on. Maybe.

I caught a couple of snapshots as the sun lowered in the sky. It has almost dissapeared. It was cold but with his fur coat - he didn't care. Not really good shots, but he was having fun.

He is getting redder with time. His birthday is the last of Jan and he will be 2 years old. He is starting to behave better. I don't think I would handle more injuries... He isn't at all like his predecessor - a different, all German breeding. This guy is lean and stronger at 85 pounds than the 1st GDS at 130 and not fat. Just not as streamlined. Fortunately, he is starting to mature. I love the way the sun caught his fur and it looked more reddish than it really is. They head shot is true. He looks just like that. I am having problems with Typepad so I will sign off.

My Sheep Heidi hat is nearly done. I will have a new knitting post in a couple of days.

 

Stay tuned.

IT ALL BEGAN ON HALLOWEEN

OR, the yarn that didn't want to become a SWEATER!

 

Have you ever had, what you believe was normal yarn, that turned into a huge sweater, and refused to be re knitted into a normal sized sweater?  This is a story about yarn that evidently wanted to be a TENT! Or was a tent in a past life. 

Rather like clay you had used before and inspite of pounding and kneeding it again, you used it and its molecules evidently retained memory of the old pot because the new pot you threw, looked exactly like the first one you scrapped.

We all know wool has memory too.  I couldn't help wondering who re used and re packaged used yarn, then sold it for new.  This yarn had to have been knit for a 250 pounder, around 6'4" tall and with unusually long arms.  It was so long ago, I forgot who I bought it from. I do remember it was eBay.  I haven't purchased yarn from eBay in years.  Humm... I started this sweater on Halloween.  The kids next door carved me a pumpkin.  I took a picture of it all lit up.  It sure was cute. 

Gader got in on the act!  He hadn't seen a carved pumpkin before.  His eyes glowed in the dark behind the screen door. 

I think he was a little scared of it.  I didn't have many Trick or Treaters Halloween night.  So, I started my 3rd top down sweater in old, long forgotten eBay wool.  It was one of my favorite colors so, I started knitting.  What happened was a purely haunting story

It began like any other sweater. 

A cast on and then the yoke...the increases all went well.  I knitted for 4 weeks, on and off, and tired it on. Looking good, I continued. 

I finished the sleeves and put old string in the cuffs and tried it on.  "Fine, looking good" I thought.  I decided to cuff the sleeves in a moss stitch band.  I did one sleeve then the second one.  I finished knitting the body and measured it, and started banding in moss stitch.  I didn' t like  that so I frogged the bottom and one sleeve and did an ordinary ribbing.  By then, I began to feel uncomfortable.  The sweater was heavy on my lap.  It started looking awfully large in the body.  I only had the V neck to finish. I thought I would try it on one last time. 

I couldn't believe it!  It came down past my fanny.  The sleeves were 6 inches too long and I have very long arms for a short person.

I frogged 6 inches on both sleeves and on the bottom.  Now, I have to try it on and see where I am.  Guess what?  Now it is too short everywhere.  Oh my #$%&&@!! I couldn't believe it!   

I have worked on this 'thing' for weeks.  I re knit a few inches.  When I tried it on this morning and once again,  it had grown and grown until it was suitable for a someone 6'5" with arms to match.  What happened? I started frogging again. What is going on here? I decided to make this post.  Perhaps others have had this happen.  I wonder if it is possible to knit in one's sleep?  Sleep Knitting!  All I needed.

I threw it on the footstool in disgust! May I present:

GARGANTUA! 

Have the Witches been at it again?  I want to start another project...Wahhh.  I guess I will not do bands or ribbing.  I have tried and ripped both.  I will finish it off the was it was designed.  With rolled edges.  I give up.  I am going to start the Sheep Heid tomorrow, no matter what!

                                                  

"V" Neck Pullover

 Or, My First Top Down Sweaters.