Estivale + Bebe

These are fun posts. Modeling FOs with Adrian is so easy!

From Adrian June 28

"Real" Estivale FO post is here.
Earlier FO + bebe post is here.

FO: Estivale

From fiberarts images

In my never-ending quest for summery shrugs and mini-cardis to wear over my nursing bra tank tops, I have knit Estivale. I used some yarn from my stash and it was a perfect choice.

Pattern: Ribbed Lace Bolero by Kelly Maher. Available here.

Yarn: Artful Yarns Fable, cotton/silk blend, color Cinderella/99.

Needles: Size 10 and 7 bamboo circulars.

From fiberarts images

Mods: Used cable cast-on for flexibility, and then started with RS instead of WS. Cast on 106 stitches--but it ended up a little big. So I did some gathering at the edge using ssk/k2tog that ends up nearly invisible around the neck. I also lengthened the ribbed edge at the back, creating a fold in the fabric.

From fiberarts images

See project on Ravelry here.

Crochet Rail Guards + Bebe

Here's a portrait of Adrian, swaddled up, in his gigantic crib. I don't think he'll be sleeping in here for a few months.

From fiberarts images

See the pretty blue rail guards? Don't they match his complexion?
Free pattern is here.

Pattern: HATTERAS Lace Shrug

[updated 14 March 2010]





Cape Hatteras is a wild spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, home of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. At the point of Cape Hatteras, large currents from the north and from the south collide and send a spray of water high into the air. The seas and waterways around Hatteras are known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," because so many ships wrecked there over the past five centuries. The shallow waters that surround Hatteras and endanger ships are called the Diamond Shoals.



This lace pattern of this shrug is a tribute to Cape Hatteras--the fishnet lace honoring the fishermen who work there, the diamond lace pattern evoking the diamond shoals, and the Hatteras Spray panel in the center recreating the collision of the Labrador and Florida currents.

From fiberarts images

Hatteras is worked from sleeve to sleeve and then seamed to create armhole openings. The actual lace fabric is 20 inches wide--the armhole openings are shaped with garter stitch edging that decreases the size of the opening to fit different sized arms.

The lace fabric is actually composed of three separate lace patterns worked in a symmetrical fashion, bordered and separated by three stitches of garter stitch. Charts and instructions for each of the lace patterns is below.

Sizes XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL. One skein of Malabrigo Lace or comparable yarn in 450 yards, and three choices of varying prices are given in the six-page pattern. Pattern is for sale on Ravelry as a .pdf download. You don't have to be a member to purchase.

From fiberarts images

**Check out the free bodice modification here, to make the fun trim pictured in the first image, above.***

Available for $6.00.

Long-Awaited FO: La Tarte

The Pi Shawl if finally finished. There's not much to say about this one that I haven't said many times over on the many posts that I've written on this blog. (Just search in that upper-left corner for "pi".)

From fiberarts images

A few words of advice for others embarking on this project:
1. Don't downsize your needles. EZ recommends size 8s, and you should use them, even though it might seem weird knitting lace with such large needles.
2. Use a solid colored yarn. Not variegated. The ever expanding nature of this project means that some areas will pool, some will strip, and some will just be speckly.

So here are some pictures. There's more on my Ravelry project page.

From fiberarts images

Pattern: Pi Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmerman (I used the version in the Knitter's Almanac)
Yarn: Knit Picks Gossamer in color Sweet Peas, overdyed with Copenhagen Blue by Cushings Perfection Dyes. 2 skeins.
Needle: Size 6 knitpicks harmony interchangeables.

Lace pattern at outer rim is the gull stitch as described by EZ. Bind off is a crochet loop bind off. Final measurement is 4.5' in diameter.

See project on Ravelry here.

(re)Vamp, (re)Launch: Dalloway Eyelet Shrug

The Dalloway Eyelet Shrug was a design I launched almost a year ago. [Read post here for my original inspiration.]

Lately, because the main staple of my wardrobe is a nursing tank, I have pulled out all of my shrugs and capelets and cardigans. I found myself dissatisfied with Dalloway--not the original eyelet pattern--the "body" of the sweater--but rather the trim. So I ripped it all out.

I had some more skeins of the Cascade 220 in the Walnut Heather color that I originally used, so I knew I had some length to play with.

First I reknit the sleeves--I lengthened the cuffs, and then worked the last 10 rows using a double-thickness of yarn to give it a semi-ruffled look.

From fiberarts images

Then I worked the bodice trim again. I worked for 5 inches in length and then work five rows in double-thickness. But the most important change was the rethinking of the bodice increases.

I used a simple YO eyelet pattern to really beef up the increases, adding more oomph to the bodice. See the double-vee pattern?

From fiberarts images

Now the sweater has a sweet curve around the neckline and bodice, essential for drawing attention to other assets while one's baby belly slowly disappears.

From fiberarts images

The pattern is available on Ravelry for purchase for $3.95.

Knitted Gift

My friend C., aka Raptwithfiber, knitted me some items for my wedding/new baby gifts. One was a Hanging Garden stole/scarf. She bound off when it was about 2.5 feet long of beautiful and hair-raising lace knitting. I seamed up each end for 5 inches and turned it into a shrug to wear over my classy nursing tank tops.

I think it looks great. Thanks, C.

From fiberarts images

Read more about the project on C.'s Ravelry page.

What's Katie Doin'?

Here's a WIP post from Katie, who has surfaced from new-baby-land to post on her blog.

I had to go to my Ravelry page to even remember what I'm working on.

First, there are some secret design projects--I just finished this fabulous cardigan that Jordynn and I co-designed. Plus there is a lace project and another cardi/jacket that might or might not get written up to share with others. It's kind of a Frankenstein.

Because these are future designs I can't share them here--which means it's pretty stupid to even mention them, I guess. I'm doing it for my self-esteem, so I can feel like I'm actually accomplishing something.

Next there is my Pi Shawl--this has been going on for a long, long while, which apparently is normal for this project. I did have time to work on it lately, though.

When my water broke early and the OB told me to pack and come to the hospital, I packed my laptop and my Pi Shawl. (I was in denial that I would actually be having a baby, by the way.) I got a few inches done while I watched contractions happen on the monitor.

What they might not tell you about 24 hours of labor: It gets boring.

Because this is a Pi Shawl, the WIP photograph looks like a low-level life form:


Then there's the second Gamekeeper sweater that I'm knitting for my husband. The idea is to knit a matching one for Adrian for this winter.

From fiberarts images

I'm also working on Veronique from French Girl Knits. This is really slow going--but I really like the pattern and have a feeling it will fit me both now and after I lose the baby belly.

From fiberarts images

I'm still revising my Wisp as well--I'm putting on an edging from Victorian Lace Today to give the shawl more oomph. That is, to make it bigger so I will actually wear it.

From fiberarts images

So, babymaking, yes. But knitting too. I can't wait til Jordynn and I can show you our new cardi design.

New F.O.: Adrian Jack

Born May 14, 2009 6:30 pm

5 pounds 12 ounces

He’s already a fan of knits, as you can see above.

The happy family.

Congratulations to Katie and Michael!