Mer Knits!

I caved and finally bought a swift and ball winder.  I got the set from Webs--it's not the highest quality but it works!  I was able to turn my rodeo yarn into this neat little cake:

But the best part, I think, are the horribly translated instructions that came with the swift.  First of all, it is not a swift, it is an "All-Powerful Reeling Machine," and the actual directions read, "When you open or shut it, please give a slight swing. just as you do with your umbrella or parasol."  Ohhhh, ok.

This yarn is yummy:

I picked up some of the new Soy Wool Stripes yarn from Patons.  This stuff is niiiice.  Silky, soft, not itchy at all.  I'm making a slip-stitch pillow for our landlords; we're house-sitting and our cats adopted one of the pillows that they left behind and pretty much ruined it.  Here's what I have so far (it's the Natural Earth color)--

   Thanks so much for all of your input on the Cap Sleeved Top sizing dilemma.  To clarify, I was comparing my calculations to what the pattern said was the actual finished size (34.75") not the "to fit" size.  I think it would be best to swatch the middle part and test it out, though I will probably go with the smaller size because my gauge with Cathay is a little off.

   However...and don't be mad at me since I made you do all these calculations...I think I'm going to postpone the knitting of the Cap Sleeved Top until spring. I'm itching to start some fall patterns, and I really want to finish up Mermaid soon.

   Here she is:

   And a closeup of the yarn:

   I'm just about at the halfway point on the back, at which point the pattern says to pretty much do everything you just did but in reverse.  Thanks alot Hanne!

   First of all, thank you for the nice comments on the seaberry shell!  It was quite a relief to try it on and have it fit.

   Speaking of which, I was going to give the Pure Silk book another try and knit the Cap Sleeved Top.  Before I ventured into it though, I decided to do a few calculations so that it would fit better than the other two tops I made from this book.  Now, let me know if I'm doing this right.

   I started with my size, 34".  This pattern size says that the actual bust size for this garment is 34 3/4."  I'd be ok with that.  However, when you do the calculations, that's not what you get.

   At the widest point on the top, which is in the bust area, you have 121 stitches for both the back and front.  That's a total of 242 stitches around.  I'll subtract 4 for seaming, so that's 238.  Now the gauge is stated in stockinette at 25 st/4 inches.  So that's 6.25 st per inch.  238 divided by 6.25 equals 38.08, which is the final measurement of the bust.  Right?  Or am I doing something wrong here?  So the actual bust measurement is not 34 3/4" as the pattern states.

   For the 32" size top, it says the final measurements should be 32 1/4," but I get 35.5." 

    Now, I realize that the top is not all stockinette stitch.  Does the lacey cabley pattern down the front make that much of a difference?  I just need some opinions before I make another top that doesn't fit. (I thought this might have been the problem with the other two tops I made, but no.  Those measurements are fine.  Just user error, I guess.)

  Also, it says for the back to work exactly as front.  Really?  With the pattern panel too?  That seems strange.

  Hmph, maybe I'm just overthinking.  I think I'll work on the bathmat from Mason-Dixon Knitting for a bit.

It's done, and I actually like it!  I wasn't sure how I would feel about wearing such a bulky garment, but it works.  It's actually a bit less bulky than the pattern called for too.  Here are the details:

Pattern: Seaberry Shell from Interweave Knits Summer 2006
Yarn: 10 balls Patons Fresco in Ocean, held double throughout
Time to complete: August 24 - September 3, 2006 (not counting the first version I ripped out)
Notes: My gauge was off, so I followed the largest size in the pattern and it came out to my measurements.  I added some waist shaping, crocheted around the armholes to stop them from rolling, and omitted the bobbles.  In all, I'm pretty satisfied!  The only downside is that it's 100% acrylic and thick, so it's quite hot.  I also had a hard time making the spots where I joined new yarn look neat, perhaps because it was so bulky, but I'm sure no one but me would notice.

Yep, I'm still around--just been busy.  Until I have some knitting content (seaberry shell is almost done!) I'll entertain you with this book meme; kind of shows how pathetic my reading habits have become as of late:

3. One book you'd want on a desert island: The Sound and the Fury, because maybe then I'd be able to read it enough times to understand it.

4. One book that made you laugh: At Knit's End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

5. One book that made you cry: Pretty much any book can make me cry--I don't remember the last one specifically.

6. One book that you wish had been written: Make a Million Dollars Knitting!

7. One book you wish had never been written: Godless: The Church of Liberalism; I haven't read it, but being a liberal I don't think I'd like it nor can I imagine that Ann Coulter makes a very intelligent argument.

8. One book you're currently reading: Um, nothing.

9. One book you've been meaning to read: The rest of the Lord of the Rings books--I've only gotten through The Hobbit so far.

10. Tag 6 people: Anyone who hasn't done this yet--consider yourself tagged!