Finished--White Hot

KAL: Converting Bind off Row Shoulders to Short Row Shoulders

Posting a little late. A couple of you have already done this. But here it is written out.

I am not going to work the stair stepped shoulders that this pattern calls for. Because the base stitch pattern is stockinette, it will be very easy to convert to short rows and then three needle bind off.If the pattern remained lace, this would not be an option.

It’s fairly easy to convert a pattern from bind off shoulder to short rows.

First note the bind off sequence.
There typically be 6-8 rows for the back of a piece. 3-4 rows per shoulder.

For the back:
To work the first short row, instead of binding off the set # of stitches. Knit until you’ve got that number of stitches left on the needle. Turn the work, yarn over, and purl until you’ve got that same number of stitches again remaining, turn the work and yarn over.

For the next rows you will work in the same manner but add to the original number the next number of sts, then turn and yarn over just the same.

Example:
Pattern reads
At the beg of every row bind off 8 sts twice, then 7 sts four times.

Short rows:
Knit until 8 sts are left, turn, yo.
Purl until 8 sts are left, turn, yo.
Knit until 15(16 if you include the yarn over) sts are left, turn, yo.
Purl until 15(16 if you include the yarn over) sts are left, turn, yo.
Knit until 22 (24 if you include the yarn overs) sts are left, turn, yo.
Purl until 22 (24 if you include the yarn overs) sts are left, turn, yo.

Next row Knit across working the yarn overs with the stitch after the gap.
Next row Purl across working the yarn overs with the stitch after the gap.

When you work the fronts you eliminate either the purl or knit rows depending on the side you are working on. The right front will work the knit rows and the left front will work the purl rows.


How to work the yarn overs with the stitch on the other side of the gap:

Work to the gap:
On the Knit side: Work either an ssk or k2tog. Choose the decrease which allows you to work the yarn over first. ( ssk-- you will see: yo-gap-stitch k2tog---you will see: stitch--gap--yo)

On the Purl side: Work either an ssp or p2tog. Choose the decrease which allows you work the yarn over first (ssp--you will see: stitch--gap--yo p2tog-- you will see: yo--gap--stitch)

KAL Update

We're all cast on and ready to knit.

Things to remember.
Place a marker after the first set of side st st stitches and before the last set. These should be the same number.

Place a marker between the 3 purl sts and the chart stitches. The center section should go:
St sts, marker, p3, marker, chart A, marker, p3, marker, chart B, marker, p3,marker, chart A marker,p3, marker, chart B, marker p3, marker, side sts.
If you are making the Large there will be an extra ---chart A, marker, p3, marker, chart B, marker, p3 before the final side sts.

Yarn overs
From k to k. Bring the yarn to the front. Begin next st. Bring yarn over R needle. Knit next st

From K to ssk or k2tog. Bring the yarn to the front. Begin next st. Bring yarn over R needle. K2tog or ssk

From k to p Bring yarn to front, over right needle and back to front. Purl the next st.

From p to k (or ssk or k2tog) Leave yarn in front, begin next stitch( or decrease), bring yarn over needle and work next st.


Count count count.
Too many sts, you probably forgot a decrease, you may have forgotten to pass your slipped sts over.
Too few sts, you probably forgot a yarn over.

Lifelines.
Place the lifeline after you've worked a return row so you don't have to deal with running it through yarn overs.
Thread tapestry needle with crochet thread. Run through the stitches along the needle. Go around the stitch markers.
Place the lifelines every so often as you feel comfortable.

Measuring.
Be sure to stretch the lace out to simulate the blocked fabric when measuring.
I am using the steamer to block every 3-4" before measuring.

Decreases.
The A line decs occur in the purl sections that divide the charts.


Did you notice that rows 1-8 of chart A are the same as 9-16 of chart B and rows 9-16 of A are the same as 1-8 of B?
Did you notice the charts are mirror images of each other?

I've gotten 7 repeats of the charts done.






I am planning on working the shoulder shaping differently then the pattern and using a three needle bind off. But that's for later...



Keep Knitting!

White Hot Wednesday Knit Along.

We are going to start White Hot next Wed. Well at least the swatch.

I will try to blog what we did or information here each week. 1. In case you forgot. or 2. In case you can't be with us.

We'll start with the gauge swatch. For the project you need size 3 and 5 needles. The swatch is on the size 5 needles.
To make the swatch:
CO 30 sts. Knit one row
RS Rows: K2, work chart A twice, k2.
WS Rows: Purl
Work about 4". Block the swatch

I will put up a photo after I've worked the swatch.

You can do the swatch next wed if you need help with the charts or just want me to hold your hand. Not a problem.

We'll start working the sweater on March 28!


Before blocking:







Blocking:








After blocking:







The center 26 sts should measure 7.25"
In addition to checking gauge also check that you like how the lace looks. If you like your fabric at a different gauge, you can work directions for a different size. You'll need to do a little math.
I will need a size 6 needle.

Blocking Swatches for the MHK Program

A short how to on blocking swatches.

Those of you who attended the 2011 OYW to the Master's Day at either the Minnesota or North Carolina TKGA shows will recognize the swatches.

Acrylic swatches don't block well:

Problems with tops bottoms and selvedges:



























Overblocking:













This doesn't work. It scallops the edges and leaves pin holes.











Correctly done:

Sometimes you attract helpers.

Spring Cleaning

I've been reorganizing my knitting books.



Before:




After:

The Green Thing

It seems our Grandmothers were actually ahead of their time.

The Green Thing

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should
bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the
environment.
The woman apologized to him and explained,
"We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.
The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right; that generation didn't have the "green thing" in its day.

Back then, they returned their milk bottles,
soda bottles and beer bottles to the store.
The store sent them back to the plant to be washed
and sterilized and refilled,
so it could use the same bottles over and over.
So they really were recycled.

But they didn't have the "green thing" back in that customer's day.

In her day, they walked up stairs,
because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building.
They walked to the grocery store and
didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine
every time they had to go two blocks.

But she was right. They didn't have the "green thing" in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby's diapers
because they didn't have the throw-away kind.
They dried clothes on a line,
not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -
wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.
Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters,
not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right, they didn't have the "green thing" back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house -
not a TV in every room.
And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief,
not a screen the size of the state of Montana .
In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because
they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.
When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail,
they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it,
not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline
just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power.
They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club
to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right, they didn't have the "green thing" back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty
instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time
they had a drink of water.
They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen,
and they replaced the razor blades in a razor
instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn't have the "green thing" back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus
and kids rode their bikes to school or walked
instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.
They had one electrical outlet in a room,
not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.
And they didn't need a computerized gadget
to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space
in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks
were just because they didn't have the "green thing" back then?

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!