Knitting Problems

  I started this dress six years ago with a vague idea of a cable that grew outwards to fill a pleated skirt. The problem is that once I started cabling, the midsection was only slightly wider than my thigh. If I had started over at the time, maybe even stretched myself to do a little math, I would have had a much easier time of it, since this  yarn I inherited in a full stash from a family friend when she decided one day she would never knit again, is now discontinued. Afterthought colorwork, here I come. Pattern Materials Needles -  US 6 - 4.0 mm Yarn:  MC - Cascade Yarns Pima Tencel in 4084,  10 skeins = 890.0 yards (813.8 meters), 17.64 ounces (Discontinued) CC1 -  Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Peapod,  9 skeins = 675.0 yards (617.2 meters), 15.87 ounces Gauge - 12 stitches and 14 rows = 2 inches in ST Skirt CO 442 in MC Row 1: *P2, K2; rep from * to last 2, P2. Join in round. Continue in 2x2 rib as established for 1” K in ST st until skirt...

The week before Thanksgiving 2011, I grabbed the top of my mannequin and molded some cables around it. I pictured myself in a jaw-dropping neon orange sweater saying "this old thing? I made it myself." Objectively, that isn't a great reason to do anything. In my case, it set me up for disappointment.   I was a 15-year-old freshly out of braces trying to be impressive and had never once looked at a sweater pattern, so I made a few strategic errors. First, I didn't understand the difference between my measurements and a sweater's finished measurements - hint from the present: a sweater should be bigger than what it covers. Then I made the choice to pair chunky yarn with size 4 needles. Two days before Thanksgiving and 5 skeins in, I was still toting around a tank top on a torso. That year I trudged through the woods of my great aunt's property in giant hiking boots and another skin-tight bright orange sweater that I bought from The Limited, a failure. The pictur...

Size :  Women's Medium Materials Size 10 DPNs 120 yards of your squishiest, chunkiest stash yarn Gauge 9 stitches and 9 rows = 2 inches in 1x1 rib Pattern  KTS: Knit 2nd stitch, leave on needle, knit first stitch, slip both stitches off needle. PTS: Purl 2nd stitch, leave on needle, purl first stitch, slip both stitches off needle. C1: Sl2 onto CN, H2F, k2, k2 off CN, k2 C2: K2, sl2 onto CN, H2B, k2, k2 off CN CO 60 Row 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Join in round Row 2: *KTS, PTS; repeat from * to end Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the brim measures 4". End on odd row. Rows 1 and 6: *KTS, p2, k6, p2; repeat from * to end Rows and 5: *K2, p2, k6, p2; repeat from * to end Row 3:*KTS, p2, C1, p2; repeat from * to end Row 7: *K2, p2, C2, p2; repeat from * to end Repeat rows 1-7 4 times, or until hat measures 8.5" Row 1: *K2tog, p2, k6, p2; repeat from * to end Row 2: *K1, p2, k6, p2; repeat from * to end Row 3: *SSK, p1, C1, p2; repeat from * to end Row 4: *K1, p1, k6, p2; rep...

Materials Yarn - Berroco Vintage Chunky Yarn in Tang, 4 skeins Needles - size 10 straight Gauge 8 stitches and 11 rows = 2” in Stockinette stitch Abbreviations CO - cast on sl - slip CN - cable needle H2B - hold to back H2F - hold to front BO - Bind off Patterns C1: Sl4 onto CN, H2F, k4, k4 off CN, k4 C2: K4, sl4 onto CN, H2B, k4, k4 off CN CO 34 Rows 1-7: Knit Rows 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24: K4, P12, K2, P12, K4 Rows 9, 11, 15, 17, 21, and 23: Knit Row 13: K4, C1, k2, C1, k4 Row 19: K4, C2, k2, C2, k4 Repeat rows 13-24 until scarf measures 60" (or desired length) Rows 1-7: Knit BO Fringe Cut 48 9" pieces of yarn. Take 2 strands and thread all 4 ends through the needle. Pierce the bottom edge of the scarf from back to front and pull yarn partially through, forming a loop. Pull ends through the loop and pull together. Repeat across the bottom and top ends of the scarf 12 times each. 

Materials Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in Charcoal, 3 skeins (576.0 yards (526.7 meters), 5.29 ounces) Needles: Size 5 straight Gauge: 13 stitches and 18 rows = 2 inches in ST Size: Women's Small Back CO 110 Row 1: (RS) *P2, k2; continue from * to end, p2 Continue in 2x2 rib as established until tank measures 11” ending in WS row. Place marker in the middle of the row - between stitch 55 and 56 LC1: P2tog, sl2 onto CN, H2F, p1, k2 off CN RC1: sl1 onto CN, H2B, k2, p1 off CN, p2tog, k1 Row 1: (RS) LC1, p1, *k2, p2; rep from * 10 times (7 sts remain in front of marker), p1, RC1. Place stitches on left of marker on stitch holder.  Back Right Row 2: P1, k2, p2, k1, *p2, k2; rep from * 10 times, p2, k1, p2, k2 Row 3: LC1, *k2, p2; rep from * 10 times, k2, RC1 Row 4: P1, k2, p4, *k2, p2; rep from * 10 times, p2, k2 Row 5: LC1, k1, *p2, k2; rep from * 9 times, p2, k1, RC1 Row 6: P1, k2, p3, *k2, p2; rep from * 9 times, k2, p3, k2 Row 7: LC1, *p2, k2; rep from * 9 times, p2, RC1 Row 8:...

Materials : Yarn: Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Harvest, 1 skein (90.0 yards (82.3 meters), 4.48 ounces) Needles: Size 11 circular CO 96 Row 1: *K3, P3; repeat from * to end. Join in the round. Continue in established rib pattern for 20 rows. BO Loosely. Weave in tails.

The Problem I've had a longer relationship with this fair-isle tank top than I have with any man I've dated. It's been with me for three moves and five Christmases, always at the bottom of my knitting basket. It's pretty obviously unwearable - the neckline is unfinished, the bottom rolls up, and it's for that very specific weather pattern that leaves your midsection cold but your arms too hot. But the yarn is soft to the touch and I still like the color combination in the fair isle pattern. I even found part of the pattern mapped out in an old Excel sheet. So I picked it up over this past Christmas to see what I could do with it now. The biggest problem is I only had a partial skein left of each color with no labels or tags, and again the yarn came from an inherited stash. I ran out of the first skein halfway through knitting the second sleeve. Hubris led to 4" purple cuffs, and then I didn't have any more purple to continue the fair-isle pattern. Easy come...