The technique I was referring to for Yannick’s surprise holiday mittens is called thrumming, and there’s a great explaination/tutorial here on Stephanie (the Yarn Harlot)’s blog.

I’m almost finished Justin’s sweater!

This pic was taken yesterday, so it doesn’t show the beautiful seaming (grafting?) I did to join the hood. Instead of casting off the two sides I put them onto holders, so my seam is much thinner and neat. I rock! This morning I picked up the sts for the ribbing around the hood, and once that’s done there are just the button bands and side/underarm seams! Woo hoo! Now I can start a new project…

I have never used as much math in my life as I have since I started knitting. And so far I’ve been fine with it, really. Until today.

I paraphrase from my pattern for the birthday suit:

(p.s. you have 308 sts on the ndls, and 10 markers placed around the body)

“dec 1 st on ea side of ea marker (20 decs)”

-ok, so I take 20 sts away from 308 sts and end up with 288 sts. So far so good.

“work even for 6 rows”

-duh. Still working with 288 sts. This is easy.

“repeat dec row”

-no sweat. I take 20 sts away from 288 to get 268. This is a breeze!

“work even until blah blah inches”

-could do in my sleep. Still 268 sts around. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

“inc 1 st on ea side of ea marker (20 incs)”

-ok, so I add 20 sts to my 268 to get 288. I see where this is going…

“repeat inc row every 6 rows…”

-so far so good. I work 5 rows plain, and work the inc row on the 6th row, right? Ok, moving on.

“…twice more…”

-uh huh, so now after adding the original 20 sts I’m adding another 20 and 20 (2 more inc rows) and 12 more rows of knitting…which brings me to 328 sts.

BUT

“…ending with 308 sts”.

–HUH? How can I start with 308 sts, take away 20+20 to get 268, and then add 20+20+20 and wind up back at 308?

Hence the confusion. If anyone reading this has any clue where on the web to find errata for SandnesGarn pamphlets, in this case specifically issue 0309 pattern 12 page 10, I’d REALLY appreciate it.

So every time I look through a knitting book or magazine and see a cowl/headwarmer thingy, I think “I’d never make one of those. Who wears those?”

Well, today I decided I’m making one of those. Montreal winters are COLD and it’s just starting. After wrapping my scarf around my ears each time my dad sent me for cigarettes, lotto tickets or to the post office, I finally decided to give in to the big furry warmness (did I make that word up?) and look for a pattern asap. I think I’ll use my leftover skein of Bernat Soft Boucle in black so it will blend in with my winter coat.

Here’s the latest:

For Justin’s sweater- I’ve sewn the raglan seams and picked up for the hood. I need to complete the hood, pick up and work the button bands, then I’m done!

Over the weekend I couldn’t work on the hoodie ‘cus it was on the blocking board, so I decided to teach myself entrelac. My cousin Robyn had given me a large bag of craft stuff she didn’t want any more (thanks Robyn!) and inside were 3 skeins of Bernat Light & Lofty in a blue, and 2 skeins of Bernat Soft Boucle in a brown blend. I happened to already have a Soft Boucle in a cream color, so using it with the browns I’m making an entrelac throw for our basement. I’m in no rush to finish it, but I got the technique from a Debbie Bliss book I took out from the library. Great info, great technique. Made it super easy!

I finally started carrying around a skein of the Sisu for my birthday suit so I can work on swatching that this week. I’m just waiting to finish typing up the pattern (I put all my patterns in my Palm so I don’t need to carry big books around) and then I’m starting.

I’m also doing the same for my challenging project. I’ve decided the birthday suit is my “relaxing” project ‘cus it’s in a simple stockinette stitch. So I want something hard for when I want to use my brain. I found it in Vogue Knitting (also from the library). It’s a sweater designed by DKNY and it uses cables and such to create a landscape with a fence, clouds, everything! I’m looking forwards to starting! I bought the yarn, now I need to see which size needles.

I also bought the yarn for a secret project that I can probably talk about here ‘cus the person its for never uses the net. One time during a trip to our LYS, Yannick tried on a pair of mittens that he found SOO comfy. They are in st st, but use a technique called “thrumming” (I think). Basically every few rows you do a stitch with an extra piece of yarn and leave the ends loose inside the mitten to fuzz up, and it creates a super-warm, really cozy mitten. So I bought a kit in the most masculine color they had and I’ll make him a pair for Christmas/Hanukah. I didn’t add it to my WIP list yet ‘cus I’m only going to start it next Monday. After my class I’ll be staying at the Wool Shop to learn the technique.

Oh, and before I end this post, I DID get some work done on Yannick’s remaining sock. It might be hard to believe, but my friend Jackie who reads this blog can attest that its true. On Saturday night we went bowling, and I let Yannick bowl for me so he could see if he was up to it since his back surgery. So, instead of sitting around doing nothing for the 2 games…I pulled out my knitting. It’s small ‘cus its on dpns, and I don’t think I disturbed anyone. I have a feeling I was talked about the next day…and perhaps not very flattering by everyone…but I don’t care. I still had a good time, still participated with everyone, and got about 15 rows done. I’m happy.

I finished my secret project- for the most part. Just need to add some fringe, and its done. I’ve also finished the first sleeve of Justin’s Hooded Sweater, leaving me only 1 more sleeve, the hood and the button bands to do. Gotta keep moving…

I finished my secret project- for the most part. Just need to add some fringe, and its done. I’ve also finished the first sleeve of Justin’s Hooded Sweater, leaving me only 1 more sleeve, the hood and the button bands to do. Gotta keep moving…

I finished my secret project- for the most part. Just need to add some fringe, and its done. I’ve also finished the first sleeve of Justin’s Hooded Sweater, leaving me only 1 more sleeve, the hood and the button bands to do. Gotta keep moving…

I finished my secret project- for the most part. Just need to add some fringe, and its done. I’ve also finished the first sleeve of Justin’s Hooded Sweater, leaving me only 1 more sleeve, the hood and the button bands to do. Gotta keep moving…

I finished my secret project- for the most part. Just need to add some fringe, and its done. I’ve also finished the first sleeve of Justin’s Hooded Sweater, leaving me only 1 more sleeve, the hood and the button bands to do. Gotta keep moving…