the blue blog archives: something old, something new

Stuck at the steek again. Back neck steek this time. The VW sweater instructions say to cast off 35 stitches to begin the back of the neck. I placed them on separate yarn instead of casting off and then was about to cast on 5 steek stitches as I did for the front when I realized that my circular needle was just too long for my new number of stitches. I needed shorter size one circs and the yarn store is closed Mondays and it was a holiday anyway, so no chance.

Never fear, a new project is here!! Becky hooked me up with this fabulous Phildar baby catalog a while ago and it turns out we both wanted to make the same jacket pattern. I was saving these until next fall, but Becky wants to start hers now, so I just had to jump on the virtual bandwagon with her and do another knit-along. Fun, fun!

Since I couldn't continue with my Dale sweater, I swatched a bit with the Phildar yarn, a wonderfully soft alpaca tweed called Legende, got lucky with the gauge and started the back. Sorry to jump ahead, Becky, but what's a girl with the wrong sized needles to do? Today it's off to the yarn store and then back to the bugs!

Check out fluffa! as our knit-along gets underway. And in other virtual knit-along news, be sure to watch Emma and her friend Sissel's knit- and felt-along.

posted by alison at 12:08 pm | in bugs! , giranimals

Comments

Hi Alison. Not that I necessarily would recommend this for your particular situation, but, your entry of today prompted me to write something about the 'magic loop' method over at my blog. It's not always an ideal solution, but it's a way to make do in a pinch.

BTW, I *love* that Phildar yarn! Where did you get it?

Posted by: michelle at January 21, 2003 8:52 PM

Hi Michelle! Thanks for the tip. I'll post a link over to your site as a real entry here, for those who don't peek at the comments.

The Phildar yarn IS fabulous and worth looking around for, in my opinion. The best way to buy it from America that I've found is through this Canadian online store, knit 'n' tyme. I've ordered from her a couple of times and found her to be very helpful and reliable.

Posted by: alison at January 21, 2003 9:39 PM

Thanks for the link. Lots of interesting things there. :)

Posted by: michelle at January 21, 2003 10:11 PM

oh, the giraffe sweaters!

looking forward to seeing how they all (three) turn out. are you doing the same colorways as the pattern book?

I'm inspired to look through that book again & pick something fun to do!

Posted by: daria at January 22, 2003 1:25 AM

Dang, woman. You got motors in your fingers. Your jacket is looking GREAT, which urged me to get off my procrastinating bottom and start my own last night at about 11:00 p.m. I'll post my progress on my site soon :-)

(Oh, and I'm sending you an e-mail today re the RUBIS.)

Posted by: Becky at January 22, 2003 2:52 AM

I have looked high and low for the Phildar baby catalog with the giraffe coat pattern to no avail. I'd be willing to pay anyone for a copy of it . . . please???

Thanks.

Posted by: debbie at December 8, 2003 3:27 AM