draping along before it's gone



Maggie from Rowan #31 in linen drape

---

the tea party

I haven't touched my tea set, but my sure boys have! I've still got the creamer to make, but that doesn't keep them from playing with it now. Of course, their version of playing with the set involves throwing each piece up into the air as far as they can. When asked to put them all back, this is how they left everything.

all cleaned up, mama

In knitalong news, Helene has finished our tea party mascot, Miss Muffin. What a perfect hostess she is, complete with goodies and everything! Jackie has completed her first best friend doll for her tea party. Laura has finished these dolls and another one. I absolutely love these dolls and Laura, you are truly the master!

And now the fiestaware. Julia is working on an exquisite set of vintage looking teacups. Marti's finished her first tea cup. Peggy has a whole stack of teacups done. Christina's made one place setting, another place setting and a creamer (the same piece that I still have to finish!). Lisa has also completed a creamer and cup and saucer. And Gaile's getting started by blocking her first teacup.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

linen drape-along

am I a table mat or am I a tank?

I finally got my linen drape gift pack for resubscribing to the Rowan International club. So many people have gotten theirs and been less than excited at the idea of making a table runner. I was feeling the same way and had planed to use the LD to make a tank of some sort. But then they sent these colors which are perfect for my dining room. Although they would also look good striped in a tank. Now, I'm conflicted.

So how are my linen drapers doing out there? Well, let's see. Eklectica is almost done! Her beautiful purple tank is blocking as we speak. Go check it out! And Monica finished her Flame tank. You have to see the pictures - she looks gorgeous in it! Laetitia has finished the back of her linen drape project. It's got a beautiful lace border. Kyra has posted a pic of her stripey linen drape halter underway. So cool! And Lynn (who was my linen drape trading partner and who just started blogging - you've got to see her great projects!), has finished the back of her gorgeous Salsa cardigan.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

the pool

not quite in the deep end yet

As you can see, I stepped out of the pool for a bit. I ripped, I retried. Now think of me recouperating in a louge chair at poolside. Like Jenn, I wasn't so sure about how the lace pattern was coming out. But, look, she's restarted hers and has convinced me that I should give mine another try as well. She was inspired to restart by the great success of Brynne and Rae, who have beautiful pooling scarves in progress. Poor Peggy is going mad with frustration trying to get her colors to line up. I think all of us in the pool have been there, right?! Hey, Peggy, pull up a chair and join me for a cool refreshing drink. We can dive in again later.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Man, I love knitalongs! Any other knitalong updates to share with me?

It's maggie! All seamed, blocked, and finished off with a ribbon tie. I love her! She's so light and lovely. As much as I love my all seasons cotton tanks that I made last year, I've found that the aran weight cotton can be a bit heavy for real summer wear. This linen drape top should be much better for warm weather.

Yes, it's a new era in summer knits for me. Bring on the fine gauged cottons! Planned for this summer are my Habu cotton, some Phildar Licorne, Phil' Onde, and, yes, more linen drape. All US5 and undah! I feel five pounds lighter already.

Maggie fits!

snug as a bug in a linen drape rug

Now to finish the sleeves.

How are my other linen drapers doing out there??

I'm cruising along on maggie, my linen drape top. The front is well underway and I've even sewn a couple of seams for a preliminary fitting.

Looks like maggie may just fit. It's going to be snug, for sure. The real question is whether it'll be too indecent for the playground set. One more shoulder and we should know....

More linen drape/shoulder news: Julia just finished short rowing the shoulders of her linen drape sweater. It looks like it's gonna fit her perfectly! Sarah is teasing us with a picture of one strap of her almost finished linen drape tank. I can't wait to see that one all done! Heidi's Stripes Go Round in linen drape top now has sleeves. Check out the beautiful colors she's using. And Cynthia reports that she's all done with her linen drape project. Think we can strong-arm her into sharing a picture with us??

After taking a weekend break from maggie, I sucked it up and went back to the linen drape in order to finish up the first sleeve. Isn't it sweet? I'm working on the sleeves so I won't have to think about how I am so totally fudging the numbers on this top now. I blocked the back, but still have absolutely no idea whether it'll fit. Don't know why, but so far I find this more amusing than worrisome. Hmmm...

LD updates: Jackie joined the knitalong and before I could remember to add her name to the list, she'd already finished her sweet little linen drape/linen stitch purse. Check it out! Sarah's almost done with her linen drape tank. And Stephanie has made linen drape ruffles - brave gal!

Maggie.

Oh how lovely the linen drape feels again after all that Sugar 'n Cream on US3's. The back here has turned out a bit small, I think. I did get gauge, but for some reason didn't keep it. Ha ha. My plan is to wash this piece and see what size it is after washing. I'll adjust the numbers for the front depending on whether it shrinks or grows and how much stretch it seems to have, to give me the breathing room I need. I'd hate to lose out on all the promised drapey-ness of the fabric by making the top too snug.

But why is maggie coming to tea? Well, I've found a use for the toilet paper roll from the linen drape balls - it's perfect for blocking the tea kettle of my fiesta tea set!

I'll show you pics of the tea set so far later this week, after blocking and finishing. But first a little more linen drape therapy is in order.

Yup, I've knit enough of my maggie top to get to the toilet paper tube in the middle of the linen drape ball.

Up to the armhole shaping, thank you very much. Can't go back to class tonight not having made any progress, right?

Speaking of progress, both Mary and Amy finished their LD tops! They look amazing. Go see them. Really, go now, I'll wait here. Nora has started her Rowan table runner project (anyone else get linen drape with your new subscription?). And Julia has even made some emotional progress with her LD sweater. Wink, wink.

Finally I'm LD-ing-along. Yes, my linen drape project (maggie) is on the needles.

I've only just begun and I've already tossed the pattern aside in order to make up my own numbers. I did a lovely gauge swatch, got gauge with 3.25mm needles and then saw the first few inches of the top come out way too small. A slight change in gauge was only part of the problem though. The real problem is that the top is so short. I'd prefer something that covers the, um, stretch marks, you know. So I'm lengthening the top and that means making it a bit wider as well. So it's another experiment in sizing.

Sizing aside, I'm really enjoying the linen drape. It certainly does like to split, but by knitting a bit more carefully, I've been able to keep that to a minimum. Otherwise it's knitting up evenly and feels good in my hands. I'm knitting this project along with my advanced beginning knitting students (five weeks to a baby sweater!), so I'm hoping that I can finish her up in time to wear at the beginning of summer. If the last remaining skeins of linen drape are still at my LYS when I'm done, I may have to get a few more. Heh, heh.

While I was waiting for my yarn from the Netherlands that I need to knit the last piece of the cardi raye, I started sewing the other pieces together. Just a few inches seamed so far, but enough to get me really psyched about finally finishing this sweater!

We recall that in another still-no-yarn moment of weakness, I put the frankensweater aside and started Ava. Although I love the Calmer yarn, I still haven't gotten much further than the armholes on the back. I guess my eyes were bigger than my needles!

And in the meantime, the knitalongs went rolling on. Shannon, Colleen, Kathleen, and Larissa all finished fabulous spring fling projects. There are at least THREE linen drape projects already well underway (Anne's, Becky's, and Amy's). And because my swatch for the Vintage Knits lacy ribbed top did not come out looking anywhere near as good as Anne's or Hope's, I've changed my mind about what pattern I want to make with my linen drape. Now I'm thinking maybe this one?

Thank goodness my yarn is here. Who knows what other trouble I could have gotten myself into!

Ooooh, the pink. Love the pink. My favorite part of the cardi raye.

Rowan Calmer. My new favorite yarn. Not that I've really made anything with it yet except a lace cap. Just got this Calmer (in the color Calmer) in exchange for the Linen Drape I posted about a while back. Thanks Lynn!

Knitalongs. Speaking of Linen Drape, I still have some waiting to become this Vintage Knits lacy top. Apparently one knitalong (the Vintage Knits Along) hasn't been enough to get this on my needles. Also in need of some motivation, Eklectika suggested a Linen Drape Along and made this fabulous button. How can I turn that down? Anyone else out there with Linen Drape (it's just been discontinued, so check sale bins and eBay for remaining stocks!), join us. Kickoff is May 1st.

A new project. My travel knitting for the NYC trip TOMORROW! Rowan Summer Tweed. Gonna keep you in suspense about the pattern until I get back. Can you stand it??

Anyone interested a trade for an unopened pack of Rowan linen drape in the color Watermelon? After picking this up I realized I already have like 10 things in my spring/summer wardrobe in exactly this color. Doh! Rowan #31 and Rowan #29 both have lots of great patterns for this yarn. And I'll be using the same yarn in a different color to make this Vintage Knits top. You could knit-along with me!

I'd be happy to trade for a tank's or short sleeved sweater's worth of Rowan calmer, all seasons cotton, or handknit dk. Or anything else fabuloso that you suggest. Email me at the address in the left sidebar!

Update: Trade's all set. Got an offer I couldn't refuse. Thanks to everyone for the various offers I received. I hope I get to trade with some of you in the future!