Knitting Friday
Although, I have a conversation going on Ravelry about whether to knit a useful or pretty baby blanket and right now, my prime concern is finishing said baby blanket; I did not forget my promise: there is a pattern and a picture for today’s Knitting Friday.
Just moments ago, I finished the lace summer top which I had also finished for last week’s Knitting Friday. The difference with last week was that then, moments before posting the pattern and picture, I ripped the damn thing out. No, I didn’t “frog”, a cute little word all knitters use. I dug deep into the viscera of that ill-fitting garments and gutted it.
Having said the above, and gotten a psychic closure by doing so, I can happily report that I then spent a week of slightly blissful (though with cliff-hanger quality: Will I fail again?) week, re-knitting the top.
Before the actual pattern, some particulars.
1. This one I made with half-sleeves in stockinette. My original plan was sleeves in simple lace (*YO, K2tog*) but that looked homemade and somehow, granny-squarish.
2. I worked the hem last without starting with a provisional cast on. When this works, it’s always the easiest way to go. This time it worked. So I was able to start right in on the body of the sweater and finish the hem later.
3. I dropped down 2 needle sizes for the body (compared to last week) and did the lace hem in a needle size one down from even that.
4. The neck and sleeve edgings are done in double crochet crab stitch.
5. Starting with this pattern, a list of all abbreviations will precede all patterns. Check them or you may think the pattern is written in short hand. (Since you are reading this pattern online, you can google for any stitch or procedure explanation. There are great online explanations available. Far better than anything I could tell you.)
6. This is a generic pattern. I will tell you the number of stitches/rows that I used in parentheses.. You should base your calculations on your measurements. And now, the pattern.
Lace Hem Summer Top
Abbreviations: (in alphabetical order)
BO = bind off
CO = cast one
DC - double crochet
Dec = decrease
DPN = Double Pointed Needles
Inc = increase
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
LF/LB = Left Front & Left Back
LS = Left side
N(s) = needle (RN for right needle; LN for left)
P = Purl
P2tog = Purl 2 stitches together
PU = Pick Up
RF/RB = Right Front & Right Back
RS = Right side;
SC = Single Crochet
St(s) = stitch(es)
St St = stockinette stitch
SSK = as I do it: slip 1 sttich, K 1 stitch , pass slip 1 over K1 & off needle for L slanting decrease
YO = Yarn over
*............* = repeat instructions between asterisks to end of row/round or number of times listed
Equipment: Cotton DK weight (sorry I don’t know the yardage); US 8 and US 9 circular and double pointed needles -(or appropriate Ns for your yarn with 1 N at 1 size smaller.); Row counter; H Crochet hook
With US needles, CO on the appropriate number of sts for the body of the garment. (120 sts)
Join work and K in the round to the armholes. (No need to count rows here.)
Front at Armhole: Divide stitches in half (60 sts) Now working in rows on RS, BO 3 sts on first (K) row. Turn work and BO 3 sts at beg of second (P) row. (Note: By using circular needles I just “store” the stitches for the back on my needle.)
Work even in st st (K 1 row, P 1 row) on these sts (½ of total minus 6 BOs) to neckline. (31 rows)
Front at Neckline, Right Shoulder: (Note: You will now be dividing your front sts into approximate thirds. (on 54 sts, 18 - 18 -18)
Row 1 RS: K across the first third of sts to 3 sts before last st. K2tog, K1. Turn.
Row 2: P back.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2, 2xs. (15 sts) Then continue in st st to shoulder edge. (42 rows total) Do not BO. Put sts on holder.
Front Neckline, Left Shoulder: Starting at RS, BO middle one-third portion of sts . (18 sts.) Now working on the last third of the sts (18 sts):
Row 1 RS: K1, SSK, K across
Row 2 WS: P across
Repeat Row 1 & 2, 2xs (15 sts) Then work to shoulder in st st as other side. (42 rows total) Put sts on holder.
Back at Armhole and Neckline: Repeat as for Front at Armhole and Neckline.
Binding off: Using a 3-Needle BO, graft the stitches on holders together (LF to LB and RF to LF)
Sleeves: With US 9 DPN, PU stitch for stitch around armhole (49 sts). K in round until desired length. (34 sts.) BO.
Finishing:
Bottom Body Hem: With US 8 DPN or circulars, PU even numbered stitch for stitch around bottom of body. (120 sts)
Round 1: *YO, K2tog* Round 2: *K*
Repeat these two rows for at least 1 inch. BO not loosely or tightly.
Bottom Sleeve Hem: With crochet hook (H), work a DC in crab stitch evenly across. (Note: Crab stitch is working a SC from Left to Right. DC crab stitch is working a DC from Left to Right. While a SC crab stitch is usually stitch for stitch, the DC crab stitch makes a bigger stitch and you may have to work every other stitch across for an even look.) Cut yarn.
Neck Finishing: With crochet hook (H), DC crab stitch evenly across the neck stitches. Cut yarn.
(Note: Getting this even was more difficult here than the sleeves. I like the way it looks and falls but you may wish to use another neck finishing.)
Weave in ends and block as desired.
(Lace Top unblocked is pictured at right. I think it looks like a kid's sweater (no shaping) but it works once it's on.)
That’s it for today. Now, I tackle the baby blanket.
Happy knitting.
Although, I have a conversation going on Ravelry about whether to knit a useful or pretty baby blanket and right now, my prime concern is finishing said baby blanket; I did not forget my promise: there is a pattern and a picture for today’s Knitting Friday.
Just moments ago, I finished the lace summer top which I had also finished for last week’s Knitting Friday. The difference with last week was that then, moments before posting the pattern and picture, I ripped the damn thing out. No, I didn’t “frog”, a cute little word all knitters use. I dug deep into the viscera of that ill-fitting garments and gutted it.
Having said the above, and gotten a psychic closure by doing so, I can happily report that I then spent a week of slightly blissful (though with cliff-hanger quality: Will I fail again?) week, re-knitting the top.
Before the actual pattern, some particulars.
1. This one I made with half-sleeves in stockinette. My original plan was sleeves in simple lace (*YO, K2tog*) but that looked homemade and somehow, granny-squarish.
2. I worked the hem last without starting with a provisional cast on. When this works, it’s always the easiest way to go. This time it worked. So I was able to start right in on the body of the sweater and finish the hem later.
3. I dropped down 2 needle sizes for the body (compared to last week) and did the lace hem in a needle size one down from even that.
4. The neck and sleeve edgings are done in double crochet crab stitch.
5. Starting with this pattern, a list of all abbreviations will precede all patterns. Check them or you may think the pattern is written in short hand. (Since you are reading this pattern online, you can google for any stitch or procedure explanation. There are great online explanations available. Far better than anything I could tell you.)
6. This is a generic pattern. I will tell you the number of stitches/rows that I used in parentheses.. You should base your calculations on your measurements. And now, the pattern.
Lace Hem Summer Top
Abbreviations: (in alphabetical order)
BO = bind off
CO = cast one
DC - double crochet
Dec = decrease
DPN = Double Pointed Needles
Inc = increase
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
LF/LB = Left Front & Left Back
LS = Left side
N(s) = needle (RN for right needle; LN for left)
P = Purl
P2tog = Purl 2 stitches together
PU = Pick Up
RF/RB = Right Front & Right Back
RS = Right side;
SC = Single Crochet
St(s) = stitch(es)
St St = stockinette stitch
SSK = as I do it: slip 1 sttich, K 1 stitch , pass slip 1 over K1 & off needle for L slanting decrease
YO = Yarn over
*............* = repeat instructions between asterisks to end of row/round or number of times listed
Equipment: Cotton DK weight (sorry I don’t know the yardage); US 8 and US 9 circular and double pointed needles -(or appropriate Ns for your yarn with 1 N at 1 size smaller.); Row counter; H Crochet hook
With US needles, CO on the appropriate number of sts for the body of the garment. (120 sts)
Join work and K in the round to the armholes. (No need to count rows here.)
Front at Armhole: Divide stitches in half (60 sts) Now working in rows on RS, BO 3 sts on first (K) row. Turn work and BO 3 sts at beg of second (P) row. (Note: By using circular needles I just “store” the stitches for the back on my needle.)
Work even in st st (K 1 row, P 1 row) on these sts (½ of total minus 6 BOs) to neckline. (31 rows)
Front at Neckline, Right Shoulder: (Note: You will now be dividing your front sts into approximate thirds. (on 54 sts, 18 - 18 -18)
Row 1 RS: K across the first third of sts to 3 sts before last st. K2tog, K1. Turn.
Row 2: P back.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2, 2xs. (15 sts) Then continue in st st to shoulder edge. (42 rows total) Do not BO. Put sts on holder.
Front Neckline, Left Shoulder: Starting at RS, BO middle one-third portion of sts . (18 sts.) Now working on the last third of the sts (18 sts):
Row 1 RS: K1, SSK, K across
Row 2 WS: P across
Repeat Row 1 & 2, 2xs (15 sts) Then work to shoulder in st st as other side. (42 rows total) Put sts on holder.
Back at Armhole and Neckline: Repeat as for Front at Armhole and Neckline.
Binding off: Using a 3-Needle BO, graft the stitches on holders together (LF to LB and RF to LF)
Sleeves: With US 9 DPN, PU stitch for stitch around armhole (49 sts). K in round until desired length. (34 sts.) BO.
Finishing:
Bottom Body Hem: With US 8 DPN or circulars, PU even numbered stitch for stitch around bottom of body. (120 sts)
Round 1: *YO, K2tog* Round 2: *K*
Repeat these two rows for at least 1 inch. BO not loosely or tightly.
Bottom Sleeve Hem: With crochet hook (H), work a DC in crab stitch evenly across. (Note: Crab stitch is working a SC from Left to Right. DC crab stitch is working a DC from Left to Right. While a SC crab stitch is usually stitch for stitch, the DC crab stitch makes a bigger stitch and you may have to work every other stitch across for an even look.) Cut yarn.
Neck Finishing: With crochet hook (H), DC crab stitch evenly across the neck stitches. Cut yarn.
(Note: Getting this even was more difficult here than the sleeves. I like the way it looks and falls but you may wish to use another neck finishing.)
Weave in ends and block as desired.
(Lace Top unblocked is pictured at right. I think it looks like a kid's sweater (no shaping) but it works once it's on.)
That’s it for today. Now, I tackle the baby blanket.
Happy knitting.
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