Birthday Cables

So I knit this a long time ago, according to ravelry, I worked on it from August 5 to September 9 of 2009. So it's been over a year. I'm not really good about updating the blog about these things, and I've been thinking about starting a new blog since, but I have enough stuff from this one that I don't want to get rid of it yet.

The original pattern is by Mary K Saunders and is called "Ms. Brend." The original blog post disappeared, but if you want the pattern, let me know. I worked on these fingerless mittens and made a few alterations to the chart and the finger sizes. The original fingers were huge, and Princess's fingers were not huge. I think I changed the cable a bit, I can't remember how, though. But I do remember that the chart was really hard to follow and the gauge was as bit tight. Even though the pattern was fiddly, and the whole project was kind of a pain in the ass, I ended up falling in love with them. When the time came, I couldn't really bring myself to give them away. If I didn't promise them to her already, I would have totally kept them for myself.

I had some problems getting the fingers to go on seamlessly. I kept getting these gaps, and I think next time I'll knit them on smaller needles or knit through the back loops or something. I knit these on US 2 (2.75 mm) with Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport - A Bit of blue (030).

Professional Princess

I've gone home to San Diego for a week and have an access to a car and much shopping. I did bring along a knitting project, but I decided that I didn't feel like working on it, so I ran over to Michael's to buy yarn and needles for a new project for the graduation gift. Honestly, I'm starting to resent this project. At this point, I have started the project at least 8 times, frogging each time. the first time, the scarf had a garter stitch border. Theoretically, it looked good. In practice, the border and the body of the scarf have different gauges and looked really funny. So I frogged it. I finally decided on this pattern, despite all the fits and starts. I have a grand inch on it this time, but I swear, with all the frogging and re-knitting that I've done over the last few days I must have at least 2 feet's worth of knitting.

I'm pretty positive this is going to be the final draft and hope to God I don't mess it up. If it was for me, I would give this project up as a lost cause and just one that doesn't want to happen. One of my friends, Kimberly, whom I have nicknamed "Princess," is graduating at the end of Fall quarter this year. She's not really sure if she wants to go to medical school or nursing school, but she's definitely trying to get somewhere. So I figure that since she's leaving college to go away into the "real world," I should knit her something for her graduation. But I can't really knit her something outrageous and crazy-looking, since she's going out into, again, the "real world." So I'm making her a scarf in girly, but not too crazy colors. I think the pattern that I've set up looks relatively professional and looks alright.

The color that I chose is a pink/white/tan variegated yarn that looks rather girlish in the color scheme, but it would match well with her taste in clothing and her hair. From what I've seen from the previous versions, the pattern doesn't really lend itself to massive pooling, which is good. Part of the problem with the scarf that I knit before for my sorority sister is that it has some problems with pooling. Granted, it has the stripes of solid color between, so it's not so bad. So if you have a variegated yarn, this may be a good pattern if you don't like pooling in your knitting. Personally, I think it looks funny, so this is a good thing. But if you do, knit on.

Materials:

Yarn: Loops and Threads, Impeccable; Color: Neopolitan Ombre
Needles: Size US 7, 4.5mm
Yarn needle

Pattern Notes:

This is a one row repeat and it is as follows:
Sl1, *k1, k1b, repeat from * until 1 st. left, p1.

Slip all stitches knitwise.
k1b: knit into the stitch below the one on the needle. When you get the pattern going, you'll see a column of slipped stitches and a little nubbin, knit into that.

Scarf Pattern:
CO 22 sts
1-2. Sl 1, knit until 1 left, p1
Work pattern from notes until length desired.
Repeat row 1-2.
BO.
Weave in ends and block.

That's it! It looks almost like ribbing or brioche stitch. I think it looks rather polished, especially with the slipped stitch edge. It definitely looks better than the 2x2 rib, and a little more interesting visually than a 1x1 rib. We'll see how long this one takes me. ^^