Melody's Solution

Melody, a fablous fiber and yarn artist, sent me this photo of her solution to the ugly seam in the Rib Warmer. She did a 3 needle bind off. I like the look of this much better than the seam.

Check out Melody's amazing work here and here.

New Modular Project

This time I'm knitting a blanket made of one square from each of Claudia Hand Paints fingering weight - she has 108 colorways! I will have to add a few to make the blanket come out right.

I'm actually using the knitting machine to make the squares which are going to be about 5" square. After blocking them, I will crochet around each one with the same color - not sure what that color will be. The thing I am really looking forward to is have all the squares blocked and playing them out. Then I will know what color the borders should be and what else I need to make it as stunning as possible. Then sew or latch it together and put on a border.

I would have really liked to hand knit or crochet each piece because I just love the way Claudia does her colors and I have so much pleasure just watching them change. But my goal is to have it done by Christmas, which I don't think is realistic, considering all the other deadlines I have. But I am an optimist and also perform best with the pressure of deadlines.

What I really want is to have it done by TNNA so Claudia can display it in her booth. My other deadlines are the new patterns I need to have finished by then, too.

My fingers just can't keep up with my brain!

The best thing is all my holiday knitting is done, so I can devote myself totally to this and also, to getting the new addition to my e-boutique, to be announced at a later date.

EZ Rib Warmer

I really like the way this came out. I used some Plymouth Fantasy Naturale I had in my stash and it was the perfect weight and drape for the garter stitch pattern. I just love the way it fits - sure wish I had a resident photographer so I could show you on a real person.

It kind of stays contoured to the body, not falling open even though nothing holds it together. I think this is because of the combination of short rows (making a bias where a dart would be) plus the weight and texture of the yarn plus the garter stitch.

The only thing I don't like about it is the back seam. I'm thinking hard about how this could be done without sacrificing the bias short rows exactly where they are. I'm thinking it might be possible if you finish the back as one piece and then pick up stitches on each side and work around the front to the collar (the opposite direction that EZ's is worked)

The thing I do like about the back is that sexy little curved split in the center of the lower back, and I think I could still get that without the seam.

Just add it to the overflowing pile of ideas in my bushel basket.