Proud Auntie of Knit Worthy Girls!

As many of you know from following the blog I have some very knit worthy girls in my life.  "The Knit Girls" as I call them rock the knit worthiness world!  I knit and they wear everything I knit!  I can seriously attest to their knit worthiness!  I recently received a worn sweater back to be from Knit Girl #1.  This sweater was repaired once last spring as the icord cuff trim was wearing out and this was done at a local yarn shop in Port Townsend.  I got a call saying the elbows had holes and it would be going back tot he yarn shop.  On Friday the sweater arrived here in the village as it was not getting repaired as the person who once was doing the repair work has moved on.  I was thrilled to get the sweater back and to have a serious look at this sweater's wear and tear. 

Knit Girl #1: wears this sweater all the time! I do mean all the time!  Wool will wear in places, the sweater is stained, but I am thrilled. I know this sweater is loved and worn! 

The first job was to assess the worn out bits. Both elbows had holes one more than the other showing that right elbow spends a good deal of time leaning on desk and table tops. The left elbow only has a bit of wear but still, a small hole was present. One pocket had the potential for a disaster, I was able to head that off.  Buttonholes were snugged backup. To help reinforce the elbows, I remembered that EZ (for those who don't know of EZ this would be Elizabeth Zimmermann) had heart shape knit patches she designed for just this purpose.  I dug through all my EZ books and located the pattern in her book the Knitting Workshop a wonderful knitting tool/resource I can highly recommend.

Now one thing you should all know I jokingly call EZ the knitting astrophysicist.  Her brain never ever worked like the rest of us and she was a brilliantly talented designer.  I am continually amazed at her work.  Off I jump into casting on a heart patch . . . right away I am in over my head and knit up a mess!  I quickly go to Ravelry and the Zimmermann's group to see if others had an issue with this little pattern.  Well, of course, I am not alone.  Meg, EZ's daughter, pointed me in the right direction with her reply to another knitter.  I also pulled out the revised Knitting Workshop and saw that Cully had more detailed instructions.  I spent most of yesterday working on heart patches.  Mission accomplished!

Knit Girl #1's Kate Davies' Bláithín sweater is now washed, 98% repaired,  and on the blocking board. All I have left to do is to sew on the elbow patches and send Knit Girl #1 her sweater.

Worn elbow

Small hole

Top photo now repaired

The 1st disaster of a heart patch and off to Ravelry to find a few answers to solve the mystery of an EZ heart!

Using the newer Knitting Workshop and solving the mysteries of the heart patch!

Not blocked or anything but it looks like the hearth patch will work just fine.

Very worn & loved sweater.  I am so thrilled my work is used 110% of the time.

Off for a nice long soak in wool wash.

Hearts blocked and drying.

Washed and blocked . . .

We were just out ont he tundra and last weekend we were skiing right at this spot.  We have had rain, winds, and highs in the upper 30ºF.  A bummer but snow will be back soon enough.  The Nulato Hills south of us are covered in snow!

Miss Tally ready for the ride home! 

Bláithín Sweater # 2

I have a wonderful family that I get to knit for, and they are extremely knit worthy!  They wear everything all the time, send photos, and pass on the compliments they are given about what they are wearing.  My grand niece needs another sweater as she has outgrown her last sweater.  I sent her all kinds of ideas/pattern to choose from but in the end she went with this Kate Davies design.  I have knitted this sweater for myself and I really enjoyed the well thought out design.  I will say this even after I complained about miles of icord the sweater came out great!

A provisional cast on to get things rolling.  Always use a yarn that is in a contrasting color and won't shed into the main yarn you are using.  I am using a worsted weight superwash.

After you get sts on your needles then right away you have to set up for the knit in pockets.  I wasn't to sure about this step all, but once you read, follow, and knit on, the pockets come together spot on perfect!

I almost 99% of the time I start with the sleeves of any sweater for a few reasons.  One is to get them out of the way and more importantly to make sure I have gauge. 

This is inside the sweater.  I picked up my sts that were being held on scrap yarn, once the body was knitted to the correct height.  I knitted the flap that will be sewn down into place.

The inside flap is done being knitted and I am getting those sts on my main body needle.  The sts in the front will be bond off in and icord.  

Pocket is almost done, the inside flap is on my needle with the rest of the body sts. the front part of pocket is on waste yarn being held.

A pocket is born!  All done . . . I love that there is just 2 layers here with a solid pocket knitted into the sweater.

Colors to be used which amazingly came out of my stash!  Harrisville Highland Design Yarn, worsted weight which I love!

Spring Tundra and a Bit of Knitting

Spring is here and we have made it through the worst of the muddy season and now dust seems to have arrived.  It is a bit dryer than normal here which I do have concerns about.  Alaska's fire season has started already.  We have a fire season in spring into early summer up north.  It is really amazing how fast the tundra can and does dry out.

School is almost over just 5 more days after today and I am soooooo looking forward to my break!  I love my job but as a long time teaching friend told me years ago, "Teaching a years worth of worked packed into 9mos. you deserve a free summer to rest and to get ready to jump right back into the classroom again."  I could not agree more!

I have turned in my skis for my hiking boots.  I am out on the tundra almost every day walking with "The Girls" as I call the dogs.  Soon that tundra will be bursting with green plant life.  The temperatures have hit the hi-40s and have broken into the low 50s.  The tundra is not freezing at night and with the long hours of sunshine it will change dramatically now from winter brown to lush summer green.

Spring time tundra ready to explode into various shades of green!

PDS Yarn one of my favorite yarns hand dyed in Whitefish , Montana at my favorite yarn shoppe! Another pair of highly functional socks.

I am totally smitten by lichen . . .

My Blaíthín, Kate Davies design, sweater which is now off the needles and waiting for buttons.

My disappearing ski trail in the distance but have not fear it will return about next October if the Snow Gods and Mother Nature play nice!

Bláithín

My Bláithín sweater is true to form creeping along ever so slowly.  I did make yet another change and learned and used German Short rows which worked out great and got rid of several gaping openings form the turn and wrap method I deplore!

New fan of German Short Rows for shaping.

No loops or large stitches from turn and wrap.

Sewing in the loose ends from the color work on the yoke.

I am presently working on the cast-off edge of the lower body.  I am stuck in a thinking stage as I can not figure out why one would cast-off 232 sts. and then pick up 232 for icord.  I am going to re-read the pattern and then most likely do an icord bind off instead.  Once that is done I will be steeking the front which means cutting the front of the sweater open.  Steeking is a method I actually really like and use often.  I was hoping to have this sweater done and off the needles before the reverse migration starts.  I am doubtful this will happen! 

Bláithín Sweater (Bláithín is an Irish name meaning "little flower") AKA Ol'Navy

Bláithín Sweater is designed by Kate Davies who I think is just a brilliant knit designer.  This project was started a bit ago and interrupt often by my inability to stay focused on just one project.  Since knitting is my way of relaxing, in my world, that means you knit what every want when you want.  Over my knitting years I have come to accept that I jump from project to project and back again---why fight it just go with the knitting flow!

I am excited to say I am back knitting my Bláithín Sweater!  Today, I will be finishing up the second sleeve, steam blocking both sleeves and body.  This way I will get an accurate measurement of all the pieces before I join them together to start my favorite part the yoke colorwork.  I did modify the design a bit as I didn't want any pockets or the sweater to flare out on the sides.

Off to knit!  I will be steam blocking this sweater to try on before I continue with the yoke work.