Barbie Clothes

These were shipped off today to my niece for Christmas.



I followed a poncho pattern published by Susan of I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can. I used Sockotta cotton/wool/nylon, color 502. And I already forgot the needle size -- U.S. 2?



The two dresses were from patterns in Nicky Epstein's Knits for Barbie Doll. I followed the colors and thread suggested by the patterns.

Knitting in Japanese

As soon as I read Mary's post and saw the pictures she linked to, I ordered the book. It arrived last week while I was gone, so last night and this morning I have been looking through it.

Most of it is in Japanese, but between the numbers and charts, as well as a page listing all the yarns with gauge used, plus translation references Mary has linked to, I think the patterns can be figured out. It reminds me of my course work translating from all sorts of languages that used different alphabet scripts. I knew my Ph.D. studies would be good for something!

Cara will be hosting a knit-along beginning in January for the Am Kamin sweater. I'm not sure if I'll join, but I certainly shall follow along. I especially like the Herbstlied Aran pullover (pictured on the cover of the book) and the When the Mountainash is in Flower shawl. I also love the brown Fair Isle swatches on p. 11.

Blackberry Ridge Stole

Originally posted March 19, 2005.


I've just finished three of nine pattern repeats for a stole using the Evening in Eden Stole pattern by Lynda Gemmell of Cabin Fever. I'm using black fingering weight wool from Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill on No. 8 (5.0 mm) needles.


The wool is maybe a bit prosaic for an "evening" stole—something with some glitter might have been better—but the wool will be warm.

Memorial Blankets

Five blankets have been assembled from the squares sent in as a tribute to Kerstin's brother-in-law. They are quite striking.

I recently ordered (another) book from Schoolhouse Press, Knitting with a Smile: A Knitting Sketchbook (scroll down), by Inger Fredholm. The last chapter has pictures of 2,000 afghans made out of knitted squares for a refugee camp. School children in Sweden knitted the squares in the late 1980s.

Projects in Process

I have a number of soon-to-be finished projects in the queue, most with deadlines, some still to come and one past due.

First, inspired by the Thursday, October 6, 2005 entry at I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can, I started the Hyrna Herborgar shawl from Three-Cornered and Long Shawls (Þríhyrnur og Langsjöl) by Sigrídur Halldórsdóttir. Per Susan's notes, the shawl takes slightly more than one ball of lace-weight Misti Alpaca.

The pattern had been going well up to where it is now, but I think I'm off a stitch, so I need to go back a couple of rows. I hope I can fix it. Susan finished her shawl in a week (!) but I certainly won't be.

I need to sew up and block some knitted Barbie outfits for my niece's birthday coming up. I'll post pictures when those are done.

My hemp shopping bag is finished except for sewing it together and knitting and attaching the two shoulder straps.

Finally, I finished knitting and blocking a piece for a gift. I also picked out the fabric it needs. Now I just need to figure out how to assemble it. Again, pictures will be posted once the project is completed.

Knitted Lace Books

On my recent trip, I was in Berkeley for half a day and was able to squeeze in a short trip to Lacis. I had come prepared with a list as I wasn't sure if I'd even be able to stop in. But if I can shop efficiently for anything, it would be books!

First I found two sets of miniature double-pointed knitting needles, 4 inches in length, .75mm and 1.25mm.

Then I hit the bookshelves.

Knitted Lace, by Sonja Esbensen and Anna Rasmussen. This is the first book of Danish knitted lace patterns by Esbensen, and it has been translated into English. So now I can consult it when I have questions about Kunststrik II.

Creative Knitting, by Mary Walker Phillips. When I had seen this book earlier, I didn't think I'd be too interested. But after seeing Janice Rosema's freeform knitting and crocheting at the LA County Fair, I am intrigued with the possibilities of "non-traditional" knitting ideas.

Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls, by Martha Waterman. Techniques, history, stitch patterns, finishing, ideas for wearing shawls.

Creating Original Hand-knitted Lace, by Margaret Stove. Construction techniques and patterns.

Knitting: 19th Century Sources, edited by Jules & Kaethe Kliot. My favorite! Excerpts from Weldon's Practical Knitter. Patterns for everything just as they were published (and illustrated) in the late nineteenth century in England. Counterpane squares, socks, edgings, doll clothes, baby clothes, anti-rheumatic kneecap cover, knickerbockers, petticoats, barrister's wig in puffed knitting, etc.

The preface includes a short quote from Weldon's Practical Needlework:

[Knitting] does not distract the attention or check the powers of imagination. It forms a ready resource when a vacuity occurs in conversation; it impairs neither body nor mind, and requires no straining of the eyesight. It may be interrupted without loss, and again resumed without trouble. [...]

My hemp string bag proved to be an excellent project for traveling as it has just two simple pattern rows that can be easily interrupted and resumed, the hemp doesn't show dirt, and the tension/gauge doesn't have to be exact.

Plain knitting

Wanting repetitive, not-too-challenging, comfort projects during these days, here are a couple things (not all...) I've been knitting. These are all in-progress, pre-blocking pictures.

From The Great American Aran Afghan, I've started the "Aran Sweater" square by Susan Rainey, using Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool. The sweater still needs the sleeves and neckband knitted.



One of the reasons I chose this square was to practice the combined knitting technique I learned in Annie Modesitt's class. I especially wanted to see how evenly the stockinette stitch came out. I was quite pleased—again, this is pre-blocking.



Another project I pick up when I want to knit while watching TV is a hemp shopping bag, using All Hemp 6 and a pattern from Lanaknits. There are only two pattern rows for the body of the bag.

Finished Knitted Lace

This is the first piece of circular knitted lace I have made, which was a birthday gift for my mother. Except for beginning it (see previous entry), it was a very enjoyable piece to knit. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)


Pattern: Knud II
Pattern from: Kunststrik II, by Sonja Esbensen
Finished size: Just under 14 inches in diameter
Thread used: DMC Cordonnet Special; 100% cotton; size 30; color Ecru; almost 2 balls, 197 m/20g each
Where purchased: Book, thread, and some needles at Velona Needlecraft
Needles: 1.5 mm (U.S. size 000 or 3/0) in 3.5 inch Inox double-points; 8 inch Addi double-points; 16"/40 cm HiyaHiya circular; 20"/50 cm Addi Turbo circular; 24"/60 cm Addi Turbo circular. Also, for final cast-off round, 1.25 mm Susan Bates steel crochet hook.
Started: Early August 2005
Finished: Mid-September 2005
For whom: My mother


What I learned: This type of project is great summertime knitting, portable, and a nice balance of excitement (can't wait to get to the next pattern set), concentration when establishing a new pattern, and "conversation" knitting when going around the plain knit rows.

The most difficult part was casting on. It took many attempts to finagle eight tiny stitches on four tiny needles and successfully knit a couple rounds without a) the stitches slipping off or b) the needles and stitches twisting and not being able to tell which way to straighten them. The small needles helped. (I've since learned that knitting needles in small sizes and lengths can be purchased through miniature doll house furnishing suppliers.) Also, leaning on my elbows and forearms on my bed with my legs tucked under me so that I could lay the knitting on the flat surface of the bed was the only posture in which I finally managed to get the first rounds going.

Next time I will try a method Larry told me about, Emily Ocker's cast-on. (The method is also described in the introductory notes in Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle, pp. 12-13.)

Additionally, I will try obtain all the needles I need from the same brand (Addi). There is a difference in size amongst the brands that does make a small difference in the tension or gauge.

I cast off by crocheting two stitches together and then making two crochet chains before picking up the next two knitted stitches.


The pattern components of the doily are quite simple: octagonal swirl; knitted diamonds and eyelet diamonds; purl rows; and two sections of feather and fan or Old Shale.

After casting off, I sewed in the ends, including trying to tidy up my cast-on attempt. Then I soaked the doily in cool water and Woolite, rinsed it, and rolled it in a towel to squeeze out the extra water. Then I pinned it out on a towel. I didn't use a template to make sure I got perfect circle, but I think it came out OK. The picture below is a little more true to the ecru color than the pictures I took outdoors above.


Knitting in Danish was accomplished by: using the English translation of the symbol chart that came with the book (or available here in .pdf); looking up words in Knitting Languages, by Margaret Heathman, published by Schoolhouse Press (although I don't see it listed on their Web site at the moment); and consulting a woman from my church who speaks Danish and who loaned me beautiful knitted lace pieces her sister knit in Denmark.

Starting Circular Knitted Lace

Excerpt from entry originally posted August 1, 2005

Knitting again

After not having worked on a knitting project for a couple months, this weeekend I picked up the needles again, or rather, had the needles sawn in two and then started knitting.

3.5 inch needles
I had bought a lace knitting book, Kunststrik II by Sonja Esbensen at Velona's sometime back. But trying to cast on and knit eight stitches with size 30 thread distributed on four size 000 (1.5 mm) slippery steel 8" double-pointed needles was impossible for me.

So, unable to located 000 needles in a shorter length, I ordered another set of 8" needles and brought them to Berg Hardware, a wonderful old-time hardware store where they still price everything with handwritten tags. They cut the needles into 3.5 and 4.5 inch lengths. The ends are a little rough but worked OK for getting the circular pattern started until I could manipulate the full-sized needles.

8 inch needles
Lesson learned, however—the needles should be the same brand. The Inox needles I had cut are slightly thicker than the 8" Addi needles, enough to see a difference in the tension.

(This project won't be finished because the thread I used is too heavy for these needles. But it was enough to show me 1) the shorter needles help to get circular lace patterns started and 2) I can figure out Danish patterns!)

Fingerless Gloves

From an entry originally posted November 15, 2002

Fingerless gloves



Pattern: Basic Women's Fair Isle Fingerless Gloves
Pattern from: Knitting Fair Isle Mittens & Gloves: 40 Great-Looking Designs by Carol Rasmussen Noble
Wool used:Filanda Extrafine 100% Alpaca, heather taupe color (# 32 / 452). I'm hoping I can make both gloves with just one 50 g. ball, but because I'm only using one color, I'm not sure if one ball will stretch quite far enough.
Where purchased: Temple City Knit Shop, Temple City, California
Needles: Addi bamboo double-pointed U.S. 0 (2.0 mm) for cuff ribbing and hand; U.S. 1 (2.5 mm) for ribbing for partial fingers; and U.S. 2 (2.75 mm) to cast off partial fingers.
Started: November 2002
Completed: February 2005
For whom: Me
What I learned: How to make seamless (partial) fingers on two needles, knitting with a third needle. Also, it is important that the knitted partial fingers are not too tight or else they cut off circulation to the fingers.

I tried out the glove last Sunday when I was practising the piano before church. It really helped keep my right hand warm and nimble in the not-quite-heated church. However, now that the weather has warmed up so much, I'm not in a hurry to knit the left-hand glove.



(This was a very difficult picture to take. I had to hold my 35 mm camera, which was extra heavy with the flash, in my left hand twisted around so I could press the shutter button.)

Egg Cozy

Originally posted November 12, 2002

Grade 4 project

At boarding school, beginning in Grade 1, we had two handwork projects each term, one knitting project and one sewing project. Every Saturday morning we'd meet at the house of the teacher assigned to our projects. We worked on our handwork throughout the week, except we weren't allowed to work on it on Sundays. After "Handwork" we had "Library" and then a few prep periods. In the afternoon we went swimming and played down at the river. (I recently came across some school pictures, including the swimming pool and play area by the river. The pictures were taken before my time, but not much had changed at the school when I was there in the 1970s.) Then in the evening we were shown films. I loved Saturdays!

Eventually, I will take pictures of as many projects as I still have. I know I've lost some along the way, e.g., the yellow smocked nightgown and the blue dress with the hand embroidered bodice. As a start, here an egg cozy I knitted in Grade 4 (I think):

Egg Cozy



Started & Completed: ~ Grade 4
What I learned: How to make pom-poms

Oval Knitted Lace Table Cover

Originally posted November 12, 2002

Handwork documentation

Well, I got my roll of film back, so here goes. Eventually, I want to put up a separate page with my handwork projects, similar to Wendy's, but ever so much more modest. But Wendy is an inspiration and role model: she does beautiful work and she finishes projects. (Please note that some of my documentation categories are similar to hers, e.g.)

Oval Knitted Lace Table Cover



Pattern: Knitted Lace, Fluted Design with Eyelets
Pattern by: Mrs. Mae Young
Pattern Source: "Trimmings," in PieceWork magazine, January/February 1996
Thread used: DMC Fil D'Écosse; Cébélia; 100% cotton; Size 10; Color Ecru
Where purchased: Thread--Mariposa, South Pasadena, California and Michael's, Pasadena, California; Satin smooth brocade cloth--Velona Needlecraft, Anaheim Hills, California
Needles: Clover Takumi Bamboo double-pointed U.S. 1 (2.5mm)
Started: 1996?
Completed: November 2002
For whom: M
What I learned: How to block knitted lace from the instructions in Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting by Marianne Kinzel and from Judy Gibson's knitted lace blocking photos and instructions. (I also learned about Velona Needlecraft from Judy Gibson's site.) From the helpful woman at the Bearly Stitchin quilting supply store, I learned how to make patterns from freezer paper (available in grocery stores, e.g., Reynolds brand). You iron sheets of freezer paper together (iron on the non-plastic side) to make as large piece of paper as you need and then draw a template or pattern on the non-plastic side. You can then iron the pattern onto the back of the fabric (again, iron on the non-plastic side with the plastic side against the fabric), cut out the pattern, and then peel off the freezer paper.

The Bearly Stitchin woman also told me about foam-core poster board, which is available at art supply stores, and which can be used for blocking. I bought a 32" x 40" x 1/4" piece for $3 - $4, and it worked really well. I used a Sharpie water-proof marker (again, Judy Gibson's suggestion) to draw grid lines for blocking an oval shape. Because the board doesn't absorb water, the lace dries more quickly. The board is lightweight yet sturdy and, therefore, very easy to move from the floor to upright against a wall or from room to room. And it's very easy to reposition the pins multiple times as needed.

After I washed the knitted lace in cold water with Woolite, rinsed it, and then rolled it in a towel to absorb the excess water, I used T-pins to pin out the lace.




The next challenge was to figure out how to attach the lace to the satin material. Abbreviated version of a long story: the tailor at the dry cleaner I use sewed the piece together so that it is reversible. I was quite pleased with her work, although it's not perfect as the photo shows. However, the piece does look better in real life than in the photo and when it's properly ironed. Originally, I had wanted to complete the entire project myself, but after searching for ideas on how to put it together (the pattern is only for a piece of knitted edging, not for how to make it into something), I ended up having someone else finish it. Next time, I will look for a place that specializes in finishing handwork if something is too complicated for me to do well. I will also instruct them not to iron the knitted lace part.

Finally, here is the thank you note I received from M. On the one hand, I'm embarrassed because I know the gift isn't perfect; on the other hand, M writes such elegant notes.

How can I adequately express my deep appreciation and reverance for a gift of such consequence and intrinsic worth? I am awed by your thoughtfulness and the beauty and substance of your handwork. I will indeed treasure the beautiful lace and hold dear the kindness, talent, generosity of spirit, and good thoughts with which it was wrought. Thank you....

Projects List - 1st Edition

Originally posted January 6, 2004

Knitting projects list

Yesterday afternoon I catalogued my knitting projects and stash of yarn. The stash is not very large or interesting. But some of the knitting projects have gone unfinished all too long. Here is a listing by order of how long I've (not) been working on various projects:

• Project: Baby Blanket
  Started: 1986
  Pattern: Leisure Arts Leaflet 397 Baby Wrappers!, "Eyelet Lace"
  Yarn: Bernat Sesame 4 100% wool in "Baby Green"
  To finish: Sew one garter stich border to main blanket; knit second border and sew; knit top border.

• Project: Baby Sweater and Hat
  Started: 2001
  Pattern: Sirdar 3071
  Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Care Cotton Blend DK, baby blue color
  To Finish: Complete button placket; sew to body of sweater; sew on buttons.

• Project: Fingerless Gloves
  Started: November 2002
  Pattern: "Basic Women's Fair Isle Fingerless Gloves"
  from Knitting Fair Isle Mittens & Gloves: 40 Great-Looking Designs by Carol Rasmussen Noble
  Yarn: Filanda Extrafine 100% Alpaca, heather taupe color
  To Finish: Mark thumb of left hand glove; knit about an inch and a half to the fingers; knit the partial fingers.

• Project: Faroese Shawl
  Started: Summer 2003
  Pattern: "Barbara Shawl" in Stahman's Shawls & Scarves: Lace Faroese-Shaped Shawls From The Neck Down and Seamen's Scarves by Myrna Stahman
  Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fine (80% cotton, 20% wool), white "Cotton Ball"
  To Finish: Need to find my place in the pattern; have knit about 12 inches down from the neck—the rows only get longer and longer.

• Project: Black & White Jacket
  Started: Fall 2003
  Pattern: "Atherton" from Jean Frost Jackets: Fabric, Fit, and Finish for Today's Knits
  Yarn: Euroflax 100% linen, black; Ornaghi Filati Mohair, off-white
  To Finish: Have completed about 13 inches of the back; soon to start decreasing for the armholes.

• Project: Baby Layette
  Started: Fall 2003
  Pattern: "Rose" in Baby Knits from Dale of Norway: Soft Treasures for Little Ones
  Yarn: Baby Ull Dalegarn, pink
  To Finish: Start decreasing for armholes on sweater; knit second bootie; sew together first bootie; knit hat.

• Project: Assorted Barbie doll clothes
  Pattern: From Knits for Barbie Doll by Nicky Epstein

My first goal is to finish the top three projects, soon! I've started with the fingerless glove.

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